Just under 200 students from Missouri Western State University received their degrees during the recent winter commencement ceremonies.  

President Elizabeth Kennedy says a recent analysis by the University shows that depending on the year, anywhere from 85 to 90% of Missouri Western graduates stay to work in Missouri.  

Kennedy says that's important because it's part of the mission at Missouri Western.  

"Helping not only the economic vitality of St. Joseph and our region, but of the entire state," Kennedy tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr.  "So, I think it's particularly important to students that they hear stories about here's what someone just like you coming in with a similar background, with some aspirations, with support from our faculty, from our staff with some guidance, here's where they can end up." 

Kennedy also points out a recent Georgetown study of public and two-year universities looked at the value of a college degree. 

Kennedy says based on that study, statistics show that students graduating from Missouri Western on average can make up to $850,000 more than those with just a high school diploma.  

"So, there is a feal value added to getting a degree, particularly from Missouri Western, and that's the message that we want to make sure students, prospective students, their families understand," Kennedy explains.  "That's the value that the University is providing to not only like I said St. Joseph and our region, but to the entire state." 

Kennedy says over the last five years at least at the University there has been a shift to focus on the important intersection between students' interests and what the region needs in terms of workforce. 

Kennedy says while the core of the university hasn't changed, what has shifted is showing students the tangible outcomes that come with a degree.  

"So, when I can say to you 85 to 90% of our students stay and work and live in Missouri, when we can start to more closely examine graduation data to talk about what are the placement rates? What are the average salaries? Then all of a sudden, we are demonstrating to students and their families this is what it will do for you," Kennedy says.  "So, the research like Georgetown University, that becomes critically relevant." 

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736445539449.jpeg" alt="Missouri Western graduated just under 200 students during its Winter Commencement ceremonies last month/ Photo courtesy of Missouri Western&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Missouri Western graduated just under 200 students during its Winter Commencement ceremonies last month/ Photo courtesy of Missouri Western&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post Just under 200 students from Missouri Western State University received their degrees during the recent winter commencement ceremonies. President Elizabeth Kennedy says a recent analysis by the University shows that depending on the year, anywhere from 85 to 90% of Missouri Western graduates stay to work in Missouri. Kennedy says that's important because it's part of the mission at Missouri Western. "Helping not only the economic vitality of St. Joseph and our region, but of the entire state," Kennedy tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr. "So, I think it's particularly important to students that they hear stories about here's what someone just like you coming in with a similar background, with some aspirations, with support from our faculty, from our staff with some guidance, here's where they can end up." Kennedy also points out a recent Georgetown study of public and two-year universities looked at the value of a college degree. Kennedy says based on that study, statistics show that students graduating from Missouri Western on average can make up to $850,000 more than those with just a high school diploma. "So, there is a feal value added to getting a degree, particularly from Missouri Western, and that's the message that we want to make sure students, prospective students, their families understand," Kennedy explains. "That's the value that the University is providing to not only like I said St. Joseph and our region, but to the entire state." Kennedy says over the last five years at least at the University there has been a shift to focus on the important intersection between students' interests and what the region needs in terms of workforce. Kennedy says while the core of the university hasn't changed, what has shifted is showing students the tangible outcomes that come with a degree. "So, when I can say to you 85 to 90% of our students stay and work and live in Missouri, when we can start to more closely examine graduation data to talk about what are the placement rates? What are the average salaries? Then all of a sudden, we are demonstrating to students and their families this is what it will do for you," Kennedy says. "So, the research like Georgetown University, that becomes critically relevant." You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Missouri Western looks at the value of a degree following Winter Commencment

A 52-year-old St. Joseph man convicted by a Buchanan County
jury of child molestation has been sentenced to 64 years in prison.

Fifth Judicial Circuit Judge Daniel Kellogg sentenced Timothy
Brown on four separate counts involving sexual assault against a minor. Kellogg
sentenced Brown to 50 years in prison for statutory sodomy. He also sentenced
Brown to 10 years for enticement of a child and another 10 years for child
molestation, but both sentences are to be served concurrently. Brown has also been
sentenced to 4 years for sexual misconduct of a minor.

Brown volunteered for the youth group at Frederick Boulevard
Baptist Church in St. Joseph. The jury in November found Brown guilty of
sexually molesting a 14-year-old girl.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1707501170480.jpeg" alt="Timothy Brown/Buchanan County Sheriff's photo" />
 <figcaption>Timothy Brown/Buchanan County Sheriff's photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostA 52-year-old St. Joseph man convicted by a Buchanan County
jury of child molestation has been sentenced to 64 years in prison.Fifth Judicial Circuit Judge Daniel Kellogg sentenced Timothy
Brown on four separate counts involving sexual assault against a minor. Kellogg
sentenced Brown to 50 years in prison for statutory sodomy. He also sentenced
Brown to 10 years for enticement of a child and another 10 years for child
molestation, but both sentences are to be served concurrently. Brown has also been
sentenced to 4 years for sexual misconduct of a minor.Brown volunteered for the youth group at Frederick Boulevard
Baptist Church in St. Joseph. The jury in November found Brown guilty of
sexually molesting a 14-year-old girl.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post
@StJosephPost.

St. Joseph man sentenced to 64 years in prison for child molestation

Missouri Gov.-elect Mike Kehoe has chosen a St. Joseph native
to become the next Missouri Adjutant General.

Kehoe will appoint Brigadier General Charles D. Hausman as the
next Adjutant General of the Missouri National Guard, the state’s senior
military officer. 

The change of command will take place February 1st, following
the selection of Major General Levon E. Cumpton to serve as the U.S. Army
Europe and Africa’s Chief of Staff and Deputy Commanding General for the Army
National Guard.

“General Hausman’s distinguished career is underscored by his
strong character, remarkable leadership, and solid dedication to our great
state and nation,” Gov.-Elect Kehoe said in a written statement released by his
staff. “His record of excellence will be invaluable as he guides the Guard with
an unwavering commitment to ensuring the Missouri National Guard is manned,
trained, equipped and resourced for its dual state and federal missions.”

Hausman has more than 36 years of service in the Missouri
National Guard, and currently serves full time as an Army Assistant Adjutant
General.

“I am humbled and honored by Governor-Elect Kehoe’s confidence
in me, and I am grateful to have the opportunity to lead the Soldiers and
Airmen of the Missouri National Guard. It is my great privilege to serve the
people of Missouri,” Brigadier General Hausman said in a written statement. 

Hausman has commanded at every level from company to brigade
and held key staff positions such as Executive Officer of the 35th Combat
Aviation Brigade, Deputy Director of Manpower and Personnel of Joint Force
Headquarters, Deputy Commander of 70th Troop Command, and Director of Aviation
and Safety of Joint Force Headquarters.

Hausman has also served abroad including in Iraq, Kuwait, and
Afghanistan.

Hausman is a seasoned aviation officer and combat veteran. He
has earned multiple military awards including the Distinguished Service Medal,
Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and Master Army Aviator
Badge.

Hausman received a Bachelor of Science degree in Aviation
Technology from the University of Central Missouri in 1991 and a Master of
Science degree in Aviation Safety at UCM in 1993. He completed a Master of Arts
degree in National Security and Strategic Studies through the United States
Naval War College in 2015. 

Hausman is a native of Saint Joseph, Missouri. He currently
resides in Jefferson City with his wife, Julie, and has two adult children,
Alex and Libby.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736424110416.jpeg" alt="Brigadier General Charles D. Hausman/Photo courtesy of Gov.-elect Mike Kehoe's office" />
 <figcaption>Brigadier General Charles D. Hausman/Photo courtesy of Gov.-elect Mike Kehoe's office</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostMissouri Gov.-elect Mike Kehoe has chosen a St. Joseph native
to become the next Missouri Adjutant General.Kehoe will appoint Brigadier General Charles D. Hausman as the
next Adjutant General of the Missouri National Guard, the state’s senior
military officer. The change of command will take place February 1st, following
the selection of Major General Levon E. Cumpton to serve as the U.S. Army
Europe and Africa’s Chief of Staff and Deputy Commanding General for the Army
National Guard.“General Hausman’s distinguished career is underscored by his
strong character, remarkable leadership, and solid dedication to our great
state and nation,” Gov.-Elect Kehoe said in a written statement released by his
staff. “His record of excellence will be invaluable as he guides the Guard with
an unwavering commitment to ensuring the Missouri National Guard is manned,
trained, equipped and resourced for its dual state and federal missions.”Hausman has more than 36 years of service in the Missouri
National Guard, and currently serves full time as an Army Assistant Adjutant
General.“I am humbled and honored by Governor-Elect Kehoe’s confidence
in me, and I am grateful to have the opportunity to lead the Soldiers and
Airmen of the Missouri National Guard. It is my great privilege to serve the
people of Missouri,” Brigadier General Hausman said in a written statement. Hausman has commanded at every level from company to brigade
and held key staff positions such as Executive Officer of the 35th Combat
Aviation Brigade, Deputy Director of Manpower and Personnel of Joint Force
Headquarters, Deputy Commander of 70th Troop Command, and Director of Aviation
and Safety of Joint Force Headquarters.Hausman has also served abroad including in Iraq, Kuwait, and
Afghanistan.Hausman is a seasoned aviation officer and combat veteran. He
has earned multiple military awards including the Distinguished Service Medal,
Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and Master Army Aviator
Badge.Hausman received a Bachelor of Science degree in Aviation
Technology from the University of Central Missouri in 1991 and a Master of
Science degree in Aviation Safety at UCM in 1993. He completed a Master of Arts
degree in National Security and Strategic Studies through the United States
Naval War College in 2015. Hausman is a native of Saint Joseph, Missouri. He currently
resides in Jefferson City with his wife, Julie, and has two adult children,
Alex and Libby.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

St. Joseph native to become next Missouri Adjutant General

Savannah school officials have reversed course and canceled
classes for today.

Savannah had at first announced it would resume classes, but
officials then stated that after re-evaluating Andrew County road conditions
and considering the possibility of re-freezing the Savannah R-3 administration
decided to cancel classes for Thursday, January 9th.

Officials acknowledged the change and stated it appreciated
the understanding of parents and students, adding winter weather can be
temperamental and conditions can change rapidly.

“Thank you for your patience this evening. As always, the
safety of our students and staff is the top priority when these decisions are
made,” the Savannah R-3 administration stated in an email.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostSavannah school officials have reversed course and canceled
classes for today.Savannah had at first announced it would resume classes, but
officials then stated that after re-evaluating Andrew County road conditions
and considering the possibility of re-freezing the Savannah R-3 administration
decided to cancel classes for Thursday, January 9th.Officials acknowledged the change and stated it appreciated
the understanding of parents and students, adding winter weather can be
temperamental and conditions can change rapidly.“Thank you for your patience this evening. As always, the
safety of our students and staff is the top priority when these decisions are
made,” the Savannah R-3 administration stated in an email.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Savannah school officials reverse course, cancel classes for today

The St. Joseph School District will cancel classes for the remainder of the week, following the first major snowstorm of the year.&nbsp;

The St. Joseph School District announced it will cancel classes on Thursday, January 9th and Friday, January 10th, due to inclement weather. This includes all Elementary, Middle, and High Schools, Hillyard Technical Center, Webster, Keatley’s Adult Education classes and the Early Learning Centers.

Some after school activities may still occur, contact your student’s activity sponsor or coach to find out. Students will return to school on Monday, January 13th.

12 month district employees will report on January 9 and should refer to the district’s inclement weather policy, Scenario A, regarding their work schedule.

Hourly employees who are not required to work on these days will receive pay for the first three days when their work is cancelled. &nbsp;Beginning on day four of work cancellation, hourly employees will not receive pay but may use paid leave time if they have leave days available.

By MATT PIKESt. Joseph PostThe St. Joseph School District will cancel classes for the remainder of the week, following the first major snowstorm of the year.&nbsp;The St. Joseph School District announced it will cancel classes on Thursday, January 9th and Friday, January 10th, due to inclement weather. This includes all Elementary, Middle, and High Schools, Hillyard Technical Center, Webster, Keatley’s Adult Education classes and the Early Learning Centers.Some after school activities may still occur, contact your student’s activity sponsor or coach to find out. Students will return to school on Monday, January 13th.12 month district employees will report on January 9 and should refer to the district’s inclement weather policy, Scenario A, regarding their work schedule.Hourly employees who are not required to work on these days will receive pay for the first three days when their work is cancelled. &nbsp;Beginning on day four of work cancellation, hourly employees will not receive pay but may use paid leave time if they have leave days available.

St. Joseph School District cancelling classes for remainder of week

Click <a href="https://www.680kfeq.com/closing/#!/">HERE</a> for area cancelations due to the lingering winter weather.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Click <a href="https://www.680kfeq.com/closing/#!/">HERE</a> for area cancelations due to the lingering winter weather.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Winter weather cancelations for Thursday

The St. Joseph School District will host a program next week designed to help prepare incoming students for kindergarten.  

The program, called Kinderclub, is a partnership with the United Way of Greater St. Joseph's Success by Six program.  

Director of Children’s Initiatives with United Way Bobbie Cronk says while the program helps provide a foundation for students, it also focuses on parents and how they can help prepare their students 

"There's just some key skills that would just be really helpful on that first day of school, things like using scissors and letter recognition, can they recognize their name if they see it on a name tag, that sort of thing," Cronk tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.  "And then that's also a great way for families to get inside the school buildings, to meet other families that are going to be alongside them during that educational journey." 

The program will provide learning opportunities for students as well as parents, to help set an educational foundation as well as a social foundation before they enter kindergarten.  

Cronk says the program prepares them for school and gives them confidence they can succeed. 

"Because they're going to have friends already there, they're going to have friends they met during Kinderclub, and the parents will know the teacher and feel comfortable with where their child is going," Cronk explains.  "So, we really hope that this will resolve and increase attendance." 

The St. Joseph School District has seen a rise in attendance in lower grades such as kindergarten but have previously seen those be the worst grades for attendance. 

Cronk says while the program has seen developmental gains in children, one thing that was unexpected was the increased engagement and confidence in parents 

"We were expecting the kids to show gains, but having the parents more confident and feeling more like a partner in their child's education is just really key," Cronk says.  "Because we know that's how kids are going to be successful, is if the families know what to do at home and they feel engaged in what is happening." 

The two-part program will be held next week on January 14th and on February 11th.  It's recommended to attend both parts but not required.  

You can get more information by contacting the United Way or visiting their website by clicking <a href="http://stjosephunitedway.org/sb6parents">HERE</a>.

By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post The St. Joseph School District will host a program next week designed to help prepare incoming students for kindergarten. The program, called Kinderclub, is a partnership with the United Way of Greater St. Joseph's Success by Six program. Director of Children’s Initiatives with United Way Bobbie Cronk says while the program helps provide a foundation for students, it also focuses on parents and how they can help prepare their students "There's just some key skills that would just be really helpful on that first day of school, things like using scissors and letter recognition, can they recognize their name if they see it on a name tag, that sort of thing," Cronk tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. "And then that's also a great way for families to get inside the school buildings, to meet other families that are going to be alongside them during that educational journey." The program will provide learning opportunities for students as well as parents, to help set an educational foundation as well as a social foundation before they enter kindergarten. Cronk says the program prepares them for school and gives them confidence they can succeed. "Because they're going to have friends already there, they're going to have friends they met during Kinderclub, and the parents will know the teacher and feel comfortable with where their child is going," Cronk explains. "So, we really hope that this will resolve and increase attendance." The St. Joseph School District has seen a rise in attendance in lower grades such as kindergarten but have previously seen those be the worst grades for attendance. Cronk says while the program has seen developmental gains in children, one thing that was unexpected was the increased engagement and confidence in parents "We were expecting the kids to show gains, but having the parents more confident and feeling more like a partner in their child's education is just really key," Cronk says. "Because we know that's how kids are going to be successful, is if the families know what to do at home and they feel engaged in what is happening." The two-part program will be held next week on January 14th and on February 11th. It's recommended to attend both parts but not required. You can get more information by contacting the United Way or visiting their website by clicking <a href="http://stjosephunitedway.org/sb6parents">HERE</a>.

Kinderclub helps prepare children for school

BROWN COUNTY —Brown County Sheriff John Merchant expressed his thanks to everyone who stepped up to help out during the recent&nbsp; blizzard.&nbsp; 

In an email the sheriff wrote, "Linemen had several power outages in which they responded to&nbsp; in the midst of the blizzard to get power to those without.

Emergency service personnel&nbsp; were assisting throughout the storm without complaint.&nbsp; City, county, township and state workers have been doing their best to open roads to the best of their ability, but a storm of this magnitude hasn't been seen around here for more than 40 years."

"The stormed caused roadways to be shut down completely.&nbsp; All law enforcement entities responded where they could to reach motorists and respond to calls."

"Dispatch and jail staff&nbsp; worked through shifts to make sure we were adequately staffed throughout the storm. Deputies worked around the clock to get to as many stranded motorists as they could reach and were able to deliver items to those who were not able to get out." 

"Road conditions prohibited some responses but in those cases, farmers pitched in with their equipment to get to stranded individuals as well as good samaritans."

"Neighbors have been helping neighbors by opening their sidewalks and driveways so people can get on with their daily routine.&nbsp; It will take awhile to get back to normal, but everyone is working together to make that happen as soon as possible."

"Tuesday morning, a semi was jackknifed on U.S. 36 Highway at the Oregon intersection which closed down the highway for several hours,&nbsp; Hiawatha Implement brought out a tractor and pulled the semi from the roadway&nbsp; which allowed the highway to reopen."

"I appreciate all of the communication from residents about concerns you had and forwarding information to me so I could share. I would like to thank those who dropped off food for the emergency workers."

"We were very blessed as I have not had any reports of serious injuries or fatalities due to the storm. We are very fortunate to live in a county where people look out after each other in times like this."

BROWN COUNTY —Brown County Sheriff John Merchant expressed his thanks to everyone who stepped up to help out during the recent&nbsp; blizzard.&nbsp; In an email the sheriff wrote, "Linemen had several power outages in which they responded to&nbsp; in the midst of the blizzard to get power to those without.Emergency service personnel&nbsp; were assisting throughout the storm without complaint.&nbsp; City, county, township and state workers have been doing their best to open roads to the best of their ability, but a storm of this magnitude hasn't been seen around here for more than 40 years.""The stormed caused roadways to be shut down completely.&nbsp; All law enforcement entities responded where they could to reach motorists and respond to calls.""Dispatch and jail staff&nbsp; worked through shifts to make sure we were adequately staffed throughout the storm. Deputies worked around the clock to get to as many stranded motorists as they could reach and were able to deliver items to those who were not able to get out." "Road conditions prohibited some responses but in those cases, farmers pitched in with their equipment to get to stranded individuals as well as good samaritans.""Neighbors have been helping neighbors by opening their sidewalks and driveways so people can get on with their daily routine.&nbsp; It will take awhile to get back to normal, but everyone is working together to make that happen as soon as possible.""Tuesday morning, a semi was jackknifed on U.S. 36 Highway at the Oregon intersection which closed down the highway for several hours,&nbsp; Hiawatha Implement brought out a tractor and pulled the semi from the roadway&nbsp; which allowed the highway to reopen.""I appreciate all of the communication from residents about concerns you had and forwarding information to me so I could share. I would like to thank those who dropped off food for the emergency workers.""We were very blessed as I have not had any reports of serious injuries or fatalities due to the storm. We are very fortunate to live in a county where people look out after each other in times like this."

Sheriff thanks the public for help during the snow storm

Missouri lawmakers gather in Jefferson City this afternoon
for the start of the 2025 legislative session.

State Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer, a Republican from
Parkville who represents Buchanan and Platte Counties, will serve as Senate
Majority Floor Leader during this session.

Luetkemeyer says the Senate Republican Caucus
wants to reform the state income tax system, perhaps even eliminating the
personal income tax.

“This is something the governor-elect (Mike
Kehoe) also has talked about on the campaign trail, either reducing or entirely
eliminating the state income tax,” Luetkemeyer tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “We
have other states in the Midwest, like Tennessee, who have done this and it is
a great way to boost Missouri’s economy and put more money back in the pockets
of hardworking Missouri citizens.”

Luetkemeyer says public safety is the top issue
of Senate Republicans this year, including the consideration of placing the St.
Louis Police Department under state control, similar to how police are managed
in Kansas City.

Luetkemeyer says Republicans will make an effort
to moderate Amendment Three approved by voters in November.

“Amendment Three is a very radical measure and
what I anticipate we will see is efforts by the General Assembly to bring that
measure more in line with where we think the majority of Missourians actually
are when it comes to the issue of life,” Luetkemeyer says.

Luetkemeyer sees the November vote as less a vote
for abortion rights as a vote against the highly restrictive abortion law in
Missouri.

Amendment Three barely received a majority of the
votes cast in November, which Luetkemeyer insists discloses a flaw in the
state’s process of amending the constitution.

“It is not intended to be a never-ending special interest
statute, which is really what the Missouri Constitution has turned into and we
need to fix it through the initiative petition process,” Luetkemeyer says.

The senator favors increasing the vote threshold
to change the state constitution from the current simple majority. Efforts to
do that last year fell to Republican in-fighting in the Missouri Senate, which
Luetkemeyer hopes to avoid this session.

Luetkemeyer hopes to succeed in changing the
state initiative process this year, stating that the state constitution is supposed
to be a fundamental governing document, laying out the basic framework for
government. He says it now has turned into a special interest document.

“What you will see happen is, oftentimes very
progressive groups, mostly from outside of the state of Missouri, will come in
and spend millions of dollars collecting signatures, putting something on the
ballot, running very misleading ads to convince the public to vote for something
and then they just circumvent the legislature and put it in the constitution,”
according to Luetkemeyer.

As Senate Majority Floor Leader this session,
Luetkemeyer will be in charge of the Missouri Senate calendar, controlling what
legislation makes it to the floor for debate and how much time the Senate will
consider each measure.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostMissouri lawmakers gather in Jefferson City this afternoon
for the start of the 2025 legislative session.State Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer, a Republican from
Parkville who represents Buchanan and Platte Counties, will serve as Senate
Majority Floor Leader during this session.Luetkemeyer says the Senate Republican Caucus
wants to reform the state income tax system, perhaps even eliminating the
personal income tax.“This is something the governor-elect (Mike
Kehoe) also has talked about on the campaign trail, either reducing or entirely
eliminating the state income tax,” Luetkemeyer tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “We
have other states in the Midwest, like Tennessee, who have done this and it is
a great way to boost Missouri’s economy and put more money back in the pockets
of hardworking Missouri citizens.”Luetkemeyer says public safety is the top issue
of Senate Republicans this year, including the consideration of placing the St.
Louis Police Department under state control, similar to how police are managed
in Kansas City.Luetkemeyer says Republicans will make an effort
to moderate Amendment Three approved by voters in November.“Amendment Three is a very radical measure and
what I anticipate we will see is efforts by the General Assembly to bring that
measure more in line with where we think the majority of Missourians actually
are when it comes to the issue of life,” Luetkemeyer says.Luetkemeyer sees the November vote as less a vote
for abortion rights as a vote against the highly restrictive abortion law in
Missouri.Amendment Three barely received a majority of the
votes cast in November, which Luetkemeyer insists discloses a flaw in the
state’s process of amending the constitution.“It is not intended to be a never-ending special interest
statute, which is really what the Missouri Constitution has turned into and we
need to fix it through the initiative petition process,” Luetkemeyer says.The senator favors increasing the vote threshold
to change the state constitution from the current simple majority. Efforts to
do that last year fell to Republican in-fighting in the Missouri Senate, which
Luetkemeyer hopes to avoid this session.Luetkemeyer hopes to succeed in changing the
state initiative process this year, stating that the state constitution is supposed
to be a fundamental governing document, laying out the basic framework for
government. He says it now has turned into a special interest document.“What you will see happen is, oftentimes very
progressive groups, mostly from outside of the state of Missouri, will come in
and spend millions of dollars collecting signatures, putting something on the
ballot, running very misleading ads to convince the public to vote for something
and then they just circumvent the legislature and put it in the constitution,”
according to Luetkemeyer.As Senate Majority Floor Leader this session,
Luetkemeyer will be in charge of the Missouri Senate calendar, controlling what
legislation makes it to the floor for debate and how much time the Senate will
consider each measure.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Missouri lawmakers gather in Jefferson City for start of 2025 session

Click <a href="https://www.680kfeq.com/closing/#!/">HERE</a> for area cancelations due to the lingering winter weather.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Click <a href="https://www.680kfeq.com/closing/#!/">HERE</a> for area cancelations due to the lingering winter weather.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Winter weather cancelations for Wednesday - includes St. Joseph public schools

By&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/people/frank-morris">FRANK MORRIS</a> <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2025-01-06/mass-deportations-could-cripple-kansas-meat-economy-it-would-be-a-ghost-town">KCUR</a>

The price of beef is at all-time highs, but a major policy initiative of the incoming Trump Administration could drive them higher. In an industry that's already strapped for workers, mass deportations could put some ranchers and feedlots out of business.

Raising cattle is tough. Nearly every day, Kansas ranchers and feedlot operators have to wrestle with drought, disease or blizzards. But the biggest problem is labor — the industry is chronically short-handed. That is especially true in southwest Kansas.

“If the immigrants weren't there to help out, there wouldn't be an operation functional in any of those places,” said Micheal Feltman, an immigration attorney in Cimarron, Kansas, just west of Dodge City.

Feltman helps the feedlots and mega dairy farms near there find workers. He said people funneling into southwest Kansas, from at least 40 countries, are the lifeblood of the beef industry and the regional economy.

Close to half the people who process meat in the U.S. were born someplace else, and immigrants do much of the work feeding and tending animals. Most of these workers are here legally, but a significant percentage aren’t, and documented immigrants often support close family members living with them illegally.

That’s why President-elect Donald Trump’s promises of a sweeping crackdown on immigration, sealing the border, and deporting 11 million people have many people in the meat industry worried.

Mass deportations would trigger a cascade of hardships across the chronically short-staffed meat industry, Feltman said. Processing plants would slow down, causing meat shortages that economists worry would drive consumer prices to record highs. Farmers would find themselves with more livestock than they could sell or care for, and the value of their animals would plummet.

“If every immigrant … over the last 20 years disappeared immediately, it would be a ghost town,” Feltman said. “I don't know how the businesses would survive.”

For one recent Haitian immigrant, who said she was afraid to divulge her name because she fled hunger and horrific violence at home, the stakes seem like life and death. The woman and her 4-year-old daughter made their way to Garden City three months ago. They’re here on temporary humanitarian parole. That gives her two years to apply for asylum.

She’s still waiting to be granted a work permit, but said she’d be willing to do any kind of labor, including the dangerous, uncomfortable, smelly jobs at the Tyson packing plant on the outskirts of town. Through an interpreter, she said she’s following the letter of the law to stay in the U.S., and has an appointment for a screening that should clear the way for her work visa, and financial independence.

“It will bring me a lot of joy,” she said. “Because I have a kid to take care of, I have myself, and if I could invest in the country, it would bring me a lot of joy.”

Given Trump’s rhetoric during the election and since, she now fears she’ll be sent back to the violent chaos in Haiti instead of joining a workforce that badly needs her.

“It’s not safe. The gangs are killing people,” she said.

Despite hefty pay hikes for meat processing workers in recent years, the industry cannot hire people fast enough. In places like southwest Kansas, employers say there aren’t nearly enough native-born people willing to show up reliably and do the hard, dirty work necessary in the meat industry.

The complicated immigration system doesn’t allow in enough legal immigrants to make up the difference, so some companies turn to undocumented workers to get by.

University of Arkansas economist Jada Thompson said mass deportations would exacerbate the problem, sending shockwaves up and down the meat supply chain. For one thing, deporting meat-packing workers would slow down the plants, triggering shortages.

“I think we're going to see higher prices (for) the retail (customer),” said Thompson.

But farmers wouldn’t see any gains from soaring retail prices, she said, because there would be too many animals in the system for the meat processors to use, a glut building daily as more pigs and cows mature.

“I think you'll end up eventually seeing lower prices (for) farmers,” said Thompson, “because it will eventually be oversupply because, effectively, they just can't harvest that many animals.”

Thompson said the same thing happened a few years ago, but it wasn’t an immigration crackdown causing the labor shortage — it was the COVID pandemic.

“And what happened in that supply chain?” Thompson asked. “It backed it up. Prices went up. All of a sudden, you had people with pigs and cows that could not go to market because there was nowhere for them to be slaughtered.”

Those animals still had to be fed, and they still needed space to live in, but nobody wanted to buy them for meat, meaning farmers were spending extra money every day to keep more pigs and cows alive. Eventually, some farmers had to cut their losses, shoot their livestock and bury it. Everybody loses.

Kansas State University economist Glynn Tonsor said losses like those would spread broadly through southwest Kansas towns that depend on big feedlots, dairies and packing houses.

“They very often are one of the largest employers and local tax generators, so there's relevant implications for funding of schools, funding of libraries, funding of anything you want to talk about that's publicly funded in local areas,” said Tonsor.

It’s not clear yet how Trump administration deportations will work, if they happen at all, but Kansas Livestock Association CEO Matt Teagarden hopes they move slowly, and that they somehow shield the immigrant-dependent meat industry.

Teagarden said he believes border security should be tightened, but he’d like the system of granting work visas streamlined, not shackled. It’s either import people or import food.

“One of the alternatives is our food production goes overseas or moves outside the country,” said Teagarden. “If we don't have an adequate workforce, can't produce the food that we all want each day, each week, each month, that food production will go elsewhere.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736268185597.png" alt="Nearly half the people processing meat in the United States were born in another country, and the industry struggles consistently to find enough labor. U.S. Government Accountability Office/Wikipedia" />
 <figcaption>Nearly half the people processing meat in the United States were born in another country, and the industry struggles consistently to find enough labor. U.S. Government Accountability Office/Wikipedia</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/people/frank-morris">FRANK MORRIS</a> <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2025-01-06/mass-deportations-could-cripple-kansas-meat-economy-it-would-be-a-ghost-town">KCUR</a><h2>The price of beef is at all-time highs, but a major policy initiative of the incoming Trump Administration could drive them higher. In an industry that's already strapped for workers, mass deportations could put some ranchers and feedlots out of business.</h2>Raising cattle is tough. Nearly every day, Kansas ranchers and feedlot operators have to wrestle with drought, disease or blizzards. But the biggest problem is labor — the industry is chronically short-handed. That is especially true in southwest Kansas.“If the immigrants weren't there to help out, there wouldn't be an operation functional in any of those places,” said Micheal Feltman, an immigration attorney in Cimarron, Kansas, just west of Dodge City.Feltman helps the feedlots and mega dairy farms near there find workers. He said people funneling into southwest Kansas, from at least 40 countries, are the lifeblood of the beef industry and the regional economy.Close to half the people who process meat in the U.S. were born someplace else, and immigrants do much of the work feeding and tending animals. Most of these workers are here legally, but a significant percentage aren’t, and documented immigrants often support close family members living with them illegally.That’s why President-elect Donald Trump’s promises of a sweeping crackdown on immigration, sealing the border, and deporting 11 million people have many people in the meat industry worried.Mass deportations would trigger a cascade of hardships across the chronically short-staffed meat industry, Feltman said. Processing plants would slow down, causing meat shortages that economists worry would drive consumer prices to record highs. Farmers would find themselves with more livestock than they could sell or care for, and the value of their animals would plummet.“If every immigrant … over the last 20 years disappeared immediately, it would be a ghost town,” Feltman said. “I don't know how the businesses would survive.”<h2>The beef industry runs on imported labor</h2>For one recent Haitian immigrant, who said she was afraid to divulge her name because she fled hunger and horrific violence at home, the stakes seem like life and death. The woman and her 4-year-old daughter made their way to Garden City three months ago. They’re here on temporary humanitarian parole. That gives her two years to apply for asylum.She’s still waiting to be granted a work permit, but said she’d be willing to do any kind of labor, including the dangerous, uncomfortable, smelly jobs at the Tyson packing plant on the outskirts of town. Through an interpreter, she said she’s following the letter of the law to stay in the U.S., and has an appointment for a screening that should clear the way for her work visa, and financial independence.“It will bring me a lot of joy,” she said. “Because I have a kid to take care of, I have myself, and if I could invest in the country, it would bring me a lot of joy.”Given Trump’s rhetoric during the election and since, she now fears she’ll be sent back to the violent chaos in Haiti instead of joining a workforce that badly needs her.“It’s not safe. The gangs are killing people,” she said.Despite hefty pay hikes for meat processing workers in recent years, the industry cannot hire people fast enough. In places like southwest Kansas, employers say there aren’t nearly enough native-born people willing to show up reliably and do the hard, dirty work necessary in the meat industry.The complicated immigration system doesn’t allow in enough legal immigrants to make up the difference, so some companies turn to undocumented workers to get by.University of Arkansas economist Jada Thompson said mass deportations would exacerbate the problem, sending shockwaves up and down the meat supply chain. For one thing, deporting meat-packing workers would slow down the plants, triggering shortages.“I think we're going to see higher prices (for) the retail (customer),” said Thompson.But farmers wouldn’t see any gains from soaring retail prices, she said, because there would be too many animals in the system for the meat processors to use, a glut building daily as more pigs and cows mature.“I think you'll end up eventually seeing lower prices (for) farmers,” said Thompson, “because it will eventually be oversupply because, effectively, they just can't harvest that many animals.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736267973702.png" alt="Feedlots increasingly turn to immigrants, legal or otherwise, willing to do the hard, often uncomfortable work of caring for large animals. File photo/KCUR" />
 <figcaption>Feedlots increasingly turn to immigrants, legal or otherwise, willing to do the hard, often uncomfortable work of caring for large animals. File photo/KCUR</figcaption>
 </figure>Thompson said the same thing happened a few years ago, but it wasn’t an immigration crackdown causing the labor shortage — it was the COVID pandemic.“And what happened in that supply chain?” Thompson asked. “It backed it up. Prices went up. All of a sudden, you had people with pigs and cows that could not go to market because there was nowhere for them to be slaughtered.”Those animals still had to be fed, and they still needed space to live in, but nobody wanted to buy them for meat, meaning farmers were spending extra money every day to keep more pigs and cows alive. Eventually, some farmers had to cut their losses, shoot their livestock and bury it. Everybody loses.Kansas State University economist Glynn Tonsor said losses like those would spread broadly through southwest Kansas towns that depend on big feedlots, dairies and packing houses.“They very often are one of the largest employers and local tax generators, so there's relevant implications for funding of schools, funding of libraries, funding of anything you want to talk about that's publicly funded in local areas,” said Tonsor.It’s not clear yet how Trump administration deportations will work, if they happen at all, but Kansas Livestock Association CEO Matt Teagarden hopes they move slowly, and that they somehow shield the immigrant-dependent meat industry.Teagarden said he believes border security should be tightened, but he’d like the system of granting work visas streamlined, not shackled. It’s either import people or import food.“One of the alternatives is our food production goes overseas or moves outside the country,” said Teagarden. “If we don't have an adequate workforce, can't produce the food that we all want each day, each week, each month, that food production will go elsewhere.”

Mass deportations could endanger Kansas’ meat economy: ‘It would be a ghost town’

Emergency snow routes in St. Joseph have been cleared. City
road crews now are working to clean up other streets throughout the city.

St. Joseph Public Works Director, Abe Forney, says his snowplow
drivers have been out since this major winter storm was first forecast.

“We run nonstop,” Forney tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “So,
three days ago or four days ago, whatever it is now, I’m losing track, we
started pretreating all the streets with the salt brine. And then right before
the snow, they started hitting some granular salt down. As soon as the snow
started to fall or as soon as the sleet started to fall, our crews have been on
24 hours a day.”

Forney says 18 snowplow drivers are out during the day with
about half that number taking over during the night shift. Though the snowfall
has been soft, it has drifted considerably, adding to the difficulty to
clearing city streets. Anyway from 10 t0 12 inches of snow fell in St. Joseph.

Forney says the snow caught some motorists who ventured out,
disrupting the snow removal process.

“A lot of the time when people have no parking garages or park
on the street it makes it difficult to get around,” Forney says. “And then when
people get out and start moving around before the emergency routes are cleared,
they start getting stuck and we have to either go around them and that causes
an issue or we have to help them get out.”

Though the snow that fell throughout Sunday was deep, it was
light without a lot of moisture. Forney says that made it easier to deal with
that heavy snowfall.

Forney says his road crews know the importance of their work.

“We really do work for the community,” Forney says. “And we
understand that everybody’s got to get out and get to their jobs and everybody’s
got to get their medication. So, please be patient with us.”

Snowplow drivers in St. Joseph have a lot of ground to cover.
The city has approximately 436 miles of streets.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostEmergency snow routes in St. Joseph have been cleared. City
road crews now are working to clean up other streets throughout the city.St. Joseph Public Works Director, Abe Forney, says his snowplow
drivers have been out since this major winter storm was first forecast.“We run nonstop,” Forney tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “So,
three days ago or four days ago, whatever it is now, I’m losing track, we
started pretreating all the streets with the salt brine. And then right before
the snow, they started hitting some granular salt down. As soon as the snow
started to fall or as soon as the sleet started to fall, our crews have been on
24 hours a day.”Forney says 18 snowplow drivers are out during the day with
about half that number taking over during the night shift. Though the snowfall
has been soft, it has drifted considerably, adding to the difficulty to
clearing city streets. Anyway from 10 t0 12 inches of snow fell in St. Joseph.Forney says the snow caught some motorists who ventured out,
disrupting the snow removal process.“A lot of the time when people have no parking garages or park
on the street it makes it difficult to get around,” Forney says. “And then when
people get out and start moving around before the emergency routes are cleared,
they start getting stuck and we have to either go around them and that causes
an issue or we have to help them get out.”Though the snow that fell throughout Sunday was deep, it was
light without a lot of moisture. Forney says that made it easier to deal with
that heavy snowfall.Forney says his road crews know the importance of their work.“We really do work for the community,” Forney says. “And we
understand that everybody’s got to get out and get to their jobs and everybody’s
got to get their medication. So, please be patient with us.”Snowplow drivers in St. Joseph have a lot of ground to cover.
The city has approximately 436 miles of streets.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Emergency snow routes cleared, St. Joseph snowplows move to other streets

Northern Missouri Congressman Sam Graves says the
new Congress has work to do.

Graves, a Republican, says reforming the
country’s immigration policy needs to top the list of priorities for this
Congress.

“That’s going to be one of the very top priorities,
getting the border secure and we still have really no good idea of how many
individuals have been let into this country that are dangerous to citizens and
to the public,” Graves tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.

Graves says while immigration reform might top
the list of priorities for the incoming Congress, the federal debt cannot be
far behind. Graves says Congress must slow down what he calls runaway spending
and the start needs to be reforming the process used to create a federal
budget.

“The way budgeting is done in Washington, and
this is completely contrary to everybody else’s, you know, their business’,
their home’s budgets, whatever the case may be, but in Washington, even if
there is an increase in what an agency got the year before, if there’s a decrease
in the increase then it’s considered a cut,” according to Graves. “And that just
simply isn’t the case. If you got more than you got last year before, then your
budget has gone up.”

And Graves says budgets must shrink. He says
Congress should begin by putting an end to mandatory spending.

“So, we’re going to have to take a good, hard
look at the way budgeting is done and take a good, hard look at how we can get
into some of this mandatory spending that gets plugged in, again, no matter
what.”

The Treasury Department reports the federal
deficit in the latest federal fiscal year topped $624 billion. The United
States has a national debt of more than $36 trillion.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736193499890.jpeg" alt="Congressman Sam Graves/file photo" />
 <figcaption>Congressman Sam Graves/file photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostNorthern Missouri Congressman Sam Graves says the
new Congress has work to do.Graves, a Republican, says reforming the
country’s immigration policy needs to top the list of priorities for this
Congress.“That’s going to be one of the very top priorities,
getting the border secure and we still have really no good idea of how many
individuals have been let into this country that are dangerous to citizens and
to the public,” Graves tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.Graves says while immigration reform might top
the list of priorities for the incoming Congress, the federal debt cannot be
far behind. Graves says Congress must slow down what he calls runaway spending
and the start needs to be reforming the process used to create a federal
budget.“The way budgeting is done in Washington, and
this is completely contrary to everybody else’s, you know, their business’,
their home’s budgets, whatever the case may be, but in Washington, even if
there is an increase in what an agency got the year before, if there’s a decrease
in the increase then it’s considered a cut,” according to Graves. “And that just
simply isn’t the case. If you got more than you got last year before, then your
budget has gone up.”And Graves says budgets must shrink. He says
Congress should begin by putting an end to mandatory spending.“So, we’re going to have to take a good, hard
look at the way budgeting is done and take a good, hard look at how we can get
into some of this mandatory spending that gets plugged in, again, no matter
what.”The Treasury Department reports the federal
deficit in the latest federal fiscal year topped $624 billion. The United
States has a national debt of more than $36 trillion.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Graves:  Congress must tackle border security, budget

Newly elected lawmakers seek exemptions for some businesses as challenge to ballot measure awaits action at the Missouri Supreme Court

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

BOONVILLE — In 2022, Heather Overstreet moved her growing&nbsp;<a href="https://topdogtrainingmo.com/" target="_blank">dog grooming</a>, training and boarding business into a converted garage.

It was a milestone for a business she started at age 16 by training dogs for friends of her mother. She innovated on the furnishings, refurbishing a bathtub left behind by the previous owner to use for dog washing. She built indoor kennels with room for 12 dogs and fenced 10,000 square feet outdoors to exercise dogs in daycare and overnight boarding.

But future expansion is on hold, Overstreet said, until she understands the impact of voter-approved&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sos.mo.gov/CMSImages/Elections/Petitions/2024-038.pdf" target="_blank">Proposition A</a>, which increases the state minimum wage, on her payroll and customers.

“It not only throws off my math, but it just is an entirely new challenge,” Overstreet said.

Under the provisions of Proposition A, Missouri’s minimum wage rose to&nbsp; $13.75 an hour on Jan. 1, up from $12.30 an hour. It will increase again to $15 an hour on Jan. 1, 2026, with future adjustments tied to inflation.

Along with increasing the minimum wage, Proposition A requires some employers to provide paid sick and family leave starting May 1. Businesses with revenue of $500,000 or more must provide one hour for every 30 hours worked, up to five days per year for businesses with fewer than 15 employees and seven days per year for larger businesses.

Overstreet, who is also a member of the City Council in Boonville, with a population of about 8,000, admits she didn’t pay close attention to the details of Proposition A. She expected a more modest increase and had hoped to hold prices steady in 2025. Instead, she will notify customers of a rate hike, she said.

She needs three employees to cover the hours she is open.

Overstreet hires young people, often for their first job, to care for boarded dogs, and starts them at minimum wage. Over the course of a year, the increase will add $3,247 to employer payroll costs for every full-time minimum wage employee — $3,016 for additional wages and $231 for additional Social Security and Medicare taxes

“With minimum wage rising, that’s at least one extra dog that I need per day, which I guess you could say, is no big deal,” Ovestreet said. “But this is a small town, and I’ve only had that shop for two years.”

Proposition A, placed on the ballot via initiative petition,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/11/05/missourians-vote-to-increase-minimum-wage-require-paid-sick-leave/">passed in November</a>&nbsp;with 58% of the vote with support from unions, workers’ advocacy groups, social justice and civil rights organizations, and a coalition of more than 500 business owners.

There was no large-scale opposition campaign prior to the election. But a court challenge filed in early December by&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/12/09/business-groups-file-legal-challenge-to-voter-approved-minimum-wage-hike-sick-leave/">major business advocacy groups</a>&nbsp;asks the Missouri Supreme Court to invalidate the vote. And legislation filed in advance of this year’s session seeks to exempt 96% of private employers from the higher minimum wage.

Randy Vines, co-owner&nbsp; of a St. Louis business that also began as a home-based operation and a backer of Proposition A, said he’s sympathetic to Overstreet’s dilemma but argues that more money in the hands of workers helps the economy.

Other costs can squeeze profits as well, said Vines, who founded STL-Style, which makes merchandise themed to St. Louis for retail and wholesale markets, with his brother..

If the price of T-shirts goes up, for example, that has to be part of his pricing, he said.

“We’re kind of at the mercy of what the markets are doing and what the industry is doing in general,” Vines said. “So when costs go up for manufacturers, we have to, you know, pass that on.”

For most of the time since a federal minimum wage of 25 cents an hour was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/minimum-wage/history/chart" target="_blank">established in 1938</a>, there was no Missouri law mandating a separate state rate. In 1990, lawmakers extended the minimum wage to all businesses, including those exempt under federal law.

The first ballot measure setting the Missouri rate above the federal requirement passed in 2006. It boosted the state wage&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/2006petitions/ipMinimumWage-38" target="_blank">to $6.50 an hour</a>&nbsp;and required future adjustments based on inflation. The federal rate at the time was $5.15 an hour and had not been changed since 1997.

In 2018, when adjustments had increased Missouri’s wage to $7.85 an hour, voters&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sos.mo.gov/CMSImages/Elections/Petitions/2018-204.pdf" target="_blank">passed a proposal</a>&nbsp;boosting the rate in yearly increments until it reached $12 an hour at the start of 2023.

An inflation adjustment set it at $12.30 an hour for 2024. If Proposition A had failed, the inflation-adjusted wage for 2025 would have been $12.65 an hour, the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations stated in a news release.

The current federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour, a rate that has been unchanged since 2009. The highest inflation-adjusted minimum wage was the Feb. 1, 1968, increase to $1.60 an hour, which is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bls.gov/data/inflation_calculator.htm" target="_blank">equal to $14.76 an hour</a>.

Prior to November, opponents argued that increasing the minimum wage would&nbsp;<a href="https://showmeinstitute.org/blog/minimum-wage/the-moral-high-ground-and-the-minimum-wage/" target="_blank">cause inflation</a>, job losses and slow the state’s economy. Supporters point to research that calls those&nbsp;<a href="https://mobudget.org/raising-missouris-minimum-wage-is-good-for-workers-and-the-economy/" target="_blank">assumptions into question</a>, noting that the state’s unemployment rate has fallen faster since the start of 2019 than adjoining states that did not boost their minimum wage.

“Working families are the drivers of the economy,” Caitlyn Adams, executive director of Missouri Jobs with Justice Voter Action, said in a news release issued Dec. 30. “We are proud to take another step forward in building an economy that works for all.”&nbsp;

As he is leaving office, Gov. Mike Parson made job gains and low unemployment the top two bullet points in a news release listing the accomplishments of his administration, which began in June 2018.

Missouri added nearly 190,000 new jobs, saw more than $17 billion in new business investment and enjoyed unemployment that was as low as 2.1%, the lowest ever recorded, the release stated.

The impact of the increase will be significant for the economy,&nbsp;<a href="https://auditor.mo.gov/FiscalNote/ViewFiscalNoteFile/1411" target="_blank">proponents estimated</a>&nbsp;in filings used by State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick to write the fiscal summary of the proposal. Based on 2022 data, backers said 330,000 Missourians making minimum wage will get a pay raise, and almost 200,000 earning more than the minimum would likely receive raises because their pay is tied to the minimum. Wage costs in 2026 will be about $850 million more than 2022.

Business groups opposed to Proposition A didn’t mount a campaign to defeat it at the polls. Instead, they are asking the Missouri Supreme Court to declare the election invalid, alleging the ballot language was misleading and incomplete.&nbsp;

And instead of ordering a second vote, the challenge seeks to have the initiative proposal tossed completely for combining the minimum wage increase with the requirement for businesses to provide paid sick and family time.

The court refused to hear the case before the increase took effect. Instead, the court&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/SC100876%20ORDER_FINAL.pdf?courtCode=SC&amp;di=205121" target="_blank">appointed Cole County Circuit Judge Josh Devine</a>&nbsp;as a commissioner to take evidence in the election challenge and report his findings by Feb. 10.

That could make it possible for the court to rule by the time the sick and family leave provision takes effect May 1.

By that time, there should be clear signals from lawmakers on whether they intend to step in.

A bill filed by State Rep.-elect Jeff Vernetti, a Republican from Camdenton, would exempt businesses employing almost half of all Missouri workers from the higher minimum wage.

The bill would exempt seasonal businesses or those&nbsp;<a href="https://documents.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills251/hlrbillspdf/1326H.01I.pdf" target="_blank">employing 50 or fewer workers</a>. The bill would freeze the minimum wage for those businesses at $12.30 an hour.

Vernetti represents the tourist regions around the Lake of the Ozarks, where he owns a small Italian grocery and is a partner in a baseball/softball complex that hosts tournaments and other events.&nbsp;

Under his bill, the grocery would qualify for an exemption as a small business and the ballpark business would be exempt as a seasonal operation.

“I want to pay employees the most that they can possibly make,” Vernetti said. “I just think the market should dictate it.”

According to the&nbsp;<a href="https://data.bls.gov/cew/apps/table_maker/v4/table_maker.htm#type=16&amp;year=2024&amp;st=29&amp;hlind=10&amp;supp=0" target="_blank">Bureau of Labor Statistics</a>, Missouri had 231,753 private businesses in the first quarter of 2024. Of that number, 96% had fewer than 50 workers, employing 46% of the private workforce.

The state minimum wage law does not apply to government jobs. But it would have no effect on state government if it did — in 2022, lawmakers&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/02/24/4-6b-spending-bill-heads-to-governor-house-approves-bill-targeting-medicaid-expansion/">agreed to set $15 an hour</a>&nbsp;as the base wage for all state government jobs.&nbsp;

As a freshman, Vernetti said he knows he will have difficulty getting action on his bill. But he said he’s encouraged by the reaction from other new lawmakers he met on the freshman tour and hopes to get a committee seat that will allow him to push for it.

Proposition A passed overwhelmingly in high-population counties and failed in 79 of 94 counties where fewer than 25,000 votes were cast. That highlights the cultural and economic differences between urban and rural areas, Vernetti said.

“You couldn’t get a person in, say, St Louis city, to look for a job that’s even close to the minimum wage,” Vernetti said. “But in a lot of rural Missouri, those are important jobs. If it continues to increase, businesses are going to have no choice but to cut lower paying jobs altogether.”

A bill with a smaller impact, filed by State Rep.-elect Carolyn Caton, a Republican from Blue Springs, would rollback the minimum for&nbsp;<a href="https://documents.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills251/hlrbillspdf/1457H.01I.pdf" target="_blank">workers younger than 20</a>. The minimum for those workers would be $12.30 per hour.

No bills changing the provisions of Proposition A have been filed in the state Senate.

Attempting to rollback the increase is short-sighted, Vines said. His business pays above minimum wage and has low job turnover even though most workers are part-time employees.

“If you’re at the point where you either have to pay everyone minimum wage and survive barely, or go under paying a little more than minimum wage, your business probably isn’t on stable footing anyway,” he said.

Overstreet, however, said she’s worried that customers will look for other options if she raises prices.

“Dogs are a luxury. They’re not a necessity,” Overstreet said. “I’ve had people leave already because they think I’m expensive.”

Boarding a dog overnight with Overstreet at Top Dog Training costs $40. Daycare costs $30. In much larger Columbia, about 25 miles east of Boonville, overnight boarding can be found starting at $55 and doggy daycare starts at about $40 per day.

“It’s good for them, the people receiving the minimum wage increase,” she said. “But like everything else you do, the rest of us are going to have to raise our prices on services or goods, essential or non-essential, luxury or not.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736249314371.jpeg" alt=" Heather Overstreet, owner of Top Dog Training in Boonville, explains the impact of a higher minimum wage on her small business. Her business includes a 10,000 square foot outdoor area to exercise dogs. (Rudi Keller/Missouri Independent)" />
 <figcaption> Heather Overstreet, owner of Top Dog Training in Boonville, explains the impact of a higher minimum wage on her small business. Her business includes a 10,000 square foot outdoor area to exercise dogs. (Rudi Keller/Missouri Independent)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Newly elected lawmakers seek exemptions for some businesses as challenge to ballot measure awaits action at the Missouri Supreme Court</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/rudi-keller/">RUDI KELLER</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>BOONVILLE — In 2022, Heather Overstreet moved her growing&nbsp;<a href="https://topdogtrainingmo.com/" target="_blank">dog grooming</a>, training and boarding business into a converted garage.It was a milestone for a business she started at age 16 by training dogs for friends of her mother. She innovated on the furnishings, refurbishing a bathtub left behind by the previous owner to use for dog washing. She built indoor kennels with room for 12 dogs and fenced 10,000 square feet outdoors to exercise dogs in daycare and overnight boarding.But future expansion is on hold, Overstreet said, until she understands the impact of voter-approved&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sos.mo.gov/CMSImages/Elections/Petitions/2024-038.pdf" target="_blank">Proposition A</a>, which increases the state minimum wage, on her payroll and customers.“It not only throws off my math, but it just is an entirely new challenge,” Overstreet said.Under the provisions of Proposition A, Missouri’s minimum wage rose to&nbsp; $13.75 an hour on Jan. 1, up from $12.30 an hour. It will increase again to $15 an hour on Jan. 1, 2026, with future adjustments tied to inflation.Along with increasing the minimum wage, Proposition A requires some employers to provide paid sick and family leave starting May 1. Businesses with revenue of $500,000 or more must provide one hour for every 30 hours worked, up to five days per year for businesses with fewer than 15 employees and seven days per year for larger businesses.Overstreet, who is also a member of the City Council in Boonville, with a population of about 8,000, admits she didn’t pay close attention to the details of Proposition A. She expected a more modest increase and had hoped to hold prices steady in 2025. Instead, she will notify customers of a rate hike, she said.She needs three employees to cover the hours she is open.Overstreet hires young people, often for their first job, to care for boarded dogs, and starts them at minimum wage. Over the course of a year, the increase will add $3,247 to employer payroll costs for every full-time minimum wage employee — $3,016 for additional wages and $231 for additional Social Security and Medicare taxes“With minimum wage rising, that’s at least one extra dog that I need per day, which I guess you could say, is no big deal,” Ovestreet said. “But this is a small town, and I’ve only had that shop for two years.”Proposition A, placed on the ballot via initiative petition,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/11/05/missourians-vote-to-increase-minimum-wage-require-paid-sick-leave/">passed in November</a>&nbsp;with 58% of the vote with support from unions, workers’ advocacy groups, social justice and civil rights organizations, and a coalition of more than 500 business owners.There was no large-scale opposition campaign prior to the election. But a court challenge filed in early December by&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/12/09/business-groups-file-legal-challenge-to-voter-approved-minimum-wage-hike-sick-leave/">major business advocacy groups</a>&nbsp;asks the Missouri Supreme Court to invalidate the vote. And legislation filed in advance of this year’s session seeks to exempt 96% of private employers from the higher minimum wage.Randy Vines, co-owner&nbsp; of a St. Louis business that also began as a home-based operation and a backer of Proposition A, said he’s sympathetic to Overstreet’s dilemma but argues that more money in the hands of workers helps the economy.Other costs can squeeze profits as well, said Vines, who founded STL-Style, which makes merchandise themed to St. Louis for retail and wholesale markets, with his brother..If the price of T-shirts goes up, for example, that has to be part of his pricing, he said.“We’re kind of at the mercy of what the markets are doing and what the industry is doing in general,” Vines said. “So when costs go up for manufacturers, we have to, you know, pass that on.”<h2>Minimum wage history</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736249258784.png" alt=" Jeff Vines, left. and Randy Vines in their STL-Style store on Cherokee Street in St. Louis. The Vines see the minimum wage increase as a boost for their business (Submitted photo)." />
 <figcaption> Jeff Vines, left. and Randy Vines in their STL-Style store on Cherokee Street in St. Louis. The Vines see the minimum wage increase as a boost for their business (Submitted photo).</figcaption>
 </figure>For most of the time since a federal minimum wage of 25 cents an hour was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/minimum-wage/history/chart" target="_blank">established in 1938</a>, there was no Missouri law mandating a separate state rate. In 1990, lawmakers extended the minimum wage to all businesses, including those exempt under federal law.The first ballot measure setting the Missouri rate above the federal requirement passed in 2006. It boosted the state wage&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/2006petitions/ipMinimumWage-38" target="_blank">to $6.50 an hour</a>&nbsp;and required future adjustments based on inflation. The federal rate at the time was $5.15 an hour and had not been changed since 1997.In 2018, when adjustments had increased Missouri’s wage to $7.85 an hour, voters&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sos.mo.gov/CMSImages/Elections/Petitions/2018-204.pdf" target="_blank">passed a proposal</a>&nbsp;boosting the rate in yearly increments until it reached $12 an hour at the start of 2023.An inflation adjustment set it at $12.30 an hour for 2024. If Proposition A had failed, the inflation-adjusted wage for 2025 would have been $12.65 an hour, the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations stated in a news release.The current federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour, a rate that has been unchanged since 2009. The highest inflation-adjusted minimum wage was the Feb. 1, 1968, increase to $1.60 an hour, which is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bls.gov/data/inflation_calculator.htm" target="_blank">equal to $14.76 an hour</a>.Prior to November, opponents argued that increasing the minimum wage would&nbsp;<a href="https://showmeinstitute.org/blog/minimum-wage/the-moral-high-ground-and-the-minimum-wage/" target="_blank">cause inflation</a>, job losses and slow the state’s economy. Supporters point to research that calls those&nbsp;<a href="https://mobudget.org/raising-missouris-minimum-wage-is-good-for-workers-and-the-economy/" target="_blank">assumptions into question</a>, noting that the state’s unemployment rate has fallen faster since the start of 2019 than adjoining states that did not boost their minimum wage.“Working families are the drivers of the economy,” Caitlyn Adams, executive director of Missouri Jobs with Justice Voter Action, said in a news release issued Dec. 30. “We are proud to take another step forward in building an economy that works for all.”&nbsp;As he is leaving office, Gov. Mike Parson made job gains and low unemployment the top two bullet points in a news release listing the accomplishments of his administration, which began in June 2018.Missouri added nearly 190,000 new jobs, saw more than $17 billion in new business investment and enjoyed unemployment that was as low as 2.1%, the lowest ever recorded, the release stated.The impact of the increase will be significant for the economy,&nbsp;<a href="https://auditor.mo.gov/FiscalNote/ViewFiscalNoteFile/1411" target="_blank">proponents estimated</a>&nbsp;in filings used by State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick to write the fiscal summary of the proposal. Based on 2022 data, backers said 330,000 Missourians making minimum wage will get a pay raise, and almost 200,000 earning more than the minimum would likely receive raises because their pay is tied to the minimum. Wage costs in 2026 will be about $850 million more than 2022.<h2>Rollback efforts</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736249217936.png" alt="Heather Overstreet stands next to the tub she refurbished for washing dogs at Top Dog Training in Boonville. She is worried about the impact of the minimum wage increase on her dog boarding business (Rudi Keller/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption>Heather Overstreet stands next to the tub she refurbished for washing dogs at Top Dog Training in Boonville. She is worried about the impact of the minimum wage increase on her dog boarding business (Rudi Keller/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure>Business groups opposed to Proposition A didn’t mount a campaign to defeat it at the polls. Instead, they are asking the Missouri Supreme Court to declare the election invalid, alleging the ballot language was misleading and incomplete.&nbsp;And instead of ordering a second vote, the challenge seeks to have the initiative proposal tossed completely for combining the minimum wage increase with the requirement for businesses to provide paid sick and family time.The court refused to hear the case before the increase took effect. Instead, the court&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/SC100876%20ORDER_FINAL.pdf?courtCode=SC&amp;di=205121" target="_blank">appointed Cole County Circuit Judge Josh Devine</a>&nbsp;as a commissioner to take evidence in the election challenge and report his findings by Feb. 10.That could make it possible for the court to rule by the time the sick and family leave provision takes effect May 1.By that time, there should be clear signals from lawmakers on whether they intend to step in.A bill filed by State Rep.-elect Jeff Vernetti, a Republican from Camdenton, would exempt businesses employing almost half of all Missouri workers from the higher minimum wage.The bill would exempt seasonal businesses or those&nbsp;<a href="https://documents.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills251/hlrbillspdf/1326H.01I.pdf" target="_blank">employing 50 or fewer workers</a>. The bill would freeze the minimum wage for those businesses at $12.30 an hour.Vernetti represents the tourist regions around the Lake of the Ozarks, where he owns a small Italian grocery and is a partner in a baseball/softball complex that hosts tournaments and other events.&nbsp;Under his bill, the grocery would qualify for an exemption as a small business and the ballpark business would be exempt as a seasonal operation.“I want to pay employees the most that they can possibly make,” Vernetti said. “I just think the market should dictate it.”According to the&nbsp;<a href="https://data.bls.gov/cew/apps/table_maker/v4/table_maker.htm#type=16&amp;year=2024&amp;st=29&amp;hlind=10&amp;supp=0" target="_blank">Bureau of Labor Statistics</a>, Missouri had 231,753 private businesses in the first quarter of 2024. Of that number, 96% had fewer than 50 workers, employing 46% of the private workforce.The state minimum wage law does not apply to government jobs. But it would have no effect on state government if it did — in 2022, lawmakers&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/02/24/4-6b-spending-bill-heads-to-governor-house-approves-bill-targeting-medicaid-expansion/">agreed to set $15 an hour</a>&nbsp;as the base wage for all state government jobs.&nbsp;As a freshman, Vernetti said he knows he will have difficulty getting action on his bill. But he said he’s encouraged by the reaction from other new lawmakers he met on the freshman tour and hopes to get a committee seat that will allow him to push for it.Proposition A passed overwhelmingly in high-population counties and failed in 79 of 94 counties where fewer than 25,000 votes were cast. That highlights the cultural and economic differences between urban and rural areas, Vernetti said.“You couldn’t get a person in, say, St Louis city, to look for a job that’s even close to the minimum wage,” Vernetti said. “But in a lot of rural Missouri, those are important jobs. If it continues to increase, businesses are going to have no choice but to cut lower paying jobs altogether.”A bill with a smaller impact, filed by State Rep.-elect Carolyn Caton, a Republican from Blue Springs, would rollback the minimum for&nbsp;<a href="https://documents.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills251/hlrbillspdf/1457H.01I.pdf" target="_blank">workers younger than 20</a>. The minimum for those workers would be $12.30 per hour.No bills changing the provisions of Proposition A have been filed in the state Senate.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736249161353.png" alt=" Top Dog Training in Boonville, where Heather Overstreet is worried a minimum wage increase will delay plans to expand the converted garage that houses her business (Rudi Keller/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> Top Dog Training in Boonville, where Heather Overstreet is worried a minimum wage increase will delay plans to expand the converted garage that houses her business (Rudi Keller/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure>Attempting to rollback the increase is short-sighted, Vines said. His business pays above minimum wage and has low job turnover even though most workers are part-time employees.“If you’re at the point where you either have to pay everyone minimum wage and survive barely, or go under paying a little more than minimum wage, your business probably isn’t on stable footing anyway,” he said.Overstreet, however, said she’s worried that customers will look for other options if she raises prices.“Dogs are a luxury. They’re not a necessity,” Overstreet said. “I’ve had people leave already because they think I’m expensive.”Boarding a dog overnight with Overstreet at Top Dog Training costs $40. Daycare costs $30. In much larger Columbia, about 25 miles east of Boonville, overnight boarding can be found starting at $55 and doggy daycare starts at about $40 per day.“It’s good for them, the people receiving the minimum wage increase,” she said. “But like everything else you do, the rest of us are going to have to raise our prices on services or goods, essential or non-essential, luxury or not.”

The battle over Missouri’s minimum wage didn’t end with November vote

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