The Kansas City Chiefs delivered a present to all of Chiefs Kingdom on Christmas day, bringing a first round bye and home field advantage through the playoffs home after defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers 29-10 at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh.

The Chiefs jumped out to a 13-0 lead through the first quarter, quarterback Patrick Mahomes connecting with rookie Xavier Worthy for a seven yard touchdown pass on Kansas City's first offensive drive, then one drive later finding Justin Watson with an 11 yard strike to extend the lead.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Going into halftime however, the Chiefs lead was just one score, the Steelers scoring the lone touchdown of the second quarter driving down the field in 11 plays before quarterback Russell Wilson rushed for a one yard score, both teams going to the locker rooms with Kanas City leading 13-7.&nbsp;

The Chiefs and Steelers exchanged field goals in the third quarter, a 32 yard field goal by Harrison Butker and a 36 yard field goal from Chris Boswell, before Kansas City began to run away with the game in the fourth quarter, first getting a two yard rushing touchdown by Kareem Hunt.&nbsp;

Following the touchdown by Hunt, the Chiefs defense forced a fumble by Steelers tight end Pat Friermuth, setting up a drive that made Chiefs history, Mahomes delivering what would ultimately be the touchdown to put the game away, finding tight end Travis Kelce for a 12 yard touchdown pass, the score making Kelce the player with the most receiving touchdowns in history for Kansas City, passing legendary tight end Tony Gonzalez

Kelce did receive an unsportsmanlike penalty following the touchdown, doing his best impression of Gonzalez and dunking the ball over the goalpost, forcing Butker into his second 48 yard extra point of the day, the first coming following the Worthy touchdown, but after missing the first, Butker knocked through the second for the 29-10 lead.&nbsp;

Kelce said following the game it was showing Gonzalez some love and called it a tribute to who he was for the Chiefs and who he's been for football overall.&nbsp;

"We know how iconic it was that he would dunk the ball over the goalpost all the time, I gave it my best effort, I don't know if I did it quite like him but i gave it a run," Kelce told reporters during the postgame press conference.&nbsp;

The Chiefs offense seems to be turning it on at the right time ahead of the playoffs, putting together one of their best performances of the season.&nbsp; Mahomes was 29 of 38 passing for 320 yards with three touchdowns.&nbsp; Hunt rushed nine times for 20 yards and one touchdown, while Isiah Pacheco rushed six times for 18 yards.&nbsp;

Kelce (eight catches, 84 yards, one touchdown) and Worthy (eight catches, 79 yards, one touchdown) were the leading receivers.&nbsp; The Chiefs defense recorded three takeaways, with fumbles being recovered by Deon Bush and Nick Bolton, and an interception in the endzone by Justin Reid.&nbsp;

Kansas City is now 14-1 on the season, and is still one of only four teams in the NFL to not score 30 or more points.&nbsp; They will wrap up the season next week on Sunday against the Denver Broncos on the road, kickoff time has yet to be determined.&nbsp;

With the playoffs on the horizon, and a first round bye clinched, there is a likely chance head coach Andy Reid will rest his starters in the AFC West clash, getting them rested for the playoffs following a rough stretch of three games in 11 days.

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/2024/12/1735175096524.jpeg" alt="Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, as Santa Clause, celebrates Kansas City clinching a first round bye after a 29-10 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Christmas Day/ Photo courtesy of the Kansas City Chiefs" />
 <figcaption>Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, as Santa Clause, celebrates Kansas City clinching a first round bye after a 29-10 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Christmas Day/ Photo courtesy of the Kansas City Chiefs</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKESt. Joseph PostThe Kansas City Chiefs delivered a present to all of Chiefs Kingdom on Christmas day, bringing a first round bye and home field advantage through the playoffs home after defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers 29-10 at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh.The Chiefs jumped out to a 13-0 lead through the first quarter, quarterback Patrick Mahomes connecting with rookie Xavier Worthy for a seven yard touchdown pass on Kansas City's first offensive drive, then one drive later finding Justin Watson with an 11 yard strike to extend the lead.&nbsp;&nbsp;Going into halftime however, the Chiefs lead was just one score, the Steelers scoring the lone touchdown of the second quarter driving down the field in 11 plays before quarterback Russell Wilson rushed for a one yard score, both teams going to the locker rooms with Kanas City leading 13-7.&nbsp;The Chiefs and Steelers exchanged field goals in the third quarter, a 32 yard field goal by Harrison Butker and a 36 yard field goal from Chris Boswell, before Kansas City began to run away with the game in the fourth quarter, first getting a two yard rushing touchdown by Kareem Hunt.&nbsp;Following the touchdown by Hunt, the Chiefs defense forced a fumble by Steelers tight end Pat Friermuth, setting up a drive that made Chiefs history, Mahomes delivering what would ultimately be the touchdown to put the game away, finding tight end Travis Kelce for a 12 yard touchdown pass, the score making Kelce the player with the most receiving touchdowns in history for Kansas City, passing legendary tight end Tony Gonzalez<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">HOLIDAY TOUCHDOWN FOR TRAVIS‼️ <a href="https://t.co/sqgtsd0r1K">pic.twitter.com/sqgtsd0r1K</a>&mdash; Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) <a href="https://twitter.com/Chiefs/status/1872016012171755779?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 25, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Kelce did receive an unsportsmanlike penalty following the touchdown, doing his best impression of Gonzalez and dunking the ball over the goalpost, forcing Butker into his second 48 yard extra point of the day, the first coming following the Worthy touchdown, but after missing the first, Butker knocked through the second for the 29-10 lead.&nbsp;Kelce said following the game it was showing Gonzalez some love and called it a tribute to who he was for the Chiefs and who he's been for football overall.&nbsp;"We know how iconic it was that he would dunk the ball over the goalpost all the time, I gave it my best effort, I don't know if I did it quite like him but i gave it a run," Kelce told reporters during the postgame press conference.&nbsp;The Chiefs offense seems to be turning it on at the right time ahead of the playoffs, putting together one of their best performances of the season.&nbsp; Mahomes was 29 of 38 passing for 320 yards with three touchdowns.&nbsp; Hunt rushed nine times for 20 yards and one touchdown, while Isiah Pacheco rushed six times for 18 yards.&nbsp;Kelce (eight catches, 84 yards, one touchdown) and Worthy (eight catches, 79 yards, one touchdown) were the leading receivers.&nbsp; The Chiefs defense recorded three takeaways, with fumbles being recovered by Deon Bush and Nick Bolton, and an interception in the endzone by Justin Reid.&nbsp;Kansas City is now 14-1 on the season, and is still one of only four teams in the NFL to not score 30 or more points.&nbsp; They will wrap up the season next week on Sunday against the Denver Broncos on the road, kickoff time has yet to be determined.&nbsp;With the playoffs on the horizon, and a first round bye clinched, there is a likely chance head coach Andy Reid will rest his starters in the AFC West clash, getting them rested for the playoffs following a rough stretch of three games in 11 days.You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Merry Christmas Kingdom: Chiefs clinch first round bye with win over Steelers

State Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer will enter the upcoming Missouri
legislative session in a major leadership position.

Luetkemeyer, who represents Platte and Buchanan Counties in
the Missouri Senate, has been elected by the Republican Caucus to be the
Majority Floor Leader next year.

In the role, Luetkemeyer will decide what legislation reaches
the Senate floor for debate.

“And oftentimes the Floor Leader is at the center of
negotiations on legislation before it passes the Senate and gets over to the
House,” Luetkemeyer tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “I’m looking forward to working
with all my Republican colleagues to help them get their individual priorities
for their districts done and then also get some of the big conservative things
done that we all want to get done as Republicans.”

Luetkemeyer, A Republican from Parkville, says it’s no secret the
Senate Republican Caucus had its difficulties in the last few sessions in
Jefferson City.

“We’ve had a little bit of dysfunction or discord within the
Republican Caucus in the Senate over the last several years,” Luetkemeyer
concedes. “The commitment that I made to all of my caucus members whenever I
ran for this position; my number one priority is not even necessarily
legislative. My number one priority is Senate functionality.”

Returning and newly elected Republican senators voted for
Luetkemeyer during a meeting held at the state Capitol in preparation for the
upcoming, 2025 legislative session.

Luetkemeyer says dysfunction within the Senate Republican
Caucus has cost conservatives.

“My belief is a united Republican Caucus is much more
effective at passing big, bold conservative ideas than a caucus that’s divided
against itself.”

Luetkemeyer says Republican in-fighting the last few sessions
kept good legislation from passing.

“I think a lot of what we saw in terms of dysfunction in the
Senate, I mean it can be blamed on a whole bunch of different things, but a lot
of it was just a breakdown in communication,” Luetkemeyer says. “People just
flat out stopped talking to each other.”

Luetkemeyer hopes the Republican Caucus can adopt the
traditional practice of working out differences in private, behind closed
doors.

“Not on the floor of the Senate with a microphone in front of
you and a bunch of TV cameras pointed on you,” Luetkemeyer says. “We need to
get back to that kind of a place.”

Luetkemeyer will serve in the number two leadership role in
the Missouri Senate, behind only the President Pro Tem.

The Missouri legislative session begins January 8th.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1735052777039.jpeg" alt="Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer/file photo" />
 <figcaption>Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer/file photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostState Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer will enter the upcoming Missouri
legislative session in a major leadership position.Luetkemeyer, who represents Platte and Buchanan Counties in
the Missouri Senate, has been elected by the Republican Caucus to be the
Majority Floor Leader next year.In the role, Luetkemeyer will decide what legislation reaches
the Senate floor for debate.“And oftentimes the Floor Leader is at the center of
negotiations on legislation before it passes the Senate and gets over to the
House,” Luetkemeyer tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “I’m looking forward to working
with all my Republican colleagues to help them get their individual priorities
for their districts done and then also get some of the big conservative things
done that we all want to get done as Republicans.”Luetkemeyer, A Republican from Parkville, says it’s no secret the
Senate Republican Caucus had its difficulties in the last few sessions in
Jefferson City.“We’ve had a little bit of dysfunction or discord within the
Republican Caucus in the Senate over the last several years,” Luetkemeyer
concedes. “The commitment that I made to all of my caucus members whenever I
ran for this position; my number one priority is not even necessarily
legislative. My number one priority is Senate functionality.”Returning and newly elected Republican senators voted for
Luetkemeyer during a meeting held at the state Capitol in preparation for the
upcoming, 2025 legislative session.Luetkemeyer says dysfunction within the Senate Republican
Caucus has cost conservatives.“My belief is a united Republican Caucus is much more
effective at passing big, bold conservative ideas than a caucus that’s divided
against itself.”Luetkemeyer says Republican in-fighting the last few sessions
kept good legislation from passing.“I think a lot of what we saw in terms of dysfunction in the
Senate, I mean it can be blamed on a whole bunch of different things, but a lot
of it was just a breakdown in communication,” Luetkemeyer says. “People just
flat out stopped talking to each other.”Luetkemeyer hopes the Republican Caucus can adopt the
traditional practice of working out differences in private, behind closed
doors.“Not on the floor of the Senate with a microphone in front of
you and a bunch of TV cameras pointed on you,” Luetkemeyer says. “We need to
get back to that kind of a place.”Luetkemeyer will serve in the number two leadership role in
the Missouri Senate, behind only the President Pro Tem.The Missouri legislative session begins January 8th.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Sen. Luetkemeyer prepares to take over leadership role in Jeff City

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — U.S. Rep. Jake LaTurner marked final preparations for departing Congress with a speech connecting his rise in Kansas politics to a family legacy of resilience and featuring a special request that colleagues aid children suffering extreme malnutrition.

LaTurner, a Republican who served in the Kansas Senate and as state treasurer before entering the U.S. House, declined to seek reelection to a third term in 2024. He was elected in 2020 by 2nd District voters eager to replace troubled GOP U.S. Rep. Steve Watkins.

He said in April the requirements of serving in Congress and running for reelection every two years had “taken a toll.” He has four young children and wanted to “be more present” for them.

“I want to thank my friends both at home and my colleagues here, my supporters who helped me get here, and my family,” LaTurner said. “To my kids, the best title I’ve ever had is dad. And that title is about to get my full attention.”

In remarks offered on the House floor ahead of his January exit, LaTurner requested Congress and the White House approve $300 million in funding for a global health initiative making use of Ready-to-Use&nbsp;Therapeutic Foods or&nbsp;RUTF. It would expand the reach of this U.S.-made, medical-grade, nutrient-dense paste given to children suffering severe malnutrition.

“That increase should be realized. It is the right thing to do,” LaTurner said.

LaTurner said starving children consuming RUFT — at a cost of about $1 per day — had a survival rate near 90%. The nutritional product could be made with ingredients from 28 states, including peanuts, dairy, soy, sugar and micronutrients.

He recalled entering the House in 2021 and speaking with U.S. Rep. Don Young, who became the longest-serving Republican in House history. Young represented Alaska until his death in 2022.

“He told me when he arrived in 1973, it was customary for freshmen members to wait six months before speaking on the House floor,” LaTurner said. “To his surprise, I adopted this tradition. I did so partly out of deference to the dean, but mostly because it showed respect for this institution.”

LaTurner said it was the responsibility of people serving in Congress to preserve “an institution and a system of government that our founders painstakingly designed to safeguard against human nature.”

The departing Republican originally from southeast Kansas said he followed a path carved through sacrifice and tenacity of his family.

LaTurner said his single-parent father worked long hours managing a Sonic restaurant while putting himself through college. His dad became the first in the family to earn a college degree. He was as an educator and mayor of Galena.

His grandmother dropped out of school in the ninth grade because she had only one dress and couldn’t endure ridicule by her classmates. She raised six children and earned a G.E.D. before working as a nurse. LaTurner’s grandfather was the first in the family to graduate high school. He lost sight in one eye while serving in Korea. Unable to pass a physical, he worked odd jobs until he found his calling as a lay judge.

His grandfather’s father was killed in the mines at the age of 41 and left behind a widow and six children. They endured hardships most people cannot fathom, LaTurner said.

“Yet, three short generations later, his great-grandson was called ‘the gentleman from Kansas’ on the floor of the United States House of Representatives,” LaTurner said. “I share these stories because they remind me every day that I did not get here on my own. What a country this is. But it’s not just my story. It’s the American story.”

LaTurner, 36, entered the Kansas Senate in 2012. He was appointed state treasurer by GOP Gov. Sam Brownback. In 2020, he briefly sought the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate before winning the 2nd District House race.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1735050524393.png" alt=" U.S. Rep. Jake LaTurner, R-Kansas, addressed the U.S. House for the final time before leaving Congress in January. He chose not to seek reelection in 2024 in the Second District of Kansas. (Kansas Reflector screen caputure of the U.S. House’s YouTube channel)" />
 <figcaption> U.S. Rep. Jake LaTurner, R-Kansas, addressed the U.S. House for the final time before leaving Congress in January. He chose not to seek reelection in 2024 in the Second District of Kansas. (Kansas Reflector screen caputure of the U.S. House’s YouTube channel)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — U.S. Rep. Jake LaTurner marked final preparations for departing Congress with a speech connecting his rise in Kansas politics to a family legacy of resilience and featuring a special request that colleagues aid children suffering extreme malnutrition.LaTurner, a Republican who served in the Kansas Senate and as state treasurer before entering the U.S. House, declined to seek reelection to a third term in 2024. He was elected in 2020 by 2nd District voters eager to replace troubled GOP U.S. Rep. Steve Watkins.He said in April the requirements of serving in Congress and running for reelection every two years had “taken a toll.” He has four young children and wanted to “be more present” for them.“I want to thank my friends both at home and my colleagues here, my supporters who helped me get here, and my family,” LaTurner said. “To my kids, the best title I’ve ever had is dad. And that title is about to get my full attention.”In remarks offered on the House floor ahead of his January exit, LaTurner requested Congress and the White House approve $300 million in funding for a global health initiative making use of Ready-to-Use&nbsp;Therapeutic Foods or&nbsp;RUTF. It would expand the reach of this U.S.-made, medical-grade, nutrient-dense paste given to children suffering severe malnutrition.“That increase should be realized. It is the right thing to do,” LaTurner said.LaTurner said starving children consuming RUFT — at a cost of about $1 per day — had a survival rate near 90%. The nutritional product could be made with ingredients from 28 states, including peanuts, dairy, soy, sugar and micronutrients.He recalled entering the House in 2021 and speaking with U.S. Rep. Don Young, who became the longest-serving Republican in House history. Young represented Alaska until his death in 2022.“He told me when he arrived in 1973, it was customary for freshmen members to wait six months before speaking on the House floor,” LaTurner said. “To his surprise, I adopted this tradition. I did so partly out of deference to the dean, but mostly because it showed respect for this institution.”LaTurner said it was the responsibility of people serving in Congress to preserve “an institution and a system of government that our founders painstakingly designed to safeguard against human nature.”The departing Republican originally from southeast Kansas said he followed a path carved through sacrifice and tenacity of his family.LaTurner said his single-parent father worked long hours managing a Sonic restaurant while putting himself through college. His dad became the first in the family to earn a college degree. He was as an educator and mayor of Galena.His grandmother dropped out of school in the ninth grade because she had only one dress and couldn’t endure ridicule by her classmates. She raised six children and earned a G.E.D. before working as a nurse. LaTurner’s grandfather was the first in the family to graduate high school. He lost sight in one eye while serving in Korea. Unable to pass a physical, he worked odd jobs until he found his calling as a lay judge.His grandfather’s father was killed in the mines at the age of 41 and left behind a widow and six children. They endured hardships most people cannot fathom, LaTurner said.“Yet, three short generations later, his great-grandson was called ‘the gentleman from Kansas’ on the floor of the United States House of Representatives,” LaTurner said. “I share these stories because they remind me every day that I did not get here on my own. What a country this is. But it’s not just my story. It’s the American story.”LaTurner, 36, entered the Kansas Senate in 2012. He was appointed state treasurer by GOP Gov. Sam Brownback. In 2020, he briefly sought the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate before winning the 2nd District House race.

Retiring U.S. Rep. Jake LaTurner shares appreciation for family, seeks aid for starving children

CLINTON COUNTY—Two people were injured in an accident just after 3:30p.m. Sunday in Clinton County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2008 Honda Odyssey driven by a 42-year-old Ames, Iowa, woman was southbound on Interstate 35 two miles north of Holt in the driving lane.

The driver swerved to avoid a dog in the road. The left front of the Honda struck the right front of a southbound 2008 Ford Focus in the passing lane.&nbsp; After impact, both vehicles traveled off the east side of the road.

EMS transported the 56-year-old driver Ford driver and a 66-year-old passenger, both of Excelsior Springs, to Liberty Hospital.&nbsp; The driver of the Honda was not injured. All three were properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

Note: MSHP no longer releases names of accident victims

CLINTON COUNTY—Two people were injured in an accident just after 3:30p.m. Sunday in Clinton County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2008 Honda Odyssey driven by a 42-year-old Ames, Iowa, woman was southbound on Interstate 35 two miles north of Holt in the driving lane.The driver swerved to avoid a dog in the road. The left front of the Honda struck the right front of a southbound 2008 Ford Focus in the passing lane.&nbsp; After impact, both vehicles traveled off the east side of the road.EMS transported the 56-year-old driver Ford driver and a 66-year-old passenger, both of Excelsior Springs, to Liberty Hospital.&nbsp; The driver of the Honda was not injured. All three were properly restrained, according to the MSHP.Note: MSHP no longer releases names of accident victims

2 Mo. women injured after driver swerves to avoid dog on the road

GRUNDY COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 7p.m. Saturday in Grundy County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2007 Honda Accord driven by a 25-year-old Utica, Missouri woman was northbound on U.S. 65 ten miles south of Trenton.

The car traveled into the southbound lane to pass two vehicles. The driver lost control of the car when returning to the northbound lane. The car traveled off the east side of the road and overturned.

Chillicothe EMS transported the driver to Wright Memorial Hospital. She was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.

GRUNDY COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 7p.m. Saturday in Grundy County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2007 Honda Accord driven by a 25-year-old Utica, Missouri woman was northbound on U.S. 65 ten miles south of Trenton.The car traveled into the southbound lane to pass two vehicles. The driver lost control of the car when returning to the northbound lane. The car traveled off the east side of the road and overturned.Chillicothe EMS transported the driver to Wright Memorial Hospital. She was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.Note: MSHP no longer releases names of accident victims

Mo. woman hospitalized after car overturns

DEKALB COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 4p.m. Saturday in DeKalb County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2023 Hyundai Elantra driven by a 27-year-old Nashville, Tennessee, woman was northbound on MO 33 just south of Maysville.

The car crossed the center line into the southbound lane. A northbound 2006 Chevy Silverado driven by a 39-year-old from Cameron attempted to avoid the Hyundai and crossed the center line into the northbound lane. The driver of the Hyundai overcorrected back into the northbound lane and the vehicles crashed head-on.

DeKalb-Clinton ambulance transported the driver of the Hyundai to Cameron Regional Medical Center where she was pronounced deceased.&nbsp; DeKalb-Clinton ambulance transported the driver of the pickup to Mosaic Life Care. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

DEKALB COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 4p.m. Saturday in DeKalb County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2023 Hyundai Elantra driven by a 27-year-old Nashville, Tennessee, woman was northbound on MO 33 just south of Maysville.The car crossed the center line into the southbound lane. A northbound 2006 Chevy Silverado driven by a 39-year-old from Cameron attempted to avoid the Hyundai and crossed the center line into the northbound lane. The driver of the Hyundai overcorrected back into the northbound lane and the vehicles crashed head-on.DeKalb-Clinton ambulance transported the driver of the Hyundai to Cameron Regional Medical Center where she was pronounced deceased.&nbsp; DeKalb-Clinton ambulance transported the driver of the pickup to Mosaic Life Care. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the MSHP.Note: MSHP no longer releases names of accident victims

Woman dies after DeKalb County head-on crash

ATCHISON COUNTY— Law enforcement are investigating a suspect who was jailed in Johnson County on drug and financial crime allegations.

On Thursday, police arrested 39-year-old Charles E. Carpenter III of Atchison on a Johnson County Kansas warrant for failure to comply with lawful order of the court, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734705243116.png" alt="Carpenter-photo Atchison Co." />
 <figcaption>Carpenter-photo Atchison Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY— Law enforcement are investigating a suspect who was jailed in Johnson County on drug and financial crime allegations.On Thursday, police arrested 39-year-old Charles E. Carpenter III of Atchison on a Johnson County Kansas warrant for failure to comply with lawful order of the court, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.Carpenter remains jailed in Atchison.

Kansas man jailed for failure to comply with court order

A Jackson County judge on Friday issued an order that temporarily struck down some of Missouri’s ‘targeted regulation of abortion providers’ laws while leaving others in place

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

A Missouri judge on Friday temporarily struck down several laws that Planned Parenthood clinics have said made access to abortion all but impossible across the state.&nbsp;

Among the laws Jackson County Judge Jerri Zhang blocked include a 72-hour waiting period for an abortion and a mandate that physicians performing abortions have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals.

After more than two years of a near-total abortion ban, Missourians voted to legalize the procedure in November.&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/11/06/missouri-abortion-access-planned-parenthood-lawsuit-amendment-3/">Planned Parenthood and the ACLU of Missouri immediately sued</a>&nbsp;the state in the hopes of invalidating dozens of abortion regulations they believed were now unconstitutional.&nbsp;

On Friday afternoon,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/2416-CV31931.COMP%20HEALTH.Prelim%20Injuction%20ORDER_FINAL.pdf?courtCode=16&amp;di=26642271" target="_blank">Zhang granted some of Planned Parenthood’s requests and denied others</a>. This means that for the time being at least, some of the state’s strictest “targeted regulation of abortion providers,” or TRAP, laws are not enforceable.&nbsp;

Planned Parenthood clinics in Missouri did not immediately say how soon they may begin offering abortion as a result of the judge’s order.

State officials, including Attorney General Andrew Bailey, agreed Amendment 3 makes null and void the state’s current ban on abortion, which only allows exceptions for medical emergencies.&nbsp;

But&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/12/05/abortion-lawsuit-planned-parenthood-amendment-3-missouri-jackson-county/">during a Dec. 4 hearing</a>, Bailey’s office panned Planned Parenthood’s arguments that current TRAP laws cause irreparable harm and are unnecessary.&nbsp;

The state asked that the case be dismissed, arguing that because abortion is still accessible by mail or by leaving the state, Planned Parenthood didn’t have the standing to ask for an emergency injunction.

In her Friday order, Zhang wrote that, “as plaintiffs argue, they and their patients are suffering serious harm, whereas defendants only stand to lose the ability temporarily to enforce some laws that are likely to be held unconstitutional and which further no valid compelling state interest.”

She went on to temporarily strike down the following TRAP laws as unconstitutional:&nbsp;

Zhang kept in place the following TRAP laws:

“We are gratified that the court has rightly decided to retain licensing requirements for abortion facilities and doctors who perform abortions even while we mourn the loss of protections that are vital to the safety of women and the protection of preborn children,” Brian Westbrook, executive director of Coalition Life, said in a statement, adding that the organization will “closely monitor the licensing process of any facility in Missouri that seeks to offer abortions.”

<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/11/05/missouri-voters-overturn-states-near-total-abortion-ban/">On Nov. 5, Missourians narrowly approved Amendment 3</a>, which&nbsp;states, in part, that “the right to reproductive freedom shall not be denied, interfered with, delayed, or otherwise restricted unless the government demonstrates that such action is justifiable by a compelling governmental interest achieved by the least restrictive means.”&nbsp;

The constitutional amendment officially took effect Dec. 6, though Planned Parenthood leadership in Missouri said abortion services could not be resumed without a judge striking down certain TRAP laws. At that point, abortions would be offered again in Kansas City, Columbia and St. Louis clinics&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1725887984419.png" alt=" Supporters of a proposed ballot measure to legalize abortion up until the point of fetal viability gathered at a rally hosted by Missourians for Constitutional Freedom on Feb. 6 in Kansas City (Anna Spoerre/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> Supporters of a proposed ballot measure to legalize abortion up until the point of fetal viability gathered at a rally hosted by Missourians for Constitutional Freedom on Feb. 6 in Kansas City (Anna Spoerre/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>A Jackson County judge on Friday issued an order that temporarily struck down some of Missouri’s ‘targeted regulation of abortion providers’ laws while leaving others in place</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/annaspoerre/">ANNA SPOERRE</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>A Missouri judge on Friday temporarily struck down several laws that Planned Parenthood clinics have said made access to abortion all but impossible across the state.&nbsp;Among the laws Jackson County Judge Jerri Zhang blocked include a 72-hour waiting period for an abortion and a mandate that physicians performing abortions have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals.After more than two years of a near-total abortion ban, Missourians voted to legalize the procedure in November.&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/11/06/missouri-abortion-access-planned-parenthood-lawsuit-amendment-3/">Planned Parenthood and the ACLU of Missouri immediately sued</a>&nbsp;the state in the hopes of invalidating dozens of abortion regulations they believed were now unconstitutional.&nbsp;On Friday afternoon,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/2416-CV31931.COMP%20HEALTH.Prelim%20Injuction%20ORDER_FINAL.pdf?courtCode=16&amp;di=26642271" target="_blank">Zhang granted some of Planned Parenthood’s requests and denied others</a>. This means that for the time being at least, some of the state’s strictest “targeted regulation of abortion providers,” or TRAP, laws are not enforceable.&nbsp;Planned Parenthood clinics in Missouri did not immediately say how soon they may begin offering abortion as a result of the judge’s order.State officials, including Attorney General Andrew Bailey, agreed Amendment 3 makes null and void the state’s current ban on abortion, which only allows exceptions for medical emergencies.&nbsp;But&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/12/05/abortion-lawsuit-planned-parenthood-amendment-3-missouri-jackson-county/">during a Dec. 4 hearing</a>, Bailey’s office panned Planned Parenthood’s arguments that current TRAP laws cause irreparable harm and are unnecessary.&nbsp;The state asked that the case be dismissed, arguing that because abortion is still accessible by mail or by leaving the state, Planned Parenthood didn’t have the standing to ask for an emergency injunction.In her Friday order, Zhang wrote that, “as plaintiffs argue, they and their patients are suffering serious harm, whereas defendants only stand to lose the ability temporarily to enforce some laws that are likely to be held unconstitutional and which further no valid compelling state interest.”She went on to temporarily strike down the following TRAP laws as unconstitutional:&nbsp;<ul>
 <li>A requirement that physicians providing abortions have admitting privileges at hospitals with obstetric or gynecological care within 30 miles or a 15-minute drive.&nbsp;</li><li>A mandatory 72-hour waiting period between an initial abortion consultation and the abortion procedure.</li><li>The state’s informed consent requirement, which includes access to the state’s&nbsp;<a href="https://health.mo.gov/living/families/womenshealth/pregnancyassistance/pdf/Mo.InformedConsentBooklet-Revisedpgs.12-15August2019jkOGCReviewed.pdf" target="_blank">informed consent booklet</a>.&nbsp;</li><li>In cases of medication abortions, a requirement that the medication be administered in the presence of the doctor who prescribed it. Planned Parenthood refers to this as a “telemedicine ban,” which prevents doctors from prescribing a medication in-person but allowing the patient to take the medication at home or in the presence of another medical professional.</li><li>A requirement that before administering medication abortion, providers must have a complication plan in place, which includes access to an on-call OB-GYN who is available at any time, in the case of a complication. Zhang wrote that this law was not helpful to those traveling from rural Missouri to an urban Planned Parenthood clinic, for example.&nbsp;</li><li>A law requiring all fetal tissue removed from the uterus during an abortion be sent to a pathologist.</li>
 </ul>Zhang kept in place the following TRAP laws:<ul>
 <li>A requirement that patients must first see a doctor for an in-person appointment to confirm gestational age before prescribing the pills used in medication abortions.</li><li>A law stating that abortions can only be performed by physicians, and not physicians assistants or other advanced practice clinicians.&nbsp;</li><li>A law allowing the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services to place separate regulations and standards that apply to ambulatory surgical centers on abortion clinics. This law also requires clinics to keep a written plan for managing medical emergencies, including a transfer plan for patients to a nearby hospital.</li>
 </ul>“We are gratified that the court has rightly decided to retain licensing requirements for abortion facilities and doctors who perform abortions even while we mourn the loss of protections that are vital to the safety of women and the protection of preborn children,” Brian Westbrook, executive director of Coalition Life, said in a statement, adding that the organization will “closely monitor the licensing process of any facility in Missouri that seeks to offer abortions.”<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/11/05/missouri-voters-overturn-states-near-total-abortion-ban/">On Nov. 5, Missourians narrowly approved Amendment 3</a>, which&nbsp;states, in part, that “the right to reproductive freedom shall not be denied, interfered with, delayed, or otherwise restricted unless the government demonstrates that such action is justifiable by a compelling governmental interest achieved by the least restrictive means.”&nbsp;The constitutional amendment officially took effect Dec. 6, though Planned Parenthood leadership in Missouri said abortion services could not be resumed without a judge striking down certain TRAP laws. At that point, abortions would be offered again in Kansas City, Columbia and St. Louis clinics&nbsp;

72-hour waiting period among Mo. abortion laws temporarily struck down by judge

BROWN COUNTY—Two people died in an accident just after 8a.m. Friday in Brown County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2016 Freightliner semi driven by Edward C. Bullmaster, 26, St. Joseph, was westbound on K20 at U.S. 75.

The driver failed to stop at the stop sign at the junction.&nbsp; The semi struck a westbound 2019 Ford F150 driven by David&nbsp; Provorse, 64, Topeka, broadside. After impact both vehicles came to rest in the west ditch.

&nbsp;Provorse and a passenger in the pickup Marcia L. Provorse, 62, Topeka, were pronounced dead at the scene and were transported to Chapel Oaks Funeral Home. 

EMS transported Bullmaster and a passenger in the semi Clay J Lutz, 36, Rushville, Missouri, to the Sabetha Hospital.

BROWN COUNTY—Two people died in an accident just after 8a.m. Friday in Brown County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2016 Freightliner semi driven by Edward C. Bullmaster, 26, St. Joseph, was westbound on K20 at U.S. 75.The driver failed to stop at the stop sign at the junction.&nbsp; The semi struck a westbound 2019 Ford F150 driven by David&nbsp; Provorse, 64, Topeka, broadside. After impact both vehicles came to rest in the west ditch.&nbsp;Provorse and a passenger in the pickup Marcia L. Provorse, 62, Topeka, were pronounced dead at the scene and were transported to Chapel Oaks Funeral Home. EMS transported Bullmaster and a passenger in the semi Clay J Lutz, 36, Rushville, Missouri, to the Sabetha Hospital.

Semi driver from St. Joe injured in double-fatal crash 

St. Joseph City officials have come to a new compromise on fees at the city landfill. 

Interim City Manager Clint Thompson says compromise came following a public forum earlier this month.  

"And I think we've been able to arrive at an amount now that is a positive direction moving forward in helping the landfill be an asset in the community long-term," Thompson tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr.  "But also, it was a needed increase as a result of the lack of increases for 20 plus years." 

City leaders worked extensively with a packed crowd of local waste haulers and residents to create a framework for a new three tier fee structure that will now charge most local and commercial haulers $40 a ton to dump, $20 for cars.  

Interim City Manager Clint Thompson says the new rate will also aggressively crackdown on large out of town haulers 

"That we see coming in from transfer stations and have increased that rate to $150 per ton," Thompson explains. 

Thompson says another thing that will be discussed is the formation of a landfill task force 

"And that committee will meet in 2025 to study the long-term rate of the landfill, look at the life expectancy," Thompson says. 

The City Council will vote on the rate changes during its January 6th meeting. 

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

By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post St. Joseph City officials have come to a new compromise on fees at the city landfill. Interim City Manager Clint Thompson says compromise came following a public forum earlier this month. "And I think we've been able to arrive at an amount now that is a positive direction moving forward in helping the landfill be an asset in the community long-term," Thompson tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr. "But also, it was a needed increase as a result of the lack of increases for 20 plus years." City leaders worked extensively with a packed crowd of local waste haulers and residents to create a framework for a new three tier fee structure that will now charge most local and commercial haulers $40 a ton to dump, $20 for cars. Interim City Manager Clint Thompson says the new rate will also aggressively crackdown on large out of town haulers "That we see coming in from transfer stations and have increased that rate to $150 per ton," Thompson explains. Thompson says another thing that will be discussed is the formation of a landfill task force "And that committee will meet in 2025 to study the long-term rate of the landfill, look at the life expectancy," Thompson says. The City Council will vote on the rate changes during its January 6th meeting. You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

St. Joseph officials will vote on landfill rate change January 6th

DEKALB COUNTY — A Bethany, Missouri woman died and four others were injured in an accident just before 4p.m. Thursday in DeKalb County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2007 GMC Envoy driven by an 18-year-old Bethany man was southbound on MO 6 at MO 31 five miles north of Clarksdale.

The driver failed to stop at the stop sign at the junction.&nbsp; The SUV struck a westbound 2001 Dodge 1500 driven by a 31-year-old Clarksdale man.

A 37-year-old female passenger in the Envoy was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to the county coroner's office.

A 15-year-old female passenger in the Envoy was transported to Children's Mercy. DeKalb County EMS transported both drivers and a 40-year-old male passenger in the Envoy to Mosaic Life Care. The 15-year-old female passenger in the Envoy was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.

DEKALB COUNTY — A Bethany, Missouri woman died and four others were injured in an accident just before 4p.m. Thursday in DeKalb County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2007 GMC Envoy driven by an 18-year-old Bethany man was southbound on MO 6 at MO 31 five miles north of Clarksdale.The driver failed to stop at the stop sign at the junction.&nbsp; The SUV struck a westbound 2001 Dodge 1500 driven by a 31-year-old Clarksdale man.A 37-year-old female passenger in the Envoy was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to the county coroner's office.A 15-year-old female passenger in the Envoy was transported to Children's Mercy. DeKalb County EMS transported both drivers and a 40-year-old male passenger in the Envoy to Mosaic Life Care. The 15-year-old female passenger in the Envoy was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.

Missouri woman dies, 4 others injured in SUV, pickup crash

ANDREW COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 1:30p.m. Thursday in Andrew County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Ford F150 driven by a 62-year-old Savannah man was northbound on Business 71 three miles south of Savannah.

The pickup rear-ended a 2008 Chevy Impala driven by a 34-year-old St. Joseph man that had stalled in the road.

Andrew County EMS transported the 34-year-old driver to Mosaic Life Care. The pickup driver was not injured. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

ANDREW COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 1:30p.m. Thursday in Andrew County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Ford F150 driven by a 62-year-old Savannah man was northbound on Business 71 three miles south of Savannah.The pickup rear-ended a 2008 Chevy Impala driven by a 34-year-old St. Joseph man that had stalled in the road.Andrew County EMS transported the 34-year-old driver to Mosaic Life Care. The pickup driver was not injured. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

St. Joseph man injured after rear-end crash

The winners of the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce's 'Shop St. Joseph' program have been announced.

26-year old Ethan Bennett, of St. Joseph, won the grand prize of $10,000. He was presented the check Thursday afternoon at Murphy's Smokin' Meats and Catering, which is the restaurant where he received the winning ticket.&nbsp;

Bennett says he plans to use some of the winnings to help his grandmother have a nice Christmas. "My grandma has dementia and we wanted to get her something really nice for the holidays. As of right now, we're just making sure we're talking to the proper people and making sure we're handling this correctly."

Bennett, a small business owner himself, says his family likes supporting local businesses. He is the owner of EWB Co., an online hunting and lifestyle clothing store.

Dale and Annette Murphy, owners of Murphy's Smokin' Meats and Catering say they're thrilled the winning ticket came from their business. "We're very excited. For us being a new business, we've only had our brick and mortar opened for about a year, but we've had our business since 2015. Having the winning ticket makes it that much better."

Murphy's Smokin' Meats and Catering is located at 1930 Commercial Street.

The other big winner for Shop St. Joseph was Julie Turner, who claimed the $2,500 Shop Small Business Bonus ticket at Niche of Time Jewelry.

Turner was a first-time shopper at the store, saying, "My hairdresser works there part-time and I was looking for a nice pair of earrings, so I thought I'd go check out the store."

Turner adds, "I was shocked when I saw my ticket matched the winning number."

The presenting sponsor for Shop St. Joseph is First Option Bank.

There are still several second-chance prizes ready to be claimed. For a list of the second-chance prize winning numbers, <a href="https://saintjoseph.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/second-chance-winning-numbers-2024.pdf">visit here</a>.

Those with the winning tickets have 30 days to go to the place of business itself to claim the prize.

By RYAN SKAITHSt. Joseph Post<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734652808147.jpeg" alt="Shop St Joe Winner 2024 Bennett" />
 <figcaption>Shop St Joe Winner 2024 Bennett</figcaption>
 </figure>The winners of the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce's 'Shop St. Joseph' program have been announced.26-year old Ethan Bennett, of St. Joseph, won the grand prize of $10,000. He was presented the check Thursday afternoon at Murphy's Smokin' Meats and Catering, which is the restaurant where he received the winning ticket.&nbsp;Bennett says he plans to use some of the winnings to help his grandmother have a nice Christmas. "My grandma has dementia and we wanted to get her something really nice for the holidays. As of right now, we're just making sure we're talking to the proper people and making sure we're handling this correctly."Bennett, a small business owner himself, says his family likes supporting local businesses. He is the owner of EWB Co., an online hunting and lifestyle clothing store.Dale and Annette Murphy, owners of Murphy's Smokin' Meats and Catering say they're thrilled the winning ticket came from their business. "We're very excited. For us being a new business, we've only had our brick and mortar opened for about a year, but we've had our business since 2015. Having the winning ticket makes it that much better."Murphy's Smokin' Meats and Catering is located at 1930 Commercial Street.The other big winner for Shop St. Joseph was Julie Turner, who claimed the $2,500 Shop Small Business Bonus ticket at Niche of Time Jewelry.Turner was a first-time shopper at the store, saying, "My hairdresser works there part-time and I was looking for a nice pair of earrings, so I thought I'd go check out the store."Turner adds, "I was shocked when I saw my ticket matched the winning number."The presenting sponsor for Shop St. Joseph is First Option Bank.There are still several second-chance prizes ready to be claimed. For a list of the second-chance prize winning numbers, <a href="https://saintjoseph.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/second-chance-winning-numbers-2024.pdf">visit here</a>. Those with the winning tickets have 30 days to go to the place of business itself to claim the prize.

Shop St. Joseph winners announced

To keep it bright and cheery, take a few
precautions.

“I’ve always said, in my time in policing, that
this time of year it brings out the best in a lot of people, but it brings out
the worst in those with more nefarious thoughts,” St. Joseph Police Chief Paul
Luster tells host Barry Birr on the KFEQ Hotline.

Luster points out a lot of us do a lot of online
shopping.

“A lot of Amazon boxes, a lot of boxes being
delivered,” Luster says. “So, really pay attention to your deliveries, when
they’re coming; not leaving those packages out on your porch for long periods
of time, almost enticing those criminals.”

Luster suggests that if your work allows it, have
packages delivered to the office.

Luster says many perceive criminals as the
strong-arm type, but adds most criminals will not approach you, attempting to
overpower you.

“They’re opportunists. They may not have gone out
that day with the intention of stealing any packages, but when they see a whole
bunch of packages on a porch, they just decide to make that move,” Luster says.
He adds a few steps can prevent theft. “One is just really pay attention, if
you can, to those deliveries.”

That goes the same for getting out and going
store-to-store. Place purchases in the trunk or at least out of sight.

A key to having a safe holiday season, according
to Luster, is simply to slow down.

“It seems just this time of year, and I’m not
immune to this either, where things get really busy and you get in a hurry and sometimes
you just forget that you have stuff laying there. It just seems like this time
of year there’s really this hustle and bustle. It stresses a lot of people out,”
Luster says. “That’s the last thing you need is a broken window and gifts
stolen that cost money. That will really put a damper on your holiday season for
sure.”

“Also, remember there’s a lot of traffic out
there and, like I said, sometimes this brings out the worst in people. So, you
get impatient people out there,” according to Luster. “Just allow yourself that
extra time. Stay patient and be kind to one another.”

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostChristmas draws near.To keep it bright and cheery, take a few
precautions.“I’ve always said, in my time in policing, that
this time of year it brings out the best in a lot of people, but it brings out
the worst in those with more nefarious thoughts,” St. Joseph Police Chief Paul
Luster tells host Barry Birr on the KFEQ Hotline.Luster points out a lot of us do a lot of online
shopping.“A lot of Amazon boxes, a lot of boxes being
delivered,” Luster says. “So, really pay attention to your deliveries, when
they’re coming; not leaving those packages out on your porch for long periods
of time, almost enticing those criminals.”Luster suggests that if your work allows it, have
packages delivered to the office.Perception plays a role in all this.Luster says many perceive criminals as the
strong-arm type, but adds most criminals will not approach you, attempting to
overpower you.“They’re opportunists. They may not have gone out
that day with the intention of stealing any packages, but when they see a whole
bunch of packages on a porch, they just decide to make that move,” Luster says.
He adds a few steps can prevent theft. “One is just really pay attention, if
you can, to those deliveries.”That goes the same for getting out and going
store-to-store. Place purchases in the trunk or at least out of sight.A key to having a safe holiday season, according
to Luster, is simply to slow down.“It seems just this time of year, and I’m not
immune to this either, where things get really busy and you get in a hurry and sometimes
you just forget that you have stuff laying there. It just seems like this time
of year there’s really this hustle and bustle. It stresses a lot of people out,”
Luster says. “That’s the last thing you need is a broken window and gifts
stolen that cost money. That will really put a damper on your holiday season for
sure.”Take steps to protect yourself as well.“Also, remember there’s a lot of traffic out
there and, like I said, sometimes this brings out the worst in people. So, you
get impatient people out there,” according to Luster. “Just allow yourself that
extra time. Stay patient and be kind to one another.”You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Christmas can bring out the best, but it also brings out the criminals

After two years of hard work, the grand opening for InspireU, the downtown Children’s Discovery Center is next week.   

The old Plymouth Building is almost unrecognizable nowadays, filled with colorful walls and fun children's activities in a new children’s museum in St. Joseph.  

Construction on InspireU began in November of 2022, and now over two years later, it will open its doors to several hundreds, if not thousands of children, one day after Christmas.

InspireU Director Katherine Patterson-Paronto, who came on in March, says she's been waiting a long time to see kids play in the space, and says it was wonderful to see during soft openings this past weekend 

"We had families playing together, everybody was playing, parents, kids, grandparents, all of them together, and I really loved being able to give this experience to them and be a part of it," Patterson-Paronto tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. 

Soft openings have welcomed Mosaic employees as well as employees of Lehr Construction, who did work on the center, to explore and experience the museum.

Mosaic Life Care Foundation President Julie Gaddie says it's been wonderful watching children running into InspireU 

"And their young parents looking around in awe thinking I can't believe we're in St. Joseph," Gaddie explains.  "And those kids just can't get here fast enough and it's so fulfilling to watch them play." 

Another series of soft openings will be held this weekend, December 20th through the 22nd. If you're interested in attending, you can register at <a href="https://mlcfndn.ticketapp.org/portal/product/19/events">mlcfndn.ticketapp.org/portal/product/19/events</a>. Admission is $12 a person for the soft openings and can only be purchased online.

Patterson-Paronto says while this children's museum fits the mold of others across the country, what sets it apart is it can't really exist anywhere else 

"We are very much St. Joe," Patterson-Paronto says.  "So you'll look through the place and there will be big things you notice like the Missouri Theatre, but there will be tiny things too, like some of the posters are of stuff here, our murals have iconic buildings, we have career panels throughout the space and a lot of them are local folks who work that job, so that's really the thing that sets us apart." 

The Grand Opening is now set for December 26th.  Tickets can be purchased at the museum, there are also several membership options already available online.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734626748603.jpeg" alt="InspireU, the brand new Children's Discovery Center in downtown St. Joseph, will have its grand opening on December 26th/ Photo by Matt Pike" />
 <figcaption>InspireU, the brand new Children's Discovery Center in downtown St. Joseph, will have its grand opening on December 26th/ Photo by Matt Pike</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post After two years of hard work, the grand opening for InspireU, the downtown Children’s Discovery Center is next week. The old Plymouth Building is almost unrecognizable nowadays, filled with colorful walls and fun children's activities in a new children’s museum in St. Joseph. Construction on InspireU began in November of 2022, and now over two years later, it will open its doors to several hundreds, if not thousands of children, one day after Christmas.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734626808407.jpeg" alt="An area for toddlers is on the mezzanine of the discovery center/ Photo by Matt Pike" />
 <figcaption>An area for toddlers is on the mezzanine of the discovery center/ Photo by Matt Pike</figcaption>
 </figure>InspireU Director Katherine Patterson-Paronto, who came on in March, says she's been waiting a long time to see kids play in the space, and says it was wonderful to see during soft openings this past weekend "We had families playing together, everybody was playing, parents, kids, grandparents, all of them together, and I really loved being able to give this experience to them and be a part of it," Patterson-Paronto tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. Soft openings have welcomed Mosaic employees as well as employees of Lehr Construction, who did work on the center, to explore and experience the museum.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734626859594.jpeg" alt="A climber on the first floor of InspireU that goes between the first floor and the mezzanine/ Photo by Matt Pike" />
 <figcaption>A climber on the first floor of InspireU that goes between the first floor and the mezzanine/ Photo by Matt Pike</figcaption>
 </figure>Mosaic Life Care Foundation President Julie Gaddie says it's been wonderful watching children running into InspireU "And their young parents looking around in awe thinking I can't believe we're in St. Joseph," Gaddie explains. "And those kids just can't get here fast enough and it's so fulfilling to watch them play." Another series of soft openings will be held this weekend, December 20th through the 22nd. If you're interested in attending, you can register at <a href="https://mlcfndn.ticketapp.org/portal/product/19/events">mlcfndn.ticketapp.org/portal/product/19/events</a>. Admission is $12 a person for the soft openings and can only be purchased online.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734626959581.jpeg" alt="The water table gives kids an opportunity to play in water on the second floor of InspireU/ Photo by Matt Pike" />
 <figcaption>The water table gives kids an opportunity to play in water on the second floor of InspireU/ Photo by Matt Pike</figcaption>
 </figure>Patterson-Paronto says while this children's museum fits the mold of others across the country, what sets it apart is it can't really exist anywhere else "We are very much St. Joe," Patterson-Paronto says. "So you'll look through the place and there will be big things you notice like the Missouri Theatre, but there will be tiny things too, like some of the posters are of stuff here, our murals have iconic buildings, we have career panels throughout the space and a lot of them are local folks who work that job, so that's really the thing that sets us apart." The Grand Opening is now set for December 26th. Tickets can be purchased at the museum, there are also several membership options already available online.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734627023960.jpeg" alt="The rooftop of InspireU gives kids an overview of downtown St. Joseph as well as the Missouri River/ Photo by Matt Pike" />
 <figcaption>The rooftop of InspireU gives kids an overview of downtown St. Joseph as well as the Missouri River/ Photo by Matt Pike</figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fstjoepost%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02eWj5rLLpKeKFod7pLv9finZhQ8VozbRs48Ug52YAg6feRhJPk35vWirr5uZCK4TVl&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="786" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Transformed Plymouth Building set to open as InspireU day after Christmas

After narrowing the field to four earlier this week, the St. Joseph Board of Education has named its next superintendent.  

Ashly McGinnis, who currently serves as the Assistant Superintendent of Academic Services, has been approved by the St. Joseph School Board unanimously to become the superintendent.  

“As someone who knows our district inside and out, Dr. McGinnis is uniquely positioned to build on our successes and lead us forward with continuity and purpose,” stated School Board President LaTonya Williams in a news release.  “The Board is confident that Dr. McGinnis will continue to strengthen partnerships with families, staff, and the broader community while maintaining our district’s commitment to excellence.” 

McGinnis will work with current superintendent Gabe Edgar over the coming months to help with a seamless transition.  She will officially take the position July 1st, 2025 

"I am honored and humbled to serve as the next superintendent of our St. Joseph School District.” said McGinnis. “Both our district and city hold a special place in my heart, and I am committed to fostering a forward-thinking approach to prepare our students for success in an ever-changing world. Together, with our incredible staff, families, and community, we will work tirelessly to ensure every student is supported, inspired, and empowered to achieve their full potential." 

Edgar will officially retire on June 30th.  Edgar announced his intent to retire and work in the public sector to the board last fall. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734560279432.jpeg" alt="Current Assistant Superintendent of Academic Services Ashly McGinnis has been named the next Superintendent of the St. Joseph School District/ Photo courtesy of the St. Joseph School District" />
 <figcaption>Current Assistant Superintendent of Academic Services Ashly McGinnis has been named the next Superintendent of the St. Joseph School District/ Photo courtesy of the St. Joseph School District</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKESt. Joseph PostAfter narrowing the field to four earlier this week, the St. Joseph Board of Education has named its next superintendent. Ashly McGinnis, who currently serves as the Assistant Superintendent of Academic Services, has been approved by the St. Joseph School Board unanimously to become the superintendent. “As someone who knows our district inside and out, Dr. McGinnis is uniquely positioned to build on our successes and lead us forward with continuity and purpose,” stated School Board President LaTonya Williams in a news release. “The Board is confident that Dr. McGinnis will continue to strengthen partnerships with families, staff, and the broader community while maintaining our district’s commitment to excellence.” McGinnis will work with current superintendent Gabe Edgar over the coming months to help with a seamless transition. She will officially take the position July 1st, 2025 "I am honored and humbled to serve as the next superintendent of our St. Joseph School District.” said McGinnis. “Both our district and city hold a special place in my heart, and I am committed to fostering a forward-thinking approach to prepare our students for success in an ever-changing world. Together, with our incredible staff, families, and community, we will work tirelessly to ensure every student is supported, inspired, and empowered to achieve their full potential." Edgar will officially retire on June 30th. Edgar announced his intent to retire and work in the public sector to the board last fall.

St. Joseph School Board names Ashly McGinnis as next superintendent 

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/eganward/">EGAN WARD</a>

DEXTER, Missouri – On an early August morning in 2023, Shawn Hinkle received a call from one of his technicians at Tyson Foods who, through tears, told him the company’s plant in Dexter was shutting down.

Hundreds of jobs at the poultry slaughterhouse would be lost and farmers like Hinkle, who contracted with Tyson to raise egg-laying hens, would be out of business.

A decade earlier, Hinkle borrowed $2.3 million to build two chicken houses on his land. After struggling to keep up with Tyson’s standards and investing in his farm, Hinkle now owed $2.8 million and faced the prospect of losing it all in bankruptcy.

Tyson said the Dexter plant closure was part of a national effort to streamline production and boost profits —&nbsp;<a href="https://investigatemidwest.org/2024/05/08/early-morning-calls-barren-chicken-barns-millions-in-debt/" target="_blank">the company also closed three other poultry plants and two beef packing plants</a>.

But Tyson’s explanation didn’t make sense to Hinkle and several other farmers who, in December 2023, sued the giant meat company for breaking its contracts.

As the lawsuit moves forward, a&nbsp;<a href="https://watchdogwritersgroup.com/" target="_blank">Watchdog Writers Group</a>&nbsp;analysis of documents filed in the case, in partnership with Investigate Midwest, reveals Tyson coordinated closely with Cal-Maine Foods, the company that ended up buying the Dexter plant. That coordination prevented farmers from continuing their same operations with another Tyson competitor.

Documents also show Tyson tried to prevent its former contract farmers from seeking legal remedies over the broken contracts, and has possibly attempted to discourage farmers from speaking with federal officials and journalists.

Tyson Foods declined to answer detailed questions about the allegations of the lawsuit.

After purchasing the Dexter plant, Cal-Maine offered contracts to local farmers if they retrofitted their farms to raise table egg-laying hens rather than chickens for meat. Unlike many area farmers, Hinke raised egg-laying hens to produce more chicks, which were sent to other farmers. Raising hens for Cal-Maine would have required a significant operational overall for Hinkle and other farmers.

But Cal-Maine’s offer came with a catch: The farmers would have to agree not to sue Tyson Foods for any losses because of the plant closure, according to court filings.

In another sign of coordination, Tyson provided the data that Cal-Maine used in its offer to farmers, according to a copy of the offer letter obtained by the Watchdog Writers Group.

By working with Cal-Maine, Tyson prevented the Dexter plant from being purchased by a competing poultry meat company, like *Perdue Foods or Sanderson Foods, according to attorneys representing Hinkle and his neighbors. Local poultry farmers could have transitioned more easily to new contracts with those competitors that produce meat, rather than eggs for consumption.

“Why on earth would Tyson do this?” Russ Oliver, a local attorney representing Hinkle and his neighbors asked during a court hearing in June. “Because if you keep it secret, then Perdue doesn’t find out about your plans. Then Sanderson doesn’t find out about your plans. And you gain a market advantage over the rest of the competition because they have six plants that are a​​ll of a sudden stopping production.”

Tyson Foods, which produces about one-fifth of all meat in the U.S., has faced numerous lawsuits and federal investigations over accusations of price fixing.

In&nbsp;2016, Tyson was sued in civil court by large meat wholesalers who claimed the company cut supplies to inflate chicken prices. Tyson settled that case for $221.5 million.

In&nbsp;2020, the U.S. Department of Justice sued large poultry companies, including Tyson, for allegedly colluding with competitors to raise prices. The case ended in a mistrial in 2022.

In&nbsp;2021, producers in Oklahoma, Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi, West Virginia and Texas&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dtnpf.com/agriculture/web/ag/news/article/2021/09/23/growers-alleged-tyson-perdue-reduce" target="_blank">filed a lawsuit</a>&nbsp;that alleged Tyson and Perdue Foods shared grower pay data in order to suppress wages. Both companies settled for $35.8 million later that year.

None of these actions have significantly curbed Tyson’s market power, which, together with its next biggest competitor, Pilgrim’s Pride, controls about half the national market for chicken. In the&nbsp;late 1970s, more than 40 companies controlled half the market,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ers.usda.gov/webdocs/publications/41108/18011_aer785_1_.pdf?v=0" target="_blank">according to the USDA</a>.

The latest class action lawsuit filed by Hinkle and other Missouri farmers claims Tyson and Cal-Maine signed an agreement restricting how the Dexter poultry complex can be used for the next 25 years.

Since the lawsuit was filed, Hinkle and his attorneys also believe Tyson has tried to intimidate farmers and suppress media coverage. Tyson asked the court to compel Hinkle and others to reveal all contacts and conversations with officials at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which regulates antitrust laws on behalf of farmers.

Tyson has also asked the court to make Hinkle and others reveal any and all contacts and conversations with journalists. Hinkle said he is undeterred and will continue seeking compensation through the lawsuit, which does not request a specific dollar amount.

“None of this is anything that we wanted. I didn’t ask for a year’s worth of not sleeping,” he said. “Then again, I’m not going to sit back and get screwed.”

Tyson’s promise of prosperity comes at a cost

Hinkle’s career with Tyson Foods began in 2013 when two managers from the plant said they had an offer that would change his life.

They said Hinkle could build a massive factory farm on his land — using borrowed money that Tyson would help him obtain — where he could raise tens of thousands of chickens at a time under contract for Tyson and earn a stable income for decades.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734607642518.png" alt=" A farm near Sikeston on April 17 where the owner raised chickens before market changes (photo by Daniel Byrd, for Investigate Midwest)." />
 <figcaption> A farm near Sikeston on April 17 where the owner raised chickens before market changes (photo by Daniel Byrd, for Investigate Midwest).</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/eganward/">EGAN WARD</a>DEXTER, Missouri – On an early August morning in 2023, Shawn Hinkle received a call from one of his technicians at Tyson Foods who, through tears, told him the company’s plant in Dexter was shutting down.Hundreds of jobs at the poultry slaughterhouse would be lost and farmers like Hinkle, who contracted with Tyson to raise egg-laying hens, would be out of business.A decade earlier, Hinkle borrowed $2.3 million to build two chicken houses on his land. After struggling to keep up with Tyson’s standards and investing in his farm, Hinkle now owed $2.8 million and faced the prospect of losing it all in bankruptcy.Tyson said the Dexter plant closure was part of a national effort to streamline production and boost profits —&nbsp;<a href="https://investigatemidwest.org/2024/05/08/early-morning-calls-barren-chicken-barns-millions-in-debt/" target="_blank">the company also closed three other poultry plants and two beef packing plants</a>.But Tyson’s explanation didn’t make sense to Hinkle and several other farmers who, in December 2023, sued the giant meat company for breaking its contracts.As the lawsuit moves forward, a&nbsp;<a href="https://watchdogwritersgroup.com/" target="_blank">Watchdog Writers Group</a>&nbsp;analysis of documents filed in the case, in partnership with Investigate Midwest, reveals Tyson coordinated closely with Cal-Maine Foods, the company that ended up buying the Dexter plant. That coordination prevented farmers from continuing their same operations with another Tyson competitor.Documents also show Tyson tried to prevent its former contract farmers from seeking legal remedies over the broken contracts, and has possibly attempted to discourage farmers from speaking with federal officials and journalists.Tyson Foods declined to answer detailed questions about the allegations of the lawsuit.After purchasing the Dexter plant, Cal-Maine offered contracts to local farmers if they retrofitted their farms to raise table egg-laying hens rather than chickens for meat. Unlike many area farmers, Hinke raised egg-laying hens to produce more chicks, which were sent to other farmers. Raising hens for Cal-Maine would have required a significant operational overall for Hinkle and other farmers.But Cal-Maine’s offer came with a catch: The farmers would have to agree not to sue Tyson Foods for any losses because of the plant closure, according to court filings.In another sign of coordination, Tyson provided the data that Cal-Maine used in its offer to farmers, according to a copy of the offer letter obtained by the Watchdog Writers Group.By working with Cal-Maine, Tyson prevented the Dexter plant from being purchased by a competing poultry meat company, like *Perdue Foods or Sanderson Foods, according to attorneys representing Hinkle and his neighbors. Local poultry farmers could have transitioned more easily to new contracts with those competitors that produce meat, rather than eggs for consumption.“Why on earth would Tyson do this?” Russ Oliver, a local attorney representing Hinkle and his neighbors asked during a court hearing in June. “Because if you keep it secret, then Perdue doesn’t find out about your plans. Then Sanderson doesn’t find out about your plans. And you gain a market advantage over the rest of the competition because they have six plants that are a​​ll of a sudden stopping production.”Tyson Foods, which produces about one-fifth of all meat in the U.S., has faced numerous lawsuits and federal investigations over accusations of price fixing.In&nbsp;2016, Tyson was sued in civil court by large meat wholesalers who claimed the company cut supplies to inflate chicken prices. Tyson settled that case for $221.5 million.In&nbsp;2020, the U.S. Department of Justice sued large poultry companies, including Tyson, for allegedly colluding with competitors to raise prices. The case ended in a mistrial in 2022.In&nbsp;2021, producers in Oklahoma, Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi, West Virginia and Texas&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dtnpf.com/agriculture/web/ag/news/article/2021/09/23/growers-alleged-tyson-perdue-reduce" target="_blank">filed a lawsuit</a>&nbsp;that alleged Tyson and Perdue Foods shared grower pay data in order to suppress wages. Both companies settled for $35.8 million later that year.None of these actions have significantly curbed Tyson’s market power, which, together with its next biggest competitor, Pilgrim’s Pride, controls about half the national market for chicken. In the&nbsp;late 1970s, more than 40 companies controlled half the market,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ers.usda.gov/webdocs/publications/41108/18011_aer785_1_.pdf?v=0" target="_blank">according to the USDA</a>.The latest class action lawsuit filed by Hinkle and other Missouri farmers claims Tyson and Cal-Maine signed an agreement restricting how the Dexter poultry complex can be used for the next 25 years.Since the lawsuit was filed, Hinkle and his attorneys also believe Tyson has tried to intimidate farmers and suppress media coverage. Tyson asked the court to compel Hinkle and others to reveal all contacts and conversations with officials at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which regulates antitrust laws on behalf of farmers.Tyson has also asked the court to make Hinkle and others reveal any and all contacts and conversations with journalists. Hinkle said he is undeterred and will continue seeking compensation through the lawsuit, which does not request a specific dollar amount.“None of this is anything that we wanted. I didn’t ask for a year’s worth of not sleeping,” he said. “Then again, I’m not going to sit back and get screwed.”<h2>Tyson’s promise of prosperity comes at a cost</h2>Hinkle’s career with Tyson Foods began in 2013 when two managers from the plant said they had an offer that would change his life.They said Hinkle could build a massive factory farm on his land — using borrowed money that Tyson would help him obtain — where he could raise tens of thousands of chickens at a time under contract for Tyson and earn a stable income for decades.Hinkle lived on a sprawling cattle farm handed down to him from his father, a farm where Hinkle had been doing daily labor and chores since he was 12 years old. *By the time the Tyson managers came to visit, his 1,200-acre spread was nearly paid off.Hinkle was hesitant about Tyson’s offer. He had heard stories about farmers being forced to borrow money and upgrade equipment, only to have contracts later terminated without warning.But the Tyson managers assured him those were old stories.Hinkle’s original fears came true a decade later when Tyson closed the Dexter plant.<h2>Tyson’s tactics: Countersuits and secret deals</h2>When Hinkle decided to sue Tyson, he wanted a lawyer who understood his perspective. He found that with Russell Oliver.Born and raised in Puxico, Missouri (15 miles from Dexter), Oliver was a farm boy himself. Before becoming the district’s prosecuting attorney, a young Oliver dreamed of carrying on the legacy of his family’s farm. When Oliver’s father died in 1974, several of his family members dropped their individual pursuits for the sake of the farm. So, when Hinkle approached him, heartbroken and desperate for answers, Oliver felt he had no choice but to help him.“Everything about this (case) hits so close to home, it’s so much more than lawsuits and money,” Oliver said. “I see my neighbors that share the same identity that I share going through something like this — there’s no way I can’t fight for them.”In addition to Hinkle, the lawsuit includes four other farmers once under contract with Tyson: Jessie Bridwell, Richard and Samantha Green, as well as R&amp;S Green Farms LLC.​​ The plaintiffs allege that Tyson deliberately misled them by shutting down the Dexter Complex, which caused severe financial damages.During an April 29 hearing in Stoddard County, Tyson’s lawyers pushed back on the allegation, pointing out that the farmers are still receiving payment from Tyson to this day. This compensation is called outtime payments and refers to the money given to farmers to cover the time it takes to remove birds, clean out their houses and bring in new birds.Outtime payments are $0.02 per square foot of chicken houses, significantly less than a monthly payment. Hinkle said the payments have been inconsistent and are far lower than what’s needed to cover his debt. He said Tyson technicians assured him that it would take no longer than four to six weeks to receive outtime payments; however, Hinkle said payments sometimes took as long as 20 weeks to show up.’“My outtime pay doesn’t even cover the electric bill, so what are we supposed to do?” he said. “You’re always in a tumble of not knowing what to do. You can’t budget anything, it’s just a constant state of chaos.”The lawsuit also claims Tyson knew about the plant closure as early as 2021 when the company filed a disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission stating that it had “identified” and “targeted” $1 billion in recurring savings year to year as part of their new “Productivity Program.”The lawsuit also claims Tyson tried to thwart competition with its sale of the Dexter plant to Cal-Maine Foods, which included an agreement restricting how the plant could be used.Hinkle’s lawyers alleged that they have a copy of the agreement, and they quoted from it in a court filing. However, the contract language was redacted in the public court filing.The agreement between Tyson and Cal-Maine “has eliminated (and will eliminate for 25 years) any competition in the Dexter market area for the services of chicken growers,” the lawsuit claims. The farmers believe Tyson intentionally prevented the sale to a competitor in order to cut supply and raise prices on poultry. The exact mechanisms by which the contract might restrict competition were redacted and remain under seal, according to court filings and Hinkle’s attorneys.In August, Tyson Foods countersued two Dexter farmers — Elija and Melissa Skaggs — claiming their case should be dismissed because the farmers turned down a chance to sign new contracts with Cal-Maine.In the countersuit, Tyson acknowledged the agreement’s existence by saying it had terminated it in July. Tyson said that it had originally signed the agreement because it was worried that Cal-Maine might buy the Dexter plant but then quickly sell it to a competing company that would raise “broiler” chickens for food. If that happened, Tyson would have essentially sold the plant to a direct competitor. Tyson said in the court filing that the company later became “comfortable that Cal-Maine was not trying to flip the Dexter complex,” so Tyson terminated the property use-agreement.*Brandon Boulware, an attorney from Boulware Law representing Dexter’s farmers against Tyson, said terminating the agreement didn’t help the farmers, because the plant had already been transformed into a table-egg producing facility rather than one that produced broilers.“The damage has already been done,” Boulware said.Tyson’s agreement with Cal-Maine has also drawn the attention of state and federal lawmakers.https://embed.documentcloud.org/documents/25449738-us-sen-josh-hawley-letter/?embed=1U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, Missouri’s senior Republican senator, said Tyson’s CEO, Donnie King, personally reassured him in 2023 that Tyson would not prevent a competitor from buying the Dexter plant.“You misled me,” Hawley wrote in a July 9 letter to King. “These are serious allegations, and the people of Missouri deserve to know the truth.”Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey echoed Hawley in an Oct. 3 letter to King, where he stated that it is “paramount that you do everything in your power to either keep the facilities open or sell to any interested party, including a competitor.”When Hawley later learned about the property-use agreement between Tyson and Cal-Maine that Tyson kept from public filings, he called for it to be made public. The agreement was part of the larger sales contract between Tyson and Cal-Maine, and was not filed publicly with the county recorder of deeds, according to court documents. Bailey later joined the farmer’s lawsuit.<h2>Confidential or concealed? Tyson’s documents under scrutiny&nbsp;</h2>On June 26, the parties gathered in a small New Madrid County courtroom for a hearing. Behind the four lawyers for Tyson were seven empty wooden benches. On the other side, the plaintiffs’ legal counsel was made up of six lawyers, as well as Oliver’s son. Behind their table sat 11 people, many of them farmers in dirt-ridden boots and plaid dress shirts.The 9 a.m. hearing was fiery from the outset. Of the 1,325 documents produced by Tyson Foods in the lawsuit, the plaintiff’s attorneys complained all three were being kept confidential. Tyson’s lawyers, led primarily by Zach Chaffee-McClure, argued that the opposing legal counsel had used some of the confidential documents without permission. They asked for the plaintiff’s lawyers, Brandon Boulware and Oliver, to be sanctioned.Boulware and Oliver were quick to express their disbelief.“This isn’t how we practice law in the (Missouri) Bootheel,” Oliver said. “(Tyson) wants to deflect, they want this to be about the lawyers and not the crimes.”Boulware, who was from Kansas City, echoed Oliver’s sentiment. “I’ve been in law since 2005, and I have never been sanctioned; this is a first for me,” Boulware said. “I agree, this is not how things are done in the Bootheel, but it’s not how they are done in Kansas City, either.”The motion was denied by the judge.Later, Oliver argued that Tyson was concealing evidence of breaking the law. Oliver asked for four confidential documents to be made public, which included the sale agreement with Cal-Maine.Oliver also said he had no plans to settle with Tyson and promised the judge that, if given permission, they would disclose these documents to government officials like Bailey, Hawley, USDA and the Department of Justice.McClure, Tyson’s attorney, responded that his client cooperates with the federal government “all the time,” and that the company is allowed to designate any business or competitive document confidential.Tyson’s other lawyer argued, using the example of a donut shop, that a business preventing the sale of its property to a competitor happens all the time and is not a crime.<h2>Tyson’s market power under the microscope&nbsp;</h2>If the allegations of antitrust violations are accurate, Tyson Foods could face serious consequences, said Claire Kelloway, program manager for fair food and farming systems at Open Markets Institute, a Washington, DC-based think tank focused on the dangers of monopolization.“Tyson is a brand that comes with a lot of baggage for those covering the food industry,” Kelloway said. “Tyson gets some of the credit for turning the industry into this really vertically-integrated model that centralizes a lot of control over the supply chain in one company.”Calling the poultry industry “extremely unfair” and “exploitative” of farmers, Kelloway added that Tyson’s size and political power make it difficult to hold them accountable.“The industry needs a lot of sunlight and scrutiny,” she said. “Hopefully, the reforms and rulemaking keep coming until these antitrust laws are being enforced as intended.”Just shy of two months after the hearing, Tyson’s legal counsel said it would depose Hinkle and the other plaintiffs.Hinkle was also sent a more demanding request. Tyson filed a motion that would compel him to provide complete copies of all recordings and written communications that he and his attorneys had with media outlets. Tyson also demanded all of Hinkle’s communications with the USDA, which enforces antitrust law for farmers.Boulware said that his law firm had obeyed Tyson’s subpoena and was compelled to hand over documents related to the firm’s communication with journalists.“It’s unprecedented for a defendant to seek documents, or communication between a lawyer and the press, rather than defend their own misconduct,” Boulware said.Tyson also subpoenaed two news organizations: KFVS12, a television station in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, and Talk Business and Politics, a news website in Arkansas. In the subpoenas, Tyson demanded copies of all communications between reporters and Hinkle. The local media outlets that were subpoenaed refused to cooperate, Boulware said, and Tyson has refused to enforce those subpoenas.Both KFVS12 and Talk Business and Politics declined to comment.With a trial date set for next June, a lifestyle of financial and emotional uncertainty persists for many of the farmers of the Dexter complex. For Hinkle and other plaintiffs, this lawsuit is personal. They, along with Oliver and Boulware, insist this has never been about money; it is about what is right and wrong.“These companies need to understand that the days of building an empire on our backs and then just throwing us out like garbage is over,” Hinkle said. “Not anymore.”In November, Tyson Foods reported its quarterly earnings. The news was great for Tyson shareholders. Tyson’s poultry division made a profit of $409 million for the quarter, compared to a loss of $267 million the year before.This&nbsp;<a href="https://investigatemidwest.org/2024/12/17/tyson-foods-cut-contracts-with-poultry-farmers-now-the-company-is-working-to-silence-their-legal-fight/" target="_blank">article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a href="https://investigatemidwest.org/" target="_blank">Investigate Midwest</a>&nbsp;and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.<figure>
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