The Missouri Chamber of Commerce is harsh in its
assessment of this year’s legislative session, calling it dysfunctional.

State Chamber President Dan Mehan says the
General Assembly did little this year, passing only 28 non-budget bills. And
Mehan claims that when lawmakers did try to pass legislation, they too often
attempted to hamper businesses with regulations.

“This may seem like it’s odd, but this is the
truth. There was a bill that would have mandated that employers must accept gold
and/or silver as forms of payment for products or services rendered,” Mehan
tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post in a phone interview.&nbsp; “That won’t work for God only knows how many
reasons.”

Mehan says the legislature also attempted to
revoke the long-held business right to make workplace decisions such as vaccination
policies, employee benefits, as well as diversity, equity, and inclusion
practices.

Mehan charges that instead of tackling the tough
issues facing the state, too many lawmakers attempted to pass additional business
regulations.

“You walk out of the Capitol scratching your
head, saying what are these people thinking?” Mehan states. “There’s more
important things that we can deal with such as the legal system, such as
infrastructure development, or education attainment than these petty mandates
that are just a complete pain for businesses to comply with.”

Mehan calls this session one of the least
productive, ever.

The Missouri Chamber pushed for a child care
package carried by St. Joseph state Rep. Brenda Shields that the Senate ignored
and for changes to Missouri’s statute of limitations on claims against businesses.

Mehan lays the blame at the feet of the Freedom
Caucus in the Senate, which used filibusters to tied up work in the Senate throughout the five-and-a-half month legislative session.

Despite the harsh assessment of this year’s
legislative session, the Chamber does see at least one bright spot from the
session. Mehan praises a major piece of legislation that did pass, the
anti-crime package sponsored by Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer of Parkville.

“This has stiffer penalties on it for repeat
offenders. We thought this was a good step in the right direction this year,”
Mehan says. “It was one of those rays of hope that we saw pass this year. Sen.
Luetkemeyer deserves a lot of credit for getting that done in a very difficult
year in the Missouri Senate.”

Other wins during the session, according to the
Missouri Chamber, were the expansion of the MOBUCKS low-interest loan program
and the appropriation of $727.5 million to expand I-44 to six lanes in
Springfield, Joplin, and Rolla.

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

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostThe Missouri Chamber of Commerce is harsh in its
assessment of this year’s legislative session, calling it dysfunctional.State Chamber President Dan Mehan says the
General Assembly did little this year, passing only 28 non-budget bills. And
Mehan claims that when lawmakers did try to pass legislation, they too often
attempted to hamper businesses with regulations.“This may seem like it’s odd, but this is the
truth. There was a bill that would have mandated that employers must accept gold
and/or silver as forms of payment for products or services rendered,” Mehan
tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post in a phone interview.&nbsp; “That won’t work for God only knows how many
reasons.”Mehan says the legislature also attempted to
revoke the long-held business right to make workplace decisions such as vaccination
policies, employee benefits, as well as diversity, equity, and inclusion
practices.Mehan charges that instead of tackling the tough
issues facing the state, too many lawmakers attempted to pass additional business
regulations.“You walk out of the Capitol scratching your
head, saying what are these people thinking?” Mehan states. “There’s more
important things that we can deal with such as the legal system, such as
infrastructure development, or education attainment than these petty mandates
that are just a complete pain for businesses to comply with.”Mehan calls this session one of the least
productive, ever.The Missouri Chamber pushed for a child care
package carried by St. Joseph state Rep. Brenda Shields that the Senate ignored
and for changes to Missouri’s statute of limitations on claims against businesses.Mehan lays the blame at the feet of the Freedom
Caucus in the Senate, which used filibusters to tied up work in the Senate throughout the five-and-a-half month legislative session.Despite the harsh assessment of this year’s
legislative session, the Chamber does see at least one bright spot from the
session. Mehan praises a major piece of legislation that did pass, the
anti-crime package sponsored by Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer of Parkville.“This has stiffer penalties on it for repeat
offenders. We thought this was a good step in the right direction this year,”
Mehan says. “It was one of those rays of hope that we saw pass this year. Sen.
Luetkemeyer deserves a lot of credit for getting that done in a very difficult
year in the Missouri Senate.”Other wins during the session, according to the
Missouri Chamber, were the expansion of the MOBUCKS low-interest loan program
and the appropriation of $727.5 million to expand I-44 to six lanes in
Springfield, Joplin, and Rolla.<div><iframe src="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kfeq-news/embed/episodes/MO-Chamber-assesses-legislative-session-e2ketgn" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

MO Chamber of Commerce calls legislative session dysfunctional

KESJ
of St. Joseph, better known as Joe Town 107.5, won Station of the Year at the
Missouri Broadcasters Association awards ceremony held this past weekend at the
Margaritaville Lake Resort in Osage Beach.

Joe
Town won in the medium market radio category for its community involvement and
charitable campaigns. Program Director Gregg Lynn accepted the award on behalf
of the station during the ceremony. Lynn also won second place for his work on
KESJ in the category of Social Media Star.

Station
of the Year was one of several awards received by Eagle St. Joseph radio
stations as well as St. Joseph Post by the MBA. KFEQ won Best Use of Digital
Media, medium market radio, for its Chiefs’ Training Camp coverage. KFEQ swept
the Feature Reporting category for medium market radio. Sports Director Tommy
Rezac won first place for his feature on Special Olympics athlete Charlie
Phillips of Savannah. News Director Brent Martin won second place for his
feature on efforts to pass Max’s Law.

KFEQ
Sports Director Tommy Rezac also won second place in the Play-by-Play category
for his call of the Missouri Western State University football game against
Pitt State; second place for his sports feature, From Rolla to Red Kingdom; and
second place for Podcast on Kansas City Royals minor league pitcher Noah
Cameron from St. Joseph Central High School.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717429748626.jpeg" alt="Joe Town 107.5 Program Director Gregg Lynn with Station of the Year award./Photo by Liby Waltemath" />
 <figcaption>Joe Town 107.5 Program Director Gregg Lynn with Station of the Year award./Photo by Liby Waltemath</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostKESJ
of St. Joseph, better known as Joe Town 107.5, won Station of the Year at the
Missouri Broadcasters Association awards ceremony held this past weekend at the
Margaritaville Lake Resort in Osage Beach.Joe
Town won in the medium market radio category for its community involvement and
charitable campaigns. Program Director Gregg Lynn accepted the award on behalf
of the station during the ceremony. Lynn also won second place for his work on
KESJ in the category of Social Media Star.Station
of the Year was one of several awards received by Eagle St. Joseph radio
stations as well as St. Joseph Post by the MBA. KFEQ won Best Use of Digital
Media, medium market radio, for its Chiefs’ Training Camp coverage. KFEQ swept
the Feature Reporting category for medium market radio. Sports Director Tommy
Rezac won first place for his feature on Special Olympics athlete Charlie
Phillips of Savannah. News Director Brent Martin won second place for his
feature on efforts to pass Max’s Law.KFEQ
Sports Director Tommy Rezac also won second place in the Play-by-Play category
for his call of the Missouri Western State University football game against
Pitt State; second place for his sports feature, From Rolla to Red Kingdom; and
second place for Podcast on Kansas City Royals minor league pitcher Noah
Cameron from St. Joseph Central High School.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Joe Town 107.5 named Station of the Year; Eagle St. Joseph wins MBA awards

St. Joseph firefighters put out a house fire on Olive Street
Sunday afternoon in about two hours.

Residents of the house at 3118 Olive escaped without harm,
according to the St. Joseph Fire Department.

The investigation into the cause of the fire continues.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostSt. Joseph firefighters put out a house fire on Olive Street
Sunday afternoon in about two hours.Residents of the house at 3118 Olive escaped without harm,
according to the St. Joseph Fire Department.The investigation into the cause of the fire continues.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Fire damaged St. Joseph house; residents escape unharmed

Northern Missouri Congressman Sam Graves worries about the
fallout now that a New York jury has convicted former President Donald Trump of
paying hush money to influence the outcome of the 2016 presidential election.

Graves, a Republican, says the prosecution of Trump
effectively weaponizes the court system.

“The unfortunate part is we’re in a time now where we’re going
after political opponents using the courts. And that is weaponization of the court
system,” Graves tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “And I worry now that it’s going to
start being a tit for tat and back and worth and that’s just going to be a downward
spiral for our judicial system and the entire country.”

A Manhattan jury found Trump guilty on 34 counts of illegally
influencing the election by paying hush money to porn star Stormy Daniels to
keep her quiet about their alleged one-night-stand.

Graves contends the prosecution of Trump in effect weaponizes
the court system, claiming even the instructions the judge gave the jury were
extremely biased.

“That is weaponizing the courts. That is using the court
system, the judicial system, to try to take out an opponent rather than using
the election itself or the way people vote or whatever the outcome might be in
the November election,” Graves says. “And, it’s terribly unfortunate. It is a
strong charge, but it’s absolutely what’s happening.”

Graves says he doesn’t know how the felony conviction will
impact Trump’s rematch with President Joe Biden.

“We may never know for that matter,” Graves says. “I guess we’ll
find out what the outcome is obviously in November.”

Graves says he has a good idea how his deeply conservative 6th
Congressional District will respond, but doesn’t know how the rest of the
country will. Graves says it’s even harder to determine what effect it will
have beyond the 2024 elections.

“What the ramifications will be, long-term, we may never know.”

Graves calls the prosecution of Trump purely political and
says he stands with Trump.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717426886857.jpeg" alt="Congressman Sam Graves/file photo" />
 <figcaption>Congressman Sam Graves/file photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostNorthern Missouri Congressman Sam Graves worries about the
fallout now that a New York jury has convicted former President Donald Trump of
paying hush money to influence the outcome of the 2016 presidential election.Graves, a Republican, says the prosecution of Trump
effectively weaponizes the court system.“The unfortunate part is we’re in a time now where we’re going
after political opponents using the courts. And that is weaponization of the court
system,” Graves tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “And I worry now that it’s going to
start being a tit for tat and back and worth and that’s just going to be a downward
spiral for our judicial system and the entire country.”A Manhattan jury found Trump guilty on 34 counts of illegally
influencing the election by paying hush money to porn star Stormy Daniels to
keep her quiet about their alleged one-night-stand.Graves contends the prosecution of Trump in effect weaponizes
the court system, claiming even the instructions the judge gave the jury were
extremely biased.“That is weaponizing the courts. That is using the court
system, the judicial system, to try to take out an opponent rather than using
the election itself or the way people vote or whatever the outcome might be in
the November election,” Graves says. “And, it’s terribly unfortunate. It is a
strong charge, but it’s absolutely what’s happening.”Graves says he doesn’t know how the felony conviction will
impact Trump’s rematch with President Joe Biden.“We may never know for that matter,” Graves says. “I guess we’ll
find out what the outcome is obviously in November.”Graves says he has a good idea how his deeply conservative 6th
Congressional District will respond, but doesn’t know how the rest of the
country will. Graves says it’s even harder to determine what effect it will
have beyond the 2024 elections.“What the ramifications will be, long-term, we may never know.”Graves calls the prosecution of Trump purely political and
says he stands with Trump.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Congressman Graves claims Trump verdict weaponizes the courts

NODAWAY COUNTY—Two people were injured in an accident just after 11:30p.m. Sunday in Nodaway County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2016 Jeep Compass driven by a 16-year-old Savannah girl was southbound on Ivory Road at 250th Street just east of Maryville.

The driver failed to negotiate a curve. The Jeep traveled off the south side of the road, struck an embankment and rolled onto its top.

Nodaway County EMS transported a passenger Autumn K. Ellis, 18, Savannah, to Mosaic in Maryville. The driver refused treatment at the scene. Both were properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

NODAWAY COUNTY—Two people were injured in an accident just after 11:30p.m. Sunday in Nodaway County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2016 Jeep Compass driven by a 16-year-old Savannah girl was southbound on Ivory Road at 250th Street just east of Maryville.The driver failed to negotiate a curve. The Jeep traveled off the south side of the road, struck an embankment and rolled onto its top.Nodaway County EMS transported a passenger Autumn K. Ellis, 18, Savannah, to Mosaic in Maryville. The driver refused treatment at the scene. Both were properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

Two Missouri teens injured after Jeep rollover crash

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/shauneen-miranda/">SHAUNEEN MIRANDA</a>&nbsp;-

WASHINGTON — As part of its ongoing effort to replace diesel-fueled school buses, the Biden administration on Wednesday said it will provide approximately 530 school districts across nearly all states with almost $1 billion to help them purchase clean school buses.

The initiative, part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean School Bus Program rebate competition, will give funds to school districts in 47 states and the District of Columbia to help them buy over 3,400 clean school buses. Alaska, Hawaii and Nevada are not part of this round of funding.

Nearly all of the clean school buses purchased will be electric, at 92%, according to the administration.

“This announcement is not just about clean school buses, it’s about the bigger picture,” EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan said during a call with reporters on Tuesday, prior to the announcement. “We are improving air quality for our children, reducing greenhouse gas pollution and expanding our nation’s leadership in developing the clean vehicles of the future.”

Low-income, rural and tribal communities — accounting for approximately 45% of the selected projects —&nbsp; are slated to receive roughly 67% of the total funding, per the administration.

In Missouri, the funding will go to 17 school districts and a charter school. They will receive $18.1 million to replace 56 buses, with all the new buses to be electric.

Regan noted how “low-income communities and communities of color have long felt the disproportionate impacts of air pollution leading to severe health outcomes that continue to impact these populations.”

As for business and economic opportunities, Regan pointed to the development of new, well-paying manufacturing jobs and investment in local businesses stemming from the increasing demand for these clean school buses.

“As more and more schools make the switch to electric buses, there will be a need for American-made batteries, charging stations and service providers to maintain the buses supercharging and reinvigorating local economies,” he added.

The Clean School Bus Program has now collectively awarded nearly $3 billion to fund approximately 8,500 electric and alternative fuel buses for over 1,000 communities across the United States, according to the administration.

The program started through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed by Congress and signed by President Joe Biden, which includes $5 billion over five years to transform the country’s existing school buses with “zero-emission and low-emission models,” per the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.epa.gov/cleanschoolbus">EPA</a>.

Among many negative health and environmental effects, especially for communities of color, diesel exhaust exposure can lead to major health conditions such as asthma and respiratory illnesses, according to the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.epa.gov/dera/learn-about-impacts-diesel-exhaust-and-diesel-emissions-reduction-act-dera">EPA</a>.

Exposure to diesel exhaust can also “worsen existing heart and lung disease, especially in children and the elderly,” the agency said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1595514078285.png" alt="The Biden administration on Wednesday said it will provide funding to help school districts purchase clean school buses, most of them electric. Shown is a yellow electric school bus plugged into a charging station. -file photo" />
 <figcaption>The Biden administration on Wednesday said it will provide funding to help school districts purchase clean school buses, most of them electric. Shown is a yellow electric school bus plugged into a charging station. -file photo</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/shauneen-miranda/">SHAUNEEN MIRANDA</a>&nbsp;-WASHINGTON — As part of its ongoing effort to replace diesel-fueled school buses, the Biden administration on Wednesday said it will provide approximately 530 school districts across nearly all states with almost $1 billion to help them purchase clean school buses.The initiative, part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean School Bus Program rebate competition, will give funds to school districts in 47 states and the District of Columbia to help them buy over 3,400 clean school buses. Alaska, Hawaii and Nevada are not part of this round of funding.Nearly all of the clean school buses purchased will be electric, at 92%, according to the administration.“This announcement is not just about clean school buses, it’s about the bigger picture,” EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan said during a call with reporters on Tuesday, prior to the announcement. “We are improving air quality for our children, reducing greenhouse gas pollution and expanding our nation’s leadership in developing the clean vehicles of the future.”Low-income, rural and tribal communities — accounting for approximately 45% of the selected projects —&nbsp; are slated to receive roughly 67% of the total funding, per the administration.In Missouri, the funding will go to 17 school districts and a charter school. They will receive $18.1 million to replace 56 buses, with all the new buses to be electric.Regan noted how “low-income communities and communities of color have long felt the disproportionate impacts of air pollution leading to severe health outcomes that continue to impact these populations.”As for business and economic opportunities, Regan pointed to the development of new, well-paying manufacturing jobs and investment in local businesses stemming from the increasing demand for these clean school buses.“As more and more schools make the switch to electric buses, there will be a need for American-made batteries, charging stations and service providers to maintain the buses supercharging and reinvigorating local economies,” he added.The Clean School Bus Program has now collectively awarded nearly $3 billion to fund approximately 8,500 electric and alternative fuel buses for over 1,000 communities across the United States, according to the administration.The program started through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed by Congress and signed by President Joe Biden, which includes $5 billion over five years to transform the country’s existing school buses with “zero-emission and low-emission models,” per the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.epa.gov/cleanschoolbus">EPA</a>.Among many negative health and environmental effects, especially for communities of color, diesel exhaust exposure can lead to major health conditions such as asthma and respiratory illnesses, according to the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.epa.gov/dera/learn-about-impacts-diesel-exhaust-and-diesel-emissions-reduction-act-dera">EPA</a>.Exposure to diesel exhaust can also “worsen existing heart and lung disease, especially in children and the elderly,” the agency said.

Funds for clean school buses coming to hundreds of districts, White House says 

KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Kansas man made his initial appearance Friday after a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Kansas, indicted him on multiple charges related to sex trafficking multiple victims, including children, according to the United State's Attorney.

&nbsp;Elijah Z. Haley, 21, of Atchison was indicted on two counts of sex trafficking of a child, two counts of sex trafficking accomplished by force, fraud, or coercion, two counts of transportation with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, and two counts of transportation for illegal sexual activity, according to court documents.

Haley made his initial court appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Angel D. Mitchell of the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Kansas Highway Patrol, Atchison, Kansas Police Department, and the Boone County, Missouri Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717245022442.png" alt="Haley from a 2023 arrest in Atchison County" />
 <figcaption>Haley from a 2023 arrest in Atchison County</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Kansas man made his initial appearance Friday after a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Kansas, indicted him on multiple charges related to sex trafficking multiple victims, including children, according to the United State's Attorney.&nbsp;Elijah Z. Haley, 21, of Atchison was indicted on two counts of sex trafficking of a child, two counts of sex trafficking accomplished by force, fraud, or coercion, two counts of transportation with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, and two counts of transportation for illegal sexual activity, according to court documents.Haley made his initial court appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Angel D. Mitchell of the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas.The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Kansas Highway Patrol, Atchison, Kansas Police Department, and the Boone County, Missouri Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.

Kansas man accused of sex trafficking multiple child victims

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

Missouri’s Medicaid enrollment has shrunk by around 200,000 people since last summer, as the state continues the process of undoing a COVID-era pause on eligibility checks.

The federal suspension on annual renewals expired last year and since then,&nbsp;states have been undergoing the process of re-verifying each participant’s eligibility.

From June to April, Missouri’s net enrollment in Medicaid — which is also called MO HealthNet —&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://dss.mo.gov/mis/clcounter/history.htm">dropped</a>&nbsp;by 197,525 people.&nbsp;

Over half — 56% — of that net decline was among children, according to recent state data and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://timothymcbride.substack.com/p/april-2024-update-missouri-medicaid">analysis</a>&nbsp;by the Center for Advancing Health Services, Policy &amp; Economics Research at Washington University in St. Louis. There were 110,938 kids who lost coverage in that period.

The number of kids being removed has been a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/09/26/nearly-half-of-all-missouri-medicaid-terminations-in-last-three-months-have-been-children/">source of concern</a>&nbsp;over the last few months among advocates. Although kids make up around half of the state’s caseload, they are also eligible at much higher household income level than adults.

As the state evaluates hundreds of thousands of current Medicaid recipients each month and processes their updated information, it continues to receive new applications.&nbsp;

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.medicaid.gov/state-overviews/downloads/magi-app-process-time-snapshot-rpt-oct-dec-2023.pdf">Federal data</a>&nbsp;released earlier this month showed Missouri’s application processing times have been among the worst in the nation.&nbsp;

Medicaid applications are generally required to be reviewed within 45 days.&nbsp;Nationwide, most applications were processed&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://timothymcbride.substack.com/p/enrolling-medicaid-in-missouri-challenges">within 24 hours</a>&nbsp;last year.

Missouri and New Mexico had the highest rates of late Medicaid determinations last year, according to the federal data, which covers October through December.&nbsp;

In December, more than half of Missouri’s applications took longer than 45 days to process.

Long processing times can mean low-resource and low-income patients must delay or forego needed medical care and prescriptions.

And Missouri has struggled to meet that limit in the past: In summer 2022, the federal government initiated a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/08/09/federal-government-steps-in-to-help-pull-missouri-out-of-medicaid-backlog/">mitigation plan</a>&nbsp;with the state to get the wait time down.

At the quarterly MO HealthNet Oversight Committee meeting last week, chair Nick Pfannenstiel, a dentist, raised concerns about processing times.&nbsp;

Pfannenstiel said as a provider, he has been told by state eligibility workers that the current average processing time is “60 to 90 days.” Though he knows the state is working to fix those delays, “that’s causing a lot of frustration, not necessarily from a provider standpoint only but from a patient standpoint.”

Todd Richardson, director of MO HealthNet, said that there are a “number of strategies and a lot of focus right now trying to bring that back down to the 45 day window” that is federally mandated.

Part of the issue is the agency is receiving a large number of applications, Richardson added.

From November to mid-January, during open enrollment season for the federal insurance marketplace, the state generally sees an uptick in Medicaid applications and then a decline and plateau, he said.

“We are not seeing that now,” Richardson said.&nbsp;“[Family Support Division] is continuing to experience a high number of daily new applications, and as a result, you can see that increase in the number of pending applications that we have.”

The number of pending applications reached nearly 53,000 in&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://dss.mo.gov/re/pdf/fsd_mhdmr/0124-family-support-mohealthnet-report.pdf">January</a>&nbsp;and stands at just under 18,000 as of&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://dss.mo.gov/re/pdf/fsd_mhdmr/0424-family-support-mohealthnet-report.pdf">April</a>.

“I know [Family Support Division] has been working exhaustively, trying to bring that number of pending applications down and I know they’ve had some success,” he said, “but there will continue to be kind of an intense review on the state’s part to make sure that we’re getting those applications as current as we possibly can.”

Baylee Watts, DSS’ communications director, said the division has “focused its staff and resources on processing applications that have exceeded 45 days” and continues training staff across several programs and “strategically reallocating staff to manage the workload effectively.”

There can be issues when a patient is on Medicaid but needs to change the category of coverage they qualify for,&nbsp;Pfannenstiel also noted, referring to a patient trying to convert to postpartum Medicaid as causing providers confusion as to whether the person is eligible for services.

A patient&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/01/23/perfect-storm-missouri-advocates-decry-medicaid-application-delays-coverage-losses/">previously told the Independent&nbsp;</a>she spent more than a month just trying to switch from adult Medicaid to Medicaid for Pregnant Women. In the meantime, she didn’t go to any doctor’s appointments.

Richardson said it is currently a “manual process” for state workers to move Medicaid participants into the postpartum category. Since last year, women can receive&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/07/07/governor-signs-bill-extending-postpartum-coverage-under-missouri-medicaid/">postpartum coverage</a>&nbsp;for a full year rather than 60 days.

It is also a manual process for children to receive what’s called&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/12/23/federal-spending-bill-ensures-one-year-continuous-coverage-for-missouri-kids-in-medicaid-chip/">continuous eligibility,</a>&nbsp;which went into effect this year after it was federally required. That policy allows kids to stay insured for the full year after they are renewed, rather than be potentially stripped of coverage between renewals, due to something like temporary changes in income.

There are system changes to automate those processes planned for June, Richardson said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712259163846.jpg" alt="&nbsp;Children made up 56% of the net decline in Medicaid enrollment between June 2023 and April 2024&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;Children made up 56% of the net decline in Medicaid enrollment between June 2023 and April 2024&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;CLARA BATES&nbsp; &nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/09/21/missouri-judge-once-again-delays-decision-on-closing-agape-boarding-school/">Missouri Independent</a>Missouri’s Medicaid enrollment has shrunk by around 200,000 people since last summer, as the state continues the process of undoing a COVID-era pause on eligibility checks.The federal suspension on annual renewals expired last year and since then,&nbsp;states have been undergoing the process of re-verifying each participant’s eligibility.From June to April, Missouri’s net enrollment in Medicaid — which is also called MO HealthNet —&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://dss.mo.gov/mis/clcounter/history.htm">dropped</a>&nbsp;by 197,525 people.&nbsp;Over half — 56% — of that net decline was among children, according to recent state data and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://timothymcbride.substack.com/p/april-2024-update-missouri-medicaid">analysis</a>&nbsp;by the Center for Advancing Health Services, Policy &amp; Economics Research at Washington University in St. Louis. There were 110,938 kids who lost coverage in that period.The number of kids being removed has been a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/09/26/nearly-half-of-all-missouri-medicaid-terminations-in-last-three-months-have-been-children/">source of concern</a>&nbsp;over the last few months among advocates. Although kids make up around half of the state’s caseload, they are also eligible at much higher household income level than adults.As the state evaluates hundreds of thousands of current Medicaid recipients each month and processes their updated information, it continues to receive new applications.&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.medicaid.gov/state-overviews/downloads/magi-app-process-time-snapshot-rpt-oct-dec-2023.pdf">Federal data</a>&nbsp;released earlier this month showed Missouri’s application processing times have been among the worst in the nation.&nbsp;Medicaid applications are generally required to be reviewed within 45 days.&nbsp;Nationwide, most applications were processed&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://timothymcbride.substack.com/p/enrolling-medicaid-in-missouri-challenges">within 24 hours</a>&nbsp;last year.Missouri and New Mexico had the highest rates of late Medicaid determinations last year, according to the federal data, which covers October through December.&nbsp;In December, more than half of Missouri’s applications took longer than 45 days to process.Long processing times can mean low-resource and low-income patients must delay or forego needed medical care and prescriptions.And Missouri has struggled to meet that limit in the past: In summer 2022, the federal government initiated a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/08/09/federal-government-steps-in-to-help-pull-missouri-out-of-medicaid-backlog/">mitigation plan</a>&nbsp;with the state to get the wait time down.At the quarterly MO HealthNet Oversight Committee meeting last week, chair Nick Pfannenstiel, a dentist, raised concerns about processing times.&nbsp;Pfannenstiel said as a provider, he has been told by state eligibility workers that the current average processing time is “60 to 90 days.” Though he knows the state is working to fix those delays, “that’s causing a lot of frustration, not necessarily from a provider standpoint only but from a patient standpoint.”Todd Richardson, director of MO HealthNet, said that there are a “number of strategies and a lot of focus right now trying to bring that back down to the 45 day window” that is federally mandated.Part of the issue is the agency is receiving a large number of applications, Richardson added.From November to mid-January, during open enrollment season for the federal insurance marketplace, the state generally sees an uptick in Medicaid applications and then a decline and plateau, he said.“We are not seeing that now,” Richardson said.&nbsp;“[Family Support Division] is continuing to experience a high number of daily new applications, and as a result, you can see that increase in the number of pending applications that we have.”The number of pending applications reached nearly 53,000 in&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://dss.mo.gov/re/pdf/fsd_mhdmr/0124-family-support-mohealthnet-report.pdf">January</a>&nbsp;and stands at just under 18,000 as of&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://dss.mo.gov/re/pdf/fsd_mhdmr/0424-family-support-mohealthnet-report.pdf">April</a>.“I know [Family Support Division] has been working exhaustively, trying to bring that number of pending applications down and I know they’ve had some success,” he said, “but there will continue to be kind of an intense review on the state’s part to make sure that we’re getting those applications as current as we possibly can.”Baylee Watts, DSS’ communications director, said the division has “focused its staff and resources on processing applications that have exceeded 45 days” and continues training staff across several programs and “strategically reallocating staff to manage the workload effectively.”There can be issues when a patient is on Medicaid but needs to change the category of coverage they qualify for,&nbsp;Pfannenstiel also noted, referring to a patient trying to convert to postpartum Medicaid as causing providers confusion as to whether the person is eligible for services.A patient&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/01/23/perfect-storm-missouri-advocates-decry-medicaid-application-delays-coverage-losses/">previously told the Independent&nbsp;</a>she spent more than a month just trying to switch from adult Medicaid to Medicaid for Pregnant Women. In the meantime, she didn’t go to any doctor’s appointments.Richardson said it is currently a “manual process” for state workers to move Medicaid participants into the postpartum category. Since last year, women can receive&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/07/07/governor-signs-bill-extending-postpartum-coverage-under-missouri-medicaid/">postpartum coverage</a>&nbsp;for a full year rather than 60 days.It is also a manual process for children to receive what’s called&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/12/23/federal-spending-bill-ensures-one-year-continuous-coverage-for-missouri-kids-in-medicaid-chip/">continuous eligibility,</a>&nbsp;which went into effect this year after it was federally required. That policy allows kids to stay insured for the full year after they are renewed, rather than be potentially stripped of coverage between renewals, due to something like temporary changes in income.There are system changes to automate those processes planned for June, Richardson said.

Mo. Medicaid enrollment continues decline, down 200,000 since last June

St. Joseph public school officials have shifted focus on
summer school.

St. Joseph School Superintendent Gabe Edgar says in the past
the St. Joseph School District tended to focus on getting as many students as
possible in summer school to draw down as much state money as possible. Edgar
says, now, the focus is on the students, getting them caught up academically
and prepared for next fall.

“We feel like we have a pretty good program going and we have
a good partnership with Catapult Learning,” Edgar tells host Barry Birr on the
KFEQ Hotline. “It’s not going to be a money-maker for us, but we’re not going
to lose anything. We’re just trying to, like I said, provide those
interventions for kids.”

Edgar says summer school needs to be focused on the needs of
the student.

“It’s more of an intervention strategy that it is just a
setting where you’re going to summer school as a babysitting service or
whatever,” Edgar says. “We’re really trying to move the needle in summer
school.”

Though the district contracts with Catapult Learning to operate summer school, it provides the curriculum so students are ready when the new school year begins.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostSt. Joseph public school officials have shifted focus on
summer school.St. Joseph School Superintendent Gabe Edgar says in the past
the St. Joseph School District tended to focus on getting as many students as
possible in summer school to draw down as much state money as possible. Edgar
says, now, the focus is on the students, getting them caught up academically
and prepared for next fall.“We feel like we have a pretty good program going and we have
a good partnership with Catapult Learning,” Edgar tells host Barry Birr on the
KFEQ Hotline. “It’s not going to be a money-maker for us, but we’re not going
to lose anything. We’re just trying to, like I said, provide those
interventions for kids.”Edgar says summer school needs to be focused on the needs of
the student.“It’s more of an intervention strategy that it is just a
setting where you’re going to summer school as a babysitting service or
whatever,” Edgar says. “We’re really trying to move the needle in summer
school.”Though the district contracts with Catapult Learning to operate summer school, it provides the curriculum so students are ready when the new school year begins.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Focus of St. Joseph summer school has shifted

Mid-Buchanan head baseball coach Rob Davenport coached his final game with the Dragons during Thursday's 9-0 shutout loss to Duchesne in the MSHSAA Class 3 title game.&nbsp;

Davenport says he told the team following the loss how proud he was of them for making it to state and accomplishing what they did during the season, but then broke the news.&nbsp;

"I told them tonight that that was the last baseball game I would be coaching and that I couldn't be happier to have spent the season with them," Davenport said during a postgame interview. "So, really cool opportunity to come down here and be one of two teams standing."&nbsp;

"It hurts a little bit right now, but we'll all be super proud of it down the road."&nbsp;

Davenport says while it wasn't the result he or the team had hoped for he couldn't have been happier to be a part of it.&nbsp;

"To get to be a part of it, I've spent a lot of years coaching, now I get to go watch my daughter play ball herself, which I miss a lot of that, so that's the direction we're heading," Davenport says.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1717185746748.jpeg" alt="Mid-Buchanan head baseball and softball coach Rob Davenport coached his final game in Thursday's Class 3 State title game/ File photo" />
 <figcaption>Mid-Buchanan head baseball and softball coach Rob Davenport coached his final game in Thursday's Class 3 State title game/ File photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKESt. Joseph PostMid-Buchanan head baseball coach Rob Davenport coached his final game with the Dragons during Thursday's 9-0 shutout loss to Duchesne in the MSHSAA Class 3 title game.&nbsp;Davenport says he told the team following the loss how proud he was of them for making it to state and accomplishing what they did during the season, but then broke the news.&nbsp;"I told them tonight that that was the last baseball game I would be coaching and that I couldn't be happier to have spent the season with them," Davenport said during a postgame interview. "So, really cool opportunity to come down here and be one of two teams standing."&nbsp;"It hurts a little bit right now, but we'll all be super proud of it down the road."&nbsp;Davenport says while it wasn't the result he or the team had hoped for he couldn't have been happier to be a part of it.&nbsp;"To get to be a part of it, I've spent a lot of years coaching, now I get to go watch my daughter play ball herself, which I miss a lot of that, so that's the direction we're heading," Davenport says.&nbsp;

Mid-Buchanan baseball coach stepping down after leading team to finals

St. Joseph has a new slate of inductees to the Area Sports Hall of Fame.

St. Joseph Sports Commission Director, Brett Esley, says this year’s class
features several firsts.

“We have an athlete in the sport of figure skating. That’s our first. We
have athlete in the sport of track and field. That’s a first for us. Also, we
have a member of the media as part of this class,” Esley tells KFEQ/St. Joseph
Post. “And so, I think it just goes to show you the depth that we have here in our
city and Buchanan County and we look forward to celebrating these men and women
and our team coming up this August.”

Figure
skater Ryan Blakely, multiple NCAA national track champion Heavin (Warner) Douglas,
and sportswriter Bill Scott will be inducted.

Also
among this year’s inductees: &nbsp;fastpitch
softball standout Bobby Blakely; Missouri Western and PGA golfer, Brice Garnett;
Dirck Clark and Charlie Shields, both instrumental in bringing the Kansas City
Chiefs Training Camp to St. Joseph; St. Joseph Mustangs founder Dan Gerson; Missouri
Southern softball coach Pat Lipira; Missouri Western baseball coach Doug Minnis;
the 2007 Benton High School Girls Basketball Team; and Special Olympics area
Athlete of the Year Charlie Phillips.

Tickets
to the induction will go on sale soon and can be purchased at the St. Joseph
Convention and Visitors Bureau or online.

The
induction ceremony will be held in memory of Frank O’Malley on August 25th
&nbsp;&nbsp;at the Stoney Creek Inn presented by Altha
Bros Ag.

Brent Martin contributed to this article.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1717172723763.jpeg" alt="St. Joseph Sports Commissioner Brett Esley announces 2024 St. Joseph Area Sports Hall of Fame inductees./Photo by Ryan Skaith" />
 <figcaption>St. Joseph Sports Commissioner Brett Esley announces 2024 St. Joseph Area Sports Hall of Fame inductees./Photo by Ryan Skaith</figcaption>
 </figure>By RYAN SKATIHSt. Joseph PostSt. Joseph has a new slate of inductees to the Area Sports Hall of Fame.St. Joseph Sports Commission Director, Brett Esley, says this year’s class
features several firsts.“We have an athlete in the sport of figure skating. That’s our first. We
have athlete in the sport of track and field. That’s a first for us. Also, we
have a member of the media as part of this class,” Esley tells KFEQ/St. Joseph
Post. “And so, I think it just goes to show you the depth that we have here in our
city and Buchanan County and we look forward to celebrating these men and women
and our team coming up this August.”Figure
skater Ryan Blakely, multiple NCAA national track champion Heavin (Warner) Douglas,
and sportswriter Bill Scott will be inducted.Also
among this year’s inductees: &nbsp;fastpitch
softball standout Bobby Blakely; Missouri Western and PGA golfer, Brice Garnett;
Dirck Clark and Charlie Shields, both instrumental in bringing the Kansas City
Chiefs Training Camp to St. Joseph; St. Joseph Mustangs founder Dan Gerson; Missouri
Southern softball coach Pat Lipira; Missouri Western baseball coach Doug Minnis;
the 2007 Benton High School Girls Basketball Team; and Special Olympics area
Athlete of the Year Charlie Phillips.Tickets
to the induction will go on sale soon and can be purchased at the St. Joseph
Convention and Visitors Bureau or online.The
induction ceremony will be held in memory of Frank O’Malley on August 25th
&nbsp;&nbsp;at the Stoney Creek Inn presented by Altha
Bros Ag.Brent Martin contributed to this article.

St. Joseph Sports Hall of Fame to induct 11 in August

A Buchanan County judge has determined that the 3% local tax can be imposed on the same retail location by both cities and counties.

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/rudi-keller/">RUDI KELLER</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/20/state-senator-throws-first-punches-of-2024-missouri-governors-campaign/">Missouri Independent</a>

Buchanan County can collect a special marijuana sales tax on dispensaries within St. Joseph city limits, a judge ruled Wednesday in the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-judge-rules-local-governments-can-stack-sales-tax-on-marijuana/">second decision</a>&nbsp;granting counties the right to stack taxes on top of city levies.

Circuit Judge Daniel Kellogg wrote&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/JUDGMENT.pdf?courtCode=05&amp;di=3746408">in his two-page ruling</a>&nbsp;that provisions in the recreational marijuana constitutional amendment&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/11/09/missouri-voters-amend-state-constitution-to-legalize-recreational-marijuana/">passed in 2022</a>&nbsp;do not limit the taxing power of counties within corporate limits of towns and cities.

“To put it bluntly, the court cannot accept (the) plaintiff’s interpretation of ‘Local Government’ to prohibit the power of the county to impose such tax within the Saint Joseph city limits,” Kellogg wrote. “The definition of ‘Local Government’ includes both the city and the county. As such, both are authorized to impose and collect the tax.”

Vertical Enterprises, which is licensed for retail sales, cultivation and marijuana product manufacturing in St. Joseph, sued the Buchanan County Collector’s office, the Missouri Department of Revenue and the Buchanan County Clerk’s office to block enforcement of the tax.

Along with regular sales taxes – which in&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://dor.mo.gov/pdf/rates/2024/apr2024.pdf">some locations approach 12%</a>&nbsp;– people purchasing marijuana for recreational use also pay a special 6% state tax and a local tax of 3% if approved by voters.

The ruling will cost Vertical’s customers about $30,000 a month, said Chris McHugh, CEO of the company. There are two other dispensaries in St. Joseph and he estimated their tax payments would be comparable to his.

“Consumers should be outraged,” McHugh said. “They’re paying this.”

Statewide, consumers purchased $1.1 billion worth of marijuana in the first year of recreational use sales.

“This is millions and millions of dollars that never, never should be taken from consumers,” McHugh said. “It’s nothing but an anti-marijuana tax.”

McHugh said he will appeal Kellogg’s decision.

MoCann Trade, the industry lobbying organization, said in a statement from Executive Director Andrew Mullins, that excessive taxes on marijuana drive customers into the underground, unregulated market.

“Since&nbsp;Oct. 1, Missouri cannabis customers have been paying roughly $3 million more each month than what the Missouri Constitution requires,” Mullins said.

Drafters of the amendment legalizing marijuana wanted to prevent stacking, so they used the broad term “local government” for the entity authorized to impose a tax. To make it apply to both cities and counties, the term was defined as meaning “a village, town, or city” for incorporated areas and counties for unincorporated places.

But the revenue department, interpreting the new tax law, told local governments that county marijuana taxes may be stacked, making the local tax rate on marijuana purchases 6% in places where county and city voters have approved the levy.

Almost everywhere the tax has been on the ballot, it&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/04/05/local-marijuana-sales-taxes-pass-easily-in-most-communities-in-missouri-elections/">has passed</a>, sometimes with&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kttn.com/election-results-across-north-missouri-counties-for-tuesday-april-2-2024/">overwhelming majorities</a>&nbsp;as in Unionville in April, where it was backed by 73% of voters.

Regular sales taxes are stacked and consumers pay the 4.225% state rate plus the local taxes for counties, cities and special taxing districts.&nbsp;

A 2023 notice from the department’s Taxation Division stated that the section of the constitution authorizing the tax states that any successful vote is&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/10/17/pair-of-lawsuits-challenge-whether-missouri-counties-can-stack-tax-on-marijuana-sales/">applicable to the “political subdivision”</a>&nbsp;where it was enacted.

The amendment did not define “political subdivision,” the notice stated.

“The distinction between local government and political subdivision is important as voters in the entire county will authorize the additional tax, not just voters in the unincorporated area,” the notice stated. “And practically, counties do not otherwise limit the applicability of their sales taxes based on geography.”

The interpretation generated both the lawsuit in Buchanan County and another in St. Louis County. In a ruling that is being appealed, St. Louis County Circuit Judge Brian May wrote that the interpretation offered by the plaintiff in that case, Robust Missouri 3 LLC, operator of a dispensary in Florissant, could have unintended consequences.

“If [Robust’s] interpretation were accepted, then a municipality or city would essentially be given carte blanche to ignore any county ordinance or regulation, including those related to public health and safety wholly unrelated to the taxing issue,” May wrote in the ruling.

Getting the same result from two courts shows the strength of the argument that the taxes can be stacked, said Steve Hobbs, executive director of the Missouri Association of Counties.

“From the very beginning, our position was absolutely that the constitutional amendment left this avenue open,” Hobbs said. “We’re really satisfied that, you know, our position was proved correct in two places.”

The trial court decisions aren’t controlling precedent and neither Hobbs nor McHugh said the cases would end at the courts of appeals.

“Everyone understands this is going to end up at the (Missouri) Supreme Court,” McHugh said, “so we’ve got to go through the process.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1717155185568.png" alt="Marijuana (Rebecca Rivas/The Missouri Independent)" />
 <figcaption>Marijuana (Rebecca Rivas/The Missouri Independent)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>A Buchanan County judge has determined that the 3% local tax can be imposed on the same retail location by both cities and counties.</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/rudi-keller/">RUDI KELLER</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/20/state-senator-throws-first-punches-of-2024-missouri-governors-campaign/">Missouri Independent</a>Buchanan County can collect a special marijuana sales tax on dispensaries within St. Joseph city limits, a judge ruled Wednesday in the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-judge-rules-local-governments-can-stack-sales-tax-on-marijuana/">second decision</a>&nbsp;granting counties the right to stack taxes on top of city levies.Circuit Judge Daniel Kellogg wrote&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/JUDGMENT.pdf?courtCode=05&amp;di=3746408">in his two-page ruling</a>&nbsp;that provisions in the recreational marijuana constitutional amendment&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/11/09/missouri-voters-amend-state-constitution-to-legalize-recreational-marijuana/">passed in 2022</a>&nbsp;do not limit the taxing power of counties within corporate limits of towns and cities.“To put it bluntly, the court cannot accept (the) plaintiff’s interpretation of ‘Local Government’ to prohibit the power of the county to impose such tax within the Saint Joseph city limits,” Kellogg wrote. “The definition of ‘Local Government’ includes both the city and the county. As such, both are authorized to impose and collect the tax.”Vertical Enterprises, which is licensed for retail sales, cultivation and marijuana product manufacturing in St. Joseph, sued the Buchanan County Collector’s office, the Missouri Department of Revenue and the Buchanan County Clerk’s office to block enforcement of the tax.Along with regular sales taxes – which in&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://dor.mo.gov/pdf/rates/2024/apr2024.pdf">some locations approach 12%</a>&nbsp;– people purchasing marijuana for recreational use also pay a special 6% state tax and a local tax of 3% if approved by voters.The ruling will cost Vertical’s customers about $30,000 a month, said Chris McHugh, CEO of the company. There are two other dispensaries in St. Joseph and he estimated their tax payments would be comparable to his.“Consumers should be outraged,” McHugh said. “They’re paying this.”Statewide, consumers purchased $1.1 billion worth of marijuana in the first year of recreational use sales.“This is millions and millions of dollars that never, never should be taken from consumers,” McHugh said. “It’s nothing but an anti-marijuana tax.”McHugh said he will appeal Kellogg’s decision.MoCann Trade, the industry lobbying organization, said in a statement from Executive Director Andrew Mullins, that excessive taxes on marijuana drive customers into the underground, unregulated market.“Since&nbsp;Oct. 1, Missouri cannabis customers have been paying roughly $3 million more each month than what the Missouri Constitution requires,” Mullins said.Drafters of the amendment legalizing marijuana wanted to prevent stacking, so they used the broad term “local government” for the entity authorized to impose a tax. To make it apply to both cities and counties, the term was defined as meaning “a village, town, or city” for incorporated areas and counties for unincorporated places.But the revenue department, interpreting the new tax law, told local governments that county marijuana taxes may be stacked, making the local tax rate on marijuana purchases 6% in places where county and city voters have approved the levy.Almost everywhere the tax has been on the ballot, it&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/04/05/local-marijuana-sales-taxes-pass-easily-in-most-communities-in-missouri-elections/">has passed</a>, sometimes with&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kttn.com/election-results-across-north-missouri-counties-for-tuesday-april-2-2024/">overwhelming majorities</a>&nbsp;as in Unionville in April, where it was backed by 73% of voters.Regular sales taxes are stacked and consumers pay the 4.225% state rate plus the local taxes for counties, cities and special taxing districts.&nbsp;A 2023 notice from the department’s Taxation Division stated that the section of the constitution authorizing the tax states that any successful vote is&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/10/17/pair-of-lawsuits-challenge-whether-missouri-counties-can-stack-tax-on-marijuana-sales/">applicable to the “political subdivision”</a>&nbsp;where it was enacted.The amendment did not define “political subdivision,” the notice stated.“The distinction between local government and political subdivision is important as voters in the entire county will authorize the additional tax, not just voters in the unincorporated area,” the notice stated. “And practically, counties do not otherwise limit the applicability of their sales taxes based on geography.”The interpretation generated both the lawsuit in Buchanan County and another in St. Louis County. In a ruling that is being appealed, St. Louis County Circuit Judge Brian May wrote that the interpretation offered by the plaintiff in that case, Robust Missouri 3 LLC, operator of a dispensary in Florissant, could have unintended consequences.“If [Robust’s] interpretation were accepted, then a municipality or city would essentially be given carte blanche to ignore any county ordinance or regulation, including those related to public health and safety wholly unrelated to the taxing issue,” May wrote in the ruling.Getting the same result from two courts shows the strength of the argument that the taxes can be stacked, said Steve Hobbs, executive director of the Missouri Association of Counties.“From the very beginning, our position was absolutely that the constitutional amendment left this avenue open,” Hobbs said. “We’re really satisfied that, you know, our position was proved correct in two places.”The trial court decisions aren’t controlling precedent and neither Hobbs nor McHugh said the cases would end at the courts of appeals.“Everyone understands this is going to end up at the (Missouri) Supreme Court,” McHugh said, “so we’ve got to go through the process.”

Buchanan Co. judge rules counties can stack taxes at marijuana dispensaries

OZARK- The Mid-Buchanan Dragons suffered a rough fifth inning against the Duchesne Pioneers, falling 9-0 in the MSHSAA Class 3 championship game Thursday at US Baseball Park in Ozark on Thursday.  

Dragons starting pitcher Coltyn Angst struggled with command early, walking Duchesne's Samson Jost to open the game.  Jost would make it to third on a throwing error from catcher Krayton House, soon scoring to take an early 1-0 lead.  

Despite two more walks in the first, Angst limited the damage, but the wheels would fall off in the second inning.  

The Pioneers would score five runs, after Angst walked three of the first four batters in the inning. 

Mid-Buchanan struggled to get their offense going all game, getting just two hits through the next four innings.  Relief pitcher Cadyn Parrott helped limit the damage, until the fifth inning.  

Duchesne added three more runs in the fifth inning, leading to Parrott being pulled for Harrison Archer, who would finish out the game giving up no more runs.  

Carder Campbell led the team in hits, going 2 for 3 at the plate with a triple.  

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1717128599443.jpeg" alt="Mid-Buchanan's Harrison Archer pitches during the Class 3 Championship Game/ Photo by Matt Pike" />
 <figcaption>Mid-Buchanan's Harrison Archer pitches during the Class 3 Championship Game/ Photo by Matt Pike</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKESt. Joseph PostOZARK- The Mid-Buchanan Dragons suffered a rough fifth inning against the Duchesne Pioneers, falling 9-0 in the MSHSAA Class 3 championship game Thursday at US Baseball Park in Ozark on Thursday. Dragons starting pitcher Coltyn Angst struggled with command early, walking Duchesne's Samson Jost to open the game. Jost would make it to third on a throwing error from catcher Krayton House, soon scoring to take an early 1-0 lead. Despite two more walks in the first, Angst limited the damage, but the wheels would fall off in the second inning. The Pioneers would score five runs, after Angst walked three of the first four batters in the inning. Mid-Buchanan struggled to get their offense going all game, getting just two hits through the next four innings. Relief pitcher Cadyn Parrott helped limit the damage, until the fifth inning. Duchesne added three more runs in the fifth inning, leading to Parrott being pulled for Harrison Archer, who would finish out the game giving up no more runs. Carder Campbell led the team in hits, going 2 for 3 at the plate with a triple. The Dragons finish the season 22-9.

Mid-Buchanan shutout by Duchesne, runner up in MSHAA Class 3

GRUNDY COUNTY—Two people were injured in an accident just after 5p.m. Thursday in Grundy County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2000 Ford Explorer driven by Stephanie L. Frey, 46, Trenton, was northbound on Highway Z two miles north of Farmersville.&nbsp;

The SUV traveled off the east of the road and the driver overcorrected. The vehicle returned to the road, crossed the center line, traveled off the west side of the road and the driver overcorrected again. The SUV traveled back off the east side of the road, struck an embankment and overturned.

Grundy County EMS transported Frey and a 6-year-old boy to Wright Memorial Hospital. They were properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

GRUNDY COUNTY—Two people were injured in an accident just after 5p.m. Thursday in Grundy County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2000 Ford Explorer driven by Stephanie L. Frey, 46, Trenton, was northbound on Highway Z two miles north of Farmersville.&nbsp;The SUV traveled off the east of the road and the driver overcorrected. The vehicle returned to the road, crossed the center line, traveled off the west side of the road and the driver overcorrected again. The SUV traveled back off the east side of the road, struck an embankment and overturned.Grundy County EMS transported Frey and a 6-year-old boy to Wright Memorial Hospital. They were properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

Mo. woman, 6-year-old injured after SUV overturns

DEKALB COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 3:30p.m. Thursday in DeKalb County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2023 John Deere 8R340 driven by Clement G. Norris, 31, Stewartsville, was northbound on U.S. 36 five miles northwest of Osborn.

The driver failed to yield at Fairview Road. A westbound 2012 Chevy 3500 driven by Larry L. Wall, 56, St. Joseph, struck the towed unit of the tractor.&nbsp;

DeKalb Clinton County Ambulance transported Wall to Mosaic Life Care. Norris was not injured. Wall was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.

DEKALB COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 3:30p.m. Thursday in DeKalb County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2023 John Deere 8R340 driven by Clement G. Norris, 31, Stewartsville, was northbound on U.S. 36 five miles northwest of Osborn.The driver failed to yield at Fairview Road. A westbound 2012 Chevy 3500 driven by Larry L. Wall, 56, St. Joseph, struck the towed unit of the tractor.&nbsp;DeKalb Clinton County Ambulance transported Wall to Mosaic Life Care. Norris was not injured. Wall was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.

Man from St. Joe hospitalized after pickup, tractor crash

OZARK- The Benton Cardinals fell to the Blair Oaks Falcons in the Class 4 State Championship 7-2 at US Baseball Park in Ozark on Thursday.  

Blair Oaks quickly got to starting pitcher Jackson Kanacsky as Warren Davis III would single, steal second base and then score on another single from Easton DeMelia.  

After a scoreless second inning, the Falcons would add three more runs in the bottom of the third, pushing their lead to 4-0.  

The Cardinals would strike for one in the top half of the fourth inning.  After Carson Schmidt was hit by a pitch to begin the inning, shortstop Chris Coy would score him with an RBI double.  

Benton would narrow the lead more in the sixth inning.  Coy would walk to start the inning, and after a throwing error from catcher Nolan Laughlin would end up at third, soon after being driven in by Carson Davis.  

The Falcons would extend the lead for good though in the bottom half of the inning, scoring three more runs.  

Schmidt led the way hitting, going 2 for 2, and being hit by a pitch twice, scoring one run.   

Hear the game broadcast here (begins in third inning)

Interview with head coach&nbsp;Johnny Coy&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1717105543013.jpeg" alt="Benton and Blair Oaks exchange high fives after the conclusion of the Class 4 State Championship game/ Photo by Matt Pike" />
 <figcaption>Benton and Blair Oaks exchange high fives after the conclusion of the Class 4 State Championship game/ Photo by Matt Pike</figcaption>
 </figure>OZARK- The Benton Cardinals fell to the Blair Oaks Falcons in the Class 4 State Championship 7-2 at US Baseball Park in Ozark on Thursday. Blair Oaks quickly got to starting pitcher Jackson Kanacsky as Warren Davis III would single, steal second base and then score on another single from Easton DeMelia. After a scoreless second inning, the Falcons would add three more runs in the bottom of the third, pushing their lead to 4-0. The Cardinals would strike for one in the top half of the fourth inning. After Carson Schmidt was hit by a pitch to begin the inning, shortstop Chris Coy would score him with an RBI double. Benton would narrow the lead more in the sixth inning. Coy would walk to start the inning, and after a throwing error from catcher Nolan Laughlin would end up at third, soon after being driven in by Carson Davis. The Falcons would extend the lead for good though in the bottom half of the inning, scoring three more runs. Schmidt led the way hitting, going 2 for 2, and being hit by a pitch twice, scoring one run. The Cardinals end their season 32-4. Hear the game broadcast here (begins in third inning)<div><iframe src="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kfeq-news/embed/episodes/Benton-Cardinals-vs-Blair-Oaks-Championship-game-e2kagle" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>Interview with head coach&nbsp;Johnny Coy&nbsp;<div><iframe src="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kfeq-news/embed/episodes/Johnny-Coy-interview-e2kagrq" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>

Benton falls to Blair Oaks 7-2, finish second in Class 4 State Championship

Missouri Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick wants to audit more school districts without a citizen petition or accusation of wrongdoing. Independence is first on the list.

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/mariabenevento/">MARIA BENEVENTO</a>

Independence School District Superintendent Dale Herl feels targeted by the state for moving to a four-day school week.

On Wednesday, Missouri Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick announced a plan to audit the district.

Independence schools aren’t accused of wrongdoing, and no one asked for an audit.

Rather, it’s Fitzpatrick’s first foray into conducting more routine audits of some of the state’s 518 school districts, something he&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/01/09/scott-fitzpatrick-says-covid-relief-school-spending-will-be-focus-as-missouri-auditor/#:~:text=The%20state%20auditor%20by%20law,audit%20any%20local%20political%20subdivision.">promised during his campaign and inauguration</a>.

Fitzpatrick initially said he wanted&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article266835176.html">to investigate schools teaching about</a>&nbsp;sexuality, gender or “critical race theory” — which has become a catchall term for race- or diversity-related concepts that parents or politicians may find objectionable. So far, he hasn’t emphasized that in the Independence audit.

“The combination of them being a large district that has a four-day week that’s in the Kansas City area was a big factor” in choosing to audit Independence, he said.

The auditor’s office has held expanded power to audit school districts for more than a decade, but has rarely used it. Fitzpatrick’s decision to flex that power comes as a bill further&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/politics/2024/05/09/missouri-legislature-passes-bill-expanding-powers-of-state-auditor/73616957007/">expanding the auditor’s authority</a>&nbsp;to investigate other government bodies without an invitation awaits Gov. Mike Parson’s signature.

The formal announcement of the audit to the school board on May 14 came shortly after Parson&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kcur.org/education/2024-05-08/missouri-governor-signs-468-million-education-bill-that-boosts-teacher-pay-and-expands-charters">signed legislation</a>&nbsp;to require school districts in charter counties and cities over 30,000 in population to seek voter approval if they want a four-day school week.

Independence switched to a Tuesday-through-Friday schedule for the 2023-24 school year to better recruit teachers and other staff. Herl said it’s already been successful.

The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/24info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&amp;BillID=244">law</a>&nbsp;doesn’t affect most of the more than 150 districts in the state that, like Independence, switched to a four-day week, because most of them are rural.

But it&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kcur.org/education/2024-04-24/independence-voters-would-weigh-in-on-4-day-school-week-under-new-missouri-bill">requires Independence</a>, by far the largest district in the state to go to a four-day week, to win voter approval or return to a five-day week.

The new law and the audit announcement come as Independence is wrapping up its first school year on the four-day schedule.

“It does feel like we were certainly targeted because we are (on) a four-day school week,” Herl said.

The state auditor’s job is to check state agencies, circuit courts and local governments for waste, fraud and inefficiencies.

School districts are required to have regular&nbsp;financial&nbsp;audits, conducted by an independent auditor. But audits from the state typically look beyond finances and don’t follow a set schedule.

While the auditor has had expanded power to audit school districts since 2008, school audits have most frequently happened when citizens collect signatures to petition for an audit or in response to specific concerns.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1717091725199.png" alt="Missouri Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick speaks to reporters Jan. 23 about a critical report of the Secretary of State's office (Jason Hancock/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption>Missouri Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick speaks to reporters Jan. 23 about a critical report of the Secretary of State's office (Jason Hancock/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Missouri Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick wants to audit more school districts without a citizen petition or accusation of wrongdoing. Independence is first on the list.</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/mariabenevento/">MARIA BENEVENTO</a>Independence School District Superintendent Dale Herl feels targeted by the state for moving to a four-day school week.On Wednesday, Missouri Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick announced a plan to audit the district.Independence schools aren’t accused of wrongdoing, and no one asked for an audit.Rather, it’s Fitzpatrick’s first foray into conducting more routine audits of some of the state’s 518 school districts, something he&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/01/09/scott-fitzpatrick-says-covid-relief-school-spending-will-be-focus-as-missouri-auditor/#:~:text=The%20state%20auditor%20by%20law,audit%20any%20local%20political%20subdivision.">promised during his campaign and inauguration</a>.Fitzpatrick initially said he wanted&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article266835176.html">to investigate schools teaching about</a>&nbsp;sexuality, gender or “critical race theory” — which has become a catchall term for race- or diversity-related concepts that parents or politicians may find objectionable. So far, he hasn’t emphasized that in the Independence audit.“The combination of them being a large district that has a four-day week that’s in the Kansas City area was a big factor” in choosing to audit Independence, he said.The auditor’s office has held expanded power to audit school districts for more than a decade, but has rarely used it. Fitzpatrick’s decision to flex that power comes as a bill further&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/politics/2024/05/09/missouri-legislature-passes-bill-expanding-powers-of-state-auditor/73616957007/">expanding the auditor’s authority</a>&nbsp;to investigate other government bodies without an invitation awaits Gov. Mike Parson’s signature.The formal announcement of the audit to the school board on May 14 came shortly after Parson&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kcur.org/education/2024-05-08/missouri-governor-signs-468-million-education-bill-that-boosts-teacher-pay-and-expands-charters">signed legislation</a>&nbsp;to require school districts in charter counties and cities over 30,000 in population to seek voter approval if they want a four-day school week.Independence switched to a Tuesday-through-Friday schedule for the 2023-24 school year to better recruit teachers and other staff. Herl said it’s already been successful.The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/24info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&amp;BillID=244">law</a>&nbsp;doesn’t affect most of the more than 150 districts in the state that, like Independence, switched to a four-day week, because most of them are rural.But it&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kcur.org/education/2024-04-24/independence-voters-would-weigh-in-on-4-day-school-week-under-new-missouri-bill">requires Independence</a>, by far the largest district in the state to go to a four-day week, to win voter approval or return to a five-day week.The new law and the audit announcement come as Independence is wrapping up its first school year on the four-day schedule.“It does feel like we were certainly targeted because we are (on) a four-day school week,” Herl said.<h2>Making audits routine</h2>The state auditor’s job is to check state agencies, circuit courts and local governments for waste, fraud and inefficiencies.School districts are required to have regular&nbsp;financial&nbsp;audits, conducted by an independent auditor. But audits from the state typically look beyond finances and don’t follow a set schedule.While the auditor has had expanded power to audit school districts since 2008, school audits have most frequently happened when citizens collect signatures to petition for an audit or in response to specific concerns.Of six school district and charter school audits completed since 2019, half sprang from citizen petitions, two were requested by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and one was requested by a charter school’s board.Older audit reports don’t always state why they were initiated, but Fitzpatrick said auditors have conducted an average of one to two school district audits a year since 2008.The Beacon confirmed those numbers are accurate based on&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://auditor.mo.gov/AuditReport/Reports?SearchLocalState=34">online audit reports</a>&nbsp;when you leave out follow-up reports, charter school audits and higher education audits.K-12 education is one of the state’s biggest expenses. Fitzpatrick said, “we spent almost none of our audit resources auditing the recipient of those funds.”He wants routine audits of school districts to become more common and has been adding staff for that work.“We are going to use more of our discretionary audit resources to do audits of school districts,” Fitzpatrick said. “The role that school districts play in preparing the next generation of Missourians for the workforce is incredibly important.”Fitzpatrick’s office is also auditing the Kingston K-14 school district in Washington County because of a citizen petition and the Francis Howell school district in St. Charles County because of concerns with “management and efficiency issues,” particularly with recent building projects.Both districts are on the eastern side of the state, which influenced the decision to add a Kansas City-area district to the mix, Fitzpatrick said.<h2>Costs and benefits</h2>Herl said he expects the audit report will be clean and that it could include useful suggestions.But the audit is also a burden.When auditors ask for documents, Herl said, “we need to stop what we’re doing as far as payroll or ending our fiscal year out to make sure that we’re complying with their requests.”The process is “very cumbersome for our staff,” but “something we’ll gladly do,” Herl said. “If there are things that we could do better, we certainly want to know that.”Neither Herl nor Fitzpatrick could estimate how many staff hours the audit will take.Fitzpatrick’s office takes on any direct costs to pay for the audits. He estimated it could use $70,000 to $80,000 worth of staff time from his office.“That would be what they would be paid regardless of whether we’re (auditing) Independence or some other district or some other entity,” he said.The report could be public by late 2024 or early 2025, Fitzpatrick said.If the audit reveals the district is well-run, “that should be something that the community should be happy about, and should instill confidence in the people in charge of the district,” he said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1717091669619.png" alt="Superintendent Dale Herl participates in a meeting of the Independence school board. (Zach Bauman/The Beacon)" />
 <figcaption>Superintendent Dale Herl participates in a meeting of the Independence school board. (Zach Bauman/The Beacon)</figcaption>
 </figure>When auditors get involved, schools are more likely to follow the rules and function in a more austere way, said Dustin Hornbeck, an assistant professor of leadership and policy studies at the University of Memphis.Hornbeck has studied the expanding role of some state auditors in education, particularly as they’re called on to hold charter schools accountable.While audits’ impact can be positive, Hornbeck said they’re also conducted by political, partisan officials in states like Missouri where the auditor is elected.The ability to do performance audits at will could lead districts to wonder whether the auditor is trying to send a message with the timing of an audit, he said.“It’s fascinating and kind of startling to think that the auditor just gets to pick and choose at random whomever they decide they want to audit,” he said. “You could use it as a political ax to grind or to go after political adversaries.”In Independence, audit staff are figuring out how to approach an audit without a specific problem area in mind. They’re talking with school board members, surveying upper-level staff and distributing contact information so community members can leave tips.Questions so far have focused on the four-day school week and finances, Herl said.There will be some emphasis on curriculum as well, Fitzpatrick said.Todd Schuler, a Missouri audit manager who presented to the school board, said the final audit report won’t mention any topic unless there’s a recommendation related to it. It won’t rule on whether the four-day week is good or bad, but might examine how the decision was made.“It’s a bit unusual,” Schuler told the school board. “This is pretty rare that we don’t go out with at least some known issues or concerns.”This&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2024/05/24/four-day-school-week-audit/">article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://thebeaconnews.org/">Beacon: Kansas City</a>&nbsp;and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.<figure>
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