The City’s Trades Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 21, in the City Hall Council Chambers to discuss the potential adoption of updated building codes.

The City of St. Joseph currently operates under 2018 standards and is considering a transition to the 2024 editions of the International Code Council’s model codes. This update would also include the 2023 National Electrical Code. The city typically reviews these international revisions every six years to ensure local regulations align with current industry standards and safety practices.

The proposal includes updates to the International Building, Fire, Residential, and Property Maintenance codes, among others. While the city uses international models as a foundation, officials noted that the adoption process typically includes minor amendments specifically tailored to meet the unique needs of the St. Joseph community.

The upcoming meeting follows several prior reviews by the Trades Board of Appeals. This session will serve as the final discussion before the board issues a formal recommendation to the City Council.

Members of the public interested in the proposed updates or specific amendments are encouraged to attend the hearing.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757352623169.jpeg" alt="St. Joseph City Hall" />
 <figcaption>St. Joseph City Hall</figcaption>
 </figure>(By RYAN SKAITH)The City’s Trades Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 21, in the City Hall Council Chambers to discuss the potential adoption of updated building codes.The City of St. Joseph currently operates under 2018 standards and is considering a transition to the 2024 editions of the International Code Council’s model codes. This update would also include the 2023 National Electrical Code. The city typically reviews these international revisions every six years to ensure local regulations align with current industry standards and safety practices.The proposal includes updates to the International Building, Fire, Residential, and Property Maintenance codes, among others. While the city uses international models as a foundation, officials noted that the adoption process typically includes minor amendments specifically tailored to meet the unique needs of the St. Joseph community.The upcoming meeting follows several prior reviews by the Trades Board of Appeals. This session will serve as the final discussion before the board issues a formal recommendation to the City Council.Members of the public interested in the proposed updates or specific amendments are encouraged to attend the hearing.

Public hearing set for Jan. 21 to discuss new city building codes

The following is a list of general highway maintenance and construction work the Missouri Department of Transportation has planned for Northwest Missouri for the week of Jan. 19 - 25.

There may be moving operations throughout the region, in addition to the work mentioned below.

Route F –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;at the Rock Creek Bridge for a bridge rehabilitation project through January 2026.

Gene Field Road Bridge –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;due to damage from being struck by an oversized load. The project was awarded to Clarkson Construction Company. The project schedule is currently being determined.&nbsp;

Route 752 (Alabama Street) –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;from U.S. Route 59 to Sherman Street for an intersection improvement project through February 2026.&nbsp;

Faraon Street – Eastbound right-hand turn lane&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;for utility work at Belt Highway, Jan. 21, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

U.S. Route 169 (Belt Highway) – Utility work southbound from Fredrick Avenue to Faraon Street, overnight starting at 8:30 p.m. Jan. 23, to 8:30 a.m. Jan. 24. The southbound driving lane will be closed.

Route D –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;for a bridge replacement project at the Shoal Creek Bridge through March 2026.

Route W – Brush cutting from Route T to U.S. Route 65, Jan. 20-23, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily. The road will be narrowed to one lane with flaggers guiding motorists through the work zone.

Route PP –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;at the Mid-Fork Chariton River Overflow Bridge for replacement projects through the Northwest Bridge Bundle through March 2026.

Route KK –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;at the Puzzle Creek Bridge for a replacement project through the Northwest Bridge Bundle through mid-March 2026.

Route O –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;at the Bee Creek Bridge for a replacement project through the Northwest Bridge Bundle through April 2026.

Route KK –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;at the Little Chariton River Bridge for a deck replacement project through March 2026.&nbsp;

Route 11 –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;at the Badger Creek Bridge, north of New Boston, for a bridge replacement project through the Northwest Bridge Bundle through May 2026.

Route 139 -&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;at the Parson Creek Bridge, north of Meadville, for a bridge replacement project through the Northwest Bridge Bundle through May 2026.

U.S. Route 36 – Bridge maintenance westbound at the bridge over Turkey Creek, Jan. 20-22. The bridge will be narrowed to one lane around-the-clock.

Route K –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;at the North Fork Crooked Creek Bridge beginning Feb. 19 for a bridge replacement project through the Northwest Bridge Bundle through April 2026.

U.S. Route 71 – Pothole patching both directions from the Iowa State line to Route FF, Jan. 20-23.

Route T –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;at the East Locust Creek bridge due to deterioration. The bridge is scheduled to be replaced in the spring of 2026 through the Northwest Bridge Bundle.

U.S. Route 169 –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;for a bridge deck replacement project at the Middle Fork Grand River Bridge through January 2026.

Route W –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;for a bridge replacement at the West Fork Grand River Bridge through January 2026.

MoDOT&nbsp; says inclement weather may cause schedule changes to some of the planned work.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704585565260.png" alt="MoDot" />
 <figcaption>MoDot</figcaption>
 </figure>(By RYAN SKAITH)The following is a list of general highway maintenance and construction work the Missouri Department of Transportation has planned for Northwest Missouri for the week of Jan. 19 - 25.There may be moving operations throughout the region, in addition to the work mentioned below.Atchison CountyRoute F –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;at the Rock Creek Bridge for a bridge rehabilitation project through January 2026.Buchanan CountyGene Field Road Bridge –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;due to damage from being struck by an oversized load. The project was awarded to Clarkson Construction Company. The project schedule is currently being determined.&nbsp;Route 752 (Alabama Street) –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;from U.S. Route 59 to Sherman Street for an intersection improvement project through February 2026.&nbsp;Faraon Street – Eastbound right-hand turn lane&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;for utility work at Belt Highway, Jan. 21, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.U.S. Route 169 (Belt Highway) – Utility work southbound from Fredrick Avenue to Faraon Street, overnight starting at 8:30 p.m. Jan. 23, to 8:30 a.m. Jan. 24. The southbound driving lane will be closed.Caldwell CountyRoute D –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;for a bridge replacement project at the Shoal Creek Bridge through March 2026.Carroll CountyRoute W – Brush cutting from Route T to U.S. Route 65, Jan. 20-23, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily. The road will be narrowed to one lane with flaggers guiding motorists through the work zone.Chariton CountyRoute PP –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;at the Mid-Fork Chariton River Overflow Bridge for replacement projects through the Northwest Bridge Bundle through March 2026.Route KK –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;at the Puzzle Creek Bridge for a replacement project through the Northwest Bridge Bundle through mid-March 2026.Route O –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;at the Bee Creek Bridge for a replacement project through the Northwest Bridge Bundle through April 2026.Route KK –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;at the Little Chariton River Bridge for a deck replacement project through March 2026.&nbsp;Linn CountyRoute 11 –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;at the Badger Creek Bridge, north of New Boston, for a bridge replacement project through the Northwest Bridge Bundle through May 2026.Route 139 -&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;at the Parson Creek Bridge, north of Meadville, for a bridge replacement project through the Northwest Bridge Bundle through May 2026.U.S. Route 36 – Bridge maintenance westbound at the bridge over Turkey Creek, Jan. 20-22. The bridge will be narrowed to one lane around-the-clock.Livingston CountyRoute K –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;at the North Fork Crooked Creek Bridge beginning Feb. 19 for a bridge replacement project through the Northwest Bridge Bundle through April 2026.Nodaway CountyU.S. Route 71 – Pothole patching both directions from the Iowa State line to Route FF, Jan. 20-23.Sullivan CountyRoute T –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;at the East Locust Creek bridge due to deterioration. The bridge is scheduled to be replaced in the spring of 2026 through the Northwest Bridge Bundle.Worth CountyU.S. Route 169 –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;for a bridge deck replacement project at the Middle Fork Grand River Bridge through January 2026.Route W –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;for a bridge replacement at the West Fork Grand River Bridge through January 2026.MoDOT&nbsp; says inclement weather may cause schedule changes to some of the planned work.

Planned roadwork for Northwest Missouri, Jan. 19 - 25

By MATT PIKE<div><iframe data-testid="embed-iframe" style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/2SZ1OIunkmLUmFsI30WaNQ?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>

KFEQ Morning Sports

(By RYAN SKAITH)<div><iframe data-testid="embed-iframe" style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/1OEzWH1VLZbanXcu8cgfVJ?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>

KFEQ News 01/19/2026

By SUZANNE KING <a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2026/01/08/why-30-rural-hospitals-in-kansas-and-12-in-missouri-are-at-risk/">The Beacon</a>

Kansas has more hospitals in immediate danger of closing than any other state, according to a recent analysis of the financial health of the country’s most remote hospitals.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://chqpr.org/">Center for Healthcare Quality &amp; Payment Reform</a>, a national policy organization, found that 68 rural Kansas hospitals are at risk of closing, including 30 at immediate risk. Its&nbsp;<a href="https://ruralhospitals.chqpr.org/downloads/Rural_Hospitals_at_Risk_of_Closing.pdf">analysis</a>&nbsp;also put Missouri among the 10 worst states for rural closings, with 29 rural hospitals at risk of closing, including a dozen at immediate risk.

Nationwide, the analysis found that 756 hospitals — one-third of all rural hospitals — could be in jeopardy, including 323 that are at&nbsp;<a href="https://ruralhospitals.chqpr.org/Solutions.html#the-need-for-rapid-action-to-prevent-closures-and-sustain-rural-healthcare">immediate risk</a>&nbsp;of closure. Hospitals that are losing money on patient services and don’t have enough reserves to offset those losses for more than six or seven years are considered to be at immediate risk.

Harold D. Miller, the Center for Healthcare Quality’s president and CEO, said the problem boils down to simple economics. Rural hospitals spend more than they bring in.

Because they are located in remote parts of the country, rural hospitals have fewer patients. But operating costs — like necessary staff and equipment — are the same as for hospitals in more populated areas.

At the same time, the cost of health care continues to climb, workforce shortages&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/12/24/traveling-nurses-kansas-hospitals/">make it more expensive to fill jobs</a>&nbsp;at rural facilities and much of the financial support that helped them through the COVID pandemic has gone away.

“Costs have gone up and payers haven’t kept up,” Miller said. “The hospital isn’t being paid based on actual cost. More likely it gets underpaid.”

A pessimistic assessment of the financial health of rural hospitals is not new. For years, experts have warned about pending closures. And across the country almost 200 rural hospitals have shut down since 2005, including 19 across&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/08/08/rural-hospitals-missouri-medicaid-cuts-at-risk-2025-closures/">Missouri</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kwch.com/2026/01/07/derbys-rock-regional-hospital-eviction-process-cleared-proceed-judge-decides/">Kansas</a>.

The rural hospitals that have closed their doors since 2012,&nbsp;<a href="https://ruralhospitals.chqpr.org/Problems.html#the-magnitude-of-financial-losses-at-rural-hospitals">the Center for Healthcare Quality found</a>, had a median operating loss of 9%. Rural hospitals that stayed open had a median 5% profit margin.

Cindy Samuelson, spokeswoman for the Kansas Hospital Association, cautioned that the report’s dire predictions of 30 Kansas hospitals being on the brink of closing may be overblown. Many rural Kansas communities provide taxpayer support in the form of a city or county levy. Although that funding is not guaranteed, she said it is a good bet that it will continue.

“I really think you’re not going to see 30” hospitals close, Samuelson said. “Those people who live in those 30 areas are going to say, ‘We’ll pay the tax. Health care is important to us.’”&nbsp;

Kansas still has 100 rural hospitals — second only to Texas — while Missouri has 58. But many operate at a loss. And the challenges only seem to be growing.

Recent changes at the federal level are expected to dramatically increase the number of people without insurance&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/12/19/aca-expiring-tax-credits-health-insurance/">beginning this year</a>. That will likely add to the number of patients hospitals have to treat for free, and it is expected to ultimately lead to more expensive care since people who skip doctors’ appointments or medicine often end up sicker.

Hospitals also are watching what will happen at the state and federal levels to the 340B Drug Pricing Program, which helps many hospitals subsidize the cost of care across their operations. Some lawmakers would like to change the way the program works, which could leave hospitals with another big funding gap.

“It could impact essential services the hospitals provide,” Samuelson said.

While loss of the drug program or reduced government insurance coverage under Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act marketplace will likely mean problems for hospitals, Miller said many rural hospitals will face grim prospects even if none of those changes occurs. Already, he said, they are dealing with the reality that insurance plans aren’t paying them enough to cover their expenses.

Many people assume Medicare and Medicaid are the primary culprits for funding shortfalls, Miller said, but private insurance is actually a bigger factor for many small rural providers.

Private insurance is often the&nbsp;<a href="https://ruralhospitals.chqpr.org/Data4A.html">largest contributor</a>&nbsp;to rural hospital revenue — especially since private Medicare Advantage plans have become increasingly popular. But often hospitals are getting the smallest reimbursements from that sector.

Traditional Medicare plans are required to cover most of the cost of care for the patients they cover, but the same is not true of Medicare Advantage plans, which are sold through private insurance companies and work like any other private plan.

Rural hospitals may fall outside a Medicare Advantage plan’s network, or the plan will quibble about paying for certain procedures or services. That can leave patients without nearby care options and hospitals without funds to cover costs.

All of it contributes to rural hospitals’ funding gaps, Miller said.

“If those private insurers are paying half as much as it costs to deliver services in the hospital,” he said, “that hospital is not going to stay open.”

A&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kha-net.org/CriticalIssues/FinancialStability/FinanceResources/d175040.aspx?type=view">2024 study</a>&nbsp;from the Kansas Hospital Association found that private insurers, or commercial payers, in the state paid less than payers in neighboring states. That left Kansas hospitals with fewer private dollars to help cover the costs of care for uninsured or underinsured patients.&nbsp;

And because private plans were covering less, patients were left carrying more bad debt, the study found, because they couldn’t afford out-of-pocket costs. Or they were avoiding care when they needed it, which ultimately drives up cost.

The closure of any rural hospital puts people’s health at risk. Not only are patients left with long drives to hospitals in an emergency, they also lose affiliated physician practices, laboratories and imaging services, which often puts preventive care in jeopardy.

“The bottom line for patients if they lose their hospital is that there’s always going to be a larger barrier for them to go seek care,” said Tom Mueller, director of the Kansas Center for Rural Health at the University of Kansas Medical Center. “It’s important to point out that rural folks are happy to drive for the most part. … But, regardless, if you’re talking about a 20-minute drive versus a two-hour drive, you might not go get that thing checked out.”

As a result, chances at early detection are missed. Screenings are postponed or avoided. And people’s health suffers.

Hope for rural transformation funds

Kansas hospitals are waiting for details about the funds the state has been awarded through the new $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Fund, which is being dolled out to states across the country for the next five years.

Missouri&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/12/29/medicaid-missouri-rural-health-transformation-hr-1/">will receive</a>&nbsp;$216 million during the 2026 fiscal year, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced, while Kansas will receive $222 million.&nbsp;

Samuelson said the details of exactly what was funded from the Kansas proposal will be announced in coming days. But she expects the programs funded will help hospitals. It won’t mean an immediate influx of money, but it will mean a chance for the state to invest in shoring up rural hospitals.&nbsp;

And the industry hopes the funds will bring structural changes, like addressing root causes of disease, which would make care less expensive. And investing in the rural health workforce.

“It’s going to be changes that will be impactful and hopefully long-lived with regards to transformative care in rural areas,” Samuelson said.

Lucretia Stargell, CEO of Goodland Regional Medical Center and Rawlins County Health Center in northwest Kansas, said she hopes the new transformation fund drives rural hospitals to be more collaborative.&nbsp;

In May, her hospital brought oncology care back to Goodland one day a week by sharing the cost with other rural hospitals. Now cancer patients can see a doctor close to home rather than driving to Hays or other faraway cities.

It’s an example of how rural hospitals can bring care to the patients, Stargell said, but also help patients navigate finding specialist care in other places when necessary.&nbsp;

“Our big audacious goal is to be a medical home for the region, she said. “We want to help coordinate your care. We want to get you to Hays or Salina or Kansas City, but we want you back. It’s a complex world to navigate, and that’s our duty as a hospital to be part of that.”

Hospitals haven’t gotten to the point of being on the brink of closure overnight, and getting back to health won’t be simple either, Stargell said. But taking deliberate steps to create long-term change seems like the best approach, she said.

“If there were a quick fix,” she said, “hospitals wouldn’t be closing.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768575830427.png" alt="A new study of rural hospitals finds that 30 hospitals in Kansas and 12 in Missouri are at risk of immediate closure. (Naomi O'Donnell/The Beacon)" />
 <figcaption>A new study of rural hospitals finds that 30 hospitals in Kansas and 12 in Missouri are at risk of immediate closure. (Naomi O'Donnell/The Beacon)</figcaption>
 </figure>By SUZANNE KING <a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2026/01/08/why-30-rural-hospitals-in-kansas-and-12-in-missouri-are-at-risk/">The Beacon</a>Kansas has more hospitals in immediate danger of closing than any other state, according to a recent analysis of the financial health of the country’s most remote hospitals.The&nbsp;<a href="https://chqpr.org/">Center for Healthcare Quality &amp; Payment Reform</a>, a national policy organization, found that 68 rural Kansas hospitals are at risk of closing, including 30 at immediate risk. Its&nbsp;<a href="https://ruralhospitals.chqpr.org/downloads/Rural_Hospitals_at_Risk_of_Closing.pdf">analysis</a>&nbsp;also put Missouri among the 10 worst states for rural closings, with 29 rural hospitals at risk of closing, including a dozen at immediate risk.Nationwide, the analysis found that 756 hospitals — one-third of all rural hospitals — could be in jeopardy, including 323 that are at&nbsp;<a href="https://ruralhospitals.chqpr.org/Solutions.html#the-need-for-rapid-action-to-prevent-closures-and-sustain-rural-healthcare">immediate risk</a>&nbsp;of closure. Hospitals that are losing money on patient services and don’t have enough reserves to offset those losses for more than six or seven years are considered to be at immediate risk.Harold D. Miller, the Center for Healthcare Quality’s president and CEO, said the problem boils down to simple economics. Rural hospitals spend more than they bring in.Because they are located in remote parts of the country, rural hospitals have fewer patients. But operating costs — like necessary staff and equipment — are the same as for hospitals in more populated areas.At the same time, the cost of health care continues to climb, workforce shortages&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/12/24/traveling-nurses-kansas-hospitals/">make it more expensive to fill jobs</a>&nbsp;at rural facilities and much of the financial support that helped them through the COVID pandemic has gone away.“Costs have gone up and payers haven’t kept up,” Miller said. “The hospital isn’t being paid based on actual cost. More likely it gets underpaid.”Challenges keep growingA pessimistic assessment of the financial health of rural hospitals is not new. For years, experts have warned about pending closures. And across the country almost 200 rural hospitals have shut down since 2005, including 19 across&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/08/08/rural-hospitals-missouri-medicaid-cuts-at-risk-2025-closures/">Missouri</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kwch.com/2026/01/07/derbys-rock-regional-hospital-eviction-process-cleared-proceed-judge-decides/">Kansas</a>.The rural hospitals that have closed their doors since 2012,&nbsp;<a href="https://ruralhospitals.chqpr.org/Problems.html#the-magnitude-of-financial-losses-at-rural-hospitals">the Center for Healthcare Quality found</a>, had a median operating loss of 9%. Rural hospitals that stayed open had a median 5% profit margin.Cindy Samuelson, spokeswoman for the Kansas Hospital Association, cautioned that the report’s dire predictions of 30 Kansas hospitals being on the brink of closing may be overblown. Many rural Kansas communities provide taxpayer support in the form of a city or county levy. Although that funding is not guaranteed, she said it is a good bet that it will continue.“I really think you’re not going to see 30” hospitals close, Samuelson said. “Those people who live in those 30 areas are going to say, ‘We’ll pay the tax. Health care is important to us.’”&nbsp;Kansas still has 100 rural hospitals — second only to Texas — while Missouri has 58. But many operate at a loss. And the challenges only seem to be growing.Recent changes at the federal level are expected to dramatically increase the number of people without insurance&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/12/19/aca-expiring-tax-credits-health-insurance/">beginning this year</a>. That will likely add to the number of patients hospitals have to treat for free, and it is expected to ultimately lead to more expensive care since people who skip doctors’ appointments or medicine often end up sicker.Hospitals also are watching what will happen at the state and federal levels to the 340B Drug Pricing Program, which helps many hospitals subsidize the cost of care across their operations. Some lawmakers would like to change the way the program works, which could leave hospitals with another big funding gap.“It could impact essential services the hospitals provide,” Samuelson said.Lagging reimbursement ratesWhile loss of the drug program or reduced government insurance coverage under Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act marketplace will likely mean problems for hospitals, Miller said many rural hospitals will face grim prospects even if none of those changes occurs. Already, he said, they are dealing with the reality that insurance plans aren’t paying them enough to cover their expenses.Many people assume Medicare and Medicaid are the primary culprits for funding shortfalls, Miller said, but private insurance is actually a bigger factor for many small rural providers.Private insurance is often the&nbsp;<a href="https://ruralhospitals.chqpr.org/Data4A.html">largest contributor</a>&nbsp;to rural hospital revenue — especially since private Medicare Advantage plans have become increasingly popular. But often hospitals are getting the smallest reimbursements from that sector.Traditional Medicare plans are required to cover most of the cost of care for the patients they cover, but the same is not true of Medicare Advantage plans, which are sold through private insurance companies and work like any other private plan.Rural hospitals may fall outside a Medicare Advantage plan’s network, or the plan will quibble about paying for certain procedures or services. That can leave patients without nearby care options and hospitals without funds to cover costs.All of it contributes to rural hospitals’ funding gaps, Miller said.“If those private insurers are paying half as much as it costs to deliver services in the hospital,” he said, “that hospital is not going to stay open.”A&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kha-net.org/CriticalIssues/FinancialStability/FinanceResources/d175040.aspx?type=view">2024 study</a>&nbsp;from the Kansas Hospital Association found that private insurers, or commercial payers, in the state paid less than payers in neighboring states. That left Kansas hospitals with fewer private dollars to help cover the costs of care for uninsured or underinsured patients.&nbsp;And because private plans were covering less, patients were left carrying more bad debt, the study found, because they couldn’t afford out-of-pocket costs. Or they were avoiding care when they needed it, which ultimately drives up cost.The closure of any rural hospital puts people’s health at risk. Not only are patients left with long drives to hospitals in an emergency, they also lose affiliated physician practices, laboratories and imaging services, which often puts preventive care in jeopardy.“The bottom line for patients if they lose their hospital is that there’s always going to be a larger barrier for them to go seek care,” said Tom Mueller, director of the Kansas Center for Rural Health at the University of Kansas Medical Center. “It’s important to point out that rural folks are happy to drive for the most part. … But, regardless, if you’re talking about a 20-minute drive versus a two-hour drive, you might not go get that thing checked out.”As a result, chances at early detection are missed. Screenings are postponed or avoided. And people’s health suffers.Hope for rural transformation fundsKansas hospitals are waiting for details about the funds the state has been awarded through the new $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Fund, which is being dolled out to states across the country for the next five years.Missouri&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/12/29/medicaid-missouri-rural-health-transformation-hr-1/">will receive</a>&nbsp;$216 million during the 2026 fiscal year, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced, while Kansas will receive $222 million.&nbsp;Samuelson said the details of exactly what was funded from the Kansas proposal will be announced in coming days. But she expects the programs funded will help hospitals. It won’t mean an immediate influx of money, but it will mean a chance for the state to invest in shoring up rural hospitals.&nbsp;And the industry hopes the funds will bring structural changes, like addressing root causes of disease, which would make care less expensive. And investing in the rural health workforce.“It’s going to be changes that will be impactful and hopefully long-lived with regards to transformative care in rural areas,” Samuelson said.Lucretia Stargell, CEO of Goodland Regional Medical Center and Rawlins County Health Center in northwest Kansas, said she hopes the new transformation fund drives rural hospitals to be more collaborative.&nbsp;In May, her hospital brought oncology care back to Goodland one day a week by sharing the cost with other rural hospitals. Now cancer patients can see a doctor close to home rather than driving to Hays or other faraway cities.It’s an example of how rural hospitals can bring care to the patients, Stargell said, but also help patients navigate finding specialist care in other places when necessary.&nbsp;“Our big audacious goal is to be a medical home for the region, she said. “We want to help coordinate your care. We want to get you to Hays or Salina or Kansas City, but we want you back. It’s a complex world to navigate, and that’s our duty as a hospital to be part of that.”Hospitals haven’t gotten to the point of being on the brink of closure overnight, and getting back to health won’t be simple either, Stargell said. But taking deliberate steps to create long-term change seems like the best approach, she said.“If there were a quick fix,” she said, “hospitals wouldn’t be closing.”

Why 12 hospitals in Missouri and 30 in Kansas are at risk of closure

HARRISON COUNTY —A Missouri man died in an accident just before 8a.m. Sunday in Harrison County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 1986 Ford F150 driven by a 46-year-old Redgeway man was turning north onto E 240 Avenue from E 320th Avenue two and one half miles south of Eagleville.&nbsp;The driver lost control of the pickup. The vehicle began to skid and overturned onto the drivers side.

The driver was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Roberson Funeral Home. He was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident, according to the MSHP. The patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

HARRISON COUNTY —A Missouri man died in an accident just before 8a.m. Sunday in Harrison County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 1986 Ford F150 driven by a 46-year-old Redgeway man was turning north onto E 240 Avenue from E 320th Avenue two and one half miles south of Eagleville.&nbsp;The driver lost control of the pickup. The vehicle began to skid and overturned onto the drivers side.The driver was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Roberson Funeral Home. He was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident, according to the MSHP. The patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Missouri man dies after pickup skids and overturns

A Missouri House committee heard proposals Thursday to expand screenings for gifted education and add state funding for gifted students on a per-pupil basis

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/ahanshaw/">Annelise Hanshaw</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>

More Missouri public school students could receive gifted education under two proposals debated by the House Education Committee Thursday.

State Rep. Brenda Shields, a Republican from St. Joseph, is sponsoring a bill that would require schools to screen all students to determine if they qualify as gifted before they reach third grade.

She estimates that there are 20,000 Missouri students that are gifted but not currently enrolled in specialized classes.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB1757&amp;year=2026&amp;code=R" target="_blank">bill</a>&nbsp;expands on a state law that requires schools to offer gifted education when at least 3% of their student body is identified as gifted. This requirement began last school year.

“If screenings don’t happen, gifted and talented students aren’t identified,” she told the committee. “If the students are not identified, schools will never reach the 3% threshold to be able to offer a gifted program.”

Gifted students can present as squirrely or distracted in the classroom, Shields said, with thoughts and ideas beyond the basic curriculum. Providing a more enriching education will help both the students and their teacher, she said.

Beth Winton, chair of the Advisory Council on the Education of Gifted and Talented Children, agreed that many gifted students “are not always a pleasure to have in class.”

“The standard grade level curriculum is not designed to meet their academic or emotional needs,” she said. “And regular teachers already have enough demands on their time.”

Committee members largely spoke in favor of the bill, sharing personal anecdotes of their experiences in the classroom as teachers, parents and former students.

State Rep. Ann Kelley, a Republican from Lamar, said gifted education provides a needed challenge for some kids. Kelley, who taught eighth-grade English, said she saw students who were never identified as gifted but could benefit from the program.

“By (eighth grade), they don’t really test very many students at that point. And if they’ve been missed in that window, they’ve already checked out,” she said.

The largest concern came from state Rep. Mark Boyko, a Democrat from Kirkwood, who wondered if requiring schools to start screening by this fall is too tight of a timeline.

“As someone who has been on school boards, I know that drafting a good policy for a district is a process that takes a number of months,” he said. “So I have concerns that the bill starts one school year too early.”

Bolstering Shields’ legislation, a&nbsp;<a href="https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB1748&amp;year=2026&amp;code=R" target="_blank">bill</a>&nbsp;by state Rep. Scott Miller would ensure districts have the resources to educate gifted students by adding a line to the formula that determines state aid for public schools.

“High-quality gifted programming often includes advanced curriculum, specialized instructional strategies, social-emotional supports with trained educators and individualized learning pathways,” Miller, a St. Charles Republican, told the committee. “These services require additional staffing, materials and professional infrastructure, all of which come at a greater cost than general education alone.”

His bill would fund gifted students 60% higher than the base per-pupil amount. Based on the state’s current per-pupil funding, this means schools would receive an additional $4,287 per gifted student.

This number may decrease if the bill moves along in the legislative process. The committee’s chair, state Rep. Ed Lewis, a Moberly Republican, told Miller the multiplier was “pretty high.”

The bill’s fiscal note estimates it would have an annual cost of nearly $121.5 million, though Miller questioned the accuracy of the estimate.&nbsp;

Lobbyists for education groups such as the Missouri State Teachers Association and the Missouri Association of School Administrators spoke in favor of the funding boost.

“(The state) really does need to have a component in the formula to support gifted students,” said Otto Fajen, lobbyist for teachers union Missouri National Education Association. “That is critical.”

The committee did not take action on the bills Thursday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768689933562.png" alt=" State Rep. Brenda Shields, pictured presenting her child care tax credit legislation in a January 2024 House hearing, is hoping to expand gifted education in a bill heard by the House Education committee Thursday. Shields, a Republican from St. Joseph, estimates that 20,000 gifted students in Missouri are not receiving specialized classes to meet their needs (Tim Bommel/Missouri House Communications)." />
 <figcaption> State Rep. Brenda Shields, pictured presenting her child care tax credit legislation in a January 2024 House hearing, is hoping to expand gifted education in a bill heard by the House Education committee Thursday. Shields, a Republican from St. Joseph, estimates that 20,000 gifted students in Missouri are not receiving specialized classes to meet their needs (Tim Bommel/Missouri House Communications).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>A Missouri House committee heard proposals Thursday to expand screenings for gifted education and add state funding for gifted students on a per-pupil basis</h2>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/ahanshaw/">Annelise Hanshaw</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>More Missouri public school students could receive gifted education under two proposals debated by the House Education Committee Thursday.State Rep. Brenda Shields, a Republican from St. Joseph, is sponsoring a bill that would require schools to screen all students to determine if they qualify as gifted before they reach third grade.She estimates that there are 20,000 Missouri students that are gifted but not currently enrolled in specialized classes.The&nbsp;<a href="https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB1757&amp;year=2026&amp;code=R" target="_blank">bill</a>&nbsp;expands on a state law that requires schools to offer gifted education when at least 3% of their student body is identified as gifted. This requirement began last school year.“If screenings don’t happen, gifted and talented students aren’t identified,” she told the committee. “If the students are not identified, schools will never reach the 3% threshold to be able to offer a gifted program.”Gifted students can present as squirrely or distracted in the classroom, Shields said, with thoughts and ideas beyond the basic curriculum. Providing a more enriching education will help both the students and their teacher, she said.Beth Winton, chair of the Advisory Council on the Education of Gifted and Talented Children, agreed that many gifted students “are not always a pleasure to have in class.”“The standard grade level curriculum is not designed to meet their academic or emotional needs,” she said. “And regular teachers already have enough demands on their time.”Committee members largely spoke in favor of the bill, sharing personal anecdotes of their experiences in the classroom as teachers, parents and former students.State Rep. Ann Kelley, a Republican from Lamar, said gifted education provides a needed challenge for some kids. Kelley, who taught eighth-grade English, said she saw students who were never identified as gifted but could benefit from the program.“By (eighth grade), they don’t really test very many students at that point. And if they’ve been missed in that window, they’ve already checked out,” she said.The largest concern came from state Rep. Mark Boyko, a Democrat from Kirkwood, who wondered if requiring schools to start screening by this fall is too tight of a timeline.“As someone who has been on school boards, I know that drafting a good policy for a district is a process that takes a number of months,” he said. “So I have concerns that the bill starts one school year too early.”Bolstering Shields’ legislation, a&nbsp;<a href="https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB1748&amp;year=2026&amp;code=R" target="_blank">bill</a>&nbsp;by state Rep. Scott Miller would ensure districts have the resources to educate gifted students by adding a line to the formula that determines state aid for public schools.“High-quality gifted programming often includes advanced curriculum, specialized instructional strategies, social-emotional supports with trained educators and individualized learning pathways,” Miller, a St. Charles Republican, told the committee. “These services require additional staffing, materials and professional infrastructure, all of which come at a greater cost than general education alone.”His bill would fund gifted students 60% higher than the base per-pupil amount. Based on the state’s current per-pupil funding, this means schools would receive an additional $4,287 per gifted student.This number may decrease if the bill moves along in the legislative process. The committee’s chair, state Rep. Ed Lewis, a Moberly Republican, told Miller the multiplier was “pretty high.”The bill’s fiscal note estimates it would have an annual cost of nearly $121.5 million, though Miller questioned the accuracy of the estimate.&nbsp;Lobbyists for education groups such as the Missouri State Teachers Association and the Missouri Association of School Administrators spoke in favor of the funding boost.“(The state) really does need to have a component in the formula to support gifted students,” said Otto Fajen, lobbyist for teachers union Missouri National Education Association. “That is critical.”The committee did not take action on the bills Thursday.

Missouri lawmakers seek to improve gifted education in public schools

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/squinn/">Steph Quinn</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>

A proposed constitutional amendment sponsored by state Rep. Darin Chappell would hold Missouri to 80-hour work requirements from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act even if federal law change

A plan to add Medicaid work requirements to the state Constitution was debated by a Missouri House committee this week, with Republican lawmakers hoping to put the issue before voters later this year.

The proposed ballot measure, if approved by a majority of Missouri voters, would make it more difficult for the state to reverse federal restrictions on Medicaid eligibility included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed by Congress this summer if those requirements change in the future.&nbsp;

“The reality of it is this is coming to Missouri, irrespective of this,” said state Rep. Darin Chappell, a Rogersville Republican sponsoring legislation that would propose the change. “This is just saying we should keep it that way.”

Starting Jan. 1, 2027, the federal law will require adults ages 19 to 64 who are covered as part of Medicaid expansion to show that they work, volunteer or study at least 80 hours a month to qualify for the health care program for low-income people. The law also requires states to recertify enrollees’ eligibility every six months instead of once a year.

With Missouri’s Department of Social Services&nbsp;<a href="https://instatrac-production.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/GovWatch/files/bill_files/f6db0ad8a353a0e88f853707267aadcc.pdf" target="_blank">requesting an additional $131 million</a>&nbsp;to cover costs this fiscal year of implementing the federal law, state lawmakers debated during the Tuesday hearing of the House Legislative Review Committee whether work requirements would slash MO HealthNet costs or add to the expense of implementing the federal law.

Chappell said the intent of his legislation is “to mirror what has been done at the national level already.” He believes the constitutional amendment would save Missouri money.

“There will be individuals who were not the original intent of Medicaid and choose not to engage in the work requirements that will not have access to Medicaid any longer,” Chappell told The Independent.

Medicaid eligibility changes in the federal law could cause&nbsp;<a href="https://shvs.org/resource/senate-passed-h-r-1-updated-estimates-on-impact-to-state-medicaid-coverage-and-expenditures-hospital-expenditures-including-impacts-by-congressional-district/" target="_blank">130,000</a>&nbsp;Missourians to become uninsured in the next decade, according to one estimate from Princeton University. There were&nbsp;<a href="https://dss.mo.gov/mis/clcounter/" target="_blank">363,641 MO HealthNet adult expansion enrollees</a>&nbsp;in December, an all-time high, according to data from the state social services department.

The ballot measure described in Chappell’s joint resolution is not identical to changes the federal law makes to Medicaid eligibility. While the measure would require the Missouri Department of Social Services to go back three months in an individual’s employment history to verify that they meet work requirements, the federal law only requires states to check one month prior to enrollment. And Chappell left open how often the department would have to verify that current enrollees are still meeting requirements.

“Some of this is going to have to be departmental capacity,” Chappell said. “I don’t know that it’s every 30 days.”

Democrats insisted the fiscal note attached to the legislation didn’t reveal the full costs of the changes and questioned why lawmakers should amend a section of the state constitution recently changed by a popular vote of Missourians.

Missourians voted in 2020 to expand Medicaid, opening eligibility to people earning up to 138% of the federal poverty level, though enrollment did not begin until Oct. 2021 because state lawmakers&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2021/03/25/republican-lawmakers-vote-down-funding-for-missouri-medicaid-expansion/">refused</a>&nbsp;to&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2021/04/29/missouri-senate-rejects-funding-for-voter-approved-medicaid-expansion/">fund</a>&nbsp;it.

State Rep. Aaron Crossley, a Democrat from Independence, asked Chappell if he had considered a “trigger law” that would change statute to reflect the federal law, but only as long as the federal law remains in force.&nbsp;

“Why not do that and then say, ‘OK, we’ll go back to what the voters approved a few years ago when federal law likely changes?” Crossley said.

Chappell emphasized that if his bill passes, voters will have final say about the constitutional amendment.

“If we believe in the will of the people, as I certainly do, why are we so afraid to let them speak again, to modify what’s already been said?” Chappell said in an interview with The Independent. “How is that horrible?”

The&nbsp;<a href="https://documents.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills261/fiscal/fispdf/6310H.01I.ORG.pdf" target="_blank">fiscal note</a>&nbsp;included only the projected cost of putting Chappell’s proposal on the ballot in November, which comes out to roughly $9 million.&nbsp;

But State Rep. Jo Doll, a Democrat from St. Louis, said that if voters approved the measure, the cost to the state would be much higher.&nbsp;

“Where are we going to find the workers?” Doll said. “Because it’s going to take a lot of people to verify that someone has been working for three months prior and every month following.”

Gov. Mike Kehoe’s executive budget for fiscal year 2027 recommends a&nbsp;<a href="https://budplan.oa.mo.gov/media/pdf/fy2027-eb-hb-11-social-services" target="_blank">reduction of 238 staff</a>&nbsp;in the state’s social services department, which is in charge of eligibility and enrollment for MO HealthNet. The recommended cut includes a reduction of 173 “income maintenance” staff, who according to a description in the&nbsp;<a href="https://budplan.oa.mo.gov/media/pdf/fy27-dss-appropriation-book" target="_blank">department’s budget request</a>, “determine eligibility for assistance programs.”&nbsp;

In its&nbsp;<a href="https://instatrac-production.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/GovWatch/files/bill_files/f6db0ad8a353a0e88f853707267aadcc.pdf" target="_blank">supplemental budget request</a>&nbsp;for the current fiscal year, the department asked for an additional $9 million in state general revenue and $123 million in federal funds to implement the federal law — partly to pay for income maintenance system updates. The department requested another $530 million to cover the adult expansion Medicaid population.

Chappell underlined that the ballot measure would not affect people exempt from federal work requirements due to disability or pregnancy.

But Crossley, who works in health care and has helped clients apply for Medicaid, said he has seen people lose coverage for administrative reasons that they were legally entitled to.

“If they miss one piece of mail and it’s time for them to renew their Medicaid…[or] they miss that one notification, then they’re off their insurance,” Crossley said.

Chappell acknowledged that some costs of more uncompensated care as more Missourians go uninsured could fall to taxpayers, but he said he believes the constitutional amendment would help people in the long run.

“If we encourage people to go to work, and we change the dynamic of their world view…so that they become part of the working population, I think we’ll see that they’ll increase their money that’s available to them,” Chappell told The Independent. “They’ll create for themselves skill sets whereby they can get employed and thereby have healthcare access through their employers.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768574376873.png" alt="State Rep. Darin Chappell of Rogersville speaks in March 2024 during Missouri House debate (Tim Bommel/Missouri House Communications)." />
 <figcaption>State Rep. Darin Chappell of Rogersville speaks in March 2024 during Missouri House debate (Tim Bommel/Missouri House Communications).</figcaption>
 </figure>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/squinn/">Steph Quinn</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a><h2>A proposed constitutional amendment sponsored by state Rep. Darin Chappell would hold Missouri to 80-hour work requirements from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act even if federal law change</h2>A plan to add Medicaid work requirements to the state Constitution was debated by a Missouri House committee this week, with Republican lawmakers hoping to put the issue before voters later this year.The proposed ballot measure, if approved by a majority of Missouri voters, would make it more difficult for the state to reverse federal restrictions on Medicaid eligibility included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed by Congress this summer if those requirements change in the future.&nbsp;“The reality of it is this is coming to Missouri, irrespective of this,” said state Rep. Darin Chappell, a Rogersville Republican sponsoring legislation that would propose the change. “This is just saying we should keep it that way.”Starting Jan. 1, 2027, the federal law will require adults ages 19 to 64 who are covered as part of Medicaid expansion to show that they work, volunteer or study at least 80 hours a month to qualify for the health care program for low-income people. The law also requires states to recertify enrollees’ eligibility every six months instead of once a year.With Missouri’s Department of Social Services&nbsp;<a href="https://instatrac-production.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/GovWatch/files/bill_files/f6db0ad8a353a0e88f853707267aadcc.pdf" target="_blank">requesting an additional $131 million</a>&nbsp;to cover costs this fiscal year of implementing the federal law, state lawmakers debated during the Tuesday hearing of the House Legislative Review Committee whether work requirements would slash MO HealthNet costs or add to the expense of implementing the federal law.Chappell said the intent of his legislation is “to mirror what has been done at the national level already.” He believes the constitutional amendment would save Missouri money.“There will be individuals who were not the original intent of Medicaid and choose not to engage in the work requirements that will not have access to Medicaid any longer,” Chappell told The Independent.Medicaid eligibility changes in the federal law could cause&nbsp;<a href="https://shvs.org/resource/senate-passed-h-r-1-updated-estimates-on-impact-to-state-medicaid-coverage-and-expenditures-hospital-expenditures-including-impacts-by-congressional-district/" target="_blank">130,000</a>&nbsp;Missourians to become uninsured in the next decade, according to one estimate from Princeton University. There were&nbsp;<a href="https://dss.mo.gov/mis/clcounter/" target="_blank">363,641 MO HealthNet adult expansion enrollees</a>&nbsp;in December, an all-time high, according to data from the state social services department.The ballot measure described in Chappell’s joint resolution is not identical to changes the federal law makes to Medicaid eligibility. While the measure would require the Missouri Department of Social Services to go back three months in an individual’s employment history to verify that they meet work requirements, the federal law only requires states to check one month prior to enrollment. And Chappell left open how often the department would have to verify that current enrollees are still meeting requirements.“Some of this is going to have to be departmental capacity,” Chappell said. “I don’t know that it’s every 30 days.”Democrats insisted the fiscal note attached to the legislation didn’t reveal the full costs of the changes and questioned why lawmakers should amend a section of the state constitution recently changed by a popular vote of Missourians.Missourians voted in 2020 to expand Medicaid, opening eligibility to people earning up to 138% of the federal poverty level, though enrollment did not begin until Oct. 2021 because state lawmakers&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2021/03/25/republican-lawmakers-vote-down-funding-for-missouri-medicaid-expansion/">refused</a>&nbsp;to&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2021/04/29/missouri-senate-rejects-funding-for-voter-approved-medicaid-expansion/">fund</a>&nbsp;it.State Rep. Aaron Crossley, a Democrat from Independence, asked Chappell if he had considered a “trigger law” that would change statute to reflect the federal law, but only as long as the federal law remains in force.&nbsp;“Why not do that and then say, ‘OK, we’ll go back to what the voters approved a few years ago when federal law likely changes?” Crossley said.Chappell emphasized that if his bill passes, voters will have final say about the constitutional amendment.“If we believe in the will of the people, as I certainly do, why are we so afraid to let them speak again, to modify what’s already been said?” Chappell said in an interview with The Independent. “How is that horrible?”The&nbsp;<a href="https://documents.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills261/fiscal/fispdf/6310H.01I.ORG.pdf" target="_blank">fiscal note</a>&nbsp;included only the projected cost of putting Chappell’s proposal on the ballot in November, which comes out to roughly $9 million.&nbsp;But State Rep. Jo Doll, a Democrat from St. Louis, said that if voters approved the measure, the cost to the state would be much higher.&nbsp;“Where are we going to find the workers?” Doll said. “Because it’s going to take a lot of people to verify that someone has been working for three months prior and every month following.”Gov. Mike Kehoe’s executive budget for fiscal year 2027 recommends a&nbsp;<a href="https://budplan.oa.mo.gov/media/pdf/fy2027-eb-hb-11-social-services" target="_blank">reduction of 238 staff</a>&nbsp;in the state’s social services department, which is in charge of eligibility and enrollment for MO HealthNet. The recommended cut includes a reduction of 173 “income maintenance” staff, who according to a description in the&nbsp;<a href="https://budplan.oa.mo.gov/media/pdf/fy27-dss-appropriation-book" target="_blank">department’s budget request</a>, “determine eligibility for assistance programs.”&nbsp;In its&nbsp;<a href="https://instatrac-production.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/GovWatch/files/bill_files/f6db0ad8a353a0e88f853707267aadcc.pdf" target="_blank">supplemental budget request</a>&nbsp;for the current fiscal year, the department asked for an additional $9 million in state general revenue and $123 million in federal funds to implement the federal law — partly to pay for income maintenance system updates. The department requested another $530 million to cover the adult expansion Medicaid population.Chappell underlined that the ballot measure would not affect people exempt from federal work requirements due to disability or pregnancy.But Crossley, who works in health care and has helped clients apply for Medicaid, said he has seen people lose coverage for administrative reasons that they were legally entitled to.“If they miss one piece of mail and it’s time for them to renew their Medicaid…[or] they miss that one notification, then they’re off their insurance,” Crossley said.Chappell acknowledged that some costs of more uncompensated care as more Missourians go uninsured could fall to taxpayers, but he said he believes the constitutional amendment would help people in the long run.“If we encourage people to go to work, and we change the dynamic of their world view…so that they become part of the working population, I think we’ll see that they’ll increase their money that’s available to them,” Chappell told The Independent. “They’ll create for themselves skill sets whereby they can get employed and thereby have healthcare access through their employers.”

Republicans push to put Medicaid work requirements into Missouri constitution

NODAWAY COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 2:30a.m. Saturday in Nodaway County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2018 Chevy Silverado driven by a 22-year-old Gretna, Nebraska man was westbound on U.S. 136 at Smith Street in Burlington Junction. The driver failed to negotiate a curve in the road.&nbsp; The pickup traveled off the north side of the road into a yard and struck a tree, continued through the yard and struck a house. The vehicle came to rest partially in the house.

Nodaway County EMS transported the driver to Clarinda Medical Center. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

NODAWAY COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 2:30a.m. Saturday in Nodaway County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2018 Chevy Silverado driven by a 22-year-old Gretna, Nebraska man was westbound on U.S. 136 at Smith Street in Burlington Junction. The driver failed to negotiate a curve in the road.&nbsp; The pickup traveled off the north side of the road into a yard and struck a tree, continued through the yard and struck a house. The vehicle came to rest partially in the house.Nodaway County EMS transported the driver to Clarinda Medical Center. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Pickup crashed into a house in Burlington Junction

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

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2007 Chevy Silverado driven by a 46-year-old Prestonburg, Kentucky woman was northbound on Interstate 29 ten miles south of Oregon. The driver lost control of the vehicle on the snow covered road. The pickup spun around and came to rest on its driver's side on the east side of the road.

Atchison-Hot ambulance transported the driver to Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph. She was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

HOLT COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 10p.m. Friday in Holt County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2007 Chevy Silverado driven by a 46-year-old Prestonburg, Kentucky woman was northbound on Interstate 29 ten miles south of Oregon. The driver lost control of the vehicle on the snow covered road. The pickup spun around and came to rest on its driver's side on the east side of the road.Atchison-Hot ambulance transported the driver to Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph. She was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Woman hospitalized in St. Joe after pickup crash in the snow

In observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on Jan. 19, certain St. Joseph city facilities will be closed or operating under different hours.

City offices, along with the recycling center, Remington Nature Center, and JRP Activity Center will be closed.

The landfill will be open from 7:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1762880258902.jpeg" alt="City_Hall" />
 <figcaption>City_Hall</figcaption>
 </figure>(RYAN SKAITH)In observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on Jan. 19, certain St. Joseph city facilities will be closed or operating under different hours.City offices, along with the recycling center, Remington Nature Center, and JRP Activity Center will be closed.The landfill will be open from 7:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.The Rec Center will be open.

City of St. Joseph offices to close for MLK Day

The Bushman Planetarium at Missouri Western State University will present a public showing of “Stars of the Pharaohs” coming up next week on January 23rd.

The show will allow viewers to travel to ancient Egypt to see how science was used to tell time, make a workable calendar and align huge buildings, as well as learn about the connection the ancient Egyptians felt with the stars and various astronomical phenomena.&nbsp; People will be able to experience some of the most spectacular temples and tombs of the ancient world.

Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for children age 13 and under, students, employees, military and senior citizens age 60 and up. The show begins at 7pm next Friday, and planetarium tickets must be purchased in advance either online or in person at Agenstein Hall, room 140 during regular business hours.&nbsp; The planetarium is located in Agenstein Hall, room 147. 

For more information, please call 816-271-4288 or email planetarium@missouriwestern.edu.

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

(By MATT PIKE)The Bushman Planetarium at Missouri Western State University will present a public showing of “Stars of the Pharaohs” coming up next week on January 23rd.The show will allow viewers to travel to ancient Egypt to see how science was used to tell time, make a workable calendar and align huge buildings, as well as learn about the connection the ancient Egyptians felt with the stars and various astronomical phenomena.&nbsp; People will be able to experience some of the most spectacular temples and tombs of the ancient world.Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for children age 13 and under, students, employees, military and senior citizens age 60 and up. The show begins at 7pm next Friday, and planetarium tickets must be purchased in advance either online or in person at Agenstein Hall, room 140 during regular business hours.&nbsp; The planetarium is located in Agenstein Hall, room 147. For more information, please call 816-271-4288 or email planetarium@missouriwestern.edu.You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

New show coming to Bushman Planetarium at MoWest

South 22nd Street on the south side of Garfield Avenue in St. Joseph will be closed for repairs due to a leak by Missouri American Water.

Drivers traveling north on 22nd Street will be detoured to take Interstate 229 south to A Highway, A Highway to north 169, north 169 to Pear Street and then Pear Street west to 22nd Street.&nbsp; Drivers traveling south on 22nd Street will take Pear Street east to 169, 169 south to A Highway, A Highway to I-229 and then I-229 north to Highway 371.

The closure is expected to last until Wednesday, weather permitting.&nbsp; The City advised drivers to be cautious in work zones to ensure safety for themselves and the crews working.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1659537879244.jpeg" alt="File photo&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>File photo&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>(By MATT PIKE)South 22nd Street on the south side of Garfield Avenue in St. Joseph will be closed for repairs due to a leak by Missouri American Water.Drivers traveling north on 22nd Street will be detoured to take Interstate 229 south to A Highway, A Highway to north 169, north 169 to Pear Street and then Pear Street west to 22nd Street.&nbsp; Drivers traveling south on 22nd Street will take Pear Street east to 169, 169 south to A Highway, A Highway to I-229 and then I-229 north to Highway 371.The closure is expected to last until Wednesday, weather permitting.&nbsp; The City advised drivers to be cautious in work zones to ensure safety for themselves and the crews working.&nbsp;You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Portion of South 22nd street closed due to water leak

Missouri hunters harvested a preliminary total of 301,954 deer during the 2025-2026 season, marking a significant rebound from the previous year, according to the Missouri Department of Conservation.

The season, which concluded Jan. 15 with the close of archery hunting, saw an increase from the 275,656 deer taken during the 2024-2025 cycle. This year’s total included 145,222 antlered bucks, 25,129 button bucks, and 131,603 does.

MDC Cervid Program Supervisor Jason Isabelle said the results met expectations, particularly in southern Missouri where numbers had previously dipped. The 2025-2026 total was slightly above the state's five-year average and represents only the sixth time in Missouri history that the harvest has surpassed the 300,000 mark.

Franklin County led the state in overall harvest with 6,770 deer. Howell County followed with 5,490, and Callaway County rounded out the top three with 5,346.

Archery season alone accounted for 62,203 deer, an increase over the 56,516 taken by bowhunters last year. Jefferson County recorded the highest archery total with 1,571 deer, followed by Franklin County at 1,272 and St. Louis County at 1,076.

The MDC reported four non-fatal, self-inflicted firearms-related hunting incidents during the season. One of those incidents involved deer hunting, while the remaining three occurred during the pursuit of other game.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1765376060338.jpeg" alt="deer" />
 <figcaption>deer</figcaption>
 </figure>By RYAN SKAITHMissouri hunters harvested a preliminary total of 301,954 deer during the 2025-2026 season, marking a significant rebound from the previous year, according to the Missouri Department of Conservation.The season, which concluded Jan. 15 with the close of archery hunting, saw an increase from the 275,656 deer taken during the 2024-2025 cycle. This year’s total included 145,222 antlered bucks, 25,129 button bucks, and 131,603 does.MDC Cervid Program Supervisor Jason Isabelle said the results met expectations, particularly in southern Missouri where numbers had previously dipped. The 2025-2026 total was slightly above the state's five-year average and represents only the sixth time in Missouri history that the harvest has surpassed the 300,000 mark.Franklin County led the state in overall harvest with 6,770 deer. Howell County followed with 5,490, and Callaway County rounded out the top three with 5,346.Archery season alone accounted for 62,203 deer, an increase over the 56,516 taken by bowhunters last year. Jefferson County recorded the highest archery total with 1,571 deer, followed by Franklin County at 1,272 and St. Louis County at 1,076.The MDC reported four non-fatal, self-inflicted firearms-related hunting incidents during the season. One of those incidents involved deer hunting, while the remaining three occurred during the pursuit of other game.

Missouri deer harvest surpasses 300,000 as 2025-26 season rebounds

Missouri American Water is urging residents and business owners to prepare their plumbing systems for freezing temperatures to avoid costly repairs and service disruptions this winter.

Company officials emphasize that proactive maintenance is the most effective way to prevent pipes from bursting when the thermometer drops.

"A little preparation goes a long way," said Jody Carlson, vice president of operations for Missouri American Water. "Locate your main shut-off valve, insulate exposed pipes, and stay alert to prevent costly damage."

The utility recommends that customers first locate and test their main water shut-off valve. These valves are typically found near the water meter or where the main pipe enters the building. Officials suggest hanging an identification tag on the valve so it can be found quickly during an emergency. To test the valve, residents should close it completely and check sinks to ensure the water flow has stopped.

While checking these lines, the company also encourages customers to identify their service line material. Missouri American Water is currently working to replace lines made of lead or galvanized steel.

To prevent freezing, homeowners should eliminate drafts in crawl spaces, basements and garages. Exposed pipes should be wrapped in insulation or heat tape. Additionally, outdoor irrigation systems should be completely drained and turned off for the season.

When temperatures remain below freezing, Carlson recommends opening cabinet doors to allow warm air to reach indoor plumbing and keeping a small trickle of water running through faucets to keep water moving.

For those traveling during the winter, the utility suggests keeping thermostats set to at least 55 degrees and having a neighbor check the property regularly.

If a pipe does freeze, the company advises shutting off the main water valve immediately. Pipes should be thawed by warming the air around them, but residents should never leave space heaters unattended or use open flames. Once thawed, the water should be turned back on slowly to check for leaks or cracks in the joints.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646759424602.jpg" alt="plumbing, pipe, wrenches" />
 <figcaption>plumbing, pipe, wrenches</figcaption>
 </figure>By RYAN SKAITHMissouri American Water is urging residents and business owners to prepare their plumbing systems for freezing temperatures to avoid costly repairs and service disruptions this winter.Company officials emphasize that proactive maintenance is the most effective way to prevent pipes from bursting when the thermometer drops."A little preparation goes a long way," said Jody Carlson, vice president of operations for Missouri American Water. "Locate your main shut-off valve, insulate exposed pipes, and stay alert to prevent costly damage."The utility recommends that customers first locate and test their main water shut-off valve. These valves are typically found near the water meter or where the main pipe enters the building. Officials suggest hanging an identification tag on the valve so it can be found quickly during an emergency. To test the valve, residents should close it completely and check sinks to ensure the water flow has stopped.While checking these lines, the company also encourages customers to identify their service line material. Missouri American Water is currently working to replace lines made of lead or galvanized steel.To prevent freezing, homeowners should eliminate drafts in crawl spaces, basements and garages. Exposed pipes should be wrapped in insulation or heat tape. Additionally, outdoor irrigation systems should be completely drained and turned off for the season.When temperatures remain below freezing, Carlson recommends opening cabinet doors to allow warm air to reach indoor plumbing and keeping a small trickle of water running through faucets to keep water moving.For those traveling during the winter, the utility suggests keeping thermostats set to at least 55 degrees and having a neighbor check the property regularly.If a pipe does freeze, the company advises shutting off the main water valve immediately. Pipes should be thawed by warming the air around them, but residents should never leave space heaters unattended or use open flames. Once thawed, the water should be turned back on slowly to check for leaks or cracks in the joints.

Missouri American Water urges residents to prep plumbing for winter

The Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum in Atchison is once again nominated to be a part of USA Today's 10Best Reader's Choice Awards.  

For a second consecutive year, the museum is nominated in the Best History Museum category.  The hangar museum has come in at number four the last two years, first ranking on the Best New Museum list. 

Executive Director Mindi Love Pendergraft says it's an amazing recognition to be on the national stage among all these other museums 

“Some of the museums that are also included like the Heinz History Center and the American Revolutionary Museum up in Philadelphia, those are amazing museums, they’re very large and they’re in very large cities,” Pendergraft tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.  “So, to be included in a list like that is just really a wonderful opportunity for our museum.” 

There is one other museum from Kansas on the list as well, the National Orphan Train Complex in Concordia, in north central Kansas.   

Pendergraft says making those lists has an impact on the museum, and it shows, because many people do find them because of it. 

“The hard thing to is people are like well I saw it online, but I don’t remember where exactly, but others have absolutely said the USA Today list,” Pendergraft says.  “So that’s wonderful especially international and destination visitors as I call them, folks not from the Kansas and Missouri region, the close end they absolutely say that, and we’ve had visitors from all 50 states.”  

Pendergraft says every single year visitors from all 50 states have come to the museum through its almost three years, as well as from around 10 to 20 countries with about 40 represented.  

Pendergraft says coming at number four is great, and just making the list is an honor in itself, but the hope is to be higher this year 

“I’d love to be number one, love to be higher than four, so that’s our goal this year is to really push votes and have a higher ranking than number four, although four is tremendous,” Pendergraft explains. 

You can vote daily online for the museum until February 9th.  The top 10 list will be announced on February 18th. 

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681315152747.jpeg" alt="The Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum is again nominated among the best history museums in the nation on the 10Best USA Today list/ File photo" />
 <figcaption>The Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum is again nominated among the best history museums in the nation on the 10Best USA Today list/ File photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKESt. Joseph PostThe Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum in Atchison is once again nominated to be a part of USA Today's 10Best Reader's Choice Awards. For a second consecutive year, the museum is nominated in the Best History Museum category. The hangar museum has come in at number four the last two years, first ranking on the Best New Museum list. Executive Director Mindi Love Pendergraft says it's an amazing recognition to be on the national stage among all these other museums “Some of the museums that are also included like the Heinz History Center and the American Revolutionary Museum up in Philadelphia, those are amazing museums, they’re very large and they’re in very large cities,” Pendergraft tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “So, to be included in a list like that is just really a wonderful opportunity for our museum.” There is one other museum from Kansas on the list as well, the National Orphan Train Complex in Concordia, in north central Kansas. Pendergraft says making those lists has an impact on the museum, and it shows, because many people do find them because of it. “The hard thing to is people are like well I saw it online, but I don’t remember where exactly, but others have absolutely said the USA Today list,” Pendergraft says. “So that’s wonderful especially international and destination visitors as I call them, folks not from the Kansas and Missouri region, the close end they absolutely say that, and we’ve had visitors from all 50 states.” Pendergraft says every single year visitors from all 50 states have come to the museum through its almost three years, as well as from around 10 to 20 countries with about 40 represented. Pendergraft says coming at number four is great, and just making the list is an honor in itself, but the hope is to be higher this year “I’d love to be number one, love to be higher than four, so that’s our goal this year is to really push votes and have a higher ranking than number four, although four is tremendous,” Pendergraft explains. You can vote daily online for the museum until February 9th. The top 10 list will be announced on February 18th. You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Amelia Earhart Hanger Museum nominated again as best history museum in nation

North Central Missouri College is welcoming back Tessie, the College’s beloved groundhog, for a special revival of the classic Groundhog Day celebration. 

The event will take place on Monday, February 2, at noon in front of the Neil and Susanne Nuttall Student Center on the NCMC Main Campus in Trenton. Students, employees, alumni, and community members are all invited to attend this historic gathering.

As part of NCMC’s ongoing Centennial Celebration, this year’s event brings back a cherished campus tradition from the 1980s and 1990s. Tessie’s appearance will honor the College’s history while offering a fun and memorable experience for attendees of all ages. Several members of the original Groundhog Day planning committee have contributed their historical insight and enthusiasm to ensure the celebration serves as a heartfelt tribute to the classic tradition.

The festivities will begin with a welcome from NCMC President Dr. Lenny Klaver. Following his remarks, NCMC Board of Trustees member and original event organizer Don Dalrymple will share reflections on the history of Groundhog Day at the College, explaining how the tradition became a unique and playful cornerstone of campus culture.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768581274131.jpeg" alt="tessie - courtesy of NCMC" />
 <figcaption>tessie - courtesy of NCMC</figcaption>
 </figure>By RYAN SKAITHNorth Central Missouri College is welcoming back Tessie, the College’s beloved groundhog, for a special revival of the classic Groundhog Day celebration. The event will take place on Monday, February 2, at noon in front of the Neil and Susanne Nuttall Student Center on the NCMC Main Campus in Trenton. Students, employees, alumni, and community members are all invited to attend this historic gathering.As part of NCMC’s ongoing Centennial Celebration, this year’s event brings back a cherished campus tradition from the 1980s and 1990s. Tessie’s appearance will honor the College’s history while offering a fun and memorable experience for attendees of all ages. Several members of the original Groundhog Day planning committee have contributed their historical insight and enthusiasm to ensure the celebration serves as a heartfelt tribute to the classic tradition.The festivities will begin with a welcome from NCMC President Dr. Lenny Klaver. Following his remarks, NCMC Board of Trustees member and original event organizer Don Dalrymple will share reflections on the history of Groundhog Day at the College, explaining how the tradition became a unique and playful cornerstone of campus culture.The highlight of the afternoon will be Tessie’s long-awaited return. She is set to offer her local weather prediction alongside light-hearted reflections on NCMC’s past, present, and future. While her forecasts may not always be scientifically precise, her commentary promises a delightful blend of nostalgia and humor for the Pirate community.To conclude the celebration, guests are invited inside the Nuttall Student Center to enjoy complimentary hot chocolate and cookies. The event serves as a bridge between the college's storied past and its bright future.“As we celebrate our Centennial year, we look forward to welcoming Tessie back to campus and reviving a tradition that has brought smiles to generations of Pirates,” said President Dr. Lenny Klaver. “Groundhog Day at NCMC is more than a fun moment; it’s a reminder of the stories, the people, and the spirit that have shaped this college for 100 years. I would like to thank our Trustees, alumni, and individuals who helped plan and revive this event.”

Local