By MATT PIKESt. Joseph Post<div><iframe src="https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/kfeq-news/embed/episodes/KFEQ-Morning-News-3122025-e302nm9/a-abr12f1" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>

KFEQ Morning News

Festivities surrounding the Apple Blossom parade kick off this month with the Apple Blossom Royalty Pageant.  

Executive Director Michelle Wolfe says there has been good turnout for this year's pageant 

"14 princesses, 12 junior queens, and six queen candidates right now," Wolfe tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.  

In the past, Wolfe says a lower turnout forced the Apple Blossom to extend the deadline.   

"But this year we are not extending the deadline, because we have plenty, I mean we will take more until the deadline, but we're not going to extend the deadline," Wolfe says.  "Gives me more time to get everything done." 

Wolfe says it feels wonderful to not have to extend the deadline 

"Because sometimes we're worried like are we going to have to cancel the pageant because we don't get enough people, I've done this for 25 years and I've never had to do that, so we're excited," Wolfe explains. 

Registration for the pageant ends this Saturday March 15th. Wolfe says the pageant will be held on March 29th. 

"It will start at 6pm for the princesses, the juniors will start 10 minutes after the end of the princess, and the queen will start 10 minutes after the juniors," Wolfe says.  "There's no admission charge; it's at the Missouri Theatre." 

You can register for the pageant by clicking <a href="https://appleblossomparade.com/pageant/">HERE</a>.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741794563886.jpeg" alt="Former winners of the Apple Blossom Pageant/ Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Former winners of the Apple Blossom Pageant/ Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKESt. Joseph PostFestivities surrounding the Apple Blossom parade kick off this month with the Apple Blossom Royalty Pageant. Executive Director Michelle Wolfe says there has been good turnout for this year's pageant "14 princesses, 12 junior queens, and six queen candidates right now," Wolfe tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. In the past, Wolfe says a lower turnout forced the Apple Blossom to extend the deadline. "But this year we are not extending the deadline, because we have plenty, I mean we will take more until the deadline, but we're not going to extend the deadline," Wolfe says. "Gives me more time to get everything done." Wolfe says it feels wonderful to not have to extend the deadline "Because sometimes we're worried like are we going to have to cancel the pageant because we don't get enough people, I've done this for 25 years and I've never had to do that, so we're excited," Wolfe explains. Registration for the pageant ends this Saturday March 15th. Wolfe says the pageant will be held on March 29th. "It will start at 6pm for the princesses, the juniors will start 10 minutes after the end of the princess, and the queen will start 10 minutes after the juniors," Wolfe says. "There's no admission charge; it's at the Missouri Theatre." You can register for the pageant by clicking <a href="https://appleblossomparade.com/pageant/">HERE</a>.You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Deadline to register for the Apple Blossom Parade fast approaching

Six candidates vying for two seats on the St. Joseph School Board participated in a candidate forum, hosted by the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce.&nbsp;

If you missed it, below you can listen or watch the forum, which was part of the KFEQ Hotline on Wednesday morning.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741791345446.jpeg" alt="Several attended the St. Joseph Public Affairs Coffee that held a School Board Candidate Forum hosted by Brent Martin/ Photo by Matt Pike" />
 <figcaption>Several attended the St. Joseph Public Affairs Coffee that held a School Board Candidate Forum hosted by Brent Martin/ Photo by Matt Pike</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKESt. Joseph PostSix candidates vying for two seats on the St. Joseph School Board participated in a candidate forum, hosted by the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce.&nbsp;If you missed it, below you can listen or watch the forum, which was part of the KFEQ Hotline on Wednesday morning.&nbsp;LISTEN<div><iframe src="https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/kfeq-news/embed/episodes/KFEQ-School-Board-Candidate-forum-e302ku3/a-abr0usr" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>WATCH<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/C_xekaOsJY4?si=mYRKO0baddfDyZc_&amp;start=597" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>

St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce School Board Candidate Forum LISTEN/WATCH

KFEQ Radio
broadcasts live a St. Joseph Board of Education candidate forum Wednesday morning.

The forum, at the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce Public Affairs Coffee, will also be
streamed at the Eagle Media website, <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/">St. Joseph Post</a>.

<a href="https://youtube.com/live/C_xekaOsJY4?feature=share">YOU CAN CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE STREAM</a>.

The event begins
at 7:30am Wednesday morning at the Stoney Creek Hotel and Conference Center, 1201
N. Woodbine Road. The broadcast begins at 8am.

Voters in the St.
Joseph School District will elect two candidates to the Board of Education
April 8th. Board member, Isaura Garcia, has chosen not to run for re-election.
Board member, Kim Miller, is running for re-election, one of six candidates on
the ballot. Miller and the five other candidates: Brian Kirk, Cassandra Veale,
Kenneth Reeder, James Mrkvicka, and Jennifer Kerns have been invited to
participate.

KFEQ/St. Joseph
Post News Director Brent Martin will moderate the forum.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729624606896.jpeg" alt="Previous St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce candidate forum/file photo" />
 <figcaption>Previous St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce candidate forum/file photo</figcaption>
 </figure>KFEQ Radio
broadcasts live a St. Joseph Board of Education candidate forum Wednesday morning.The forum, at the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce Public Affairs Coffee, will also be
streamed at the Eagle Media website, <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/">St. Joseph Post</a>.<a href="https://youtube.com/live/C_xekaOsJY4?feature=share">YOU CAN CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE STREAM</a>.The event begins
at 7:30am Wednesday morning at the Stoney Creek Hotel and Conference Center, 1201
N. Woodbine Road. The broadcast begins at 8am.Voters in the St.
Joseph School District will elect two candidates to the Board of Education
April 8th. Board member, Isaura Garcia, has chosen not to run for re-election.
Board member, Kim Miller, is running for re-election, one of six candidates on
the ballot. Miller and the five other candidates: Brian Kirk, Cassandra Veale,
Kenneth Reeder, James Mrkvicka, and Jennifer Kerns have been invited to
participate.KFEQ/St. Joseph
Post News Director Brent Martin will moderate the forum.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

St. Joseph Chamber school board candidate forum to be broadcast on KFEQ

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services still hasn’t indicated how soon it will act on Planned Parenthood’s medication abortion complication plan

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

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey is doubling down on his demand that Planned Parenthood stop performing a type of abortion that its clinics aren’t actually offering patients.&nbsp;

On Monday, Bailey issued a notice of an intent to serve a cease and desist letter to Planned Parenthood Great Plains, which operates clinics in the Kansas City metro and Columbia.

It’s an identical threat to the one Bailey issued earlier this month to Planned Parenthood Great Rivers, which operates clinics in the St. Louis metro, Springfield and Rolla.

Bailey is demanding the clinics not perform medication abortions without an approved complication plan from state health officials.&nbsp;

But clinic leadership has said they have no intention of offering medication abortion without an approved complication plan, which they have submitted for approval to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

The health department has not yet responded with a timeline for approval.

Emily Wales, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Plains, and Margot Riphagen, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Rivers, in a written response this week to the attorney general’s office called Bailey’s notice “baseless political posturing” and an attempt at intimidation.

Rather than urging the state health department to respond to the proposed complication plan, Wales and Riphagen wrote, Bailey has instead “threatened to ‘take action’ against (Planned Parenthood) for hypothetical, future medication abortion which you have no reason to believe will occur without such a plan.”

Asked if the attorney general’s office has any reason to believe Planned Parenthood intends to start providing medication abortions without authorization from the state, James Lawson, deputy chief of staff in Bailey’s office, said Planned Parenthood “has a documented history of subverting state law and providing unauthorized services.”

“This cease and desist letter provides a forcing function to ensure basic health and safety standards,” Lawson said.&nbsp;

As of Wednesday, only&nbsp;a handful of procedural abortions have been performed up to 12 weeks gestation, and only at the clinics in Columbia and Kansas City.

Wales previously said Planned Parenthood’s clinics in Kansas City and Columbia are stocked with abortion medication and ready to administer it as soon as the state allows. Leadership at the clinic in St. Louis said they are also ready to begin providing the medication as soon as the state signs off on a complication plan.&nbsp;

Complication plans are “important to ensure the safety of patients because medication abortions will likely be completed at home without a physician present,” Sami Jo Freeman, a spokeswoman with the department, said in an emailed statement in late February.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.guttmacher.org/2024/03/medication-abortion-accounted-63-all-us-abortions-2023-increase-53-2020" target="_blank">In 2023, nearly two-thirds of abortions in the United States took place using medication</a>&nbsp;as opposed to in-clinic procedures, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a reproductive rights research group.&nbsp;

In states where abortion is legal, medication that induces a miscarriage is available to patients in their first trimester of pregnancy. Patients typically take two doses of medication, the second of which is often taken at home. In recent years, a growing number of women have been ordering abortion medication from online providers in the United States and abroad, including to states where abortion remains illegal.&nbsp;

Bailey is also among a trio of attorneys general who filed litigation asking a judge in Texas to&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/10/22/missouri-mifepristone-lawsuit-andrew-bailey-teen-pregnancy/">order the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to reinstate restrictions on mifepristone,</a>&nbsp;one of two medications prescribed to induce chemical abortions.

According to the FDA,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/drugs/postmarket-drug-safety-information-patients-and-providers/questions-and-answers-mifepristone-medical-termination-pregnancy-through-ten-weeks-gestation#:~:text=When%20did%20the%20FDA%20approve,ten%20weeks%20gestation%20in%202016." target="_blank">mifepristone is safe to use if taken as directed.</a>&nbsp;Cramping and bleeding are common side effects of the medication. Those prescribed mifepristone are urged to call their doctor if they experience heavy bleeding, abdominal pain or a fever. The same guidance applies to those who recently underwent procedural abortions, experienced miscarriages or delivered a baby.&nbsp;

Since the medication was approved for use 28 years ago, only 32 deaths have been reported associated with mifepristone, according to the FDA.&nbsp;

Bailey is also expected to appeal the most recent order out of Jackson County which allowed Planned Parenthood to restart procedural abortions.

In an email last month, a spokeswoman for the attorney general said the office intends to appeal the judge’s Feb. 14 order “immediately.” As of Wednesday, the office had not filed an appeal.

“Should the attorney general wish to appeal, there are the correct avenues to go through an appeal,” Riphagen said. “Instead, sending a cease and desist that ignores both the law and the truth leads us to the conclusion that this is politically motivated.”

Court to hear more arguments Wednesday&nbsp;

Shortly after Missourians in November narrowly approved Amendment 3, granting the constitutional right to an abortion, Planned Parenthood sued the state in Jackson County arguing dozens of regulations on abortion providers were no longer constitutional.

Several days later, Bailey’s office filed a petition in Cole County seeking to throw out Planned Parenthood’s lawsuit based on a 2010 settlement agreement.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“The terms of the contract were plain: the state will let (Planned Parenthood) operate in partial compliance with the state’s licensure requirements in exchange for (Planned Parenthood’s) promise never to challenge Missouri’s abortion licensure regulations again,” the attorney general’s office wrote in a recent court filing.&nbsp;

About a week after the Jackson County ruling opened the door for procedural abortions in February, Bailey asked a Cole County judge to consider a temporary restraining order against Planned Parenthood that would halt any abortions at the Columbia and Kansas City clinics.

Planned Parenthood maintains that because the 2010 settlement was made with different federal and state constitution laws around abortion in place, the AG’s arguments are no longer relevant.

“The state is attempting to enforce an outdated agreement regarding a regime of laws and regulations that now conflict with the Missouri Constitution,” attorneys for Planned Parenthood wrote in court filings.

Planned Parenthood and the attorney general’s office are again scheduled to meet in court Wednesday morning. The hearing, to take place before Cole County Judge Daniel Green, will address Planned Parenthood’s request that the court dismiss the case or move it to Jackson County. It will also address Bailey’s request for a temporary restraining order.&nbsp;

Wales called Wednesday’s case “entirely about distraction and delay.”&nbsp;

“I don’t think what’s happening in our Amendment 3 litigation is that far removed from the federal chaos …” she said. “There is an element of creating chaos in the courts and having us respond to a million different demands and requests. It’s the same approach, fundamentally.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733518349622.png" alt="&nbsp;The Planned Parenthood clinic in St. Louis on June 24, 2022 (Tessa Weinberg/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;The Planned Parenthood clinic in St. Louis on June 24, 2022 (Tessa Weinberg/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services still hasn’t indicated how soon it will act on Planned Parenthood’s medication abortion complication plan</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/annaspoerre/">ANNA SPOERRE</a>&nbsp; <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/20/state-senator-throws-first-punches-of-2024-missouri-governors-campaign/">Missouri Independent</a>Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey is doubling down on his demand that Planned Parenthood stop performing a type of abortion that its clinics aren’t actually offering patients.&nbsp;On Monday, Bailey issued a notice of an intent to serve a cease and desist letter to Planned Parenthood Great Plains, which operates clinics in the Kansas City metro and Columbia.It’s an identical threat to the one Bailey issued earlier this month to Planned Parenthood Great Rivers, which operates clinics in the St. Louis metro, Springfield and Rolla.Bailey is demanding the clinics not perform medication abortions without an approved complication plan from state health officials.&nbsp;But clinic leadership has said they have no intention of offering medication abortion without an approved complication plan, which they have submitted for approval to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.The health department has not yet responded with a timeline for approval.Emily Wales, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Plains, and Margot Riphagen, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Rivers, in a written response this week to the attorney general’s office called Bailey’s notice “baseless political posturing” and an attempt at intimidation.Rather than urging the state health department to respond to the proposed complication plan, Wales and Riphagen wrote, Bailey has instead “threatened to ‘take action’ against (Planned Parenthood) for hypothetical, future medication abortion which you have no reason to believe will occur without such a plan.”Asked if the attorney general’s office has any reason to believe Planned Parenthood intends to start providing medication abortions without authorization from the state, James Lawson, deputy chief of staff in Bailey’s office, said Planned Parenthood “has a documented history of subverting state law and providing unauthorized services.”“This cease and desist letter provides a forcing function to ensure basic health and safety standards,” Lawson said.&nbsp;As of Wednesday, only&nbsp;a handful of procedural abortions have been performed up to 12 weeks gestation, and only at the clinics in Columbia and Kansas City.Wales previously said Planned Parenthood’s clinics in Kansas City and Columbia are stocked with abortion medication and ready to administer it as soon as the state allows. Leadership at the clinic in St. Louis said they are also ready to begin providing the medication as soon as the state signs off on a complication plan.&nbsp;Complication plans are “important to ensure the safety of patients because medication abortions will likely be completed at home without a physician present,” Sami Jo Freeman, a spokeswoman with the department, said in an emailed statement in late February.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.guttmacher.org/2024/03/medication-abortion-accounted-63-all-us-abortions-2023-increase-53-2020" target="_blank">In 2023, nearly two-thirds of abortions in the United States took place using medication</a>&nbsp;as opposed to in-clinic procedures, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a reproductive rights research group.&nbsp;In states where abortion is legal, medication that induces a miscarriage is available to patients in their first trimester of pregnancy. Patients typically take two doses of medication, the second of which is often taken at home. In recent years, a growing number of women have been ordering abortion medication from online providers in the United States and abroad, including to states where abortion remains illegal.&nbsp;Bailey is also among a trio of attorneys general who filed litigation asking a judge in Texas to&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/10/22/missouri-mifepristone-lawsuit-andrew-bailey-teen-pregnancy/">order the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to reinstate restrictions on mifepristone,</a>&nbsp;one of two medications prescribed to induce chemical abortions.According to the FDA,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/drugs/postmarket-drug-safety-information-patients-and-providers/questions-and-answers-mifepristone-medical-termination-pregnancy-through-ten-weeks-gestation#:~:text=When%20did%20the%20FDA%20approve,ten%20weeks%20gestation%20in%202016." target="_blank">mifepristone is safe to use if taken as directed.</a>&nbsp;Cramping and bleeding are common side effects of the medication. Those prescribed mifepristone are urged to call their doctor if they experience heavy bleeding, abdominal pain or a fever. The same guidance applies to those who recently underwent procedural abortions, experienced miscarriages or delivered a baby.&nbsp;Since the medication was approved for use 28 years ago, only 32 deaths have been reported associated with mifepristone, according to the FDA.&nbsp;Bailey is also expected to appeal the most recent order out of Jackson County which allowed Planned Parenthood to restart procedural abortions.In an email last month, a spokeswoman for the attorney general said the office intends to appeal the judge’s Feb. 14 order “immediately.” As of Wednesday, the office had not filed an appeal.“Should the attorney general wish to appeal, there are the correct avenues to go through an appeal,” Riphagen said. “Instead, sending a cease and desist that ignores both the law and the truth leads us to the conclusion that this is politically motivated.”<h2>Court to hear more arguments Wednesday&nbsp;</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741779798916.png" alt=" Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey answers questions from reporters about Gov. Mike Kehoe’s executive orders in January (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey answers questions from reporters about Gov. Mike Kehoe’s executive orders in January (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure>Shortly after Missourians in November narrowly approved Amendment 3, granting the constitutional right to an abortion, Planned Parenthood sued the state in Jackson County arguing dozens of regulations on abortion providers were no longer constitutional.Several days later, Bailey’s office filed a petition in Cole County seeking to throw out Planned Parenthood’s lawsuit based on a 2010 settlement agreement.&nbsp;&nbsp;“The terms of the contract were plain: the state will let (Planned Parenthood) operate in partial compliance with the state’s licensure requirements in exchange for (Planned Parenthood’s) promise never to challenge Missouri’s abortion licensure regulations again,” the attorney general’s office wrote in a recent court filing.&nbsp;About a week after the Jackson County ruling opened the door for procedural abortions in February, Bailey asked a Cole County judge to consider a temporary restraining order against Planned Parenthood that would halt any abortions at the Columbia and Kansas City clinics.Planned Parenthood maintains that because the 2010 settlement was made with different federal and state constitution laws around abortion in place, the AG’s arguments are no longer relevant.“The state is attempting to enforce an outdated agreement regarding a regime of laws and regulations that now conflict with the Missouri Constitution,” attorneys for Planned Parenthood wrote in court filings.Planned Parenthood and the attorney general’s office are again scheduled to meet in court Wednesday morning. The hearing, to take place before Cole County Judge Daniel Green, will address Planned Parenthood’s request that the court dismiss the case or move it to Jackson County. It will also address Bailey’s request for a temporary restraining order.&nbsp;Wales called Wednesday’s case “entirely about distraction and delay.”&nbsp;“I don’t think what’s happening in our Amendment 3 litigation is that far removed from the federal chaos …” she said. “There is an element of creating chaos in the courts and having us respond to a million different demands and requests. It’s the same approach, fundamentally.”

Missouri AG renews demand Planned Parenthood stop abortion procedure it isn’t offering

Work is ongoing to raise money to build a new aquatic center in St. Joseph.  

The project which totals around 15 million dollars is a collaboration between the YMCA of St. Joseph, the city, and Buchanan County.  

YMCA CEO Tammy Killan says they have spearheaded raising money for the project and accept whatever money people are willing to give 

"We will take any amount, we have $5 that have been put in our donation box, and again it's $5, so if everybody would have that mentality we would be there," Killan tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr.  "So, the pledges can come into the YMCA, we have information on our website, we have a Venmo account, we have a QR code, we have brochures, we have postcards." 

Killan says currently the YMCA has raised more than $13-million in grants and donations.&nbsp;

"We're continuing to trickle in the funds, which also helps keep us motivated and have that hope alive that our community really wants this to happen," Killan explains.  "So, we're about just over $1.3 million away from the goal, which we have a deadline of the end of April to present back to the city to say we have secured all the funding." 

The new aquatics center will provide space for many things such as competitive swimming and aqua therapy.  It will be a space open to the public 

Killan says the advantage of an indoor center is being able to use it year-round 

"Water is a great activity to stay physically fit and to have something to do for all ages and stages, so that's the biggest feature," Killan says.  

Killan says the Y has consulted with experts and plans to build garage doors for some outside use as well 

"So, you can have an area to go out with a patio area so you can still get some sun, come back in, and we can close up those doors in the wintertime and still enjoy the aquatic center," Killan points out. 

The YMCA has until the end of next month to raise the funds 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741710733151.jpeg" alt="St. Joseph YMCA/ Photo by Brent Martin" />
 <figcaption>St. Joseph YMCA/ Photo by Brent Martin</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post Work is ongoing to raise money to build a new aquatic center in St. Joseph. The project which totals around 15 million dollars is a collaboration between the YMCA of St. Joseph, the city, and Buchanan County. YMCA CEO Tammy Killan says they have spearheaded raising money for the project and accept whatever money people are willing to give "We will take any amount, we have $5 that have been put in our donation box, and again it's $5, so if everybody would have that mentality we would be there," Killan tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr. "So, the pledges can come into the YMCA, we have information on our website, we have a Venmo account, we have a QR code, we have brochures, we have postcards." Killan says currently the YMCA has raised more than $13-million in grants and donations.&nbsp;"We're continuing to trickle in the funds, which also helps keep us motivated and have that hope alive that our community really wants this to happen," Killan explains. "So, we're about just over $1.3 million away from the goal, which we have a deadline of the end of April to present back to the city to say we have secured all the funding." The new aquatics center will provide space for many things such as competitive swimming and aqua therapy. It will be a space open to the public Killan says the advantage of an indoor center is being able to use it year-round "Water is a great activity to stay physically fit and to have something to do for all ages and stages, so that's the biggest feature," Killan says. Killan says the Y has consulted with experts and plans to build garage doors for some outside use as well "So, you can have an area to go out with a patio area so you can still get some sun, come back in, and we can close up those doors in the wintertime and still enjoy the aquatic center," Killan points out. The YMCA has until the end of next month to raise the funds You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

YMCA working to raise money for new aquatic center with deadline approaching

The University of Missouri
– Kansas City has a School of Medicine satellite campus in St. Joseph. It might
have a School of Dentistry in St. Joseph as well.

UMKC Chancellor
Mauli Agrawal says the university expanded to St. Joseph to address a shortage
of medical professionals in rural Missouri and soon hopes to also address a
severe shortage of dentists and dental hygienists.

“And so now that
we felt more comfortable with a satellite program in St. Joe because of the
medical program, we thought it’s time to address the dental shortage as well,” Agrawal
tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post in a phone interview.

Work must be done
before it becomes reality. UMKC must receive approval. It must also raise
money.

Agrawal says UMKC
has been in negotiations with Missouri Western State University about
renovating open space on its St. Joseph campus. Agrawal says UMKC estimates it
will take $12 million for renovations.

Under the
proposal, dental students would spend their first two years on the Kansas City
campus. They then would transfer to clinics on the MWSU campus in St. Joseph.
There, they will do actual dental work on low-income patients who might not
have dental insurance or not enough insurance to afford a dentist.

Agrawal says UMKC
began to consider expansion to St. Joseph after he spoke with leaders in
northern Missouri about the lack of dental care in rural Missouri. The federal
government has identified approximately 500 areas throughout the country
suffering from a severe shortage of dentists or dental hygienists. 

“In Iowa and
Nebraska, the federal government has identified four areas of shortage. In Kansas,
seven or eight. Missouri had 18; 1-8,” according to Agrawal. “And, as you can
see, that’s way above our fair share across the nation. So, yes, there is a
severe shortage across the whole state of Missouri.”

The UMKC School of
Medicine in St. Joseph began in cooperation with Mosaic Life Care at the
hospital campus in St. Joseph. It graduated its first students in January. A
$14.5 million medical building is under construction across the street from
Mosaic.

Agrawal says the
goal of both the medical school and the dental school is to address the
shortage of medical and dental care in rural Missouri. The thought being that
if students train in an area, they are more likely to set up practice in that
area.

“I think it’s been
a win-win,” Agrawal says. “Only time will tell if we really impact the shortage,
but we cannot not do anything. There’s a severe shortage in our state and we
need to step up and do the work so that we can at least start addressing the
shortage.”

If approval is
granted and the money raised, UMKC hopes to open its St. Joseph School of Dentistry
satellite campus in the fall of 2027.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741720193629.jpeg" alt="UMKC School of Dentistry/Photo courtesy of UMKC" />
 <figcaption>UMKC School of Dentistry/Photo courtesy of UMKC</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostThe University of Missouri
– Kansas City has a School of Medicine satellite campus in St. Joseph. It might
have a School of Dentistry in St. Joseph as well.UMKC Chancellor
Mauli Agrawal says the university expanded to St. Joseph to address a shortage
of medical professionals in rural Missouri and soon hopes to also address a
severe shortage of dentists and dental hygienists.“And so now that
we felt more comfortable with a satellite program in St. Joe because of the
medical program, we thought it’s time to address the dental shortage as well,” Agrawal
tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post in a phone interview.Work must be done
before it becomes reality. UMKC must receive approval. It must also raise
money.Agrawal says UMKC
has been in negotiations with Missouri Western State University about
renovating open space on its St. Joseph campus. Agrawal says UMKC estimates it
will take $12 million for renovations.Under the
proposal, dental students would spend their first two years on the Kansas City
campus. They then would transfer to clinics on the MWSU campus in St. Joseph.
There, they will do actual dental work on low-income patients who might not
have dental insurance or not enough insurance to afford a dentist.Agrawal says UMKC
began to consider expansion to St. Joseph after he spoke with leaders in
northern Missouri about the lack of dental care in rural Missouri. The federal
government has identified approximately 500 areas throughout the country
suffering from a severe shortage of dentists or dental hygienists. “In Iowa and
Nebraska, the federal government has identified four areas of shortage. In Kansas,
seven or eight. Missouri had 18; 1-8,” according to Agrawal. “And, as you can
see, that’s way above our fair share across the nation. So, yes, there is a
severe shortage across the whole state of Missouri.”The UMKC School of
Medicine in St. Joseph began in cooperation with Mosaic Life Care at the
hospital campus in St. Joseph. It graduated its first students in January. A
$14.5 million medical building is under construction across the street from
Mosaic.Agrawal says the
goal of both the medical school and the dental school is to address the
shortage of medical and dental care in rural Missouri. The thought being that
if students train in an area, they are more likely to set up practice in that
area.“I think it’s been
a win-win,” Agrawal says. “Only time will tell if we really impact the shortage,
but we cannot not do anything. There’s a severe shortage in our state and we
need to step up and do the work so that we can at least start addressing the
shortage.”If approval is
granted and the money raised, UMKC hopes to open its St. Joseph School of Dentistry
satellite campus in the fall of 2027.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

UMKC proposes setting up a School of Dentistry in St. Joseph

A state senator new to legislative
sessions in Topeka says he entered the race for District One to give northeast
Kansas different representation in the Kansas Senate.

Sen. Craig Bowser, a Republican from
Holton, says there’s no secret as to why he entered the race.

“If you think back in time, our current
state senator that was representing Senate District Number One; he left the
Republican Party, became an independent, and ran for governor,” Bowser tells
KFEQ/St. Joseph. “He lost that race, but at that point in time, I thought that
our district needed better representation and so that’s when I really decided
to run.”

Bowser defeated incumbent, Sen. Dennis
Pyle of Hiwatha, and another candidate last year to earn the seat.

Kansas Republicans fumed when Pyle
decided to become an independent and run for governor. Pyle lost badly,
garnering only 2% of the vote. Still, some Republicans blamed Pyle for the
party coming up short in its bid to unseat incumbent Democratic Gov. Laura
Kelly, who won the race with 49.5% of the vote, edging Republican challenger,
Attorney General Derek Schmidt, who received 47.33% of the vote. A Libertarian
candidate took one percent of the vote.

Schmidt would bounce back to win the
Second Congressional District race, succeeding Congressman Jake LaTurner, who
decided not to run for re-election.

Bowser says he has had to hit the ground
running in Topeka.

“I can tell you the current legislative
session here has been a lot busier than I anticipated,” Bowser says.

Last year, the Kansas legislative session
didn’t wrap up until early June.

This year, lawmakers hope to wrap up
business at the state Capitol by mid-April.

“They’re condensing it by about six weeks
and, of course, when you do that there’s still a large volume of bills that
need to be heard and work that needs to be done,” Bowser says. “And so that
compression has really made for a busy 2025 legislative session.”

Bowser works in cyber security. He has
been active in politics for a while, but this is the first office he has held.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741716191350.jpeg" alt="Sen. Craig Bowser/Photo courtesy of Sen. Bowser's office" />
 <figcaption>Sen. Craig Bowser/Photo courtesy of Sen. Bowser's office</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostA state senator new to legislative
sessions in Topeka says he entered the race for District One to give northeast
Kansas different representation in the Kansas Senate.Sen. Craig Bowser, a Republican from
Holton, says there’s no secret as to why he entered the race.“If you think back in time, our current
state senator that was representing Senate District Number One; he left the
Republican Party, became an independent, and ran for governor,” Bowser tells
KFEQ/St. Joseph. “He lost that race, but at that point in time, I thought that
our district needed better representation and so that’s when I really decided
to run.”Bowser defeated incumbent, Sen. Dennis
Pyle of Hiwatha, and another candidate last year to earn the seat.Kansas Republicans fumed when Pyle
decided to become an independent and run for governor. Pyle lost badly,
garnering only 2% of the vote. Still, some Republicans blamed Pyle for the
party coming up short in its bid to unseat incumbent Democratic Gov. Laura
Kelly, who won the race with 49.5% of the vote, edging Republican challenger,
Attorney General Derek Schmidt, who received 47.33% of the vote. A Libertarian
candidate took one percent of the vote.Schmidt would bounce back to win the
Second Congressional District race, succeeding Congressman Jake LaTurner, who
decided not to run for re-election.Bowser says he has had to hit the ground
running in Topeka.“I can tell you the current legislative
session here has been a lot busier than I anticipated,” Bowser says.Last year, the Kansas legislative session
didn’t wrap up until early June.This year, lawmakers hope to wrap up
business at the state Capitol by mid-April.“They’re condensing it by about six weeks
and, of course, when you do that there’s still a large volume of bills that
need to be heard and work that needs to be done,” Bowser says. “And so that
compression has really made for a busy 2025 legislative session.”Bowser works in cyber security. He has
been active in politics for a while, but this is the first office he has held.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

New state senator says northeast Kansas needed new representation

By MATT PIKESt. Joseph Post<div><iframe src="https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/kfeq-news/embed/episodes/KFEQ-Morning-Sports-3112025-e30135g/a-abquvd8" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>

KFEQ Morning Sports

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph Post<div><iframe src="https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/kfeq-news/embed/episodes/KFEQ-Morning-News-3112025-e3012s5/a-abquv1t" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>

ATCHISON COUNTY, Kan.—Law enforcement investigating a car theft have recovered the vehicle.

Police in St. Joseph located a 2014 Nissan Altima four door that had been reported stolen from the 1600 block South 7th Street in Atchison on March 1, according to Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson

Police have not reported an arrest or possible suspect details.&nbsp;&nbsp;

ATCHISON COUNTY, Kan.—Law enforcement investigating a car theft have recovered the vehicle.Police in St. Joseph located a 2014 Nissan Altima four door that had been reported stolen from the 1600 block South 7th Street in Atchison on March 1, according to Atchison Police Chief Mike WilsonPolice have not reported an arrest or possible suspect details.&nbsp;&nbsp;

St. Joe police recover car stolen 10-days ago

A House committee voted Monday to approve a bill repealing the ban on construction work in progress charges on utility bills. It could be sent to Gov. Mike Kehoe by the end of the week

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

A bill changing&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/03/07/massive-utility-legislation-expected-to-boost-missouri-power-generation-and-energy-bills/">how utility rates are set</a>&nbsp;won overwhelming approval in a Missouri House committee Monday after a hearing where backers said it is vital to the state’s economy and opponents said it would soak consumers with higher costs.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/25info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&amp;BillID=66" target="_blank">proposal</a>&nbsp;to repeal&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=393.135&amp;bid=22080&amp;hl=" target="_blank">a 1976 law</a>&nbsp;passed by initiative petition that prohibits companies from charging for power plants under construction but not yet operating has already passed the state Senate. Following the 17-4 vote Monday in the House Utilities Committee, it could go directly to Gov. Mike Kehoe if nothing is changed during the upcoming debate in the full House.

The legislation would allow companies to seek rate increases for “construction work in progress,” or CWIP, with a specific allowance for new generating plants that burn natural gas and an allowance in another section for any generating plant that is an approved resource plan.

The initiative that passed the 1976 law was launched by people upset over rate hikes allowed for the construction of a nuclear power plant in Callaway County.&nbsp;

The bill repeals the ban for 10 years and allows the Public Service Commission to extend it for another 10. State Sen. Mike Cierpiot, the Republican from Lee’s Summit who is sponsoring the bill, said he doubts the new CWIP allowance would be used for a new nuclear power plant.

“I was asked to have nuclear CWIP this bill, and I actually don’t think that’s a horrible idea, but I think it’s kind of 15 years off before we actually start deploying those,” Cierpiot said.

In the Monday vote, two of the committee’s seven Democratic members supported the legislation along with 15 of 16 Republicans, while three Democrats and one Republican were opposed.

During two hours of testimony, opponents argued the CWIP provisions, when coupled with other allowances for utilities to seek more from customers, would add as much as $1,100 a year to residential electric bills.&nbsp;

“This bill is not designed to benefit Missourians,” said Gretchen Barwick, director of the Missouri chapter of the Sierra Club. “It’s designed to provide corporate welfare to monopoly utilities.”

Representatives of utilities and the Public Service Commission said growing power demands mean new generation plants will be built in the Midwest. Passing the law allowing the charge for construction of new plants will be an incentive to build in Missouri, they said.

Large industrial users of electricity will locate plants where power is plentiful, said Jason Klindt, senior director of external affairs at Evergy. The bill includes requirements that large users pay a rate that is not subsidized by residential users, he said, arguing that will spread the cost out and result in lower overall rates for everyone.

Evergy is the major power provider for western Missouri. It is building two new&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/evergy-plans-to-build-two-new-natural-gas-plants-in-kansas-by-2030/">gas-fired power plants</a>&nbsp;in Kansas. The company would like to build in Missouri as well, Klindt said.

&nbsp;“We look forward, frankly, to announcing new power plants if we can get this bill across the finish line,” he said.

The bill would apply to investor-owned utilities regulated by the PSC. The commission has no control over rates for municipal power companies or rural electric cooperatives.

The bill would also allow all utilities regulated by the commission — water, gas and sewer along with electricity — to seek rates based on what the bill calls a “future test year.”

Currently, rates are set after the PSC examines the actual costs incurred to deliver service and determines if each expense was prudent and necessary. In a future test year scenario, the utility would outline what it expects to spend and the costs would be pre-approved by the PSC.

There are some aspects of the bill intended to benefit consumers. The Office of Public Counsel, which represents the interests of ratepayers in utility cases, would receive dedicated funding for the first time from an assessment on utility revenues.

There are changes to the rule blocking shutoffs for non-payment during hot and cold months as well as provisions requiring the commission to account for any federal tax savings by adjusting rates.

The bill would also allow the PSC to order electric utilities to repay customers for construction work in progress charges if the plant does not go into service.

The time is now for CWIP because of a rapidly escalating demand for power, said Rich Germinder, policy and strategic initiatives advisor to the PSC. The rapid increase in the number of electric vehicles and the construction of power-hungry data centers is helping drive up demand.

“Everyone was caught unprepared for the demands of the increased load growth that we’re seeing,” Germinder said.

Opponents of the bill said the items intended to help consumers won’t offset the additional costs.

All three of Missouri’s major electric suppliers are before the commission seeking rate increases. Evergy is seeking a rate increase to&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2024/08/26/evergy-west-2025-rate-increase/" target="_blank">boost revenues by 14%</a>, Ameren, which serves eastern Missouri, is seeking a rate increase&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missourians-speak-out-against-proposed-ameren-electric-rate-increase-in-public-hearing/#:~:text=Ameren%20Missouri%20wants%20to%20increase,additional%20%24446%20million%20per%20year.">of nearly 16%</a>&nbsp;and the Empire District Electric Company, which serves many smaller communities doing business as Liberty, wants regulators to increase its revenue by nearly 30%.

The CWIP and future test year provisions will just add to the additional costs consumers already face, opponents said.

If this legislation passes, it will be the most costly and expensive legislation ever passed by the Missouri legislature,” said Diana Plescia, attorney for the Missouri Industrial Energy Consumers, a consortium of 14 major manufacturers.

The legislation will increase rates by an additional 40- to 80%, she said, making it too expensive to attract new investment.

“The damage to our economic base in Missouri will be real,” Plescia said “And I say this in terms of both the jobs that will be lost and the jobs that will never come.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741689295959.png" alt=" State Sen. Mike Cierpiot, a Republican from Lee’s Summit, on Monday presents his bill allowing utilities to charge customers for power plants while they are under construction to the House Utilities Committee. (Rudi Keller/Missouri Independent)" />
 <figcaption> State Sen. Mike Cierpiot, a Republican from Lee’s Summit, on Monday presents his bill allowing utilities to charge customers for power plants while they are under construction to the House Utilities Committee. (Rudi Keller/Missouri Independent)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>A House committee voted Monday to approve a bill repealing the ban on construction work in progress charges on utility bills. It could be sent to Gov. Mike Kehoe by the end of the week</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/rudi-keller/">RUDI KELLER</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>A bill changing&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/03/07/massive-utility-legislation-expected-to-boost-missouri-power-generation-and-energy-bills/">how utility rates are set</a>&nbsp;won overwhelming approval in a Missouri House committee Monday after a hearing where backers said it is vital to the state’s economy and opponents said it would soak consumers with higher costs.The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/25info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&amp;BillID=66" target="_blank">proposal</a>&nbsp;to repeal&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=393.135&amp;bid=22080&amp;hl=" target="_blank">a 1976 law</a>&nbsp;passed by initiative petition that prohibits companies from charging for power plants under construction but not yet operating has already passed the state Senate. Following the 17-4 vote Monday in the House Utilities Committee, it could go directly to Gov. Mike Kehoe if nothing is changed during the upcoming debate in the full House.The legislation would allow companies to seek rate increases for “construction work in progress,” or CWIP, with a specific allowance for new generating plants that burn natural gas and an allowance in another section for any generating plant that is an approved resource plan.The initiative that passed the 1976 law was launched by people upset over rate hikes allowed for the construction of a nuclear power plant in Callaway County.&nbsp;The bill repeals the ban for 10 years and allows the Public Service Commission to extend it for another 10. State Sen. Mike Cierpiot, the Republican from Lee’s Summit who is sponsoring the bill, said he doubts the new CWIP allowance would be used for a new nuclear power plant.“I was asked to have nuclear CWIP this bill, and I actually don’t think that’s a horrible idea, but I think it’s kind of 15 years off before we actually start deploying those,” Cierpiot said.In the Monday vote, two of the committee’s seven Democratic members supported the legislation along with 15 of 16 Republicans, while three Democrats and one Republican were opposed.During two hours of testimony, opponents argued the CWIP provisions, when coupled with other allowances for utilities to seek more from customers, would add as much as $1,100 a year to residential electric bills.&nbsp;“This bill is not designed to benefit Missourians,” said Gretchen Barwick, director of the Missouri chapter of the Sierra Club. “It’s designed to provide corporate welfare to monopoly utilities.”Representatives of utilities and the Public Service Commission said growing power demands mean new generation plants will be built in the Midwest. Passing the law allowing the charge for construction of new plants will be an incentive to build in Missouri, they said.Large industrial users of electricity will locate plants where power is plentiful, said Jason Klindt, senior director of external affairs at Evergy. The bill includes requirements that large users pay a rate that is not subsidized by residential users, he said, arguing that will spread the cost out and result in lower overall rates for everyone.Evergy is the major power provider for western Missouri. It is building two new&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/evergy-plans-to-build-two-new-natural-gas-plants-in-kansas-by-2030/">gas-fired power plants</a>&nbsp;in Kansas. The company would like to build in Missouri as well, Klindt said.&nbsp;“We look forward, frankly, to announcing new power plants if we can get this bill across the finish line,” he said.The bill would apply to investor-owned utilities regulated by the PSC. The commission has no control over rates for municipal power companies or rural electric cooperatives.The bill would also allow all utilities regulated by the commission — water, gas and sewer along with electricity — to seek rates based on what the bill calls a “future test year.”Currently, rates are set after the PSC examines the actual costs incurred to deliver service and determines if each expense was prudent and necessary. In a future test year scenario, the utility would outline what it expects to spend and the costs would be pre-approved by the PSC.There are some aspects of the bill intended to benefit consumers. The Office of Public Counsel, which represents the interests of ratepayers in utility cases, would receive dedicated funding for the first time from an assessment on utility revenues.There are changes to the rule blocking shutoffs for non-payment during hot and cold months as well as provisions requiring the commission to account for any federal tax savings by adjusting rates.The bill would also allow the PSC to order electric utilities to repay customers for construction work in progress charges if the plant does not go into service.The time is now for CWIP because of a rapidly escalating demand for power, said Rich Germinder, policy and strategic initiatives advisor to the PSC. The rapid increase in the number of electric vehicles and the construction of power-hungry data centers is helping drive up demand.“Everyone was caught unprepared for the demands of the increased load growth that we’re seeing,” Germinder said.Opponents of the bill said the items intended to help consumers won’t offset the additional costs.All three of Missouri’s major electric suppliers are before the commission seeking rate increases. Evergy is seeking a rate increase to&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2024/08/26/evergy-west-2025-rate-increase/" target="_blank">boost revenues by 14%</a>, Ameren, which serves eastern Missouri, is seeking a rate increase&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missourians-speak-out-against-proposed-ameren-electric-rate-increase-in-public-hearing/#:~:text=Ameren%20Missouri%20wants%20to%20increase,additional%20%24446%20million%20per%20year.">of nearly 16%</a>&nbsp;and the Empire District Electric Company, which serves many smaller communities doing business as Liberty, wants regulators to increase its revenue by nearly 30%.The CWIP and future test year provisions will just add to the additional costs consumers already face, opponents said.If this legislation passes, it will be the most costly and expensive legislation ever passed by the Missouri legislature,” said Diana Plescia, attorney for the Missouri Industrial Energy Consumers, a consortium of 14 major manufacturers.The legislation will increase rates by an additional 40- to 80%, she said, making it too expensive to attract new investment.“The damage to our economic base in Missouri will be real,” Plescia said “And I say this in terms of both the jobs that will be lost and the jobs that will never come.”

Bill loosening rules for Missouri electric rates speeding toward passage

DAVIESS COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after noon Monday in Daviess County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2006 Chevy Silverado driven by a 67-year-old Gallatin man was turning eastbound onto MO 6 from. Route DD two miles west of Gallatin. The driver failed to yield and pulled into the path of a westbound 2023 Jeep Gladiator driven by a 24-year-old Maysville woman.

Daviess&nbsp; County EMS transported the 24-year-old to Cameron Regional Medical Center. The pickup driver was not injured. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

DAVIESS COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after noon Monday in Daviess County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2006 Chevy Silverado driven by a 67-year-old Gallatin man was turning eastbound onto MO 6 from. Route DD two miles west of Gallatin. The driver failed to yield and pulled into the path of a westbound 2023 Jeep Gladiator driven by a 24-year-old Maysville woman.Daviess&nbsp; County EMS transported the 24-year-old to Cameron Regional Medical Center. The pickup driver was not injured. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Mo. woman hospitalized after 2-vehicle crash

Two Bishop LeBlond seniors that helped in turning the football program around, have officially signed their letters of intent to continue playing football in college.&nbsp;

Wide receiver Trey Icke will stay in St. Joseph, signing with Missouri Western State University, while tight end&nbsp;Jacob Winkelbauer is joining a Benedictine Ravens team that came one game shy of a national championship berth last season.&nbsp;

Icke will go play for head coach Tyler Fenwick at Missouri Western State University, staying at home.&nbsp; For him, it was a talk with Griffons linebacker coach Colin Mcquillan that made Western the perfect fit.&nbsp;

"Everything was so good, the facilities are great, and their strength and conditioning coach he just topped it off, I had to go after talking to him," Icke tells reporters.&nbsp;

Winkelbauer will also stay close to home, albeit a little farther away, joining the Benedictine Ravens, a team that this past season came one game shy of a trip to the national championship.&nbsp; Winkelbauer points to the culture of the Ravens as to why it was the right choice.&nbsp;

"Good stuff, and the players they all liked it, they all looked like they bought into the program and I think they're going to be going some places in a few years," Winkelbauer says.&nbsp;

It will be a slight transition at the next level for both Icke and Winkelbauer after playing four years of 8-man football in high school, shifting to 11-man in college.&nbsp;&nbsp;Winkelbauer though, feels like it won't feel that different.&nbsp;

"We run a lot of 11-man schemes in our eight man game, so I feel like it won't be too hard,"&nbsp;Winkelbauer explains.&nbsp;

And for Icke, he says it's just a transition back to a way that he's played nearly his whole life.&nbsp;

"I played tackle football, 11-man, since I was five, so hopefully it's not that different, not that hard," Icke says.&nbsp;

Icke and Winkelbauer were part of two district championship teams at LeBlond, including a second place finish at state in 2022.&nbsp; A massive turnaround happened in their time, with the Golden Eagles not having a winning season prior to that since 2012.&nbsp;

When it comes to the legacy they hope to leave, Winkelbauer points to something coaches have told them, about how their senior class really shifted the culture

"From all the seniors beating up on the freshman, like killshots every practice, and we kind of welcomed freshman, became friends with them, we were more of a team I'd say for the past two years, and that was nice," Winkelbauer says.&nbsp;

Icke echoes that, saying that as a group the seniors really focused on helping to build up the freshman and underclassmen

"Instead of like tearing them down, we were like building them up, making them get better to carry on this tradition, and to just go all the way through to the district championship each year," Icke says.&nbsp;

Icke recorded 20 carries for 144 yds and 88 receptions for 1307 yds with 24 total touchdowns in his senior year.&nbsp; On defense he tallied 77 tackles, three sacks, three ints, one blocked punt, one forced fumble and three fumble recoveries.&nbsp; He was tabbed first team all-state recognition his senior year and second- team all-state recognition his junior year, as well as being an all-district selection his sophomore year.

In his senior season, Winkelbauer had 47 catches for 816 yards with 16 touchdowns.&nbsp; On defense he recorded 70 tackles, 17 for loss, with 10 sacks.&nbsp; He forced two fumbles and had one interception. He earned first team all state in his senior year and was a second team honoree in his sophomore season.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741639995161.png" alt="Bishop Leblond's Trey Icke (left) and Jacob&nbsp;Winkelbauer (right) signed their NLI's to continue playing football in college.&nbsp; Icke signed to Missouri Western State University while&nbsp;Winkelbauer will play at Benedictine/ Photo by Matt Pike" />
 <figcaption>Bishop Leblond's Trey Icke (left) and Jacob&nbsp;Winkelbauer (right) signed their NLI's to continue playing football in college.&nbsp; Icke signed to Missouri Western State University while&nbsp;Winkelbauer will play at Benedictine/ Photo by Matt Pike</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKESt. Joseph PostTwo Bishop LeBlond seniors that helped in turning the football program around, have officially signed their letters of intent to continue playing football in college.&nbsp;Wide receiver Trey Icke will stay in St. Joseph, signing with Missouri Western State University, while tight end&nbsp;Jacob Winkelbauer is joining a Benedictine Ravens team that came one game shy of a national championship berth last season.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741640898856.jpeg" alt="Trey Icke/ Photo by Matt Pike" />
 <figcaption>Trey Icke/ Photo by Matt Pike</figcaption>
 </figure>Icke will go play for head coach Tyler Fenwick at Missouri Western State University, staying at home.&nbsp; For him, it was a talk with Griffons linebacker coach Colin Mcquillan that made Western the perfect fit.&nbsp;"Everything was so good, the facilities are great, and their strength and conditioning coach he just topped it off, I had to go after talking to him," Icke tells reporters.&nbsp;Winkelbauer will also stay close to home, albeit a little farther away, joining the Benedictine Ravens, a team that this past season came one game shy of a trip to the national championship.&nbsp; Winkelbauer points to the culture of the Ravens as to why it was the right choice.&nbsp;"Good stuff, and the players they all liked it, they all looked like they bought into the program and I think they're going to be going some places in a few years," Winkelbauer says.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741645080279.jpeg" alt="Jake Winkelbauer/ Photo by Matt Pike" />
 <figcaption>Jake Winkelbauer/ Photo by Matt Pike</figcaption>
 </figure>It will be a slight transition at the next level for both Icke and Winkelbauer after playing four years of 8-man football in high school, shifting to 11-man in college.&nbsp;&nbsp;Winkelbauer though, feels like it won't feel that different.&nbsp;"We run a lot of 11-man schemes in our eight man game, so I feel like it won't be too hard,"&nbsp;Winkelbauer explains.&nbsp;And for Icke, he says it's just a transition back to a way that he's played nearly his whole life.&nbsp;"I played tackle football, 11-man, since I was five, so hopefully it's not that different, not that hard," Icke says.&nbsp;Icke and Winkelbauer were part of two district championship teams at LeBlond, including a second place finish at state in 2022.&nbsp; A massive turnaround happened in their time, with the Golden Eagles not having a winning season prior to that since 2012.&nbsp;When it comes to the legacy they hope to leave, Winkelbauer points to something coaches have told them, about how their senior class really shifted the culture"From all the seniors beating up on the freshman, like killshots every practice, and we kind of welcomed freshman, became friends with them, we were more of a team I'd say for the past two years, and that was nice," Winkelbauer says.&nbsp;Icke echoes that, saying that as a group the seniors really focused on helping to build up the freshman and underclassmen"Instead of like tearing them down, we were like building them up, making them get better to carry on this tradition, and to just go all the way through to the district championship each year," Icke says.&nbsp;Icke recorded 20 carries for 144 yds and 88 receptions for 1307 yds with 24 total touchdowns in his senior year.&nbsp; On defense he tallied 77 tackles, three sacks, three ints, one blocked punt, one forced fumble and three fumble recoveries.&nbsp; He was tabbed first team all-state recognition his senior year and second- team all-state recognition his junior year, as well as being an all-district selection his sophomore year.In his senior season, Winkelbauer had 47 catches for 816 yards with 16 touchdowns.&nbsp; On defense he recorded 70 tackles, 17 for loss, with 10 sacks.&nbsp; He forced two fumbles and had one interception. He earned first team all state in his senior year and was a second team honoree in his sophomore season.You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Bishop LeBlond's Trey Icke, Jacob Winkelbauer sign to continue football careers

St. Joseph police
are investigating a series of burglaries that targeted businesses downtown.

St. Joseph Police
Department spokesman, Sergeant Richard McGregory, says a business owner
contacted police late Sunday night after surveillance systems picked up a
break-in. Police rushed to the downtown, but were too late to catch anyone.

Businesses that
suffered loss were located in the 600 block of Felix and Edmund Streets.
McGregory says it appears the first break-in occurred late Sunday night with the
final one occurring in the early morning hours of Monday.

McGregory says the
police department welcomes any input from the public that could help in the
investigation.

“If they’ve seen anything,
if any businesses around there have any video surveillance or anything that
they can provide to us, we’re definitely open to utilize that,” McGregory tells
reporters during a news briefing.

You can call the
St. Joseph Police Department at 816-271-4701 or the Crime Stoppers Tip Hotline
at 816-238-TIPP with any information.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741635689421.jpeg" alt="Sgt. Richard McGregory speaks with reporters on the downtown St. Joseph break-ins/Photo by Brent Martin" />
 <figcaption>Sgt. Richard McGregory speaks with reporters on the downtown St. Joseph break-ins/Photo by Brent Martin</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostSt. Joseph police
are investigating a series of burglaries that targeted businesses downtown.St. Joseph Police
Department spokesman, Sergeant Richard McGregory, says a business owner
contacted police late Sunday night after surveillance systems picked up a
break-in. Police rushed to the downtown, but were too late to catch anyone.Businesses that
suffered loss were located in the 600 block of Felix and Edmund Streets.
McGregory says it appears the first break-in occurred late Sunday night with the
final one occurring in the early morning hours of Monday.McGregory says the
police department welcomes any input from the public that could help in the
investigation.“If they’ve seen anything,
if any businesses around there have any video surveillance or anything that
they can provide to us, we’re definitely open to utilize that,” McGregory tells
reporters during a news briefing.You can call the
St. Joseph Police Department at 816-271-4701 or the Crime Stoppers Tip Hotline
at 816-238-TIPP with any information.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Thieves hit downtown St. Joseph businesses

A high energy musical that will take audiences on a journey through some of the greatest hits of all time is coming to the Missouri Theatre.  

St. Joseph Performing Arts Executive Director Paul Storiale says Forever Young, is the story of a group of guys in a basement singing songs that defined their generation.  

"It is a song and dance show, they're going to sing, they're going to dance, and they're going to perform the music of your life, the music that you grew up with, that you grew into whoever you are with that music," Storiale tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr.  

Storiale compares the show to a jukebox musical, but says it's even more than that 

"Because it's an award-winning show, it was off Broadway, or either on Broadway or off Broadway, but it won a lot of awards, it's an incredible show," Storiale explains.  "It's a show that's going to get to your feels, it's going to make you feel something, it's going to get you emotional, you can reminisce about your life while you're watching this show and the story they're telling." 

Storiale says audiences will hear a wide variety of music in the show 

"There's music from The Beatles, Michael Jackson, Bon Jovi, Brooks and Dunn, Billy Joel, and more and more, so it's music that we know and that we want to dance to," Storiale says. 

Tickets are still available for the show on Thursday and can be purchased by visiting the Performing Arts Association website. 

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741624984283.jpeg" alt="Forever Young/ Photo courtesy of St. Joseph Performing Arts Association" />
 <figcaption>Forever Young/ Photo courtesy of St. Joseph Performing Arts Association</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post A high energy musical that will take audiences on a journey through some of the greatest hits of all time is coming to the Missouri Theatre. St. Joseph Performing Arts Executive Director Paul Storiale says Forever Young, is the story of a group of guys in a basement singing songs that defined their generation. "It is a song and dance show, they're going to sing, they're going to dance, and they're going to perform the music of your life, the music that you grew up with, that you grew into whoever you are with that music," Storiale tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr. Storiale compares the show to a jukebox musical, but says it's even more than that "Because it's an award-winning show, it was off Broadway, or either on Broadway or off Broadway, but it won a lot of awards, it's an incredible show," Storiale explains. "It's a show that's going to get to your feels, it's going to make you feel something, it's going to get you emotional, you can reminisce about your life while you're watching this show and the story they're telling." Storiale says audiences will hear a wide variety of music in the show "There's music from The Beatles, Michael Jackson, Bon Jovi, Brooks and Dunn, Billy Joel, and more and more, so it's music that we know and that we want to dance to," Storiale says. Tickets are still available for the show on Thursday and can be purchased by visiting the Performing Arts Association website. <div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FPAASTJO%2Fvideos%2F1110107594223047%2F&show_text=true&width=560&t=0" width="560" height="429" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Unique musical looks back at music classics

By MATT PIKESt. Joseph Post<div><iframe src="https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/kfeq-news/embed/episodes/KFEQ-Morning-Sports-3102025-e2vvd99/a-abqsrn9" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph Post<div><iframe src="https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/kfeq-news/embed/episodes/KFEQ-Morning-News-3102025-e2vv9vt/a-abqso19" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>

Maryville School Superintendent
Logan Lightfoot has been placed on administrative leave, though the Maryville
R-II School District is not disclosing the reason for the action.

The Maryville
Forum reports Lightfoot was placed on administrative leave February 24th.
The Forum says School Board President Josh McKim would not answer questions about
the leave.

Assistant
Superintendent Philip Pohren will step in to the manage the day-to-day
operations of the district.

The Maryville
School Board declined to expand the contract of Lightfoot in January.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostMaryville School Superintendent
Logan Lightfoot has been placed on administrative leave, though the Maryville
R-II School District is not disclosing the reason for the action.The Maryville
Forum reports Lightfoot was placed on administrative leave February 24th.
The Forum says School Board President Josh McKim would not answer questions about
the leave.Assistant
Superintendent Philip Pohren will step in to the manage the day-to-day
operations of the district.The Maryville
School Board declined to expand the contract of Lightfoot in January.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Maryville school district places superintendent on administrative leave

For the third time in four years, and the 15th time in program history, the Missouri Western women's basketball team has punched their ticket into the NCAA tournament.&nbsp;

The Lady Griffons were selected as the four seed in the NCAA Central Region during the NCAA Divsion II Women's Basketball Selection show on Sunday night.&nbsp; Missouri Western will play five seed Minnesota State in Pittsburgh, Kansas.&nbsp; Pittsburgh State was selected as the top seed in the region earning the right to host.&nbsp;

The trip to the dance is the first for the Griffons under first-year head coach Ashton Feldhaus, who guided Missouri Western to a 20-9 record in her debut season, and did so with a unique rebuild of the conference championship program she inherited. Competing with a roster of just 10 student-athletes for the majority of the 2024-25 season, the Griffons reached 20 wins for the fifth time in six years.

Missouri Western is 13-14 in NCAA tournament games all-time, with regional championships (Elite 8 Appearances) in 1994, 1995 and 2022.

A time and date for tip-off will be announced soon.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741579772732.jpeg" alt="Missouri Western women's basketball is in the NCAA tournament for the third time in four years. They will play Minnesota State in the first round/ Photo courtesy of Missouri Western Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Missouri Western women's basketball is in the NCAA tournament for the third time in four years. They will play Minnesota State in the first round/ Photo courtesy of Missouri Western Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKESt. Joseph PostFor the third time in four years, and the 15th time in program history, the Missouri Western women's basketball team has punched their ticket into the NCAA tournament.&nbsp;The Lady Griffons were selected as the four seed in the NCAA Central Region during the NCAA Divsion II Women's Basketball Selection show on Sunday night.&nbsp; Missouri Western will play five seed Minnesota State in Pittsburgh, Kansas.&nbsp; Pittsburgh State was selected as the top seed in the region earning the right to host.&nbsp;The trip to the dance is the first for the Griffons under first-year head coach Ashton Feldhaus, who guided Missouri Western to a 20-9 record in her debut season, and did so with a unique rebuild of the conference championship program she inherited. Competing with a roster of just 10 student-athletes for the majority of the 2024-25 season, the Griffons reached 20 wins for the fifth time in six years.Missouri Western is 13-14 in NCAA tournament games all-time, with regional championships (Elite 8 Appearances) in 1994, 1995 and 2022.A time and date for tip-off will be announced soon.You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

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