ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a teen runaway in connection with an alleged attempted robbery.

Just before 8:30a.m. Monday, police learned of a juvenile runaway, according to Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson.

Just before 3p.m. Monday,&nbsp; police investigated an attempted robbery in the 400 block North 10th Street. A victim reported that she was approached at the door of her residence by a teen demanding her purse. The victim screamed and the suspect fled the area. 

Officers continued to search for the runaway who also had become a suspect in the attempted robbery. Officers located the 15-year-old boy on Tuesday afternoon at a residence and he was taken into custody for the attempted robbery. He was transported to a juvenile detention facility.

ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a teen runaway in connection with an alleged attempted robbery.Just before 8:30a.m. Monday, police learned of a juvenile runaway, according to Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson.Just before 3p.m. Monday,&nbsp; police investigated an attempted robbery in the 400 block North 10th Street. A victim reported that she was approached at the door of her residence by a teen demanding her purse. The victim screamed and the suspect fled the area. Officers continued to search for the runaway who also had become a suspect in the attempted robbery. Officers located the 15-year-old boy on Tuesday afternoon at a residence and he was taken into custody for the attempted robbery. He was transported to a juvenile detention facility.

Police: 15-year-old attempted purse theft at Kansas home

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/dmitrymartirosov/">DMITRY MARTIROSOV</a>

Bills seeking to expand charter schools into three Missouri counties were approved Monday by the House Special Committee on Education Reform.

The proposals were combined into one substitute bill after the committee voted to adopt an amendment by the committee chair, Rep. Bishop Davidson of Republic. Committee members voted 7-2 in favor of the bills, with one member voting present.

The bills — sponsored by Republican Reps. Brad Christ of St. Louis, Justin Hicks of Lake St. Louis and Rep. Cheri Toalson Reisch of Hallsville — are identical in language except for population provisions to accommodate each of the sponsors’ districts.

The bills aim to expand access to charter schools to St. Louis County, St. Charles County and Boone County.

Reisch said she wasn’t too hopeful about the measure advancing in the Senate.

“I have no faith in the (Senate),” she said, “or hopes that they can get anything done this year.”

But she was supportive of Davidson’s amendment.

“By combining three bills into one,” she said, “it will give it a better chance because it affects a broader base of students and parents and constituents.”

The bill’s&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://documents.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills241/fiscal/fispdf/4693H.01I.ORG.pdf">fiscal note</a>&nbsp;shows an estimated cost of $2.8 million to $13.3 million, depending on the number of charter schools created and the number of students choosing to enroll.

The average cost per student for the 2022-2023 school year for Columbia Public Schools was&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://apps.dese.mo.gov/MCDS/Visualizations.aspx?id=22">slightly less than $14,000</a>. Because charter schools are public schools and are funded by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, expenditures will follow the student if they transfer out of a district school and into a charter school.

“Am I a huge fan of charter schools? Not necessarily,” Reisch said. “I think it’s just another choice for the parents to have.”

Voting against the measure, Democratic state Rep. Kevin Windham of Hillsdale expressed disappointment.

“I’m dismayed that we can expand charter schools or propose to expand charter schools in Missouri … but we didn’t look hard enough to find the problems with the current charter school system,” Windham said.

Charter schools in Missouri were first authorized in 1998 with the passage of&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/98info/billtext/tat/SB781.htm">legislation</a>&nbsp;sponsored by then-Sen. Ted House, a Democrat from St. Charles. The measure limited their operation to metropolitan or urban school districts within a city with populations of more than 350,000 people. Each of the three bills voted on Monday accommodates that cap by including a provision that adjusts population figures to their proposed region.

This story originally appeared in the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/state_news/house-committee-approves-charter-school-expansion/article_41902c1a-befc-11ee-a14f-5b31847d6285.html#tncms-source=Top%20Story">Columbia Missourian</a>. It can be republished in print or online.&nbsp;

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/dmitrymartirosov/">DMITRY MARTIROSOV</a>Bills seeking to expand charter schools into three Missouri counties were approved Monday by the House Special Committee on Education Reform.The proposals were combined into one substitute bill after the committee voted to adopt an amendment by the committee chair, Rep. Bishop Davidson of Republic. Committee members voted 7-2 in favor of the bills, with one member voting present.The bills — sponsored by Republican Reps. Brad Christ of St. Louis, Justin Hicks of Lake St. Louis and Rep. Cheri Toalson Reisch of Hallsville — are identical in language except for population provisions to accommodate each of the sponsors’ districts.The bills aim to expand access to charter schools to St. Louis County, St. Charles County and Boone County.Reisch said she wasn’t too hopeful about the measure advancing in the Senate.“I have no faith in the (Senate),” she said, “or hopes that they can get anything done this year.”But she was supportive of Davidson’s amendment.“By combining three bills into one,” she said, “it will give it a better chance because it affects a broader base of students and parents and constituents.”The bill’s&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://documents.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills241/fiscal/fispdf/4693H.01I.ORG.pdf">fiscal note</a>&nbsp;shows an estimated cost of $2.8 million to $13.3 million, depending on the number of charter schools created and the number of students choosing to enroll.The average cost per student for the 2022-2023 school year for Columbia Public Schools was&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://apps.dese.mo.gov/MCDS/Visualizations.aspx?id=22">slightly less than $14,000</a>. Because charter schools are public schools and are funded by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, expenditures will follow the student if they transfer out of a district school and into a charter school.“Am I a huge fan of charter schools? Not necessarily,” Reisch said. “I think it’s just another choice for the parents to have.”Voting against the measure, Democratic state Rep. Kevin Windham of Hillsdale expressed disappointment.“I’m dismayed that we can expand charter schools or propose to expand charter schools in Missouri … but we didn’t look hard enough to find the problems with the current charter school system,” Windham said.Charter schools in Missouri were first authorized in 1998 with the passage of&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/98info/billtext/tat/SB781.htm">legislation</a>&nbsp;sponsored by then-Sen. Ted House, a Democrat from St. Charles. The measure limited their operation to metropolitan or urban school districts within a city with populations of more than 350,000 people. Each of the three bills voted on Monday accommodates that cap by including a provision that adjusts population figures to their proposed region.This story originally appeared in the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/state_news/house-committee-approves-charter-school-expansion/article_41902c1a-befc-11ee-a14f-5b31847d6285.html#tncms-source=Top%20Story">Columbia Missourian</a>. It can be republished in print or online.&nbsp;

Bill expanding charter schools into three new counties clears Mo. House committee

BROWN COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for an alleged violent crime.

Just after 3:30p.m. Jan. 20, sheriff's deputies responded to the Kickapoo Reservation on the report of a previous assault, according to Sheriff John Merchant.

 Upon completion of the investigation, Ryan Shopteese, 34, Horton was arrested on a requested charge of Aggravated Battery.&nbsp; He is no longer in custody, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706649165457.png" alt="Shopteese-photo Brown Co." />
 <figcaption>Shopteese-photo Brown Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>BROWN COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for an alleged violent crime.Just after 3:30p.m. Jan. 20, sheriff's deputies responded to the Kickapoo Reservation on the report of a previous assault, according to Sheriff John Merchant. Upon completion of the investigation, Ryan Shopteese, 34, Horton was arrested on a requested charge of Aggravated Battery.&nbsp; He is no longer in custody, according to online jail records.

Sheriff: Kan. man accused of violent crime after investigation

DAVIESS COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 7a.m. Tuesday in Daviess County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 1996 Ford Club Wagon driven by Lisa F. Bechtel, 54, Trenton, was northbound on MO 190 in Jamesport.

The van traveled off the right side of the road, struck an embankment and overturned.

A private vehicle transported Bechtel to the Jamesport Outreach Clinic. She was properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

DAVIESS COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 7a.m. Tuesday in Daviess County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 1996 Ford Club Wagon driven by Lisa F. Bechtel, 54, Trenton, was northbound on MO 190 in Jamesport.The van traveled off the right side of the road, struck an embankment and overturned.A private vehicle transported Bechtel to the Jamesport Outreach Clinic. She was properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

Missouri woman injured after van overturns

The St. Joseph School District is considering using virtual learning opportunities in place of a traditional snow day.  

Assistant Superintendent of Academic and Education Services Ashly McGinnis says the district has had an AMI, or alternative method of instruction, plan in place since the coronavirus pandemic. 

McGinnis says though they've been hesitant to put it in place on a snow day because it was discovered during the pandemic kids had a difficult time engaging with virtual learning 

"We know it can be a hardship for parents who work, or parents who are not able to be with their kids on that snow day and getting them online to do learning or do those activities in person," McGinnis tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr. "And so, we just want to be thoughtful of that." 

McGinnis says so far, the district has used four snow days so far, and have not tapped into those AMI learning days, but are cognizant that it may be something they need to switch too. 

McGinnis says they have worked on a detailed AMI learning plan. She says the plan outlines how an AMI day would operate and it's broken down by at every level of education. 

"What that would look like is different at every level, it is more hands-on learning, things that can be done in a home with things that you have around the house for the littles," Mcginnis explains. "And then at the older level for secondary there would be an assignment for every class the kid has." 

McGinnis says for instance if a student has seven classes, they would have an assignment to submit, which would give credit for academics  

McGinnis says implementing these AMI days would also help save the district on attendance.  

"Because when we have inclement weather days, if we're on the fence and it's close, if people will want to bring their kids in if the road conditions are iffy," Mcginnis says. "And so, this could be something that we tap into to save us on attendance, provide an opportunity for learning, and then also be recoup attendance." 

McGinnis says on a traditional snow day they do not get credit for attendance, but moving to an AMI day would help in getting credit for a school day. 

By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post The St. Joseph School District is considering using virtual learning opportunities in place of a traditional snow day. Assistant Superintendent of Academic and Education Services Ashly McGinnis says the district has had an AMI, or alternative method of instruction, plan in place since the coronavirus pandemic. McGinnis says though they've been hesitant to put it in place on a snow day because it was discovered during the pandemic kids had a difficult time engaging with virtual learning "We know it can be a hardship for parents who work, or parents who are not able to be with their kids on that snow day and getting them online to do learning or do those activities in person," McGinnis tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr. "And so, we just want to be thoughtful of that." McGinnis says so far, the district has used four snow days so far, and have not tapped into those AMI learning days, but are cognizant that it may be something they need to switch too. McGinnis says they have worked on a detailed AMI learning plan. She says the plan outlines how an AMI day would operate and it's broken down by at every level of education. "What that would look like is different at every level, it is more hands-on learning, things that can be done in a home with things that you have around the house for the littles," Mcginnis explains. "And then at the older level for secondary there would be an assignment for every class the kid has." McGinnis says for instance if a student has seven classes, they would have an assignment to submit, which would give credit for academics McGinnis says implementing these AMI days would also help save the district on attendance. "Because when we have inclement weather days, if we're on the fence and it's close, if people will want to bring their kids in if the road conditions are iffy," Mcginnis says. "And so, this could be something that we tap into to save us on attendance, provide an opportunity for learning, and then also be recoup attendance." McGinnis says on a traditional snow day they do not get credit for attendance, but moving to an AMI day would help in getting credit for a school day.

St. Joseph School District considering using virtual learning in place of snow days

Under current law, 16- and 17-year-olds are allowed to get married with parental permission to anyone under the age of 21

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

A bipartisan bill debated in a state Senate committee Monday would ban child marriage in Missouri.&nbsp;

Under current law, 16 and 17-year-olds are allowed to get married with parental consent. Marriage between a minor and anyone 21 or older is prohibited.

The legislation discussed Monday afternoon would prohibit issuing marriage&nbsp;licenses to anyone under the age of 18 under any circumstances.

Under the identical bills,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/24info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&amp;BillID=226">co-sponsored by Republican Sen. Holly Thompson Rehder of Scott City</a>&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/24info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&amp;BillID=1604608">and Democratic Sen. Lauren Arthur</a>&nbsp;of Kansas City, Missouri would join 10&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://19thnews.org/2023/07/explaining-child-marriage-laws-united-states/">states</a>&nbsp;that have banned child marriage.

Thompson Rehder said she got married when she was 15 years old to her 21-year-old boyfriend.

“And at the time, I was operating in what I thought was an adult mindset…but it was only until much later that I realized at 15 years old, you really don’t have the mental capacity to make those types of decisions,” she said Monday in the state Senate’s Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence committee.&nbsp;

“Being someone who did get married at 15,”&nbsp;Thompson Rehder said,&nbsp;“I know that it is something that you really shouldn’t be doing before you’re an adult.”

Arthur said raising the age is a “moral imperative that protects the innocence and potential of our youth.”

“You can picture a young girl, 16, eyes filled with dreams and aspirations,” Arthur said, “being asked to take on the responsibilities and challenges of marriage and potentially motherhood. And I would argue that’s not necessarily the future we want to envision for our daughters.”

Until the legislature voted to raise the minimum marriage age to 16 in 2018, Missouri had among the most&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article204329774.html">lenient</a>&nbsp;child marriage laws in the nation — making it&nbsp; an especially popular state for&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article204287484.html">15-year-olds</a>&nbsp;to travel to be married.

Despite the 2018 change, Missouri law still does not align with international human rights standards, which set the minimum age at 18.&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article211345289.html">Activists argued at the time</a>&nbsp;Missouri’s new law would continue to leave 16 and 17-year-olds vulnerable to potential coercion.

Those in favor of a ban on child marriage often argue that marriage under 18 is coercive and can transform into forced marriage, especially because children&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://19thnews.org/2023/07/explaining-child-marriage-laws-united-states/">lack the legal rights of adulthood.</a>

Nationally, those opposed to a ban often invoke&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://19thnews.org/2023/07/explaining-child-marriage-laws-united-states/">parental rights</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://thehill.com/changing-america/respect/equality/4283941-child-marriage-is-still-legal-in-most-of-the-u-s-heres-why/">religious liberty</a>.

Five people testified in support of the bill Monday and one in opposition.

Lauren Van Wagoner, of Kansas City, testified that at 17 she was married to her 21-year-old boyfriend.

“The reality is I wasn’t mature enough to make that decision,” she said, “I was only thinking of not having a curfew…And preventing my husband from religious excommunication. Neither of those things should have been my responsibilities at that point.”

The next twelve years, Van Wagoner testified, were “a horror story,” which included abuse from her husband. After her husband left her in 2018, she said, through tears, “I found myself without any real job skills or continuing education.”

“My story is rare,” she said. “I’m one of the lucky ones: I got out of my marriage.”

Many who married as children are “stuck in the cycle of poverty and abuse because they can’t escape,” she added.

The others testifying in support of the bill included those lobbying for the Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, Missouri Kids First, Rape and Abuse Crisis Service of Jefferson City and a family law attorney.

“We’ve worked in a lot of other policy areas like juvenile justice to raise the age of 18 and have a standard for the state,” said Jessica Petrie, representing Missouri Kids First, “and we believe it’s time we get our marriage laws in line, and bring it to that age as well.”

Matthew Huffman, representing Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, said child marriage “undermines our statutory rape laws,” as a marriage license “essentially becomes a ‘Get Out of Jail Free’ card” for what would otherwise be considered child rape.

A&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.unchainedatlast.org/united-states-child-marriage-problem-study-findings-april-2021/">study from the advocacy group Unchained at Last</a>&nbsp;in 2021 found that between 2000 and 2018, 8,007 children were married in Missouri. Nationally, most children who married were girls and most were to men over the age of 18.

Eighty-six percent of children married over this time period nationally, the nonprofit found, were girls.

The person testifying in opposition was&nbsp;Timothy Faber, a lobbyist for the Missouri Baptist Convention.

“We certainly have empathy for those who have experienced negative consequences to marry at such an early age,” Faber said, adding that as a minister for 40 years, he has never conducted a marriage ceremony for a minor.

“However,” he said, “I can see a few rare circumstances where that might be appropriate.”

Sen. Curtis Trent, a Republican from Springfield, asked Faber for detail on those instances.

“I guess I’m just not seeing what situations that this would prevent — you’ve tried to identify some rare circumstances where the bill might be too restrictive and I’m not sure if any have been identified yet,” Trent said.

Faber replied: “To close the door totally just seems too much. I think we ought to certainly tighten it up.”

Rehder said the work she could get as a 15-year-old supporting herself was limited to cleaning houses: “That was all I could get because I was a child,” she said.

“Years ago when our great-grandparents got married very early, that was before women had the opportunity that they have now of education,” she said. “So I think this is something that protects the girls, and it gives them a start like anyone else for them to make these choices as adults instead of children.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706631627385.png" alt=" Bills to ban child marriage in Missouri were heard Jan. 29, 2024, in the Senate’s Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence committee (Clara Bates/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> Bills to ban child marriage in Missouri were heard Jan. 29, 2024, in the Senate’s Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence committee (Clara Bates/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Under current law, 16- and 17-year-olds are allowed to get married with parental permission to anyone under the age of 21</h2>By CLARA BATES&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/09/21/missouri-judge-once-again-delays-decision-on-closing-agape-boarding-school/">Missouri Independent</a>A bipartisan bill debated in a state Senate committee Monday would ban child marriage in Missouri.&nbsp;Under current law, 16 and 17-year-olds are allowed to get married with parental consent. Marriage between a minor and anyone 21 or older is prohibited.The legislation discussed Monday afternoon would prohibit issuing marriage&nbsp;licenses to anyone under the age of 18 under any circumstances.Under the identical bills,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/24info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&amp;BillID=226">co-sponsored by Republican Sen. Holly Thompson Rehder of Scott City</a>&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/24info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&amp;BillID=1604608">and Democratic Sen. Lauren Arthur</a>&nbsp;of Kansas City, Missouri would join 10&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://19thnews.org/2023/07/explaining-child-marriage-laws-united-states/">states</a>&nbsp;that have banned child marriage.Thompson Rehder said she got married when she was 15 years old to her 21-year-old boyfriend.“And at the time, I was operating in what I thought was an adult mindset…but it was only until much later that I realized at 15 years old, you really don’t have the mental capacity to make those types of decisions,” she said Monday in the state Senate’s Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence committee.&nbsp;“Being someone who did get married at 15,”&nbsp;Thompson Rehder said,&nbsp;“I know that it is something that you really shouldn’t be doing before you’re an adult.”Arthur said raising the age is a “moral imperative that protects the innocence and potential of our youth.”“You can picture a young girl, 16, eyes filled with dreams and aspirations,” Arthur said, “being asked to take on the responsibilities and challenges of marriage and potentially motherhood. And I would argue that’s not necessarily the future we want to envision for our daughters.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706631664002.png" alt=" Sen. Holly Rehder, R-Scott City (photo by Tim Bommel/Missouri House Communications)" />
 <figcaption> Sen. Holly Rehder, R-Scott City (photo by Tim Bommel/Missouri House Communications)</figcaption>
 </figure>Until the legislature voted to raise the minimum marriage age to 16 in 2018, Missouri had among the most&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article204329774.html">lenient</a>&nbsp;child marriage laws in the nation — making it&nbsp; an especially popular state for&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article204287484.html">15-year-olds</a>&nbsp;to travel to be married.Despite the 2018 change, Missouri law still does not align with international human rights standards, which set the minimum age at 18.&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article211345289.html">Activists argued at the time</a>&nbsp;Missouri’s new law would continue to leave 16 and 17-year-olds vulnerable to potential coercion.Those in favor of a ban on child marriage often argue that marriage under 18 is coercive and can transform into forced marriage, especially because children&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://19thnews.org/2023/07/explaining-child-marriage-laws-united-states/">lack the legal rights of adulthood.</a>Nationally, those opposed to a ban often invoke&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://19thnews.org/2023/07/explaining-child-marriage-laws-united-states/">parental rights</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://thehill.com/changing-america/respect/equality/4283941-child-marriage-is-still-legal-in-most-of-the-u-s-heres-why/">religious liberty</a>.Five people testified in support of the bill Monday and one in opposition.Lauren Van Wagoner, of Kansas City, testified that at 17 she was married to her 21-year-old boyfriend.“The reality is I wasn’t mature enough to make that decision,” she said, “I was only thinking of not having a curfew…And preventing my husband from religious excommunication. Neither of those things should have been my responsibilities at that point.”The next twelve years, Van Wagoner testified, were “a horror story,” which included abuse from her husband. After her husband left her in 2018, she said, through tears, “I found myself without any real job skills or continuing education.”“My story is rare,” she said. “I’m one of the lucky ones: I got out of my marriage.”Many who married as children are “stuck in the cycle of poverty and abuse because they can’t escape,” she added.The others testifying in support of the bill included those lobbying for the Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, Missouri Kids First, Rape and Abuse Crisis Service of Jefferson City and a family law attorney.“We’ve worked in a lot of other policy areas like juvenile justice to raise the age of 18 and have a standard for the state,” said Jessica Petrie, representing Missouri Kids First, “and we believe it’s time we get our marriage laws in line, and bring it to that age as well.”Matthew Huffman, representing Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, said child marriage “undermines our statutory rape laws,” as a marriage license “essentially becomes a ‘Get Out of Jail Free’ card” for what would otherwise be considered child rape.A&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.unchainedatlast.org/united-states-child-marriage-problem-study-findings-april-2021/">study from the advocacy group Unchained at Last</a>&nbsp;in 2021 found that between 2000 and 2018, 8,007 children were married in Missouri. Nationally, most children who married were girls and most were to men over the age of 18.Eighty-six percent of children married over this time period nationally, the nonprofit found, were girls.The person testifying in opposition was&nbsp;Timothy Faber, a lobbyist for the Missouri Baptist Convention.“We certainly have empathy for those who have experienced negative consequences to marry at such an early age,” Faber said, adding that as a minister for 40 years, he has never conducted a marriage ceremony for a minor.“However,” he said, “I can see a few rare circumstances where that might be appropriate.”Sen. Curtis Trent, a Republican from Springfield, asked Faber for detail on those instances.“I guess I’m just not seeing what situations that this would prevent — you’ve tried to identify some rare circumstances where the bill might be too restrictive and I’m not sure if any have been identified yet,” Trent said.Faber replied: “To close the door totally just seems too much. I think we ought to certainly tighten it up.”Rehder said the work she could get as a 15-year-old supporting herself was limited to cleaning houses: “That was all I could get because I was a child,” she said.“Years ago when our great-grandparents got married very early, that was before women had the opportunity that they have now of education,” she said. “So I think this is something that protects the girls, and it gives them a start like anyone else for them to make these choices as adults instead of children.”

Missouri lawmakers seek to ban child marriage without exception

Kansas Department of Transportation

TOPEKA — The Kansas Department of Transportation’s I-70 asphalt improvement project in Gove County received the 2023 Sheldon G. Hayes Award – the top paving award from the National Asphalt Pavement Association.

The award was presented this week to the project’s contractor, APAC Kansas, Inc., Shears Division, of Hutchinson, at the NAPA annual meeting in Orlando, Florida.

“This award acknowledges what we Kansans have always known; Kansas contractors are second to none,” said Calvin Reed, Secretary of Transportation.&nbsp; “It is the result of exceptional collaboration between Kansas-based industry partners and KDOT who completed the I-70 project with a high degree of skill and attention to detail.”

The Gove County project covered just over 9 miles of I-70 starting 4 miles east of Park and ending at the Trego County line. Nearly 76,000 tons of asphalt was used on the driving lanes and shoulders.

The winner and finalists are determined through a two-year evaluation process. To be eligible, projects must use more than 50,000 tons of asphalt and be selected for a NAPA Quality in Construction Award the previous year. Qualifying projects are then evaluated for smoothness and inspected in person by an independent pavement consultant.

This award is named for a founder of NAPA and the association’s first chairman. It has been presented annually since 1971.

Kansas Department of TransportationTOPEKA — The Kansas Department of Transportation’s I-70 asphalt improvement project in Gove County received the 2023 Sheldon G. Hayes Award – the top paving award from the National Asphalt Pavement Association.The award was presented this week to the project’s contractor, APAC Kansas, Inc., Shears Division, of Hutchinson, at the NAPA annual meeting in Orlando, Florida.“This award acknowledges what we Kansans have always known; Kansas contractors are second to none,” said Calvin Reed, Secretary of Transportation.&nbsp; “It is the result of exceptional collaboration between Kansas-based industry partners and KDOT who completed the I-70 project with a high degree of skill and attention to detail.”The Gove County project covered just over 9 miles of I-70 starting 4 miles east of Park and ending at the Trego County line. Nearly 76,000 tons of asphalt was used on the driving lanes and shoulders.The winner and finalists are determined through a two-year evaluation process. To be eligible, projects must use more than 50,000 tons of asphalt and be selected for a NAPA Quality in Construction Award the previous year. Qualifying projects are then evaluated for smoothness and inspected in person by an independent pavement consultant.This award is named for a founder of NAPA and the association’s first chairman. It has been presented annually since 1971.

APAC Kansas Shears Division wins national paving award

CLINTON COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 11p.m. Monday in Clinton County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2013 Ford Escape driven by Gracelynn E. Presley, 28, Overland Park, was eastbound on MO 116 one mile east of Plattsburg.&nbsp; The SUV traveled across the center line and struck a westbound 2013 Chevy Captiva driven by a 16-year-old Plattsburg girl.

After impact both vehicles traveled off the road and overturned.&nbsp; A private vehicle transported the teen driver to Liberty Hospital. Presleiy was not transported for treatment. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

CLINTON COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 11p.m. Monday in Clinton County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2013 Ford Escape driven by Gracelynn E. Presley, 28, Overland Park, was eastbound on MO 116 one mile east of Plattsburg.&nbsp; The SUV traveled across the center line and struck a westbound 2013 Chevy Captiva driven by a 16-year-old Plattsburg girl.After impact both vehicles traveled off the road and overturned.&nbsp; A private vehicle transported the teen driver to Liberty Hospital. Presleiy was not transported for treatment. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

Missouri teen hospitalized after 2-vehicle crash

ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas felon on new allegations.

On Saturday, police arrested 23-year-old Cheyanne H. Bailey of Rushville Mo, on requested charges of domestic battery, criminal trespass, and criminal damage to property in the 1900 block Harper Drive, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

In Dec. of 2018 she was jailed for an alleged Kansas Department of Corrections parole violation.

She has convictions for theft;obtaining or exerting unauthorized control over property; more than $1,500 less than $25,000, Escape from Custody and Electronic Monitor Equip: Intent remove/disable, according to the KDOC.&nbsp; She had been out of prison since Sept. of 2020.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706536794785.png" alt="Bailey-photo Atchison Co." />
 <figcaption>Bailey-photo Atchison Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas felon on new allegations.On Saturday, police arrested 23-year-old Cheyanne H. Bailey of Rushville Mo, on requested charges of domestic battery, criminal trespass, and criminal damage to property in the 1900 block Harper Drive, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.In Dec. of 2018 she was jailed for an alleged Kansas Department of Corrections parole violation.She has convictions for theft;obtaining or exerting unauthorized control over property; more than $1,500 less than $25,000, Escape from Custody and Electronic Monitor Equip: Intent remove/disable, according to the KDOC.&nbsp; She had been out of prison since Sept. of 2020.

Kansas felon accused of violent domestic incident

By JASON HANCOCK,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/20/state-senator-throws-first-punches-of-2024-missouri-governors-campaign/">Missouri Independent</a>

The U.S. Supreme Court will&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_calendars/MonthlyArgumentCalMarch2024.pdf">hear oral arguments on March 18</a>&nbsp;in Missouri’s lawsuit alleging the federal government colluded with social media companies like Twitter and Facebook&nbsp;to suppress the freedom of speech.

The lawsuit was filed in 2022 by attorneys general in Missouri and Louisiana.

Last summer, U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty ruled that officials under both Democratic President Joe Biden and Republican President Donald Trump&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/judge-limits-biden-administration-contact-with-social-media-platforms-in-censorship-case/">coerced social media companies to censor content</a>&nbsp;over concerns it would fuel vaccine hesitancy during the COVID-19 pandemic or upend elections.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans prohibited the White House, the Surgeon General’s Office, the F.B.I., and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from having practically any contact with the social media companies. It found that the Biden administration&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/court-reduces-restrictions-on-biden-administration-contact-with-social-media-platforms/">most likely overstepped the First Amendment</a>&nbsp;by urging the major social media platforms to remove misleading or false content.

The Supreme Court placed a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/u-s-supreme-court-temporarily-blocks-order-in-missouri-social-media-lawsuit/">temporary stay on the order in October until it decides the case</a>.&nbsp;Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch dissented.

Biden administration attorneys have argued federal officials don’t have the authority to order content removed from social media platforms, accusing GOP attorneys general of misrepresenting communications with companies about public health disinformation and election conspiracies.

The government has a right to express views in order to persuade others to take action, Biden administration attorneys argued in case filings.

“A central dimension of presidential power,” the administration argues, “is the use of the office’s bully pulpit to seek to persuade Americans — and American companies — to act in ways that the president believes would advance the public interest.”

But the bully pulpit, Missouri and Louisiana attorneys general wrote, “is not a pulpit to bully.”

By JASON HANCOCK,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/20/state-senator-throws-first-punches-of-2024-missouri-governors-campaign/">Missouri Independent</a>The U.S. Supreme Court will&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_calendars/MonthlyArgumentCalMarch2024.pdf">hear oral arguments on March 18</a>&nbsp;in Missouri’s lawsuit alleging the federal government colluded with social media companies like Twitter and Facebook&nbsp;to suppress the freedom of speech.The lawsuit was filed in 2022 by attorneys general in Missouri and Louisiana.Last summer, U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty ruled that officials under both Democratic President Joe Biden and Republican President Donald Trump&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/judge-limits-biden-administration-contact-with-social-media-platforms-in-censorship-case/">coerced social media companies to censor content</a>&nbsp;over concerns it would fuel vaccine hesitancy during the COVID-19 pandemic or upend elections.The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans prohibited the White House, the Surgeon General’s Office, the F.B.I., and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from having practically any contact with the social media companies. It found that the Biden administration&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/court-reduces-restrictions-on-biden-administration-contact-with-social-media-platforms/">most likely overstepped the First Amendment</a>&nbsp;by urging the major social media platforms to remove misleading or false content.The Supreme Court placed a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/u-s-supreme-court-temporarily-blocks-order-in-missouri-social-media-lawsuit/">temporary stay on the order in October until it decides the case</a>.&nbsp;Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch dissented.Biden administration attorneys have argued federal officials don’t have the authority to order content removed from social media platforms, accusing GOP attorneys general of misrepresenting communications with companies about public health disinformation and election conspiracies.The government has a right to express views in order to persuade others to take action, Biden administration attorneys argued in case filings.“A central dimension of presidential power,” the administration argues, “is the use of the office’s bully pulpit to seek to persuade Americans — and American companies — to act in ways that the president believes would advance the public interest.”But the bully pulpit, Missouri and Louisiana attorneys general wrote, “is not a pulpit to bully.”

Missouri social media lawsuit will be heard by U.S. Supreme Court on March 18

An ongoing battle in Washington DC for a new Farm Bill is a key concern for growers ahead of the upcoming corn planting season. &nbsp;

Missouri Corn CEO Bradley Schad says hard work is being done to make sure a new farm bill can be passed this year. &nbsp;

"Most likely, if anything passes, it will be in lame duck session, we want to get it done before then and we're going to do everything we can to get it done before then, "Schad tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. "But the challenges that we're facing that we see, the dysfunction that we see in DC, has been difficult."&nbsp;

Schad says, though, members of Missouri’s Congressional delegation, including Mark Alford and Sam Graves, continue fighting to help get a new Farm Bill passed this year.&nbsp;

Schad says unfortunately due to dysfunction in Washington DC they were unable to get a new farm bill passed last year. &nbsp;

"We got an extension which is a good thing in 2023, and we need to get a new Farm Bill passed so we're working on that," Schad explains&nbsp;

Schad says there are many updates they want to see in a new farm bill, but one thing that should not be changed is crop insurance&nbsp;

"We'd have to make sure that no changes happen there, our farmers are very happy where they're at," Schad points out. &nbsp;

Schad says of the many updates that the organization hopes to see in the farm bill, including an increase in trade funding which helps farmers sell to foreign countries&nbsp;

"We just haven't seen an increase, and as you know inflation is high right now and has been for the last couple years, and if we're going to stay up to speed and make sure that our farmers are going to be at those tables across the world that we can continue trading, we have to have the dollars to be able to do that," Schad says. "We haven't seen an increase in many, many years."&nbsp;

Schad says they continue to work with their partners, like the Missouri Soybean Association or Cotton Farmers, to make sure something gets passed this year.&nbsp;

By MATT PIKE&nbsp;St. Joseph Post&nbsp;An ongoing battle in Washington DC for a new Farm Bill is a key concern for growers ahead of the upcoming corn planting season. &nbsp;Missouri Corn CEO Bradley Schad says hard work is being done to make sure a new farm bill can be passed this year. &nbsp;"Most likely, if anything passes, it will be in lame duck session, we want to get it done before then and we're going to do everything we can to get it done before then, "Schad tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. "But the challenges that we're facing that we see, the dysfunction that we see in DC, has been difficult."&nbsp;Schad says, though, members of Missouri’s Congressional delegation, including Mark Alford and Sam Graves, continue fighting to help get a new Farm Bill passed this year.&nbsp;Schad says unfortunately due to dysfunction in Washington DC they were unable to get a new farm bill passed last year. &nbsp;"We got an extension which is a good thing in 2023, and we need to get a new Farm Bill passed so we're working on that," Schad explains&nbsp;Schad says there are many updates they want to see in a new farm bill, but one thing that should not be changed is crop insurance&nbsp;"We'd have to make sure that no changes happen there, our farmers are very happy where they're at," Schad points out. &nbsp;Schad says of the many updates that the organization hopes to see in the farm bill, including an increase in trade funding which helps farmers sell to foreign countries&nbsp;"We just haven't seen an increase, and as you know inflation is high right now and has been for the last couple years, and if we're going to stay up to speed and make sure that our farmers are going to be at those tables across the world that we can continue trading, we have to have the dollars to be able to do that," Schad says. "We haven't seen an increase in many, many years."&nbsp;Schad says they continue to work with their partners, like the Missouri Soybean Association or Cotton Farmers, to make sure something gets passed this year.&nbsp;

As corn growers prepare for spring they hope for a new Farm Bill

ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for continuing to avoid court.

On Saturday, police arrested 38-year-old Lance A. Gasper of Atchison on a District Court warrant for failure to abide by court orders., according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

In July police arrested him on requested charges of aggravated failure to appear.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706537425433.png" alt="Gasper-photo Atchison Co." />
 <figcaption>Gasper-photo Atchison Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for continuing to avoid court.On Saturday, police arrested 38-year-old Lance A. Gasper of Atchison on a District Court warrant for failure to abide by court orders., according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.In July police arrested him on requested charges of aggravated failure to appear.

Kansas man accused of failure to abide by court orders

A trio of tax credits, along with a funding boost for a subsidy program for low-income children, won a mention in Gov. Mike Parson’s annual State of the State address last week

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/annaspoerre/">ANNA SPOERRE</a>&nbsp;AND&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/cbates/">CLARA BATES</a>

In early 2020, Peapod Learning Center in Springfield had a waiting list years out.&nbsp;

The nature and farm preschool earned state recognition as it continued to expand after opening more than a decade earlier.

“It was off the charts wonderful,” said owner and director Carly Walton.&nbsp;

Then the pandemic hit. By June 2020, the farm school was forced to close and enrollment at the nature school dropped to 50% capacity as some parents left the workforce and others struggled to afford care.

Now Walton worries what will happen once COVID-era American Rescue Plan Act Child Care Stabilization funds — “instrumental,” she said, to keeping her doors open during the pandemic — dry up at the end of the year.&nbsp;

She’s not the only one concerned.&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/10/05/critical-infrastructure-missouri-child-care-shortage-called-a-crisis-for-employers/">Missouri is facing a child care crisis</a>, with about 200,000 children living in parts of the state considered<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/04/26/missouri-child-care-deserts-now-include-nearly-half-of-kids-5-and-under/">&nbsp;“child care deserts”</a>&nbsp;where there are one or fewer child care slots for every three children. Even areas not officially deemed deserts often can’t hire enough staff to serve as many kids as their capacity allows.&nbsp;

A bipartisan group of lawmakers, along with Gov. Mike Parson, have once again put this crisis atop their legislative agenda, pushing a package of tax credits they hope will make child care more available and affordable for working families while helping private providers stay afloat.

A package of child care tax credits were on the cusp of passing last year but Senate&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/10/05/critical-infrastructure-missouri-child-care-shortage-called-a-crisis-for-employers/">filibusters stalled and then killed&nbsp;</a>the bill before it could come up for a vote.&nbsp;

The legislation, refiled this year&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB1488&amp;year=2024&amp;code=R">by Republican state Rep. Brenda Shields</a>&nbsp;of St. Joseph and Democratic state Sen.&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/24info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&amp;BillID=816">Lauren Arthur</a>&nbsp;of Kansas City, would offer three types of credits: for taxpayers who donate to support child care centers, for employers who make investments in child care needs for their employees and for child care providers.

Also among the child care priorities Parson highlighted this year is a $51.7 million budget increase to the child care subsidy program for low-income children, on the heels of a $78 million increase last year.&nbsp;

“Today, we have the capacity to serve just 39% of Missouri children in licensed facilities,” Parson said during last week’s State of the State address. “It’s time for change.”

Arthur, like Parson, said child care is an issue that crosses the political divide. She said bipartisan support of the issue has seemingly grown since last year. But she’s wary of obstacles the legislation could again face.

“There’s a real need, but there are people who are ideologically opposed and there are people who use any bills as leverage to further their own interests and their own agenda,” Arthur said. “That’s what we saw last year, and I think it’s possible we will see it again this year.”

Sam Lee, a long-time anti-abortion lobbyist who has pushed for this bill as pro-life legislation, said he’s hopeful the tax credits succeed, but is worried their prospects could be doomed in a divided Senate.&nbsp;

“This is the year no one really knows what’s going to pass and it’s not because of the lack of merits of the legislation,” Lee said. “It’s just because of the consternation in the Senate.”

Child care related funding and legislation last year gained traction primarily as a workforce issue and has garnered wide support from business groups.

<a target="_blank" href="https://chamber-foundation.files.svdcdn.com/production/documents/EarlyEd_MISSOURI_2021_DIGITAL.pdf?dm=1694110497">A</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.uschamberfoundation.org/sites/default/files/EarlyEd_MISSOURI_2021_DIGITAL.pdf">ccessibility, quality and cost-related hurdles</a>&nbsp;to child care, a 2021 U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation study found, force many Missouri parents out of the workforce or cause disruptions to their work, costing the state more than $1.3 billion annually.&nbsp;

Missourians, like many Americans, confront a limited supply of child care that, when available, can rival the cost&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://info.childcareaware.org/hubfs/2021%20Price%20of%20Care%20State%20Sheets/Missouri_Price%20Fact%20Sheet%202021.pdf">of a mortgage or in-state college tuition</a>.&nbsp;An&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/04/26/missouri-child-care-deserts-now-include-nearly-half-of-kids-5-and-under/">investigation</a>&nbsp;of child care spending by The Independent and MuckRock last year found that almost half of Missouri’s children under age five, or about 202,000 children, live in child care deserts, with one or fewer child care openings for every three children.&nbsp;

The average cost of full-time center-based care for an infant in Missouri was&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://info.childcareaware.org/hubfs/2022_CC_Afford_Analysis.pdf">$11,059</a>&nbsp;as of 2022, according to Child Care Aware. On the other side of the equation, staff at child care facilities often make&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://meric.mo.gov/data/occupation/occupational-employment-wages">just over</a>&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/04/26/missouri-child-care-deserts-now-include-nearly-half-of-kids-5-and-under/">minimum wage,</a>&nbsp;which can make hiring and retention difficult.&nbsp;

Running a high-quality facility is often even more expensive than the fees parents can pay, so providers aren’t generally cashing in, but rather operating on thin profit margins.

“Early care and education providers cannot continue to subsidize care,” Nicci Rexroat, owner of A Place to Grow child care centers in mid-Missouri, testified at a state Senate committee hearing last week. “We just can’t afford it.”

“Without substantial and sustainable investments, the quality that the children deserve will continue to decline or become more and more scarce,” Rexroat added.

Lawmakers last year passed a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/07/24/a-78-million-boost-to-missouris-child-care-subsidy-will-reach-providers-next-month/">$78 million boost</a>&nbsp;to child care subsidies to encourage child care providers to offer services to low-income and foster families and another&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/10/05/critical-infrastructure-missouri-child-care-shortage-called-a-crisis-for-employers/">$81 million</a>&nbsp;for state-funded pre-kindergarten targeted at low-income four-year-olds. Both were backed by Parson.

Casey Hanson,&nbsp;director of outreach and engagement at the child advocacy nonprofit Kids Win Missouri, said she sees this session as a chance to build on the momentum from last year.

Hanson called the child care tax credits “an interesting and innovative way we can engage both government, private business and individual and child care providers in a solution.”&nbsp;

The child care policy that so far has taken center stage is the tax credit package, though other proposals have been filed, as well.&nbsp;

The three components of the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://house.mo.gov/bill.aspx?bill=HB1488&amp;year=2024&amp;code=R">legislation</a>&nbsp;include:

<a target="_blank" href="https://documents.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills241/witnesses/HB1488Testimony.pdf">Supporters</a>&nbsp;of the tax credits include various chambers of commerce and business groups, child advocacy groups and children’s health organizations. No one testified against the bill at the&nbsp;Senate&nbsp;committee hearing and just one person did at the House hearing, while dozens testified in support.

Rexroat testified that the credits could give providers the opportunity to raise wages and bring back qualified staff who can’t afford to work in the industry now.

“These tax credits could create a buy-in from other businesses and the community, helping to shift the narrative to what those of us have always known in the industry: that child care is infrastructure,” she said.

Some Republicans have raised concerns about tax credits being inefficient.&nbsp;

At a Senate committee hearing last week, state Sen. Rusty Black, a Republican from Chillicothe, said he wanted to make sure “I’m not creating more red tape, more paperwork.”

The bill includes a provision allowing an intermediary nonprofit organization to help providers with the tax credits, which Arthur said is designed to provide technical expertise to those who don’t have the resources. Black wondered whether that intermediary could add additional hurdles to providers’ participation.

“I’m on the side of child care, but we’ve come up with way too many rules and regulations,” Black said, citing the passage of&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/07/26/licensed-home-daycares-can-exempt-related-kids-from-max-capacity-under-new-missouri-law/">Nathan’s Law</a>, which limited the number of related children that in-home daycares could supervise, for safety reasons.

“Are there gonna be more hidden rules to make it more restrictive?” Black asked, “…Because that scares me.”&nbsp;

Amanda Coleman, vice president of early childhood and family development at the Community Partnership of the Ozarks, said there is a need for hundreds of infant spots in the Springfield area, “an alarming number.”

Coleman has worked with Kids Win Missouri to identify ways businesses can be part of the solution. She said a tax credit would be an immense help. Surveys she’s helped conduct show many parents in the Springfield area have left the workforce or changed jobs to accommodate child care needs. That leaves private child care providers struggling to keep their doors open.

“This is really important because we need adults to come to work, and those parents need to be able to have a safe, high-quality place for their children to go to during the day or while they’re at work,” Coleman said.

Coleman said another area survey found the average cost of full-time care in southwest Missouri is about $14,300 a year for infants and toddlers and $10,400 a year for preschool-age children.

Shields said she spent the summer traveling the state speaking with providers and parents. The stories were the same: parents are paying upwards of $20,000 a year for child care, if they can find it in the first place. Providers are crushed each time they turn down families.

“It breaks their hearts not to be able to provide services to these families that are struggling and who want to go to work,” Shields said.

Shields said she’s hopeful they’ll have success in the House again this year. Her bill&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://house.mo.gov/bill.aspx?bill=HB1488&amp;year=2024&amp;code=R">cleared a committee on Thursday</a>&nbsp;and could be debated by the full House as early as this week.

“I will work the Senate hard to make sure that that happens, but I think we will do it,” she said.&nbsp;

Parson’s proposed $51.7 million increase to the state’s child care subsidy program would increase the rate the state reimburses providers who accept children on the program for low-income children.&nbsp;

Higher state rates&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/05/03/bureaucratic-hurdles-stymie-missouri-families-seeking-help-affording-child-care/">means</a>&nbsp;families, generally, would pay less, and can mean subsidy recipients become competitive with parents paying entirely out-of-pocket.

The subsidy increase, Arthur said, may be even more important than the legislation that accompanies it because of how far behind other states Missouri is.&nbsp;

The federal government recommends states pay providers at the 75th percentile of market rates, but&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.urban.org/research/publication/using-child-care-subsidy-payment-rates-and-practices-incentivize-expansions-supply">few do</a>.&nbsp;A boost last year brought Missouri up to the 58th percentile of what the market rate study found to be the rate of care.

The governor’s proposed increase would bring rates to 100% of the market rate amount for infants and toddlers and the 65th percentile for preschoolers and school-aged children.

Hanson said sustainable, long-term investments are crucial in “making sure those that are taking care of our kids are able to take care of themselves and valuing that it is important work.”&nbsp;

The subsidy rate increase, Shields said, might be a tougher sell than the tax credits, but she’ll continue showing her colleagues how desperate families are for safe, reliable and affordable care.&nbsp;

“The reason the support has grown,” Arthur said. “Is because people have heard from their constituents and businesses in their districts that this has caused major problems.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1701948513473.png" alt="-Missouri lawmakers are again seeking to push through child care tax credit legislation in the hopes of mitigating&nbsp; the state’s child care crisis (Rebecca Rivas/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption>-Missouri lawmakers are again seeking to push through child care tax credit legislation in the hopes of mitigating&nbsp; the state’s child care crisis (Rebecca Rivas/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>A trio of tax credits, along with a funding boost for a subsidy program for low-income children, won a mention in Gov. Mike Parson’s annual State of the State address last week</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/annaspoerre/">ANNA SPOERRE</a>&nbsp;AND&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/cbates/">CLARA BATES</a>In early 2020, Peapod Learning Center in Springfield had a waiting list years out.&nbsp;The nature and farm preschool earned state recognition as it continued to expand after opening more than a decade earlier.“It was off the charts wonderful,” said owner and director Carly Walton.&nbsp;Then the pandemic hit. By June 2020, the farm school was forced to close and enrollment at the nature school dropped to 50% capacity as some parents left the workforce and others struggled to afford care.“It’s never recovered,” she said.Now Walton worries what will happen once COVID-era American Rescue Plan Act Child Care Stabilization funds — “instrumental,” she said, to keeping her doors open during the pandemic — dry up at the end of the year.&nbsp;She’s not the only one concerned.&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/10/05/critical-infrastructure-missouri-child-care-shortage-called-a-crisis-for-employers/">Missouri is facing a child care crisis</a>, with about 200,000 children living in parts of the state considered<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/04/26/missouri-child-care-deserts-now-include-nearly-half-of-kids-5-and-under/">&nbsp;“child care deserts”</a>&nbsp;where there are one or fewer child care slots for every three children. Even areas not officially deemed deserts often can’t hire enough staff to serve as many kids as their capacity allows.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706132917144.png" alt="&nbsp;Missouri Gov. Mike Parson highlighted child care issues in his 2024 State of the State speech - Screen grab from the live video feed from State of the State address" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;Missouri Gov. Mike Parson highlighted child care issues in his 2024 State of the State speech - Screen grab from the live video feed from State of the State address</figcaption>
 </figure>A bipartisan group of lawmakers, along with Gov. Mike Parson, have once again put this crisis atop their legislative agenda, pushing a package of tax credits they hope will make child care more available and affordable for working families while helping private providers stay afloat.A package of child care tax credits were on the cusp of passing last year but Senate&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/10/05/critical-infrastructure-missouri-child-care-shortage-called-a-crisis-for-employers/">filibusters stalled and then killed&nbsp;</a>the bill before it could come up for a vote.&nbsp;The legislation, refiled this year&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB1488&amp;year=2024&amp;code=R">by Republican state Rep. Brenda Shields</a>&nbsp;of St. Joseph and Democratic state Sen.&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/24info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&amp;BillID=816">Lauren Arthur</a>&nbsp;of Kansas City, would offer three types of credits: for taxpayers who donate to support child care centers, for employers who make investments in child care needs for their employees and for child care providers.Also among the child care priorities Parson highlighted this year is a $51.7 million budget increase to the child care subsidy program for low-income children, on the heels of a $78 million increase last year.&nbsp;“Today, we have the capacity to serve just 39% of Missouri children in licensed facilities,” Parson said during last week’s State of the State address. “It’s time for change.”Arthur, like Parson, said child care is an issue that crosses the political divide. She said bipartisan support of the issue has seemingly grown since last year. But she’s wary of obstacles the legislation could again face.“There’s a real need, but there are people who are ideologically opposed and there are people who use any bills as leverage to further their own interests and their own agenda,” Arthur said. “That’s what we saw last year, and I think it’s possible we will see it again this year.”Sam Lee, a long-time anti-abortion lobbyist who has pushed for this bill as pro-life legislation, said he’s hopeful the tax credits succeed, but is worried their prospects could be doomed in a divided Senate.&nbsp;“This is the year no one really knows what’s going to pass and it’s not because of the lack of merits of the legislation,” Lee said. “It’s just because of the consternation in the Senate.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706533181155.png" alt=" Rep. Brenda Shields, seen presenting on her child care tax credit legislation earlier this month (Tim Bommel/Missouri House Communications)." />
 <figcaption> Rep. Brenda Shields, seen presenting on her child care tax credit legislation earlier this month (Tim Bommel/Missouri House Communications).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Building on momentum</h2>Child care related funding and legislation last year gained traction primarily as a workforce issue and has garnered wide support from business groups.<a target="_blank" href="https://chamber-foundation.files.svdcdn.com/production/documents/EarlyEd_MISSOURI_2021_DIGITAL.pdf?dm=1694110497">A</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.uschamberfoundation.org/sites/default/files/EarlyEd_MISSOURI_2021_DIGITAL.pdf">ccessibility, quality and cost-related hurdles</a>&nbsp;to child care, a 2021 U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation study found, force many Missouri parents out of the workforce or cause disruptions to their work, costing the state more than $1.3 billion annually.&nbsp;Missourians, like many Americans, confront a limited supply of child care that, when available, can rival the cost&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://info.childcareaware.org/hubfs/2021%20Price%20of%20Care%20State%20Sheets/Missouri_Price%20Fact%20Sheet%202021.pdf">of a mortgage or in-state college tuition</a>.&nbsp;An&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/04/26/missouri-child-care-deserts-now-include-nearly-half-of-kids-5-and-under/">investigation</a>&nbsp;of child care spending by The Independent and MuckRock last year found that almost half of Missouri’s children under age five, or about 202,000 children, live in child care deserts, with one or fewer child care openings for every three children.&nbsp;The average cost of full-time center-based care for an infant in Missouri was&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://info.childcareaware.org/hubfs/2022_CC_Afford_Analysis.pdf">$11,059</a>&nbsp;as of 2022, according to Child Care Aware. On the other side of the equation, staff at child care facilities often make&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://meric.mo.gov/data/occupation/occupational-employment-wages">just over</a>&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/04/26/missouri-child-care-deserts-now-include-nearly-half-of-kids-5-and-under/">minimum wage,</a>&nbsp;which can make hiring and retention difficult.&nbsp;Running a high-quality facility is often even more expensive than the fees parents can pay, so providers aren’t generally cashing in, but rather operating on thin profit margins.“Early care and education providers cannot continue to subsidize care,” Nicci Rexroat, owner of A Place to Grow child care centers in mid-Missouri, testified at a state Senate committee hearing last week. “We just can’t afford it.”“Without substantial and sustainable investments, the quality that the children deserve will continue to decline or become more and more scarce,” Rexroat added.Lawmakers last year passed a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/07/24/a-78-million-boost-to-missouris-child-care-subsidy-will-reach-providers-next-month/">$78 million boost</a>&nbsp;to child care subsidies to encourage child care providers to offer services to low-income and foster families and another&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/10/05/critical-infrastructure-missouri-child-care-shortage-called-a-crisis-for-employers/">$81 million</a>&nbsp;for state-funded pre-kindergarten targeted at low-income four-year-olds. Both were backed by Parson.Casey Hanson,&nbsp;director of outreach and engagement at the child advocacy nonprofit Kids Win Missouri, said she sees this session as a chance to build on the momentum from last year.Hanson called the child care tax credits “an interesting and innovative way we can engage both government, private business and individual and child care providers in a solution.”&nbsp;<h2>‘Child care is infrastructure’</h2>The child care policy that so far has taken center stage is the tax credit package, though other proposals have been filed, as well.&nbsp;The three components of the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://house.mo.gov/bill.aspx?bill=HB1488&amp;year=2024&amp;code=R">legislation</a>&nbsp;include:<ul>
 <li>The “Child Care Contribution” tax credit, which would allow donors to child care providers to receive a credit equal to 75% of a qualifying donation, up to a $200,000 tax credit. The provider must use the donation to “promote child care” including by improving facilities, staff salaries or training.&nbsp;</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>The “Employer Provided Child Care Assistance,” which would be aimed at creating partnerships between businesses whose employees need child care and providers. It would allow employers to receive tax credits equivalent to 30% of qualifying child care expenditures.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>The “Child Care Providers Tax Credit,” which would allow child care providers to claim a tax credit equal to the provider’s employer withholding tax and up to 30% of a provider’s capital expenditures on costs like expanding or renovating their facilities.&nbsp;</li>
 </ul><a target="_blank" href="https://documents.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills241/witnesses/HB1488Testimony.pdf">Supporters</a>&nbsp;of the tax credits include various chambers of commerce and business groups, child advocacy groups and children’s health organizations. No one testified against the bill at the&nbsp;Senate&nbsp;committee hearing and just one person did at the House hearing, while dozens testified in support.Rexroat testified that the credits could give providers the opportunity to raise wages and bring back qualified staff who can’t afford to work in the industry now.“These tax credits could create a buy-in from other businesses and the community, helping to shift the narrative to what those of us have always known in the industry: that child care is infrastructure,” she said.Some Republicans have raised concerns about tax credits being inefficient.&nbsp;At a Senate committee hearing last week, state Sen. Rusty Black, a Republican from Chillicothe, said he wanted to make sure “I’m not creating more red tape, more paperwork.”The bill includes a provision allowing an intermediary nonprofit organization to help providers with the tax credits, which Arthur said is designed to provide technical expertise to those who don’t have the resources. Black wondered whether that intermediary could add additional hurdles to providers’ participation.“I’m on the side of child care, but we’ve come up with way too many rules and regulations,” Black said, citing the passage of&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/07/26/licensed-home-daycares-can-exempt-related-kids-from-max-capacity-under-new-missouri-law/">Nathan’s Law</a>, which limited the number of related children that in-home daycares could supervise, for safety reasons.“Are there gonna be more hidden rules to make it more restrictive?” Black asked, “…Because that scares me.”&nbsp;Amanda Coleman, vice president of early childhood and family development at the Community Partnership of the Ozarks, said there is a need for hundreds of infant spots in the Springfield area, “an alarming number.”Coleman has worked with Kids Win Missouri to identify ways businesses can be part of the solution. She said a tax credit would be an immense help. Surveys she’s helped conduct show many parents in the Springfield area have left the workforce or changed jobs to accommodate child care needs. That leaves private child care providers struggling to keep their doors open.“This is really important because we need adults to come to work, and those parents need to be able to have a safe, high-quality place for their children to go to during the day or while they’re at work,” Coleman said.Coleman said another area survey found the average cost of full-time care in southwest Missouri is about $14,300 a year for infants and toddlers and $10,400 a year for preschool-age children.Shields said she spent the summer traveling the state speaking with providers and parents. The stories were the same: parents are paying upwards of $20,000 a year for child care, if they can find it in the first place. Providers are crushed each time they turn down families.“It breaks their hearts not to be able to provide services to these families that are struggling and who want to go to work,” Shields said.Shields said she’s hopeful they’ll have success in the House again this year. Her bill&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://house.mo.gov/bill.aspx?bill=HB1488&amp;year=2024&amp;code=R">cleared a committee on Thursday</a>&nbsp;and could be debated by the full House as early as this week.“I will work the Senate hard to make sure that that happens, but I think we will do it,” she said.&nbsp;<h2>Subsidy rate increase</h2>Parson’s proposed $51.7 million increase to the state’s child care subsidy program would increase the rate the state reimburses providers who accept children on the program for low-income children.&nbsp;Higher state rates&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/05/03/bureaucratic-hurdles-stymie-missouri-families-seeking-help-affording-child-care/">means</a>&nbsp;families, generally, would pay less, and can mean subsidy recipients become competitive with parents paying entirely out-of-pocket.The subsidy increase, Arthur said, may be even more important than the legislation that accompanies it because of how far behind other states Missouri is.&nbsp;The federal government recommends states pay providers at the 75th percentile of market rates, but&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.urban.org/research/publication/using-child-care-subsidy-payment-rates-and-practices-incentivize-expansions-supply">few do</a>.&nbsp;A boost last year brought Missouri up to the 58th percentile of what the market rate study found to be the rate of care.The governor’s proposed increase would bring rates to 100% of the market rate amount for infants and toddlers and the 65th percentile for preschoolers and school-aged children.Hanson said sustainable, long-term investments are crucial in “making sure those that are taking care of our kids are able to take care of themselves and valuing that it is important work.”&nbsp;The subsidy rate increase, Shields said, might be a tougher sell than the tax credits, but she’ll continue showing her colleagues how desperate families are for safe, reliable and affordable care.&nbsp;“The reason the support has grown,” Arthur said. “Is because people have heard from their constituents and businesses in their districts that this has caused major problems.”

Missouri child care crisis a top priority for governor, bipartisan group of lawmakers

BROWN COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 4:30p.m. Sunday in Brown County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2019 Volkswagen Jetta driven by Zachary R. Thornton, 30, Kansas City, Missouri, was eastbound on 170th Street.&nbsp;

The driver failed to stop at the stop sign at U.S. 73 and continued eastbound. The driver lost control and vehicle traveled into the north ditch, jumped the creek, landed on the front end and struck a tree.

EMS transported Thornton to Amberwell Hiawatha Hospital. The KHP did not have seat belt usage information.

BROWN COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 4:30p.m. Sunday in Brown County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2019 Volkswagen Jetta driven by Zachary R. Thornton, 30, Kansas City, Missouri, was eastbound on 170th Street.&nbsp;The driver failed to stop at the stop sign at U.S. 73 and continued eastbound. The driver lost control and vehicle traveled into the north ditch, jumped the creek, landed on the front end and struck a tree.EMS transported Thornton to Amberwell Hiawatha Hospital. The KHP did not have seat belt usage information.

Mo. man hospitalized after car jumps creek, strikes tree

The campaign has the support of the major abortion advocacy groups in Missouri, but it’s also drawn criticism from activists over its fetal viability standard

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/annaspoerre/">ANNA SPOERRE</a>&nbsp;

A campaign to legalize abortion in Missouri disclosed raising more than $1.1 million in donations on the first day it launched.

The campaign, a coalition organized under a political action committee called&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://moconstitutionalfreedom.org/">Missourians for Constitutional Freedom</a>, announced Thursday it was launching a campaign to move forward with a ballot initiative that would legalize abortion up until the point of fetal viability.&nbsp;

With the exception of medical emergencies, all abortions are illegal in Missouri.

The campaign has the support of Abortion Action Missouri, the ACLU of Missouri and Planned Parenthood affiliates in Kansas City and St. Louis.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705526567510.png" alt="FILE - People rally in support of abortion rights, July 2, 2022, in Kansas City, Mo. A divide between abortion rights activists over whether to include restrictions related to the viability of the fetus on planned state ballot measures is roiling the movement. The conflict has been especially divisive in Missouri, where conflicting strategies are complicating efforts to push ahead with a ballot measure in a state with one of the nation's strictest abortion bans. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)" />
 <figcaption>FILE - People rally in support of abortion rights, July 2, 2022, in Kansas City, Mo. A divide between abortion rights activists over whether to include restrictions related to the viability of the fetus on planned state ballot measures is roiling the movement. The conflict has been especially divisive in Missouri, where conflicting strategies are complicating efforts to push ahead with a ballot measure in a state with one of the nation's strictest abortion bans. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>The campaign has the support of the major abortion advocacy groups in Missouri, but it’s also drawn criticism from activists over its fetal viability standard</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/annaspoerre/">ANNA SPOERRE</a>&nbsp;A campaign to legalize abortion in Missouri disclosed raising more than $1.1 million in donations on the first day it launched.The campaign, a coalition organized under a political action committee called&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://moconstitutionalfreedom.org/">Missourians for Constitutional Freedom</a>, announced Thursday it was launching a campaign to move forward with a ballot initiative that would legalize abortion up until the point of fetal viability.&nbsp;With the exception of medical emergencies, all abortions are illegal in Missouri.The campaign has the support of Abortion Action Missouri, the ACLU of Missouri and Planned Parenthood affiliates in Kansas City and St. Louis.Among the largest contributions include $100,000 from Abortion Action Missouri, $100,000 from the ACLU of Missouri, $75,000 from Planned Parenthood Great Plains and $30,000 from Access Missouri, according to reports filed to the Missouri Ethics Commission.&nbsp;But the largest donation so far was a $500,000 check from the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://thefairnessproject.org/ballot-measure-campaigns/#az">Fairness Project</a>, a 501c4 nonprofit that does not have to disclose its donors. The organization helps bankroll ballot measures across the country, including&nbsp; Missouri’s successful 2020 Medicaid expansion initiative petition.After months of internal debate, abortion-rights organizations settled on a proposed constitutional amendment to allow the legislature to&nbsp;“regulate the provision of abortion after fetal viability provided that under no circumstance shall the government deny, interfere with, delay or otherwise restrict an abortion that in the good faith judgment of a treating health care professional is needed to protect the life or physical or mental health of the pregnant person.”While many say they see a clear path to victory for the amendment if it makes it to the ballot, the coalition still faces a tight timeline. The group estimates it will&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://secure.actblue.com/donate/missourians-for-constitutional-freedom-1?express_lane=true&amp;refcode=web-donate&amp;amount=25">need to raise $5 million</a>&nbsp;to successfully gather the more than 171,000 signatures needed by May 5 in order to appear on the statewide ballot.“We are so proud to have launched this campaign with such a broad coalition and are excited to continue engaging Missourians in every corner of the state to come together and end Missouri’s abortion ban,” Mallory Schwarz, executive director of Abortion Action Missouri, said in a statement Thursday on behalf of the coalition.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&amp;rct=j&amp;q=&amp;esrc=s&amp;source=web&amp;cd=&amp;cad=rja&amp;uact=8&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiZ6_HmquiDAxXflGoFHZvqDLIQFnoECBMQAQ&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mowomenandfamilyresearchfund.com%2F&amp;usg=AOvVaw28p_J0It88uqHwLvob-iLU&amp;opi=89978449">A competing ballot campaign</a>&nbsp;launched in November, led by longtime GOP Congressional staffer Jamie Corley, would enshrine abortion rights in the constitution up to 12 weeks of pregnancy and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/11/27/missouri-rape-hotline-reporting-requirement-in-abortion-rights-petition-draws-criticism/">allow exceptions for rape and incest.</a>Corley on Thursday declined to give an update on her campaign status, but said having two initiatives on the ballot would be “less than ideal in terms of moving forward.”“We all agree that the current abortion ban is too extreme and needs to change,” Corley said. “And we’ll keep assessing day by day what our role is in changing the abortion ban and making sure we restore access.”<h2>Anti-abortion advocates lead new opposition campaign</h2>The campaign to enshrine abortion rights up to fetal viability has been endorsed by numerous high-profile Democrats, including state Rep. Crystal Quade, who is running as a Democrat for governor on a platform that includes restoring abortion access.“Since Missouri became the first state to enact a total abortion ban, women and families have suffered, doctors have fled the state, and our rights have been stripped away,”&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/crystal_quade/status/1747991284998902249?s=20">Quade wrote&nbsp;social media</a>. “Sign the petition, gather signatures, and let’s return reproductive freedom to Missouri.”While the major abortion advocacy organizations are lining up behind the measure, anti-abortion activists have launched their own campaign in opposition.A political action committee, whose president is veteran anti-abortion activist Sam Lee, was formed last week to “push back against the Big Abortion Industry,” according to a news release. As of Thursday evening, the group had received a donation of just over $5,000, from the Missouri Catholic Conference and two $10,000 donations from the Missouri Senate Campaign Committee and the House Republican Campaign Committee.The group, called&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://mostandswithwomen.org/">Missouri Stands with Women</a>, aims to fight any initiative petitions seeking to put abortion rights on the ballot, including the viability ban.“When it really comes down to it, this measure is actually going to allow unregulated tax-payer funded abortions up to the moment of birth,” said Stephanie Bell,&nbsp;a spokeswoman for the committee. “Essentially what it’s saying is that as long as the individual has a health care professional that says the abortion is needed not only for the life of the mother, but for physical and mental health, that abortion will be available up until the moment of birth.”“Our coalition is united and aligned, and we didn’t just come together yesterday,” Bell said. “We are prepared to educate voters and let them know what’s really in the initiative.”<h2>Popularity of viability language in ballot initiatives</h2>Erika Christensen, with Patient Forward, a group that advocates for abortion care later in pregnancy, said Thursday’s announcement to include a viability limit wasn’t surprising, considering many states have taken similar approaches since Roe was overturned, including&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://19thnews.org/2023/12/abortion-states-election-2024-ballot-measures/">Arizona, Florida, Nebraska and Nevada</a>. Last fall, Ohioans voted to legalize abortion up to the point of viability.&nbsp;“It will be better at getting people abortions,”&nbsp;Christensen&nbsp;said of the ballot measure. “It will hurt getting the government out of pregnancy.”Viability can be difficult to define, she said, though it’s usually determined to be between 20 and 25 weeks gestation.&nbsp;The Missouri petition defines fetal viability as the point in pregnancy when “there is a significant likelihood of the fetus’s sustained survival outside the uterus without the application of extraordinary medical measures.”&nbsp;Christensen&nbsp;said while arguments are often made that a middle ground is needed to restore abortion access in states dominated by Republicans, those states are also where abortion advocates need to demand greater access.“There’s still a lot of later abortion stigma in the reproductive-rights field,”&nbsp;Christensen&nbsp;said. “There are just different goals within the reproductive rights field, and I think we’re seeing that now finally play out after many years of arguments behind doors.”Viability language has been criticized by some organizations, including members of the Missouri coalition like&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/planned-parenthood-of-the-st-louis-region-and-southwest-missouri/interested-parties-memos/ipm_022723">Planned Parenthood.</a>&nbsp;The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.acog.org/advocacy/facts-are-important/understanding-and-navigating-viability">American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists</a>&nbsp;has dissuaded the use of viability limits in legislation, as there is no single clinical definition of viability.&nbsp;Less than a year ago, Advocates of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region &amp; Southwest Missouri published a letter&nbsp;titled “<a target="_blank" href="https://www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/planned-parenthood-of-the-st-louis-region-and-southwest-missouri/interested-parties-memos/ipm_022723">abortion restrictions under the guise of protections</a>” that reads “viability standard tried and failed to balance state and personal interests, and it did not work.”On Thursday, the same organization announced its support of the ballot initiative.<h2>Veteran pro-abortion advocates want to eliminate bans</h2>While the state’s major abortion-rights organizations support the initiative petition launched Thursday, criticism of the viability standard remains among veterans of Missouri’s reproductive health care movement.Bonyen Lee-Gilmore, a spokesperson with the National Institute for Reproductive Health who previously worked for Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri, said attempts to amend state constitutions are near-permanent, and should be treated with a higher standard.“We as a movement have been talking the talk for decades, and now it’s time to walk the walk,” she said. “We can’t both say Roe is the floor only to permanently reinstate the floor.”&nbsp;The coalition initially filed 11 different initiative petitions. Some versions sought to make abortion legal up to 24 weeks of pregnancy and one would have removed all gestational limits on abortion.&nbsp;Schwarz, with Abortion Action Missouri, previously told The Independent that the coalition believes viability language meets most Missourians where they are.&nbsp;“Many members of our coalition are out talking about abortion with Missourians every day, and we know that Missourians often have complex or nuanced positions on abortion, but there is one thing that they are aligned in, and it’s that they want to end the abortion ban,” Schwarz said. “That they do not support the abortion ban we are living under today, and we are confident this is our best path forward.”Some see the language as a compromise not all abortion advocates are willing to make.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@mothstories/video/7239751453273820458">Robin Utz,&nbsp;</a>who had an abortion in Missouri at 21 weeks when her unborn daughter was diagnosed with a fatal fetal condition, had&nbsp; hoped the coalition would choose a version without viability limits.&nbsp;“Why we continue to let these people interfere with our healthcare is beyond me,” Utz said. “They‘ve shown us who they are, they act in bad faith, and I am a real-world consequence that is not theoretical or hypothetical.”She added: “They are lacking imagination and courage to do the right thing.”&nbsp;Pamela Merritt, who, like Utz, previously sat at the coalition table when abortion-rights groups were grappling with how to roll back abortion restrictions in Missouri,&nbsp;has long said she won’t support a petition that includes a fetal viability limit.&nbsp;“I look forward to hearing the coalition articulate their strategy,” said&nbsp;Merritt, the executive director of Medical Students for Choice.&nbsp;“Not just through November of 2024, but for the next several years.”

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