The abortion law took effect July 1 and has joined other efforts to limit abortion in Kansas in ongoing court battles about how far state lawmakers can regulate the procedure.

What’s the harm in asking? Abortion rights supporters say quite a bit. Republicans in the state Legislature are trying to gather more data about the practice.&nbsp;

Starting July 1, any medical professional performing an abortion is required by Kansas statute to ask patients their reasons for getting it.

<a href="https://kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/hb2749_enrolled.pdf">The law</a>&nbsp;passed the Kansas Legislature this spring, and lawmakers overrode Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto. It’s already entangled in court fights, and the state agency that regulates medical care doesn’t plan immediate enforcement.

The Republicans who engineered the bill argued that a questionnaire — asking whether the pregnancy resulted from rape or incest, if it threatens a patient’s health, if the parents don’t feel supported by family or if the baby would interfere with someone’s life goals — could give a better understanding of what leads to abortions.&nbsp;

Opponents see the questions as intrusive and intimidating to women at particularly vulnerable times.

“There is no valid medical reason to force a woman to disclose to the Legislature if they have been a victim of abuse, rape, or incest,” Kelly said in her veto statement. “There is also no valid reason to force a woman to disclose to the Legislature why she is seeking an abortion.”&nbsp;

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/2024-07-05/kansas-supreme-court-reaffirms-that-abortion-rights-are-protected-by-constitution-striking-down-2-laws">Kansas News Service reported</a>&nbsp;that the Kansas Department of Health and Environment told providers it will not enforce the law. The agency didn’t confirm those statements when asked by reporters.&nbsp;

Here is what else you need to know about the law.&nbsp;

Do patients have to tell doctors why they are seeking an abortion in Kansas?

Women seeking an abortion don’t need to respond to the questions.&nbsp;

Republicans say that should address Democrats’ concerns, but Rep. Susan Ruiz, a Shawnee Democrat, said it’s “outrageous” that patients are asked.&nbsp;

Republicans say more information on abortion is helpful&nbsp;

The law passed through the Statehouse on party lines. Republicans said it would provide valuable information the state Legislature could use.&nbsp;

Rep. Brenda Landwehr, a Wichita Republican, quoted an excerpt from a September 2005 report from the research group the Guttmacher Institute, which backs abortion rights, to support the bill.&nbsp;

“Understanding women’s reasons for having abortions can inform public debate and policy,” Landwher said during an April debate. “This does not restrict women from having their abortion.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Legislature overrode Kelly’s veto without any votes to spare in the House or Senate. Republicans have a veto-proof majority in the Statehouse.&nbsp;

Democrats say asking patients why they seek abortions is invasive

Democrats blasted the bill as government overreach and an attack on abortion access.&nbsp;

Ruiz said during an April debate that the Legislature wouldn’t use the results of the questionnaires in good faith.&nbsp;

“We are not known to pass legislation that actually really does benefit women,” she said. “We are not known for that.”&nbsp;

The Kansas abortion law can be included in a lawsuit. Will it get struck down?&nbsp;

Doctors are challenging the new law, saying it’s intrusive and unconstitutional.&nbsp;

In August 2022, voters rejected a constitutional amendment that would have opened the way for the Legislature to ban abortion. But lawmakers can still regulate it. Attempts by the Legislature to impose strict regulations that threatened the ability to perform abortions in Kansas have been regularly rejected by the courts for going too far.&nbsp;

The new law doesn’t add new health or safety standards during the procedure. Rather, it adds things providers must do. Courts will ultimately decide if lawmakers imposed something that’s overly burdensome.&nbsp;

The Kansas Supreme Court recently struck down two abortion laws that were over a decade old. One ruling threw out a&nbsp;<a href="https://kslegislature.org/li_2016/b2015_16/measures/documents/summary_sb_95_2015.pdf">law banning a type of abortion procedure</a>. The second ruling said a&nbsp;<a href="https://kslegislature.org/li_2012/b2011_12/measures/documents/summary_sb_36_2011.pdf">set of requirements for abortion providers</a>&nbsp;was unconstitutional because other providers weren’t subject to those same regulations.&nbsp;

Those decade-old laws were never enforced because courts set them aside while the legal issues played out.

<h2>The abortion law took effect July 1 and has joined other efforts to limit abortion in Kansas in ongoing court battles about how far state lawmakers can regulate the procedure.</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720628368995.png" alt="The Legislature passed a law requiring clinics to ask patients why they're seeking abortions. Credit: Niko Schmidt / The Beacon" />
 <figcaption>The Legislature passed a law requiring clinics to ask patients why they're seeking abortions. Credit: Niko Schmidt / The Beacon</figcaption>
 </figure>TAKEAWAYS<ul>
 <li>Republicans say asking patients why they want an abortion provides useful information that can inform future state laws.</li><li>Democrats say the law is intrusive and unnecessary.&nbsp;</li><li>Medical providers have to ask the question, but patients don’t have to answer it.</li>
 </ul>What’s the harm in asking? Abortion rights supporters say quite a bit. Republicans in the state Legislature are trying to gather more data about the practice.&nbsp;Starting July 1, any medical professional performing an abortion is required by Kansas statute to ask patients their reasons for getting it.<a href="https://kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/hb2749_enrolled.pdf">The law</a>&nbsp;passed the Kansas Legislature this spring, and lawmakers overrode Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto. It’s already entangled in court fights, and the state agency that regulates medical care doesn’t plan immediate enforcement.The Republicans who engineered the bill argued that a questionnaire — asking whether the pregnancy resulted from rape or incest, if it threatens a patient’s health, if the parents don’t feel supported by family or if the baby would interfere with someone’s life goals — could give a better understanding of what leads to abortions.&nbsp;Opponents see the questions as intrusive and intimidating to women at particularly vulnerable times.“There is no valid medical reason to force a woman to disclose to the Legislature if they have been a victim of abuse, rape, or incest,” Kelly said in her veto statement. “There is also no valid reason to force a woman to disclose to the Legislature why she is seeking an abortion.”&nbsp;The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/2024-07-05/kansas-supreme-court-reaffirms-that-abortion-rights-are-protected-by-constitution-striking-down-2-laws">Kansas News Service reported</a>&nbsp;that the Kansas Department of Health and Environment told providers it will not enforce the law. The agency didn’t confirm those statements when asked by reporters.&nbsp;Here is what else you need to know about the law.&nbsp;<h2>Do patients have to tell doctors why they are seeking an abortion in Kansas?</h2>Women seeking an abortion don’t need to respond to the questions.&nbsp;Republicans say that should address Democrats’ concerns, but Rep. Susan Ruiz, a Shawnee Democrat, said it’s “outrageous” that patients are asked.&nbsp;<h2>Republicans say more information on abortion is helpful&nbsp;</h2>The law passed through the Statehouse on party lines. Republicans said it would provide valuable information the state Legislature could use.&nbsp;Rep. Brenda Landwehr, a Wichita Republican, quoted an excerpt from a September 2005 report from the research group the Guttmacher Institute, which backs abortion rights, to support the bill.&nbsp;“Understanding women’s reasons for having abortions can inform public debate and policy,” Landwher said during an April debate. “This does not restrict women from having their abortion.”&nbsp;&nbsp;The Legislature overrode Kelly’s veto without any votes to spare in the House or Senate. Republicans have a veto-proof majority in the Statehouse.&nbsp;<h2>Democrats say asking patients why they seek abortions is invasive</h2>Democrats blasted the bill as government overreach and an attack on abortion access.&nbsp;Ruiz said during an April debate that the Legislature wouldn’t use the results of the questionnaires in good faith.&nbsp;“We are not known to pass legislation that actually really does benefit women,” she said. “We are not known for that.”&nbsp;<h2>The Kansas abortion law can be included in a lawsuit. Will it get struck down?&nbsp;</h2>Doctors are challenging the new law, saying it’s intrusive and unconstitutional.&nbsp;In August 2022, voters rejected a constitutional amendment that would have opened the way for the Legislature to ban abortion. But lawmakers can still regulate it. Attempts by the Legislature to impose strict regulations that threatened the ability to perform abortions in Kansas have been regularly rejected by the courts for going too far.&nbsp;The new law doesn’t add new health or safety standards during the procedure. Rather, it adds things providers must do. Courts will ultimately decide if lawmakers imposed something that’s overly burdensome.&nbsp;The Kansas Supreme Court recently struck down two abortion laws that were over a decade old. One ruling threw out a&nbsp;<a href="https://kslegislature.org/li_2016/b2015_16/measures/documents/summary_sb_95_2015.pdf">law banning a type of abortion procedure</a>. The second ruling said a&nbsp;<a href="https://kslegislature.org/li_2012/b2011_12/measures/documents/summary_sb_36_2011.pdf">set of requirements for abortion providers</a>&nbsp;was unconstitutional because other providers weren’t subject to those same regulations.&nbsp;Those decade-old laws were never enforced because courts set them aside while the legal issues played out.

Newest abortion law in Kansas requires putting questions to patients. Here’s what that means

The lieutenant governor is next in line to be governor, breaks ties in the Missouri Senate and sits on various boards

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

When Eric Greitens was forced to resign from the Missouri governor’s office in 2018, he was replaced by Lt. Gov. Mike Parson.

Two years later, Parson won a full term of his own.&nbsp;

Being next in line for governor is the major constitutional requirement for the lieutenant governor. In Missouri, unlike many other states, the lieutenant governor doesn’t run on a ticket with the governor.&nbsp;

Five Republicans hope to win their party’s nomination for lieutenant governor on Aug. 6, vying for a job that involves sitting on&nbsp;<a href="https://ltgov.mo.gov/boards-commissions/" target="_blank">various boards</a>&nbsp;and breaking ties in the Missouri Senate.

Despite its limited constitutional authority,&nbsp;millions are being spent to capture the GOP nod heading into the fall, where the winner will take on one of two Democrats — state Rep. Richard Brown of Kansas City or Anastasia Syes of St. Louis&nbsp; — and Libertarian Ken Iverson of Lake St. Louis.

Rehder, of Scott City, served eight years in the Missouri House of Representatives before being elected to the Senate in 2020.

The work she’s most proud of in the legislature, she said in an interview, was helping pass policies to “help people out of poverty, help them become self-reliant and and help with the mental health struggles we see,” pointing to veteran suicides and the opioid epidemic.

“I’ve lived paycheck to paycheck,” she said. “I grew up on the system and got myself out, turning into a business owner, starting from the ground up, not because anyone handed me anything but because it was because I worked for it and took the risk.”

Rehder, who married at 15 and had a daughter at 16, sponsored legislation this year&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/legislation-enacting-total-ban-on-child-marriage-in-missouri-dies-in-the-house/">to ban child marriage</a>, which narrowly failed.&nbsp;

She also sponsored legislation last year to&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-governor-signs-ban-on-gender-affirming-care-restrictions-for-trans-athletes/">prohibit transgender athletes</a>&nbsp;from competing in sports that align with their gender identity, which was signed into law.

Before politics, Rehder worked in the cable television industry and co-founded a cable contracting company.&nbsp;She is a graduate of Southeast Missouri State University.

She said she decided to run for lieutenant governor to make a larger impact on people’s lives than she can as a senator, with the opportunity to “delve into some policy issues and really fight to help people.” Areas she is particularly interested in focusing attention toward include the foster care system and veterans’ mental health.

Rehder&nbsp;has&nbsp;$302,928 cash on hand&nbsp;in her&nbsp;<a href="https://mec.mo.gov/MEC/Campaign_Finance/CommInfo.aspx?MECID=C111145" target="_blank">campaign fund</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;$264,596&nbsp;in&nbsp;<a href="https://mec.mo.gov/MEC/Campaign_Finance/CommInfo.aspx?MECID=C211685" target="_blank">Southern Drawl PAC</a>, her joint fundraising committee, as of April 15 filings. Her campaign fund had spent $190,055 and the PAC had spent $40,508 on the campaign, as of April 15.

Wasinger is an attorney at a St. Louis law firm he owns and manages, and a certified public accountant.

He ran for auditor in 2018 and lost in the GOP primary.

Wasinger grew up in Hannibal and attended the University of Missouri and then Vanderbilt Law School, before moving to St. Louis. He has worked at the law firm for over 20 years, specializing in business litigation.

After the 2008 financial crisis, Wasinger “took on Wall Street banks,” he said,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-courts-wallstreet/small-firm-lawyer-takes-on-wall-street-and-wins-twice-idUSBREA1F0M120140217/" target="_blank">representing whistleblowers</a>&nbsp;in financial fraud cases against Countrywide Home Loans and JP Morgan Chase. The whistleblowers were key witnesses in the federal government’s case against the banks, helping federal prosecutors recover billions of dollars.&nbsp;

Wasinger said the position of lieutenant governor “serves as a great bully pulpit to expose this corruption and these insider deals taking place in Jefferson City.”&nbsp;

As of April 15&nbsp;<a href="https://mec.mo.gov/MEC/Campaign_Finance/CommInfo.aspx?MECID=C242714" target="_blank">filings</a>, Wasinger’s campaign had $222,554 cash on hand and had spent&nbsp;$17,759. Since then, he has donated&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mec.mo.gov/CampaignFinanceReports/Generator.aspx?Keys=UQggPoJftVkEEf1ZNi5D6RYZJXNG2vDba4ENMvWHEVCvOWH17nTkRAj158jgMKdNeOyoKXtQSV%2fNHBQgEqUF0LAzRPhHahiB" target="_blank">$1.5 million</a>&nbsp;of his own money to the campaign.&nbsp;

Hough, of Springfield, first won election to the Missouri House in 2010 and won a seat on the Greene County Commission in 2016. Two years later, he was elected to the Senate and was re-elected last year.

Hough is a “first-generation cattleman” who started his cattle ranch when he was in seventh grade. He graduated from Missouri State University.

“The most important thing I would want people to know about me is that I’m a self made person,” he said. “And I don’t come from a political family. I don’t come from money.”&nbsp;

Hough has served as chairman of the powerful Senate appropriations committee since last year, giving him huge influence over the state budget.&nbsp;

He said he’s proudest of his work in the legislature&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/09/29/legislature-sends-764-million-income-tax-cut-to-missouri-governor/">cutting the income tax</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/04/19/missouri-senate-committee-triples-funding-for-widening-i-70-across-the-state/">investing in Interstate 70</a>&nbsp;and providing state funds to support the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-house-sends-bill-funding-border-deployment-to-the-senate/">National Guard when it was dispatched to the US-Mexico border</a>&nbsp;by the governor.&nbsp; He also said that in his time as chairman “we have completely&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/02/23/missouri-senate-passes-4-6b-spending-bill-with-pay-raises-federal-school-funds/">defunded Planned Parenthood,”&nbsp;</a>by preventing it from receiving Medicaid reimbursements.

&nbsp;“I’ve got a good track record of actually getting things done in Jefferson City,” he said, “and not just not just doing the kind of the political talking points that people like to do.”&nbsp;

Hough said he sees the focus of the lieutenant governor as&nbsp; “promoting Missouri,” and “supporting the workforce initiatives of the governor.”

Hough’s&nbsp;<a href="https://mec.mo.gov/MEC/Campaign_Finance/CommInfo.aspx?MECID=C091272" target="_blank">campaign fund</a>&nbsp;had $377,679 cash on hand as of April 15. A joint fundraising PAC,&nbsp;<a href="https://mec.mo.gov/MEC/Campaign_Finance/CommInfo.aspx?MECID=C171164" target="_blank">Lincoln PAC</a>, had roughly $1.2 million.&nbsp;

His campaign fund had spent&nbsp;$138,222 and the PAC had spent $143,683 as of April 15.

Berry, a St. Louis County businessman, has&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/11/24/republican-lg-hopeful-files-lawsuit-seeking-to-toss-out-71-missouri-initiative-petitions/">run unsuccessfully</a>&nbsp;in five campaigns since 2012.&nbsp;

He has also filed numerous lawsuits that have either been dismissed or withdrawn, including one intended to force state lawmakers to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kmbc.com/article/missouri-congressional-candidate-paul-berry-files-redistricting-lawsuit/39389086#" target="_blank">pass a congressional redistricting map</a>&nbsp;and another alleging election irregularities cost him victory in his&nbsp;<a href="https://callnewspapers.com/paul-berrys-lawsuit-asking-for-new-county-executive-election-is-dismissed/" target="_blank">22 percentage-point loss</a>&nbsp;in the 2020 St. Louis County Executive race.

Though he isn’t an attorney, Berry represented himself in those cases.

Berry is a bail bondsman from Bridgeton and the great-nephew of rock-n-roll legend Chuck Berry.

His campaign filed a limited activity report with the Missouri Ethics Commission, meaning it raised and spent less than $500.

Baker is the county clerk in Franklin County. He lives in Robertsville and before becoming clerk ran for county commissioner three times and lost.

As county clerk, Baker said, he has focused on saving taxpayer money by reducing “wasteful spending.”

He said he believes in the importance of the boards the lieutenant governor serves on, including veterans and tourism, and would hope to bring more attention to farming in Missouri.

“Farming is our number one industry in our state,” he said. “And a lot of people, especially in the urban areas, don’t necessarily know what a farm looks like or where their food comes from whenever you go out and talk to folks. And it would be nice to bring that to the forefront too.”

Baker has $5,646 on hand, according to April 15&nbsp;<a href="https://mec.mo.gov/MEC/Campaign_Finance/CommInfo.aspx?MECID=C180071" target="_blank">filings</a>, and had spent $4,079.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704198327621.png" alt="The Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City, as pictured September 26, 2023 (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption>The Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City, as pictured September 26, 2023 (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>The lieutenant governor is next in line to be governor, breaks ties in the Missouri Senate and sits on various boards</h2>BY&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/cbates/">CLARA BATES</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/09/21/missouri-judge-once-again-delays-decision-on-closing-agape-boarding-school/">Missouri Independent</a>When Eric Greitens was forced to resign from the Missouri governor’s office in 2018, he was replaced by Lt. Gov. Mike Parson.Two years later, Parson won a full term of his own.&nbsp;Being next in line for governor is the major constitutional requirement for the lieutenant governor. In Missouri, unlike many other states, the lieutenant governor doesn’t run on a ticket with the governor.&nbsp;Five Republicans hope to win their party’s nomination for lieutenant governor on Aug. 6, vying for a job that involves sitting on&nbsp;<a href="https://ltgov.mo.gov/boards-commissions/" target="_blank">various boards</a>&nbsp;and breaking ties in the Missouri Senate.Despite its limited constitutional authority,&nbsp;millions are being spent to capture the GOP nod heading into the fall, where the winner will take on one of two Democrats — state Rep. Richard Brown of Kansas City or Anastasia Syes of St. Louis&nbsp; — and Libertarian Ken Iverson of Lake St. Louis.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720613034642.png" alt="&nbsp;Holly Rehder (photo submitted)" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;Holly Rehder (photo submitted)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Holly Thompson Rehder</h2>Rehder, of Scott City, served eight years in the Missouri House of Representatives before being elected to the Senate in 2020.The work she’s most proud of in the legislature, she said in an interview, was helping pass policies to “help people out of poverty, help them become self-reliant and and help with the mental health struggles we see,” pointing to veteran suicides and the opioid epidemic.“I’ve lived paycheck to paycheck,” she said. “I grew up on the system and got myself out, turning into a business owner, starting from the ground up, not because anyone handed me anything but because it was because I worked for it and took the risk.”Rehder, who married at 15 and had a daughter at 16, sponsored legislation this year&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/legislation-enacting-total-ban-on-child-marriage-in-missouri-dies-in-the-house/">to ban child marriage</a>, which narrowly failed.&nbsp;She also sponsored legislation last year to&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-governor-signs-ban-on-gender-affirming-care-restrictions-for-trans-athletes/">prohibit transgender athletes</a>&nbsp;from competing in sports that align with their gender identity, which was signed into law.Before politics, Rehder worked in the cable television industry and co-founded a cable contracting company.&nbsp;She is a graduate of Southeast Missouri State University.She said she decided to run for lieutenant governor to make a larger impact on people’s lives than she can as a senator, with the opportunity to “delve into some policy issues and really fight to help people.” Areas she is particularly interested in focusing attention toward include the foster care system and veterans’ mental health.Rehder&nbsp;has&nbsp;$302,928 cash on hand&nbsp;in her&nbsp;<a href="https://mec.mo.gov/MEC/Campaign_Finance/CommInfo.aspx?MECID=C111145" target="_blank">campaign fund</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;$264,596&nbsp;in&nbsp;<a href="https://mec.mo.gov/MEC/Campaign_Finance/CommInfo.aspx?MECID=C211685" target="_blank">Southern Drawl PAC</a>, her joint fundraising committee, as of April 15 filings. Her campaign fund had spent $190,055 and the PAC had spent $40,508 on the campaign, as of April 15.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720613080951.png" alt="Dave Wasinger (photo submitted)" />
 <figcaption>Dave Wasinger (photo submitted)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Dave Wasinger</h2>Wasinger is an attorney at a St. Louis law firm he owns and manages, and a certified public accountant.He ran for auditor in 2018 and lost in the GOP primary.Wasinger grew up in Hannibal and attended the University of Missouri and then Vanderbilt Law School, before moving to St. Louis. He has worked at the law firm for over 20 years, specializing in business litigation.After the 2008 financial crisis, Wasinger “took on Wall Street banks,” he said,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-courts-wallstreet/small-firm-lawyer-takes-on-wall-street-and-wins-twice-idUSBREA1F0M120140217/" target="_blank">representing whistleblowers</a>&nbsp;in financial fraud cases against Countrywide Home Loans and JP Morgan Chase. The whistleblowers were key witnesses in the federal government’s case against the banks, helping federal prosecutors recover billions of dollars.&nbsp;Wasinger said the position of lieutenant governor “serves as a great bully pulpit to expose this corruption and these insider deals taking place in Jefferson City.”&nbsp;As of April 15&nbsp;<a href="https://mec.mo.gov/MEC/Campaign_Finance/CommInfo.aspx?MECID=C242714" target="_blank">filings</a>, Wasinger’s campaign had $222,554 cash on hand and had spent&nbsp;$17,759. Since then, he has donated&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mec.mo.gov/CampaignFinanceReports/Generator.aspx?Keys=UQggPoJftVkEEf1ZNi5D6RYZJXNG2vDba4ENMvWHEVCvOWH17nTkRAj158jgMKdNeOyoKXtQSV%2fNHBQgEqUF0LAzRPhHahiB" target="_blank">$1.5 million</a>&nbsp;of his own money to the campaign.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720613124250.png" alt="Lincoln Hough (courtesy of Missouri Senate)." />
 <figcaption>Lincoln Hough (courtesy of Missouri Senate).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Lincoln Hough</h2>Hough, of Springfield, first won election to the Missouri House in 2010 and won a seat on the Greene County Commission in 2016. Two years later, he was elected to the Senate and was re-elected last year.Hough is a “first-generation cattleman” who started his cattle ranch when he was in seventh grade. He graduated from Missouri State University.“The most important thing I would want people to know about me is that I’m a self made person,” he said. “And I don’t come from a political family. I don’t come from money.”&nbsp;Hough has served as chairman of the powerful Senate appropriations committee since last year, giving him huge influence over the state budget.&nbsp;He said he’s proudest of his work in the legislature&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/09/29/legislature-sends-764-million-income-tax-cut-to-missouri-governor/">cutting the income tax</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/04/19/missouri-senate-committee-triples-funding-for-widening-i-70-across-the-state/">investing in Interstate 70</a>&nbsp;and providing state funds to support the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-house-sends-bill-funding-border-deployment-to-the-senate/">National Guard when it was dispatched to the US-Mexico border</a>&nbsp;by the governor.&nbsp; He also said that in his time as chairman “we have completely&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/02/23/missouri-senate-passes-4-6b-spending-bill-with-pay-raises-federal-school-funds/">defunded Planned Parenthood,”&nbsp;</a>by preventing it from receiving Medicaid reimbursements.&nbsp;“I’ve got a good track record of actually getting things done in Jefferson City,” he said, “and not just not just doing the kind of the political talking points that people like to do.”&nbsp;Hough said he sees the focus of the lieutenant governor as&nbsp; “promoting Missouri,” and “supporting the workforce initiatives of the governor.”Hough’s&nbsp;<a href="https://mec.mo.gov/MEC/Campaign_Finance/CommInfo.aspx?MECID=C091272" target="_blank">campaign fund</a>&nbsp;had $377,679 cash on hand as of April 15. A joint fundraising PAC,&nbsp;<a href="https://mec.mo.gov/MEC/Campaign_Finance/CommInfo.aspx?MECID=C171164" target="_blank">Lincoln PAC</a>, had roughly $1.2 million.&nbsp;His campaign fund had spent&nbsp;$138,222 and the PAC had spent $143,683 as of April 15.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720613155329.png" alt="Paul Berry III" />
 <figcaption>Paul Berry III</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Paul Berry III</h2>Berry, a St. Louis County businessman, has&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/11/24/republican-lg-hopeful-files-lawsuit-seeking-to-toss-out-71-missouri-initiative-petitions/">run unsuccessfully</a>&nbsp;in five campaigns since 2012.&nbsp;He has also filed numerous lawsuits that have either been dismissed or withdrawn, including one intended to force state lawmakers to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kmbc.com/article/missouri-congressional-candidate-paul-berry-files-redistricting-lawsuit/39389086#" target="_blank">pass a congressional redistricting map</a>&nbsp;and another alleging election irregularities cost him victory in his&nbsp;<a href="https://callnewspapers.com/paul-berrys-lawsuit-asking-for-new-county-executive-election-is-dismissed/" target="_blank">22 percentage-point loss</a>&nbsp;in the 2020 St. Louis County Executive race.Though he isn’t an attorney, Berry represented himself in those cases.Berry is a bail bondsman from Bridgeton and the great-nephew of rock-n-roll legend Chuck Berry.His campaign filed a limited activity report with the Missouri Ethics Commission, meaning it raised and spent less than $500.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720613253993.png" alt="Tim Baker (photo submitted)" />
 <figcaption>Tim Baker (photo submitted)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Tim Baker</h2>Baker is the county clerk in Franklin County. He lives in Robertsville and before becoming clerk ran for county commissioner three times and lost.As county clerk, Baker said, he has focused on saving taxpayer money by reducing “wasteful spending.”He said he believes in the importance of the boards the lieutenant governor serves on, including veterans and tourism, and would hope to bring more attention to farming in Missouri.“Farming is our number one industry in our state,” he said. “And a lot of people, especially in the urban areas, don’t necessarily know what a farm looks like or where their food comes from whenever you go out and talk to folks. And it would be nice to bring that to the forefront too.”Baker has $5,646 on hand, according to April 15&nbsp;<a href="https://mec.mo.gov/MEC/Campaign_Finance/CommInfo.aspx?MECID=C180071" target="_blank">filings</a>, and had spent $4,079.

Crowded GOP primary field vying to be Missouri’s next lieutenant governor

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/graceburwell/">GRACE BURWELL</a>

Construction crews began work Monday night on an ambitious $2.8 billion project that will expand Interstate 70 to three lanes across Missouri.

Crews are first tackling a stretch from Route J at Millersburg to Route M at Hatton, 7 miles of a 20-mile section that will ultimately add a third lane in each direction from Columbia to Kingdom City.

The overnight schedule is designed to minimize traffic disruptions as the highway work progresses from the center of the state to other portions at the east and west ends of the highway.

The project’s first 20-mile section is expected to be completed by the end of 2027. Subsequent phases include improving stretches of highway from Warrenton to Wentzville and from Blue Springs to Odessa. The entire project is expected to be finished by 2030.

Road crews will first close the westbound lane from 7 p.m. to 6 p.m. nightly to lay new asphalt that will strengthen the highway shoulders, said the state’s Improve I-70 central project director, Jeff Gander.

When that portion is done, the eastbound lane will be closed to traffic. Estimated completion is this summer.

“After they get that shoulder-strengthening done, they’re going to re-stripe the highway to push traffic more toward the outsides, and then they’ll be setting barrier wall all along the inside to barrier off the median so we can perform our work in there,” Gander said.

In addition to adding a third lane each way to the 20 miles between the U.S. 63 and U.S. 54 exits, crews will improve the intersections of U.S. 63 and I-70 in Columbia and between U.S. 54 and I-70 in Kingdom City.

Missouri Department of Transportation plans to begin working on the U.S. 63-Interstate-70 connector this summer, while construction on U.S. 54 will likely not start until 2025, Gander said.

A St. Charles-based contractor, Millstone Weber, was selected to do the first section, which has a $405 million price tag. The contractor intends to avoid impacting local traffic by keeping two lanes open during construction at all times, with the exception of some temporary closures at night.

“What we have committed to for this project is to keep two lanes of I-70 flowing at all peak times, which means during the day,” he said. “There’s a good possibility that they will have a lane closed at night, both eastbound and westbound at the same time.”

MoDOT did preliminary work ahead of Monday’s construction, including pavement coring, as well as subsurface boring where some of the structures will go to prepare for the design.

Since the initiative is a design-build project, highway improvement happens incrementally, Gander said. In this kind of project, the full design plans are completed while the project is underway.

“When we actually award this contract, we don’t have full design plans — we have plans that are probably at, say, 30 percent complete,” Gander said. “Right now, they are hot-and-heavy working on fully designing the rest of the project.”

The project has been on MoDOT’s unfunded agenda for almost 20 years and is the largest interstate construction program since the early 1960s. The expanded highway portion will run from Blue Springs in Jackson County to Wentzville in St. Charles County.

More than 40,000 vehicles travel between Kansas City and St. Louis each day. A third lane will allow for emergency vehicles to access crashes faster and with less traffic back-up, keeping drivers safer and less frustrated, according to MoDOT Director Patrick McKenna in an earlier Missourian report.

Due to the significant highway construction happening around Columbia during the next few years, Gander said it is important for people to pay attention while driving.

Distracted driving is the main issue that highway construction workers must deal with, he said.

“When this project gets really rolling, and we have all the different areas that we’re working on, we could have upwards of around 300 people out there working on a day-to-day basis, including our prime contractor and our subcontractors,” he said.

“Our goal is for everybody to go home safe, so we really need the public’s help for that.”

This story originally appeared in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/local/long-awaited-i-70-expansion-project-begins-near-columbia/article_0cde008a-3d48-11ef-a41e-7ff24996b4b8.html#tncms-source=Featured" target="_blank">Columbia Missourian</a>. It can be republished in print or online.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720571482343.png" alt="Construction on Interstate 70 begins Monday in Columbia. The $2.8 billion project is expected to be finished by 2030 (Sarah Voyles/Missourian)." />
 <figcaption>Construction on Interstate 70 begins Monday in Columbia. The $2.8 billion project is expected to be finished by 2030 (Sarah Voyles/Missourian).</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/graceburwell/">GRACE BURWELL</a>Construction crews began work Monday night on an ambitious $2.8 billion project that will expand Interstate 70 to three lanes across Missouri.Crews are first tackling a stretch from Route J at Millersburg to Route M at Hatton, 7 miles of a 20-mile section that will ultimately add a third lane in each direction from Columbia to Kingdom City.The overnight schedule is designed to minimize traffic disruptions as the highway work progresses from the center of the state to other portions at the east and west ends of the highway.The project’s first 20-mile section is expected to be completed by the end of 2027. Subsequent phases include improving stretches of highway from Warrenton to Wentzville and from Blue Springs to Odessa. The entire project is expected to be finished by 2030.Road crews will first close the westbound lane from 7 p.m. to 6 p.m. nightly to lay new asphalt that will strengthen the highway shoulders, said the state’s Improve I-70 central project director, Jeff Gander.When that portion is done, the eastbound lane will be closed to traffic. Estimated completion is this summer.“After they get that shoulder-strengthening done, they’re going to re-stripe the highway to push traffic more toward the outsides, and then they’ll be setting barrier wall all along the inside to barrier off the median so we can perform our work in there,” Gander said.In addition to adding a third lane each way to the 20 miles between the U.S. 63 and U.S. 54 exits, crews will improve the intersections of U.S. 63 and I-70 in Columbia and between U.S. 54 and I-70 in Kingdom City.Missouri Department of Transportation plans to begin working on the U.S. 63-Interstate-70 connector this summer, while construction on U.S. 54 will likely not start until 2025, Gander said.A St. Charles-based contractor, Millstone Weber, was selected to do the first section, which has a $405 million price tag. The contractor intends to avoid impacting local traffic by keeping two lanes open during construction at all times, with the exception of some temporary closures at night.“What we have committed to for this project is to keep two lanes of I-70 flowing at all peak times, which means during the day,” he said. “There’s a good possibility that they will have a lane closed at night, both eastbound and westbound at the same time.”MoDOT did preliminary work ahead of Monday’s construction, including pavement coring, as well as subsurface boring where some of the structures will go to prepare for the design.Since the initiative is a design-build project, highway improvement happens incrementally, Gander said. In this kind of project, the full design plans are completed while the project is underway.“When we actually award this contract, we don’t have full design plans — we have plans that are probably at, say, 30 percent complete,” Gander said. “Right now, they are hot-and-heavy working on fully designing the rest of the project.”The project has been on MoDOT’s unfunded agenda for almost 20 years and is the largest interstate construction program since the early 1960s. The expanded highway portion will run from Blue Springs in Jackson County to Wentzville in St. Charles County.More than 40,000 vehicles travel between Kansas City and St. Louis each day. A third lane will allow for emergency vehicles to access crashes faster and with less traffic back-up, keeping drivers safer and less frustrated, according to MoDOT Director Patrick McKenna in an earlier Missourian report.Due to the significant highway construction happening around Columbia during the next few years, Gander said it is important for people to pay attention while driving.Distracted driving is the main issue that highway construction workers must deal with, he said.“When this project gets really rolling, and we have all the different areas that we’re working on, we could have upwards of around 300 people out there working on a day-to-day basis, including our prime contractor and our subcontractors,” he said.“Our goal is for everybody to go home safe, so we really need the public’s help for that.”This story originally appeared in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/local/long-awaited-i-70-expansion-project-begins-near-columbia/article_0cde008a-3d48-11ef-a41e-7ff24996b4b8.html#tncms-source=Featured" target="_blank">Columbia Missourian</a>. It can be republished in print or online.&nbsp;

Missouri’s long-awaited I-70 expansion project begins near Columbia

Expansion at Boehringer Ingelheim in St. Joseph
strengthens the Animal Health Corridor, dedicated to innovation in livestock
and pet health.

The corridor runs from Columbia, Missouri to
Manhattan, Kansas with 300 animal health companies employing more than 20,000
people in 22 counties.

Animal Health Corridor President, Kimberly Young,
says the corridor promotes the interests of those companies.

“How can we bring the global industry together,
both farm and nutrition companies, and work in areas where working together and
speaking with one voice the industry is stronger,” Young tells KFEQ/St. Joseph
Post.

Young says Boehringer’s announcement that it is
building a cutting-edge research and development lab on its St. Joseph campus is
a welcomed addition.

“We’re thrilled that BI continues to expand and
grow in the Animal Health Corridor and in St. Joseph,” Young says.

Young says the corridor is built on the strength
of the region – it’s ties to agriculture.

“The whole reason why the corridor is here is
because we’re an ag-based economy,” Young says, adding that the ties to agriculture
stretch back to the foundation of the stockyards in St. Joseph and elsewhere
throughout the Midwest.

Recruitment of qualified workers is one of the
objectives of the Animal Health Corridor.

“They’re here and we have the talent pool here
and that is what the continued global attraction is for other companies,”
according to Young. “They want to come to an area that has an eco-system in
animal health with an organization like the Animal Health Corridor that is
exclusively focused and intentionally focused on supporting and growing the
industry.”

Young says the corridor focuses on workforce
development, innovation, and public policy.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720550238403.jpeg" alt="Boehringer Ingelheim/file photo" />
 <figcaption>Boehringer Ingelheim/file photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostExpansion at Boehringer Ingelheim in St. Joseph
strengthens the Animal Health Corridor, dedicated to innovation in livestock
and pet health.The corridor runs from Columbia, Missouri to
Manhattan, Kansas with 300 animal health companies employing more than 20,000
people in 22 counties.Animal Health Corridor President, Kimberly Young,
says the corridor promotes the interests of those companies.“How can we bring the global industry together,
both farm and nutrition companies, and work in areas where working together and
speaking with one voice the industry is stronger,” Young tells KFEQ/St. Joseph
Post.Young says Boehringer’s announcement that it is
building a cutting-edge research and development lab on its St. Joseph campus is
a welcomed addition.“We’re thrilled that BI continues to expand and
grow in the Animal Health Corridor and in St. Joseph,” Young says.Young says the corridor is built on the strength
of the region – it’s ties to agriculture.“The whole reason why the corridor is here is
because we’re an ag-based economy,” Young says, adding that the ties to agriculture
stretch back to the foundation of the stockyards in St. Joseph and elsewhere
throughout the Midwest.Recruitment of qualified workers is one of the
objectives of the Animal Health Corridor.“They’re here and we have the talent pool here
and that is what the continued global attraction is for other companies,”
according to Young. “They want to come to an area that has an eco-system in
animal health with an organization like the Animal Health Corridor that is
exclusively focused and intentionally focused on supporting and growing the
industry.”Young says the corridor focuses on workforce
development, innovation, and public policy.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Boehringer Ingelheim expansion strengthens Animal Health Corridor

NEW YORK (AP) — Target will no longer accept personal checks from shoppers as of July 15, another sign of how a once ubiquitous payment method is going the way of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/4f8c481007014190ac534c17c2592fdc">outmoded objects</a>&nbsp;like floppy disks and the Rolodex.

The Minneapolis-based discounter confirmed the move in a statement to The Associated Press on Tuesday, citing “extremely low volumes” of customers who still write checks. Target said it remained committed to creating an easy and convenient checkout experience with credit and debit cards, “buy now, pay later” services and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/target-fourth-quarter-earnings-inflation-231a975d4bf95a80ed623b52a8c77dff">Target Circle membership program</a>, which applies deals automatically at checkout.

“We have taken several measures to notify guests in advance" about the no-checks policy, the company said.

Target's decision leaves&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/retail-price-cuts-inflation-target-65fbc568804f20919a609c594531e129">Walmart</a>, Macy’s and Kohl’s among the retailers that still accept personal checks at their stores. Whole Foods Market and the Aldi supermarket chain previously stopped taking checks from customers.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/spending-consumers-inflation-economy-growth-federal-reserve-b1d34bc43a0da960a152911b7c230881">Shoppers</a>&nbsp;have pulled out checkbooks increasingly less often since the mid-1990s.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jpmorgan-chase-bank-branches-hiring-5ee9b9ce933759b2b37217d9effef53a">Cash-dispensing ATMs</a>, debit cards, online banking and mobile payment systems like Venmo and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/apple-pay-digital-payments-visa-mastercard-affirm-d8e85a7d30c02523998dfbdd6f0b0497">Apple Pay</a>&nbsp;mean many young adults may never have written a check.

Check usage has been in decline for decades as Americans have largely switched to paying for their services with credit and debit cards. Americans wrote roughly 3.4 billion checks in 2022, down from nearly 19 billion checks in 1990, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/federal-reserve-system">the Federal Reserve</a>. However, the average size of the checks Americans wrote over the 32-year period rose from $673 in 1990 — or $1,602 in today’s dollars — to $2,652.

The drop in check writing enabled the Federal Reserve to sharply reduce its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.federalreserve.gov/paymentsystems/check_about.htm">national check processing infrastructure.</a>&nbsp;In 2003, it ran 45 check-processing locations nationwide; since 2010, it has operated only one.

NEW YORK (AP) — Target will no longer accept personal checks from shoppers as of July 15, another sign of how a once ubiquitous payment method is going the way of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/4f8c481007014190ac534c17c2592fdc">outmoded objects</a>&nbsp;like floppy disks and the Rolodex.The Minneapolis-based discounter confirmed the move in a statement to The Associated Press on Tuesday, citing “extremely low volumes” of customers who still write checks. Target said it remained committed to creating an easy and convenient checkout experience with credit and debit cards, “buy now, pay later” services and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/target-fourth-quarter-earnings-inflation-231a975d4bf95a80ed623b52a8c77dff">Target Circle membership program</a>, which applies deals automatically at checkout.“We have taken several measures to notify guests in advance" about the no-checks policy, the company said.Target's decision leaves&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/retail-price-cuts-inflation-target-65fbc568804f20919a609c594531e129">Walmart</a>, Macy’s and Kohl’s among the retailers that still accept personal checks at their stores. Whole Foods Market and the Aldi supermarket chain previously stopped taking checks from customers.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/spending-consumers-inflation-economy-growth-federal-reserve-b1d34bc43a0da960a152911b7c230881">Shoppers</a>&nbsp;have pulled out checkbooks increasingly less often since the mid-1990s.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jpmorgan-chase-bank-branches-hiring-5ee9b9ce933759b2b37217d9effef53a">Cash-dispensing ATMs</a>, debit cards, online banking and mobile payment systems like Venmo and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/apple-pay-digital-payments-visa-mastercard-affirm-d8e85a7d30c02523998dfbdd6f0b0497">Apple Pay</a>&nbsp;mean many young adults may never have written a check.Check usage has been in decline for decades as Americans have largely switched to paying for their services with credit and debit cards. Americans wrote roughly 3.4 billion checks in 2022, down from nearly 19 billion checks in 1990, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/federal-reserve-system">the Federal Reserve</a>. However, the average size of the checks Americans wrote over the 32-year period rose from $673 in 1990 — or $1,602 in today’s dollars — to $2,652.The drop in check writing enabled the Federal Reserve to sharply reduce its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.federalreserve.gov/paymentsystems/check_about.htm">national check processing infrastructure.</a>&nbsp;In 2003, it ran 45 check-processing locations nationwide; since 2010, it has operated only one.

Target will stop accepting personal checks next week

Max’s Law has been signed by Governor Mike Parson, successfully
ending a three-year effort to honor St. Joseph’s K-9 Max, shot and killed in
the summer of 2021.

Max’ Law increases the penalty for killing a police dog or any
police animal.

St. Joseph Police Chief Paul Luster attended the bill signing
ceremony this morning in Jefferson City and says the change is needed.

“It’s important to know that those dogs are part of the police
family and they serve a very purposeful and useful function in policing,”
Luster tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “And to have a law in effect that will properly
hold those accountable that have a desire to hurt one of those animals is very
important to our community and to our profession.”

Luster says even with his years in police work, he didn’t
realize how light the penalty was for killing a police dog.

“I had no idea that it was just treated like a property crime,”
Luster says. “They spoke this morning that there was a higher penalty for
breaking a window of a police car than there was for killing a police dog. That’s
just not acceptable given the importance of what those K-9 officers do for us.
I was very surprised to learn that and very satisfied to know that we’ll have
the proper legislation in effect now.”

K-9 Max was shot and killed chasing a suspect on June 30th of 2021.

Several police dogs and their handlers attended the bill
signing ceremony in the governor’s office. K-9 Max’s handler, Officer Lucas
Winder, attended as well.

In all, Luster says it was an emotional day.

“It was kind of overwhelming there being in the governor’s
office and having Gov. Parson sign into law Max’s Law named after our K-9 there
in St. Joe,” Luster says. “To have his handler, Officer Winder, there as well was
a pretty overwhelming experience.”

State Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer, a Republican from Parkville,
sponsored the legislation. Luetkemeyer first carried the legislature the year
after K-9 Max was shot and killed. That legislation couldn’t overcome a
filibuster mounted on the last day of the legislative session. Last year, Gov.
Parson vetoed the anti-crime bill that contained Max’s Law, objecting to an
unrelated provision in the bill. Luetkemeyer removed that provision in the bill
this year.

The bill goes into effect on August 28th.

Click <a href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/24info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&amp;BillID=438">HERE</a> for the text to Senate Bill 754.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720548766586.jpeg" alt="Gov. Mike Parson signs the anti-crime bill containing Max's Law. Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer is to Parson's left along with K-9 Max's handler, St. Joseph Police Officer Lucas Winder. St. Joseph Police Chief Paul Luster is in the back./Photo by Alisa Nelson, Missourinet" />
 <figcaption>Gov. Mike Parson signs the anti-crime bill containing Max's Law. Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer is to Parson's left along with K-9 Max's handler, St. Joseph Police Officer Lucas Winder. St. Joseph Police Chief Paul Luster is in the back./Photo by Alisa Nelson, Missourinet</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostMax’s Law has been signed by Governor Mike Parson, successfully
ending a three-year effort to honor St. Joseph’s K-9 Max, shot and killed in
the summer of 2021.Max’ Law increases the penalty for killing a police dog or any
police animal.St. Joseph Police Chief Paul Luster attended the bill signing
ceremony this morning in Jefferson City and says the change is needed.“It’s important to know that those dogs are part of the police
family and they serve a very purposeful and useful function in policing,”
Luster tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “And to have a law in effect that will properly
hold those accountable that have a desire to hurt one of those animals is very
important to our community and to our profession.”Luster says even with his years in police work, he didn’t
realize how light the penalty was for killing a police dog.“I had no idea that it was just treated like a property crime,”
Luster says. “They spoke this morning that there was a higher penalty for
breaking a window of a police car than there was for killing a police dog. That’s
just not acceptable given the importance of what those K-9 officers do for us.
I was very surprised to learn that and very satisfied to know that we’ll have
the proper legislation in effect now.”K-9 Max was shot and killed chasing a suspect on June 30th of 2021.Several police dogs and their handlers attended the bill
signing ceremony in the governor’s office. K-9 Max’s handler, Officer Lucas
Winder, attended as well.In all, Luster says it was an emotional day.“It was kind of overwhelming there being in the governor’s
office and having Gov. Parson sign into law Max’s Law named after our K-9 there
in St. Joe,” Luster says. “To have his handler, Officer Winder, there as well was
a pretty overwhelming experience.”State Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer, a Republican from Parkville,
sponsored the legislation. Luetkemeyer first carried the legislature the year
after K-9 Max was shot and killed. That legislation couldn’t overcome a
filibuster mounted on the last day of the legislative session. Last year, Gov.
Parson vetoed the anti-crime bill that contained Max’s Law, objecting to an
unrelated provision in the bill. Luetkemeyer removed that provision in the bill
this year.The bill goes into effect on August 28th.Click <a href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/24info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&amp;BillID=438">HERE</a> for the text to Senate Bill 754.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720549178344.jpeg" alt="K-9 Max/file photo" />
 <figcaption>K-9 Max/file photo</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Three years in the making:  Max's Law signed into law by Gov. Parson

Officials with the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce are excited to welcome back the defending Super Bowl Champions as Chiefs Training Camp is less than two weeks away. 

Chamber spokesperson Kristie Bailey says it's always exciting when the Chiefs come to St. Joseph. 

"We see a lot of visitors come to St. Joseph for Chiefs Training Camp," Bailey tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr.  "So of course at Missouri Western they do a great job of hosting all the visitors, Mosaic Life Care is a presenting sponsor they do a great job of making sure everyone stays healthy out there in that heat, so it's definitely a great time." 

The $51 billion state budget recently signed by Governor Mike Parson included 2 point 1 million dollars for upgrades to Chiefs Training Camp. 

The St. Joseph Convention and Visitors Bureau is also once again offering "Welcome Chiefs" signs.  They will be available on Thursday from 10am to 6pm, or while supplies last, at the Visitors Center of the East Hills Library, limit two per person. 

The Chamber of Commerce will again celebrate the return of Chiefs Training Camp at Missouri Western by hosting the Red Rally downtown.  

Bailey says the Red Rally this year will be on July 27th. 

"It's really to show the Chiefs just how much we appreciate them being in St. Joseph," Bailey explains. "And it's a way to get community members out to really celebrate the Chiefs being in town." 

The rally will run from 1 to 6 pm on that Saturday, but Bailey says this year things are being changed up a bit. 

"Not having the same performers as always," Bailey says. "We have two country music performers, we have Hailey Hatley and Blane Howard, Blane is a fan favorite, so we did bring Blane back," Bailey says. 

Bailey says in honor of the relationship between Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift, a tribute band for Swift will also be performing.  

Training camp opens to the public on July 21st and runs through August 15th.&nbsp;<a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/68437d5a-29da-475c-a6c7-0cf1f0d56f57"> Click here for the full training camp schedule</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720540873448.jpeg" alt="File photo" />
 <figcaption>File photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post Officials with the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce are excited to welcome back the defending Super Bowl Champions as Chiefs Training Camp is less than two weeks away. Chamber spokesperson Kristie Bailey says it's always exciting when the Chiefs come to St. Joseph. "We see a lot of visitors come to St. Joseph for Chiefs Training Camp," Bailey tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr. "So of course at Missouri Western they do a great job of hosting all the visitors, Mosaic Life Care is a presenting sponsor they do a great job of making sure everyone stays healthy out there in that heat, so it's definitely a great time." The $51 billion state budget recently signed by Governor Mike Parson included 2 point 1 million dollars for upgrades to Chiefs Training Camp. The St. Joseph Convention and Visitors Bureau is also once again offering "Welcome Chiefs" signs. They will be available on Thursday from 10am to 6pm, or while supplies last, at the Visitors Center of the East Hills Library, limit two per person. The Chamber of Commerce will again celebrate the return of Chiefs Training Camp at Missouri Western by hosting the Red Rally downtown. Bailey says the Red Rally this year will be on July 27th. "It's really to show the Chiefs just how much we appreciate them being in St. Joseph," Bailey explains. "And it's a way to get community members out to really celebrate the Chiefs being in town." The rally will run from 1 to 6 pm on that Saturday, but Bailey says this year things are being changed up a bit. "Not having the same performers as always," Bailey says. "We have two country music performers, we have Hailey Hatley and Blane Howard, Blane is a fan favorite, so we did bring Blane back," Bailey says. Bailey says in honor of the relationship between Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift, a tribute band for Swift will also be performing. Training camp opens to the public on July 21st and runs through August 15th.&nbsp;<a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/68437d5a-29da-475c-a6c7-0cf1f0d56f57"> Click here for the full training camp schedule</a>.

St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce excited for return of Chiefs Training Camp

Former National Association of Farm Broadcasting Executive
Director and former KFEQ Farm Director Tom Brand has a new job.

Brand has been hired as the new director of the St. Joseph
Community Alliance, saying he’s excited to get started.

“Beth and I have called St. Joseph home since 1997, which is
over half of our lives, and we’ve always been excited about what’s taking place
in the community,” Brand tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “And I’m really excited
about what is not only taking place now, but what the future really holds for
St. Joseph and the surrounding area.”

Brand worked for 15 years as KFEQ’s Farm Director. After that,
he moved to lead the National Association of Farm Broadcasters for 12 years
before stepping down at the end of last year.

Brand says his past experience as a broadcaster and executive
have prepared him for his new role.

“I’ve had a chance to work in the profit sector. I’ve had a
chance to work with public relations, whether that was at KFEQ or even at NAFB.
I know about managing association work and also managing expectations,” Brand
says. “The research that’s involved with the community survey that takes place
every other year is something I’ve had exposure with.”

Brand says the St. Joseph 2040 Plan will be his guide. Brand
says a look at the past gives residents a glimpse of what is leading St. Joseph
today.

“And realize that there’s something special that’s going on in
St. Joseph and that the things in this plan are obtainable,” according to
Brand. “It’s just making sure that people can get on the same page, catch that vision,
and be excited about what can be done.”

Brand succeeds Tama Wagner, who served in the role the past
five years. Brand officially begins his duties on July 29th.

The St. Joseph Community Alliance works in partnership with
the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce, the City of St. Joseph, Buchanan County,
the St. Joseph School District, the St. Joseph Convention and Visitors Bureau,
Mosaic Life Care, Missouri Western State University, the United Way of Greater
St. Joseph, and the 139th Airlift Wing of the Missouri Air National Guard.

The Community Alliance director coordinates government
relations and advocacy efforts. The director conducts the community survey and
leads the <a href="https://imaginestjoseph2040.com/">Imagine St. Joseph 2040</a> plan.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720532788339.jpeg" alt="Tom Brand/Photo courtesy of St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce" />
 <figcaption>Tom Brand/Photo courtesy of St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostFormer National Association of Farm Broadcasting Executive
Director and former KFEQ Farm Director Tom Brand has a new job.Brand has been hired as the new director of the St. Joseph
Community Alliance, saying he’s excited to get started.“Beth and I have called St. Joseph home since 1997, which is
over half of our lives, and we’ve always been excited about what’s taking place
in the community,” Brand tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “And I’m really excited
about what is not only taking place now, but what the future really holds for
St. Joseph and the surrounding area.”Brand worked for 15 years as KFEQ’s Farm Director. After that,
he moved to lead the National Association of Farm Broadcasters for 12 years
before stepping down at the end of last year.Brand says his past experience as a broadcaster and executive
have prepared him for his new role.“I’ve had a chance to work in the profit sector. I’ve had a
chance to work with public relations, whether that was at KFEQ or even at NAFB.
I know about managing association work and also managing expectations,” Brand
says. “The research that’s involved with the community survey that takes place
every other year is something I’ve had exposure with.”Brand says the St. Joseph 2040 Plan will be his guide. Brand
says a look at the past gives residents a glimpse of what is leading St. Joseph
today.“And realize that there’s something special that’s going on in
St. Joseph and that the things in this plan are obtainable,” according to
Brand. “It’s just making sure that people can get on the same page, catch that vision,
and be excited about what can be done.”Brand succeeds Tama Wagner, who served in the role the past
five years. Brand officially begins his duties on July 29th.The St. Joseph Community Alliance works in partnership with
the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce, the City of St. Joseph, Buchanan County,
the St. Joseph School District, the St. Joseph Convention and Visitors Bureau,
Mosaic Life Care, Missouri Western State University, the United Way of Greater
St. Joseph, and the 139th Airlift Wing of the Missouri Air National Guard.The Community Alliance director coordinates government
relations and advocacy efforts. The director conducts the community survey and
leads the <a href="https://imaginestjoseph2040.com/">Imagine St. Joseph 2040</a> plan.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Former KFEQ Farm Dir. Tom Brand named St. Joseph Community Alliance Director

ATCHISON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating two more trailer thefts in northeast Kansas.

On Monday, a 28-year-old victim reported the theft of a 14-foot Big Tex single axle utility trailer from the 7700 block Schuele Road, located at the Shannon Industrial Park, according to Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson.

The theft occurred sometime between Wednesday afternoon and Friday afternoon.

In addition, a 35-year-old victim reported the theft of a 10 foot by 5 foot utility trailer from the 1500 block Atchison Street that occurred sometime between Saturday afternoon and noon on Sunday. Police recovered the trailer around 4:00p.m. on Sunday afternoon in the 1100 block Parallel, according to Wilson.

ATCHISON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating two more trailer thefts in northeast Kansas.On Monday, a 28-year-old victim reported the theft of a 14-foot Big Tex single axle utility trailer from the 7700 block Schuele Road, located at the Shannon Industrial Park, according to Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson.The theft occurred sometime between Wednesday afternoon and Friday afternoon.In addition, a 35-year-old victim reported the theft of a 10 foot by 5 foot utility trailer from the 1500 block Atchison Street that occurred sometime between Saturday afternoon and noon on Sunday. Police recovered the trailer around 4:00p.m. on Sunday afternoon in the 1100 block Parallel, according to Wilson.Police have not reported an arrest.

Police recover one stolen trailer and report a new trailer theft

Crystal Quade and Mike Hamra are facing off in the Democratic gubernatorial primary. Both believe an abortion-rights amendment could help them win the governor’s mansion in November

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

When Crystal Quade and Mike Hamra traveled to the Democratic Governors Association Conference in Minneapolis last month, they came with their stump speeches ready.&nbsp;

Yet before they could push their own platforms as gubernatorial candidates, they had to convince people that a&nbsp;Democrat from Missouri was worth paying attention to.&nbsp;

“Folks are excited about Missouri being back on the map,” said Quade, a Springfield Democrat and state House minority leader, about the conference attendees. “As we all know, we used to be considered quite a swing state, but in the last couple cycles, Missouri has definitely gone more to the right in the election results.”

Missouri hasn’t elected a Democrat statewide since 2018, and the 2020 race for governor saw Republican Mike Parson cruise to victory by 17 percentage points.&nbsp;

The game changer this year, both Hamra and Quade agreed, could be a&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/05/03/missourians-signatures-abortion-amendment-viability/">ballot measure to&nbsp;enshrine abortion rights in Missouri’s constitution&nbsp;</a>that will likely come before voters in November.&nbsp;Since June 2022, nearly every abortion has been illegal in the state with the exception of medical emergencies.&nbsp;

For evidence, Hamra pointed to the bordering deep-red states of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/kentucky-democrats-abortion-governors-race-beshear-cameron-rcna120652" target="_blank">Kentucky</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/11/09/kansas-gov-laura-kelly-wins-reelection-over-republican-challenger-derek-schmidt/" target="_blank">Kansas</a>.&nbsp;

“Both have had challenging races, but they ended up with Democratic governors,” said Hamra, president and CEO of Hamra Enterprises and another Springfield Democrat. “This could be one of the years that we flip the state to blue… and people outside the state also see it.”

The primary in August will be the first significant Democratic nomination contest for governor since 2004, when then-State Auditor Claire McCaskill defeated incumbent Gov. Bob Holden.&nbsp;

On the Republican side, three candidates are running full-scale campaigns for the GOP nomination – Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe, Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft and state Sen. Bill Eigel.

Incumbent Republican Gov. Mike Parson is barred from running for another term.

Quade entered the race&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/democratic-legislative-leaders-launches-campaign-for-missouri-governor/">last July</a>&nbsp;and Hamra followed in&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/10/27/springfield-businessman-mike-hamra-joins-democratic-race-for-missouri-governor/">October</a>. While not much separates the candidates in terms of where they stand on issues, there’s a glaring difference in their political experience.

Quade has been the House minority leader for the past five years, and she started climbing the political ladder right out of college by working in McCaskill’s office as a legislative aide. With eight years as state representative under her belt, she’s not eligible to run for another term in the House.

Hamra has never held an elected office. He’s worked for his family’s business since 2001, after leaving his law practice, and became president and CEO in 2011. The business that started with a single Wendy’s Hamburgers restaurant in the 1970s now has 200 restaurants – Wendy’s, Panera and Noodles &amp; Company franchises – in five states.&nbsp;

His family consistently donated to Democratic candidates.

Quade grew up off a gravel road in Fortland, a small town in Southwest Missouri with only a Dollar General and gas station at the time. If her family wanted to go to a grocery store, she said they had to drive an hour east to Springfield.&nbsp;

“That’s important to this discussion because the way folks grow up and their way of life absolutely influences their political perspectives,” Quade said, the area that leans heavily Republican.

Quade is the only Democrat in her family, she said, where her mother was a waitress and her father worked in a factory.&nbsp;

“I’m actually the first in my family to graduate high school,” she said. “We didn’t get the paper and talk about politics at all. It wasn’t until I was studying to become a social worker at Missouri State University that I realized how much government impacted the day-to-day lives of people.”

A story she tells often on the campaign trail is going to Jefferson City as a college student for an internship.&nbsp;

“I was very frustrated with a lack of understanding of what regular working class folks go through,” she said. “It was then that I decided that I wanted to get involved, and I wanted to run for office one day.”

Her upbringing, along with her many years of experience, have allowed her to have conversations in all corners of the state about the impacts of political “extremism” in Missouri.&nbsp;

For the past two years in the legislature, passing significant legislation has become vastly more difficult, due in large part to Republican factionalism in the state Senate. A&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/05/04/dispute-over-kc-landfill-derails-missouri-senate-as-deadline-to-pass-state-budget-looms/">filibuster</a>&nbsp;nearly derailed the only must-pass legislation –&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/05/05/missouri-lawmakers-approve-largest-budget-in-state-history-almost-51-billion/">a state budget</a>.

“When I’m having discussions with people — because of where I’m from and where my family leans politically, it allows me to break through the partisan noise that we often see in the media,” she said.&nbsp;

Quade touts a “proven track record” as the Democratic leader in the House advocating for issues that matter to Missourians, including raising the minimum wage, expanding accessibility to health care and fighting for abortion rights.&nbsp;

“I was there when the abortion ban was passed and stood on the House floor and shared my own personal story of abuse,” she said, “and so many stories and other women have shared and how these bills deeply impact our ability to plan our lives.”

Hamra said he grew up in a family that was deeply engaged in the political system, though not elected leaders themselves.

“It’s always been a priority to understand the value and the importance of the role of government and what our politicians do,” he said.&nbsp;

After graduating from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law in 1994, he spent eight years in Washington, D.C., where served as an attorney with the U.S. Commerce Department and Federal Communication Commission.

“Being a public servant has very always been a priority for our family,” he said. “Growing a business is something that we’ve done, but it’s been inside of supporting people and making a difference in people’s lives.”&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Hamra has donated to campaigns for the party’s highest profile races – he gave money to Democratic nominees for governor in 2016 and 2020, and to Trudy Bush Valentine’s campaign for Senate in 2022 – but he has not contributed significantly to down-ballot races.&nbsp;

In the past 10 years, Hamra donated once to a legislative candidate, giving $1,000 to a Springfield Democrat who lost a House race in 2016.

Hamra’s company employs 7,400 people nationwide, with 2,000 of those living in Missouri. Even before getting into the “political fray,” he said he supported raising the minimum wage because he’s seen how it’s impacted his employees in other states where he does business.&nbsp;

“The truth of the matter is,” he said, “when our employees are making more money to support themselves, it also helps them support their families.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720525736823.png" alt=" The primary in August, where Crystal Quade and Mike Hamra will appear on the ballot, will be the first significant Democratic nomination contest for governor since 2004 (photos submitted)." />
 <figcaption> The primary in August, where Crystal Quade and Mike Hamra will appear on the ballot, will be the first significant Democratic nomination contest for governor since 2004 (photos submitted).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Crystal Quade and Mike Hamra are facing off in the Democratic gubernatorial primary. Both believe an abortion-rights amendment could help them win the governor’s mansion in November</h2>By REBECCA RIVAS,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>When Crystal Quade and Mike Hamra traveled to the Democratic Governors Association Conference in Minneapolis last month, they came with their stump speeches ready.&nbsp;Yet before they could push their own platforms as gubernatorial candidates, they had to convince people that a&nbsp;Democrat from Missouri was worth paying attention to.&nbsp;“Folks are excited about Missouri being back on the map,” said Quade, a Springfield Democrat and state House minority leader, about the conference attendees. “As we all know, we used to be considered quite a swing state, but in the last couple cycles, Missouri has definitely gone more to the right in the election results.”Missouri hasn’t elected a Democrat statewide since 2018, and the 2020 race for governor saw Republican Mike Parson cruise to victory by 17 percentage points.&nbsp;The game changer this year, both Hamra and Quade agreed, could be a&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/05/03/missourians-signatures-abortion-amendment-viability/">ballot measure to&nbsp;enshrine abortion rights in Missouri’s constitution&nbsp;</a>that will likely come before voters in November.&nbsp;Since June 2022, nearly every abortion has been illegal in the state with the exception of medical emergencies.&nbsp;For evidence, Hamra pointed to the bordering deep-red states of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/kentucky-democrats-abortion-governors-race-beshear-cameron-rcna120652" target="_blank">Kentucky</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/11/09/kansas-gov-laura-kelly-wins-reelection-over-republican-challenger-derek-schmidt/" target="_blank">Kansas</a>.&nbsp;“Both have had challenging races, but they ended up with Democratic governors,” said Hamra, president and CEO of Hamra Enterprises and another Springfield Democrat. “This could be one of the years that we flip the state to blue… and people outside the state also see it.”The primary in August will be the first significant Democratic nomination contest for governor since 2004, when then-State Auditor Claire McCaskill defeated incumbent Gov. Bob Holden.&nbsp;On the Republican side, three candidates are running full-scale campaigns for the GOP nomination – Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe, Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft and state Sen. Bill Eigel.Incumbent Republican Gov. Mike Parson is barred from running for another term.Quade entered the race&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/democratic-legislative-leaders-launches-campaign-for-missouri-governor/">last July</a>&nbsp;and Hamra followed in&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/10/27/springfield-businessman-mike-hamra-joins-democratic-race-for-missouri-governor/">October</a>. While not much separates the candidates in terms of where they stand on issues, there’s a glaring difference in their political experience.Quade has been the House minority leader for the past five years, and she started climbing the political ladder right out of college by working in McCaskill’s office as a legislative aide. With eight years as state representative under her belt, she’s not eligible to run for another term in the House.Hamra has never held an elected office. He’s worked for his family’s business since 2001, after leaving his law practice, and became president and CEO in 2011. The business that started with a single Wendy’s Hamburgers restaurant in the 1970s now has 200 restaurants – Wendy’s, Panera and Noodles &amp; Company franchises – in five states.&nbsp;His family consistently donated to Democratic candidates.The primary will be Aug. 6.&nbsp;<h2>Crystal Quade</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720525615655.png" alt="Crystal Quade, center, talks with voters at an event in Springfield, Missouri on June 30 (photo submitted)." />
 <figcaption>Crystal Quade, center, talks with voters at an event in Springfield, Missouri on June 30 (photo submitted).</figcaption>
 </figure>Quade grew up off a gravel road in Fortland, a small town in Southwest Missouri with only a Dollar General and gas station at the time. If her family wanted to go to a grocery store, she said they had to drive an hour east to Springfield.&nbsp;“That’s important to this discussion because the way folks grow up and their way of life absolutely influences their political perspectives,” Quade said, the area that leans heavily Republican.Quade is the only Democrat in her family, she said, where her mother was a waitress and her father worked in a factory.&nbsp;“I’m actually the first in my family to graduate high school,” she said. “We didn’t get the paper and talk about politics at all. It wasn’t until I was studying to become a social worker at Missouri State University that I realized how much government impacted the day-to-day lives of people.”A story she tells often on the campaign trail is going to Jefferson City as a college student for an internship.&nbsp;“I was very frustrated with a lack of understanding of what regular working class folks go through,” she said. “It was then that I decided that I wanted to get involved, and I wanted to run for office one day.”Her upbringing, along with her many years of experience, have allowed her to have conversations in all corners of the state about the impacts of political “extremism” in Missouri.&nbsp;For the past two years in the legislature, passing significant legislation has become vastly more difficult, due in large part to Republican factionalism in the state Senate. A&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/05/04/dispute-over-kc-landfill-derails-missouri-senate-as-deadline-to-pass-state-budget-looms/">filibuster</a>&nbsp;nearly derailed the only must-pass legislation –&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/05/05/missouri-lawmakers-approve-largest-budget-in-state-history-almost-51-billion/">a state budget</a>.“When I’m having discussions with people — because of where I’m from and where my family leans politically, it allows me to break through the partisan noise that we often see in the media,” she said.&nbsp;Quade touts a “proven track record” as the Democratic leader in the House advocating for issues that matter to Missourians, including raising the minimum wage, expanding accessibility to health care and fighting for abortion rights.&nbsp;“I was there when the abortion ban was passed and stood on the House floor and shared my own personal story of abuse,” she said, “and so many stories and other women have shared and how these bills deeply impact our ability to plan our lives.”<h2>Mike Hamra</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720525677466.png" alt=" Mike Hamra, president and CEO of Hamra Enterprises, entered the race for governor in October (photo submitted)." />
 <figcaption> Mike Hamra, president and CEO of Hamra Enterprises, entered the race for governor in October (photo submitted).</figcaption>
 </figure>Hamra said he grew up in a family that was deeply engaged in the political system, though not elected leaders themselves.“It’s always been a priority to understand the value and the importance of the role of government and what our politicians do,” he said.&nbsp;After graduating from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law in 1994, he spent eight years in Washington, D.C., where served as an attorney with the U.S. Commerce Department and Federal Communication Commission.“Being a public servant has very always been a priority for our family,” he said. “Growing a business is something that we’ve done, but it’s been inside of supporting people and making a difference in people’s lives.”&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Hamra has donated to campaigns for the party’s highest profile races – he gave money to Democratic nominees for governor in 2016 and 2020, and to Trudy Bush Valentine’s campaign for Senate in 2022 – but he has not contributed significantly to down-ballot races.&nbsp;In the past 10 years, Hamra donated once to a legislative candidate, giving $1,000 to a Springfield Democrat who lost a House race in 2016.Hamra’s company employs 7,400 people nationwide, with 2,000 of those living in Missouri. Even before getting into the “political fray,” he said he supported raising the minimum wage because he’s seen how it’s impacted his employees in other states where he does business.&nbsp;“The truth of the matter is,” he said, “when our employees are making more money to support themselves, it also helps them support their families.”As governor, he said he would fight to not only protect access to abortion, but also in vitro fertilization (IVF) and birth control — something his “far-right opponents” are fighting to ban as well.&nbsp;“This is personal for me,” he said in a fundraising email. “Thanks to IVF, Eileen and I were blessed to have our fourth child six years ago. Politicians in Jefferson City have no right to dictate how we choose to build our families or the health decisions women make about their own bodies.”Hamra couldn’t point to a moment or person that pushed him to get into the race – it was just a general frustration with the current leadership, he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;“I could not continue to sit and watch the dysfunction that was happening in Jefferson City,” he said. “I couldn’t tolerate it, and I knew that there needed to be… an outsider who’s not part of that system to get in there and start to affect change.”

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