BUCHANAN COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 1:30p.m. Tuesday in Buchanan County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 1995 Chevy Silverado driven by a 40-year-old woman from Cosby was southbound on Route E three miles southeast of Savannah.

The pickup traveled off the west side of the road, returned to the road and the driver overcorrected. The vehicle traveled off the west side of the road again and overturned.

Andrew Co. EMS transported the driver to Mosaic Life Care. She was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.

BUCHANAN COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 1:30p.m. Tuesday in Buchanan County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 1995 Chevy Silverado driven by a 40-year-old woman from Cosby was southbound on Route E three miles southeast of Savannah.The pickup traveled off the west side of the road, returned to the road and the driver overcorrected. The vehicle traveled off the west side of the road again and overturned.Andrew Co. EMS transported the driver to Mosaic Life Care. She was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.

Missouri woman hospitalized after pickup overturns

KANSAS CITY– A Kansas City man was sentenced in federal court last week for illegally possessing methamphetamine and a firearm, according to the United State's Attorney.

Keith T. Mims, also known as “C-Murder,” 54, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs to 21 years and 10 months in federal prison without parole. Mims was sentenced as a career offender due to his prior felony convictions.

On May 30, 2024, Mims pleaded guilty to one count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.

Mims was approached by St. Joseph, Mo., police officers as he was walking on Belle Street in St. Joseph on Jan. 25, 2022. Mims ran from the officers, who engaged in a foot pursuit, resulting in Mims being tackled and placed in handcuffs. An officer searched Mims and found a loaded Bryco Arms .22-caliber pistol with an obliterated serial number in Mims’s back pocket. The officer also searched a bag Mims was carrying, which contained 4.18 grams of pure methamphetamine, .45 grams of crack cocaine, and 10 pills.

Mims told the arresting officers that he knew it was illegal for him to have a firearm due to his prior felony convictions. Mims said he needed the firearm for protection, and that he would “rather be judged by twelve than carried by six.”

According to court documents, Mims has multiple convictions for possessing firearms and trafficking in narcotics and has spent the vast majority of the last 35 years either incarcerated or under a criminal justice sentence.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kenneth W. Borgnino and Stephanie C. Bradshaw. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the St. Joseph, Mo., Police Department, and the Sugar Creek, Mo., Police Department.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643643060274.jpeg" alt="Mims photo Buchanan County" />
 <figcaption>Mims photo Buchanan County</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY– A Kansas City man was sentenced in federal court last week for illegally possessing methamphetamine and a firearm, according to the United State's Attorney.Keith T. Mims, also known as “C-Murder,” 54, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs to 21 years and 10 months in federal prison without parole. Mims was sentenced as a career offender due to his prior felony convictions.On May 30, 2024, Mims pleaded guilty to one count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.Mims was approached by St. Joseph, Mo., police officers as he was walking on Belle Street in St. Joseph on Jan. 25, 2022. Mims ran from the officers, who engaged in a foot pursuit, resulting in Mims being tackled and placed in handcuffs. An officer searched Mims and found a loaded Bryco Arms .22-caliber pistol with an obliterated serial number in Mims’s back pocket. The officer also searched a bag Mims was carrying, which contained 4.18 grams of pure methamphetamine, .45 grams of crack cocaine, and 10 pills.Mims told the arresting officers that he knew it was illegal for him to have a firearm due to his prior felony convictions. Mims said he needed the firearm for protection, and that he would “rather be judged by twelve than carried by six.”According to court documents, Mims has multiple convictions for possessing firearms and trafficking in narcotics and has spent the vast majority of the last 35 years either incarcerated or under a criminal justice sentence.This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kenneth W. Borgnino and Stephanie C. Bradshaw. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the St. Joseph, Mo., Police Department, and the Sugar Creek, Mo., Police Department.

Man known as 'C-Murder' caught with meth and a gun in St. Joe

DEKALB COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 7a.m. Monday in DeKalb County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2014 Honda CRV driven by a 29-year-old man from Amity was southbound on Route N one half mile north of Stewartsville. The driver failed to negotiate a turn. The vehicle crossed the center line traveled off the west side of the road and struck multiple trees.&nbsp;

DeKalb Clinton ambulance transported the driver to Mosaic. He was properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

DEKALB COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 7a.m. Monday in DeKalb County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2014 Honda CRV driven by a 29-year-old man from Amity was southbound on Route N one half mile north of Stewartsville. The driver failed to negotiate a turn. The vehicle crossed the center line traveled off the west side of the road and struck multiple trees.&nbsp;DeKalb Clinton ambulance transported the driver to Mosaic. He was properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

Missouri man injured after SUV crash into trees

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

Missouri’s new law boosting the minimum wage and providing paid sick leave for workers should be thrown out because it violated constitutional rules on ballot initiatives, a coalition of business advocacy groups argued in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/Petition%20for%20Election%20Contest.PDF?courtCode=SC&amp;di=204469" target="_blank">lawsuit filed Friday</a>.

Proposition A,&nbsp;a ballot measure that&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/11/05/missourians-vote-to-increase-minimum-wage-require-paid-sick-leave/">passed</a>&nbsp;by a wide margin, would increase the state’s minimum wage on Jan. 1 and guarantee paid sick leave for hundreds of thousands of workers starting May 1.&nbsp;

The lawsuit, filed with the state Supreme Court, argues the election results should be overturned because of several constitutional violations, including alleged violations of the state constitution’s&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=III++++50&amp;bid=31808&amp;constit=y" target="_blank">single-subject requirement</a>.

The coalition of plaintiffs includes&nbsp;Associated Industries of Missouri, the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Missouri Grocers Association, the Missouri Restaurant Association, the National Federation of Independent Business, and three individuals associated with those groups.

“While Proposition A is bad policy and will have extreme and detrimental effects on Missouri’s businesses, that is not the basis of this action,” the coalition stated in the petition.&nbsp;

“Instead, the election irregularities and the constitutional violations are so significant that the election results must be overturned and Proposition A must be declared invalid.”

The defendants are Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, who is responsible for the ballot summary statement, and Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick, responsible for the fiscal note summary. JoDonn Chaney, a spokesperson for the Secretary of State’s office, said the office is “in the process of reviewing” the lawsuit. Fitzpatrick’s office didn’t immediately return a request for comment Monday.&nbsp;

All contests to&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=115.555&amp;bid=6216&amp;hl=" target="_blank">statewide election results</a>&nbsp;are heard by the state Supreme Court.

Marilyn McLeod, president of League of Women Voters of Missouri, called the lawsuit “anti-democratic” and “reprehensible” in a press release.

“These special interest groups could have raised their legal concerns at any other point in the process before the measure appeared on the ballot,” McLeod said.&nbsp;

“…We are appalled that judges will be asked to overturn the wishes of the Missouri electorate,” she added, “but we are confident that they will see that wages and benefits are clearly part of the same subject on compensation and will reject this lawsuit.”

Terrence Wise, a leader with the Missouri Workers Center, an organization of low-income workers, said Proposition A provided a “chance for change and hope” to low-wage workers across the state.&nbsp;

“It’s sickening to me that corporations are trying to steal our victory away and quiet the will of the voters who made this win possible,” Wise said.

Proposition A&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/11/05/missourians-vote-to-increase-minimum-wage-require-paid-sick-leave/">passed</a>&nbsp;with 58% of the vote and had the support of numerous unions, workers’ advocacy groups, social justice and civil rights organizations, as well as over 500 business owners.&nbsp;

The state’s minimum wage will increase to $13.75 in January and then $15 on Jan. 1, 2026.&nbsp;Employees can begin accruing and using sick time on May 1, 2025, earning one hour for every 30 hours worked, up to five days per year for businesses with fewer than 15 employees and seven days per year for larger businesses.&nbsp;

Some workers&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sos.mo.gov/CMSImages/Elections/Petitions/2024-038.pdf" target="_blank">are exempt</a>, including government employees and workers at businesses that have less than $500,000 in annual revenue.

The lawsuit alleges that the proposition’s fiscal note and summary on the ballot were “insufficient and unfair.” For instance, the lawsuit argues the summary wasn’t sufficiently nuanced about the caps on paid sick time or which employers are exempt.

Plaintiffs also argue the measure contains multiple subjects in violation of the single-subject constitutional requirement, and the clear-title rule, because benefits and wages should be considered distinct issues.&nbsp;

Advocates&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/11/07/missouri-business-groups-weigh-challenge-to-voter-approved-minimum-wage-hike-sick-leave/">have previously said</a>&nbsp;wages and benefits are part of overall compensation packages, so fall under the single-subject requirement. They have also said there were several opportunities for the group to voice an opinion with concerns about the language earlier, and they didn’t.&nbsp;

And the lawsuit argues the proposition violates equal protection laws, through “similarly situated parties being treated differently,” citing the paid sick-leave exemptions for certain workers.

The details of the law are similar to those in states that have already adopted policies to expand access to paid sick leave. Paid sick leave measures also passed in Alaska and Nebraska last month, bringing the number of states with such laws to 18.

The plaintiffs want the Supreme Court to overturn the election results and declare the fiscal and ballot summaries wrong.

The business coalition had&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/11/07/missouri-business-groups-weigh-challenge-to-voter-approved-minimum-wage-hike-sick-leave/">previously</a>&nbsp;said they were exploring “all available options, including possible legal action.”

The main focus of concern among business advocacy groups has been with the sick leave portion of the proposition, arguing it constrains business owner’s freedom to make their own decisions and opens them up to liability if they don’t follow the requirements.

Because the measure changes state law but not the constitution, the legislature could modify or overturn it without returning for a new vote of the people. Advocates from both sides have told The Independent they see that as&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/11/07/missouri-business-groups-weigh-challenge-to-voter-approved-minimum-wage-hike-sick-leave/">unlikely</a>, and see overturning the will of voters as unpopular.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686689481146.png" alt=" The Supreme Court of Missouri (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> The Supreme Court of Missouri (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/cbates/">CLARA BATES</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/09/21/missouri-judge-once-again-delays-decision-on-closing-agape-boarding-school/">Missouri Independent</a>Missouri’s new law boosting the minimum wage and providing paid sick leave for workers should be thrown out because it violated constitutional rules on ballot initiatives, a coalition of business advocacy groups argued in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/Petition%20for%20Election%20Contest.PDF?courtCode=SC&amp;di=204469" target="_blank">lawsuit filed Friday</a>.Proposition A,&nbsp;a ballot measure that&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/11/05/missourians-vote-to-increase-minimum-wage-require-paid-sick-leave/">passed</a>&nbsp;by a wide margin, would increase the state’s minimum wage on Jan. 1 and guarantee paid sick leave for hundreds of thousands of workers starting May 1.&nbsp;The lawsuit, filed with the state Supreme Court, argues the election results should be overturned because of several constitutional violations, including alleged violations of the state constitution’s&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=III++++50&amp;bid=31808&amp;constit=y" target="_blank">single-subject requirement</a>.The coalition of plaintiffs includes&nbsp;Associated Industries of Missouri, the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Missouri Grocers Association, the Missouri Restaurant Association, the National Federation of Independent Business, and three individuals associated with those groups.“While Proposition A is bad policy and will have extreme and detrimental effects on Missouri’s businesses, that is not the basis of this action,” the coalition stated in the petition.&nbsp;“Instead, the election irregularities and the constitutional violations are so significant that the election results must be overturned and Proposition A must be declared invalid.”The defendants are Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, who is responsible for the ballot summary statement, and Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick, responsible for the fiscal note summary. JoDonn Chaney, a spokesperson for the Secretary of State’s office, said the office is “in the process of reviewing” the lawsuit. Fitzpatrick’s office didn’t immediately return a request for comment Monday.&nbsp;All contests to&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=115.555&amp;bid=6216&amp;hl=" target="_blank">statewide election results</a>&nbsp;are heard by the state Supreme Court.Marilyn McLeod, president of League of Women Voters of Missouri, called the lawsuit “anti-democratic” and “reprehensible” in a press release.“These special interest groups could have raised their legal concerns at any other point in the process before the measure appeared on the ballot,” McLeod said.&nbsp;“…We are appalled that judges will be asked to overturn the wishes of the Missouri electorate,” she added, “but we are confident that they will see that wages and benefits are clearly part of the same subject on compensation and will reject this lawsuit.”Terrence Wise, a leader with the Missouri Workers Center, an organization of low-income workers, said Proposition A provided a “chance for change and hope” to low-wage workers across the state.&nbsp;“It’s sickening to me that corporations are trying to steal our victory away and quiet the will of the voters who made this win possible,” Wise said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1728643418242.png" alt="&nbsp;Missourians for Healthy Families and Fair Wages, the campaign behind Prop A, gathered over 210,000 signatures to place it on the ballot (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;Missourians for Healthy Families and Fair Wages, the campaign behind Prop A, gathered over 210,000 signatures to place it on the ballot (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure>Proposition A&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/11/05/missourians-vote-to-increase-minimum-wage-require-paid-sick-leave/">passed</a>&nbsp;with 58% of the vote and had the support of numerous unions, workers’ advocacy groups, social justice and civil rights organizations, as well as over 500 business owners.&nbsp;The state’s minimum wage will increase to $13.75 in January and then $15 on Jan. 1, 2026.&nbsp;Employees can begin accruing and using sick time on May 1, 2025, earning one hour for every 30 hours worked, up to five days per year for businesses with fewer than 15 employees and seven days per year for larger businesses.&nbsp;Some workers&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sos.mo.gov/CMSImages/Elections/Petitions/2024-038.pdf" target="_blank">are exempt</a>, including government employees and workers at businesses that have less than $500,000 in annual revenue.The lawsuit alleges that the proposition’s fiscal note and summary on the ballot were “insufficient and unfair.” For instance, the lawsuit argues the summary wasn’t sufficiently nuanced about the caps on paid sick time or which employers are exempt.Plaintiffs also argue the measure contains multiple subjects in violation of the single-subject constitutional requirement, and the clear-title rule, because benefits and wages should be considered distinct issues.&nbsp;Advocates&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/11/07/missouri-business-groups-weigh-challenge-to-voter-approved-minimum-wage-hike-sick-leave/">have previously said</a>&nbsp;wages and benefits are part of overall compensation packages, so fall under the single-subject requirement. They have also said there were several opportunities for the group to voice an opinion with concerns about the language earlier, and they didn’t.&nbsp;And the lawsuit argues the proposition violates equal protection laws, through “similarly situated parties being treated differently,” citing the paid sick-leave exemptions for certain workers.The details of the law are similar to those in states that have already adopted policies to expand access to paid sick leave. Paid sick leave measures also passed in Alaska and Nebraska last month, bringing the number of states with such laws to 18.The plaintiffs want the Supreme Court to overturn the election results and declare the fiscal and ballot summaries wrong.The business coalition had&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/11/07/missouri-business-groups-weigh-challenge-to-voter-approved-minimum-wage-hike-sick-leave/">previously</a>&nbsp;said they were exploring “all available options, including possible legal action.”The main focus of concern among business advocacy groups has been with the sick leave portion of the proposition, arguing it constrains business owner’s freedom to make their own decisions and opens them up to liability if they don’t follow the requirements.Because the measure changes state law but not the constitution, the legislature could modify or overturn it without returning for a new vote of the people. Advocates from both sides have told The Independent they see that as&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/11/07/missouri-business-groups-weigh-challenge-to-voter-approved-minimum-wage-hike-sick-leave/">unlikely</a>, and see overturning the will of voters as unpopular.

Business groups file legal challenge to voter-approved minimum wage hike, sick leave

St. Joseph state Rep. Brenda Shields once again
will try to pass a tax incentive package through the Missouri legislature to
address the child care shortage in the state.

Shields, a Republican, has succeeded in passing
the legislation through the Missouri House the past two years, but has run into
a roadblock in the Senate.

Shields has pre-filed the bill for the upcoming
session; the same bill she filed the past legislative session.

“It could look slightly different by the time we
hear it in committee or hear it on the floor,” Shields tells KFEQ/St. Joseph
Post, noting that Sen. Lincoln Hough of Springfield has filed a companion bill
in the Senate. “We truly believe this is the way that we can increase capacity
and have quality, safe, affordable, reliable care for our families.”

The package contains the Child Care Contribution
Tax Credit, which would provide a 75% tax credit to those investing in child
care. The Employer Provided Child Care Assistance Tax Credit Act would allow a
business to claim a 30% tax credit to offset the cost of child care for
employees. The Child Care Providers Tax Credit Act would allow a provider to
claim a 30% for capital expenditures or employee pay raises.

Each tax credit is capped at $20 million for a
total of $60 million.

Shields carries the legislation once again with
the belief that if passed, it would ease the child care shortage in the state.

“The business community has told us that over 50%
of the time they have trouble recruiting and retaining employees,” Shields
says. “And so, what it tells us, if they invest in the crisis that we have
around child care first, the state will invest. The state can’t afford to fix
the child care crisis on its own. It needs businesses to participate and the
tax credits do that, because businesses have to participate and put the money
up front first before the state pays.”

The legislation breezed to passage in the
Missouri House the past two years but stalled in the Senate. Still, Shields
sees an opportunity for success in the Senate in the upcoming legislative
session that begins next month.

“And I remain optimistic that on the campaign
trail this year that individual candidates heard that child care is a top issue
for Missouri families.”

Shields acknowledges her frustration that
disputes among Republicans in the Senate have prevented passage the past two
years.

“If we’d passed it two years ago when it was the
priority to get done, how much farther would we be down the road now?” Shields
asks. “Would we be attracting businesses to our state, because we would have
the solution for their employees and the child care&nbsp; for their employees?”

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

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostSt. Joseph state Rep. Brenda Shields once again
will try to pass a tax incentive package through the Missouri legislature to
address the child care shortage in the state.Shields, a Republican, has succeeded in passing
the legislation through the Missouri House the past two years, but has run into
a roadblock in the Senate.Shields has pre-filed the bill for the upcoming
session; the same bill she filed the past legislative session.“It could look slightly different by the time we
hear it in committee or hear it on the floor,” Shields tells KFEQ/St. Joseph
Post, noting that Sen. Lincoln Hough of Springfield has filed a companion bill
in the Senate. “We truly believe this is the way that we can increase capacity
and have quality, safe, affordable, reliable care for our families.”The package contains the Child Care Contribution
Tax Credit, which would provide a 75% tax credit to those investing in child
care. The Employer Provided Child Care Assistance Tax Credit Act would allow a
business to claim a 30% tax credit to offset the cost of child care for
employees. The Child Care Providers Tax Credit Act would allow a provider to
claim a 30% for capital expenditures or employee pay raises.Each tax credit is capped at $20 million for a
total of $60 million.Shields carries the legislation once again with
the belief that if passed, it would ease the child care shortage in the state.“The business community has told us that over 50%
of the time they have trouble recruiting and retaining employees,” Shields
says. “And so, what it tells us, if they invest in the crisis that we have
around child care first, the state will invest. The state can’t afford to fix
the child care crisis on its own. It needs businesses to participate and the
tax credits do that, because businesses have to participate and put the money
up front first before the state pays.”The legislation breezed to passage in the
Missouri House the past two years but stalled in the Senate. Still, Shields
sees an opportunity for success in the Senate in the upcoming legislative
session that begins next month.“And I remain optimistic that on the campaign
trail this year that individual candidates heard that child care is a top issue
for Missouri families.”Shields acknowledges her frustration that
disputes among Republicans in the Senate have prevented passage the past two
years.“If we’d passed it two years ago when it was the
priority to get done, how much farther would we be down the road now?” Shields
asks. “Would we be attracting businesses to our state, because we would have
the solution for their employees and the child care&nbsp; for their employees?”You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Rep. Shields files child care tax package in hopes 3rd time is charm

HOLT COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 2p.m. Sunday in Holt County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2013 Ford F150 driven by a 65-year-old Savannah man was southbound on Interstate 29. The pickup traveled off the west side of the road, struck a guardrail and overturned. 

Atchison-Holt ambulance transported the driver to Mosaic Life Care. He was properly restrained, according to the KHP.

HOLT COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 2p.m. Sunday in Holt County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2013 Ford F150 driven by a 65-year-old Savannah man was southbound on Interstate 29. The pickup traveled off the west side of the road, struck a guardrail and overturned. Atchison-Holt ambulance transported the driver to Mosaic Life Care. He was properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Man hospitalized in St. Joe after pickup crash

HOLT COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 5:30a.m. Saturday in Holt County.

The. Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2018 Hino driven by a 31-year-old from Tampa, Florida, was southbound on Interstate 29 near the Oregon exit.

The truck traveled off the south side of the road into the grass. The driver overcorrected and the vehicle returned to the road and began to skid. The truck skidded off the south side of the road and overturned in the median.

Atchison-Holt ambulance transported the driver to Fairfax Community Hospital. He was properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

HOLT COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 5:30a.m. Saturday in Holt County.The. Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2018 Hino driven by a 31-year-old from Tampa, Florida, was southbound on Interstate 29 near the Oregon exit.The truck traveled off the south side of the road into the grass. The driver overcorrected and the vehicle returned to the road and began to skid. The truck skidded off the south side of the road and overturned in the median.Atchison-Holt ambulance transported the driver to Fairfax Community Hospital. He was properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

Driver hospitalized after truck overturns

WORTH COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 2p.m. Friday in Worth County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2006 Ford F250 driven by a 52-year-old man from Southlake Texas was westbound on Route AA just west of Umber Road three miles southeast of Allendale.

The vehicle experienced an unknown mechanical malfunction and began to swerve. The pickup traveled off the north side of the road, struck an embankment rolled, struck a large stump, rolled down a hill and came to rest in a pond.

EMS transported to the driver to Mosaic in Albany. The MSHP did not have seat belt usage details.

WORTH COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 2p.m. Friday in Worth County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2006 Ford F250 driven by a 52-year-old man from Southlake Texas was westbound on Route AA just west of Umber Road three miles southeast of Allendale.The vehicle experienced an unknown mechanical malfunction and began to swerve. The pickup traveled off the north side of the road, struck an embankment rolled, struck a large stump, rolled down a hill and came to rest in a pond.EMS transported to the driver to Mosaic in Albany. The MSHP did not have seat belt usage details.

Driver injured after pickup rolls down a hill into a pond

Shop St. Joseph is in full swing as Chamber of
Commerce officials remind area consumers to shop local.

Chamber President Natalie Hawn says a program
that began modestly has seen great growth over the years.

“We started that program about 20 years ago
really to kind of keep people mindful of shopping in St. Joseph versus Kansas
City or Omaha,” Hawn tells host Barry Birr on the KFEQ Hotline. “Now, it’s
really changed where it’s to remind people to not do all their purchases
online.”

Twenty years ago, when Shop St. Joseph started, stores
distributed 40,000 tickets.

Last year, St. Joseph businesses distributed 2.3 million.

“So, the program has grown significantly both in
merchants and in the number of tickets that are given out,” Hawn says.

Hawn says while bigger cities might have been the
alure for St. Joseph area residents a few years ago, that has changed. Online
now is the competitor.

“I know it’s so convenient to purchase online,
but you’re not helping those local merchants who are really bringing that
unique gift experience to our community which makes it great for tourism, which
makes it great for amenities here in St. Joseph,” according to Hawn. “So, make
sure that you’re supporting local. I know you can’t always purchase everything
local, but we would love you to get creative and think about ways to purchase
local.”

Hawn points out small businesses had to survive
COVID and cope with inflation, counting on December sales to boost the bottom
line. Hawn says consumers went out of their way to support local businesses
during COVID, but have pulled back a bit this year.

“With inflation and not knowing what the
economy’s going to do and not knowing what the elections were going to do, we
think people have just been more conservative with their spending,” Hawn says. “But
they need to remember that those local businesses need you to survive. So, I
think that’s probably a part of it. I think people were more mindful during
COVID to support local. Four or five years later, they’re kind of forgetting to
do that.”

Shop St. Joseph ends on Monday, December 16th.
The drawing for the winning ticket will take place on Wednesday, the 18th.

The Grand Prize is $10,000. There is always a
$2,500 small business bonus prize.

Click <a href="https://saintjoseph.com/shop-st-joseph-kicks-off-your-chance-to-win-big/">HERE</a> for more on Shop St. Joseph.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733514630737.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostShop St. Joseph is in full swing as Chamber of
Commerce officials remind area consumers to shop local.Chamber President Natalie Hawn says a program
that began modestly has seen great growth over the years.“We started that program about 20 years ago
really to kind of keep people mindful of shopping in St. Joseph versus Kansas
City or Omaha,” Hawn tells host Barry Birr on the KFEQ Hotline. “Now, it’s
really changed where it’s to remind people to not do all their purchases
online.”Twenty years ago, when Shop St. Joseph started, stores
distributed 40,000 tickets.Last year, St. Joseph businesses distributed 2.3 million.“So, the program has grown significantly both in
merchants and in the number of tickets that are given out,” Hawn says.Hawn says while bigger cities might have been the
alure for St. Joseph area residents a few years ago, that has changed. Online
now is the competitor.“I know it’s so convenient to purchase online,
but you’re not helping those local merchants who are really bringing that
unique gift experience to our community which makes it great for tourism, which
makes it great for amenities here in St. Joseph,” according to Hawn. “So, make
sure that you’re supporting local. I know you can’t always purchase everything
local, but we would love you to get creative and think about ways to purchase
local.”Hawn points out small businesses had to survive
COVID and cope with inflation, counting on December sales to boost the bottom
line. Hawn says consumers went out of their way to support local businesses
during COVID, but have pulled back a bit this year.“With inflation and not knowing what the
economy’s going to do and not knowing what the elections were going to do, we
think people have just been more conservative with their spending,” Hawn says. “But
they need to remember that those local businesses need you to survive. So, I
think that’s probably a part of it. I think people were more mindful during
COVID to support local. Four or five years later, they’re kind of forgetting to
do that.”Shop St. Joseph ends on Monday, December 16th.
The drawing for the winning ticket will take place on Wednesday, the 18th.The Grand Prize is $10,000. There is always a
$2,500 small business bonus prize.Click <a href="https://saintjoseph.com/shop-st-joseph-kicks-off-your-chance-to-win-big/">HERE</a> for more on Shop St. Joseph.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Shop St. Joseph now aims at a new competitor for consumer dollars

Water flowing into the Missouri River from Gavins Point Dam
has been reduced to its winter level.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports it has lowered
releases to 12,000 cubic feet per second. The Corps began reducing water
flowing into the Missouri from Gavins Point on November 23rd. The
navigation flow support season ended December 1st at St. Louis.

“Releases from Gavins Point Dam are being reduced to the
12,000 cubic feet per second winter release rate by mid-December,” John Remus,
Chief of the Missouri River Water Management Division, said in a written statement
released by the Corps. “We will closely monitor river conditions, and releases
will be adjusted to the extent practical to lessen the impacts of river ice
formation on stages in the lower river.” 

The Corps had been releasing 32,000 cfs prior to the
reductions beginning at the end of November.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733505870740.jpeg" alt="Gavins Point Dam/US Army Corps of Engineers photo" />
 <figcaption>Gavins Point Dam/US Army Corps of Engineers photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostWater flowing into the Missouri River from Gavins Point Dam
has been reduced to its winter level.The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports it has lowered
releases to 12,000 cubic feet per second. The Corps began reducing water
flowing into the Missouri from Gavins Point on November 23rd. The
navigation flow support season ended December 1st at St. Louis.“Releases from Gavins Point Dam are being reduced to the
12,000 cubic feet per second winter release rate by mid-December,” John Remus,
Chief of the Missouri River Water Management Division, said in a written statement
released by the Corps. “We will closely monitor river conditions, and releases
will be adjusted to the extent practical to lessen the impacts of river ice
formation on stages in the lower river.” The Corps had been releasing 32,000 cfs prior to the
reductions beginning at the end of November.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Flows from Gavins Point Dam into the Missouri River reduced for winter

A Leavenworth man who conducted an armed robbery incident in Winthrop late last night has been located and taken into custody.

Buchanan County Sheriff Bill Puett reports that his office received a call of an armed robbery at a gas station in Winthrop around 8:30 last night.  45 year old Ryan Beaudoin entered and held the cashier at gunpoint demanding money. 

Beaudoin was taken into custody this morning at his home in Leavenworth. The Atchison and Leavenworth police departments assited in the investigation.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733588667602.png" alt="Beaudoin is being held in Leavenworth Co." />
 <figcaption>Beaudoin is being held in Leavenworth Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKESt. Joseph PostA Leavenworth man who conducted an armed robbery incident in Winthrop late last night has been located and taken into custody.Buchanan County Sheriff Bill Puett reports that his office received a call of an armed robbery at a gas station in Winthrop around 8:30 last night. 45 year old Ryan Beaudoin entered and held the cashier at gunpoint demanding money. Beaudoin was taken into custody this morning at his home in Leavenworth. The Atchison and Leavenworth police departments assited in the investigation.The investigation is ongoing.You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Leavenworth man taken into custody for armed robbery incident in Winthrop

A GoFundMe account has been established to offset the funeral
expenses for a St. Joseph man hit and killed by a car in the early morning
hours of last Sunday.

GoFundMe reports Jason Goldesberry died in a hit-and-run
Sunday morning, December 1st.

The St. Joseph Police Department reported earlier that a
pedestrian was killed when a vehicle left the roadway, struck the pedestrian,
then crashed into the porch of a house between Madison and Green Streets around
four o’clock that morning.

“Jason's life was taken in a hit-and-run early morning on
December 1st. Jason leaves behind his fiancé, three children including his new
baby girl, and two bonus children. Jason's family desperately needs your help
donating to funeral expenses so that he receives proper services,” the
fundraiser reads.

You can find the GoFundMe here: <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-jasons-family-after-tragedy">https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-jasons-family-after-tragedy</a>

GoFundMe reports that if anyone is interested in getting in
touch with the GoFundMe organizer or need additional details, the
"Contact" button on the GoFundMe will send a direct email to the
email address on file with GoFundMe. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733504935897.jpeg" alt="Jason Goldesberry GoFundMe page/Photo courtesy of GoFundMe" />
 <figcaption>Jason Goldesberry GoFundMe page/Photo courtesy of GoFundMe</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostA GoFundMe account has been established to offset the funeral
expenses for a St. Joseph man hit and killed by a car in the early morning
hours of last Sunday.GoFundMe reports Jason Goldesberry died in a hit-and-run
Sunday morning, December 1st.The St. Joseph Police Department reported earlier that a
pedestrian was killed when a vehicle left the roadway, struck the pedestrian,
then crashed into the porch of a house between Madison and Green Streets around
four o’clock that morning.“Jason's life was taken in a hit-and-run early morning on
December 1st. Jason leaves behind his fiancé, three children including his new
baby girl, and two bonus children. Jason's family desperately needs your help
donating to funeral expenses so that he receives proper services,” the
fundraiser reads.You can find the GoFundMe here: <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-jasons-family-after-tragedy">https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-jasons-family-after-tragedy</a>GoFundMe reports that if anyone is interested in getting in
touch with the GoFundMe organizer or need additional details, the
"Contact" button on the GoFundMe will send a direct email to the
email address on file with GoFundMe. You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

GoFundMe account established for pedestrian struck and killed by car

Missouri Governor Mike Parson has appointed Tim Tadlock of
Gallatin to the State Rehabilitation Council.

Tadlock is an insurance agent for State Farm and has served as
president of the Gallatin Rotary Club. He holds marketing and business degrees
from Northwest Missouri State University.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostMissouri Governor Mike Parson has appointed Tim Tadlock of
Gallatin to the State Rehabilitation Council.Tadlock is an insurance agent for State Farm and has served as
president of the Gallatin Rotary Club. He holds marketing and business degrees
from Northwest Missouri State University.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Gov. Parson appoints Gallatin man to State Rehabilitation Council

After a short hiatus, the Dance Arts Center is again bringing the holiday spirit to downtown St. Joseph with two performances of The Nutcracker.  

Director Marla Heeler says her company first performed the iconic Christmas ballet two years ago at the Missouri Theatre 

"Prior to that there hadn't been a Nutcracker here in St. Joe for a lot of years other than outside groups coming in, outside professional groups coming in and using students," Heeler tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr.  "So, we bit the bullet and decided we would take it on, and it was received so well, it was just better than we could have even hoped." 

Heeler says they opted for an every-other year approach with the Nutcracker and put on a performance of Alice in Wonderland last year.  

Heeler says doing the show every other year gives people something different to see each show, but it also helps her dancers grow in their roles 

"So that the roles they have this year, in two years they will be in quite a different place," Heeler explains.  "So, it gives them the chance to grow and get some of those roles that they watched when they were younger and work and attain those, so it kind of has a twofold benefit in doing the every other year." 

Heeler says though there have been some people telling her they should perform the show every year as a sort of holiday tradition.  

The performance at the Missouri Theatre will take place tomorrow with shows at 2pm and 7pm. Tickets can be purchased by clicking <a href="https://jomotickets.com/event/the-nutcracker-2024">HERE</a>.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733502377015.jpeg" alt="The Dance Arts Center will bring The Nutcracker to the Missouri Theatre Stage this weekend/ Photo courtesy of The Dance Arts Center " />
 <figcaption>The Dance Arts Center will bring The Nutcracker to the Missouri Theatre Stage this weekend/ Photo courtesy of The Dance Arts Center </figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post After a short hiatus, the Dance Arts Center is again bringing the holiday spirit to downtown St. Joseph with two performances of The Nutcracker. Director Marla Heeler says her company first performed the iconic Christmas ballet two years ago at the Missouri Theatre "Prior to that there hadn't been a Nutcracker here in St. Joe for a lot of years other than outside groups coming in, outside professional groups coming in and using students," Heeler tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr. "So, we bit the bullet and decided we would take it on, and it was received so well, it was just better than we could have even hoped." Heeler says they opted for an every-other year approach with the Nutcracker and put on a performance of Alice in Wonderland last year. Heeler says doing the show every other year gives people something different to see each show, but it also helps her dancers grow in their roles "So that the roles they have this year, in two years they will be in quite a different place," Heeler explains. "So, it gives them the chance to grow and get some of those roles that they watched when they were younger and work and attain those, so it kind of has a twofold benefit in doing the every other year." Heeler says though there have been some people telling her they should perform the show every year as a sort of holiday tradition. The performance at the Missouri Theatre will take place tomorrow with shows at 2pm and 7pm. Tickets can be purchased by clicking <a href="https://jomotickets.com/event/the-nutcracker-2024">HERE</a>. You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Dance Arts Center brings The Nutcracker to the Missouri Theatre

DAVIESS COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 3p.m. Thursday in Daviess County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2015 Ford Fiesta driven by a 24-year-old Hannibal, Missouri, woman was southbound on Interstate 35. An unknown vehicle traveled into the passing lane and caused the Ford to travel into the median, cross the northbound lanes, strike a ditch and overturn.

Daviess County EMS transported the driver to Liberty Hospital. She was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.

DAVIESS COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 3p.m. Thursday in Daviess County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2015 Ford Fiesta driven by a 24-year-old Hannibal, Missouri, woman was southbound on Interstate 35. An unknown vehicle traveled into the passing lane and caused the Ford to travel into the median, cross the northbound lanes, strike a ditch and overturn.Daviess County EMS transported the driver to Liberty Hospital. She was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.

Mo. woman hospitalized after rollover accident

A former Kansas City Chief who now helps people and
organizations with leadership training and performance says it all began when
concussions forced him to retire.

Jon McGraw played professionally for 10 years before a series
of concussions motivated him to retire and, then, to consider brain health and
how the brain works.

“And so I’m thankful in a lot of ways for that, because I’ve learned
a ton and have been able to do a lot of things to help heal my brain,” McGraw
tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post in an interview after he spoke to the 2024 St.
Joseph Chamber of Commerce Chairman’s Breakfast. “It’s a big concern for a lot
of my former teammates and a lot of current players right now. It’s an evolving
process of learning what’s really going on with the brain and what happens when
concussions happen.”

McGraw co-founded Vision Pursue which advises corporate teams
and sports franchises. McGraw drew a large crowd to the breakfast held at the
Stoney Creek Hotel and Conference Center.

McGraw was drafted by the New York Jets after playing for legendary
coach Bill Snyder at Kansas State. He was traded to the Detroit Lions, but
signed with Kansas City where he ended his career.

McGraw says much of what his company teaches is counter
intuitive, often having to spend quite a bit of time teaching employees how to
unlearn conventional wisdom, such as that stress is bad.

“Short term, you’re in a stressful situation, you’re getting
ready to go up and speak in front of a bunch of people on stage. You should
feel sweaty palms and your heart beating. That’s all really, really good stuff.
Or you think of an athlete getting ready to perform. That kind of stress is
really, really good,” according to McGraw. “A lot of what we’ve been taught in
our culture is that it is not, right? You want to be confident and calm and that’s
just not the way the brain-body system works.”

McGraw says stress is the way your brain and body prepares you
to perform.

Stress is ever present in a career, McGraw says, and needs to
become a motivator not a deterrence to performance. A key according to McGraw
is to find joy in the process, not just to seek it in the end result.

“But learning how to spread that out over the entire process;
in performance psychology it’s often referred to as process orientation where
most of your attention is going to the process itself, the daily task of what
it takes to get where you want to go,” McGraw says. “Now, you still enjoy the
realization of that final goal when you get there, but it’s more about the
journey than the destination, right? We’ve all heard that before, but it takes
a little bit training in our culture, because our culture has made the destination
primary.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733425204771.jpeg" alt="Former KC Chief Jon McGraw speaks to a large crowd at the 2024 St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce Chairman's Breakfast at Stoney Creek Inn/Photo by Brent Martin" />
 <figcaption>Former KC Chief Jon McGraw speaks to a large crowd at the 2024 St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce Chairman's Breakfast at Stoney Creek Inn/Photo by Brent Martin</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostA former Kansas City Chief who now helps people and
organizations with leadership training and performance says it all began when
concussions forced him to retire.Jon McGraw played professionally for 10 years before a series
of concussions motivated him to retire and, then, to consider brain health and
how the brain works.“And so I’m thankful in a lot of ways for that, because I’ve learned
a ton and have been able to do a lot of things to help heal my brain,” McGraw
tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post in an interview after he spoke to the 2024 St.
Joseph Chamber of Commerce Chairman’s Breakfast. “It’s a big concern for a lot
of my former teammates and a lot of current players right now. It’s an evolving
process of learning what’s really going on with the brain and what happens when
concussions happen.”McGraw co-founded Vision Pursue which advises corporate teams
and sports franchises. McGraw drew a large crowd to the breakfast held at the
Stoney Creek Hotel and Conference Center.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733425315384.jpeg" alt="Jon McGraw/Photo by Brent Martin" />
 <figcaption>Jon McGraw/Photo by Brent Martin</figcaption>
 </figure>McGraw was drafted by the New York Jets after playing for legendary
coach Bill Snyder at Kansas State. He was traded to the Detroit Lions, but
signed with Kansas City where he ended his career.McGraw says much of what his company teaches is counter
intuitive, often having to spend quite a bit of time teaching employees how to
unlearn conventional wisdom, such as that stress is bad.“Short term, you’re in a stressful situation, you’re getting
ready to go up and speak in front of a bunch of people on stage. You should
feel sweaty palms and your heart beating. That’s all really, really good stuff.
Or you think of an athlete getting ready to perform. That kind of stress is
really, really good,” according to McGraw. “A lot of what we’ve been taught in
our culture is that it is not, right? You want to be confident and calm and that’s
just not the way the brain-body system works.”McGraw says stress is the way your brain and body prepares you
to perform.Stress is ever present in a career, McGraw says, and needs to
become a motivator not a deterrence to performance. A key according to McGraw
is to find joy in the process, not just to seek it in the end result.“But learning how to spread that out over the entire process;
in performance psychology it’s often referred to as process orientation where
most of your attention is going to the process itself, the daily task of what
it takes to get where you want to go,” McGraw says. “Now, you still enjoy the
realization of that final goal when you get there, but it’s more about the
journey than the destination, right? We’ve all heard that before, but it takes
a little bit training in our culture, because our culture has made the destination
primary.”You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Former KC Chief tells St. Joseph Chamber that stress is good

The Missouri Attorney General’s Office argued that regulations like informed consent laws should remain because for most women, abortion is ‘against their moral beliefs’

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

Missouri’s trigger law banning nearly all abortions remains in place. But at 12:01 a.m. Friday,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/11/05/missouri-voters-overturn-states-near-total-abortion-ban/">Amendment 3&nbsp;</a>will go into effect.&nbsp;

The constitutional amendment, which received 51.6% of the nearly 3 million votes cast, prohibits the legislature from regulating abortion prior to the point of fetal viability — generally seen as the point at which a fetus can likely survive outside the womb without extraordinary measures.

Planned Parenthood officials said they have providers and staff prepared to start seeing patients for walk-in medication abortion appointments at three clinics — in Kansas City, St. Louis and Columbia —&nbsp;beginning Friday, followed later by scheduled surgical abortions.&nbsp;

But whether that happens depends on the outcome of a lawsuit that had its first hearing before a Jackson County judge Wednesday morning.&nbsp;

“What we don’t have are the abilities to overcome state restrictions and hurdles that were intended to deny care,” Emily Wales, President and CEO with Planned Parenthood Great Plains, said Wednesday evening.

Less than 24 hours after voters narrowly approved Amendment 3, the ACLU of Missouri, Planned Parenthood Great Plains and Planned Parenthood Great Rivers filed a lawsuit seeking to take down decades worth of overlapping restrictions and bans on abortion on the books in Missouri.&nbsp;

There was no disagreement between Planned Parenthood and the Missouri Attorney General’s office that Amendment 3 makes unconstitutional the trigger law that went into effect in June 2022 when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the right to abortion.&nbsp;

The disagreement instead revolves around more than a dozen “targeted regulation of abortion providers” laws, also known as TRAP laws, that previously made abortions all but inaccessible in Missouri prior to the total ban taking effect.

Planned Parenthood is asking a Jackson County judge to grant a preliminary injunction which would immediately declare the current ban and the TRAP laws&nbsp;unconstitutional.&nbsp;

“Every single day that Missourians cannot access their constitutional rights, they’re being denied critical care,” Wales said.

Solicitor General Josh Divine, who argued Wednesday’s hearing on behalf of the state,&nbsp; characterized the lawsuit as “unusually aggressive,” saying it would be more appropriate for the plaintiffs to challenge each TRAP law individually rather than all together “on a very short fuse.”&nbsp;

He added that preliminary injunctions should only be granted in “drastic, extraordinary circumstances.” The lawsuit at hand, he contended, does not apply because Missourians are still able to access abortion in Illinois to the east and Kansas to the west.

“Nobody’s actually going to be materially affected by what this court does,” Divine added.

A decade ago, more than 5,000 abortions were performed in Missouri, according to data from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.&nbsp;

By 2020, two years before the abortion ban went into effect, that number dropped to 167 as a result of the TRAP laws.&nbsp;

Sam Lee, a longtime Missouri anti-abortion activist and lobbyist, said he’s been pleased by the attorney general’s defense of Missouri’s anti-abortion laws.

If the TRAP laws remain in effect, as Lee is hoping, “it may severely affect Planned Parenthood’s ability to do abortions, because they weren’t doing abortions when those laws were in effect some years ago.”

Judge Jerri Zhang, who is overseeing the case, did not immediately rule on the injunction when the hearing concluded late Wednesday evening.&nbsp;

She did, however, deny the state’s request to remove Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker as a defendant and move the case to Cole County. Earlier this year, a Cole County judge&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/09/20/missouri-supreme-court-opinions-amendment-3-abortion/">struck Amendment 3 from the ballot,</a>&nbsp;a decision that was quickly overridden by the Missouri Court of Appeals.

The attorney general’s office said they plan to appeal Zhang’s decisions, arguing that Peters Baker does not appropriately represent all statewide prosecutors because of her previous statements in support of abortion rights.

The Missouri Attorney General’s Office also posed a court challenge to the Planned Parenthood suit.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/Petition.PDF?courtCode=19&amp;di=3370878" target="_blank">This latest lawsuit,</a>&nbsp;filed last week in Cole County, questions Planned Parenthood Great Plains’ ability to sue the state, claiming a 2010 settlement agreement prevents them from doing so.&nbsp;

For decades, Missouri legislators have passed laws restricting abortion access and regulating the procedure.&nbsp;

“The voters have now changed all of that,” Eleanor Spottswood, an attorney with Planned Parenthood, argued before the court Wednesday.

Amendment 3 states, in part, that “the right to reproductive freedom shall not be denied, interfered with, delayed, or otherwise restricted unless the government demonstrates that such action is justifiable by a compelling governmental interest achieved by the least restrictive means.”&nbsp;

The litigation challenges numerous current laws, including a mandatory 72-hour waiting period between an initial appointment and the abortion procedure; requirements that abortion clinics must have admitting privileges at a hospital roughly 15 minutes away; and a requirement that the same physician who initially saw the patient also perform the abortion.&nbsp;

The lawsuit is also challenging the current law criminalizing physicians who perform abortions.

Spottswood argued that a failure to immediately strike down the TRAP laws would cause “irreparable harm” to Missourians because “patients and providers have to do twice the work to access abortion.”

Meanwhile, the attorney general’s office argued that striking down such laws would cause more harm.&nbsp;

Divine on multiple occasions cited an<a href="https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2023/020687Orig1s025Lbl.pdf" target="_blank">&nbsp;FDA label for mifepristone</a>, one of two medications used to induce a medication abortion, that shows that according to two U.S. studies of about 1,00 women, up to 5% of women who took mifepristone ended up in the emergency room. It did not specify if the emergency room visits were necessary.&nbsp;

The same FDA label says that across three studies of more than 14,000 women who took mifepristone, fewer than 0.6% were admitted to the hospital as a result of the medication.

Divine also noted that no individual women seeking abortions were named as plaintiffs in the lawsuit, arguing that’s because women don’t actually want abortions once given more information. He said this is why the state’s requirements that those seeking abortions first be given the state’s&nbsp;<a href="https://health.mo.gov/living/families/womenshealth/pregnancyassistance/pdf/Mo.InformedConsentBooklet-Revisedpgs.12-15August2019jkOGCReviewed.pdf" target="_blank">informed consent booklet&nbsp;</a>should remain.&nbsp;

“It’s against their moral beliefs,” Divine said. “But they’re being pressured, often by an abusive partner, by parents, things of that nature, so what we’re trying to do is we’re trying to create a situation where those women can in fact make the choice that they want to do, and we know most of the time that’s childbirth.”&nbsp;

About&nbsp;<a href="https://www.guttmacher.org/fact-sheet/induced-abortion-united-states#:~:text=Approximately%20one%20in%20four%20women,45%2C%20given%202020%20abortion%20rates.&amp;text=According%20to%20data%20from%20the,14%20weeks'%20gestation%20or%20later." target="_blank">one in four women in the United States have an abortion</a>&nbsp;before the age of 45, according to 2020 data. In 2021, around 94% of abortions occurred before 14 weeks gestation. Abortions later than 20 weeks&nbsp; account for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kff.org/womens-health-policy/issue-brief/abortions-later-in-pregnancy-in-a-post-dobbs-era/#:~:text=Abortions%20at%20or%20after%2021,require%20travel%20and%20lost%20wages." target="_blank">fewer than 1% of all abortions in the United States</a>, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Divine, in his final arguments Wednesday, characterized the state’s TRAP laws as incidental, much like speeding laws or road construction that could delay someone getting to an abortion. But he said the TRAP laws don’t fall under the strict scrutiny requirement and therefore don’t require an immediate ruling.

Zhang asked if delaying an abortion through the required 72-hour waiting period would infringe on a patient’s autonomy, especially if the patient was a day or two shy of 10 weeks gestation, when procedures switch from medication to surgical abortions.

Divine responded that the attorney general’s office believes Amendment 3 gives Missourians the right to an abortion, but doesn’t give them the right to a certain abortion procedure.&nbsp;

He also noted that Amendment 3 doesn’t specifically mention the legalization of mifepristone, alluding to future attempts by the incoming GOP administration to enforce the Comstock Act, an 1873 law that bans mailing obscene material, including for the use of abortion.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733401879071.png" alt=" Solicitor General Josh Divine called Planned Parenthood’s lawsuit seeking to unravel Missouri’s abortion restrictions “unusually aggressive” while speaking to media Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024, outside the Jackson County Courthouse (Anna Spoerre/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> Solicitor General Josh Divine called Planned Parenthood’s lawsuit seeking to unravel Missouri’s abortion restrictions “unusually aggressive” while speaking to media Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024, outside the Jackson County Courthouse (Anna Spoerre/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>The Missouri Attorney General’s Office argued that regulations like informed consent laws should remain because for most women, abortion is ‘against their moral beliefs’</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/annaspoerre/">ANNA SPOERRE</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>Missouri’s trigger law banning nearly all abortions remains in place. But at 12:01 a.m. Friday,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/11/05/missouri-voters-overturn-states-near-total-abortion-ban/">Amendment 3&nbsp;</a>will go into effect.&nbsp;The constitutional amendment, which received 51.6% of the nearly 3 million votes cast, prohibits the legislature from regulating abortion prior to the point of fetal viability — generally seen as the point at which a fetus can likely survive outside the womb without extraordinary measures.Planned Parenthood officials said they have providers and staff prepared to start seeing patients for walk-in medication abortion appointments at three clinics — in Kansas City, St. Louis and Columbia —&nbsp;beginning Friday, followed later by scheduled surgical abortions.&nbsp;But whether that happens depends on the outcome of a lawsuit that had its first hearing before a Jackson County judge Wednesday morning.&nbsp;“What we don’t have are the abilities to overcome state restrictions and hurdles that were intended to deny care,” Emily Wales, President and CEO with Planned Parenthood Great Plains, said Wednesday evening.Less than 24 hours after voters narrowly approved Amendment 3, the ACLU of Missouri, Planned Parenthood Great Plains and Planned Parenthood Great Rivers filed a lawsuit seeking to take down decades worth of overlapping restrictions and bans on abortion on the books in Missouri.&nbsp;There was no disagreement between Planned Parenthood and the Missouri Attorney General’s office that Amendment 3 makes unconstitutional the trigger law that went into effect in June 2022 when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the right to abortion.&nbsp;The disagreement instead revolves around more than a dozen “targeted regulation of abortion providers” laws, also known as TRAP laws, that previously made abortions all but inaccessible in Missouri prior to the total ban taking effect.Planned Parenthood is asking a Jackson County judge to grant a preliminary injunction which would immediately declare the current ban and the TRAP laws&nbsp;unconstitutional.&nbsp;“Every single day that Missourians cannot access their constitutional rights, they’re being denied critical care,” Wales said.Solicitor General Josh Divine, who argued Wednesday’s hearing on behalf of the state,&nbsp; characterized the lawsuit as “unusually aggressive,” saying it would be more appropriate for the plaintiffs to challenge each TRAP law individually rather than all together “on a very short fuse.”&nbsp;He added that preliminary injunctions should only be granted in “drastic, extraordinary circumstances.” The lawsuit at hand, he contended, does not apply because Missourians are still able to access abortion in Illinois to the east and Kansas to the west.“Nobody’s actually going to be materially affected by what this court does,” Divine added.A decade ago, more than 5,000 abortions were performed in Missouri, according to data from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.&nbsp;By 2020, two years before the abortion ban went into effect, that number dropped to 167 as a result of the TRAP laws.&nbsp;Sam Lee, a longtime Missouri anti-abortion activist and lobbyist, said he’s been pleased by the attorney general’s defense of Missouri’s anti-abortion laws.If the TRAP laws remain in effect, as Lee is hoping, “it may severely affect Planned Parenthood’s ability to do abortions, because they weren’t doing abortions when those laws were in effect some years ago.”Judge Jerri Zhang, who is overseeing the case, did not immediately rule on the injunction when the hearing concluded late Wednesday evening.&nbsp;She did, however, deny the state’s request to remove Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker as a defendant and move the case to Cole County. Earlier this year, a Cole County judge&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/09/20/missouri-supreme-court-opinions-amendment-3-abortion/">struck Amendment 3 from the ballot,</a>&nbsp;a decision that was quickly overridden by the Missouri Court of Appeals.The attorney general’s office said they plan to appeal Zhang’s decisions, arguing that Peters Baker does not appropriately represent all statewide prosecutors because of her previous statements in support of abortion rights.The Missouri Attorney General’s Office also posed a court challenge to the Planned Parenthood suit.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/Petition.PDF?courtCode=19&amp;di=3370878" target="_blank">This latest lawsuit,</a>&nbsp;filed last week in Cole County, questions Planned Parenthood Great Plains’ ability to sue the state, claiming a 2010 settlement agreement prevents them from doing so.&nbsp;<h2>Missouri’s TRAP laws</h2>For decades, Missouri legislators have passed laws restricting abortion access and regulating the procedure.&nbsp;“The voters have now changed all of that,” Eleanor Spottswood, an attorney with Planned Parenthood, argued before the court Wednesday.Amendment 3 states, in part, that “the right to reproductive freedom shall not be denied, interfered with, delayed, or otherwise restricted unless the government demonstrates that such action is justifiable by a compelling governmental interest achieved by the least restrictive means.”&nbsp;The litigation challenges numerous current laws, including a mandatory 72-hour waiting period between an initial appointment and the abortion procedure; requirements that abortion clinics must have admitting privileges at a hospital roughly 15 minutes away; and a requirement that the same physician who initially saw the patient also perform the abortion.&nbsp;The lawsuit is also challenging the current law criminalizing physicians who perform abortions.Spottswood argued that a failure to immediately strike down the TRAP laws would cause “irreparable harm” to Missourians because “patients and providers have to do twice the work to access abortion.”Meanwhile, the attorney general’s office argued that striking down such laws would cause more harm.&nbsp;Divine on multiple occasions cited an<a href="https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2023/020687Orig1s025Lbl.pdf" target="_blank">&nbsp;FDA label for mifepristone</a>, one of two medications used to induce a medication abortion, that shows that according to two U.S. studies of about 1,00 women, up to 5% of women who took mifepristone ended up in the emergency room. It did not specify if the emergency room visits were necessary.&nbsp;The same FDA label says that across three studies of more than 14,000 women who took mifepristone, fewer than 0.6% were admitted to the hospital as a result of the medication.Divine also noted that no individual women seeking abortions were named as plaintiffs in the lawsuit, arguing that’s because women don’t actually want abortions once given more information. He said this is why the state’s requirements that those seeking abortions first be given the state’s&nbsp;<a href="https://health.mo.gov/living/families/womenshealth/pregnancyassistance/pdf/Mo.InformedConsentBooklet-Revisedpgs.12-15August2019jkOGCReviewed.pdf" target="_blank">informed consent booklet&nbsp;</a>should remain.&nbsp;“It’s against their moral beliefs,” Divine said. “But they’re being pressured, often by an abusive partner, by parents, things of that nature, so what we’re trying to do is we’re trying to create a situation where those women can in fact make the choice that they want to do, and we know most of the time that’s childbirth.”&nbsp;About&nbsp;<a href="https://www.guttmacher.org/fact-sheet/induced-abortion-united-states#:~:text=Approximately%20one%20in%20four%20women,45%2C%20given%202020%20abortion%20rates.&amp;text=According%20to%20data%20from%20the,14%20weeks'%20gestation%20or%20later." target="_blank">one in four women in the United States have an abortion</a>&nbsp;before the age of 45, according to 2020 data. In 2021, around 94% of abortions occurred before 14 weeks gestation. Abortions later than 20 weeks&nbsp; account for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kff.org/womens-health-policy/issue-brief/abortions-later-in-pregnancy-in-a-post-dobbs-era/#:~:text=Abortions%20at%20or%20after%2021,require%20travel%20and%20lost%20wages." target="_blank">fewer than 1% of all abortions in the United States</a>, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Divine, in his final arguments Wednesday, characterized the state’s TRAP laws as incidental, much like speeding laws or road construction that could delay someone getting to an abortion. But he said the TRAP laws don’t fall under the strict scrutiny requirement and therefore don’t require an immediate ruling.Zhang asked if delaying an abortion through the required 72-hour waiting period would infringe on a patient’s autonomy, especially if the patient was a day or two shy of 10 weeks gestation, when procedures switch from medication to surgical abortions.Divine responded that the attorney general’s office believes Amendment 3 gives Missourians the right to an abortion, but doesn’t give them the right to a certain abortion procedure.&nbsp;He also noted that Amendment 3 doesn’t specifically mention the legalization of mifepristone, alluding to future attempts by the incoming GOP administration to enforce the Comstock Act, an 1873 law that bans mailing obscene material, including for the use of abortion.

Judge could allow Planned Parenthood to begin performing abortions in Missouri Friday

GRUNDY COUNTY—Two people were injured in an accident just before 6a.m. Wednesday in Grundy County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2009 Ford Ranger driven by a 32-year-old from Trenton, was westbound on MO 6 one mile west of Trenton.

The driver lost control of the pickup on the icy bridge. The pickup slid into the eastbound lanes and struck a 2023 Volvo semi driven by a 48-year-old man from Kansas City.&nbsp;

After impact the semi continued skidding east and jackknifed blocking both lanes of MO 6.&nbsp; A 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan driven by a 59-year-old man from Trenton to rear-ended the Ford Ranger.&nbsp; A 2018 Ford Eco Sport driven by a 25-year-old man from Trenton struck the semi.

EMS transported the driver of the Eco Sport and a 52-year-old passenger in the Dodge to Wright Memorial Hospital.&nbsp; All were properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

GRUNDY COUNTY—Two people were injured in an accident just before 6a.m. Wednesday in Grundy County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2009 Ford Ranger driven by a 32-year-old from Trenton, was westbound on MO 6 one mile west of Trenton.The driver lost control of the pickup on the icy bridge. The pickup slid into the eastbound lanes and struck a 2023 Volvo semi driven by a 48-year-old man from Kansas City.&nbsp;After impact the semi continued skidding east and jackknifed blocking both lanes of MO 6.&nbsp; A 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan driven by a 59-year-old man from Trenton to rear-ended the Ford Ranger.&nbsp; A 2018 Ford Eco Sport driven by a 25-year-old man from Trenton struck the semi.EMS transported the driver of the Eco Sport and a 52-year-old passenger in the Dodge to Wright Memorial Hospital.&nbsp; All were properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

2 hospitalized after 4-vehicle crash on icy bridge

St. Joseph Central High School running back Gabe Fields is continuing his football career at Vanderbilt.   

It's been quite a turnaround for the Vanderbilt Commodores, who for the first time since 2018 became bowl eligible this year.  Next year Fields, a standout at Central, will be a part of that turnaround.  

Fields says he's excited to get to Nashville and help build the culture 

"You know I've had some experience of trying to build something, here at Central we were 1-9 at one point, so I'm just ready to get up there and put the work in and try to win a National Championship is the end goal," Fields tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post 

Fields, who received several division one offers, says it was the Commodores coaching staff he fell in love with 

"I knew one of the coaches really well, Ghaali Muhammad, so I really loved how he was doing things and where he was," Fields explains.  "And I also loved how they also focus on academics, the other side of life, because one day football is going to stop and I know that, but with a Vanderbilt degree you can do anything you want." 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733346507784.jpeg" alt="Central running back Gabe Fields signed his NLI to continue playing football for the Vanderbilt Commodores/ Photo courtesy of Brett Kennedy KQTV" />
 <figcaption>Central running back Gabe Fields signed his NLI to continue playing football for the Vanderbilt Commodores/ Photo courtesy of Brett Kennedy KQTV</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post St. Joseph Central High School running back Gabe Fields is continuing his football career at Vanderbilt. It's been quite a turnaround for the Vanderbilt Commodores, who for the first time since 2018 became bowl eligible this year. Next year Fields, a standout at Central, will be a part of that turnaround. Fields says he's excited to get to Nashville and help build the culture "You know I've had some experience of trying to build something, here at Central we were 1-9 at one point, so I'm just ready to get up there and put the work in and try to win a National Championship is the end goal," Fields tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post Fields, who received several division one offers, says it was the Commodores coaching staff he fell in love with "I knew one of the coaches really well, Ghaali Muhammad, so I really loved how he was doing things and where he was," Fields explains. "And I also loved how they also focus on academics, the other side of life, because one day football is going to stop and I know that, but with a Vanderbilt degree you can do anything you want." Muhammed-Lankford was a standout himself at Central, graduating from Wyoming after playing football on both offense and defense. Fields had offers from multiple Division 1 programs, Iowa State, Baylor, Navy, Air Force, Harvard, Cornell, Penn, Yale, UNLV, Toledo, and Kent State were just some of the schools that wanted Fields. While he doesn't know if he'll play right away, Fields has some lofty goals. "My goal personally is to be a Freshman All American, but we'll see how everything shakes out," Fields says. Fields, ranked as the number 22 prospect from Missouri in the 2025 class by 247 Sports, says being a division one commit from St. Joseph is a great feeling, and says it shows that you can accomplish your dreams from wherever "And that you don't have to leave your hometown just to go chase a different dream, you can do it all where you're at," Fields says. "I mean you've got everything you need, you've got your family around you, you've got your teammates, people you've grown up with, and you can also show the youth that it don't matter where you start, it's just all about how you finish quite honestly." Fields in his senior season at Central compiled 1,806 all-purpose yards with 20 total touchdowns. Fields says he will major in business management.You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.&nbsp;<div><iframe src="https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/kfeq-news/embed/episodes/Full-interview-Gabe-Fields-signs-with-Vanderbil-e2rt3se/a-ablqkof" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Signed 🖋️ Welcome to Commodore Nation, <a href="https://twitter.com/Gabefields31?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Gabefields31</a> <a href="https://t.co/fQgFlKMSid">pic.twitter.com/fQgFlKMSid</a>&mdash; Vanderbilt Football (@VandyFootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/VandyFootball/status/1864390819500978441?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

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