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

A judge in St. Louis ruled Thursday that local municipalities can stack sales taxes on marijuana dispensaries, the first court ruling on a much-debated issue playing out around the state.&nbsp;

The lawsuit was filed by Robust Missouri 3 LLC. The company saw its Florissant dispensary’s tax rate on cannabis products rise to 14.988% after both the city and St. Louis County approved 3% sales taxes on adult-use marijuana in April 2023.

The constitutional amendment that&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/11/09/missouri-voters-amend-state-constitution-to-legalize-recreational-marijuana/">legalized recreational cannabis sales</a>&nbsp;included a 6% statewide excise tax — but it also authorized “any local government” to charge a sales tax of up to 3%.&nbsp;

At the heart of Robust’s lawsuit is whether the law intended for local governments to be able to impose a maximum of 3% sales combined, or if they can each impose a 3% sales tax.&nbsp;

St. Louis County Circuit Judge Brian May ruled that both governments’ taxes are valid.&nbsp;

In his Thursday order, May stated there is no court precedent on this issue, so he interpreted the intent of the law “as a whole and not in isolated parts.”

While the law allows for recreational marijuana to be legal, he stated it also intended for local governments to be able to “protect public health.”&nbsp;

“If [Robust’s] interpretation were accepted, then a municipality or city would essentially be given carte blanche to ignore any county ordinance or regulation, including those related to public health and safety wholly unrelated to the taxing issue,” May wrote in the ruling.&nbsp;

May pointed to the provision that allows the city to approve placing a dispensary within less than 1,000 feet of any then-existing school.&nbsp;

“…and the county, and other cities in the Ferguson-Florissant School District, would have no say in that decision,” May wrote. “This absurd outcome would directly contradict the stated purpose of the [amendment].”

The ruling is a win for the Missouri Association of Counties, said Steve Hobbs, the association’s executive director. The association has strongly advocated that counties have the ability to do this, he said.

“The bulk of the counties around the state had gone to the voters and asked them to implement this tax,” Hobbs told The Independent on Friday. “And I think every one of them approved of it. I think [the ruling] removes some uncertainty from those counties.”&nbsp;

On the other side, leaders of the marijuana industry have called the effort to collect both taxes an “unconstitutional money grab” that violates the terms of the amendment.

“We know from other states that when legal marijuana is taxed unnecessarily high, it only helps the illicit market,” said Andrew Mullins, executive director Missouri Cannabis Trade Association, in a statement to The Independent Friday, “which deprives Missouri veterans and substance abuse programs of needed revenue.”&nbsp;

Robust Missouri has submitted an appeal on the circuit court’s decision. Another&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/10/17/pair-of-lawsuits-challenge-whether-missouri-counties-can-stack-tax-on-marijuana-sales/">similar case&nbsp;</a>is pending&nbsp;in Buchanan County.

St. Joseph dispensary Vertical Enterprises&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/Petition%20for%20Permanent%20Injunction.PDF?courtCode=05&amp;di=3490483">sued Buchanan County Collector Peggy Campbell</a>, arguing that it, too, would be “irreparably harmed” if both taxes were imposed.

A hearing is scheduled in that case for May 16 in the Circuit Court of Buchanan County.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692273868300.png" alt="- A Robust Cannabis employee showcases the company’s Black Hole Sun strain at their warehouse in Cuba, Missouri&nbsp;(Rebecca Rivas/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption>- A Robust Cannabis employee showcases the company’s Black Hole Sun strain at their warehouse in Cuba, Missouri&nbsp;(Rebecca Rivas/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure>By REBECCA RIVAS,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>A judge in St. Louis ruled Thursday that local municipalities can stack sales taxes on marijuana dispensaries, the first court ruling on a much-debated issue playing out around the state.&nbsp;The lawsuit was filed by Robust Missouri 3 LLC. The company saw its Florissant dispensary’s tax rate on cannabis products rise to 14.988% after both the city and St. Louis County approved 3% sales taxes on adult-use marijuana in April 2023.The constitutional amendment that&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/11/09/missouri-voters-amend-state-constitution-to-legalize-recreational-marijuana/">legalized recreational cannabis sales</a>&nbsp;included a 6% statewide excise tax — but it also authorized “any local government” to charge a sales tax of up to 3%.&nbsp;At the heart of Robust’s lawsuit is whether the law intended for local governments to be able to impose a maximum of 3% sales combined, or if they can each impose a 3% sales tax.&nbsp;St. Louis County Circuit Judge Brian May ruled that both governments’ taxes are valid.&nbsp;In his Thursday order, May stated there is no court precedent on this issue, so he interpreted the intent of the law “as a whole and not in isolated parts.”While the law allows for recreational marijuana to be legal, he stated it also intended for local governments to be able to “protect public health.”&nbsp;“If [Robust’s] interpretation were accepted, then a municipality or city would essentially be given carte blanche to ignore any county ordinance or regulation, including those related to public health and safety wholly unrelated to the taxing issue,” May wrote in the ruling.&nbsp;May pointed to the provision that allows the city to approve placing a dispensary within less than 1,000 feet of any then-existing school.&nbsp;“…and the county, and other cities in the Ferguson-Florissant School District, would have no say in that decision,” May wrote. “This absurd outcome would directly contradict the stated purpose of the [amendment].”The ruling is a win for the Missouri Association of Counties, said Steve Hobbs, the association’s executive director. The association has strongly advocated that counties have the ability to do this, he said.“The bulk of the counties around the state had gone to the voters and asked them to implement this tax,” Hobbs told The Independent on Friday. “And I think every one of them approved of it. I think [the ruling] removes some uncertainty from those counties.”&nbsp;On the other side, leaders of the marijuana industry have called the effort to collect both taxes an “unconstitutional money grab” that violates the terms of the amendment.“We know from other states that when legal marijuana is taxed unnecessarily high, it only helps the illicit market,” said Andrew Mullins, executive director Missouri Cannabis Trade Association, in a statement to The Independent Friday, “which deprives Missouri veterans and substance abuse programs of needed revenue.”&nbsp;Robust Missouri has submitted an appeal on the circuit court’s decision. Another&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/10/17/pair-of-lawsuits-challenge-whether-missouri-counties-can-stack-tax-on-marijuana-sales/">similar case&nbsp;</a>is pending&nbsp;in Buchanan County.St. Joseph dispensary Vertical Enterprises&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/Petition%20for%20Permanent%20Injunction.PDF?courtCode=05&amp;di=3490483">sued Buchanan County Collector Peggy Campbell</a>, arguing that it, too, would be “irreparably harmed” if both taxes were imposed.A hearing is scheduled in that case for May 16 in the Circuit Court of Buchanan County.

Mo. judge rules local governments can stack sales tax on marijuana

BROWN COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.

Just after 5p.m. May 2, the Brown County Sheriff's Office Drug Task Force initiated a search warrant at 1520 2nd Avenue W in Horton, according to Sheriff John Merchant.

Deputies arrested 32-year-old Skylar Pahmahmie of Horton on requested charges of Possession of Meth and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.&nbsp; 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714761668048.png" alt="Pahmahmie-photo Brown Co." />
 <figcaption>Pahmahmie-photo Brown Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>BROWN COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.Just after 5p.m. May 2, the Brown County Sheriff's Office Drug Task Force initiated a search warrant at 1520 2nd Avenue W in Horton, according to Sheriff John Merchant.Deputies arrested 32-year-old Skylar Pahmahmie of Horton on requested charges of Possession of Meth and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.&nbsp;

Drug task force makes arrest during search of Kansas home

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

A new political party will appear on Missouri’s ballot this year, the brainchild of a candidate hoping to challenge Republican U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley in November.

Jared Young, an attorney and businessman from Webb City, last year announced he would run as an&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/column/joe-holleman/no-party-us-senate-candidate-jared-young-real-change-won-t-come-from-two-party/article_17aee80c-cb66-11ee-82e7-afb4eeb0d3c4.html">independent candidate</a>&nbsp;in the Senate race. In April, he decided to instead submit signatures to create a new political organization,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.betterpartymo.com/">the Better Party</a>, and invited other candidates to join it.

Under Missouri law, an independent statewide candidate must submit&nbsp;10,000 signatures from registered voters to the Secretary of State’s office. That is the same number required to form a new political party.

Young submitted signatures on April 19, and of 21,587 signatures checked,&nbsp;10,696 were valid, Madison Walker, spokesman for the office, wrote in an email. The results were certified on Wednesday.

Along with Young, the Better Party has nominated Blake Ashby of Ferguson as its candidate for the 1st Congressional District seat currently held by Democratic U.S. Rep. Cori Bush.

Those are the only two candidates the party will field this year. Candidate filings had to be submitted with the petitions, Walker wrote.

Young is campaigning as an alternative to politicians out-of-touch with voters.

“Both parties have become overly obsessed with holding onto or regaining power at all costs,” Young&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fvotejaredyoung.com%2F&amp;h=AT03ff5CjyRVq2kNePJD4scYhX1d6kovrgndJY0mQ6HC1byI955Gk6tQJGl8lsFH36_QuyzkZKWsPwg7xLnCEQh6nqNZsg1G47u9P8FV5zLj0pTYKvS9vugy2wEduGei3nkr2gpmhBrkHdNHq8wU_L0&amp;s=1">wrote on Facebook</a>&nbsp;after the signatures were confirmed. “In their current form, they no longer represent the hopes and beliefs of most Americans.”

According to his first-quarter campaign finance report, Young has raised $364,377 for his campaign and had $110,650 on hand.

Young will be listed fourth on the November ballot for Senate.

Hawley, unopposed for renomination, has raised $7.6 million since January 2023 for his campaign committee and had $5.5 million on hand on March 31. Democrat Lucas Kunce leads a four-person field for the Aug. 6 primary with $7.7 million raised and $3.3 million on hand.

The other Democratic candidates are&nbsp;state Sen. Karla May of St. Louis, December Harmon of Columbia and Mita Biswas of St. Louis.

W.C. Young of Kansas City is unopposed for the Libertarian Party nomination.

If he’s successful at garnering at least 2% of the vote in the November U.S. Senate race, Young’s new party will be able to file candidates without the petition requirement in 2026 and 2028. To stay on the ballot for elections after 2028, the party would again need to meet the 2% threshold in at least one race.

If Ashby receives 2% of the vote in the 1st District race but Young falls short statewide, the Better Party could file candidates for future contests in that district but would have to petition to obtain a statewide ballot line.

Two other minor parties have lost the status as established parties in recent Missouri elections.

The Green Party obtained 2.4% in the 2016 election for lieutenant governor but failed to repeat that in subsequent elections. The Constitution Party obtained 2.1% in the 2018 election for state auditor but failed to repeat that in subsequent elections.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714840861198.png" alt=" Jared Young, the Better Party candidate for U.S. Senate in Missouri. (Campaign photo)" />
 <figcaption> Jared Young, the Better Party candidate for U.S. Senate in Missouri. (Campaign photo)</figcaption>
 </figure>By RUDI KELLER,&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>A new political party will appear on Missouri’s ballot this year, the brainchild of a candidate hoping to challenge Republican U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley in November.Jared Young, an attorney and businessman from Webb City, last year announced he would run as an&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/column/joe-holleman/no-party-us-senate-candidate-jared-young-real-change-won-t-come-from-two-party/article_17aee80c-cb66-11ee-82e7-afb4eeb0d3c4.html">independent candidate</a>&nbsp;in the Senate race. In April, he decided to instead submit signatures to create a new political organization,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.betterpartymo.com/">the Better Party</a>, and invited other candidates to join it.Under Missouri law, an independent statewide candidate must submit&nbsp;10,000 signatures from registered voters to the Secretary of State’s office. That is the same number required to form a new political party.Young submitted signatures on April 19, and of 21,587 signatures checked,&nbsp;10,696 were valid, Madison Walker, spokesman for the office, wrote in an email. The results were certified on Wednesday.Along with Young, the Better Party has nominated Blake Ashby of Ferguson as its candidate for the 1st Congressional District seat currently held by Democratic U.S. Rep. Cori Bush.Those are the only two candidates the party will field this year. Candidate filings had to be submitted with the petitions, Walker wrote.Young is campaigning as an alternative to politicians out-of-touch with voters.“Both parties have become overly obsessed with holding onto or regaining power at all costs,” Young&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fvotejaredyoung.com%2F&amp;h=AT03ff5CjyRVq2kNePJD4scYhX1d6kovrgndJY0mQ6HC1byI955Gk6tQJGl8lsFH36_QuyzkZKWsPwg7xLnCEQh6nqNZsg1G47u9P8FV5zLj0pTYKvS9vugy2wEduGei3nkr2gpmhBrkHdNHq8wU_L0&amp;s=1">wrote on Facebook</a>&nbsp;after the signatures were confirmed. “In their current form, they no longer represent the hopes and beliefs of most Americans.”According to his first-quarter campaign finance report, Young has raised $364,377 for his campaign and had $110,650 on hand.Young will be listed fourth on the November ballot for Senate.Hawley, unopposed for renomination, has raised $7.6 million since January 2023 for his campaign committee and had $5.5 million on hand on March 31. Democrat Lucas Kunce leads a four-person field for the Aug. 6 primary with $7.7 million raised and $3.3 million on hand.The other Democratic candidates are&nbsp;state Sen. Karla May of St. Louis, December Harmon of Columbia and Mita Biswas of St. Louis.W.C. Young of Kansas City is unopposed for the Libertarian Party nomination.If he’s successful at garnering at least 2% of the vote in the November U.S. Senate race, Young’s new party will be able to file candidates without the petition requirement in 2026 and 2028. To stay on the ballot for elections after 2028, the party would again need to meet the 2% threshold in at least one race.If Ashby receives 2% of the vote in the 1st District race but Young falls short statewide, the Better Party could file candidates for future contests in that district but would have to petition to obtain a statewide ballot line.Two other minor parties have lost the status as established parties in recent Missouri elections.The Green Party obtained 2.4% in the 2016 election for lieutenant governor but failed to repeat that in subsequent elections. The Constitution Party obtained 2.1% in the 2018 election for state auditor but failed to repeat that in subsequent elections.

Petition drive succeeds in placing new party on Missouri’s Nov. ballot

NODAWAY COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 11p.m. Friday in Nodaway County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2016 Honda Accord driven by Briley D. Giamalva, 49, Archie, was northbound on U.S. 71 two miles east of Burlington Junction. The car traveled off the west side of the road, struck a field entrance, went airborne and rolled.

Nodaway County EMS transported Giamalva to Mosaic in Maryville. She was properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

NODAWAY COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 11p.m. Friday in Nodaway County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2016 Honda Accord driven by Briley D. Giamalva, 49, Archie, was northbound on U.S. 71 two miles east of Burlington Junction. The car traveled off the west side of the road, struck a field entrance, went airborne and rolled.Nodaway County EMS transported Giamalva to Mosaic in Maryville. She was properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

Missouri woman injured after car goes airborne, rolls

ANDREW COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 7p.m. Friday in Andrew County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2006 Yamaha driven by William D. Mason, 26, St. Joseph, was eastbound on County Line Road at 28th Street Terrace in the Country Club city limits.

The motorcycle was following a 2006 Dodge Charger driven by Jasper M. Roberts, 23. Country Club, who was attempting to make a left turn as the motorcycle attempted to pass.

The motorcycle struck the left side of the car and the driver was ejected. Andrew County EMS transported Williams to Mosaic Life Care.&nbsp; Roberts was not injured. Williams was wearing a helmet, according to the MSHP.

ANDREW COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 7p.m. Friday in Andrew County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2006 Yamaha driven by William D. Mason, 26, St. Joseph, was eastbound on County Line Road at 28th Street Terrace in the Country Club city limits.The motorcycle was following a 2006 Dodge Charger driven by Jasper M. Roberts, 23. Country Club, who was attempting to make a left turn as the motorcycle attempted to pass.The motorcycle struck the left side of the car and the driver was ejected. Andrew County EMS transported Williams to Mosaic Life Care.&nbsp; Roberts was not injured. Williams was wearing a helmet, according to the MSHP.

St. Joseph man hospitalized after motorcycle strikes car

ATCHISON COUNTY —A man with a history of crime is back in jail.

On Thursday, police in Atchison&nbsp; arrested 57-year-old Edward D. Puckett of Wathena, according to Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson. 

He was jailed on a Kansas Department of Corrections detain order for parole violation.&nbsp; The Kansas Department of Corrections web site does not list the convictions for Puckett.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714743986375.png" alt="Puckett-photo Atchison County" />
 <figcaption>Puckett-photo Atchison County</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY —A man with a history of crime is back in jail.On Thursday, police in Atchison&nbsp; arrested 57-year-old Edward D. Puckett of Wathena, according to Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson. He was jailed on a Kansas Department of Corrections detain order for parole violation.&nbsp; The Kansas Department of Corrections web site does not list the convictions for Puckett.

Kansas felon jailed on new allegation

A $3.4 million fund has been established by the Mosaic
Life Care Foundation to support genetic treatment for rare genetic neuromuscular
diseases such as Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), a fund that could be used in a St. Joseph case involving newborn twins.

Mosaic Life Care reports it contributed $1.5 million to create the fund after receiving a $1.9 million anonymous
donation. The money is&nbsp; immediately available for the timely delivery of the
gene therapy treatment Zolgensma.

Mosaic states it is also using its governmental, hospital, and
medical connections to secure additional support for the treatment of SMA with
the hope the efforts will help drive down costs.

“Finally, my deepest thanks also
goes out to our network of caregivers who have worked by my side: the nurses,
doctors, staff, government relations representatives, trustees and leaders who
have conducted themselves with integrity to support, love and care for this
issue,” Mosaic Life Care CEO Michael Moore said in a written statement. “At
Mosaic Life Care, every caregiver works with a servant’s heart, and this is one
of the finest examples of that value I have ever witnessed.”

The money could be available for
cases such as that of newborn twins Easton and Eli Reed of St. Joseph,
who have been diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, a genetic disease that
impacts the nervous system.

Nearly $400,000 had been donated
through a GoFundMe page before their parents, Austin and Amanda Reed, suspended
taking donations, stating on Facebook that the family feels more confident the
boys will be able to receive the necessary treatment, which can cost more than $2 million per child. Amanda Reed works at Mosaic, but its employee health
insurance does not cover gene therapy, a rather common exclusion by insurance companies.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714759507875.jpeg" alt="Easton and Eli Reed/Photo from Reed Facebook page" />
 <figcaption>Easton and Eli Reed/Photo from Reed Facebook page</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostA $3.4 million fund has been established by the Mosaic
Life Care Foundation to support genetic treatment for rare genetic neuromuscular
diseases such as Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), a fund that could be used in a St. Joseph case involving newborn twins.Mosaic Life Care reports it contributed $1.5 million to create the fund after receiving a $1.9 million anonymous
donation. The money is&nbsp; immediately available for the timely delivery of the
gene therapy treatment Zolgensma.Mosaic states it is also using its governmental, hospital, and
medical connections to secure additional support for the treatment of SMA with
the hope the efforts will help drive down costs.“Finally, my deepest thanks also
goes out to our network of caregivers who have worked by my side: the nurses,
doctors, staff, government relations representatives, trustees and leaders who
have conducted themselves with integrity to support, love and care for this
issue,” Mosaic Life Care CEO Michael Moore said in a written statement. “At
Mosaic Life Care, every caregiver works with a servant’s heart, and this is one
of the finest examples of that value I have ever witnessed.”The money could be available for
cases such as that of newborn twins Easton and Eli Reed of St. Joseph,
who have been diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, a genetic disease that
impacts the nervous system.Nearly $400,000 had been donated
through a GoFundMe page before their parents, Austin and Amanda Reed, suspended
taking donations, stating on Facebook that the family feels more confident the
boys will be able to receive the necessary treatment, which can cost more than $2 million per child. Amanda Reed works at Mosaic, but its employee health
insurance does not cover gene therapy, a rather common exclusion by insurance companies.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Mosaic Life Care Foundation creates fund to pay for gene therapy

Festival season will soon be in full swing, and one Missouri town is in line as one of the top hometown festivals in America. The Soybean Festival in Norborne, Missouri finds itself as one of three finalist out of more than 500 entries in the Hometown Throwdown contest put forth by Cenex.

Festival spokesperson, Kyle Durham, says "It really is an entire community effort. From the humble farmer or banker or teacher that gives of their time freely to help put on the festival, because it is a year-round planning process. It's the businesses not only in Norborne but in the greater area that have been so generous with their contributions that allow us to not only survive but thrive in this post covid era."

Norborne's Soybean Festival is more than four decades running and takes place this year August 1st-4th. The other two finalist for the $100,000 prize are The Fall Festival in Roseau, Minnesota and The Musky Festival in Hayward, Wisconsin. You can cast your support with a vote click <a href="https://cenexhometownthrowdown.com/">HERE</a> to go to the website at cenexhometownthrowdown.com

By NATHAN STUEDLESt. Joseph PostFestival season will soon be in full swing, and one Missouri town is in line as one of the top hometown festivals in America. The Soybean Festival in Norborne, Missouri finds itself as one of three finalist out of more than 500 entries in the Hometown Throwdown contest put forth by Cenex.Festival spokesperson, Kyle Durham, says "It really is an entire community effort. From the humble farmer or banker or teacher that gives of their time freely to help put on the festival, because it is a year-round planning process. It's the businesses not only in Norborne but in the greater area that have been so generous with their contributions that allow us to not only survive but thrive in this post covid era."Norborne's Soybean Festival is more than four decades running and takes place this year August 1st-4th. The other two finalist for the $100,000 prize are The Fall Festival in Roseau, Minnesota and The Musky Festival in Hayward, Wisconsin. You can cast your support with a vote click <a href="https://cenexhometownthrowdown.com/">HERE</a> to go to the website at cenexhometownthrowdown.com

Norborne Soybean Festival among America's best festivals

St. Joseph got a big economic boost from hosting the NCAA Division II Women's Elite Eight and National Championship games.   

The Civic Arena in downtown St. Joseph played host to eight teams from across the nation just over a month ago, the event bringing in around $1.4 million in economic impact.  

St. Joseph Sports Commission Director Brett Esely says a lot of numbers go into making that one big number 

"When you figure those numbers in, attendance, visitors that we know were here, overnight stays, the day trippers, the ticket price, that equates to $1.4 million of the women's basketball national championship in St. Joe for one week," Esely tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr.  

Convention and Visitors Burean Communications Director Christian Mengel says not only did several people go to the games, but they also ate local 

"I saw about 50 people from one school spilling out of Geneo's Pizza, I didn't think they opened that early and I didn't think they were opened on a Monday, but their schools alumni association just chose to rent it out and start the party early and that was on a Monday morning," Mengel says. 

Several fans packed into Civic Arena downtown during the Final Four and Championship matchups. 

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714752928362.jpeg" alt="Fans packed into Civic Arena downtown for the NCAA Division II Women's championship game/ Photo courtesy of the St. Joseph Sports Commission" />
 <figcaption>Fans packed into Civic Arena downtown for the NCAA Division II Women's championship game/ Photo courtesy of the St. Joseph Sports Commission</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post St. Joseph got a big economic boost from hosting the NCAA Division II Women's Elite Eight and National Championship games. The Civic Arena in downtown St. Joseph played host to eight teams from across the nation just over a month ago, the event bringing in around $1.4 million in economic impact. St. Joseph Sports Commission Director Brett Esely says a lot of numbers go into making that one big number "When you figure those numbers in, attendance, visitors that we know were here, overnight stays, the day trippers, the ticket price, that equates to $1.4 million of the women's basketball national championship in St. Joe for one week," Esely tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr. Convention and Visitors Burean Communications Director Christian Mengel says not only did several people go to the games, but they also ate local "I saw about 50 people from one school spilling out of Geneo's Pizza, I didn't think they opened that early and I didn't think they were opened on a Monday, but their schools alumni association just chose to rent it out and start the party early and that was on a Monday morning," Mengel says. Several fans packed into Civic Arena downtown during the Final Four and Championship matchups. You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

NCAA Division II Women's Elite Eight generates $1.4 million in economic impact

LIVINGSTON COUNTY —A Missouri man died in an accident just after 4p.m. Thursday in Livingston County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported 2007 Dodge Ram driven by Joseph P. Anderson, 60, Brookefield, was eastbound on U.S. 36 three miles west of Chillicothe. The pickup experienced a defect, traveled off the right side of the road, struck and traveled on the guardrail.&nbsp; The driver was ejected.

Livingston County ambulance transported Anderson to Hedrick Medrick Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

LIVINGSTON COUNTY —A Missouri man died in an accident just after 4p.m. Thursday in Livingston County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported 2007 Dodge Ram driven by Joseph P. Anderson, 60, Brookefield, was eastbound on U.S. 36 three miles west of Chillicothe. The pickup experienced a defect, traveled off the right side of the road, struck and traveled on the guardrail.&nbsp; The driver was ejected.Livingston County ambulance transported Anderson to Hedrick Medrick Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Missouri man dies after ejected in pickup crash

CLINTON COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 10:30a.m. Thursday in Clinton County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2017 Ford F150 driven by Kadin R. Kirkwood, 18, Turney, was westbound on northeast 292nd Street and began to skid. The pickup traveled off the road and struck a tree.

A private vehicle transported Kirkwood to Mosaic. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.

CLINTON COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 10:30a.m. Thursday in Clinton County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2017 Ford F150 driven by Kadin R. Kirkwood, 18, Turney, was westbound on northeast 292nd Street and began to skid. The pickup traveled off the road and struck a tree.A private vehicle transported Kirkwood to Mosaic. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.

Mo. teen injured after pickup strikes trees

DAVIESS COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 8a.m. Thursday in Daviess County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Chevy Town and Country driven by Rodney J. Vantellman, 61, Bethany, was northbound on Interstate 35 two miles north of New Pattonsburg.

The van began to hydroplane in heavy rain. The vehicle traveled off the east side of the road&nbsp; and struck trees.

NTA ambulance transported Vantellman to Harrison County Community Hospital. He was properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

DAVIESS COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 8a.m. Thursday in Daviess County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Chevy Town and Country driven by Rodney J. Vantellman, 61, Bethany, was northbound on Interstate 35 two miles north of New Pattonsburg.The van began to hydroplane in heavy rain. The vehicle traveled off the east side of the road&nbsp; and struck trees.NTA ambulance transported Vantellman to Harrison County Community Hospital. He was properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

Mo. man hospitalized after crash in heavy rain

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri's professional sports teams on Thursday turned in more than 340,000 voter signatures to put a ballot proposal to legalize sports betting before voters this November.

The campaign had help from Cardinals’ mascot Fredbird, Royals’ Sluggerrr and St. Louis Blues’ mascot Louie. The oversized bird, lion and blue bear waved enthusiastically as they hauled boxes filled with voter signatures to the Missouri Secretary of State's Office in Jefferson City.

Republican Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft now must validate the voter signatures before the proposal officially makes it on the ballot. The campaign needs roughly 180,000 signatures to qualify.

A total of&nbsp;<a href="https://interactives.ap.org/embeds/4DE55/7/">38 states</a>&nbsp;and the District of Columbia now allow some form sports betting, including 30 states and the nation’s capital that allow online wagering.

The Missouri initiative is an attempt to sidestep the Senate, where bills to allow sports betting have repeatedly stalled. Missouri is one of just a dozen states where sports wagering remains illegal more than five years after the U.S. Supreme Court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/f3fa1f71b8f44378a7e2c51d321b13b4?utm_source=copy&amp;utm_medium=share">cleared the way</a>&nbsp;for states to adopt it.

Teams in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-betting-missouri-cardinals-chiefs-royals-26b7c94ad2d96ad05c2f4a396ba4e795?utm_source=copy&amp;utm_medium=share">the coalition</a>&nbsp;include the St. Louis Cardinals, St. Louis Blues, Kansas City Chiefs, the Kansas City Royals, and the Kansas City Current and St. Louis City soccer teams.

The proposed constitutional amendment would allow each of Missouri’s 13 casinos and six professional sports teams to offer onsite and mobile sports betting. Teams would control onsite betting and advertising within 400 yards (366 meters) of their stadiums and arenas. The initiative also would allow two mobile sports betting operators to be licensed directly by the Missouri Gaming Commission.

Under the initiative, at least $5 million annually in licensing fees and taxes would go toward problem gambling programs, with remaining tax revenues going toward elementary, secondary and higher education. If approved by voters, state regulators would have to launch sports betting no later than Dec. 1, 2025.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714691807085.jpeg" alt="Mascots for the Kansas City Royals, St. Louis Blues and St. Louis Cardinals haul boxes of voter signatures collected in order to put a proposal to legalize sports betting on the ballot this year, Thursday, May 2, 2024, outside the Secretary of State's Office in Jefferson City, Mo. (AP Photo/Summer Ballentine)" />
 <figcaption>Mascots for the Kansas City Royals, St. Louis Blues and St. Louis Cardinals haul boxes of voter signatures collected in order to put a proposal to legalize sports betting on the ballot this year, Thursday, May 2, 2024, outside the Secretary of State's Office in Jefferson City, Mo. (AP Photo/Summer Ballentine)</figcaption>
 </figure>JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri's professional sports teams on Thursday turned in more than 340,000 voter signatures to put a ballot proposal to legalize sports betting before voters this November.The campaign had help from Cardinals’ mascot Fredbird, Royals’ Sluggerrr and St. Louis Blues’ mascot Louie. The oversized bird, lion and blue bear waved enthusiastically as they hauled boxes filled with voter signatures to the Missouri Secretary of State's Office in Jefferson City.Republican Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft now must validate the voter signatures before the proposal officially makes it on the ballot. The campaign needs roughly 180,000 signatures to qualify.A total of&nbsp;<a href="https://interactives.ap.org/embeds/4DE55/7/">38 states</a>&nbsp;and the District of Columbia now allow some form sports betting, including 30 states and the nation’s capital that allow online wagering.The Missouri initiative is an attempt to sidestep the Senate, where bills to allow sports betting have repeatedly stalled. Missouri is one of just a dozen states where sports wagering remains illegal more than five years after the U.S. Supreme Court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/f3fa1f71b8f44378a7e2c51d321b13b4?utm_source=copy&amp;utm_medium=share">cleared the way</a>&nbsp;for states to adopt it.Teams in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-betting-missouri-cardinals-chiefs-royals-26b7c94ad2d96ad05c2f4a396ba4e795?utm_source=copy&amp;utm_medium=share">the coalition</a>&nbsp;include the St. Louis Cardinals, St. Louis Blues, Kansas City Chiefs, the Kansas City Royals, and the Kansas City Current and St. Louis City soccer teams.The proposed constitutional amendment would allow each of Missouri’s 13 casinos and six professional sports teams to offer onsite and mobile sports betting. Teams would control onsite betting and advertising within 400 yards (366 meters) of their stadiums and arenas. The initiative also would allow two mobile sports betting operators to be licensed directly by the Missouri Gaming Commission.Under the initiative, at least $5 million annually in licensing fees and taxes would go toward problem gambling programs, with remaining tax revenues going toward elementary, secondary and higher education. If approved by voters, state regulators would have to launch sports betting no later than Dec. 1, 2025.

Campaign to legalize sports betting in Missouri gets help from mascots 

ATCHISON COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just before 6a.m. Thursday in Atchison County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2022 Chevy Express van driven by Richard C. Stitt, 69, Lathrop, was northbound on Interstate 29 thirteen miles north of Rockport.

The driver lost control on the wet roadway. The van traveled off the left side of the road and struck a guardrail.&nbsp;

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

ATCHISON COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just before 6a.m. Thursday in Atchison County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2022 Chevy Express van driven by Richard C. Stitt, 69, Lathrop, was northbound on Interstate 29 thirteen miles north of Rockport.The driver lost control on the wet roadway. The van traveled off the left side of the road and struck a guardrail.&nbsp;Atchison-Holt Ambulance transported Stitt to Fairfax Community Hospital. He was properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

Mo. man hospitalized after van strikes guardrail

Boehringer Ingelheim has announced an expansion of its St.
Joseph facility, a cutting-edge research and development laboratory.

Boehringer Vice President, U.S. Global Innovation, Caroline
Belmont, says the new lab will bring innovation to the manufacturing of animal
health products in St. Joseph and through other Boehringer facilities.

“This is really a commitment to innovation and to the future of
this company as a whole across the world,” Belmont tells a group gathered at
Boehringer in St. Joseph. “It really does upgrade what we have, significantly
and it really probably will revolutionize some of the products and the future
and the research and development activities that we are focusing on in the future.”

Boehringer has invested $82 million in the St. Joseph facility
since 2022.

“It’s the only one of its kind in the U.S. and it’s designed
really to streamline the process which transitions products from a research and
development phase to a manufacturing scale,” Belmont says.

Kansas City Animal Health Corridor President, Kimberly Young,
says this expansion only enhances the reputation of the corridor which stretches
from Columbia, Missouri to Manhattan, Kansas.

“This facility underscores BI’s dedication to leading in
research, development, and manufacturing,” Young says.

The state-of-the-art lab will revolutionize the development of
future products, including biotherapeutics.

“It’s a new area for us. We’ve got lots of exciting innovation
there,” Belmont says. “So, this facility is going to play a pivotal role in our
future for our innovation organizations and for Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health
as a whole.”

Belmont says the St. Joseph plant continues to be a major
player for the company.

“The St. Joseph facility is a really crucial hub for our
global animal health industry and for the company and, of course, has that rich
agricultural heritage and extensive livestock farming support that we have here,
too.”

Boehringer Ingelheim employs approximately 850 workers at its
St. Joseph facility.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714679098310.jpeg" alt="Boehringer Ingelheim's Caroline Belmont speaks at the St. Joseph news conference/Photo by Brent Martin" />
 <figcaption>Boehringer Ingelheim's Caroline Belmont speaks at the St. Joseph news conference/Photo by Brent Martin</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostBoehringer Ingelheim has announced an expansion of its St.
Joseph facility, a cutting-edge research and development laboratory.Boehringer Vice President, U.S. Global Innovation, Caroline
Belmont, says the new lab will bring innovation to the manufacturing of animal
health products in St. Joseph and through other Boehringer facilities.“This is really a commitment to innovation and to the future of
this company as a whole across the world,” Belmont tells a group gathered at
Boehringer in St. Joseph. “It really does upgrade what we have, significantly
and it really probably will revolutionize some of the products and the future
and the research and development activities that we are focusing on in the future.”Boehringer has invested $82 million in the St. Joseph facility
since 2022.Belmont calls this lab unique.“It’s the only one of its kind in the U.S. and it’s designed
really to streamline the process which transitions products from a research and
development phase to a manufacturing scale,” Belmont says.Kansas City Animal Health Corridor President, Kimberly Young,
says this expansion only enhances the reputation of the corridor which stretches
from Columbia, Missouri to Manhattan, Kansas.“This facility underscores BI’s dedication to leading in
research, development, and manufacturing,” Young says.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714679164369.jpeg" alt="Belmont shares a laugh prior to the news conference/Photo by Brent Martin" />
 <figcaption>Belmont shares a laugh prior to the news conference/Photo by Brent Martin</figcaption>
 </figure>The state-of-the-art lab will revolutionize the development of
future products, including biotherapeutics.“It’s a new area for us. We’ve got lots of exciting innovation
there,” Belmont says. “So, this facility is going to play a pivotal role in our
future for our innovation organizations and for Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health
as a whole.”Belmont says the St. Joseph plant continues to be a major
player for the company.“The St. Joseph facility is a really crucial hub for our
global animal health industry and for the company and, of course, has that rich
agricultural heritage and extensive livestock farming support that we have here,
too.”Boehringer Ingelheim employs approximately 850 workers at its
St. Joseph facility.<div><iframe src="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kfeq-news/embed/episodes/Boehringer-Ingelheim-expands-e2j7h3f" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Boehringer Ingelheim expands in St. Joseph; adds modern research lab

Executive
Director of Community Action Partnerships of St. Joseph, Whitney Lanning, is
out at CAPSTJOE.

Lanning
has been with Community Action Partnerships for 11 years, the last nine serving
as executive director.

The
Board of Directors has declined to renew her contract.

"I am
proud to have served as the executive director of CAPSTJOE these past nine
years and of all the good things that were accomplished in my eleven years with
the agency," Lanning said in a statement emailed to KFEQ. "While I’m disappointed with the decision of the board of directors, I respect their decision and hope for nothing but the absolute best for the agency, staff, and families served."

Lanning
serves on the St. Joseph School Board, which officially censured her following
a clash with fellow school board member, Isaura Garcia, after the February 26th
school board meeting. The two disagreed publicly, including during a tense
joint appearance with host Barry Birr on the KFEQ Hotline, over whether the
district should adopt a four-day school week.

Lanning has been charged with misdemeanor harassment for the
confrontation that occurred after an executive session of the board. Garcia has
also filed a civil lawsuit against Lanning. Lanning has charged that Garcia
insulted her child during a verbal exchange.

This article has been updated since first published.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714669353354.jpeg" alt="Whitney Lanning/file photo" />
 <figcaption>Whitney Lanning/file photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKE/BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostExecutive
Director of Community Action Partnerships of St. Joseph, Whitney Lanning, is
out at CAPSTJOE.Lanning
has been with Community Action Partnerships for 11 years, the last nine serving
as executive director.The
Board of Directors has declined to renew her contract."I am
proud to have served as the executive director of CAPSTJOE these past nine
years and of all the good things that were accomplished in my eleven years with
the agency," Lanning said in a statement emailed to KFEQ. "While I’m disappointed with the decision of the board of directors, I respect their decision and hope for nothing but the absolute best for the agency, staff, and families served."Lanning
serves on the St. Joseph School Board, which officially censured her following
a clash with fellow school board member, Isaura Garcia, after the February 26th
school board meeting. The two disagreed publicly, including during a tense
joint appearance with host Barry Birr on the KFEQ Hotline, over whether the
district should adopt a four-day school week.Lanning has been charged with misdemeanor harassment for the
confrontation that occurred after an executive session of the board. Garcia has
also filed a civil lawsuit against Lanning. Lanning has charged that Garcia
insulted her child during a verbal exchange.This article has been updated since first published.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Whitney Lanning out at Community Action Partnerships of St. Joseph

A softball tournament this weekend at St. Joseph's Heritage Park will welcome in several softball teams from around the region. 

After holding two new softball tournaments last year, the St. Joseph Sports Commission was looking to expand the format to attract more softball teams to play in the city.  

Director Brett Esely says that will happen this weekend as the Sports Commission hosts the Spring Sizzle Youth Softball Tournament 

"We hope it's warm, we hope it's dry, we're kind of doing our best rain dance, but we have 25 teams," Esely tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr. "This is not a national event, I would call this more of a regional event, 25 teams from the state of Missouri, the state of Kansas, we've got a couple coming down from Nebraska." 

Players aged 8 to 14 years old will take over all five fields of Heritage Park near the St. Joseph Frontier Casino on Saturday and Sunday. 

Esely says the two-day event should draw in several thousand people to St. Joseph 

"I don't think it's a stretch with 25 teams to think on Saturday down at Heritage Park we'll have 1,000 people in and out of there, minus the teams, that's the following that these teams have," Esely explains. "First and foremost, these events get off the ground with the support of our local teams." 

Esely says the backbone for events like this is local traveling teams having a desire to bring other teams here 

"We've got some local teams that have supported these events and then we've got some other folks from those local teams and just supporters of softball that have said we want to spread the word, we want to get people to come to town," Esely says.  

"And new events are hard, they really are, the dates are tough, and you have to find the right mix of teams, then when you get them here you have to show them a good experience." 

Esely says the experience is something the commission is constantly working on to put forward the best possible product.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714671902495.jpeg" alt="The St. Joseph Sports Commission will host a two day softball tournament this weekend at Heritage Park near the St. Joseph Frontier Casino.&nbsp; Several teams traveled to the city last October for the Bats and Brooms Classic/ Photo courtesy of the St. Joseph Sports Commission Facebook" />
 <figcaption>The St. Joseph Sports Commission will host a two day softball tournament this weekend at Heritage Park near the St. Joseph Frontier Casino.&nbsp; Several teams traveled to the city last October for the Bats and Brooms Classic/ Photo courtesy of the St. Joseph Sports Commission Facebook</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post A softball tournament this weekend at St. Joseph's Heritage Park will welcome in several softball teams from around the region. After holding two new softball tournaments last year, the St. Joseph Sports Commission was looking to expand the format to attract more softball teams to play in the city. Director Brett Esely says that will happen this weekend as the Sports Commission hosts the Spring Sizzle Youth Softball Tournament "We hope it's warm, we hope it's dry, we're kind of doing our best rain dance, but we have 25 teams," Esely tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr. "This is not a national event, I would call this more of a regional event, 25 teams from the state of Missouri, the state of Kansas, we've got a couple coming down from Nebraska." Players aged 8 to 14 years old will take over all five fields of Heritage Park near the St. Joseph Frontier Casino on Saturday and Sunday. Esely says the two-day event should draw in several thousand people to St. Joseph "I don't think it's a stretch with 25 teams to think on Saturday down at Heritage Park we'll have 1,000 people in and out of there, minus the teams, that's the following that these teams have," Esely explains. "First and foremost, these events get off the ground with the support of our local teams." Esely says the backbone for events like this is local traveling teams having a desire to bring other teams here "We've got some local teams that have supported these events and then we've got some other folks from those local teams and just supporters of softball that have said we want to spread the word, we want to get people to come to town," Esely says. "And new events are hard, they really are, the dates are tough, and you have to find the right mix of teams, then when you get them here you have to show them a good experience." Esely says the experience is something the commission is constantly working on to put forward the best possible product.You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714672229642.jpeg" alt="Photo courtesy of St. Joseph Sports Commission Facebook" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy of St. Joseph Sports Commission Facebook</figcaption>
 </figure>

St. Joseph softball tournament attracts teams from throughout region

Missouri could be the first test of a more aggressive strategy to keep abortion off the ballot and out of the state constitution, with organizations shifting from trying to dissuade people from signing petitions to encouraging them to withdraw their name if they have signed

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

Wednesday’s Midwest March for Life at the Missouri Capitol had a different tone this year. It was about fighting.&nbsp;

Nearly two years ago, the crowd celebrated Missouri becoming the first state to ban abortion after Roe V. Wade was overturned.&nbsp;But on Wednesday, a new worry loomed over the annual event: Abortion could soon be enshrined in the Missouri Constitution.

“If God doesn’t intervene in this process,” Paul Shipman, with the Christian radio program Bott Radio Network, said at a rally on the statehouse steps Wednesday,&nbsp; “it just kind of shows you the direction where the nation is going and the direction where the state of Missouri is going.”

After recent losses in states like Kansas and Ohio, anti-abortion activists say they must take a more aggressive approach in Missouri, using a low-budget grassroots strategy to convince Missourians not to sign the initiative petition that would put a constitutional right to an abortion in the hands of voters.&nbsp;

They enlisted elected officials to publicly decry the ballot measure. They set up a hotline to report the location of signature gatherers so volunteers could show up and hand out “Decline to Sign” materials. And they stoked unsubstantiated fears about the initiative petition process, such as the notion that it could result in widespread identity theft.&nbsp;

And with a Sunday deadline to turn in signatures for proposed initiative petitions, their message and strategy is transforming from “decline to sign” to “withdraw your signature,” with fliers distributed Wednesday hoping to reach those “who regret signing – or who mistakenly signed.”&nbsp;

After signatures are turned in, anti-abortion advocates plan to pour over them to make sure anyone who opts out isn’t counted.&nbsp;

Anti-abortion organizers interviewed by The Independent, both in Missouri and nationally, say the biggest lesson they learned from a series of defeats across the country over the last two years is that they have to engage their supporters earlier in the process.&nbsp;

Missouri could be the first test of the new strategy, even as&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/04/17/missouri-initiative-campaigns-confident-of-achieving-signature-goals/">abortion-rights supporters are raising millions</a>&nbsp;more to get the issue on the November ballot.&nbsp;

“It is the work that is being done on the ground in Missouri that has not happened in any other state across the entire nation,” said Brian Westbrook, CEO of St. Louis-based Coalition Life. “It doesn’t require tens of millions of dollars to get that ground game. That groundwork is already happening.”

Missourians for Constitutional Freedom,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/02/19/abortion-rights-amendment-missouri-election-trap-laws/">the campaign behind the abortion-rights initiative petition</a>, has until Sunday to turn in more than 171,000 signatures from 8% of registered voters across six of Missouri’s eight congressional districts.&nbsp;

Mallory Schwarz, executive director of Abortion Action Missouri, which is a leader in the abortion initiative petition coalition, said she remains confident the campaign will hit its signature goal. She didn’t share where their numbers currently stand ahead of the deadline, but Schwarz said the tactics from the anti-abortion side boost her confidence that abortion is a winning issue.

“If they were confident that people were aligned with them,” she said, “they wouldn’t resort to tactics like blatant lies, disinformation and harassment.”&nbsp;

Anti-abortion groups interviewed by The Independent are focused on communicating three main points to voters: They believe the constitutional amendment goes farther than Roe; they say the amendment would harm health and safety protections for mothers; and they argue it will eliminate parental consent laws.&nbsp;

Abortion-rights groups have said these claims have no merit whatsoever. The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/01/17/abortion-rights-coalition-viability-campaign-amendment-missouri-ballot/">decision to move forward with an amendment including viability limit,&nbsp;</a>often considered to be around 24 weeks, rather than no ban at all was considered a compromise position rather than an extreme one.

Susan Klein, executive director with Missouri Right to Life, said her organization has teams across the state who will file requests under the state’s open records laws to obtain copies of all the signatures obtained by Missourians for Constitutional Freedom. They plan to make sure any names she says were scratched out by people who regretted signing are not counted.

Missouri’s messaging is consistent with the strategy being deployed in six other states with abortion measures heading for the ballot, said Kelsey Pritchard, state public affairs director at Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America.

Jamie Morris, executive director of the Missouri Catholic Conference, said the results in other elections made it clear that anti-abortion groups needed a new strategy.&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://mocatholic.org/wp-content/uploads/Statement-on-Abortion-Initiative-Petition-1.pdf">The Catholic dioceses in Missouri&nbsp;</a>are helping spread the movement’s message and encouraging parishioners not to sign the abortion-rights petition.&nbsp;

“Our track record has not been good,” he said. “From the pro-life side, we’ve always kind of been used to making one particular argument. And obviously, that was not resonating in some of the other states.”

Morris said the movement isn’t changing its position, but rather it is rethinking its messaging to focus increasingly on mothers as well as the “unborn child.”&nbsp;

“We’ve done a good job of trying to limit the supply of abortions in the state, but what can we do to limit the demand?” Morris said.&nbsp;

In neighboring Kansas in 2022, the Catholic church donated hundreds of thousands of dollars in a failed attempt to pass an amendment that would remove the right to abortion from that state’s constitution.

So far, the Missouri Catholic Conference has been one of the main donors to&nbsp;Missouri Stands with Women, the only campaign focused solely on actively opposing the abortion initiative petition, contributing $5,001.&nbsp;

Morris said Missouri’s dioceses so far have not fundraised on this issue, but if the measure lands on the ballot, he imagines there will be more serious conversations about financial contributions.

On a recent Saturday in late April, Republican state Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman stood outside her hometown library in Arnold and asked constituents not to sign the abortion-rights initiative.&nbsp;

Connie Doty, 74, a longtime Arnold resident and an escort with Abortion Action Missouri, was volunteering to collect signatures that day.

Doty said library staff eventually asked her and the other volunteers to stay on the sidewalk. When Doty stepped into the parking lot at one point to let someone take a picture of the ballot initiative, she says Coleman followed her and told the person in the vehicle not to sign it.&nbsp;

A short time later, after Doty refused to leave for stepping off the sidewalk, she said three police vehicles showed up. They told everyone to “be nice and be safe,” Doty recalls, then left.&nbsp;

Doty said she was not phased, thanks to her decade of experience as an abortion clinic escort encountering protesters who try to stop women from getting abortions. But she said she was alarmed to see her own state senator among the two anti-abortion protesters who showed up.

“Considering that Sen. Coleman was doing this to her constituents,” Doty said, “I found pretty deplorable.”&nbsp;

Doty said despite the interruption, they collected 143 signatures in a couple hours.

“They’re very much afraid that the issue will get on the ballot,” Doty said. “And if it gets on the ballot, people will pass it.”

Coleman could not be reached for comment Wednesday.&nbsp;

Kellie Copeland executive director of Pro-Choice Ohio, said anti-abortion advocates used similar tactics during their 2023 campaign, including instances where police were called on signature collectors.

“Everything about that frankly shows they know that they don’t have the will of the people,” Copeland said. “Why else would they do that?”

Sam Lee doesn’t want to talk about November. The longtime Missouri anti-abortion lobbyist has his sights set on May 5.

He said other states where anti-abortion groups have taken the approach of only trying to beat abortion measures at the ballot box have lost. That’s why in Missouri, efforts began much earlier.

“The Decline to Sign (strategy) overall has just been more aggressive in Missouri by a variety of groups,” Lee said. “Not just one group or even one church. It is THE strategy.”&nbsp;

Lee said Missouri’s approach has been much more grassroots, spread through social media, sermons and at dining tables.&nbsp;

“Tell your family member not to sign,” he said. “Tell your neighbor not to sign.”

When Lee is asked by some what he’s afraid of, he said it’s simple:&nbsp;“I just don’t think this should be on the ballot. I think it’s wrong. Why should you give people an opportunity to vote for something that is bad?”&nbsp;

Missouri Stands with Women, of which Lee is president, has been distributing messaging, including through paid Facebook ads, encouraging people not to sign.

One in particular depicts a man portrayed in a mugshot offering a pen in his hand. The word “felonies” is in quotes beside the drawing.&nbsp;

“It’s a pretty clever ad, actually,” Lee said. “Is there a guarantee these signatures cannot be duplicated and used for identity theft? Is it a real issue or not? Well I don’t know. It’s been raised elsewhere.”

JoDonn Chaney, a spokesman for the Missouri Secretary of State’s office, said he’s not aware of any threat of identity theft during the signature gathering process at this point. He said the office’s larger focus is ensuring people know and understand what they’re signing.&nbsp;

Lee said his campaign is leaning into a 2005 California law that prohibits the sale or transfer of voter data collected through initiative petitions to other countries after concerns were raised when an initiative petition campaign&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://voiceofsandiego.org/2011/08/10/can-you-get-your-id-stolen-signing-a-petition/">outsourced signature verification to a firm in India.&nbsp;</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714651229173.png" alt=" Students hold up anti-abortion signs at the Midwest March for Life on Wednesday at the Missouri State Capitol (Anna Spoerre/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> Students hold up anti-abortion signs at the Midwest March for Life on Wednesday at the Missouri State Capitol (Anna Spoerre/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Missouri could be the first test of a more aggressive strategy to keep abortion off the ballot and out of the state constitution, with organizations shifting from trying to dissuade people from signing petitions to encouraging them to withdraw their name if they have signed</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/annaspoerre/">ANNA SPOERRE</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>Wednesday’s Midwest March for Life at the Missouri Capitol had a different tone this year. It was about fighting.&nbsp;Nearly two years ago, the crowd celebrated Missouri becoming the first state to ban abortion after Roe V. Wade was overturned.&nbsp;But on Wednesday, a new worry loomed over the annual event: Abortion could soon be enshrined in the Missouri Constitution.“If God doesn’t intervene in this process,” Paul Shipman, with the Christian radio program Bott Radio Network, said at a rally on the statehouse steps Wednesday,&nbsp; “it just kind of shows you the direction where the nation is going and the direction where the state of Missouri is going.”After recent losses in states like Kansas and Ohio, anti-abortion activists say they must take a more aggressive approach in Missouri, using a low-budget grassroots strategy to convince Missourians not to sign the initiative petition that would put a constitutional right to an abortion in the hands of voters.&nbsp;They enlisted elected officials to publicly decry the ballot measure. They set up a hotline to report the location of signature gatherers so volunteers could show up and hand out “Decline to Sign” materials. And they stoked unsubstantiated fears about the initiative petition process, such as the notion that it could result in widespread identity theft.&nbsp;And with a Sunday deadline to turn in signatures for proposed initiative petitions, their message and strategy is transforming from “decline to sign” to “withdraw your signature,” with fliers distributed Wednesday hoping to reach those “who regret signing – or who mistakenly signed.”&nbsp;After signatures are turned in, anti-abortion advocates plan to pour over them to make sure anyone who opts out isn’t counted.&nbsp;Anti-abortion organizers interviewed by The Independent, both in Missouri and nationally, say the biggest lesson they learned from a series of defeats across the country over the last two years is that they have to engage their supporters earlier in the process.&nbsp;Missouri could be the first test of the new strategy, even as&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/04/17/missouri-initiative-campaigns-confident-of-achieving-signature-goals/">abortion-rights supporters are raising millions</a>&nbsp;more to get the issue on the November ballot.&nbsp;“It is the work that is being done on the ground in Missouri that has not happened in any other state across the entire nation,” said Brian Westbrook, CEO of St. Louis-based Coalition Life. “It doesn’t require tens of millions of dollars to get that ground game. That groundwork is already happening.”Missourians for Constitutional Freedom,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/02/19/abortion-rights-amendment-missouri-election-trap-laws/">the campaign behind the abortion-rights initiative petition</a>, has until Sunday to turn in more than 171,000 signatures from 8% of registered voters across six of Missouri’s eight congressional districts.&nbsp;Mallory Schwarz, executive director of Abortion Action Missouri, which is a leader in the abortion initiative petition coalition, said she remains confident the campaign will hit its signature goal. She didn’t share where their numbers currently stand ahead of the deadline, but Schwarz said the tactics from the anti-abortion side boost her confidence that abortion is a winning issue.“If they were confident that people were aligned with them,” she said, “they wouldn’t resort to tactics like blatant lies, disinformation and harassment.”&nbsp;<h2>‘Our track record has not been good’</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714651455645.png" alt="A women holds a sign urging Missourians not to sign an abortion initiative petition at the Midwest March for Life on Wednesday at the Missouri State Capitol (Anna Spoerre/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption>A women holds a sign urging Missourians not to sign an abortion initiative petition at the Midwest March for Life on Wednesday at the Missouri State Capitol (Anna Spoerre/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure>Anti-abortion groups interviewed by The Independent are focused on communicating three main points to voters: They believe the constitutional amendment goes farther than Roe; they say the amendment would harm health and safety protections for mothers; and they argue it will eliminate parental consent laws.&nbsp;Abortion-rights groups have said these claims have no merit whatsoever. The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/01/17/abortion-rights-coalition-viability-campaign-amendment-missouri-ballot/">decision to move forward with an amendment including viability limit,&nbsp;</a>often considered to be around 24 weeks, rather than no ban at all was considered a compromise position rather than an extreme one.Susan Klein, executive director with Missouri Right to Life, said her organization has teams across the state who will file requests under the state’s open records laws to obtain copies of all the signatures obtained by Missourians for Constitutional Freedom. They plan to make sure any names she says were scratched out by people who regretted signing are not counted.Missouri’s messaging is consistent with the strategy being deployed in six other states with abortion measures heading for the ballot, said Kelsey Pritchard, state public affairs director at Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America.Jamie Morris, executive director of the Missouri Catholic Conference, said the results in other elections made it clear that anti-abortion groups needed a new strategy.&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://mocatholic.org/wp-content/uploads/Statement-on-Abortion-Initiative-Petition-1.pdf">The Catholic dioceses in Missouri&nbsp;</a>are helping spread the movement’s message and encouraging parishioners not to sign the abortion-rights petition.&nbsp;“Our track record has not been good,” he said. “From the pro-life side, we’ve always kind of been used to making one particular argument. And obviously, that was not resonating in some of the other states.”Morris said the movement isn’t changing its position, but rather it is rethinking its messaging to focus increasingly on mothers as well as the “unborn child.”&nbsp;“We’ve done a good job of trying to limit the supply of abortions in the state, but what can we do to limit the demand?” Morris said.&nbsp;In neighboring Kansas in 2022, the Catholic church donated hundreds of thousands of dollars in a failed attempt to pass an amendment that would remove the right to abortion from that state’s constitution.So far, the Missouri Catholic Conference has been one of the main donors to&nbsp;Missouri Stands with Women, the only campaign focused solely on actively opposing the abortion initiative petition, contributing $5,001.&nbsp;Morris said Missouri’s dioceses so far have not fundraised on this issue, but if the measure lands on the ballot, he imagines there will be more serious conversations about financial contributions.<h2>Decline to sign</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714651404963.png" alt=" Hundreds of people gathered for the Midwest March for Life on Wednesday at the Missouri State Capitol (Anna Spoerre/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> Hundreds of people gathered for the Midwest March for Life on Wednesday at the Missouri State Capitol (Anna Spoerre/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure>On a recent Saturday in late April, Republican state Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman stood outside her hometown library in Arnold and asked constituents not to sign the abortion-rights initiative.&nbsp;Connie Doty, 74, a longtime Arnold resident and an escort with Abortion Action Missouri, was volunteering to collect signatures that day.Doty said library staff eventually asked her and the other volunteers to stay on the sidewalk. When Doty stepped into the parking lot at one point to let someone take a picture of the ballot initiative, she says Coleman followed her and told the person in the vehicle not to sign it.&nbsp;A short time later, after Doty refused to leave for stepping off the sidewalk, she said three police vehicles showed up. They told everyone to “be nice and be safe,” Doty recalls, then left.&nbsp;Doty said she was not phased, thanks to her decade of experience as an abortion clinic escort encountering protesters who try to stop women from getting abortions. But she said she was alarmed to see her own state senator among the two anti-abortion protesters who showed up.“Considering that Sen. Coleman was doing this to her constituents,” Doty said, “I found pretty deplorable.”&nbsp;Doty said despite the interruption, they collected 143 signatures in a couple hours.“They’re very much afraid that the issue will get on the ballot,” Doty said. “And if it gets on the ballot, people will pass it.”Coleman could not be reached for comment Wednesday.&nbsp;Kellie Copeland executive director of Pro-Choice Ohio, said anti-abortion advocates used similar tactics during their 2023 campaign, including instances where police were called on signature collectors.“Everything about that frankly shows they know that they don’t have the will of the people,” Copeland said. “Why else would they do that?”<h2>A more aggressive strategy</h2>Sam Lee doesn’t want to talk about November. The longtime Missouri anti-abortion lobbyist has his sights set on May 5.He said other states where anti-abortion groups have taken the approach of only trying to beat abortion measures at the ballot box have lost. That’s why in Missouri, efforts began much earlier.“The Decline to Sign (strategy) overall has just been more aggressive in Missouri by a variety of groups,” Lee said. “Not just one group or even one church. It is THE strategy.”&nbsp;Lee said Missouri’s approach has been much more grassroots, spread through social media, sermons and at dining tables.&nbsp;“Tell your family member not to sign,” he said. “Tell your neighbor not to sign.”When Lee is asked by some what he’s afraid of, he said it’s simple:&nbsp;“I just don’t think this should be on the ballot. I think it’s wrong. Why should you give people an opportunity to vote for something that is bad?”&nbsp;Missouri Stands with Women, of which Lee is president, has been distributing messaging, including through paid Facebook ads, encouraging people not to sign.One in particular depicts a man portrayed in a mugshot offering a pen in his hand. The word “felonies” is in quotes beside the drawing.&nbsp;“It’s a pretty clever ad, actually,” Lee said. “Is there a guarantee these signatures cannot be duplicated and used for identity theft? Is it a real issue or not? Well I don’t know. It’s been raised elsewhere.”JoDonn Chaney, a spokesman for the Missouri Secretary of State’s office, said he’s not aware of any threat of identity theft during the signature gathering process at this point. He said the office’s larger focus is ensuring people know and understand what they’re signing.&nbsp;Lee said his campaign is leaning into a 2005 California law that prohibits the sale or transfer of voter data collected through initiative petitions to other countries after concerns were raised when an initiative petition campaign&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://voiceofsandiego.org/2011/08/10/can-you-get-your-id-stolen-signing-a-petition/">outsourced signature verification to a firm in India.&nbsp;</a>So far, Chaney said, the office has received “a handful” of applications to withdraw signatures from the abortion initiative petition.&nbsp;According to records obtained by The Independent through Missouri’s Sunshine Law, the Secretary of State’s office has received about 140 requests for signature withdrawals from the abortion ballot initiative.&nbsp;Most did not provide an explanation for why they changed their mind, but one Columbia resident wrote: “I let a very pushy person with a petition make me feel like I needed to sign. Immediately after, all the reasons not to sign flooded my head. Someone needs to speak for the unborn.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714651358468.png" alt=" Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft joined the Midwest March for Life on Wednesday at the Missouri State Capitol. “I think regardless of what the legislature does, the people of this state – with hard work – can protect all life in this state,” Ashcroft said (Anna Spoerre/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft joined the Midwest March for Life on Wednesday at the Missouri State Capitol. “I think regardless of what the legislature does, the people of this state – with hard work – can protect all life in this state,” Ashcroft said (Anna Spoerre/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure>On Wednesday morning, the crowd of at least several hundred people gathered on the front lawn of the Capitol, including many high school students, were encouraged to stall signature gatherers if they encounter them on a sidewalk or at their door in a final push to defeat the measure before it gets to a vote.&nbsp;Michael Merchant, 31, based in St. Louis and with Students for Life, said it would be easier if the threshold to pass a constitutional amendment was more than a simple majority. Legislation seeking to increase the threshold for amendments to pass through the initiative petition process&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/04/25/missouri-initiative-petition-bill-ballot-candy-reinstated/">has cleared the House and Senate,</a>&nbsp;but dysfunction in the Senate has put its chances at risk.&nbsp;&nbsp;“As much as I like to be optimistic, I’m not 100% confident that we can get 50% (in opposition),” Merchant said. “The main thing we would have to do is convince people that it’s an extreme thing.”Merchant said he may be able to sway more people who are on the fence by pointing out to them how few limits on abortion would exist under the amendment. Advocates of abortion rights have said limits on abortion access often harm those who are most in need of the procedure, including those with medically-complicated pregnancies.Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, who attended Wednesday’s rally, said he believes his party can defeat an abortion ballot measure whether a higher threshold for passing citizen-led ballot measures is ultimately passed or not.“I’m not a political consultant,” Ashcroft said, holding an anti-abortion sign at Wednesday’s march. “I just want to make sure that people know what this amendment will actually do. That it’s abortion from conception until the very last second that the last toenail leaves the birth canal.”

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