Bearcats crush Griffons in rivalry matchup to claim MIAA

#14 Northwest Missouri State University clinched its 32nd MIAA regular season title with a 38-7 manhandling of the Missouri Western State University Griffons at Bearcat Stadium, marking Northwest's 12th consecutive win over Missouri Western and its ninth straight win this season.

After the Bearcats began the game by deferring possession, allowing the Griffons to start with the ball, MoWest capitalized on its opening drive, advancing 75 yards on seven plays, ending with a 19-yard touchdown pass from Kane Donovan to Damir Abdullah.&nbsp; Northwest responded with a methodical 12-play drive spanning 55 yards, but managed only a 38-yard field goal by Mo Alwaely to cut the deficit to 7-3.&nbsp;

With the Bearcats holding possession to open the second quarter Northwest extended its lead. Chris Ruhnke connected with Dominic Myers for a six yard touchdown pass to give the Bearcats the lead. Momentum continued after Northwest forced a MoWest punt, as Jackson Miller capped a drive with his first career rushing touchdown, a 10-yard run, pushing the lead to 17-7.&nbsp;

The Bearcats defense made a pivotal stop, with Jordan Pigram intercepting a pass for his first career interception, setting up another scoring opportunity. The takeaway led to Luke Mathews securing a five yard touchdown reception from Ruhnke to continue pushing the lead even more. The defense maintained pressure, ending the period with a sack by Clayton Power, ensuring a strong finish to the first half, leading 24-7 at the break.&nbsp; Northwest has won 93 consecutive games when leading at the half. Head coach John McMenamin is 15-0 when leading at the half, including a 9-0 mark at Northwest.

To start the third quarter, Northwest extended its lead once again with a 75-yard drive that culminated in a 19-yard touchdown pass from Ruhnke to Gatlin Samuel.&nbsp; The Bearcats capitalized on strong defensive plays, including a sack by Power that pushed MoWest back, leading to a punt. Northwest added their final score of the game in the quarter with Ruhnke's&nbsp; two yard touchdown run.

Ruhnke completed 20 of 39 passes for 208 yards and three touchdowns, while also rushing for a career-high 63 yards and one touchdown on eight carries. Miller contributed 71 rushing yards on 13 attempts and added a touchdown. Myers rushed 11 times for 80 yards.&nbsp; Samuel had a single reception for 19 yards, resulting in a touchdown.&nbsp; Erwin Nash had three catches for 45 yards while T.J Williams-Bey had four catches for 35 yards.

Donovan completed 6-of-15 passes for 95 yards and an interception. Brendan Berwald completed 5-of-10 passes for 45 yards. He rushed for 10 yards as well.&nbsp; Abdullah finished with 59 yards receiving and the score on two catches. Crew Myers had a team-best four catches for 34 yards. Brandon Hall rushed 12 times for 25 yards.

Up next, Northwest Missouri State (9-1, 8-0 MIAA) will face Pittsburg State on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at Children's Mercy Park.&nbsp; Meanwhile, Missouri Western (3-7, 2-6 MIAA) returns home&nbsp;to face Central Oklahoma on Senior Day. Kickoff on Saturday is set for 2 p.m.

Zollers overwhelmed by Aggies defense as Mizzou playoff hopes dim

 Marcel Reed threw for 221 yards and two touchdowns, Texas A&amp;M's hounding defense made for a forgettable first start for Missouri quarterback Matt Zollers, and the #3Aggies beat the #22 Tigers 38-17 to remain undefeated.

Rueben Owens II added 102 yards rushing and a pair of clinching touchdown runs in the fourth quarter, as the Aggies continued their best start since 1992 with their third consecutive victory over Missouri.

Missouri had been in every game this season, including close losses to #4 Alabama and #15 Vanderbilt. But losing Beau Pribula to a season-ending injury against the Commodores left the 19-year-old Matt Zollers to make his first start against the Aggies.&nbsp; It was a predictably tough task.

The first true freshman to start for Missouri since Drew Lock a decade ago, Zollers spent most of the game simply trying to stay upright. And on the rare occasion that he had time to throw, Zollers either overshot hits targets or threw it into the turf, resulting in a humbling halftime line: 3 of 11 for 31 yards, two sacks and a fumble that was nearly returned for a touchdown.

In fact, Zollers' fumble late in the first half may have been the tipping point in the game.&nbsp; Texas A&amp;M led 7-0 after a four yard touchdown catch by Ashton Bethel-Roman from Reed late in the first quarter, and was trying to force a punt before the break. Zollers was blitzed by Daymion Sanford, who knocked the ball out of his hands and into the arms of safety Dalton Brooks, whose return set up EJ Smith's one yard touchdown plunge two plays later, putting Texas A&amp;M up 14-0 at the halftime break.

The Aggies kept the momentum going after halftime. Missouri quickly went three-and-out, and Reed zipped a screen pass to KC Concepcion, who took advantage of the space vacated by a blitzing safety to run nearly untouched 48 yards for the score.&nbsp; The Tigers tried to make it a game in the third quarter, when Jamal Roberts finally reached the end zone on a four yard touchdown run. But after forcing the Aggies into fourth down near midfield, they executed a perfect punt fake, leading to a field goal and a 24-7 lead, which they carried into the final quarter

Owens eventually put the game away for Texas A&amp;M with his two touchdown runs in the fourth quarter, the first coming in response to a 49 yard field goal by Oliver Robbins, a 57 yard run.&nbsp; Ahmad Hardy did answer with a 45 yard rushing touchdown of his own, but Owens second touchdown from one yard out put the game away.

Zollers was just 7 of 22 for 77 yards, despite getting plenty of help from his rushing attack.&nbsp; Roberts ran for 110 yards and a touchdown, and Hardy added 109 yards and another score, as the Tigers piled up 207 yards on the ground.&nbsp; True freshman Donovan Olugbode had three catches for 74 yards to be the leading receiver.

Next, Missouri (6-3, 2-3 SEC) hosts Mississippi State on Saturday.&nbsp; Kickoff is at 6:45 pm with pregame coverage starting at 5:45 on KFEQ (680AM/95.3FM).

Ravens use strong ground game, defensive effort in road win over Baker

The #3 Benedictine Ravens picked up a big road win on Saturday, being both strong on the ground and defensively, winning 31-10 at the (RV) Baker University Wildcats.

After Baker started the scoring late in the first quarter on a one yard rushing touchdown by Gabe Martin, Benedictine answered in the second quarter first with a 44 yard field goal by Christian Klobe early, and then near the end of the first half eventually taking the lead on a two yard touchdown pass from Jackson Dooley to Tanner Zimmerman, giving the Ravens a 10-7 lead at the halftime break.

Benedictine turned a three point halftime lead into a 24-point lead on the strength of long scoring drives in the second half. Dalton Witherspoon's one yard plunge late in the third quarter put the Ravens up 17-7, which capped off a 92-yard drive.&nbsp; Then, in the fourth quarter, the Ravens put together a 13-play, 97-yard drive that milked 8:20 off the clock and was punctuated with a five yard Xavier Ugorji touchdown run.

The Wildcats answered with a field goal two minutes later, but the Ravens offense salted away the game with another Ugorji touchdown run, this time from 19 yards away, eating all but 46 seconds off the clock to close out the Ravens 21-point win.

Ugorji finished the game with 196 yards on the ground and Witherspoon added another 96 yards as the Ravens rushed for 306 yards as a team. Jackson Dooley added 119 yards through the air, on 8-of-17 passing with a touchdown, with Titan Osburn catching four passes for 52 yards.

Benedictine (9-1, 5-0 Heart South) will take on (RV) MidAmerica Nazarene University at 1 p.m. on Saturday at home with a chance to claim an outright conference championship.

Arizona rally hands Kansas shocking last second loss on the road

 Quincy Craig scored his second touchdown of the game on a 24-yard run with 39 seconds left in regulation and Arizona rallied to beat Kansas 24-20.&nbsp; Coming off a blowout win over Colorado, the Wildcats had a hard time moving the ball against a Jayhawks defense that entered the game ranked 12th in the Big 12.

Noah Fifita threw an early touchdown pass, a 16 yard pass to Sam Olson for the opening score of the game, but was sacked five times and nearly had three passes intercepted before rallying Arizona to become bowl eligible.

Jalon Daniels took his two-way turn on Kansas' next two drives. Daniels first scored on a one yard keeper set up by a 14-yard run, then, after a Wildcats punt, hit Emmanuel Henderson Jr. in stride for a 24-yard touchdown pass to give the Jayhawks the lead.&nbsp; That lead was extended by midway through the second quarter when Laith Marjan hit a 46 yard field goal giving Kansas a two score lead.

The Jayhawks appeared to be headed to a 24-7 halftime lead when Leroy Harris III returned an interception 77 yards for a touchdown. Instead, it came back when cornerback Jalen Todd was called for holding away from the play.&nbsp; Craig scored on an eight yard touchdown two plays later by reaching the ball to the pylon, pulling Arizona within 17-14 at the halftime break.

The defenses took over in the second half.&nbsp; Kansas had one interception overturned upon review and Syeed Gibbs had another potential pick pass through his hands. Both teams exchanged field goals in the third quarter, Arizona's&nbsp;Michael Salgado-Medina hitting 41 yard field goal which Marjan answered with a 50 yard field goal.&nbsp;

Then, late in the fourth quarter, after Marjan pushed a 30-yard field goal wide right, his first miss in 15 attempts this season, the Wildcats took over at their own 20 with 2:39 left. Arizona moved quickly down the field and Craig burst through a big hole up the middle for the go-ahead score.

&nbsp;Daniels threw for 199 yards and a touchdown, going 15-of-29 through the air, adding 74 yards and another score rushing. His desperation attempt bounded out of the end zone as time expired.&nbsp; Daniel Hishaw Jr rushed 18 times for 67 yards.&nbsp; Henderson Jr. had five catches for 65 yards and a touchdown.

Next, Kansas (5-5, 3-4 Big 12) plays at Iowa State on Nov. 22.

Lateef's impressive start for injured Raiola leads Nebraska to win

 TJ Lateef was 13 for 15 for 205 yards and three touchdown passes in his first collegiate start, Emmett Johnson went over 100 yards rushing and receiving, and Nebraska defeated UCLA 28-21 for its first win in Pasadena since 1993.

Playing at the Rose Bowl 25 miles from his hometown of Compton, Lateef took over from Dylan Raiola, who is out for the rest of the season with a lower right leg injury he sustained in a 21-17 loss to Southern California last week. Lateef played the final four possessions against the Trojans.

As the first true freshman to start for Nebraska since 1950, Lateef directed the Cornhuskers to scores on their first four possessions for a 27-7 lead.&nbsp; Jacory Barney Jr. caught Lateef's two yard pass on the right side pylon, which bent over, for Nebraska's first touchdown after a video review.

The Bruins answered the score with a one yard touchdown run by Jalen Berger, but Lateef hit Johnson with a pass at the Nebraska 41 and Johnson rumbled 56 yards down the left sideline past his own bench for the score on the very next drive to retake the lead. Johnson's one yard touchdown run capped the Cornhuskers' scoring in the first half for a 21-7 lead at the halftime break.

Out of the halftime break, Nebraska extended its lead to open the third on Johnson's 40-yard catch from Lateef for his second long touchdown reception of the game.&nbsp; Nico Iamaleava hit Anthony Woods with a 45-yard touchdown pass that helped UCLA cut into the Corhuskers lead in the third. The Bruins closed the game to one score on Iamaleava’s nine yard scoring pass to Anthony Frias II with 4:54 remaining in the game on a drive that began at their&nbsp; three yard line.

Already the first 1,000-yard rusher at Nebraska since 2018, Johnson had 28 carries for 129 yards and ran for one TD. He had three catches for 103 yards and two TDs.&nbsp; Dane Key had three catches for 46 yards, Nyziah Hunter had three catches for 37 yards, and Barney Jr had three catches for 19 yards with a score.

Next, Nebraska (7-4, 4-3 Big Ten) has a bye week before visiting Penn State on Nov. 22 in Rhule's return to his alma mater.

You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.

CFB: Bearcats claim MIAA crown, Ravens shutdown Baker, Mizzou playoff hopes crushed

ATCHISON COUNTY —Three teens were injured in an accident just before 3p.m. Saturday in Atchison County, Missouri.3&nbsp;

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2012 Acura MDX driven by an 18-year-old Bellevue, Nebraska man was northbound on Interstate 29 eight miles south of Hamburg, Iowa.

The SUV traveled off the west side of the road. The vehicle returned to the road, crossed the center line, traveled off the east side of the road and down an embankment. The vehicle struck several trees a fence, became airborne and rolled into a field.&nbsp; One occupant was ejected.

Atchison Holt ambulance transported the driver and a passenger identified as a 16-year-old Bellevue boy to Grape Community Hospital.&nbsp; Air by Starcare transported a second passenger, 18-year-old from Bellevue, to Bryan West Medial Center in Lincoln, Nebraska.&nbsp; All three were not wearing seat belts at the time of the crash, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

3 teens hospitalized after violent SUV crash

As Kansans brace for frigid temperatures this weekend, safety experts and local officials are urging residents to take precautions when heating their homes. With house fires spiking during the coldest months of the year, knowing how to safely use space heaters, fireplaces, and furnaces can be the difference between comfort and catastrophe.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, heating equipment is the second leading cause of home fires in the U.S., with space heaters responsible for the majority of incidents. The American Red Cross of South Central and Southeast Kansas reports that home fire responses are 30% higher during cold weather than during the rest of the year.

“Too often we see preventable tragedies happen when families try to stay warm,” said Shannon Wedge, Executive Director of the regional Red Cross. “Simple steps like keeping flammable items three feet away from heat sources and testing smoke alarms can save lives.”

To reduce the risk of fire, officials recommend these guidelines:

In addition to safe heating practices, it is recommended to test smoke alarms monthly and practice a two-minute home escape plan — the average amount of time a family may have to get out of a burning home.&nbsp;

Families who cannot afford smoke alarms or who are unable to install them can contact their local Red Cross office for help.

Home Fire Campaign Continues Saving Lives

Since 2014, the Red Cross Home Fire Campaign has partnered with communities nationwide to install free smoke alarms, create fire escape plans, and educate residents on fire safety. The campaign has been credited with saving over 2,500 lives so far.

“Preparing now can make all the difference,” Wedge said. “We encourage families to take action before the temperatures drop — your safety depends on it.”

For more resources — including the Red Cross First Aid and Emergency apps — <a href="http://redcross.org/apps">visit redcross.org/apps</a>.

Experts urge safe home heating practices as winter weather arrives

KFEQ Week in Review

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

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 1992 Suzuki RM250 driven by a 32-year-old Jamesport man was southbound on 250th Street just north of Key Avenue two miles east of Jamison. The motorcycle struck a deer and traveled off the road.&nbsp;

Daviess County EMS transported the rider Lifeflight and to Truman Medical Center. He was not wearing a helmet, at the time of the accident, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Mo. man airlifted to hospital after motorcycle, deer crash

NODAWAY COUNTY — One person was injured in an accident just after 7:30p.m. Friday in Nodaway County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2025 Chevy Trailblazer driven by 27-year-old Clarinda, Iowa man was westbound on U.S. 71 five miles north of Maryville. The SUV sruck a deer.&nbsp;

A private vehicle transported a passenger identified as a 25-year-old New Market, Iowa woman to Mosaic in Maryville. The SUV driver was not injured. Both were properly restrained, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Woman hospitalized after SUV strikes a deer

LIVINGSTON COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 6p.m. Friday in Livingston County,.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2016 Chevy Equinox driven by a 32-year-old Chula woman was southbound on U.S. 65 two miles south of Chillicothe. The SUV rear-ended a 2016 Jeep Renegade driven by a 28-year-old Chillicothe man who had slowed suddenly for an animal in the road.

Chillicothe EMS transported the Chevy driver to Hedrick Medical Center. The Jeep driver was not injured. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

Missouri woman injured after rear-end crash

The United Way of Greater St. Joseph celebrated the end of the public&nbsp;portion&nbsp;of&nbsp;its&nbsp;annual fundraising campaign.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

President Kylee Strough says the campaign has raised a good amount thus far&nbsp;

“To date, $2,335,985 has been pledged to the 2025 United Way campaign,” Strough tells the&nbsp;KFEQmunnity&nbsp;show. &nbsp;“And&nbsp;these are the dollars that will fund allocations to our partner agencies and the programs and services that they do in calendar year 2026.”&nbsp;

Strough says the goal of the campaign is to always do better than the previous year, and so&nbsp;far,&nbsp;it's&nbsp;pacing ahead of where they were this time last year&nbsp;

"So, that is a good sign that we’re pacing ahead, but I will also say that sometimes pacing ahead is simply some accounts turned in their results a little bit earlier than last year,” Strough explains. &nbsp;“So, it&nbsp;doesn’t&nbsp;always mean&nbsp;we’re&nbsp;going to end up raising more in total, it could just be an&nbsp;effect of timing of when things are received.”&nbsp;

Strough says there are still some businesses and past donors that have not gotten donations before they fully know where&nbsp;their&nbsp;campaign ended.&nbsp;

The money raised comes after the pacesetter campaign started off by raising&nbsp;nearly $1 million,&nbsp;raising $970,506.40&nbsp;

Strough says the pacesetter campaign usually give them an idea of what to expect for donations, but says there has been some pleasant surprises this year&nbsp;

"We have seen some growth at places, and I think the most exciting piece of all of this, we love when the dollars grow because the dollars are what fuel the work, but more than that we love when the number of donors grow because that means there are more of us giving what we can and we’re broadening that United Way circle and that United Way family,” Strough says. &nbsp;“And we have seen some donor growth this year.”&nbsp;

Strough says once the total is&nbsp;known,&nbsp;people from the allocations committee will meet to reaffirm where&nbsp;the&nbsp;money is going.&nbsp;

Money raised will be&nbsp;allocated&nbsp;to United Way's 16 partner agencies in St. Joseph.&nbsp;

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

United Way of Greater St. Joseph celebrates successful campaign 

KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A federal judge sentenced a former Kansas credit union manager to 63 months in prison for stealing more than $750,000 from her long-time employer and substantially jeopardizing the safety and soundness of the financial institution, according to the United State's Attorney.

According to court documents, Rita Hartman, 71, of Atchison pleaded guilty to one count of false entries in federal credit union records.

For 30 years, Hartman was the manager of Muddy River Credit Union (formerly Atchison Casting Credit Union and Bradken Federal Credit Union), which served the employees of a foundry located in Atchison, Kansas. 

Hartman’s position gave her control over all aspects of Muddy River’s finances. Between 2007 and 2021, she abused the trust that Muddy River granted her to steal approximately $346,000 in customer cash deposits. 

Hartman also fraudulently credited approximately $430,000 in deposits and loan payments to her or her relatives’ accounts when no payments or deposits had been made. Hartman concealed her conduct by altering ledgers and records and by falsifying information submitted to Muddy River’s regulators. &nbsp;She obstructed efforts to uncover her fraud by submitting fraudulent documents to regulators and delaying a mandated audit. &nbsp;

The defendant’s embezzlement wiped out Muddy River’s capital and rendered it insolvent, ultimately forcing a merger into another credit union to continue operations.&nbsp;

In 2013, the then-Governor of the State of Kansas appointed Hartman to the Kansas Credit Union Council, which advises the Kansas Department of Credit Unions on issues and needs of credit unions. Hartman is also a former mayor and city commissioner in Atchison. A federal judge ordered that during her imprisonment, all of Hartman’s state pension payments be directed towards the $778,361 in restitution she was ordered to pay as part of her sentence.

“For decades, Rita Hartman was a prominent, well-respected figure in Atchison, Kansas,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “Instead of living up to the high regard that people in the community had for her, she exploited their trust and used it to perpetuate her embezzlement scheme and line her pockets with stolen funds.”&nbsp;

“The defendant was entrusted with the fiscal responsibility of the credit union’s members. In using the money for her personal benefit, the defendant’s actions were a betrayal of that trust,” said Special Agent in Charge Stephen A. Cyrus of the FBI Kansas City Field Office. “This sentencing demonstrates the FBI’s longstanding commitment to working financial fraud investigations and to hold individuals accountable for their actions.”

Prison for NE Kan. credit union manager's $700K embezzlement scheme

KFEQ Morning Sports

KFEQ Morning News 

December corn closed down 1 1/2 cents and March corn was down 1 cent. January soybeans closed up 9 1/2 cents and March soybeans were up 8 1/4 cents. December KC wheat closed down 3 cents, December Chicago wheat was down 7 3/4 cents, December Minneapolis wheat was up 1 cent.

December corn closed down 4 1/4 cents and March corn was down 2 cents. January soybeans closed up 1 3/4 cents and March soybeans were up 2 cents. December KC wheat closed down 5 1/4 cents, December Chicago wheat was down 6 1/4 cents and December Minneapolis wheat was up 5 cents.

Row-crop futures caught themselves for the most part on Friday following Thursday's drastic risk-off session. The soybean complex was notably optimistic heading into the weekend with higher soybean, meal, and oil futures following heavy selling on Thursday. Meanwhile, corn futures held mostly steady while wheat futures moved lower again under technical pressure as well as follow-through disappointment in only light volumes being reportedly purchased by China over the past week. Energy prices were mixed Friday with higher crude futures but diesel prices reversing after hitting the highest price since midsummer. Meanwhile, the technical unease remains in the stock market, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropping again Friday for the fourth time this week after low consumer sentiment was reported by the University of Michigan on Friday and investor fears of a tech and AI-driven reversal mount.

After another downward waning week, where the live cattle market traded lower and lacked enough support in either realm (technical or fundamental), the live cattle contracts were finally trading a bit higher as traders have seemed to deem that the market has traded lower enough for the week. No new cash cattle trade has developed throughout the day, and at this point, it's looking like the bulk of the week's trade could essentially be done with. So far this week, Northern dressed cattle have traded mostly at $355 to $362, with most at $360, which is $2.00 higher than last week's weighted average. Southern live cattle traded at mostly $232, which is $4.00 lower than the previous week's weighted average.

Although still cautious, the feeder cattle complex traded slightly higher into Friday's closing bell, seeming to follow in the same direction as the live cattle market. Sales are still feeling a heightened level of anxiousness in the countryside, as a lower trend has been noted for the week in most classes.

Yes, pork cutout values may have been higher this morning -- up over $2.00 higher -- but it's a little too late to have much effect on the lean hog market this week, as traders haven't seen true support and stability from consumers to feel safe in trading the contracts higher. It's likely that this lower trend will continue into the early portions of next week.

<a href="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/356/2025/11/07134322/web-closing-markets.mp3">Click HERE for audio</a>

Commodity markets daily recap

The Fertilizer Institute celebrated the inclusion of phosphate and potash on the just-released Final List of Critical Minerals. Originally compiled in 2018 and then revised every three years, the list is published by the United States Geological Survey and includes mineral commodities critical to the U.S. economy and national security.

Phosphate and potash are now critical minerals

A recent USDA memo sent to state agencies on Wednesday said Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program participants will get 65 percent of their typical monthly benefits, and not the 50 percent as first stated. This is due to a record-long government shutdown. The change only affects benefits scheduled to be distributed this month and isn’t permanent. Full benefits are expected to resume once the government shutdown ends. 

Reports said USDA is issuing partial benefits this month to comply with a court order requiring USDA to tap into a SNAP contingency fund. “USDA did a deeper analysis and determined that maximum allotments only need to be reduced by 35 percent, rather than 50 percent, to deplete the SNAP emergency fund,” said Patrick Penn of USDA. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities said USDA’s initial plan would have provided only about $3 billion in benefits and been a cut of about 61 percent.

USDA revises November SNAP distribution plan

December corn closed down 6 1/2 cents and March corn was down 6 1/2 cents. January soybeans closed down 26 3/4 cents and March soybeans were down 24 1/2 cents. December KC wheat closed down 17 3/4 cents, December Chicago wheat was down 19 1/4 cents, December Minneapolis wheat was up 3/4 cents.

Both financial and agricultural markets faced widespread selling pressure on Thursday with several moving parts to point to as a source of general nervousness across the trade. First, row-crop futures had become very overbought in the short term from a technical perspective with momentum based indicators likely piling into sales as prices turned lower throughout Thursday morning. Second, futures traders tend to want answers now rather than later and with the government shutdown it is very difficult to gauge if China has been buying U.S. soybeans and to what degree and the rapid growing expense of U.S. soybeans on an FOB port basis may have at last caught up with the futures market on Thursday. In other news, Wednesday's hearing by the Supreme Court regarding the legality of the Trump administration's sweeping tariffs has added a layer of volatility to the market, although a decision is still pending in regard to that.

The live cattle complex traded mixed into Thursday's noon hour, and then went to the downside by the closing bell. As traders would like to trade the contracts higher and successfully did so in the deferred months, but the nearby contracts remained under light pressure as there was still some uncertainty milling throughout the marketplace, and ended up getting the better of the market. No new cash cattle trade has developed today, but packers will need to secure more inventory before the week's over. So far this week Northern dressed cattle have traded at mostly $360, which is $2.00 higher than the previous week's weighted average, and Southern live cattle have traded at mostly $232, which is $4.00 lower than last week's weighted average.

The live cattle complex was able to shake the doggishness of the marketplace for a short time, but the feeder cattle complex wasn't as confident as all of its contracts are trading lower into Thursday's closing bell. Unfortunately, feeder cattle sales could likely soften a tick in the countryside as buyers react to the board.

Again today, the lean hog complex&nbsp;was adding another downward leg to its chart as the market lacks support. Yes, cash demand was strong this week, but without consumer demand improving, traders aren't willing to show the complex much interest or support.

<a href="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/356/2025/11/06143006/web-closing-markets.mp3">Click HERE for audio</a>

Commodity market daily recap

Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins said the U.S. isn’t ready to open its border once again to cattle imports from Mexico. Despite that, Rollins said Mexico’s efforts to contain the flesh-eating New World Screwworm are progressing well. The border has been largely closed to imports of Mexican livestock since May. Rollins recently traveled to Mexico City to meet with officials, including President Claudia Sheinbaum, to tell them that the White House is focused on reopening the border. 

“We’re still not in a spot where I’m comfortable opening up the ports, but I think with every day that goes by, we’re getting a little closer,” Rollins said. She wants to know for sure that both countries have overturned every stone, that every nuance is understood, and they’ve deployed every tool in each country’s toolkits. Rollins didn’t give a specific timeline for reopening the southern U.S. border to Mexican cattle imports.

No plan yet to open U.S. to Mexican cattle imports 

After leaders between the two countries met last week, China will suspend retaliatory tariffs on U.S. imports, including duties on some farm goods. While Beijing confirmed that this week, U.S. soybeans still face a 13 percent tariff. Reports said China’s tariff commission of the State Council is eliminating duties of up to 15 percent imposed on some U.S. agricultural goods on November 10. Tariffs of ten percent introduced in response to President Trump’s “Liberation Day” duties will stay in place. 

Traders say that despite the tariff cut, importers looking at U.S. soybeans still face a tariff of 13 percent, which makes U.S. shipments more expensive for commercial buyers compared to Brazil soybean shipments. “We don’t expect any demand from China to return to the U.S. market with this change,” one trader at an international company. “Brazil is cheaper than the U.S., and even non-Chinese buyers are taking Brazilian cargoes.” 

China buys more Brazilian soybeans

December corn closed up 3 3/4 cents and March corn was up 4 3/4 cents. January soybeans closed up 12 3/4 cents and March soybeans were up 14 1/4 cents. December KC wheat closed up 3 1/2 cents, December Chicago wheat was up 4 1/2 cents, December Minneapolis wheat was down 1 cent.

Crop futures recovered from Tuesday's profit-taking session to trade moderately higher, fueled by confirmation out of Beijing that tariffs will in fact be greatly reduced. Though reports that U.S. soybeans will remain subject to a 13% duty caused a bit of a stir in analyst circles, the market largely ignored this caveat for Wednesday's session, discussed in further detail below. In outside markets, softer energy markets were a bit of a headwind for grain and oilseed futures, while the U.S. Dollar Index has shown signs of a potential top near 3-month highs after five consecutive days higher. Equity markets were firm, snapping a 2-day skid after ADP reported strong payroll totals in a Wednesday morning report.

The live cattle complex continues to dive frantically lower, as yet another level of confidence has eroded from the market. Even though US Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins has indicated that the border isn't going to reopen anytime soon, the live cattle contracts are trading limit lower as there seems to still be some concern around the matter. Some light trade has also developed in the countryside as Northern dressed deals are being marked at $360, which is $2.00 higher than last week's weighted average, but Southern live cattle are trading at $232, which is $4.00 lower than last week's weighted average. But upon seeing the board drift sharply lower, bids have been knocked lower as packers are now just offering $357 to $358 for dressed cattle and $225 for live.

And following in the same manner, the feeder cattle contracts were also trading limit lower into Wednesday's noon hour. Unfortunately, this bearish onset has again pushed the market well below its 100-day moving average, and will likely affect feeder cattle sales in the countryside.

Without enough fundamental support helping the lean hog complex, it comes as little surprise that the market is again trading and finishing no better than mixed. Yes, midday pork cutout values may have been a tick higher this morning, but traders need more reassurance than that.

<a href="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/356/2025/11/05140220/web-closing-markets.mp3">Click HERE for audio</a>

Three people familiar with the issue say the Trump administration still intends to roll out an initial payment of up to $12 billion for farmers struggling because of the president’s tariff policies. North Dakota Senator John Hoeven said that a program similar to the $28 billion farmer bailout that Trump released during his first term is “all teed up and good to go.” Hoeven did add that it’s being held up by the ongoing government shutdown. 

There is already a great deal of pressure on lawmakers and the White House, who’ve been trying for months to pull together some financial help for farmers while opening up additional trade markets. Farmers are stuck trying to plan for 2026 while facing tariff uncertainty, high production costs for fertilizer and machinery, rising inflation pressure, and other economic challenges. The USDA recently moved $13 billion into an account designed to provide emergency relief for farmers.

White House still planning billions in farmer trade aid

October saw a modest rise in U.S. farmer sentiment as the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer Index of 129 was three points higher than September’s reading. The slight rise in the barometer was fueled primarily by an increase in the Index of Current Conditions to 130, which was eight points above September’s level. Meanwhile, the Index of Future Expectations rose a single point to 129. Farmers’ appraisal of current conditions on their farms continues to be fueled by record-high profitability in the beef sector. 

At the same time, poor profit margins across all major crop enterprises lead crop producers to provide a more pessimistic view of the current situation on U.S. farms. The Farm Financial Performance Index fell 10 points from September to 78. Despite weakening financial expectations, the Farm Capital Investment Index rose nine points during the month to 62, thanks to the more optimistic outlook from livestock producers. 

A modest rise in farmer sentiment

December corn closed down 2 3/4 cents and March corn was down 2 cents. January soybeans closed down 12 3/4 cents and March soybeans were down 12 1/2 cents. December KC wheat closed up 4 3/4 cents, December Chicago wheat was up 6 3/4 cents, December Minneapolis wheat was down 1 1/4 cents.

It was an all-around risk-off session for row crops Tuesday with the exception of wheat futures, which continued to ride Monday's wave of trade optimism. Soybean futures led the way lower in the first significant corrective price action in what has been an almost vertical move higher between soybeans and soybean meal since the middle of October. It is likely traders and possibly producers looked to reward the rally following Monday's surge higher. Traders may also be feeling some nervousness ahead of the next USDA update in the middle of the month, which may still find large U.S. crops with harvest coming to an end. Outside markets were also mostly negative influence on ag markets Tuesday, with the U.S. Dollar Index firmer for a fifth straight session and directly below 3-month highs. Energy markets were mixed but stalled against topside resistance, while equities were lower, continuing the recent pullback from last week's record levels.

The live cattle complex was back to trading lower, despite Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins saying the U.S. is not ready for the border to reopen just yet; she's also mentioned in other interviews that President Trump is "very focused" on reopening the border. Although the industry knew that at some point the border was going to be reopened, the cat and mouse game of trying to pinpoint when that is going to happen has a negative impact on the market, as one can see in today's trade action. Unfortunately, this headline has once again pulled the spot December live cattle contract back below the market's 100-day moving average. Still no developments have surfaced in the fed cash cattle market, and no bids or asking prices have surfaced quite yet.

The feeder cattle complex took the morning's rumors with the biggest hit as the market has successfully seen prices never reached before, largely because of limited supplies and excellent demand. Cattle producers and traders alike both know that allowing for Mexican cattle imports won't completely end the market's rally and historical prices, but the degree to which it will affect prices is unknown, and that's what scares the market.

The lean hog complex was again sinking lower, as traders are sickened to see demand simply not performing. If the market trades much lower, it commits to trading below the support place at $80.00 in the December contract. The next level of technical support can be found at around $70.00.

<a href="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/356/2025/11/04141200/web-closing-markets.mp3">Click HERE for audio</a>

KANSAS CITY—Teamwork and technology led to the arrest of a drunk driver who fled from a deputy just after midnight on November 6, according to a social media report from the Clay County Sheriff. 

A Traffic Safety Unit deputy tried to stop a vehicle with no headlights, a common sign of impaired driving, near N.E. Parvin Road and N. Belmont Avenue. The driver fled and nearly struck another vehicle traveling northbound, before losing control and striking the back of a parked semi truck's trailer. 

The driver ran into Worlds of Fun. Worlds of Fun security started checking their cameras and were able to get a rough idea of where the suspect was as he moved through the park. Clay County Deputies put up their drone, which led law enforcement right to the suspect.

Officers from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ClaycomoPD?__cft__[0]=AZW5iqdO8kWopKSnwdWcNGhCdhztbHmDWCooqqytxssxIIS235dC2Hd9biDwqRgoewcAaVbmI2EA9F_QgdFI0K4t1Pj0rPqVCesjtpQbEGY-S9bNfNPqcas1m5NDMmnp9GBz-klfh3loVTGpHs8fsRX3tb89rNWjTxXJiVCgvknT-fTnXe1Y3ajdCGO0ijfxN1Y&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">Claycomo Police Department</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064540068196&amp;__cft__[0]=AZW5iqdO8kWopKSnwdWcNGhCdhztbHmDWCooqqytxssxIIS235dC2Hd9biDwqRgoewcAaVbmI2EA9F_QgdFI0K4t1Pj0rPqVCesjtpQbEGY-S9bNfNPqcas1m5NDMmnp9GBz-klfh3loVTGpHs8fsRX3tb89rNWjTxXJiVCgvknT-fTnXe1Y3ajdCGO0ijfxN1Y&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">Pleasant Valley Missouri Police Department</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/GladstoneMOPD?__cft__[0]=AZW5iqdO8kWopKSnwdWcNGhCdhztbHmDWCooqqytxssxIIS235dC2Hd9biDwqRgoewcAaVbmI2EA9F_QgdFI0K4t1Pj0rPqVCesjtpQbEGY-S9bNfNPqcas1m5NDMmnp9GBz-klfh3loVTGpHs8fsRX3tb89rNWjTxXJiVCgvknT-fTnXe1Y3ajdCGO0ijfxN1Y&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">Gladstone MO Police</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/kcpolice?__cft__[0]=AZW5iqdO8kWopKSnwdWcNGhCdhztbHmDWCooqqytxssxIIS235dC2Hd9biDwqRgoewcAaVbmI2EA9F_QgdFI0K4t1Pj0rPqVCesjtpQbEGY-S9bNfNPqcas1m5NDMmnp9GBz-klfh3loVTGpHs8fsRX3tb89rNWjTxXJiVCgvknT-fTnXe1Y3ajdCGO0ijfxN1Y&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">Kansas City Missouri Police Department</a> all had responded to surround the area. Tests later showed the suspect's blood alcohol content was over the legal limit.

Reginald L. Finch, 22, has been charged with aggravated fleeing a stop, driving while intoxicated and leaving the scene of an accident.

Sheriff: Drunk driver ran from crash into Worlds of Fun

The FDA and CDC, in collaboration with California Department of Public Health (CDPH), Infant Botulism Treatment and Prevention Program (IBTPP), and state and local partners, are investigating a multistate outbreak of 13 infant botulism illnesses from 10 states: Arizona, California (2), Illinois (2), Minnesota, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas (2), Washington, according to a statement from the agency.

Laboratory confirmation for some cases is ongoing. There are no deaths reported at this time. The CDPH IBTPP reported an increase in number of botulism type A infections among infants consuming ByHeart powdered infant formula from August 2025 to November 2025. 

All 13 cases included in this outbreak are reported to have consumed ByHeart- brand powdered infant formula. Officials in several states have collected leftover infant formula for testing. This testing is underway, and results are not yet available but expected in the coming weeks. &nbsp;

FDA has been in contact with the firm and has recommended the firm conduct a voluntary recall due to the number of cases, severity of illness, and the strong epidemiological signal. Today, ByHeart, Inc. agreed to initiate a recall of the two lots of ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant formula (Lot: 206VABP/251261P2 and Lot: 206VABP/251131P2) that were reported to have been consumed by the infants. FDA is continuing to work with the firm to ensure all potentially impacted product is removed from the market.

Symptoms of&nbsp;Infant botulism&nbsp;&nbsp;

Most infants with infant botulism will initially develop constipation, poor feeding, loss of head control, and difficulty swallowing, which can progress to difficulty breathing and respiratory arrest. Symptoms of infant botulism, which is diagnosed clinically, can take as long as several weeks to develop following formula ingestion.

ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula is available for sale online and at major retailers nationwide.

ByHeart baby formula recalled amid 10-state outbreak of infant botulism

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —A suspect in the November 1, death of a woman in Kansas City, Kansas has been charged.

The Wyandotte County District Attorney's office has charged 22-year-old Kevin Calamaco-Morales with felony first-degree murder in the shooting death of 20-year-old Ana Juarez.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Calamaco-Morales also is charged with criminal discharge of a firearm.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Just before 4:30 a.m. November 1, officers with the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department were called the area of North 11th Street and Barnett Avenue to investigate a shooting.

When officers arrived on the scene they located Juarez, outside of her home. She had been shot.&nbsp;She was taken to the hospital, where she died from her injuries.&nbsp;

Calamaco-Morales was arrested at the scene and is being held in the Wyandotte County Jail on a $500,000 bond, according to a statement from Kansas City, Kansas Police.

Man accused of killing woman outside her Kansas home

GEARY COUNTY —The Junction City Vice Mayor, 30-year-old Alovence Gordon has been arrested on requested charges of Aggravated Assault and Deadly Use of a Weapon. 

He was booked into the Detention Center at 3:41 p.m. Saturday, according to information from the Geary County Detention Center.

Gordon's term on the Junction City Commission runs until January. He ran for reelection but was defeated in the August primary election.

Junction City Vice Mayor is in jail for an alleged violent crime

DOUGLAS COUNTY —The runner who died from injuries after she was struck in a hit-and-run incident Thursday evening near Lawrence was Elsa McGrain, 20, a University of Kansas student from Omaha, according to&nbsp; Sheriff's Department Spokesman Officer George Diepenbrock.

She was studying pre-medicine and set to graduate in 2026.&nbsp;

Elsa was running and a vehicle struck her around 6 p.m. Thursday in the 1700 block of E 1500 Road, which is North Seventh Street extended and south of U.S. Highway 24-40 near the Lawrence Regional Airport.

Douglas County deputies and detectives continue to work diligently to investigate this thoroughly, find the driver involved and work appropriately through the justice system from there.

Detectives have determined the vehicle of interest is a truck that is all white with no side markings.

DGSO continues to ask anyone who might have information about the vehicle in the photo or been in the area on E 1500 Road between 5:45 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Thursday and has potential information to call DGSO Detective Lance Flachsbarth, 785-393-5845, or Douglas County Crime Stoppers, 785-843-TIPS (8477), and leave your contact information.

Sheriff: Victim in fatal hit-and-run was KU student

By:<a href="https://stateline.org/author/jacob-fischler/">Jacob Fischler</a>

The U.S. Supreme Court temporarily&nbsp;blocked Friday night a lower court’s order that the Trump administration pay for a full month of food benefits, hours after some states began loading nutrition assistance funds on payment cards held by the 42 million Americans who use the program.

<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26221041-25a539-admin-stay/" target="_blank">In a two-page filing,</a>&nbsp;Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson&nbsp;accepted the government’s request to pause a Thursday order from Rhode Island Chief U.S. District Judge John J. McConnell while a lower appeals court hears the case.&nbsp;

His order Thursday compelled the U.S. Department of Agriculture to transfer funds from other programs to fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, for November. The Trump administration had said the ongoing government shutdown meant it could not pay November SNAP benefits.

“The applicants assert that, without intervention from this Court, they will have to ‘transfer an estimated $4 billion by tonight’ to fund SNAP benefits through November,” Jackson, who was appointed by President Joe Biden, wrote.&nbsp;

A stay is needed to reach an “expeditious resolution,” she wrote.

Jackson’s order froze SNAP payments to states that the USDA had&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trump-administration-issues-november-snap-benefits-then-asks-supreme-court-intervene" target="_blank">appeared to authorize</a>&nbsp;earlier Friday before the administration appealed to the high court.

It was unclear Friday night what effect that might have on individual recipients’ electronic benefit transfer, or EBT, cards. A press release earlier Friday from California Gov. Gavin Newsom said some Californians had begun to see full benefits on their cards, following an order from a lower court.

In a Friday evening brief to the Supreme Court that followed a day of conflicting messages from the administration, U.S. Solicitor General D. John Sauer said the high court should step in to protect the executive branch’s power from what he characterized as unprecedented overreach by McConnell.

By demanding that the USDA transfer money from a $23 billion fund for child nutrition programs to pay for November SNAP benefits, McConnell substituted his judgment for the agency’s, a violation of the constitutional separation-of-powers doctrine, Sauer argued.&nbsp;

The department’s decision to pay for partial November benefits, by using the roughly $5 billion remaining in a contingency fund, rather than by paying about $9 billion for a full month of benefits, was its decision to make and not reviewable by courts, Sauer said.

“USDA reasonably determined that the best course was to combine partial SNAP payments with stable funding for Child Nutrition Programs—versus jeopardize the latter to guarantee full payments with the former,” Sauer wrote. “The district court would have done otherwise. But it had no legal basis to ‘substitute its own policy judgment for that of the agency.’”

The lower court order — as well a midday Friday letter from the USDA to state SNAP administrators — had also led to confusion among states who started to demand SNAP funds in a way Sauer compared to a bank run.

Several states announced full funding would be available and began sending money to beneficiaries.

Immediately after McConnell’s order was published, Wisconsin demanded “100% of SNAP benefits,” Sauer wrote. Even though the USDA system rejected the file, the private-sector processor of the payment “moved forward, resulting in Wisconsin currently overdrawing its letter of credit by $20 million,” he said.

Kansas made a similar move. And some California SNAP users received their full benefits, according to Sauer’s brief.

McConnell on Thursday had ruled the department’s decision to withhold SNAP benefits arbitrary and capricious — the standard for judicial review of an executive branch action.&nbsp;

The $23 billion fund could spare the $4 billion needed to make November SNAP benefits whole and still maintain its intended purpose well beyond the month, so there was no need to maintain that fund at that level, he wrote.

Instead, the decision “predictably magnifies harm and undermines the very purpose of the program it administers,” McConnell wrote.

While federal agencies are due discretion from courts, such a “poor” use of decision-making power must be remedied, he said.

“Contrary to what the Defendants claim, 29 million children who participate in the Child Nutrition Program are not at risk of immediately going hungry in the event of a transfer,” he said. “Instead, SNAP recipients—16 million of whom are children—will go hungry if they do not receive their SNAP benefits this month.”

But Sauer responded that was not McConnell’s call to make.&nbsp;

The trial judge’s ruling improperly assumed that Congress would eventually replenish the child nutrition program fund, but the USDA was within its right to take a more cautious approach toward protecting the child nutrition funding, said the solicitor general.

“It obviously was not unlawful for the agency to see things differently—and refuse to starve Peter to feed Paul, by gambling school lunches tomorrow in exchange for more SNAP money today,” he wrote. “Indeed, that sort of hard tradeoff is precisely the sort of decision that Congress committed to agency discretion and placed beyond the reach of judges.”

While the USDA had not denied that it was able to move money to different priorities after Congress had appropriated it, the government did not have to do so, Sauer said.

Allowing McConnell’s ruling to stand would invite a stampede to litigation, the government maintained.

Local

Region

Sports

Agriculture