Starting in 2026, the Troy Trojans will move from the 11-man football ranks to 8-man football.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Kansas State High School Activities Association announced its classifications for 2026 and 2027 last week.&nbsp; The move comes with a drop in enrollment.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Troy Head Coach Derek Jasper, after Troy's win on Friday, says having to move to play eight-man football is certainly disappointing&nbsp;

"I never thought I’d have to coach 8-man here at Troy, but it was also expected,” Jasper says during the Friday Night Lights Scoreboard show on KFEQ.&nbsp; “Like I said we suited up 19 tonight, next year we’re looking at having like 16 players, and so we had to make a move, it was inevitable, it’s not anything anybody wanted but it’s a lot better than having to forfeit a game or something in the middle of next season if we lose some people to ineligibility or injuries.”&nbsp;

Jasper says when you can only suit up 16 players it can be scary to play 11-man football.&nbsp; Jasper adds he knows the community is probably disappointed in having to make the move&nbsp;

"We’re going to probably be 8-man for three or four years when our numbers are way down like this, but something we had to do,” Jasper says.&nbsp; “And I’m about done here, but I’m going to have to learn how to coach 8-man football, and I’ve never done that of course, never thought I would, but it kind of is what it is and we’ll grasp it and accept it and just go with it, and we look forward to it kind of now I think everybody’s kind of moved on and knows that it was inevitable that it had to happen.”&nbsp;

Jasper says they'll do their best to fill out a schedule next year, with no real 8-man teams in the area, he knows the travel will be brutal but says they are looking forward to the challenge.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Jasper says the most disappointing thing though about moving out of 11-man football is losing some key county rivalry games&nbsp;

"With Riverside and Doniphan West and Centralia, we won’t play them anymore, but now we’ll play like the Hanover’s and Axtell’s, like the blue bloods of 8-man football in Kansas and they’ve been doing it for years and it’s going to be something new for us,” Jasper says. &nbsp;“So, might take us a little while to get our feet under us as 8-man and understand what’s going on and even the rules and stuff, a big move for us and I know that was big news for everybody.”&nbsp;

Jasper says Troy has been playing 11-man as one of the lowest enrollment numbers in the state of Kansas, and they tried to keep it going, but it was to a point that it could not be sustained.&nbsp;

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

Troy HC calls move to 8-man FB in 26' "disappointing but inevitable" 

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

Shortly after 8:30a.m. on Sept. 28, police responded to the area of 7th and R Street in Atchison to check the welfare of several people in and around a parked vehicle, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

One of those persons was&nbsp; 22-year-old Christian Tollett of Branson, Missouri, who was found to be in possession of illegal drugs.

Tollett is being held in the county jail on requested charges of&nbsp; possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

Drug suspect jailed after welfare check on parked car

KFEQ Morning Sports

KFEQ Morning News

ATCHISON COUNTY —A Kansas woman avoided serious injury after a crash in Atchison.

Just after 11p.m. Monday, police responded to an accident in the 1000 block South 7th Street, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.&nbsp; A 2013 Honda Pilot SUV driven by Rebecca Smith, 45, Atchison, was northbound on 7th Street when she struck a parked vehicle causing the Honda SUV to land on its side.

EMS responded to the scene. Smith was not injured.&nbsp;

Kansas woman avoids injury after SUV crash

Lindbergh Elementary School is seeking area volunteers that are looking to mentor students by helping read to a class every Wednesday during the fall.

 Volunteers are being asked to be a part of the school's&nbsp;&nbsp;"Be a Reading Mentor on Flight 2812!"program.&nbsp; The program starts on October 8th and runs from 10:40 a.m. until 11:40 a.m. every Wednesday through December 17th. 

Volunteers will read to 2nd graders. Onboarding for the program is October 1st at 10:40 a.m.

If you'd like to be a volunteer you can contact Lindbergh Elementary Assistant Principal Kaleb Johnson by emailing kalebjohnson@sjsd.k12.mo.us.

Volunteers needed to read with students at Lindbergh Elementary

ANDREW COUNTY —Two people were injured in an accident just after 6p.m. Monday in Andrew County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2007 Buick Rendezvous driven by a 59-year-old Bolckow man was northbound on U.S. 71 three miles north of Savannah.&nbsp; The truck rear-ended a&nbsp;1981 C-7000 Grain Truck driven by a 66-year-old Rosendale man who was slowing to turn east into Andrew County Oil. After impact the grain truck overturned.

Andrew County EMS transported the SUV driver to Mosaic Life Care. A private vehicle transported the truck driver to Mosaic.&nbsp; The drivers were not wearing seat belts, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer reports names of accident victims.

2 Mo. men injured after SUV rear-ends grain truck

ATCHISON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect after an altercation between two women in a store parking lot.

Just before 1p.m. September 24, police investigated a disturbance that had occurred in the Walmart parking lot in the 1900 block U.S.73 Highway in the city of Atchson, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

A 72-year-old woman reported being threatened, struck and pulled to the ground by a person known to her. 

The 78 year old suspect had left the scene before officers arrived.&nbsp; At 7p.m. police took 78-year-old Paula Phillips into custody at her residence. She remains jailed on requested charges that includes criminal threat and battery.&nbsp;

Kansas woman jailed after alleged parking lot fight

The latest court case, like others filed earlier, argues that no authority exists in the Missouri Constitution for redrawing district lines without new census data

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

Gov. Mike Kehoe on Sunday signed the new Missouri congressional district map intended to bring Republicans another seat, and opponents responded with a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/cnet/cases/newHeader.do?inputVO.caseNumber=2516-CV31273&amp;inputVO.courtId=CT16&amp;inputVO.isTicket=false#header" target="_blank">new lawsuit</a>&nbsp;challenging the plan.

Lawmakers, acting at the insistence of President Donald Trump, finished a special session on Sept. 12 by&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/09/12/gerrymandered-congressional-map-initiative-petitions-limits-sent-to-missouri-governor/">passing a bill</a>&nbsp;targeting the 5th District in Kansas City and placing a constitutional amendment on the 2026 ballot to make it more difficult to pass constitutional proposals by initiative petition.

The new lawsuit, like others filed previously, contends that no authority exists in the Missouri Constitution allowing lawmakers to revise congressional districts in the absence of new census data. The new case also argues that the districts are not legal because they stretch for hundreds of miles across the state.

The law will take effect Dec. 11, in time for candidate filing in the 2026 elections, unless blocked by the courts or&nbsp;a referendum petition.&nbsp;

To bring enough voters into the 5th District, which currently includes portions of only Jackson and Clay counties, the drafters destroyed the idea that districts should be as compact as possible, the new lawsuit filed in Jackson County contends.

U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, a Democrat, has represented the 5th District since 2005.

Kehoe, who has said&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/09/25/let-the-courts-decide-kehoe-says-he-will-sign-gerrymandered-missouri-congressional-map/">the courts will decide</a>&nbsp;if what lawmakers did was legal, said in a news release that he signed the bill to make the state’s districts align with voter views overall.

“We believe this map best represents Missourians, and I appreciate the support and efforts of state legislators, our congressional delegation, and President Trump in getting this map to my desk,” Kehoe said.

Opponents have argued that the new map disenfranchises a large portion of Missouri voters. Democrats currently hold two of the state’s eight districts, or 25%, while statewide elections show about 40% of voters support Democratic candidates.

Filed by the&nbsp;National Redistricting Foundation, the legal arm of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2025/09/09/democrats-hopes-courts-redistricting-fight-00551030" target="_blank">National Democratic Redistricting Committee</a>&nbsp;led by former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, the lawsuit enlists voters from around the state as plaintiffs, raising objections to changes in other districts as well the lines in the Kansas CIty area.

“Missouri’s mid-decade gerrymander is in clear violation of the state constitution,” Marina Jenkins, executive director of the foundation, said in a news release. “It was not prompted by the law or a court order; it was the result of Republican lawmakers in Missouri following partisan directives from politicians in Washington, D.C.”

The constitutional standards for redistricting include districts that are compact, contiguous, as equal as possible in population and do not split communities of interest.

“Every redistricting plan since the 1950s has placed as much of the Jackson County portion of Kansas City as possible in a single district, and more recently, also brought in a substantial portion of the Clay County parts of Kansas City as well,” the lawsuit states. “In fact, the Jackson County portion of Kansas City has not been split in more than 50 years.”

Under the new map, the lawsuit states, Kansas City’s central business district is in three separate districts. The new 4th District stretches from downtown Kansas City to Fort Leonard Wood in Pulaski County, 200 miles away.

Eastern portions of the city that remain in the 5th District are now in a district with Rolla, in southeast Missouri, also 200 miles away, while the remaining downtown portions are part of the 6th District, which runs across northeast Missouri to the Mississippi River.

“The configuration of congressional districts in the Kansas City area under (the redistricting bill) violates the mandatory compactness requirement on nearly every level,” the lawsuit contends.

The National Redistricting Foundation lawsuit is the fourth filed since Kehoe announced plans for the special session.

The first was filed by the&nbsp;NAACP of Missouri, which contends that Kehoe did not have authority to call lawmakers into session for redistricting or to change initiative majority requirements. That case is in the hands of Cole County Circuit Judge Christopher Limbaugh, who heard arguments Sept. 15.

The other lawsuits are in their early procedural stages.

One, filed Sept. 12&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/cnet/cases/newHeader.do?inputVO.caseNumber=2516-CV29597&amp;inputVO.courtId=CT16#header" target="_blank">in Jackson County</a>&nbsp;makes similar arguments to the new case about the compactness of the new districts, while also questioning whether the bill mistakenly places the same precinct in&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/09/18/court-battle-looms-over-kc-precinct-listed-twice-in-missouris-new-congressional-map/">two different districts</a>.

Another, filed Sept. 12&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/cnet/cases/newHeader.do?inputVO.caseNumber=25AC-CC06964&amp;inputVO.courtId=SMPDB0004_CT19#header" target="_blank">in Cole County</a>, is based on an argument common to all four cases — that the state constitution doesn’t allow mid-cycle redistricting.&nbsp;

Only once since the current constitution was written have lawmakers altered congressional districts between censuses, and that was in the 1960s when a U.S. Supreme Court decision forced a national reexamination of districts to balance populations.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=III++++45&amp;bid=31801&amp;constit=y" target="_blank">redistricting provision</a>&nbsp;of the constitution says that after receiving census data, lawmakers “shall by law divide the state into districts corresponding with the number of representatives to which it is entitled…”

The section is silent on the power to do it at any other time and that, the new lawsuit contends, means it is prohibited.

“The General Assembly ignored the state constitution’s procedural limitation authorizing congressional redistricting to take place only when new decennial census results are certified to the governor,” the lawsuit states.

4th lawsuit challenges Missouri’s new congressional maps just as Kehoe signs them into law

Among new state laws which have now gone into effect is a crackdown on stunt driving. 

Stunt driving is a common complaint in St. Joseph. An update to the careless and imprudent driving law adds that no person shall perform stunt driving on Missouri roadways.  

Seargent Shane Hux with Troop H of the Missouri State Highway Patrol says the law applies to street takeovers, a common complaint in St. Joseph and Kansas City. 

"So, they’re out there and they’re doing donuts, there’s a large crowd of people there, they’re doing burnouts, wheelies, donuts,’ Hux tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.  “So they added this stunt driving into the careless and imprudent statute, which means where we see it here in the city limits of St. Joseph would be on the Belt Highway, primarly with motorcycles, but also with vehicles as well.” 

 Hux says the update clears up the careless and imprudent driving statute. 

"By them adding this new wording into there, it makes it very clear, the public can go in there, they can read that statute, it makes it very clear that this type of driving is now prohibited,” Hux explains.  “I mean obviously it was before, but if someone just read the statute it didn’t lay it out the way that it does now to where it makes it very clear.” 

 Hux says to crack down on these offenses, and make sure it sinks in, penalties increase. 

"First offense on that is a Class B misdemeanor, so that’s kind of your warning right there, and then it bumps up to a Class A misdemeanor for your second offense,” Hux says.  “Now here’s the kicker, third and subsequent offense, Class E felony, so yes there is some teeth to that.” 

Hux says it's also important to note that if you are involved in an accident resulting in an injury or fatality while stunt driving, the offense jumps automatically to a felony. 

You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.

New state law cracks down on 'side shows' to stop stunt drivers

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

Corn and soybean markets were moderately lower to begin the new week but also held nearby support as a good weather window across the U.S. Grain Belt looks to encourage harvest advancement. Wheat futures were higher, which offered support to the corn market, although technical resistance continues to hold those prices in check as well. Outside markets leaned negative on Monday with crude oil futures sharply lower on fears of another output increase when OPEC+ members meet this upcoming weekend. The U.S. dollar was lower for the second straight session, which likely worked to support wheat futures on Monday.

The live cattle complex is continuing to trade lower as the market looks around for reassuring support; but it isn't seeing much rise on Monday. October live cattle are down $0.35 at $231.45, December live cattle are down $0.45 at $233.85 and February live cattle are down $0.32 at $236.17. Thankfully (for the meantime) the spot December contract is remaining above the market's 40-day moving average, but the market seems to teeter at that threshold as traders aren't confident in which way the market should trade. New showlists appear to be mixed, higher in Kansas, but lower in Texas and Nebraska/Colorado.

The feeder cattle complex is mixed into Monday's noon hour as the market is unsettled seeing the live cattle contracts trade lower,; but some of the furthest deferred months are still trading higher. More than anything the futures complex seems to be held at a mere standstill, looking for support to develop, or waiting for more pressure to build to send the contracts one way or another.

Like the cattle complex, the lean hog market is mixed into Monday's noon hour. But following the big surge the lean hog market saw on Friday, it's quite commendable that the contracts that are trading lower are just doing so in a mild matter as traders could have panicked at Monday's start and opted to give back most of what Friday's trade secured.&nbsp;

Click <a href="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/356/2025/09/08194004/30001.mp3">Here </a>for Audio

Commodity markets daily recap

The White House budget office is instructing federal agencies to prepare reduction-in-force plans for mass firings during a possible government shutdown, specifically targeting employees who work for programs that are not legally required to continue. The Office of Management and Budget move to permanently reduce the government workforce if there is a shutdown, outlined in a memo shared with Politico ahead of release to agencies tonight, escalates the stakes of a potential shutdown next week. 

In the memo, OMB told agencies to identify programs, projects and activities where discretionary funding will lapse Oct. 1 and no alternative funding source is available. For those areas, OMB directed agencies to begin drafting RIF plans that would go beyond standard furloughs, permanently eliminating jobs in programs not consistent with President Donald Trump’s priorities in the event of a shutdown. 

The move marks a significant break from how shutdowns have been handled in recent decades, when most furloughs were temporary and employees were brought back once Congress voted to reopen government and funding was restored.

White House Says to Plan for Shutdown and Mass Firings; Risk for Shutdown Continues to Increase

Consumer demand for products like cheese, butter and yogurt that rely on protein and butterfat content continues to drive dairy sales growth in the U.S. and abroad. Over the past decade, milk delivered to U.S. dairy processing plants has become more nutrient-dense with higher levels of the two key components to meet rising demand. However, the pace of growth in butterfat content has far exceeded protein, which creates challenges for U.S. cheddar and American-style cheesemakers that rely on a more balanced ratio of the two. 

“U.S. dairy producers did an exceptional job increasing butterfat levels in milk to meet demand,” said Corey Geiger, lead dairy economist at CoBank. “For 10 years, the market couldn’t supply enough of it, and now there’s an oversupply – it’s almost too much of a good thing. Cheesemakers strive for a protein-to-fat ratio near 0.80. Anything significantly lower than that can reduce cheese quality and compromise production yields.”

A Butterfat Boom Leaves Cheesemakers Demanding More Protein

As of Sept.1, there were 74.5 million hogs and pigs on U.S. farms, down 1% from September 2024 but up 1% from June. 1, 2025, according to the Quarterly Hogs and Pigs report published today by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). Other key findings in the report were:

United States Hog Inventory Down 1%

December corn closed down 3 3/4 cents and March corn was down 3 1/2 cents. November soybeans closed up 1 1/2 cents and January soybeans were up 1 3/4 cents. December KC wheat closed down 6 3/4 cents, December Chicago wheat was down 7 1/4 cents, December Minneapolis wheat was down 5 1/4 cents.

December corn closed down 2 cents and March corn was down 2 1/2 cents. November soybeans closed down 11 3/4 cents and January soybeans were down 11 3/4 cents. December KC wheat closed down 1 3/4 cents, December Chicago wheat was down 2 3/4 cents and December Minneapolis wheat was up 1/4 cents.

It was another slow day for ag markets to close the week as grain and oilseed markets mainly adhered to technical signals ahead of the weekend break. The biggest ag news for Friday was President Trump's comments late Thursday that the administration plans to disperse part of the revenue generated from tariffs as an aid package to U.S. farmers who are hurting amid low prices. The market reaction to this news was muted, although there was perhaps some bearish undertones in the implication of President Trump's statement that farmers will continue to be hurt "for a little while" being that ag-centric trade agreements may not be close currently. In outside market news, Personal Consumption Expenditure data came in as expected with the core index showing a 2.9% inflation reading, steady with July, and likely keeping the Federal Reserve's path to rate cuts in upcoming meetings clear. Energy markets were also firm Friday, with November crude oil futures trading to their highest level since early August.

After starting the day off with a rocky start, the live cattle complex thankfully traded mostly higher into Friday's closing bell, but with the market's deferred contracts again seeing the biggest daily increases. The spot December contract is thankfully back to trading slightly above the market's 40-day moving average, which will continue to be an important threshold to monitor, as a close beneath that price point could indicate continued downward pressure. Thus far this week Northern dressed cattle have traded at mostly $365, which is $6.00 lower than last week's weighted average and Southern live cattle have been marked at mostly $237, which is $3.00 lower than the previous week's weighted average.

The feeder cattle complex also trading higher into Friday's noon hour as the market continues to closely track alongside the live cattle market. Unlike the live cattle market, however, the feeder cattle contracts saw more steady gains throughout all the contracts, nearby and deferred. The spot November contract is currently trading above the market's 40-day moving average, and hopefully, with continued strong sales in the countryside, the market should be able to close above that threshold so long as nothing dramatic happens.

Feeling empowered by Thursday's Quarterly Hogs and Pigs report and by the morning uptick in pork cutout values, the lean hog complex traded fully higher into Friday's close. As a matter of fact, the market is currently seeing the spot December contract reach new contract highs as fundamental support is ample. The market will likely be able to sustain this momentum at least in the short term.

<a href="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/356/2025/09/26140511/web-closing-markets.mp3">Click HERE for audio</a>

Multiple grain traders are reporting that Chinese soybean buyers have booked at least ten and perhaps as many as 20 cargoes, of Argentinian soybeans after the country decided to scrap export taxes. That’s another setback to America’s farmers, who are already shut out of their number one market and hurting from low prices. Removing the tax on exports boosts the competitiveness of Argentina’s soybeans, prompting traders to purchase cargoes for fourth-quarter inventories in China, a period that’s usually dominated by U.S. soybean imports. 

However, Reports say that’s now clouded by Washington’s trade war with Beijing. One trader said Chinese buyers booked a total of 15 cargoes, dealing a fresh blow to America’s farmers, missing out on billions in soybean sales to China halfway through their prime marketing season. Argentina temporarily eliminated export taxes on grains and their by-products, as well as on beef and poultry, in a bid to spur sales abroad and bring in much-needed income. 

China’s soybean buyers now turning to Argentina

Last week, Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins and USDA Undersecretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Luke Lindberg announced a new three-point plan to support American agricultural producers and exporters. The plan was announced during remarks at the annual meeting of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture. The first of three points is the America First Trade Promotion Program. 

USDA will kickstart the trade promotion program in fiscal year 2026. The second is a new model of trade missions that supplements the current model. The third point is an effort to revitalize export finance opportunities by reducing financial risk to lenders with credit guarantees to encourage exports to buyers in countries that have sufficient financial strength to have foreign exchange available for scheduled payments. “Advancing these programs as supplements to our existing programs ensures the health, prosperity, and security of rural America, and our farmers, ranchers, and producers,” Lindberg said.  

USDA three-point plan to support producers and exporters

December corn closed up 1 1/2 cents and March corn was up 1 1/4 cents. November soybeans closed up 3 1/4 cents and January soybeans were up 2 3/4 cents. December KC wheat closed up 5 1/2 cents, December Chicago wheat was up 7 1/2 cents, December Minneapolis wheat was up 5 1/4 cents.

Crop prices recovered their Wednesday losses for the most part on Thursday as weekly price action has turned sideways amid a lack of fresh news to drive prices convincingly one direction or the other. Early news that Argentina has reimplemented grain export taxes after hitting the $7 billion quota in two days likely provided support on Thursday. Outside markets were mixed with lower equities again for the third straight session, with the rally through September to records in the Dow Jones and S&amp;P already counter to September's historical tendency to be a poor month for stocks, it is not surprising to see some profit taking/position squaring into month end. The U.S. Dollar Index was also firmer again on Thursday, and back toward monthly highs as investors and traders alike will be very interested in Friday's Personal Consumption Expenditure (PCE) Index, which is the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation measure for monetary policy decisions.

The live cattle complex continued to battle anxiousness and seemingly growing concerns about the lower dip in the equity markets, which put immense pressure today on the live cattle contracts. Unfortunately, the spot December contract is trading just below the market's 40-day moving average, and the market did indeed close below that threshold, that could signal continued downward pressure. Some light (very light) trade was reported in Nebraska at $365, which is $6.00 lower than last week's weighted average. Making matters even worse is the fact that some of those cattle are committed for delivery on the weeks of October 6 and October 13. This indicates packers are aiming to build up their supply for the long term so that they can continue to work cash prices lower. Asking prices in the South are firm at $242 to $244 but are still not clearly established in the North.

It was a day of hard knocks as the feeder cattle contracts once again followed in the live cattle market's wake, but they saw losses far greater as most of the feeder cattle contracts traded more than $5.00 lower into Thursday's closing bell. Thankfully, demand has been incredibly strong this week in feeder cattle sales across the country, but this dip in the futures complex could shake buyers a bit.

The cattle complex may have traded lower, but the lean hog contracts mostly kept their upward trend into Thursday's close. It's likely that traders will continue to mildly support the contracts through the week's end, but won't likely pressure resistance thresholds until after seeing the Quarterly Hogs and Pigs Report.

<a href="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/356/2025/09/25141519/web-closing-markets.mp3">click HERE for audio</a>

American agriculture has a growing need to strengthen its defenses against cyber assaults. The computers, sensors, GPS, and cloud-based data systems that help producers boost productivity also increase the chances for cybercriminals to worm their way into producers’ operational systems and data. Cyberattacks on agribusinesses in recent years have demonstrated hackers’ ability to shut down processing plants, halt livestock purchases, and cost corporations millions. 

The University of Nebraska educational system is working to strengthen agricultural cyber defenses. Multiple projects with various funding sources, including federal government grants, are at the forefront of analyzing and addressing vulnerabilities. “Many technologies used in precision agriculture, such as drones, have been designed for use and affordability before data security,” said Meghan Jackson of the University of Nebraska. “Disruptions of an automatic irrigation system or hacking a dairy’s control system could mean the failure of an entire season or the death of livestock.”  

Researchers addressing cyber vulnerabilities in U.S. agriculture

America’s soybean harvest began in September with no orders from China, the world’s largest soybean buyer. USDA says that farmers will harvest some, 4.3 billion bushels, with no indication of when shipments to China will resume. In a typical year, Reports show that China buys more than half of all U.S. soybean exports. Meanwhile, Brazil set an export record for shipments to China from January through August. 

In 2024, the U.S. shipped almost 985 million bushels to China, accounting for 51 percent of the nation’s total soybean exports. This year, U.S. soybean exports to China from January through August totaled 218 million bushels, 29 percent of the total exports during that time. In June, July, and August, shipments to China were effectively at zero. While U.S. farmers wait for an agreement, the overall Chinese duty rate on U.S. soybean imports is 34 percent in 2025. 

U.S. soybean harvest starts with no Chinese purchases

🎥Trump, Hegseth declare end to 'politically correct' leadership in US military

By TONY GUERRERO Hays Post

The Fort Hays State University assistant professor defended her Facebook posts about the assassination of Charlie Kirk.

Nuchelle Chance of the psychology department posted a TikTok video Monday saying she is being targeted online by Libs of TikTok, an X account with 4.4 million followers, and other online accounts.

On Sept. 10, the day Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk was shot and killed during a debate at Utah Valley University, Chance posted the following the same day:

"In my post, I just stated that there's karma," Chance said in the TikTok video. "There's irony associated with that, and that's by no means to celebrate someone's death."

Chance added when she thinks of karma and irony, she thinks of it in a scientific sense rather than a mythical one. Chance compared the death of Kirk to Newton's laws of physics, saying that energy is not destroyed.&nbsp;

"I believe that it's passed and transferred. The energy that one puts out, one receives," Chance said.

Chance also made the following post on her social media:

In her video response, she pointed out FBI statistics about the demographics of mass shooters.&nbsp;

"Not that I conclude that every single white American man is a terrorist or potentially violent. I mean, I come from a white home. I'm actually biracial, and I'm half white myself," Chance said.

Chance said that events like 9/11 and the Virginia Tech shooting have shaped her views on gun control and that they should not impact her work.

"Who I am as a person outside of my professional spaces should never be put under attack," she said. "The institution that I am an employee at has been put in a hard place. I'm black in America. I get hard places."

Scott Cason, FHSU’s chief communications officer, said in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fhsu.edu/news/2025/09/fort-hays-state-university-statement-regarding-recent-social-media-post-about-race-and-violence#gsc.tab=0">press release</a>&nbsp;the university is aware of content on the X account Libs of TikTok linking a faculty member to social media posts about Charlie Kirk.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"Individuals who post commentaries to their personal social media accounts do not speak for the University, nor does their commentary reflect the views or values of this university," Cason said.

Cason said FHSU is reviewing the situation as a confidential personnel matter and asks for patience as they address it.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/67bf5501-02df-472c-a43a-a4ff11ff5305">SEE RELATED STORY: FHSU assistant professor under review for posts about Charlie Kirk</a>

"Although I am mentally exhausted, I realized that no one's going to speak up for you but yourself. You have to be your own advocate," Chance said. "I refuse to be anyone's victim."

Libs of TikTok, a right-wing social media account that curates and reposts videos designed to provoke outrage among conservative followers, posted the following Sunday and tagged the FHSU X page.&nbsp;

The university also shared its press release on its X page, where Libs of TikTok responded with criticism.

"Sorry, but I don't have 'patience' for professors who call white Americans 'dangerous animals' and mock the murder of a young father. This statement says absolutely nothing," the X post said.

FHSU assistant professor under review for Charlie Kirk posts responds

On Monday afternoon and overnight, members of the community left flowers, stuffed animals and other items at Police Sergeant Scott&nbsp;Heimann's patrol vehicle, which is parked in front of the Hays Police Department office on 12th Street in Hays.

Children have colored pictures among the many tribute items left as memorials.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/d47e259b-e783-4435-9af2-c91b85b73b66">Heimann was killed in the line of duty while responding to a barricaded subject incident on Sunday.</a>

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 3, at Gross Memorial Coliseum with Fr. Fred Gatschet officiating.&nbsp; <a href="https://www.haysmemorial.com/obituary/Scott-Heimann">Click here to read</a> the full obituary

Memorials are suggested for&nbsp;Heimann’s children’s education with checks payable to F.O.P. Lodge 48.

Funeral scheduled for fallen Kansas Police Sergeant 

JOHNSON COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 8p.m. Monday in Johnson County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander driven by Michael Bradley, 58, Millersville, Maryland was northbound on Interstate 35 near the 95th Street Bridge.

The SUV struck a pedestrian identified as&nbsp;Joaquin&nbsp;Lopez Perez, 41, Kansas City, Kansas, who was eastbound attempting to run across the Interstate.

EMS transported Perez to Overland Park Regional Medical Center. Bradley and a passenger in the SUV were properly restrained and not injured, according to the KHP.

SUV strikes Kansas man who was running across Interstate

The <a href="https://www.facebook.com/firemarshal.ks.gov?__cft__[0]=AZV27LE80Q-6MMo-gpH3SFQmDEBZsL6OGNGmYIx2V6om4ye_t4JSEuFXuoly6sQKryTOEsnG6YHDOPiTyiQ0wof8HY2iE-qWzv5LvmkDxRfItSjvu0mBdSa6asnZhVuALKeXhzug9jP8YeQuGwdezSeWtro8OME8l0J3g24zUdvbzYMgjbfE16CFjDGVKeXZ7Wk&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">Kansas Fire Marshal</a>&nbsp; announced the availability of their newest team member, a human remains detection (HRD) dog, according to a social media report from the Fire Marshal's office.

K9 Gator, a year and one half-old Belgian Malinois, was imported from Mexico and purchased by the Kansas State Fire Marshal’s Office through <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HillCountryDogCenter?__cft__[0]=AZV27LE80Q-6MMo-gpH3SFQmDEBZsL6OGNGmYIx2V6om4ye_t4JSEuFXuoly6sQKryTOEsnG6YHDOPiTyiQ0wof8HY2iE-qWzv5LvmkDxRfItSjvu0mBdSa6asnZhVuALKeXhzug9jP8YeQuGwdezSeWtro8OME8l0J3g24zUdvbzYMgjbfE16CFjDGVKeXZ7Wk&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">Hill Country Dog Center</a> in Pipe Creek, Texas.

Gator is assigned to his handler, Special Agent Melanie Miller, in the Investigation Division. Gator and S.A. Miller are certified through the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/unitedpolicek9?__cft__[0]=AZV27LE80Q-6MMo-gpH3SFQmDEBZsL6OGNGmYIx2V6om4ye_t4JSEuFXuoly6sQKryTOEsnG6YHDOPiTyiQ0wof8HY2iE-qWzv5LvmkDxRfItSjvu0mBdSa6asnZhVuALKeXhzug9jP8YeQuGwdezSeWtro8OME8l0J3g24zUdvbzYMgjbfE16CFjDGVKeXZ7Wk&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">United Police Work Dog Association</a> in Human Remains Detection on land and water, as well as obedience.

K9 Gator and S.A. Miller are currently working towards their FEMA dog team certifications and will be rostered on Kansas Task Force 1 after those certifications are completed. 

Gator and SA Miller will play a crucial role in providing closure to families and aiding search and rescue efforts. K9 Gator is currently available for mutual aid response through communication with the Kansas Fire Marshal’s Office.

Kan. Fire Marshal ads K9 certified in human remains detection

SEWARD COUNTY– The U.S. Marshals are seeking the public’s help and offering a reward of up to&nbsp;$5,000&nbsp;for information leading to the arrest of a Guatemalan man wanted in Seward County on multiple counts of crimes against children, according to a media release.

Juan Ralios-Batz, (estimated age) 30, is wanted on three counts of rape of a child, one count of aggravated kidnapping, one count of aggravated human trafficking, and one count of abuse of a child.

Batz and his sister are alleged to have sponsored a 13-year-old unaccompanied alien child and, over a two-year-period, Batz allegedly raped the child and forced the child to do manual labor. &nbsp;The child eventually became pregnant and has a child with Batz. When Batz became aware of his wanted status, his family allegedly helped him escape to Fremont, Nebraska, to evade the charges against him. &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Batz is a white or Hispanic man, stands 5-feet-1 inch and weighs approximately 115 pounds. He has brown eyes and black hair and a tattoo of the letter J on his right arm.&nbsp;

Batz, who is in the U.S. illegally, is known to use multiple aliases, including Juan Ralios, Juan Batz, Randy Guerro, Juan Ramos-Batz, Juan Ramos and Omar Gonzalez.&nbsp;

Anyone with information regarding his location is urged to contact the U.S. Marshals at&nbsp;1-877-WANTED-2&nbsp;or send tip information via the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usmarshals.gov/what-we-do/fugitive-investigations/submitting-a-tip">USMS Tips App</a>.

Still hiding: Man in U.S. illegally is wanted for child sex crimes in Kansas

MORGAN COUNTY—A Kansas woman was injured in an accident just after 6:30p.m. Sunday at Lake of the Ozarks.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2020 Yamaha Viking driven by a 59-year-old Overland Park woman was southbound on Viewside Drive near Memory Lane at Lake of the Ozarks. The driver lost control of the UTV in a turn. The vehicle traveled off the left side of the road, overturned and struck a ditch.

MU Air transported the woman to University Hospital. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Woman airlifted to hospital after UTV crash at Lake of the Ozarks

Democratic and Republican congressional leaders met at the White House with President Donald Trump on Monday to try to prevent a government shutdown. They made no progress. If the two sides don't reach a deal and have it signed by the President on Tuesday night, the government will shut down.

On social media, Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall wrote, "Republicans are committed to keeping the government funded — but not at the cost of reckless spending."

"Dems are quick to blame Republicans for the healthcare crisis—skyrocketing costs and rural hospitals shutting down. Newsflash: This mess is the direct result of dem policies in action."

Kansas U.S. Senator's statement on government shutdown fight

JOHNSON COUNTY –A Kansas man is going to prison for killing a man near a Kansas middle school.

On September 25, a judge sentenced 25-year-old Armando Javier Guerrero&nbsp; to 55 months in the Kansas Department of Corrections for the shooting death of 21-year-old Landen Roggenkamp in March, according to the Johnson County District Attorney's office.&nbsp;Guerrero entered a guilty plea last month to the voluntary manslaughter charge.

On March 25, &nbsp;police responded to a shooting in the 1400 block of East Mart-Way Circle in Olathe. The location is less than a quarter of a mile from Santa Fe Trail Middle School. 

First responders found Roggenkamp with multiple wounds, according to a statement from police. EMS transported him to a local hospital where he was was pronounced deceased.

The Olathe Police Department took Guerrero into custody, and officers said they believed he and Roggenkamp knew each other.&nbsp;

Prison for the death of 21-year-old Kansas man

By:<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/author/ropshal/">Robin Opsahl</a> <a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/">Iowa Capital Dispatch</a>

The Iowa Board of Educational Examiners revoked the state license of Des Moines Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Ian Roberts Monday following his detainment and arrest by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The Des Moines School Board was scheduled to meet Monday night to place Roberts on unpaid leave following the BOEE decision on<a href="https://iowaboee.my.site.com/LicenseSearchDetailPage?licenseId=0038y000008suVnAAI&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=govdelivery" target="_blank">&nbsp;Sunday</a>. The school board had met Saturday to put Roberts on paid administrative leave. A news release published Monday from the DMPS school district said the action to place Roberts on unpaid leave after this decision is required by law.

The school board meeting is one of the latest actions in response to Roberts’ detainment.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/ice-arrests-criminal-alien-serving-des-moines-public-schools-superintendent-prior" target="_blank">According to ICE officials</a>, Roberts was approached by ICE agents in his vehicle during a “targeted enforcement operation” Friday. The agency reported Roberts was found in possession of a handgun, a hunting knife and $3,000 in cash. He then allegedly attempted to evade arrest, the ICE press release stated, and Iowa State Patrol officers assisted the federal agents in locating Roberts after his vehicle was found abandoned.

Roberts was given a “final order of removal by an immigration judge” in May 2024, according to ICE, after he had come to the U.S. in 1999 on a student visa.

There have been several questions about DMPS’ vetting process for Roberts. Officials with the school district have said they were unaware of the 2024 removal order or that Roberts may have misrepresented himself as a U.S. citizen, though school board president Jackie Norris said the district has not yet been able to independently verify much of the new information shared following his arrest.

School officials have confirmed Roberts completed the I-9 employment eligibility verification form and submitted the required documentation showing he was eligible for employment with the district when hired. In a news release, officials also highlighted that Roberts’ license had been approved by the BOEE in July 2023 and that he had worked in education leadership positions in other U.S. states, including in California, Missouri, and Pennsylvania, for more than 20 years.

At the Saturday board meeting, DMPS associate superintendent Matt Smith was appointed to serve as interim superintendent. On Sunday, Smith sent a letter addressed to families in the school district acknowledging the “difficult time” parents, educators and students in Des Moines schools are facing following the arrest and detention of Roberts. Smith said he was working with Norris, members of the DMPS executive cabinet and school leaders over the weekend to “to process and distribute factual information as it becomes available to us.”

“What we cannot lose focus on is our children,” Smith wrote. “Communities show their identity in times of crisis and the way we respond will make a difference in the lives of the children we love and serve. We all have strong feelings about what we are experiencing, and healthy expression of those feelings is appropriate. But we must remember to move with empathy and self-regulation and know that our children are watching.”

But others have criticized Des Moines school officials for hiring Roberts, who ICE alleged was arrested on a gun charge in Feb. 5, 2020. DMPS officials said they were informed of a firearms offense in 2022 and that Roberts had pleaded guilty to a charge related to having a loaded weapon in his vehicle while hunting. District officials said they were not informed of any other offenses.

The situation has drawn national attention and political fallout.

Samantha Cantrell, regional press secretary for the Senate Republicans’ campaign arm the National Republican Senate Committee criticized Norris, who is running for U.S. Senate in 2026, for hiring “an illegal alien with a rap sheet to be her Superintendent and work with children.”

“Jackie Norris has put every single Des Moines student and family in danger,” Cantrell said in a statement Friday. “Democrats will stop at nothing to protect criminal illegal aliens.”

Norris gave a statement on behalf of the school board Saturday saying she wanted to be clear “about one fact that cannot be ignored: of course, the school district ensured that a background check was conducted before hiring Dr. Roberts. That is done for every person who is hired by the district and periodic reviews are conducted on a regular basis for all current employees.”

  State revokes Des Moines superintendent license after ICE arrest

The Northwest Missouri State University football team is back in the DII national rankings through five games and after posting a big win over Central Oklahoma this past Saturday in Maryville.

With first year head coach John McMenamin at the helm, the Bearcats are now 4-1, and have won four consecutive games, reaching #24 in the American Football Coaches Association Top 25 and #20 in the D2Football.com polls.

Northwest, whose now 3-0 in the MIAA, knocked off previously ranked #15 Central Oklahoma on Saturday in Maryville 38-16.&nbsp; Prior to this week, the Bearcats were last ranked in the Top 25 polls in last seasons preseason Top 25, ranked #22 by both the AFCA and D2Football.com.

Northwest will have an open weekend this week and will next take the field October 11th on the road at Central Missouri.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Northwest regains national ranking after big win over Central Oklahoma

After starting the season 0-2, the Kansas City Chiefs have bounced back with back-to-back wins and are back to .500 after beating the Baltimore Ravens 37-20.&nbsp;

The Chiefs had not started 0-2 since 2014.&nbsp; Cornerback Trent McDuffie says no matter the record, this team always brings the same energy&nbsp;

"Since I’ve been here the attitudes never changed, you know, whether we’re 0-2, whether we’re 2-2, whether we’re 2-0,” McDuffie tells reporters in the locker room after the game. &nbsp;“It’s always get back to work and it’s always that next week mentality, so we’re going to enjoy this win, but we’ve got another opponent next week.” &nbsp;

The Chiefs took advantage of a depleted Ravens defense and put up the most points they've scored in a game since just over two years ago, on September 24th, 2023. &nbsp;But it didn’t look like it would be that easy to start. &nbsp;

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