State Sen. Rusty
Black has been placed in a powerful position in the Missouri Senate.

Black, a
Republican from Chillicothe, has been appointed chair of the Senate
Appropriations Committee, responsible for drafting the $51 billion state
budget. Black says it has been a goal of his to take a leading role in shaping
the state budget.

“With that, I was
happy to have that happen and looking forward to serving in that role,” Black
tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.

Black says an
immediate challenge his committee and the legislature as a whole face is the
reduction of the federal dollars which have been flowing into the state from
the federal government for COVID-19 relief and recovery.

“We try to do as
little harm as we can to the citizens and to those core services that people
expect state government to provide,” Black says.

Black points out
federal dollars had made up a third of the state budget, but has grown to 45%
in wake of the pandemic. That will change as the federal COVID money recedes.

As Black looks
ahead to the 2026 legislative session and the 2026/27 state budget, he sees a
tighter budget than many in the legislature have experienced. Black, though,
remembers a tight state budget in 2017, his first year in the legislature.

“We probably
weren’t physically cutting any core costs, but we were slowing the growth or
expansion of money in a lot of different areas, because things didn’t look very
good in 2017,” Black says. “Not to the point of cuts, but to the point that
every department, every ask, was not going to get a yes answer.”

Lawmakers meeting
in Jefferson City next year might just have a similar experience as the federal
pandemic money runs dry.

“As those monies
draw back, yeah, I’m going to have friends, including me, I’m going to have to
look at some things and make choices that maybe both choices aren’t the best in
the world, but I’m going to have to make one,” Black says.

While it has been
Black’s goal to become chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, he got
there sooner than he thought. Missouri Senate President Pro Tem Cindy O’Laughlin
of Shelbina appointed Black chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee shortly
after the special legislative session called to redraw the state Congressional
districts. Black had served as vice chair under the leadership of Sen. Lincoln
Hough, a Republican from Springfield. O’Laughlin removed Hough as chair shortly
after he cast one of the two Republican votes against the new Congressional
map.



“I did not
advocate for Sen. Hough to lose his position,” Black says, “but the fact that I
received that appointment is something that I truly wanted to do and I hope I
can do a good job for the taxpayers of this state.”

Black could serve
in the role through 2030. Sen. Brad Hudson, a Republican from Cape Fair, will
serve as the committee vice chair. 

You can follow&nbsp;Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ

Sen. Black moves up in Senate, now budget committee chair

KFEQ Morning Sports

KFEQ Morning News

PLATTE COUNTY—A motorcyclist who died in an accident just after 4p.m. Sunday has been identified as 38-year-old Kyle Jonsson of Leavenworth, according to a statement from the Platte County Sheriff.

A Kansas man was killed Sunday afternoon in a motorcycle crash along a rural road in Platte County, according to the Platte County Sheriff’s Office.

First responders responded to the crash along Farley Hampton Road and Baker Road, where they found a motorcycle in the grass on the southwest corner of the intersection. Jonsson was discovered about 20 yards from the motorcycle. EMS transported him to a hospital where he was pronounced deceased.

Sheriff IDs Kansas motorcyclist who died in crash

BUCHANAN COUNTY —A St. Joseph man was taken into custody after an accident that occurred just after 11:30p.m. Saturday in St. Joseph involving a patrol vehicle. On social media, the Missouri State Highway shared a photo from the crash.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2020 Chevy 2500 driven by&nbsp; a 24-year-old Alec M.. Gray of St. Joseph was westbound on Howard Street in St. Joseph.&nbsp; The driver failed to stop at the stop sigh at 20th Street. The Chevy struck a southbound 2024 Dodge Durango Patrol vehicle driven by a 42-year-old St. Joseph man, according the MSHP.

Law enforcement arrested Gray on requested felony charges of resisting arrest, misdemeanor driving while intoxicated, leaving the scene of an accident, hit and run; operate a motor vehicle in a careless and imprudent manner; for no auto insurance and on an Andrew County misdemeanor failure to appear warrant on an original charge involving a non-moving traffic violation.&nbsp;

Medical cleared the driver of the Dodge Durango at the scene of the crash. The MSHP did not release the name of the Trooper.

MSHP shares photo of crash involving impaired driver, patrol vehicle

PLATTE COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 6:30a.m. Tuesday in Plaatte County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2019 Freightliner semi driven by a 62-year-old Topeka man was northbound on Interstate 29 near the eastbound 435 interchange. The semi traveled off the road and overturned.&nbsp;

Platte County EMS transported the driver to North Kansas City Hospital. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Kansas man hospitalized after semi overturns

Missouri Department of Transportation has ramps of I-29 and I-229 set to close this week and next for resurfacing.

First, for Thursday the 9th, and Tuesday the 14th:

Second, for Friday the 10th, Monday the 13th, and Wednesday the 15th:

In addition, the ramps from I-229 to Route A, and from I-229 to Route 752 and 22nd Street will be closed temporarily as the operation moves through.

Upcoming Closures for I-29 Ramps in St. Joseph

The Buchanan County Prosecuting Attorney's office is partnering with the St. Joseph School District to tackle a growing problem of truancy.  

Since the coronavirus pandemic, the school district has struggled to get close to its goal of 90-percent attendance and has called on the prosecuting attorney's office to assist.  

Prosecuting Attorney Michelle Davidson says her office has tools it can lean on to try to get parents to get their kids into school, including a major state law 

"There’s a law out there that stateas a parent or guardian is required to make sure their children attend school on a regular basis,” Davidson tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.  “And so that is simply one of the tools that is in our toolbox that can be utilized to try to increase the attendance for some of these children that just aren’t getting to school like they should be.”  

Davidson says there's no one specific problem that makes students miss school, saying some have legitimate medical reasons.  

"What we’re focusing on though is the children that aren’t attending school and when we try to reach out to the parents to find out what’s going on we get ignored, we’re met with hostility on I just can’t get my child up in the morning, something along that line,” Davidson explains.  “And to us that is clearly in violation of the law where a parent or guardian needs to be getting their children to school.” 

Davidson says communication with parents is key to getting students back to school, helping to find solutions to fix the reasons that the child has not been in class.  

The prosecuting attorney's office has designated a person to contact parents of students with attendance problems, focused on finding solutions to get the student in the classroom.  

Davidson says the key to finding solutions is communication with families  

"If it's a transportation issue, let the school know so that they can work with the parent, if it’s a health issue and they just haven’t been communicating, contact the school, provide the information to the school so they know what’s going on with the child,” Davidson says.  “Communication is key, prosecution is the last thing we want to have to do.” 

Missouri law requires parents to guarantee children to attend school on a regular basis.  A conviction can end in a jail sentence of 15 days or a fine of up to 750 dollars.  

Since the coronavirus pandemic, the school district has struggled to get close to its goal of 90% attendance, which prompted the expanded partnership with the prosecuting attorney's office. 

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

St. Joseph School District seeks help in battle against truancy

St. Joseph Board
of Education President, LaTonya Williams, is now a candidate for the Missouri
House.

Williams says she
was approached a couple of years ago about running for the state legislature.
She then began to pay more attention to the work of the legislature in
Jefferson City.

“I’m in the middle
of my second term (on the Board of Education) and I know all too well about the
shortfalls of the state when it comes to public education,” Williams tells
KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.

Williams, who is
executive director of the Bartlett Center, says her priorities will be
education, health care, jobs, and safety.

Williams says she
plans to run a grass roots campaign and would seek to better represent the
residents of the district if elected.

“And that just
means a government that works for the actual people you represent and not any
other group, special interest, anything like that,” Williams says. “I live in
this community.”

The 10th
state representative district incorporates the heart of St. Joseph, extending
out the Rosecrans Memorial Airport.

Williams says she
understands she is taking on a tough task.

“I completely
understand, you know, that as a Democrat I’ll be looked at as an underdog and I
know that I will not be able to raise as much money as the other party. I
already know that,” Williams says. “Okay, but the thing about it is it’s not
about who’s got the most money or the more connections, it’s about the voters,
it’s about the vote.”

Williams urges St.
Joseph voters to closely watch the workings of the Missouri General Assembly,
which is in the firm control of Republicans.

“If you’re looking
at things now and how they’re going, do we want more of that or do we want to change?
If we want to change, then I’m the person.”

The 10th
currently is representative by Republican Bill Falkner who cannot run again due
to term limits.

St. Joseph school board president, LaTonya Williams, running for legislature

December corn closed down 2 cents per bushel at $4.19 3/4 and March corn closed down 2 cents per bushel at $4.36 1/4 and November soybeans closed up 4 1/4 cents at $10.22 and January soybeans were up 3 1/4 cents at $10.39. December KC wheat closed down 3 1/2 cents at $4.92, December Chicago wheat was down 6 cents at $5.06 3/4 and MIAX December Minneapolis wheat was down 0.05 cents at $5.5200.

On an extremely slow trading day, corn traded both sides and moved little early before fading, while wheat markets again headed toward contract lows, with the MIAX Minneapolis contract establishing a new contract low. A dearth of news as traders awaited a decision on financial aid to farmers resulted in a low volume and low range trade.

The livestock complex is again trading mixed as the feeder cattle complex inches higher, but both the live cattle and lean hog contracts are trading lower. Still no bids or asking prices have been noted in the fed cash cattle market.

With the equity markets trading lower, it comes as no real surprise that the live cattle complex is also trading lower, as the market's support isn't significant enough to look beyond the additional concerns. The live cattle complex may be feeling the pressure of the equity market's lower trend. Still, the feeder cattle complex is continuing to trade higher into Tuesday's noon hour as traders look at the demand that was found in Monday's feeder cattle sales as a positive factor, and the continued uptick in beef demand to be enough support to justify pushing the contracts higher for now.&nbsp;

It's somewhat surprising to see the lean hog complex trading lower, as the market has better pork demand currently and is no longer up against immediate resistance pressure. December lean hogs are down $1.10 at $86.17, February lean hogs are down $1.27 at $88.27 and April lean hogs are down $0.90 at $91.50. The morning's weakness in the futures complex could partly be because traders noted the decline of packer interest in this morning's cash market, but otherwise, there's been no significant change in the complex.

<a href="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/356/2025/09/16193009/30001.mp3">Click HERE for Audio</a>

Commodity markets daily recap

U.S. Representative Derrick Van Orden (R-WI) joined the American Business Immigration Coalition and dairy industry leaders at the World Dairy Expo to address the urgent labor shortages facing America’s dairy farmers. They also championed practical immigration reforms tailored to the industry’s needs. Speakers highlighted the essential role of workers in keeping dairy operations safe, efficient, and productive. 

“If we deport every undocumented person working in the agriculture, hospitality, and construction industries, all of them will shutter at a moment’s notice,” Van Orden said. “If our farms close, we’ll be completely dependent on other countries to feed our people, and that is unacceptable.” He called that situation a national security issue. Brian Rexing of Dairy Farmers of America said taking hard-working employees off farms doesn’t make communities safer. “We need Congress and the administration to address our broken agricultural visa program,” he said. “We don’t want shortcuts. We want reform.”

Coalition Calls for Permits for Agricultural Workers

The U.S. is bracing for a record grain harvest totaling 21.5 billion bushels of corn, soybeans, and grain sorghum this fall. The bumper crop arrives during a period of heightened uncertainty surrounding the future of the U.S.-China trade relationship. It all means grain storage and transportation logistics will be much more complicated than usual. 

CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange said grain storage space will be extraordinarily tight this fall, with grain merchandisers charging higher fees due to limited capacity and strained infrastructure. While grain elevators stand to benefit from buying cheaper basis and capturing wider carries in the futures markets, the profit opportunities aren’t risk-free. “Among the top 12 corn-producing states, the U.S. is facing a 1.4-billion-bushel shortage of upright grain storage this year, with elevators relying on bunkers and ground piles.” This year’s shortage is in stark contrast to last year, when the top corn-producing states had 361 million bushels of excess storage.

Record Harvest, Uneven Exports to Tangle Logistics

For the fourth straight year, water levels in the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers will soon be critically low, forcing shippers to light-load grain barges during harvest season. As barge rates get higher, those higher costs are making their way down to the farm level. Gary Williams, director of the Upper Mississippi River Water Association, told Agri-Pulse that between low commodity prices and high shipping costs, 

“Corn and soybean growers are looking to stash their commodities in every nook and cranny they can find.” A Forbes report said this could not come at a worse time for farmers. “This is a peak period when corn and soybeans from the Midwest get shipped downriver to New Orleans for export to the international marketplace.”

"If the lower levels get worse," Mike Steenhoek (STEEN-hook) of the Soy Transportation Coalition said, "that may mean lost profits for farmers because of an inefficient transportation system.”

Low Mississippi River Levels Again Set to Disrupt Harvest Shipping

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

Grain prices traded both sides of even on Monday as traders await more field-level reports as U.S. harvesting efforts continue to ramp up into mid-October. Soybean futures briefly overcame overnight lows to trade higher before eventually falling back toward the bottom end of the range by the close. Corn and wheat futures were also mixed, with the former finding some strength on a surprising release of weekly export inspections from USDA which reaffirmed the very strong pace of export demand for U.S. corn.&nbsp;

The livestock complex is off to a stronger start Monday morning as traders seem willing and motivated to push the contracts higher. It is helping matters that both pork cutout values and boxed beef prices are higher.

The live cattle futures are off to a stronger start for the week as the market takes the positive close of last Friday and continues to run with the support available in the marketplace. Last week Northern dressed trade began to develop on Tuesday and saw small increments of cattle trade throughout the remainder of the week.&nbsp;

The feeder cattle complex is again following the same direction as the live cattle contracts as its market is trading higher too. What could become problematic for the market moving forward is the nearby contracts are reaching resistance levels which could pressure traders to turn the contracts lower unless something substantial develops fundamentally. October is commonly referred to as "dead calf month" at sale barns as the severe temperature swings and the stressful conditions of weaning can be too much for calves. So mixed demand could remain the theme at sales barns for the next couple of week.

It seems as though the support established in the lean hog complex is holding true again this week as the contracts are continuing to trade higher.&nbsp; It is helpful again Monday morning that pork cutout values are higher with demand being robustly strong as the only cut trading lower is the picnic, which is down $1.06.

Click <a href="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/356/2025/09/29194004/30001.mp3">HERE </a>for Audio

A trade mission to Nigeria. A memorandum of understanding with Vietnam. A surge of purchases from Bangladesh. These countries are not typically major customers for soybeans from the U.S. farm belt. But, according to Reuters, desperate farmers, their trade organizations and President Donald Trump's administration are turning to far corners of the world in hopes of averting a disaster for agriculture from a trade war that has kept China from purchasing U.S. supplies. 

The efforts so far are failing to offset the loss of the country's biggest customer for the crop. The crisis is particularly acute in Illinois, the largest U.S. soybean producing and exporting state. After months of work that included planting seeds, fertilizing fields and spraying weedkillers, Illinois growers are facing losses of up to $8 per acre thanks to low crop prices and weak exports, according to University of Illinois estimates.

US Soybean Farmers, Deserted by Big Buyer China, Scramble for Other Importers

“The U.S. federal government shutdown that began Wednesday will halt some payments to farmers and delay access to federal farm loans, the latest blow for producers already facing low crop prices, record-high debts, and a trade war at the height of the fall harvest.” reports Reuters. On Wednesday, the scope of the shutdown’s potential impact to U.S. farmers was beginning to emerge. Even short interruptions in payments could deepen farmers’ economic turmoil. ‘It costs money to run those combines,’ said Chad Hart, agricultural economist with Iowa State University.” 

The shut down effects the processing of farm loans and making payments to farmers, including billions of dollars in disaster aid contained in President Donald Trump’s tax-cut and spending bill. The USDA has stopped issuing weather-related disaster payments, accepting and processing farm loans, providing technical assistance for conservation programs, and swaths of other agency work.&nbsp;

Gov’t Shutdown Halts Some Payments, Loans to Farmers

The FDA recently, conditionally approved Dectomax-CA1 (doramectin injection) injectable solution for the prevention and treatment of New World screwworm (NWS) larval infestations and prevention of NWS reinfestation for 21 days. 

“We understand the urgency with which America’s farmers and ranchers are asking for tools to fight New World screwworm,” said FDA Commissioner Marty Makary. “Today’s conditional approval – the first in the U.S. for NWS – shows our dedication to rapidly advancing important animal medicines when they are needed most. We continue to work tirelessly to complete review of other NWS products to protect multiple animal species in the U.S.” 

“Under this conditional approval, the FDA has determined the drug is safe and has a reasonable expectation of effectiveness. We are making this treatment available to cattle producers immediately while the sponsor collects the data needed for a full approval,” said Timothy Schell, Ph.D., acting director of the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine.

FDA Approves First Drug for Prevention and Treatment of New World Screwworm in Cattle

By:<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/joshua-haiar/">Joshua Haiar</a> <a href="https://southdakotasearchlight.com/">South Dakota Searchlight</a>

SALEM — Spending 12 hours a day in his combine this week, harvesting amber rows of soybeans he planted in the spring, Andrew Streff has time to think — and it’s hard not to think about the ongoing trade dispute with China.

The country is boycotting purchases of U.S. soybeans in response to President Donald Trump’s tariffs.

“China hasn’t purchased any soybeans from the United States this year, thanks to the president,” said Streff, who farms near Salem. “Our beans are the cheapest in the world, by about $2 a bushel, but this trade war is keeping them out of China — our biggest customer.”

Robert Lee is harvesting 300 acres of soybeans on his land near De Smet. He said many farmers are hesitant to blame Trump for bad bean prices.

“But the fact is, China imported 120 million metric tons of soybeans this year and not one bushel came from the U.S.,” Lee said. “That’s a direct result of this trade war.”

Farmers were similarly affected by trade disputes during Trump’s first term. Congress responded with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/crs_external_products/IF/PDF/IF11289/IF11289.3.pdf" target="_blank">$28 billion</a>&nbsp;of aid for farmers in 2018 and 2019, according to the Congressional Research Service. The relief paid for farmers’ lost income by providing direct payments in its place.

U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-South Dakota, said during a Sept. 26 public event in Rapid City that the federal government will probably have to help farmers again.

“I have talked to the president about this, because some of this is a result of tariff policies, trade relationships, etc. — China’s not buying soybeans today,” Thune said. “And so I think, inevitably, what’s going to happen is they’ll probably end up doing what we did a few years ago, because of loss of markets.”

Thune said that’s something “none of us want.”

“But I think some of that tariff revenue that’s coming in probably will end up heading in that direction,” he said.

Trump’s tariffs will increase federal tax revenues by an estimated $171 billion this year, according to a Sept. 26 report from the&nbsp;<a href="https://taxfoundation.org/research/all/federal/trump-tariffs-trade-war/" target="_blank">Tax Foundation</a>, a nonpartisan, tax policy research nonprofit.

On Thursday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed that the Trump administration is considering aid to farmers. He said in an<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/10/02/cnbc-transcript-us-treasury-secretary-scott-bessent-speaks-with-cnbcs-squawk-box-today.html" target="_blank">&nbsp;interview</a>&nbsp;with CNBC that farmers “should expect some news on Tuesday” about “substantial support for our farmers, especially the soybean farmers.”

Jerry Schmitz is the executive director of the South Dakota Soybean Association. He said U.S. soybean prices are down more than a dollar per bushel from last year, from over $11 down to $10, with South Dakota prices another 80 cents to $1.35 lower. Local grain elevators are struggling because exports through the Pacific Northwest into Asian countries have slowed to a trickle.

Based on the number of soybean acres planted this year, Schmitz said a $1 drop in price equates to about $250 million of lost income for South Dakota farmers.

A tariff is a tax paid by importers, with the cost often passed along in prices charged to customers. Schmitz said the impact of tariffs on farmers goes beyond the obvious. An example is a rise in fertilizer prices, “partly due to inflation, but exacerbated by the tariffs.”

Streff, the Salem-area farmer, also works as a commodities broker in Mitchell. He said farmers like him who locked in a price with a grain buyer months before harvest are doing better, but “you were gambling on the future.”

“A lot of farmers were hoping the president learned from the last time around,” he said. “But it didn’t surprise me — he campaigned on doing these tariffs. The U.S. elected someone who likes to pick fights with other countries, and now we’re in the middle of it.”

He said others waited to see how the crop would turn out and if trade relations with China would improve. They haven’t.

Farm leaders and state officials are creating new domestic soybean uses, including a&nbsp;<a href="https://southdakotasearchlight.com/2025/09/09/500-million-soybean-processing-plant-opens-in-mitchell/" target="_blank">$500 million soybean processing plant</a>&nbsp;in Mitchell that will mostly use soybeans to make renewable diesel and livestock feed.

Streff said that’s encouraging, but it won’t replace the demand of a country with 1.4 billion people who like soybean-fed pork.

“It’s not going to solve all our problems,” he said.

It’s a point Thune echoed while in Rapid City.

“We need to get the Chinese market back at some point because we sell a ton,” Thune said. “Sixty percent of our soybeans are exported, mostly to China. And so we’ve got to have those export markets.”

This story was originally produced by&nbsp;<a href="https://southdakotasearchlight.com/2025/10/02/harvest-of-stress-soybean-farmers-await-help-as-tariff-dispute-closes-china-market/" target="_blank">South Dakota Searchlight</a>, which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network which includes Missouri Independent, and is supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.

Harvest of stress: Soybean farmers await help as tariff dispute closes China market

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

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

It was a slow day to close the week for futures markets as the U.S. government shutdown is in its third day, resulting in a lack of government reports to influence traders. The late week rally across row crop futures gradually exhausted itself through the session Friday, led by soybean futures, which eventually settled over a dime lower than the daily high on the November contract. Outside markets leaned positive to close the week with the Dow Jones Industrial Average accelerating weekly gains to a fresh record on Friday. Investors are currently showing no major concerns regarding the government shutdown, focusing instead on an expected rate cut in the Fed's meeting late this month. Energy markets ended the week higher, with crude oil futures narrowly avoiding five straight lower sessions amid support in the low $60 per barrel range.

The live cattle complex battled through, as the market continues to feel stalemated, not seeing the support it needs to drive the contracts much higher. Between weaker cash cattle prices and lower waning boxed beef prices, the market is stuck trading steady/somewhat lower as there's not enough support to do anything different for the time being, but the market found enough for all contracts to finish in the green. Before the week ends, there should still be some more cash cattle trade to develop; however, there's only been a thin movement in the North so far, and virtually no movement yet at all in the South. Asking prices are noted at $235 to $237 in the South and $362 plus in the North.

The feeder cattle complex was back to trading moderately higher as traders are currently willing to mildly support the contracts. The live cattle complex ended giving enough support and the market was able to maintain the mild rally through the day's end.

The lean hog complex is finally seeing support work its way into the market as pork cutout values were higher, and trades allowed the contracts to trade mildly higher as well. The biggest factor helping drive the carcass price higher this morning is the belly's $6.82 jump, and the picnics $4.24 gain as well.

<a href="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/356/2025/10/03140156/30001-markets-230pm.mp3">Click HERE for audio</a>

On Wednesday the U.S. Department of Justice announced the arrest of  29-year-old Jonathan Rinderknecht on a criminal complaint charging him with maliciously starting what became the Palisades Fire in January.

The complaint alleges that Rinderknecht's started a fire in Pacific Palisades on New Year's Day -- a blaze that eventually turned into one of the most destructive fires in Los Angeles history, causing death and widespread destruction.

Among the evidence that was collected from his digital devices was an image he generated on ChatGPT depicting a burning city.

While we cannot undo the damage and destruction that was done, we hope his arrest and the charges against him bring some measure of justice to the victims of this horrific tragedy.

Rinderknecht's initial appearance is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon in the U.S. District Court in Orlando. Rinderknecht is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Man arrested, accused of starting wildfire that leveled LA neighborhood

Rep. Sharice Davids seeks extension of health tax credit used by 160K Kansans

By&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall diagnosed the ongoing shutdown of the federal government as a malignancy infecting Democratic lawmakers.

The Kansas Republican, who was a physician in an obstetrics practice before elected to Congress, said Democrats at the Capitol were infected with “Trump derangement syndrome.”

“They have a hatred for President Trump that I’ve never seen,” Marshall said on a speech on the floor of the U.S. Senate.

Marshall, who was among lawmakers skeptical of President Joe Biden’s victory over Trump in 2020, said an underlying issue was Democrats had yet to accept outcome of 2024 elections that placed Republicans in control of the House, Senate and White House.

“If you want to continue your liberal socialist policies, Democrats, win an election,” Marshall said.

He accused Democrats of using the shutdown that began Oct. 1 to play hypocritical games with U.S. health care policy. The most “failed system” and “biggest waste of money” is the Medicaid system that has enrolled about 400,000 Kansans, he said. The senator said Democrats were complicit in creating financial challenges that threaten rural hospitals in Kansas and other states.

The six-person Kansas congressional delegation — five Republicans, one Democrat — have shared views on the weeklong shutdown tied to failure to pass a short-term funding bill to finance government operations. Democrats conditioned support for a bill on extension of health subsidies that lowered the consumer cost of Affordable Care Act plans. Republicans say the shutdown must end before working on the tax credits for health insurance.

The House adopted a temporary funding bill, but the Senate hasn’t voted for a comparable bill allowing the government to function until Nov. 21.

“This is not a shutdown that makes any sense at all,” said U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kansas. “The American people — Kansans — deserve something different from the U.S. Senate. Every city council or commission, every school board, every local government office in my state passes a budget and then lives within that budget every year. Every local unit of government can figure this out, and the U.S. Senate is failing one more time.”

Moran, who has voted with Marshall to break the Senate’s deadlock, said the federal government shutdown “means uncertainty. A shutdown means dysfunction.”

U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, the lone Democrat in the delegation, said Democrats in Congress were fighting to extend availability of ACA tax credits to keep health care affordable. More than 160,000 Kansans relied last year on tax credits the 3rd District representative said should be made permanent.

“Because congressional Republicans have refused to extend them, premiums could rise by $700 next year, putting thousands of Kansans at risk of paying more or losing coverage,” Davids said.

She said the shutdown would harm hardworking Kansans and the moment called for Republicans and Democrats to work together on a solution.

U.S. Rep. Derek Schmidt, a Republican serving the 2nd District in eastern Kansas, said the Senate ought to get behind the House-passed bipartisan bill. The approach would get the wheels of government moving and create time for the House and Senate to work on full-year appropriations bills, he said.

“Regrettably,” Schmidt said, “Senate Democrats are insisting on the inclusion of a $1.5 trillion wish list of additional reckless spending instead of passing the House’s continuing resolution. This shutdown is entirely the result of those unreasonable demands.”

U.S. Rep. Tracey Mann, a Republican in the mostly rural 1st District, said the shutdown was triggered by Democrats who wanted taxpayers to “pay for health care for illegal immigrants and authorize trillions of new dollars in federal spending.”

He complained Democrats would rather see Trump fail than work in a bipartisan manner to operate government.

“I understand that some in Washington prefer to grandstand and try to score political points rather than do what’s best for the country, but it is time to stop the political theater and work together to get our fiscal house in order,” Mann said.

U.S. Rep. Ron Estes, the 4th District congressman serving the Wichita area, said he had his congressional pay withheld due to the shutdown. He blamed U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-New York, and his allies for the impasse.

“Republicans have done our job,” Estes said. “I hope my Democrat colleagues will put Americans first and end this shutdown soon.”

U.S. Senator Marshall points to ‘Trump derangement syndrome’ as culprit in shutdown

The proposed constitutional amendment set to go before voters next year would ban nearly all abortions, with limited exceptions for medical emergencies and survivors of sexual assault

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/annaspoerre/">ANNA SPOERRE</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/20/state-senator-throws-first-punches-of-2024-missouri-governors-campaign/">Missouri Independent</a>

After two revisions, a Cole County judge has approved the language for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/25info/bts_web/bill.aspx?SessionType=R&amp;BillID=13399177" target="_blank">a proposed abortion ban&nbsp;</a>that will go before voters in November 2026.

Circuit Judge Daniel Green ruled Tuesday that the latest language drafted by Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins and approved by Attorney General Catherine Hanaway is now “fair and sufficient.” It was Hoskins’ second attempt to write a summary that will appear on the ballot, and the approved version still doesn’t specifically mention that most abortions would be banned.&nbsp;

The language approved Tuesday by Green states:

“Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to:

Until this week, the fourth bullet was the sticking point for Green, who said that Hoskins had to be more explicit in stating that a current constitutional amendment would be repealed. The previous ballot language used the word “amend” rather than “repeal,” which Green called an&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-judge-orders-revised-ballot-language-repeal-abortion-rights/">“insufficient and unfair”</a>&nbsp;characterization of the measure.

But attorneys representing abortion-rights organizations said even with the inclusion of the word “repeal,” the current language continues to be misleading, in part because it does not include the name of the amendment that would be repealed, instead assuming voters know that it’s a reference to “The Right to Reproductive Freedom Initiative.”&nbsp;

“The secretary’s new bullet point four also still implies that (the amendment) gives rights to Missourians for the first time,” attorneys Chuck Hatfield with Stinson LLP and Tori Schafer with the ACLU of Missouri, wrote in a court filing opposing the language on Monday. “Voters should not be made to believe that, for the first time, Missourians will have access to abortions in certain circumstances.”

The passage of the reproductive rights amendment, which was listed as Amendment 3 on the 2024 ballot,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/11/05/missouri-voters-overturn-states-near-total-abortion-ban/">enshrined the right to abortion up to the point of fetal viability&nbsp;</a>in the state constitution. This legalized broader access to abortion than Missourians had seen in years.&nbsp;

Before November 2024, almost all abortions were illegal in Missouri, with limited exceptions for medical emergencies.&nbsp;

The&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/05/14/missouri-republicans-shut-down-senate-debate-to-pass-abortion-ban-repeal-sick-leave-law/">proposed new ban,</a>&nbsp;which will also be listed as Amendment 3 on the 2026 ballot, would be slightly less restrictive than the near-total ban implemented in June 2022. It would allow abortions for survivors or rape or incest up to 12 weeks gestation, though it is not clear if or how a survivor would need to prove the assault in order to receive medical care.

Hoskins was tasked with rewriting the ballot language<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/09/24/judge-rules-unconstitutional-law-missouri-attorney-general-special-appeal-power/">&nbsp;in keeping with a new law</a>&nbsp;after Green determined the initial wording by lawmakers failed to alert voters that&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/judge-orders-revisions-to-ballot-language-for-missouri-abortion-ban-proposal/">the amendment would ban most abortions</a>.

Today’s decision confirms that our office is following the law and protecting the integrity of Missouri’s ballot,” Hoskins said in a statement Tuesday.&nbsp;

Hoskins was also responsible for writing the fair ballot statement that appears in polling places and on the office’s website that summarize what both a “yes” and “no” vote mean.

This approved fair ballot statement lays out that a “yes” vote would guarantee women’s medical care under specific scenarios, including ectopic pregnancies and miscarriages, and allow abortions in the first 12 weeks festation in cases of rape or incest. It would also ban gender-affirming health care for minors.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

A “no” vote, Hoskins wrote, in part, would “limit abortion” to specific scenarios.

Attorneys for abortion-rights groups also took issue with this language, arguing in court filings Monday that it doesn’t make clear that “instead of enshrining a right for the first time,” the proposed amendment “reduces the protections currently existing in the constitution.”

The judge also weighed whether the inclusion of a ban on gender-affirming care for minors violates the constitution’s prohibition on ballot questions containing more than one subject. Critics say the provision targeting transgender care&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/08/27/missouri-abortion-amendment-3-ballot-ban-cole-county-trial/">&nbsp;is nothing more than “ballot candy” designed to trick voters.</a>&nbsp;

Green disagreed, giving the amendment approval for the ballot after concluding that&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/judge-orders-revisions-to-ballot-language-for-missouri-abortion-ban-proposal/">abortion and gender-affirming health care were related enough</a>&nbsp;to meet constitutional requirements for a single subject.&nbsp;

Judge approves ballot language for amendment reinstating Missouri abortion ban

CLAY COUNTY —A Missouri State Highway Patrol Trooper was injured in an accident that occurred just after 11:30a.m. Tuesday in Clay County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported the Trooper was eastbound on MO 210 near Stillhouse Road. The&nbsp; Trooper's vehicle crossed the center line and collided with the trailer of a westbound semi.&nbsp;

EMS transported the Trooper to an area hospital for treatment of serious injuries. The semi driver was not injured.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Major Crash Investigation Unit is investigating in charge of the investigation.&nbsp; Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

MSHP Trooper injured in crash with a semi

&nbsp;Attorney General Pam Bondi faced a combative Senate Judiciary hearing on Tuesday. with questions on the Epstein files and other controversial issues.

🎥Some highlights of AG Pam Bondi's fiery Senate hearing

KANSAS CITY —One person died in an accident just before 4p.m. Tuesday in Kansas City.

A gold Ford F150 was eastbound on 31st Street, according to KCPD Sergeant Jake Becchina.&nbsp; Just east of Mersington Street, an adult male pedestrian ran into the roadway from the grassy area located next to the parking lot of the Family Dollar Store.

The pickup struck the pedestrian who was thrown to the pavement. The driver of the pickup stopped immediately, remained at the scene, cooperated fully with the investigation, and was not impaired. 

KCFD EMS transported the pedestrian to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries. The pedestrian was subsequently pronounced deceased by hospital staff shortly after arrival. This is fatality #52 compared to #73 at this time last year, according to Becchina.

Man killed running into street from KC store parking area

KANSAS CITY—A Kansas City area man faces felony charges for the stabbing and attempted robbery of a man hired to clean a city-owned park.

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2740/Lewis-Austin-Complaint-Packet_Redacted">Austin R. Lewis</a>, 30, is charged with 1st Degree Attempted Robbery, two counts of Armed Criminal Action, and 1st Degree Assault, according to&nbsp;Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.

On October 5, Kansas City police were dispatched to an area near the National WWI Museum and Memorial regarding a reported cutting, a<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2739/Austin-Lewis-Statement-of-Probable-Cause_Redacted">ccording to court records</a>. Based on witness reports, detectives determined that Lewis approached the victim, a worker cleaning the sidewalks, and asked for a dollar. When the victim, who did not speak English, did not respond, Lewis stabbed him with a knife in full view of witnesses before fleeing the scene.&nbsp;

The victim is alive and in stable condition.&nbsp;

Officers located Lewis a few minutes after responding to the scene and took him into custody. He declined to speak with detectives.&nbsp;

Lewis is being held on a $100,000 cash-only bond.&nbsp;

Police: Man attacked worker hired to clean KC owned park

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations.&nbsp;

Just after 12:30p.m.&nbsp;October 5, a K-9 Unit with the Shawnee County Sheriff's office conducted a traffic stop on a gray Dodge Durango with a stolen license plate in the 2000 block of SE California Avenue, according to Sheriff's Deputy Abigail Christian.

During the investigation, illegal narcotics and multiple stolen items were located.

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