Local law
enforcement is paying attention to the investigation unfolding in Utah after
the shooting and killing of conservative, Charlie Kirk, while he spoke with
students on a Utah university campus.

Captain Shawn
Collie with the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office says no longer can area
residents dismiss such incidents and think they could never happen here.

“The violence
across the country is something that has, obviously I think, become a grave
concern for a lot of citizens and for law enforcement in general,” Collie says
during an appearance on KFEQmmunity.

Collie says the
Kirk shooting adds to a list of gruesome violent acts throughout the country.
He says local law enforcement must redouble its effort to keep crowds safe at
events and citizens must prepare before attending such events in order to stay
safe.

A gunman shot and
killed Kirk as he spoke to students on the Utah Valley University campus. Kirk
was 31. He leaves behind a wife and two young children.

Collie says many
questions arise in wake of such violence.

“As you look at
this and whether you look at the political side, which a lot of times we try to
take that out of, obviously that’s something that’s just there, but you look at
the mental health and the drug abuse,” Collie says. “What is causing the crimes
of violence we’re seeing throughout the country?”

Collie says local
law enforcement work hard to keep crowds safe at gatherings. He says outdoor
settings pose more security risks than indoor events, because it is harder to
secure a large area outdoors.

Collie says law
enforcement takes steps to ensure the safety of crowds, but he urges families
to make plans prior to attending such events.

“Keep your eyes
open. Don’t just try to focus on one thing, but know your surroundings,” Collie
advises. “Think about if something does happen, where am I going to go? Where
am I going to take my family to? If we get separated, where are we going to meet
at? And just try to have the overall planning of the what if?”

You can follow&nbsp;Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ

Local law enforcement reviews security in wake of Kirk killing

Mizzou Tiger Football is in action against UMASS Saturday September 27th in Columbia, MO. Enter to win a pair of tickets to the game before Wednesday September 24th at 11:59 pm. If you are planning on sports betting in Missouri soon. Check out the special offer – Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app now to grab $300 in bonus bets with just a five dollar bet when it goes live December 1st.  Gambling problem? Call one eight hundred GAMBLER. Twenty one plus. Physically present in Missouri. Eligibility restrictions apply. Bonus bets expire seven days after issuance. Excludes customers who redeem prelaunch sign-up offer. Terms at sportsbook.draftkings.com/promos.

Enter To Win A Pair Of Tickets To MU vs. UMASS

Missouri Western
State University hosts its Family Day this weekend, culminating with the
Griffon football game at Spratt Stadium against Missouri S&amp;T Saturday
night.

Missouri Western
President, Elizabeth Kennedy, says the Center for Service will lead a charity
project Saturday as its Griffs Give Back Day of Service.

“We are teaming up
with the group, Sleep in Heavenly Peace, as part of their Bunks Across America
campaign,” Kennedy tells KFEQmmunity. “We did this last year.” 

Students will be
using the new Houlne Center for Convergent Technology to build beds.

“We’re going to
have students in the Houlne Center building bunk beds; two different shifts,”
Kennedy says. “They’re going to be building these beds and delivering them to
families in St. Joseph that need them. It’s a wonderful project.”

Missouri Western
will hold an open house at its newly renovated library. Kennedy says the
university was able to finance an overhaul with money authorized for the Houlne
Center, but not needed.

“I approached the
state and said, I have a library that hasn’t been renovated since 1988. How about
if we create spaces for students so that have study places, they have
collaboration places? There’s even a model classroom and there’s a 24/7 room
that’s open that students have access to,” Kennedy says.

Several activities
are planned on the St. Joseph campus Saturday, beginning a 10am with check in
at the Blum Union. There will be a Family Legacy Coffee, tours of the renovated
library, a walking tour of the St. Joseph campus, and an open house of Scanlon
Hall where the Chiefs stay during training camp.

Missouri Western hosts Family Day Saturday

The Democratic congressman from Kanas City skipped votes in Washington to testify, but the panel advanced the proposed new map a few hours later

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>

U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver warned Missouri lawmakers Thursday that the effort to redraw the 5th District seat to favor Republicans will be long remembered by voters who resent being swapped by politicians seeking to increase their power.

Speaking to the Senate Local Government, Elections and Pensions Committee, Cleaver, a Kansas City Democrat, noted that Texas&nbsp;<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/04/2025-texas-redistricting-maps/" target="_blank">has already revised district lines</a>&nbsp;this year to favor Republicans and California will vote later this year on a&nbsp;<a href="https://calmatters.org/politics/2025/08/california-redistricting-vote/" target="_blank">plan that favors Democrats</a>.

President Donald Trump is&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/07/25/trump-white-house-pressing-missouri-republicans-to-redraw-congressional-map/">demanding the changes</a>&nbsp;to help Republicans keep their slim majority in the U.S. House of Representatives, and Democrats are fighting back in the states they control.

“If we fight fire with fire long enough,” Cleaver said, “all we’ll have left is ashes.”

Cleaver’s warning went unheeded and the committee, on a 6-2 party-line vote a few hours later, sent the&nbsp;<a href="https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB1&amp;year=2025&amp;code=S2" target="_blank">redistricting plan</a>, which has already&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/09/09/missouri-house-passes-gerrymandered-congressional-map-limits-on-initiative-petitions/">passed the Missouri House</a>, to the Senate for debate. By the same vote, the committee also approved a proposal altering how majorities are calculated for constitutional amendments&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/09/04/as-few-as-5-of-voters-could-defeat-initiative-petitions-under-missouri-gop-legislation/">proposed by initiative petition</a>.

Both pieces of legislation will be debated Friday, with Republicans apparently ready to shut down debate as they did to&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/09/10/after-hearing-from-trump-missouri-gop-muscle-gerrymandered-map-forward-in-state-senate/">push through rules changes</a>&nbsp;on Wednesday.

During the hearing, Senate Minority Leader Doug Beck, a Democrat from Affton, said he expects little or no debate on Friday.

“They’re going to shut us down,” Beck said. “They’re not going to let us speak on this, because it’s inconvenient.”

There was some grumbling about the process from one Republican, state Sen. Joe Nicola of Grain Valley, who said he has been told he can speak on the floor about the legislation but that no amendments will be accepted.

“When I don’t have my voice, the 185,000 people I represent also lose their voice, and that’s extremely irritating to me,” Nicola said. “I’ve seen many processes here, and even recently, the rules being broken. And it’s just a shame. It’s a real shame for this institution.”

Nicola voted for both pieces of legislation in the committee.

Missouri has eight congressional districts, with six currently represented by Republicans. Cleaver represents the 5th DIstrict, which includes most of Kansas City and Jackson County. The other Democrat, U.S. Rep. Wesley Bell, represents the 1st District in St. Louis.

Cleaver said he skipped votes in Washington to make the rare appearance for a member of Congress before a state legislative committee.&nbsp;

“I chose to miss (Wednesday) votes, and I chose to miss the ones today, because I thought this was extremely important,” Cleaver said.

The 5th District, which he has represented since 2005, would be carved up, with portions attached to the 4th and 6th Districts while heavily Republican areas stretching along the Missouri River to Boone County, would be added to the remaining Kansas City portions.

Speaking to reporters after the hearing, Cleaver said he is saddened by the bill and the need to explain how he works to represent all points of view and work with Missouri Republicans in Congress on the state’s behalf.

Polling, Cleaver said, shows voters oppose the redistricting plan.&nbsp;

“This is immensely unpopular, so I was not just here representing myself,” Cleaver said. “I’m representing the people of this district.”

And, he said, he intends to seek re-election.

“A lot goes into making another decision,” Cleaver said. “But right now, I’m running.”

No one from the public spoke in favor of the bill. While state Rep. Dirk Deaton, a Republican from Noel who sponsored the bill, was testifying, he was challenged by state Sen. Maggie Nurrenbern, a Democrat from Kansas City, on the origin of the new map.

Deaton said it was drawn in Gov. Mike Kehoe’s office before the special session was called.&nbsp;

“I think it is a lot of BS what you guys keep doing, that you’re saying that this map was drawn in the state of Missouri,” Nurrenbern said. “We all know the truth, representative. We all know that this came straight from D.C.”

Deaton said he accepted Kehoe’s word that the bill was drafted in his office.&nbsp;

“People in Washington, D.C., as I’ve observed them, are not shy,” Deaton said. “If they had a map, I assume they would have been willing to put it out there and say, ‘we think this is a wonderful map. We hope Missouri would adopt it.’”

Final passage on Friday won’t automatically put the maps into place for next year’s election. The bill will take effect 90 days after the special session ends, but plans are being made by labor unions and others to seek a referendum, which would delay implementation until a statewide vote.

And opponents promised the bill will be challenged in court. The Missouri Constitution directs lawmakers to draw new congressional district lines after every decennial census. The current map was passed in 2022 and the next census is in 2030.

Denise Lieberman of the Missouri Voter Protection Coalition said she believes the constitution does not allow a new map to be imposed now.

“This map is also subject to a challenge under the Voting Rights Act for the dilution of African-American votes,” Lieberman said.&nbsp;

Cleaver is Black and the line chosen for part of the district boundary, Troost Avenue, was the line separating Black and white sections of Kansas City when housing segregation was legal, Lieberman said.

“This is an unprecedented power grab here in Missouri,” she said.

The hearing on the changes to the initiative process brought some testy exchanges between Democrats and Republicans.

Currently, any proposal placed on a statewide ballot needs only a majority of votes to pass. That is the standard for constitutional amendments, statutory changes and proposals subject to a referendum.

The proposed changes, which would be on a ballot and subject to the current standard for passage, would only apply to constitutional amendments proposed by initiative petitions. Along with a statewide majority, those constitutional amendments would also need a majority vote in their favor in all eight congressional districts.

If one district opposed a ballot measure while the other seven passed it, as few as 5.3% of voters could control the outcome for the whole state.

“The main purpose is to protect the Constitution from changes that the majority of all the voters in Missouri, in every area of the state, don’t agree with,” said state Rep. Ed Lewis, a Republican from Moberly, as he presented the bill to the Senate committee.

As the committee was voting, Beck tried to make it subject to the same majority requirements it would impose on citizen initiative petitions.

“If this is such a great idea and we are going to change the constitution, and this is the best way to do it, why don’t we use that same standard for the legislature changing it as the initiative process,” Beck said.

State Sen. Rick Brattin, a Republican from Harrisonville, said Beck was being “too clever” and joined other Republicans in voting down the proposal.

“The whole point of this is to set those standards and to change those standards,” Brattin said, “but it has to be adopted by the current standard.”

Emanuel Cleaver testifies against redistricting plan before Missouri Senate committee

KFEQ Morning Sports

KFEQ Morning News

CLINTON COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 8:30p.m. Thursday in Clinton County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2007 Honda Shadow driven by a 36-year-old Kansas City, Kansas, woman was northbound on Interstate 35 six miles south of Cameron. The motorcycle traveled off the east side of the road and overturned.

A private vehicle transported the driver to Cameron Regional Medical Center. She was wearing a helmet, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Kansas woman hospitalized after motorcyce accident

ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a&nbsp; suspect for an alleged violent domestic incident.

Just after 8:30p.m. Tuesday, police&nbsp;responded to a disturbance in the 700 block S Street in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.&nbsp; It was determined the disturbance had occurred between two mn who were known to each other and both had been at a residence there. 

One of the men, a 30-year-old victim, had left the scene and had been taken to Amberwell Hospital by a family member to be treated for injuries sustained during the altercation. The victim had sustained head and facial injuries from being struck with fists and kicked. 

Following an investigation, police took 40-year-old Ryan White into custody on requested charges of aggravated battery.

Police: Kan. man's violent attack sent victim to a hospital

St. Joseph Police report that two individuals are in critical condition after a serious vehicle crash early Thursday morning. 

St. Joseph Police report that around 5:30 on Thursday morning officers responded to a serious motor vehicle crash at the intersection of Messanie Street and Meadow Lane.  Officers say a preliminary investigation reveals that a vehicle that contained four individuals, one a juvenile, was traveling westbound on Messanie when it collided into a car being driven by a single driver that was turning east onto Meadow Lane.  

All involved in the crash were transported to Mosaic Life Care with moderate to severe injuries.  Two remain at Mosaic in critical condition St. Joseph Police report.

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

Two in critical condition after early morning St. Joseph crash

A group raising money in hopes of building a new pool facility in Andrew County saw success during its first fundraiser over the weekend.  

The group Andrew County Aquatics Initiative set out to raise $50,000 during the Splash Bash fundraiser, but by the end of Saturday, raised nearly $60,000.  

Chairperson Diane Gould says the goal of $50,000 was a sort of litmus test from the group, making sure they were doing the right thing 

"Are we representing a loud voice in our community?  We thought that if we could hit that $50,000 mark at our first kickoff event, we know that we are heading in the right direction and we’re doing the right thing,” Gould tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. 

The group was formed in response to the Savannah Parks and Recreation department announcing this would be the final summer for the pool which has been open for more than 60 years.  

Gould says the goal of the initiative is to build a new facility, which would serve not only Savannah, but all of Andrew County, as well as the surrounding area. 

Gould says though, in the quest to build a new pool facility, while that money helps clear the first hurdle it's not nearly enough for what they need. 

"We feel like we’re getting ready to eat an elephant but we’re going to eat it one bite at a time,” Gould explains.  “So, we are in the process of applying for a grant for $500,000, if we can raise $500,000 it would be matched dollar for dollar by the Land and Water Conservation fund, and that’s actually the same grant that built our pool initially back in 1964.” 

Gould says if they hope to build something comparable to what is currently in Savannah, the cost of the project could be around $4.5 million. 

Gould says the ultimate goal with the new facility would be to continue offering those much-needed outdoor pool spaces that are limited in the area. 

"Family, fun, music playing, kids socializing type of venue,” Gould says.  “It’s the only amenity in our area where kids can come and spend their whole day and be supervised and mentored and work on their swimming skills as well as their life skills.” 

Gould also sees the new facility as a complementary piece to the new indoor facility coming to the YMCA in St. Joseph in the future.

You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Successful fundraiser helps clear first hurdle towards new pool in Andrew County

Before his talk tonight at Wyatt Park Baptist Church at the Patriot Day Tribute, Captain Guy Gruters visited the 139th Airlift Wing at Rosecrans. 

Base commander Colonel Barrett Golden says it means a lot to have someone with Gruters experience come onto the base and give young airmen motivation as they train 

"And you do that through providing history,” Golden tells reporters.  “And we always talk about you want to do lessons learned and not lessons observed, well if you can provide some of those lessons learned that he provided, it gives airmen some inspiration to continue to do their job and be prideful of how they serve their country.” 

Gruters says it meant a lot to him as well to get to speak to so many young people preparing to serve the country 

"I love service people, I just really do, they put their life on the line for the country and for each other and I think the world of them,” Gruters says. 

Gruters is a retired Air Force Captain who was taken prisoner during the Vietnam War and is the subject of the book Faith Conquers Through Courage Tested.   

The name of the book is also the name of Gruters talk tonight and Gruters hopes people take two things away from the talk. 

"If you trust in God everything will turn out ok, but you have to pray to have that happen,” Gruters explains.  “Another wards the basic thing is, whether it’s macro or micro, as a country or as an individual, you have to pray and do the right thing and then just trust God for the outcome because it’ll be good.” 

Golden says he hopes hearing the stories of how Gruters unit never quit, despite the hardships, motivates those young servicemen who attended 

"So, I think it inspires some of our airmen to absolutely never quite in the most dire of circumstances,” Golden says. 

During his visit to the 139th Gruters got a mission brief on the operations at the air guard base.  

Golden says it's special to be able to advocate for the base to an American hero like Gruters 

"Not only would he potentially take that forward and then maybe perhaps when he’s at the national level can go you know I just saw an amazing place like the 139th Airlift Wing and they have this thing called the Advanced Airlifts Tactics Training Center, sure that’s like a one off opportunity for him to advocate for us,” Golden says. 

But what Golden is more prideful to have shown off to Gruters is the history of the base, and how far they've come with the Advanced Airlift Tactics Training Center 

"From four years ago to know in the Advanced Airlifts Tactics Training Center, and to see the smile on his face that we’re still getting after things, we’re still the best United States Air Force, the best Air National Guard in the entire world,” Golden explains. 

Gruters, and others, will speak tonight at Wyatt Park Baptist Church beginning at 6pm during the Patriot Day Tribute.  Doors open at 5pm. 

You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Former POW, speaking in St. Joseph tonight, inspires 139th

The Bureau of Land Management has begun the process of rolling back the Biden Administration’s rule allowing conservation leases on its land. The agency on Wednesday released a proposal to rescind the 2024 Public Lands Rule, which aimed to put conservation uses of land on equal footing with grazing, energy production, mining, and recreation. 

Bureau of Land Management plans to scrap conservation leasing rule

Farm Equipment manufacturers say they are struggling under the high tariffs set by President Trump. Case IH’s Kurt Coffey, who serves as the company's vice president of its North America division, says the executive team he is on meets daily to unpack global trade developments. Case IH is in a good position overall, he says, with 80% to 90% of its machines produced in one of four U.S. production facilities, and 95% of its machinery base material, steel, is sourced domestically. 

We’ve continued to focus on how we make sure our customers have what they need as they’re going to harvest. German-based manufacturer Claas is a different story. Eighty percent of its row crop machinery portfolio is built in Europe and shipped to dealer lots in the U.S. Eric Raby, senior vice president of Claas, says, “We’ve absorbed a lot, as well. We’re not passing all of it to the customer.”

What farm equipment manufacturers are saying about 50% steel and aluminum tariffs

December corn closed up 2 3/4 cents and March corn was up 2 3/4 cents. November soybeans closed up 8 1/4 cents and January soybeans were up 7 3/4 cents. December KC wheat closed up 3 cents, December Chicago wheat was up 6 1/2 cents, December Minneapolis wheat was up 2 cents.

Grain markets traded higher on Thursday as traders continue to keep corn and soybean prices within their weekly ranges ahead of USDA's September WASDE report due out Friday at 11 a.m. CDT. The soybean market in particular led the charge higher on Thursday, erasing the results of the previous two lower sessions. Outside markets on Thursday were mixed with softer energy markets, but equities surging to new records. Consumer Price Index data for August painted a picture of much more concerning inflation as compared to the PPI released on Wednesday. Meanwhile, jobless claims were a four-year high on Thursday, which could potentially set up a dichotomy when the Federal Reserve meets next week to decide on interest rates. I'd also like to point out in Wednesday's comment, I mistakenly pointed to the PPI data as the Fed's "preferred inflation gauge," which is actually the Personal Consumption data due out later this month, not the PPI data as I had mistakenly alluded to.

Again today, the live cattle complex stepped forward and traded higher as traders seem to agree that the market has seen enough downward pressure for the time being. Thankfully, again today we see that trades moved the contracts away from the market's 40-day moving average, which thankfully is happening because a close below that threshold would likely signal more downward pressure. Although there are again bids beginning to renew in the countryside, no new trade has developed. So far this week Northern dressed cattle have traded from $375 to $378, which is $5.00 to $8.00 lower than last week's weighted average. Asking prices for cattle left to trade remain firm at $243 in the South and $378 plus in the North.

Thankfully, the feeder cattle complex has now also found support as all of its contracts traded well over $1.00 higher. It's the market's nearby contracts that traded above $2.00 higher, while most of the deferred contracts are just trading $1.00 to $1.70 higher into Thursday's closing bell, but luckily, the gloomy pressure that rested above the market on Tuesday and Wednesday has seemed to fade away.

It's been noteworthy day for the lean hog complex as the market has found enough support to gingerly break above its resistance at $97.00 in the spot October contract. But surprisingly, this seems to be a move being made by traders alone, as the market isn't lending much fundamental support, the day's export report wasn't that fruitful and midday pork cutout values were lower.

<a href="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/356/2025/09/11144407/web-closing-markets.mp3">Click HERE for audio</a>

Commodity markets daily recap

The USDA’s Economic Research Service says net cash farm income, defined as gross cash income minus cash expenses, is forecast to increase by $36.5 billion, or 25 percent, from 2024 to $180.7 billion in 2025 inflation-adjusted dollars. U.S. net farm income is forecast to increase by $48.8 billion, or 37 percent, to $179.8 billion in 2025. Net farm income is a broader measure of farm sector profitability that incorporates non-cash items like changes in inventories, economic depreciation, and gross imputed rental income. 

Most of the projected increase in 2025 corresponds with higher direct government payments to farmers, projected to increase from $10.4 billion in 2024 to $40.5 billion in 2025. The increase is expected largely because of supplemental and ad hoc disaster assistance for farmers and ranchers from the American Relief Act of 2025, which authorized economic assistance payments to producers and payments for losses in 2023 and 2024. 

USDA says farm sector profits to grow in 2025

As farmers prepare to harvest what may be a record-large soybean crop, their largest export customer has yet to make a buy. Without a deal with China, North Dakota farmers may not get a bid for their soybeans. According to North Dakota Soybean Council Chair Jim Thompson, the local cash market is pushing growers to store their beans. 

North Dakota Soybean Growers Association President Justin Sherlock says the trade dispute with China needs to end. “Maybe it’s getting an interim trade deal with a country like China so we have somewhere to just physically move and sell those soybeans,” said Sherlock. He said farmers want the export markets restored first. “We just need to get rid of the crop right now, then we can figure out where we’re at financially as we go into the winter months and loan renewal season.”

Soybean leaders see export window narrowing with China

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

Ag futures and row crops specifically were generally on the lower side on Wednesday, but still within their recent trading ranges as traders aren't really looking to commit to big position swings ahead of USDA insight into the markets on Friday. Outside markets were mixed with energy futures higher after a fresh wave of geopolitical uncertainty after Poland reportedly shot down Russian drones in their airspace Tuesday night. Meanwhile, stock indices were mixed with the S&amp;P 500 surging to a new record amid a cool reading of the PPI Index on Wednesday, the Federal Reserve's favorite inflation gauge for guiding rate decisions, leaving less doubt in investors' minds that the Fed will cut rates in their meeting next week.

The live cattle complex&nbsp;traded softly higher into Wednesday's closing bell as the market is recovering some position lost from Tuesday's meltdown. The spot October contract continues to trade slightly above the market's 40-day moving average ($229.74), which will be a threshold to continue to monitor. If traders let the contracts fall below that point, a downward trend will likely continue. A few bids are currently on the table at $236 in Kansas and $235 live and $375 dressed in Nebraska, but no new sales have been reported following Tuesday's business. On Tuesday afternoon, there was a thin movement in the North at $378, which is $5.00 lower than the previous week's weighted average, but there weren't enough cattle traded to say that an accurate trend has been set for the week. Asking prices in the South are firm at $243 and in the North at $380.

The feeder cattle complex&nbsp;did not recover as much as the live cattle contracts, as only its nearby contracts traded higher while the deferred months continued to trade moderately lower. It seems as though Tuesday's sharp descent took the air out of the feeder cattle contracts, which is why they were slower to recover today.

The lean hog complex was chopping merely sideways as the market traders want to support the complex, but neither do they believe that they possess enough support to really push the contracts beyond the market's resistance. It is helpful that again this morning, the carcass price was higher, which is mainly because of the ham's $3.45 jump, and the belly's $2.71 gain.

<a href="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/356/2025/09/10150329/web-closing-markets.mp3">Click HERE for audio</a>

The U.S. agricultural trade deficit widened further in July, highlighting the challenge facing President Donald Trump as he vows to reverse the trend. Agricultural exports lagged imports by $4.97 billion in July, a gap 9% wider than a year earlier and the largest on record for the month. According to data released Monday by the U.S. Department of Agriculture That pushed the sector’s deficit to an unprecedented $33.6 billion for the first seven months of the year. 

The widening farm trade gap this year has been mostly driven by a jump in imports, just as Trump slapped tariffs on other countries in a push to shrink the overall deficit. That further cements a shift that has been building since the president’s first term, with a sector that has long run major trade surpluses becoming a consistent net importer. 

Ag trade deficit hit another record high in July

China imported a record volume of soybeans for August to build a buffer against possible shortages as a protracted trade war with the U.S. — its second-largest supplier — drags on. Reports show that China, the world’s biggest soybean importer, purchased 12.3 million metric tons in August, the highest ever recorded for the month, shoring up local availability before U.S. supplies begin to dominate the global market. China has traditionally sourced a large share of its soybean imports from the US, but ongoing trade tensions have pushed it to favor Brazil. 

The recent purchases reflect a strategic move to reduce reliance on US shipments ahead of the export season that is expected to peak in the coming months. Abundant imports, mainly from Brazil, have left Chinese crushers better prepared for a winter possibly without US soybeans. China’s stockpiles of imported soybeans totaled about 6.8 million tons as of last Friday, nearly the highest amount since March.

China soybean imports at record high in August, but not from U.S.

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

Row crop futures were lower for the most part across the board on Tuesday, correcting from Monday's positive action as traders are really just sitting on their hands currently, waiting for USDA clues on Friday in terms of what to expect for the impending U.S. corn and soy harvests. Corn and soybean conditions fell again week over week, but it is somewhat normal to see some degree of decline ahead of harvest, and the cuts were not as large as some were expecting, which dampened bullish motivation somewhat for Tuesday. Outside markets on Tuesday were mixed and mostly quiet as well, with most of the attention going to the revisions lower in U.S. job creation stretching back to April 2024 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which in turn has investors waiting to see how the Federal Reserve will react in their meeting next week.

Tuesday was quite the tumultuous ride for the live cattle complex. At the day's initial start, the market was trading slightly lower, but as the morning progressed, traders exacerbated the day's decline to be one that was sharp and painful to watch, as most of the live cattle contracts traded $4.00 to $6.00 lower. And why, you ask? More than anything, today's move seemed to be triggered by technical nervousness, as traders continue to worry about the market's position and know that fundamental support could be slightly weaker for the next little while, as cash prices could be lower and seasonally boxed beef prices could decline as well. No developments have surfaced in the fed cash cattle market and aren't expected to until Wednesday or later this week.

Did you think Monday afternoon that come Tuesday, the feeder cattle complex would be trading limit lower in most of its contracts? I hate to speculate, but I think it's safe to say that most of us didn't foresee the cattle complex toppling down so aggressively, given that from a fundamental perspective, feeder cattle demand is incredible -- the CME feeder cattle index closed at $367.03 Monday afternoon. But what's important to keep in perspective here is that even though it's frustrating, and even though so many factors say that today's actions simply shouldn't be, traders don't have to obey sound logic, and not every move aligns with the reality of the countryside's fundamentals.

While the cattle complex fell flat on its face, the lean hog complex saw most of its contracts drift slightly lower, but not to the severe degree in which the cattle contracts were trading. More than anything, the slight pullback in the hog sector seems to be because traders are noting resistance pressure, and midday pork cutout values were lower, too.

<a href="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/356/2025/09/09140923/web-closing-markets.mp3">Click HERE for audio</a>

The California Legislature has approved a bill to authorize the immediate sale of E15, a gasoline blend with 15% ethanol, but the measure still needs the signature of Gov. Gavin Newsom, whose administration signaled strong opposition to advancing E15 ahead of a California Air Resources Board regulatory review. In testimony at a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing last month on Assembly Bill 30, California Department of Finance officials labeled the bill as duplicative and unnecessary. 

A budget official pointed to the $2.3 million and 10 positions the Legislature approved this year for CARB to implement the new E15 standards, resources that will not be available until the agency completes its review. The administration’s opposition to AB 30 centers on new costs to the California Department of Food and Agriculture for enforcing petroleum product quality standards. Increasing fuel fees would run counter to the administration’s priority to lower gas prices.

California E15 fate now in hands of Newsom, who opposed bill

President Donald Trump&nbsp;has granted&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly’s&nbsp;request for a federal disaster declaration for the state due to damages caused by severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding during the period of June 3-7, 2025.

Due to severe storms and flooding multiple counties sustained damage to utility infrastructure, roads, and bridges.

“These federal funds will go a long way in supporting the restoration work by those in counties impacted by the storms”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly&nbsp;said.

The declaration allows state and local levels of government, as well as certain private nonprofit organizations that provide vital and essential services, such as rural electric cooperatives, to apply for Public Assistance funds for emergency and permanent work for the repair or replacement of infrastructure damaged by the disaster.

Counties named in the declaration are Barber, Butler, Chase, Coffey, Cowley, Franklin, Greenwood, Harper, Hodgeman, Kingman, Lyon, Morris, Osage, Stanton, Sumner, and Wallace.

Trump approves Kan. request for major presidential disaster declaration

🎥New details on capture of Charlie Kirk murder suspect

’Honestly, it’s not for everyone’ tagline earned awards but also detractors as a ‘mockery’

Paul Hamme <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/04/07/wall-of-shame-still-used-by-nebraska-to-convince-delinquent-taxpayers-to-pay-up/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN – John Ricks, the state tourism director who deployed the edgy and controversial marketing pitch “Nebraska. Honestly, it’s not for everyone,” has resigned.

Ricks, who was paid $133,838-a-year, could not immediately be reached for comment. His resignation was accepted Thursday by the State Tourism Commission, which has since appointed Deputy Director Heather Hogue as interim executive director, as was reported first by the Nebraska Rural Radio Network.

While Ricks got mixed reviews on the tourism pitch, an official with the Nebraska Travel Association said he played a key role in helping increase tourism in the state, citing a 26.4% growth rate in state lodging taxes from 2019-2022 compared to only 2.5% nationally.

“Ricks is to be commended for putting Nebraska on the tourism map,” said Kerri Rempp, president of the state travel association.

Hired in 2016 by then Gov. Pete Ricketts, Ricks had worked as an associate director in Colorado’s state tourism office before taking the Nebraska job. His hiring was touted as bringing a fresh perspective to a state that had been rated by one group as the “least likely” for tourists to visit.

That led to the new “Nebraska: Honestly, it’s not for everyone” marketing pitch, which included advertising emphasizing off-beat adventures in Nebraska, from floating down a river in a horse tank to hop-scotching across Badlands-like formations in Toadstool Park.

The self-deprecating pitch grabbed national attention, and, in 2022, won a national award for best integrated marketing and messaging. According to the State Tourism Commission, it also raised Nebraska’s tourism profile from last to 45th.

But some state leaders, including Gov. Jim Pillen and then Nebraska Department of Economic Development Director Tony Goins, disliked the motto, which was coined by a marketing firm from Colorado. Goins said it “made a mockery” of the DED’s pitchline for new residents: “The Good Life is Calling.”

By 2024, the “not for everyone” tagline was dropped by the Tourism Commission and state legislators passed a bill seeking to better coordinate marketing pitches between the independent commission, also known as “Visit Nebraska” and state economic development officials.

The Nebraska Travel Association, in a press release this week, urged the State Tourism Commission to “act swiftly” to replace Ricks.

The tourism agency is funded by lodging taxes paid on motel and hotel bills. Its budget this year is $10.1 million to promote an industry that generates $4.5 billion in spending annually and supports over 41,000 jobs throughout Nebraska.

Nebraska tourism director who deployed ‘not for everyone’ marketing pitch resigns

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Detectives with the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department&nbsp; investigating a homicide near Bank of Labor in Kansas City have identified the man who died as 44-year-old&nbsp;as Tequan Davis of Kansas City, Kansas, according to a media release.

Just before 3:30p.m. September 4, police were dispatched to a shooting call in the 800 block of State Avenue. First responders located Davis in the parking lot suffering from an apparent gunshot wound.  He was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased.&nbsp; The person of interest in this case has been questioned and is cooperating with law enforcement but no charges have been filed.

This incident remains under investigation by the KCKPD Major Case Unit.&nbsp;

Police ID man killed outside Kansas bank

KANSAS CITY —Authorities are investigating the cause of a building fire in Kansas City, Missouri.

Just after 1:30p.m. Thursday, crews&nbsp;responded to a reported building fire in the 500 block of Walnut in the City Market area, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.. Crews reported light smoke and fire visible on arrival of a three-story commercial mixed-use building. 

A small fire had started on the third floor of the structure which houses a dance studio. The third-floor units sprinkler system had activated and held the fire in check until KCFD's arrival.&nbsp; 

Fire crews shut down the sprinkler and began salvage and overhaul operations. No injuries were reported.&nbsp; Power to the entire building was shut off. Several businesses were displaced temporarily until the building can be evaluated.

Fire at dance studio in KC's City Market area  

RENO COUNTY —Kansas Governor Laura Kelly joined General William Turner and other military leaders at the Kansas State Fair on Wednesay for the Veterans and Military Appreciation Breakfast.

General Turner is the Director of the Kansas Commission on Veterans Affairs Office.

Governor Kelly wrote on social media,&nbsp;"Events like this remind us of the importance of supporting our veterans and active-duty military personnel in every way we can."

Gov. attends the military appreciation breakfast at the State Fair

The search for the suspect in the Charlie Kirk assaassination continued early Friday.

On Thursday the FBI released ne photos and a video of the suspect&nbsp; believed responsible. for the crime.

The FBI reported they have receive more than 7,000 leads and tips in the search for a suspect.

FBI releases new video of suspect in Charlie Kirk assassination

SHAWNEE COUNTY –&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) arrested a Topeka man Thursday morning for an alleged child sex offense.

On Thursday, Sept. 11, KBI agents with the Child Victims Unit executed a search warrant at a residence at 3709 SE Truman Ave. in Topeka, according to a media release from the KBI.

 Following the search, at around 9 a.m., KBI agents arrested Mark A. Calloway Jr., 27, of Topeka on requested charges of sexual exploitation of a child.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The KBI began investigating after a cyber-tip was submitted to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Following his arrest Calloway was booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections. Additional charges against Calloway are expected.&nbsp;The Topeka Police Department assisted in the arrest.

Cyber tip led to Kan. man's arrest for alleged child sex crimes

🎥Trump draws cheers and boos marking 9/11 at Yankees game

OSAGE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating two suspects on drug allegations.&nbsp;

Just before 7:30a.m. September 9,&nbsp;the Osage County Sheriff’s Office executed a narcotic search warrant in the 1200 block of Laing Street in Osage City, according to Sheriff Chris Wells.

As a result, two subjects were taken into custody and transported to the Osage County Jail Facility. Hunter A. Dorsey, 21, of Osage City is being held on requested charges of Possession of methamphetamine, Criminal use of weapons and Possession of drug paraphernalia