The federal government shutdown threatened to cancel a longtime event, but with the government back to work, the annual Eagle Days event is still on.  

The 46th annual Eagle Days at Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge in Mound City is this weekend, bringing thousands to see real life eagles on the refuge. 

Refuge manager William Kutosky says people will see live eagles migrating with the migrating waterfowl on the refuge as they take the self-guided tour 

"We have biologists set up along the tour with stations and spotting scopes to bring you up close and personal with those wild eagles and watch them hunt or sit out on the ice or roost in the trees,” Kusosky says on the KFEQmunnity show. 

Kutosky says the unique thing about Eagle Days though is on top of that, they also bring in World Bird Sanctuary, a program that shows off live eagles 

"So, you get to see these birds, these captive birds, up close and personal, you can take pictures with them,” Kutosky explains. 

Organizer Bruce Windsor says the eagle show not only helps people learn about the birds, but gives them a unique and special experience no matter their age 

"You are literally feet away from a 20-year-old bald eagle who is sitting on a perch looking at you, and it’s pretty special no matter what your age is, it’s just a great experience,” Windsor says. 

The show will present three different species of eagles for people to see and learn about, every hour Saturday and Sunday.   

Kutosky says the event is always well attended and is one that is loved by nearly everyone that attends 

"Our friend's group just randomly asked a lot of folks last year as they were coming through, coming by their booth, on how they heard about the event and I would say, I’m just shooting from the hip, but probably 75% of people said they come every year, so this is a repeat event,” Kutosky says.  “It’s one of those that I take my kids to every year, even though they’ve seen the live eagle show, they can’t wait to go back next year.” 

Eagle Days is free to attend and runs 9am to 4pm on Saturday and 10am to 3pm on Sunday.   

You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.

See live eagles this weekend at Loess Bluffs Wildlife Refuge during Eagle Days

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

Just after 2:40a.m. on Tuesday, police conducted a traffic stop in the 600 block Kansas Avenue in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.. During the stop the driver, 55-year-old Paul Surber, was found to be in possession of illegal drugs.

Police arrested Surber on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine and dug paraphernalia and&nbsp;Possession of stimulant; Unlawful sell of prescription drug and Possession with intent to sell, according to online jail records.

Kansas man accused of illegally selling prescription drugs

CLINTON COUNTY —Seven tractor-trailers and six passenger vehicles were involved in a pile-up on Interstate 35 in Clinton County Monday, according to a social media report from the Missouri State Highway&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Patrol. There were no serious injuries reported.

The Patrol reminds drivers, "When inclement weather moves in, it’s crucial to adjust driving habits. Stay safe and buckle up."

6 passenger vehicles, 7 semis involved in NW Missouri pile-up

A petition is
circulating to trigger a state audit of the St. Joseph School District.

State Auditor
Scott Fitzpatrick confirms a resident of the St. Joseph School District has
taken out a petition to gather the signatures needed to force a state audit.

“And, listen, so
the thing with these audits; we have a limited staff and there’s literally
thousands of political subdivisions in Missouri that we could potentially audit,”
Fitzgerald tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “And so, our situation is that we have
to go where there’s the biggest red flags and the biggest concerns and conduct
those audits and that’s a judgment essentially on my part.”

Under Missouri
law, if enough qualified voters of a political subdivision request an audit,
the Missouri Auditor is required to conduct an audit of that subdivision. The St. Joseph
petitioner must gather at least 2,972 signatures from the registered voters of
the St. Joseph School District to meet the threshold needed to force a state
audit.

Fitzpatrick says
those circulating petitions to call for a state audit do not have to give their
reasons, but in this case, they cited some recent trends.

“In the case of
St. Joe, there are some concerns with the budget of the district and there are
some plans to downsize the staff at the school. It’s going to result in a reduction
in teaching and administrative positions,” Fitzpatrick says, “which largely
seems due to kind of a decline in enrollment. In my understanding, the school district
student population has recently dropped below 10,000.”

Some questions
about the budget have also surfaced with the school district disclosing that
its fund balance has dropped to around 10%, half the district goal of a 20%
reserve.

Fitzpatrick says
he understands the St. Joseph School District and the Board of Education are
working to trim the budget and bring the fund balance up.

“We’re trying to
give the board a little runway to go through the process of fixing their budget
and see if they can turn it around," Fitzpatrick says. “And if things progress
in a way that’s not acceptable and these signatures continue to be gathered, then
we’ll be in there auditing them.”

A recent audit
conducted by the Missouri School Board Association linked the St. Joseph School
District budget woes to its drop in attendance. Falling attendance has led to
falling state revenue.

The St. Joseph
School District has stated it hopes to slash $8 million from its budget over
the next two years, primarily by reducing staff through attrition.

You can follow&nbsp;Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ

Petition hopes to trigger audit of St. Joseph School District

KFEQ Morning Sports

KFEQ Morning News

Three people died,
82 suffered injuries in more than 300 traffic wrecks in Missouri during the
long Thanksgiving holiday counting period. Among those killed, a 44-year-old Union
woman who died in a rollover accident on I-29 in extreme northwest Missouri
Thanksgiving Day.

The Missouri State
Highway Patrol has issued preliminary numbers for the longest holiday counting
period of the year, which started Wednesday evening and ended at midnight
Sunday.

State highway
patrol troopers worked 304 crashes during that period and made 87 drunk driving
arrests.

Last year, the
patrol reported 462 traffic crashes which resulted in six fatalities and 158
injuries.

This year, two fatalities
occurred on Thanksgiving Day, one in central Missouri that took the life of a
40-year-old Branson woman. The second on I-29 in Atchison County killed the
woman from Union who lost control of her car on I-29 a mile north of Watson.
The vehicle went into a skid, ran off the northbound lanes of the interstate,
overturned in the median, and came to rest in the southbound lanes.

An 11-year-old O’Fallon
girl died in a crash in St. Charles County Friday.

The Missouri State
Highway Patrol reports the results are preliminary and subject to change.

Three die in Thanksgiving travel in Missouri, including NW Missouri rollover

Click on the link for the winter weather cancelations:

<a href="https://www.680kfeq.com/closing/#!/">https://www.680kfeq.com/closing/#!/</a>

Winter weather cancelations for today

ANDREW COUNTY—A St. Joseph man was injured in an accident just before 8p.m. Monday in Andrew County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Dodge 1500 driven by a 58-year-old St. Joseph man was southbound on Interstate 229 three miles north of St. Joseph. The vehicle skidded on the ice covered road, traveled off the east side of the road and overturned.

Andrew County EMS transported the driver to Mosaic Life Care. He was properly restrained, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

St. Joseph man injured after pickup overturns on icy road

LIVINGSTON COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 3p.m. Monday in Livingston County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2019 GMC Savannah driven by a 28-year-old Pattonsburg man was northbound on Route Z eight miles south of Chillicothe.&nbsp; The van slid sideways, slid off the west side of the road and struck the driver side of a southbound 2010 Chevy Colorado driven by a 61-year-old Dawn man.

A private vehicle transported the pickup driver to Hedrick Medical Center. The van driver was not injured. The pickup driver was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Mo. man injured after van, pickup crash in the snow

LIVINGSTON COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just before 9a.m. Monday in Livingston County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2013 Ford F150 driven by a 40-year-old Braymer man was northbound on Route D just north of Ludlow. The pickup began to skid on the snow covered road. The vehicle traveled off the east side of the road and struck a tree.

A private vehicle transported the driver to Hedrick Medical Center. He was properly restrained, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Mo. man injured after pickup slides in the snow into tree

Four major North American beekeeping organizations released the first-ever&nbsp;<a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flink.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com%2Fls%2Fclick%3Fupn%3Du001.uz5lr8pI0chmy5RiAKbVZBdtiEabO92IwH4PjGYuo3iEBrMeKsoMncL8xF-2FkA70J7tM30NIWBI1gPmDMpf8fGg-3D-3DbLLV_op3UltOywoDCTS4XADKtXUyHBeSkoIc-2B3QAtI9Yp7LCcJrJT1Bvq5cVjpx37bKtkI4uWgUdoDm-2Fp-2B1v3TR0ZszdTpGurtVlmYjTnjzRbUTD0Sj765SNTin8W85YkR8iUuD9m-2B8LUA4xBWi-2FkDVUXP5dsP7CyVtEXwpqxz7kUabVvWUkFi-2F3OKObzzzG78capBM6D11MpkUSurKhROlGZHqmrnSfS9HsT-2FQ1paMAt2ZqYZUHrr-2Brk2dB9SILJWJr-2BCZmXzEH22-2B97gkvnUZi-2Bf5eA6JsSpUVv2A-2FCOGvjBwSCvGiJ3rUvVZjTGtewItjAKkAdJWteMfhWA9ZbhwSuT27PtaESup5BTKWm4p9wmKgmo51r-2B6jOL7Y7ijVwsN00&amp;data=05%7C02%7Cchad%40nafb.com%7Cdb5ff0c2d4ef4730966f08de3102f0b1%7C0a0f31dbe88545c9b3cd38cd460b6e25%7C1%7C0%7C639002085906345184%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=vwBR3f95SD%2BkQfwRB%2FWYHeusch6nIWmyd91JMo8x5o0%3D&amp;reserved=0">North American Bee Strategy</a>. It’s a coordinated, continent-wide plan to protect honeybees, strengthen the viability of professional beekeeping, and safeguard food security across the U.S. and Canada.

The strategy lays out four priorities, including improving monitoring, treatment, and research on pest diseases. It also strengthens honey authenticity standards and enforcement to curb fraudulent imports. “The strategy was built by beekeepers and for beekeepers,” said Matt Mulica of the Honeybee Health Coalition.

The four organizations include the American Beekeeping Federation, the American Honey Producers Association, the Canadian Beekeepers Federation, and the Canadian Honey Council. Other priorities include supporting applied research, shared research infrastructure, and streamlined scientific collaboration. The goal is to build a more unified and sustainable honey market across national borders. “This strategy will secure the future of beekeeping,” said Dr. Peter Awram of the Canadian Beekeepers Federation.

New Bee Strategy Protects Pollinators and the U.S. Honey Market

Tyson Foods recently announced the shutdown of its beef processing plant in Lexington, Nebraska. The news followed months of losses in its beef division, driven largely by the smallest U.S. cattle herd in decades.

Dr. Derrell Peel, a livestock market economist with Oklahoma State University, told the Radio Oklahoma Network that the move wasn’t entirely unexpected. With an additional slowdown at Tyson’s plant in Amarillo, Texas, Peel said the combination represents a seven to eight thousand head per day loss of packing capacity, which is about 7.5 to nine percent of total U.S. packing capacity.

The southern plains region is also especially tight due to drought-related issues and the impact of the New World Screwworm, which has restricted the flow of Mexican feeder cattle into the U.S. Peel did say that Tyson heavily invested in updating the Amarillo facility, which means the company likely won’t abandon the beef plant long-term.

The Impact of Tyson’s Beef Plant Closure

The Trump administration anticipates it will be ready to announce an aid package for American farmers within two-and-a-half weeks, as well as a deal on Chinese soybean purchases. Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins made the announcement this week but didn’t provide further details.

Reuters reported that the administration has said for months it would issue assistance for U.S. farmers ravaged by low crop prices and trade disputes. “We’ll have an announcement probably in the next week or two on what that’s going to look like,” Rollins told CNBC. But AgWeb’s Monthly Monitor found a divided view on the benefits of trade aid.

Economists responding to the Monitor agreed on two things. One is that U.S. agriculture has become too reliant on ad-hoc payments. They say repeated aid packages distort land values, cash rents, equipment purchases, and overall decision-making. Number two is that they all agree that aid payments will keep fertilizer prices high.

Rollins: Farm Aid Expected within Weeks

March corn closed down 2 3/4 cents and May corn was down 2 1/2 cents. January soybeans closed down 9 3/4 cents and March soybeans were down 8 cents. March KC wheat closed down 3/4 cents, March Chicago wheat was down 3 1/2 cents, March MIAX Minneapolis wheat was down 2 cents.

Traders returned from the holiday break on Monday not quite ready to commit to the bullish momentum that had been built through the low volume Thanksgiving week. Corn, soybean, and wheat markets remain in areas of technical resistance, and while seasonality leans in favor of the bulls, there are a few fundamental concerns serving to keep a lid on prices, such as historically high corn supplies and a still hazy export demand outlook for soybeans. In outside markets, the U.S. dollar continued to slump back toward recent support near 99 on the index which held for Monday. Energy markets were higher for the most part, with diesel prices catching themselves to close last week and start the new week after falling sharply in the previous six sessions.

Markets closed downward today. The livestock complex was trading mixed into midday Monday, as the market hopes to see fundamental support improve in the cattle complex before traders push the cattle contracts much higher, but the lean hog contracts were trading slightly stronger. New showlists appear to be mixed, higher in Kansas, about steady in Nebraska/Colorado, but lower in Texas.

<a href="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/356/2025/11/10204004/30001.mp3">Click HERE for Audio</a>

Commodity markets daily recap

USDA’s Chief Economist Seth Meyer will join the University of Missouri on January 1, 2026, to lead the internationally recognized Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute. Pat Westhoff, who’s held the position since 2011, is retiring on March 1, 2026. Meyer has held various roles with USDA’s Office of the Chief Economist and FAPRI over the years, including as the assistant director of FAPRI, before rejoining USDA in 2021 to serve as the chief economist. 

“This is a great opportunity to continue to provide solid agricultural policy development in support of the agricultural sector, cooperate with other faculty members, and return home to Missouri,” Meyer said. “I look forward to the opportunity to do more in-depth analysis and research.” The Institute provides objective analysis of agricultural markets and policies for audiences like Congress, USDA commodity groups, and international governments. Meyer received a PhD in Ag Economics from the University of Missouri.

Myer to Lead FAPRI at the University of Missouri

As the holidays are here, bird flu is once again infecting commercial and backyard poultry flocks. Civil Eats reports that the flu has infected and killed more than 8.9 million turkeys, chickens, and ducks in the U.S. since September. The report said consumers are unlikely to feel a price squeeze during the holidays. For example, a 50-state survey from the American Farm Bureau found retail prices for frozen turkeys were down by 16 percent compared to last year. That’s even though wholesale prices are up 40 percent, with retailers often selling turkeys as loss-leaders. 

The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service reports that 93 flocks have been tested and confirmed with HPAI infection. That includes 43 commercial flocks, 50 backyard flocks, and has affected 1.67 million birds across all the infected premises. Reuters reported that the risk of infection in the public remains low.

More Bird Flu Ahead of the Holiday Season

More than 270 leaders from across the dairy value chain gathered on November 18 for the 2025 Dairy Sustainability Alliance Fall Meeting and sent a clear message: progress happens faster when the community moves forward together. The opening session highlighted the 2023-2024&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usdairy.com/research-resources/2023-2024-us-dairy-sustainability-report">U.S. Dairy Sustainability Report</a>, which tracks industry-wide performance across three priority areas: Advance Well-Being, Regenerate the Environment, and Care for our Animals and Communities. It includes the industry’s first five-year update toward its 2050 Environmental Stewardship Goals, providing a clear view of how the industry is turning commitments into measurable impact.

“This report reinforces the credibility of dairy’s sustainability leadership,” said Lori Captain, group executive vice president of sustainability strategy, science, and industry relations at Dairy Management, Inc. “It brings forward the science, transparency, and results that matter to our customers, and it reflects the steady progress happening every day on farms and across the value chain.”&nbsp;

Dairy Industry Leaders Share Progress and Priorities

Corn futures were higher Friday. Soybean futures were also higher; wheat futures were mixed at best on the session. The U.S. stock market was firmer, with the S&amp;P higher. The U.S. Dollar Index was slightly lower. The interest rate products were flat. Energy trade was firmer with crude oil and natural gas both trading higher. Precious metals were firmer with gold up 37.00.

The live cattle complex was still sporting a fruitful rally into Friday's close, as traders seem to be again believing in the market's bullish long-term fundamentals despite plenty of volatility over the last month. There was some light cash cattle trade reported in the South at $220, which is roughly $5.00 higher than the business that developed earlier in the week, but still $2.00 to $4.00 lower than last week's weighted average. No new dressed cattle trade has developed at this point. Earlier in the week, Northern dressed cattle were trading at mostly $330, which is $13.00 lower than last week's weighted average. Boxed beef prices are lower: choice down $1.39 ($366.89) and select down $5.13 ($350.38) with a movement of 60 loads (46.58 loads of choice, 2.89 loads of select, 5.35 loads of trim and 4.79 loads of ground beef).

The feeder cattle contracts saw the biggest day of gains as some of the contracts were up their daily trading limit, up $9.25. Helping spur this positive momentum was the interview shared with Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, where she discussed several important issues, such as the border. The main points she stated about the border's reopening (when it does happen) are that not all of the ports will reopen at once, and that it will be a slow and methodical process, and the market will not see a million imported cattle show up overnight, which was a major relief to hear.

The lean hog complex traded along both sides of steady as the market looks for continued reassurance following Wednesday's dramatic rally. There's been very little interest this week in the cash hog market, but pork cutout values are again up slightly.

<a href="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/356/2025/11/28124311/web-closing-markets-2.mp3">Click HERE for audio</a>

More bird flu ahead of the holiday season

Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins said her agency intends to purchase up to $30 million in fresh fruit from American farmers and producers to distribute to food banks and nutrition assistance programs across the country. These purchases are being made through Section 32 of the Agriculture Act of 1935 and will assist producers and communities in need. “Certain commodities are experiencing a surplus, and USDA is ensuring these crops do not go to waste and instead go to Americans in need across the country,” Rollins said. “These fresh fruits will reach those in need, boosting healthier options for Americans at food banks across the country, all while benefiting American farmers facing unfair actions from foreign competitors.”

 The USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service will purchase $15 million in fresh oranges, $10 million in grapefruit, and $5 million worth of mandarins. The AMS purchases a variety of domestically-produced agricultural products on an ongoing basis.&nbsp;

USDA announces $30 million food purchase

DOUGLAS COUNTY —Four suspects are in custody after they stole at least $2,500 worth of gaming equipment from Best Buy, 2020 West 31st Street in Lawrence on Sunday and then left town. 

Police with the help of the Kansas Highway Patrol and the store’s asset manage tracked them down. 

Just after 9p.m. November 30, police were called to the store after the thieves bypassed an employee, went behind the counter, grabbed boxes of games, and quickly took off. 

 They were only in the store for about two minutes. They left a vehicle running out front while four men went into the store just as it was closing.

The vehicle’s license plate was registered to Sedgwick County. The investigating officer sent a message to surrounding agencies and a KHP Trooper pulled the car over just north of Emporia.

The group was transported back to Douglas County. One was taken to the Juvenile Detention Center and the others to the Douglas County Correctional Facility.The trooper turned over a total of seven gaming consoles found in the vehicle.

KHP helps track down brazen electronic store theft suspects 

🎥Dells donate $6 billion to fund ‘Trump Accounts’ for millions of kids

🎥Hegseth defends, Trump distances himself from second boat strike

RILEY COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 11a.m. Tuesday in Riley County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Ford Super Duty driven by Avery Gene&nbsp;Lindsey, 17, Manhattan, was northbound on Kansas 177 approximately one mile south of Deep Creek Road. The pickup rear-ended a 2012 Hyundai Accent driven by James Edgar&nbsp;Echols, 54, Overland Park. After impact the car traveled into the east ditch.

Echols was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Irvin-Parkview Funeral Home. EMS transported a passenger in the car identified as&nbsp; Nakeenya Marie&nbsp;Echols, 52, Las Vegas, Nevada, to Via Christi.&nbsp; Lindsey was not injured. The KHP had incomplete seat belt usage details.

Kansas man killed after rear-end crash with teen driver

KANSAS CITY—One person died in a house fire Tuesday in Kansas City, Missouri.

Just before 8a.m., crews responded to a reported house fire in the 3200 block of E 26th Street, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins. 

On arrival crews reported smoke from the front of a single-story home. Fire crews found a victim during a search of the home. The victim is a man approximately in his mid-fifties, according to Hopkins.&nbsp; The victim was transported to a local hospital in critical condition and pronounced dead at the hospital. 

KCPD Bomb and Arson have been requested to the scene and will conduct the investigation due to the fatality and as a part of&nbsp; standard procedure. 

Dangerous buildings and city planning have also been requested. No other injuries were reported at this incident. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Man dies after found in Kansas City house fire

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jason-hancock/">Jason Hancock</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>

Pornography sites that wish to operate in Missouri must now verify that users are adults before granting access to explicit content, under a new rule that went into effect Monday.&nbsp;

The change caused the porn industry’s largest website, Pornhub, to block access &nbsp;in Missouri, issuing a statement calling the new rule ineffective and a potential risk to user privacy.

Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway, who took over the policy after it was initiated by her predecessor, celebrated the news, calling Pornhub’s decision proof that the rule is needed.

“If a billion-dollar corporation would rather leave Missouri than verify that children are not accessing graphic sexual content,” she said, “that tells you everything you need to know about its priorities.”

It’s already illegal to show children pornography under federal law, however it’s rarely enforced. Various measures exist to verify a person’s age online, such as uploading a government ID or consent to facial recognition software.

The new Missouri rule requires any commercial website or platform to implement some form of age-verification measure if at least a third of the content it offers is pornographic. Platforms that refuse to comply are subject to penalties, injunctive relief, and enforcement actions for engaging in unfair and deceptive practices.

“If you want to operate in Missouri, you must prove your users are adults,” Hanaway said. “If that is too much to ask, then you will not operate here,”&nbsp;

In September, a trade association representing the adult entertainment industry told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that it was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-courts/article_fe4edd38-a70e-4253-bcb0-38e8f7454a86.html" target="_blank">considering a legal challenge to the rule</a>, since they were created outside the legislative process.&nbsp;

The legislature has tried to pass age-verification laws, with little success.&nbsp;

A bill nearly identical to the new rule received initial approval from the Missouri House in February but was never brought up for a final vote in the chamber.&nbsp;

The bill faced criticism that it would ultimately do more harm than good by driving traffic to lesser-known sites that don’t comply with the law and have fewer&nbsp;safeguards and rules around adult content than Pornhub. The law is also hard to enforce since users can turn to VPNs, which connect a computer to a server in a different part of the world to make it look like it is located somewhere other than where it actually is.

Privacy is another concern raised by critics of age verification laws, arguing that&nbsp;it is impossible to ensure websites aren’t retaining user data in a way that makes it susceptible to exposure. The regulations could also lead to censorship, critics warn, specifically regarding information about sexuality.&nbsp;

Pornhub has called for user ages to be verified at the device level, perhaps through the app stores managed by Apple and Google.

“While safety and compliance are at the forefront of our mission, giving your ID card every time you want to visit an adult platform is not the most effective solution for protecting users,” Pornhub said in its statement, “and in fact, it will put children and your privacy at risk.”

Hanaway said Pornhub is “welcome to leave Missouri.”

“What is not welcome,” she said, “is any company that puts profit above the safety of our children,”

New age verification rule causes Pornhub to shut down access in Missouri

MCPHERSON COUNTY—Businesses and homes in portions of McPherson have been evacuated after a&nbsp;hazardous material leak in the community.

Just after 9a.m. Tuesday, McPherson County 911 received call reporting an overturned semi-truck leaking hazardous fluid, according to Fire Chief Chad Mayberry.

 The fluid has been identified as Hydrochloric Acid. The semi-truck was hauling 34,000lb of the fluid. As of noon, officials did not know the quantity spilled.

All residents and businesses in the area have been evacuated and roads near the intersection of Kansas and Old 81. Streets closed for a mile in each&nbsp; direction. The closures include.

 The truck driver self-extricated from the semi-truck and was evaluated at the scene by McPherson EMS and refused treatment and transport. 

McPherson Fire Department Hazmat Team has made entry to the semi-truck and placed booms around a storm drain to prevent the leaking acid from entering the sewage system. An environmental remediation contractor is en-route to the scene to handle the clean-up and removal of the spilled product.&nbsp; There are no reports of injury.

Hydrochloric acid spill leads to evacuations in McPherson

WASHINGTON&nbsp;– The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced today that it will refer all passengers who do not present an acceptable form of ID and still want to fly an option to pay a $45 fee to use a modernized alternative identity verification system, TSA Confirm.ID, to establish identity at security checkpoints beginning on February 1, 2026, according to a media release from the TSA.

Travelers will be able to pay $45 to use TSA Confirm.ID for a 10-day travel period. TSA urges travelers who do not have a REAL ID to schedule an appointment at their local DMV to update their ID as soon as possible.

All travelers without an acceptable ID, including those who present a non-REAL ID-compliant state driver’s license or ID, will be referred to the optional TSA Confirm.ID process for identity verification upon TSA check-in and prior to entering the security line. This process will differ airport to airport, and TSA is working with private industry to proactively offer online payment options prior to arrival at the airport.

The REAL ID law was signed more than 20 years ago, but previous presidential administrations failed to properly implement it. Under President Trump’s leadership, the law was finally implemented and enforced by Secretary Kristi Noem as of May 7, 2025.

Currently, more than 94% of passengers already use their REAL ID or other acceptable forms of identification.&nbsp;TSA expects increased wait times for passengers who do not provide an acceptable ID.

“Identity verification is essential to traveler safety, because it keeps terrorists, criminals, and illegal aliens out of the skies and other domestic transportation systems such as rail,” said Senior Official Performing the Duties of Deputy Administrator for TSA Adam Stahl. “The vast majority of travelers present acceptable identification like REAL IDs and passports, but we must ensure everyone who flies is who they say they are. Beginning February 1, travelers who do not present an acceptable form of ID at our security checkpoints and still want to fly can pay a $45 fee and undergo the TSA Confirm.ID process. This fee ensures the cost to cover verification of an insufficient ID will come from the traveler, not the taxpayer. The security of the traveling public is our top priority, so we urge all travelers to get a REAL ID or other acceptable form of ID as soon as possible to avoid delays and potentially miss flights.”

TSA urges all travelers who do not have a REAL ID to pay the fee online before traveling. For passengers who arrive at the airport without paying the fee, information about how to pay for the TSA Confirm.ID option will be available at marked locations at or near the checkpoint in most airports. Travelers who undergo TSA Confirm.ID processing at an airport should expect delays. &nbsp;&nbsp;

TSA’s list of acceptable forms of ID can be found at&nbsp;<a href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.tsa.gov%2Ftravel%2Fsecurity-screening%2Fidentification/1/0101019adaed595c-96865191-bcc2-43a1-965f-d5ac642ae099-000000/OolXH2EJrqwNHp8pKwLnzpPoLnVSLa90uiGmDJ_m-Hs=433" target="_blank">TSA.gov/travel/security-screening/identification</a>.

For more information on REAL ID, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.tsa.gov%2Freal-id/2/0101019adaed595c-96865191-bcc2-43a1-965f-d5ac642ae099-000000/rlIgRwnDC3uSOyUcWNwGNdpedz0TxGUsS1KTWjAvEcY=433" target="_blank">TSA.gov/real-id</a>&nbsp;or text 275-872 (“AskTSA”) or&nbsp;<a href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fx.com%2FAskTSA/1/0101019adaed595c-96865191-bcc2-43a1-965f-d5ac642ae099-000000/XvKffNzS8IXJ4xe-y1peIboZCAJl7_cg6SQCb5jM5n8=433">@AskTSA</a>&nbsp;with questions.

US air travelers without REAL IDs will soon be charged a hefty fee

&nbsp;KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement investigating a missing persons case say it is now a homicide investigation.

The victim, according to Independence police, Elayjah Murray, was reported missing on Nov. 28. Police learned Murray had possibly been shot. He was found dead in South Kansas City, Missouri on Saturday.

Police want to speak with 28-year-old Eric Phillips II in connection with the homicide investigation.

Search continues: Missing person case now KC homicide investigation

TOPEKA&nbsp;– The State of Kansas ends November 2025 with total tax collections at $687.0 million. That is $1.9 million, or 0.3%, below the estimate. Total tax collections were up 1.7% from November 2024, according to a media release from the governor's office.

Click&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fcontent.govdelivery.com%2Fattachments%2FKSOG%2F2025%2F12%2F01%2Ffile_attachments%2F3477830%2F05_November_Revenue_FY2026_12-01-2025_Final.pdf/1/0101019adb79f0c5-7a9f1fbe-6801-41de-a747-3369c8ea9658-000000/kNcVtjhbLgOnlnkMo6TKHmxoELownFjgIxcTnGG8mmg=433">here</a>&nbsp;to view the November 2025 revenue numbers.

“November’s tax collections were nearly on target overall. While individual income tax collections were up, corporate income tax collections were again below estimates and significantly below November 2024 levels,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said.&nbsp;“As I develop my next budget proposal I am not considering just Fiscal Year 2027, I am also looking on to the out-years to keep our state on solid financial footing.”

Individual income tax collections were $368.5 million. That is $7.9 million, or 2.2% above the estimate. Individual income tax collections were up 9.9% from November 2024. Corporate income tax collections were $18.7 million. That is $968,253, or 4.9% below the estimate, and down 23.5% from November 2024.

Combined retail sales and compensating use tax receipts were $276.2 million, which is $9.0 million, or 3.1% below the estimate, and down 3.9% from November 2024. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Governor: Not great news in Kan. November tax collection report

Last month, team owners from around the MINK League gathered for their annual meetings in Kansas City to prepare for the upcoming season.  

St. Joseph Mustangs General Manager and Owner Ky Turner is also the President of the MINK League.  Turner says among topics discussed, there was some exciting news 

"I can tell you there has been a shift in teams, but I’m really excited about the future of the MINK and where it will go,” Turner tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. 

While the Sedalia Bombers and Jefferson City Renegades dropped out of the league, the league did add the North Missouri Natty's out of Kirksville as one team.  

Turner says he feels like the league is headed in a positive direction. 

"And that’s just not 2026, but 2027, 2028, and beyond,” Turner says.  “Just with the people who are a part of the league and the direction it’s heading, I think it’s really going to be a good thing.” 

There will be an announcement at a later date of a second team being added to the league.  The league is also preparing for a special year. 

Turner says the 2026 season marks the 30th year of the MINK League, after a group including former St. Joseph Saints owner Lyndon Black, started the league 

"Here in St. Joe, the St. Joseph Saints, actually first year for the MINK was 1996 and if my math is correct, and I don’t have to do the math because someone else told me and notified me, this is the 30th year of the MINK league,” Turner explains.  “Which I think is pretty awesome for a league like this, because you look around and there’s all kinds of leagues that are either stopping or new ones, and here we are since ‘96.” 

Turner says that is a big testament to the vision Black saw back in 1996 for collegiate summer baseball.   

The MINK will have announcements throughout the season celebrating the anniversary.  Turner says the league will do special thingsroughout the season.  One of those being celebrating historic players who played in the MINK 

Turner says many forget about some who have played in the MINK, using former Mustang and Missouri Western baseball player Grant Fink as an example 

"Grant got drafted, I believe we were in the middle of a game, so we had dto go tell Grant, it was so much fun to be able to do this, he walked off the field after being drafted to take off cause he was drafted by Cleveland,” Turner says.  “So, that was 2013, 2014, and now here we are roughly 10 years later and you turn on the Major League Baseball playoffs, wait a second that’s Grant Fink on TV he’s now their hitting coach, so maybe he’s not playing but he’s involved in Major League Baseball there.” 

Turner says then there's the Clarinda A's who had 44 players from their franchise who have played professionally, one notable alumnus being St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame shortstop Ozzie Smith.

The 2026 season will begin at the end of May.

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

MINK League preparing for special season in 2026 with new faces

Mizzou runs all over Arkansas for 4th straight Battle Line rivalry victory

 Ahmad Hardy ran for 149 yards and a touchdown while Jamal Roberts ran for another 100 yards and a score to lead Missouri to a 31-17 win over Arkansas in the regular season finale rivalry battle between the teams.

Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz, an Arkansas native, had previously been bandied as a potential candidate for the Razorbacks’ open head-coaching job. He signed an extension to stay at Missouri earlier in the week and beat Arkansas in a rivalry game for the fourth straight season.

The Tigers opened the scoring in the first quarter as Roberts rushed for his score, a four yard touchdown, but the Razorbacks tied the game up with a 16 yard touchdown pass from K.J Green to O'Mega Blake.&nbsp; Arkansas took the lead in the second quarter after the ball slipped from Beau Pribula’s hands as he cocked his arm to pass. Linebacker Bradley Shaw grabbed the fumble and returned it 32 yards to give Arkansas a 14-7 lead.

But Pribula, who threw for just 25 yards on 4-of-7 passing, but gained 78 yards on 16 carries, picked up Missouri’s second-quarter touchdown that tied the game at 14, an 11 yard touchdown run.&nbsp; A 28 yard field goal from Razorbacks kicker Scott Starzyk with 11 seconds in the half, gave Arkansas the 17-14 lead at the halftime break.

After halftime, it was all Missouri.&nbsp; Hardy, who entered the game third in FBS in yards rushing, gave the Tigers&nbsp; the lead, 20-17, on a 53-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. Missouri added a 41 yard field goal from Oliver Robbins and a 67-yard punt-return touchdown from Kevin Coleman Jr. in the fourth quarter to go ahead by two scores.&nbsp; Roberts two point conversion run sealed the game.

Missouri’s 322 yards rushing marked the second-highest total for the Tigers this season and the most in an SEC game.&nbsp; On a day with little passing, Brett Norfleet led the receivers with two catches for 13 yards.

Missouri has firmly established themselves in the second tier of the SEC under Drinkwitz. Missouri’s eight regular-season wins provided the third winning season in a row, marking the first time that’s happened for the team since 2009-11.

Missouri (8-4, 4-4 SEC) now waits on its bowl destination.

Ravens advance with second half comeback over Campbellsville

The #5 seeded Benedictine Ravens completed a double-digit comeback to advance in the NAIA Football Championship Series with a 21-17 win over #12 seeded Campbellsville University Tigers.

The Ravens trailed 17-7 at half, but outscored the Tigers 14-0 in the second half to earn the win.

Benedictine thwarted the Tigers opening drive of the game when Isaiah Hasten picked off a Campbellsville pass in the end zone. After the teams traded punts, the Ravens put together a scoring drive that concluded with a one yard touchdown run from Dalton Witherspoon. The Ravens took a 7-0 lead after one quarter of play.

Campbellsville drove into Benedictine territory late in the first quarter and answered on the second play of the second quarter, leveling the score on a two yard run from Tre' Bass.&nbsp; The Ravens drove into Tigers territory on their ensuing drive, but Jaquon Coulter returned an interception 80 yards to give the visitors the lead&nbsp; After a turnover on downs by Benedictine, Colin Fratus connected on a 41-yard field goal with under a minute to play before half to give Campbellsville a 17-7 lead heading into the halftime break.

The turning point in the second half came on a special teams play midway through the third quarter. Ben Gilliland knifed through the Tigers line to block a punt, then recovered the ball in the end zone to pull the Ravens to within three points.&nbsp; The teams&nbsp; then traded empty possessions until Benedictine took over at their own 42-yard line with 8:38 to play in the game. 

Three rushes by Xavier Ugorji and a Tigers penalty put the Ravens at the Tigers 17-yard line. Dalton Witherspoon handled the rest, rushing for a 17-yard touchdown, his second of the day, to put the Ravens up 21-17 with 6:41 to play.&nbsp; The Tigers methodically drove down the field on the ensuing drive, eating five minutes off the clock while driving to the Ravens 33-yard line. Then, on the 12th play of the drive, Isaac Lopez sank into coverage and intercepted the Campbellsville pass to seal the win for the Ravens.

Witherspoon and Ugorji combined to rush for 233 yards – Ugorji with 123 yards and Witherspoon with 110 yards and two scores.&nbsp; Jackson Dooley was 8 of 19 through the air for 95 yards with an interception.&nbsp;&nbsp;Joseph Lagafuaina had four catches for 51 yards.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Benedictine will now hit the road for the Quarterfinals of the NAIA Football Championship Series on Saturday against #4 seeded Friends University in Wichita.&nbsp; Kickoff will be at 1pm.

Wildcats bowl eligible after Jackson's three score day against Colorado

 Joe Jackson rushed for 142 yards and three touchdowns as Kansas State defeated Colorado 24-14 and earned bowl eligibility for the fifth straight season on a cold and blustery day. The game-time temperature was 32 degrees with a wind chill of 24.

K-State used nearly half the first quarter to take a lead on a four yard touchdown run by Jackson.&nbsp; The teams wound up going to halftime tied, after the Buffaloes scored late in the second quarter, a one yard rushing touchdown from Micah Welch.&nbsp; After one rush, the clock ran out and the teams went to the halftime break tied 7-7.

Jackson scored his second touchdown of the day from one yard out with 4:32 left in the third quarter to give the Wildcats the lead back. The score capped a 56-yard drive.&nbsp; Kansas State made it a two-score game with a 35-yard field goal by Luis Rodriguez. The Wildcats stalled at the Colorado 19-yard line, but they burned 6:43 off the clock.

Welch's second rushing touchdown of the game capped a nine-play, 75-yard drive and brought the Buffaloes to within three points.&nbsp; But Jackson's third touchdown, a 17-yard scamper with 2:34 left, extended the lead to 10 points, sealing the game.

Quarterback Avery Johnson was 10-of-17 for 115 yards in difficult conditions for Kansas State.&nbsp; Jaron Tibbs was the leading receiver with four catches for 55 yards.

&nbsp;Kansas State (6-6, 5-4 Big 12) will now await a bowl invitation.

Jayhawks miss out on bowl as season ends at hands of #13 Utah

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