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

A proposed constitutional amendment sponsored by state Rep. Darin Chappell would hold Missouri to 80-hour work requirements from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act even if federal law change

A plan to add Medicaid work requirements to the state Constitution was debated by a Missouri House committee this week, with Republican lawmakers hoping to put the issue before voters later this year.

The proposed ballot measure, if approved by a majority of Missouri voters, would make it more difficult for the state to reverse federal restrictions on Medicaid eligibility included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed by Congress this summer if those requirements change in the future.&nbsp;

“The reality of it is this is coming to Missouri, irrespective of this,” said state Rep. Darin Chappell, a Rogersville Republican sponsoring legislation that would propose the change. “This is just saying we should keep it that way.”

Starting Jan. 1, 2027, the federal law will require adults ages 19 to 64 who are covered as part of Medicaid expansion to show that they work, volunteer or study at least 80 hours a month to qualify for the health care program for low-income people. The law also requires states to recertify enrollees’ eligibility every six months instead of once a year.

With Missouri’s Department of Social Services&nbsp;<a href="https://instatrac-production.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/GovWatch/files/bill_files/f6db0ad8a353a0e88f853707267aadcc.pdf" target="_blank">requesting an additional $131 million</a>&nbsp;to cover costs this fiscal year of implementing the federal law, state lawmakers debated during the Tuesday hearing of the House Legislative Review Committee whether work requirements would slash MO HealthNet costs or add to the expense of implementing the federal law.

Chappell said the intent of his legislation is “to mirror what has been done at the national level already.” He believes the constitutional amendment would save Missouri money.

“There will be individuals who were not the original intent of Medicaid and choose not to engage in the work requirements that will not have access to Medicaid any longer,” Chappell told The Independent.

Medicaid eligibility changes in the federal law could cause&nbsp;<a href="https://shvs.org/resource/senate-passed-h-r-1-updated-estimates-on-impact-to-state-medicaid-coverage-and-expenditures-hospital-expenditures-including-impacts-by-congressional-district/" target="_blank">130,000</a>&nbsp;Missourians to become uninsured in the next decade, according to one estimate from Princeton University. There were&nbsp;<a href="https://dss.mo.gov/mis/clcounter/" target="_blank">363,641 MO HealthNet adult expansion enrollees</a>&nbsp;in December, an all-time high, according to data from the state social services department.

The ballot measure described in Chappell’s joint resolution is not identical to changes the federal law makes to Medicaid eligibility. While the measure would require the Missouri Department of Social Services to go back three months in an individual’s employment history to verify that they meet work requirements, the federal law only requires states to check one month prior to enrollment. And Chappell left open how often the department would have to verify that current enrollees are still meeting requirements.

“Some of this is going to have to be departmental capacity,” Chappell said. “I don’t know that it’s every 30 days.”

Democrats insisted the fiscal note attached to the legislation didn’t reveal the full costs of the changes and questioned why lawmakers should amend a section of the state constitution recently changed by a popular vote of Missourians.

Missourians voted in 2020 to expand Medicaid, opening eligibility to people earning up to 138% of the federal poverty level, though enrollment did not begin until Oct. 2021 because state lawmakers&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2021/03/25/republican-lawmakers-vote-down-funding-for-missouri-medicaid-expansion/">refused</a>&nbsp;to&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2021/04/29/missouri-senate-rejects-funding-for-voter-approved-medicaid-expansion/">fund</a>&nbsp;it.

State Rep. Aaron Crossley, a Democrat from Independence, asked Chappell if he had considered a “trigger law” that would change statute to reflect the federal law, but only as long as the federal law remains in force.&nbsp;

“Why not do that and then say, ‘OK, we’ll go back to what the voters approved a few years ago when federal law likely changes?” Crossley said.

Chappell emphasized that if his bill passes, voters will have final say about the constitutional amendment.

“If we believe in the will of the people, as I certainly do, why are we so afraid to let them speak again, to modify what’s already been said?” Chappell said in an interview with The Independent. “How is that horrible?”

The&nbsp;<a href="https://documents.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills261/fiscal/fispdf/6310H.01I.ORG.pdf" target="_blank">fiscal note</a>&nbsp;included only the projected cost of putting Chappell’s proposal on the ballot in November, which comes out to roughly $9 million.&nbsp;

But State Rep. Jo Doll, a Democrat from St. Louis, said that if voters approved the measure, the cost to the state would be much higher.&nbsp;

“Where are we going to find the workers?” Doll said. “Because it’s going to take a lot of people to verify that someone has been working for three months prior and every month following.”

Gov. Mike Kehoe’s executive budget for fiscal year 2027 recommends a&nbsp;<a href="https://budplan.oa.mo.gov/media/pdf/fy2027-eb-hb-11-social-services" target="_blank">reduction of 238 staff</a>&nbsp;in the state’s social services department, which is in charge of eligibility and enrollment for MO HealthNet. The recommended cut includes a reduction of 173 “income maintenance” staff, who according to a description in the&nbsp;<a href="https://budplan.oa.mo.gov/media/pdf/fy27-dss-appropriation-book" target="_blank">department’s budget request</a>, “determine eligibility for assistance programs.”&nbsp;

In its&nbsp;<a href="https://instatrac-production.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/GovWatch/files/bill_files/f6db0ad8a353a0e88f853707267aadcc.pdf" target="_blank">supplemental budget request</a>&nbsp;for the current fiscal year, the department asked for an additional $9 million in state general revenue and $123 million in federal funds to implement the federal law — partly to pay for income maintenance system updates. The department requested another $530 million to cover the adult expansion Medicaid population.

Chappell underlined that the ballot measure would not affect people exempt from federal work requirements due to disability or pregnancy.

But Crossley, who works in health care and has helped clients apply for Medicaid, said he has seen people lose coverage for administrative reasons that they were legally entitled to.

“If they miss one piece of mail and it’s time for them to renew their Medicaid…[or] they miss that one notification, then they’re off their insurance,” Crossley said.

Chappell acknowledged that some costs of more uncompensated care as more Missourians go uninsured could fall to taxpayers, but he said he believes the constitutional amendment would help people in the long run.

“If we encourage people to go to work, and we change the dynamic of their world view…so that they become part of the working population, I think we’ll see that they’ll increase their money that’s available to them,” Chappell told The Independent. “They’ll create for themselves skill sets whereby they can get employed and thereby have healthcare access through their employers.”

Republicans push to put Medicaid work requirements into Missouri constitution

HARRISON COUNTY —A Missouri man died in an accident just before 8a.m. Sunday in Harrison County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 1986 Ford F150 driven by a 46-year-old Redgeway man was turning north onto E 240 Avenue from E 320th Avenue two and one half miles south of Eagleville.&nbsp;The driver lost control of the pickup. The vehicle began to skid and overturned onto the drivers side.

The driver was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Roberson Funeral Home. He was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident, according to the MSHP. The patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Missouri man dies after pickup skids and overturns

A Missouri House committee heard proposals Thursday to expand screenings for gifted education and add state funding for gifted students on a per-pupil basis

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

More Missouri public school students could receive gifted education under two proposals debated by the House Education Committee Thursday.

State Rep. Brenda Shields, a Republican from St. Joseph, is sponsoring a bill that would require schools to screen all students to determine if they qualify as gifted before they reach third grade.

She estimates that there are 20,000 Missouri students that are gifted but not currently enrolled in specialized classes.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB1757&amp;year=2026&amp;code=R" target="_blank">bill</a>&nbsp;expands on a state law that requires schools to offer gifted education when at least 3% of their student body is identified as gifted. This requirement began last school year.

“If screenings don’t happen, gifted and talented students aren’t identified,” she told the committee. “If the students are not identified, schools will never reach the 3% threshold to be able to offer a gifted program.”

Gifted students can present as squirrely or distracted in the classroom, Shields said, with thoughts and ideas beyond the basic curriculum. Providing a more enriching education will help both the students and their teacher, she said.

Beth Winton, chair of the Advisory Council on the Education of Gifted and Talented Children, agreed that many gifted students “are not always a pleasure to have in class.”

“The standard grade level curriculum is not designed to meet their academic or emotional needs,” she said. “And regular teachers already have enough demands on their time.”

Committee members largely spoke in favor of the bill, sharing personal anecdotes of their experiences in the classroom as teachers, parents and former students.

State Rep. Ann Kelley, a Republican from Lamar, said gifted education provides a needed challenge for some kids. Kelley, who taught eighth-grade English, said she saw students who were never identified as gifted but could benefit from the program.

“By (eighth grade), they don’t really test very many students at that point. And if they’ve been missed in that window, they’ve already checked out,” she said.

The largest concern came from state Rep. Mark Boyko, a Democrat from Kirkwood, who wondered if requiring schools to start screening by this fall is too tight of a timeline.

“As someone who has been on school boards, I know that drafting a good policy for a district is a process that takes a number of months,” he said. “So I have concerns that the bill starts one school year too early.”

Bolstering Shields’ legislation, a&nbsp;<a href="https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB1748&amp;year=2026&amp;code=R" target="_blank">bill</a>&nbsp;by state Rep. Scott Miller would ensure districts have the resources to educate gifted students by adding a line to the formula that determines state aid for public schools.

“High-quality gifted programming often includes advanced curriculum, specialized instructional strategies, social-emotional supports with trained educators and individualized learning pathways,” Miller, a St. Charles Republican, told the committee. “These services require additional staffing, materials and professional infrastructure, all of which come at a greater cost than general education alone.”

His bill would fund gifted students 60% higher than the base per-pupil amount. Based on the state’s current per-pupil funding, this means schools would receive an additional $4,287 per gifted student.

This number may decrease if the bill moves along in the legislative process. The committee’s chair, state Rep. Ed Lewis, a Moberly Republican, told Miller the multiplier was “pretty high.”

The bill’s fiscal note estimates it would have an annual cost of nearly $121.5 million, though Miller questioned the accuracy of the estimate.&nbsp;

Lobbyists for education groups such as the Missouri State Teachers Association and the Missouri Association of School Administrators spoke in favor of the funding boost.

“(The state) really does need to have a component in the formula to support gifted students,” said Otto Fajen, lobbyist for teachers union Missouri National Education Association. “That is critical.”

The committee did not take action on the bills Thursday.

Missouri lawmakers seek to improve gifted education in public schools

NODAWAY COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 2:30a.m. Saturday in Nodaway County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2018 Chevy Silverado driven by a 22-year-old Gretna, Nebraska man was westbound on U.S. 136 at Smith Street in Burlington Junction. The driver failed to negotiate a curve in the road.&nbsp; The pickup traveled off the north side of the road into a yard and struck a tree, continued through the yard and struck a house. The vehicle came to rest partially in the house.

Nodaway County EMS transported the driver to Clarinda Medical Center. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Pickup crashed into a house in Burlington Junction

HOLT COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 10p.m. Friday in Holt County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2007 Chevy Silverado driven by a 46-year-old Prestonburg, Kentucky woman was northbound on Interstate 29 ten miles south of Oregon. The driver lost control of the vehicle on the snow covered road. The pickup spun around and came to rest on its driver's side on the east side of the road.

Atchison-Hot ambulance transported the driver to Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph. She was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Woman hospitalized in St. Joe after pickup crash in the snow

In observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on Jan. 19, certain St. Joseph city facilities will be closed or operating under different hours.

City offices, along with the recycling center, Remington Nature Center, and JRP Activity Center will be closed.

The landfill will be open from 7:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

City of St. Joseph offices to close for MLK Day

The Bushman Planetarium at Missouri Western State University will present a public showing of “Stars of the Pharaohs” coming up next week on January 23rd.

The show will allow viewers to travel to ancient Egypt to see how science was used to tell time, make a workable calendar and align huge buildings, as well as learn about the connection the ancient Egyptians felt with the stars and various astronomical phenomena.&nbsp; People will be able to experience some of the most spectacular temples and tombs of the ancient world.

Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for children age 13 and under, students, employees, military and senior citizens age 60 and up. The show begins at 7pm next Friday, and planetarium tickets must be purchased in advance either online or in person at Agenstein Hall, room 140 during regular business hours.&nbsp; The planetarium is located in Agenstein Hall, room 147. 

For more information, please call 816-271-4288 or email planetarium@missouriwestern.edu.

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

New show coming to Bushman Planetarium at MoWest

South 22nd Street on the south side of Garfield Avenue in St. Joseph will be closed for repairs due to a leak by Missouri American Water.

Drivers traveling north on 22nd Street will be detoured to take Interstate 229 south to A Highway, A Highway to north 169, north 169 to Pear Street and then Pear Street west to 22nd Street.&nbsp; Drivers traveling south on 22nd Street will take Pear Street east to 169, 169 south to A Highway, A Highway to I-229 and then I-229 north to Highway 371.

The closure is expected to last until Wednesday, weather permitting.&nbsp; The City advised drivers to be cautious in work zones to ensure safety for themselves and the crews working.&nbsp;

Portion of South 22nd street closed due to water leak

Missouri hunters harvested a preliminary total of 301,954 deer during the 2025-2026 season, marking a significant rebound from the previous year, according to the Missouri Department of Conservation.

The season, which concluded Jan. 15 with the close of archery hunting, saw an increase from the 275,656 deer taken during the 2024-2025 cycle. This year’s total included 145,222 antlered bucks, 25,129 button bucks, and 131,603 does.

MDC Cervid Program Supervisor Jason Isabelle said the results met expectations, particularly in southern Missouri where numbers had previously dipped. The 2025-2026 total was slightly above the state's five-year average and represents only the sixth time in Missouri history that the harvest has surpassed the 300,000 mark.

Franklin County led the state in overall harvest with 6,770 deer. Howell County followed with 5,490, and Callaway County rounded out the top three with 5,346.

Archery season alone accounted for 62,203 deer, an increase over the 56,516 taken by bowhunters last year. Jefferson County recorded the highest archery total with 1,571 deer, followed by Franklin County at 1,272 and St. Louis County at 1,076.

The MDC reported four non-fatal, self-inflicted firearms-related hunting incidents during the season. One of those incidents involved deer hunting, while the remaining three occurred during the pursuit of other game.

Missouri deer harvest surpasses 300,000 as 2025-26 season rebounds

Missouri American Water is urging residents and business owners to prepare their plumbing systems for freezing temperatures to avoid costly repairs and service disruptions this winter.

Company officials emphasize that proactive maintenance is the most effective way to prevent pipes from bursting when the thermometer drops.

"A little preparation goes a long way," said Jody Carlson, vice president of operations for Missouri American Water. "Locate your main shut-off valve, insulate exposed pipes, and stay alert to prevent costly damage."

The utility recommends that customers first locate and test their main water shut-off valve. These valves are typically found near the water meter or where the main pipe enters the building. Officials suggest hanging an identification tag on the valve so it can be found quickly during an emergency. To test the valve, residents should close it completely and check sinks to ensure the water flow has stopped.

While checking these lines, the company also encourages customers to identify their service line material. Missouri American Water is currently working to replace lines made of lead or galvanized steel.

To prevent freezing, homeowners should eliminate drafts in crawl spaces, basements and garages. Exposed pipes should be wrapped in insulation or heat tape. Additionally, outdoor irrigation systems should be completely drained and turned off for the season.

When temperatures remain below freezing, Carlson recommends opening cabinet doors to allow warm air to reach indoor plumbing and keeping a small trickle of water running through faucets to keep water moving.

For those traveling during the winter, the utility suggests keeping thermostats set to at least 55 degrees and having a neighbor check the property regularly.

If a pipe does freeze, the company advises shutting off the main water valve immediately. Pipes should be thawed by warming the air around them, but residents should never leave space heaters unattended or use open flames. Once thawed, the water should be turned back on slowly to check for leaks or cracks in the joints.

Missouri American Water urges residents to prep plumbing for winter

The Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum in Atchison is once again nominated to be a part of USA Today's 10Best Reader's Choice Awards.  

For a second consecutive year, the museum is nominated in the Best History Museum category.  The hangar museum has come in at number four the last two years, first ranking on the Best New Museum list. 

Executive Director Mindi Love Pendergraft says it's an amazing recognition to be on the national stage among all these other museums 

“Some of the museums that are also included like the Heinz History Center and the American Revolutionary Museum up in Philadelphia, those are amazing museums, they’re very large and they’re in very large cities,” Pendergraft tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.  “So, to be included in a list like that is just really a wonderful opportunity for our museum.” 

There is one other museum from Kansas on the list as well, the National Orphan Train Complex in Concordia, in north central Kansas.   

Pendergraft says making those lists has an impact on the museum, and it shows, because many people do find them because of it. 

“The hard thing to is people are like well I saw it online, but I don’t remember where exactly, but others have absolutely said the USA Today list,” Pendergraft says.  “So that’s wonderful especially international and destination visitors as I call them, folks not from the Kansas and Missouri region, the close end they absolutely say that, and we’ve had visitors from all 50 states.”  

Pendergraft says every single year visitors from all 50 states have come to the museum through its almost three years, as well as from around 10 to 20 countries with about 40 represented.  

Pendergraft says coming at number four is great, and just making the list is an honor in itself, but the hope is to be higher this year 

“I’d love to be number one, love to be higher than four, so that’s our goal this year is to really push votes and have a higher ranking than number four, although four is tremendous,” Pendergraft explains. 

You can vote daily online for the museum until February 9th.  The top 10 list will be announced on February 18th. 

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

Amelia Earhart Hanger Museum nominated again as best history museum in nation

March corn closed up 4 1/2 cents and May corn was up 4 1/4 cents. March soybeans closed up 4 3/4 cents and May soybeans were up 4 1/2 cents. March KC wheat closed up 10 cents, March Chicago wheat was up 7 1/2 cents, March MIAX Minneapolis wheat was up 2 1/2 cents.

March corn closed down 21 cents and May corn was down 21 3/4 cents. March soybeans closed down 4 3/4 cents and May soybeans were down 5 3/4 cents. March KC wheat closed down 3 cents, March Chicago wheat was up 3/4 cents and March Minneapolis wheat was down 2 1/2 cents.

Markets continued recovery efforts on Friday to close the week with relatively minimized losses in wheat and soybean futures, while Monday's plunge still leaves the corn market with a significant weekly turn lower. Grain markets will be closed on Monday in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Wheat was the flagship of the group for Friday, moving double digits higher on increased weather risk for U.S. crops through the weekend. Outside markets were mixed to close the week, with a firm U.S. Dollar on higher Treasury yields, while energy markets recovered from Thursday's risk-off session.

It turned out to be a grim session for the live cattle complex as most of the contracts were trading $3.00 to $4.00 lower into midday and into the close on Friday. Pinpointing why the market is trading lower to such a notable degree is challenging because, up until this point this week, the market has been solely focused on its strong fundamental position. But part of the market's uncertainty could stem from the fact that Thursday afternoon, eight new cases of New World screwworm were detected in Mexico, or because there's yet to be any cash cattle traded, which causes traders to become anxious. Nevertheless, today's downturn is somewhat out of the blue, following a week of mostly bullish sentiment. Boxed beef prices are higher: choice up $1.14 ($361.91) and select up $0.59 ($360.30) with a movement of 53 loads (37.00 loads of choice, 2.54 loads of select, 4.14 loads of trim and 9.53 loads of ground beef).

If you think the downturn in the live cattle complex is steep, don't even take a glimpse at the feeder cattle contracts, as most of them are traded $7.00 to $8.00 lower for the bulk of the session. Unfortunately, given how steep the contracts have declined, it's likely that the market will continue short term downward momentum even though fed cash cattle prices are expected to trade higher.

While the cattle complex plummeted ahead of the weekend, the lean hog contracts were minding their own business, trading mildly higher into Friday's close. It is helpful to note that midday pork cutout values were a tick higher, which continues to lend traders additional fundamental support and help keep the contracts trading higher.

<a href="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/356/2026/01/16145127/web-closing-markets.mp3">Click HERE for audio</a>

Commodity markets daily recap

Market estimates show that Brazil surpassed the U.S. as the world’s number one beef producer in 2025. Reports said that happened after Brazil beat output forecasts by hundreds of thousands of tons, easing a global supply squeeze and helping limit a surge in meat prices. Reuters said Brazil was already the biggest beef exporter, with shipments totaling almost $17 billion in 2025. 

Reports said that “Beef production numbers are not due till February, but analysts have recently raised their estimates,” and “Farmers are sending more animals to slaughter and cashing in on high export demand from countries like China and the U.S., where low beef supplies have pushed prices to record levels.” In addition reports also show that beef demand has stayed resilient, despite high prices, and the Trump administration’s overhaul of dietary guidelines putting protein at the top of the food pyramid will likely encourage Americans to buy more meat.

Brazil passes U.S. as top beef producer

New data from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers said sales of ag tractors and combines in the U.S. fell in December 2025 compared to the same time last year. U.S. sales of total ag tractors dropped by 15 percent, while sales of combines declined 4.3 percent in December 2025 compared to the year before. Also, Canadian sales of ag tractors were down almost 14 percent, while combine sales jumped by 26 percent in December compared to the prior year.

 "December’s data is the result of economic instability and pressures farmers have been facing for the past several months,” said Association of Equipment Manufacturers Senior Vice President Curt Blades. “Throughout this short-term decline in sales, equipment manufacturers remain committed to supporting farmers with the equipment they need.” Looking ahead to the rest of 2026, AEM remains confident in the industry’s resilience and unique ability to adapt. 

U.S. sales of ag tractors, combines decline in December 2025

March corn closed down 1 3/4 cents and May corn was down 2 cents. March soybeans closed up 10 1/2 cents and May soybeans were up 9 1/4 cents. March KC wheat closed down 5 cents, March Chicago wheat was down 2 cents, March Minneapolis wheat was down 4 1/2 cents.

Corn and wheat futures traded mixed Thursday, again fading from early highs as the weight of added supply in both markets continues to serve as a headwind to rally attempts. Meanwhile, soybean futures enjoyed a double-digit jump on Thursday following a number of supportive news reports, most notably as Brazil's National Supply Company (Conab) reduced their forecast for 2025-26 soybean production in a surprising split from USDA's increase in Monday's WASDE. Outside markets leaned negative, with crude oil staging a sharp reversal after five straight sessions higher on a perceived and at least temporary easing of tensions between the U.S. and Iran. Equities were higher after a two-day profit-taking dip, and the U.S. dollar moved higher for the twelfth time in the past fifteen sessions.

The live cattle complex is back to trading higher following Wednesday's lower close, as once again the contracts are no longer up against immediate pressure. It's very apparent that the market desires to trade higher, but until traders can see immediate fundamental support in the form of stronger fed cash cattle trade, it's unlikely that they'll boldly advance the market until then. At this point, both bids and asking prices remain elusive. Boxed beef prices are higher: choice up $1.91 ($360.44) and select up $2.28 ($359.93) with a movement of 99 loads (78.80 loads of choice, 5.89 loads of select, 7.82 loads of trim and 6.15 loads of ground beef).

The live cattle contracts may be mildly trading higher, but the feeder cattle contracts were trading with more vigor as most of the contracts were trading over $3.00 higher towards the closing bell. The market is currently pushing up against resistance pressure, which could cause the market some anxiety later this afternoon.

With pork cutout values up sharply, the lean hog complex had a breakout day. So long as fundamental support remains evident, it's likely that traders will continue to push the contracts higher as they've been patiently waiting for this amount of fundamental support to develop so that they can charge the market higher.

<a href="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/356/2026/01/15141340/web-closing-markets.mp3">Click HERE for audio</a>

The USDA confirmed that farmers harvested a record-large crop in 2025, estimated at over 17 billion bushels. Corn stockpiles are also expected to climb to their highest level in eight years, driving corn prices lower. The Renewable Fuels Association said this underscores the pressing need to eliminate the obstacles that are suppressing demand and limiting market opportunities for corn and ethanol alike. “This is a sobering wakeup call about the farm economy and underscores the need for lawmakers to take immediate action to expand markets for American corn growers,” said Geoff Cooper, RFA President and CEO. 

“The fastest and easiest way to shore up the growing supply-demand imbalance in the corn market is to permanently remove the summertime barrier on E15 sales and eliminate obsolete fuel retail infrastructure rules.” He also said these decades-old regulatory barriers are literally choking off demand and shortchanging America’s farmers. 

RFA: More urgency about approving year-round E15

The U.S. agricultural land market is shifting after years of steady growth. Although land values are still historically high, current signs indicate a more complex situation driven by local and regional factors rather than nationwide trends. “After years of steady growth, we’re seeing the farmland market stabilize,” said Colton Lacina, senior vice president of real estate options at Farmers National Company. “This isn’t a sign of collapse but a recalibration that reflects current commodity prices, input costs, and regional production conditions.” 

Farmland demand now varies widely by location. Areas with high crop yields, diversified farms, and dependable groundwater continue to attract buyers and maintain steady values. “Farmland values are increasingly determined locally, sometimes down to the township,” Lacina added. “Buyers are carefully assessing soil quality, the percentage of tillable acres, water access, and how a parcel fits into their operations.” Despite mixed signals, market conditions still remain favorable for most sellers.

Farmland values enter a new phase

March corn closed up 2 1/4 cents and May corn was up 2 cents. March soybeans closed up 3 3/4 cents and May soybeans were up 3 cents. March KC wheat closed up 2 3/4 cents, March Chicago wheat was up 2 cents, March Minneapolis wheat was up 1/2 cents.

Corn, soybean, and wheat futures were all higher Wednesday, with speculators and long-side hedgers likely both seeing opportunity to lock in purchases following the early week, post-USDA price drop. However, upside momentum remained very limited as trading volumes eased following Monday's report day spike. Outside markets Wednesday were supportive as well, as we continue to see a rush to outside commodities this week, such as gold and silver, which have moved once again to new records. Equity markets are softer through the middle of the week on a flow of money from stocks (specifically the tech sector) into commodities. The energy market was firm early in Wednesday's trade, with crude oil futures hitting two and a half month highs on geopolitical risk, specifically ongoing turmoil in Iran, although prices eventually reversed lower likely on profit-taking as well as larger week-on-week crude inventories in the weekly EIA Petroleum Status report.

The live cattle complex traded lower into Wednesday's closing bell as traders are confident that they do not possess enough support to push the contracts any higher. On Tuesday, the market was charged with bullishness, but today, traders seem to look at the markets a tick more level-headed, and while they believe that the bullish sentiment is justified, they also know that they need to see immediate fundamental support before they can confidently push the contracts higher in the near term. Still no cash cattle trade has developed. Boxed beef prices are higher: choice up $1.34 ($359.33) and select up $0.33 ($357.51) with a movement of 78 loads (52.90 loads of choice, 5.14 loads of select, 12.17 loads of trim and 8.20 loads of ground beef).

And once again, in alignment with the direction of the live cattle complex, the feeder cattle contracts also traded lower Wednesday. Until the live cattle complex trades higher, the feeder cattle complex will likely continue to trade in a cautious, lower manner.

Traders continue to push the lean hog complex higher, with not a lot of fundamental support behind their ambitions. Both cash prices and pork cutout values have been lax this week, but even so, traders continue to aggressively push the contracts.

<a href="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/356/2026/01/14143027/web-closing-markets.mp3">Click HERE for audio</a>

The USDA said inspections of corn, soybeans, and wheat for export all rose week to week during the seven days ending on January 8. Corn inspections improved to 1.49 million metric tons from 1.32 million a week earlier. The agency report said that’s higher than the 1.44 million tons that were inspected during the same week last year. Soybean assessments were reported at 1.53 million metric tons, up from just over 984,000 tons the previous week and the 1.36 million tons inspected at the same point last year. 

Wheat examinations for overseas delivery jumped to 317,400 metric tons, up from 183,000 the previous week. That was narrowly higher than the total inspected during the same week a year earlier. Since the start of the marketing year, USDA has inspected 28.4 million metric tons of corn for export, 17.9 million metric tons of soybeans, and wheat assessments since the start of the marketing year totaled 15.6 million metric tons. 

Weekly export inspection up across the board

The USDA released its January WASDE Report, which projected a 17-billion-bushel corn supply in 2025-2026, raising alarms among the nation’s corn growers and triggering an immediate market reaction. If the projections prove accurate, this year’s crop will be the largest on record by far. The surplus supply promises to keep corn prices low as farmers struggle to pay higher input costs. 

“We need long-term market solutions, and we need them quickly, or this is going to deepen the economic crisis in the countryside,” said Jed Bower, president of the National Corn Growers Association. “The urgency for Congress and the president to open new markets abroad and expand consumer access to ethanol just increased exponentially.” Bower also noted that an immediate boost to demand would be the passage of legislation authorizing year-round consumer access to fuels with a 15 percent ethanol blend. He said this solution could use 2.4 billion additional bushels of corn annually. 

Corn growers alarmed by new supply projections

KANSAS CITY —Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson announced charges against a Kansas City man for his involvement in a fatal shooting that took place at a gas station last year.

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2801/Ramel-Morgan-Complaint-Red">Ramel A. Morgan</a>,20,&nbsp;faces 2nd Degree Murder and Armed Criminal Action.

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2800/Morgan-PC-Red">According to court records</a>, Kansas City police responded to a shooting at a gas station on December 7, 2025, and canvassed the area, but could not locate a victim or suspect.&nbsp;

Detectives later learned the shooting victim from the gas station drove to a nearby hospital for treatment but died a short time later. The vehicle the victim arrived at the hospital in had multiple bullet strikes to the rear window frame, the rear windshield was shattered, and a bullet fragment was observed on the passenger-side spoiler. Officers recovered a handgun on the front passenger floorboard.&nbsp;

Surveillance footage from the gas station showed that a gray Hyundai Sonata arrived and parked at the gas pumps. Several individuals exited the vehicle and entered the store. A short time later, a silver Ford Mustang, the victim’s vehicle, drove through the parking lot.

While inside the store, the defendant was observed walking around holding a handgun. Eventually, he exited the store with a handgun visible in his left hand and approached the passenger side of the silver Mustang. The defendant and victim appeared to converse and after a brief exchange, the suspect pointed a firearm at the driver and fired multiple rounds into the vehicle before fleeing on foot. The silver Mustang left the parking lot.&nbsp;

A Jackson County judge set the defendant’s bond at $200,000 cash only.&nbsp;

KC gas station shooting victim drove to a hospital where he died

KANSAS CITY – German Alvarez-Rubio, 28, of Kansas City, Mo., was indicted by a federal grand jury for conspiracy and distribution of cocaine, methamphetamine, and psilocybin as well as firearms offenses.

Alvarez-Rubio made his first appearance in federal court after his arrest on January 12, 2026.

The indictment alleges that on July 22, 2025, the Alvarez-Rubio distributed cocaine.&nbsp; On July 29, 2025, Alvarez-Rubio distributed cocaine and methamphetamine and illegally sold ten firearms.&nbsp; On August 19, 2025, Alvarez-Rubio distributed methamphetamine, cocaine, and psilocybin (mushrooms) and illegally possessed a machinegun.

The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Siegele. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Indictment: KC drug dealer also illegally sold firearms

GEARY COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a homicide in Junction City.

Just after 4p.m. on Saturday, police were dispatched to the 300 block of West 4th Street in Junction City for a subject reported to be suffering from possible gunshot wounds, according to a media release.

Upon arrival, officers located 66-year-old John Day of Junction City suffering from what was believed to be a gunshot wound. Day was transported to Stormont Vail Flint Hills Hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased.

This incident remains an active investigation. The Junction City Police Department has identified and interviewed all individuals present during the incident. At this time, no arrests have been made.

There is no ongoing threat to the community related to this incident.

Homicide: 66-year-old dies from gunshot wound in Junction City

While some states are seeing more enrollees, there has been a drop nationwide.

By:<a href="https://stateline.org/author/nhassanein/">Nada Hassanein</a>

Nationwide, the number of people buying health plans on Obamacare insurance marketplaces is down by about 833,000 compared with a year ago, according to federal data released this week.

Many states are reporting fewer new enrollees, more people dropping their coverage, and more people choosing cheaper and less generous health insurance plans with higher deductibles.

Across most states, Thursday was the last day to enroll for plans that start in February. But nine states and Washington, D.C., have deadlines later this month, so the numbers could change.

There are 21 states with state-run health insurance marketplaces, and the rest use the federal website. The vast majority of states have seen declines in enrollment&nbsp;so far, compared with around this time last year.

Preliminary data&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/marketplace-2026-open-enrollment-period-report-national-snapshot-0#AnchorFour" target="_blank">released</a>&nbsp;Monday by the federal Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services shows 22.8 million enrollees, down from a record total of 24.3 million last year.

Premiums have surged as a result of the expiration of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kff.org/affordable-care-act/issue-brief/inflation-reduction-act-health-insurance-subsidies-what-is-their-impact-and-what-would-happen-if-they-expire/#:~:text=The%20Inflation%20Reduction%20Act%20(IRA,three%20years%2C%20ending%20after%202025." target="_blank">enhanced federal subsidies</a>&nbsp;first made available by the American Rescue Plan Act in 2021 and later extended through the end of 2025 by the Inflation Reduction Act. The availability of the subsidies spurred a sharp increase in the number of people buying health plans on the marketplaces. In 2020, 11.4 million people were enrolled in marketplaces through Obamacare, formally known as the Affordable Care Act. More than double that amount enrolled last year.

Congress failed to reach an agreement on extending the subsidies before the end of last year and still hasn’t reached one. As a result, premiums were expected to increase this year by 114% on average — from $888 last year to about $1,904, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kff.org/affordable-care-act/aca-marketplace-premium-payments-would-more-than-double-on-average-next-year-if-enhanced-premium-tax-credits-expire/" target="_blank">estimates</a>&nbsp;made in September by health policy research organization KFF.

The higher costs appear to be driving many people to forgo insurance or opt for cheaper, less generous plans this year, health officials and analysts say. Several states with state-based marketplaces — including Georgia, Illinois, Minnesota, New York, Vermont, Virginia and Washington — are reporting fewer enrollments this year in comparison with enrollments through early January 2025, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kff.org/affordable-care-act/state-indicator/marketplace-enrollment-snapshot-for-open-enrollment-2026/?currentTimeframe=0&amp;sortModel=%7B%22colId%22:%22Location%22,%22sort%22:%22asc%22%7D" target="_blank">early data</a>. Other states, such as California, are reporting fewer new enrollees.

“It’s important to consider that this is preliminary data, so this represents people who have signed up and selected the plan — but they probably haven’t received their first premium bill,” said Elizabeth Lukanen, executive director of the health policy research organization State Health Access Data Assistance Center at the University of Minnesota. “Once that happens, I think there’s concern — and it seems very possible — that people may decide to drop coverage. So, the decline could get bigger.

“On the other hand, open enrollment hasn’t closed, so you have two things sort of competing. It seems pretty likely that there will be a decline,” she said.

If the downward trend continues, the nation could see the first decline in enrollment since 2020, Lukanen said, adding that a full picture of income levels and demographics of people who have dropped coverage&nbsp;won’t be clear&nbsp;until the summer.

In Pennsylvania, data updated through Tuesday shows more than 15,000 previously enrolled adults between the ages of 55 and 64 have dropped coverage entirely — the most of any age bracket.

Pennsylvania’s state-based exchange, Pennie, has seen about 15% fewer new enrollments compared with last year. The state is also reporting 1,000 residents dropping coverage per day during open enrollment — with the most coverage losses among people with incomes 150% to 200% of the poverty level. These could include families of two adults and two children with an income between $48,225 and $64,300.

The state is seeing an “unprecedented” number of previously enrolled people dropping coverage, said Devon Trolley, executive director of the Pennsylvania Health Insurance Exchange Authority.

California is reporting 31% fewer new enrollees this year compared with last year, and more than a third of new enrollees are choosing bronze plans — the lowest, least generous coverage tier — up from less than a quarter at this time last year.

In Minnesota, data as of Dec. 3 shows more than half of active enrollees are opting to keep their coverage tier. But of those changing plans, more than a third — 37% — are going to cheaper plans. The state notes a full picture won’t be available until March.

Meanwhile, some states are seeing roughly the same number of enrollees or more. Texas, for example, is reporting about 4.1 million people enrolling this year compared with 4 million last year.

Charles&nbsp;Miller, health and economic mobility policy director at&nbsp;Texas 2036, a policy research nonprofit, said it’s unclear why enrollments are up, but pointed to some clues.

“Texas had a uniquely large population of uninsured individuals eligible for free and inexpensive plans that hadn’t enrolled previously … [and] has more affordable bronze and gold plans than many states,” he said.

He attributes that to a bipartisan state law, enacted in 2021, that had the effect of increasing subsidies for those plans, Miller said.

Nevada is seeing fewer enrollees overall. But compared with this time last year, the state is seeing 29% more people who are actively shopping the website to explore plans, said Katie Charleson, communications officer at the Nevada Health Authority Division of Consumer Health Services.

The state introduced a new public option, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://nevadacurrent.com/2026/01/08/with-health-insurance-premiums-rising-nevadas-new-public-option-is-proving-popular/" target="_blank">Nevada Current</a>, and health officials told lawmakers last week that about 1 in 5 active shoppers are opting for that plan.

In addition to the expiration of the subsidies, the cost of coverage has risen because of other factors, according to insurers. They say&nbsp;<a href="https://www.healthsystemtracker.org/brief/how-much-and-why-aca-marketplace-premiums-are-going-up-in-2026/#Distribution%20of%20proposed%202026%20rate%20changes%20among%20312%20ACA%20Marketplace%20insurers" target="_blank">they’ve had to raise premiums</a>&nbsp;because of rising prescription drug costs, inflation and workforce challenges, such as provider shortages.

But the enhanced premium tax credits were aimed at buffering those year-to-year changes for Americans with lower incomes, said Trolley, adding that the tax credit structure “helps make sure that [enrollees] don’t see those really larger drops that happen from time to time, sort of from those market forces.”

“When there are broader rate increases of … the total cost of the coverage, the tax credits are structured so that people who get a tax credit don’t feel a lot of that increase. They’re sort of sheltered from it on a year to year basis,” Trolley said. “The tax credit is tied to someone’s income and limits what they pay as part of their income, not necessarily tied to the cost of the coverage.”

She added that she’s also heard from some residents who say they are waiting to enroll in a plan to see if Congress takes action.

“People are leaving the ACA marketplace because the trade-offs have just become harder to justify,” Lukanen said. “What worries me is that when the coverage becomes unaffordable, it isn’t that people suddenly stop needing care. They just lose the protection that insurance offers, and those health care costs don’t go away.”

Lukanen added that if more people forgo coverage, health care services may end up costing the nation more overall.

“If people are going to the doctor and they don’t have insurance, these costs are then just shifted. They’re shifted to hospitals, ultimately to the community and the taxpayer.”

Trolley echoed that, saying she’s concerned about the overall burden on providers in rural counties, which are seeing the highest drops in Obamacare coverage in Pennsylvania.

“Any increase in the uninsured rate is going to further strain providers that are in rural areas, especially — further strain their financial situation,” she said. “We are very concerned about that in Pennsylvania.”

Stateline reporter Nada Hassanein can be reached at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:nhassanein@stateline.org">nhassanein@stateline.org</a>.

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