12 students made up the first class of the Nurses of Scholar program, a program designed to help make going into nursing school more affordable.  

Students in the program will have their first and fourth years of nursing school at Missouri Western State University fully paid for by Mosaic Life Care, with the second and third years paid at 50%.  

Missouri Western President Elizabeth Kennedy says the costs of nursing school can get up there, so this program is a tremendous help for students 

"So, if you think about your books, and fees to have testing done, and fees to buy the scrubs, everything is going to be taken care of them for three full years so that's a huge financial relief for them," Kennedy tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.  "And it really gives them the opportunity where instead of worrying about taking out loans or how they're going to pay for it, now they can worry more about working on their academics, working for the hospital, developing the network, learning about the healthcare fields and industry." 

Eight of the students come from the area.  Students signed an agreement to work at Mosaic while going to school at Western, and for four years after graduating from the university. Students can also work during the summer if they wish

Mosaic Chief Medical Officer Dr. Davin Turner says recruiting those local students is important, because when it comes to recruiting for rural healthcare, it's vital to keep those people here 

"Mosaic Life Care provides health care for over 18 counties in northwest Missouri, up into Iowa, Nebraska, and over into Kansas, and to have these local kids come back means they'll most likely settle and stay in these communities, live in the communities, and come here and work for us," Turner tells reporters.  "And it's going to only benefit all of us." 

One of those students that comes from the area developed a passion for nursing when she started as a lifeguard, Madison Kendall, who recently graduated from Savannah.  

Kendall says she applied for the program because once she's out of college, she'll be set for the future 

"It will put me in a job, and I will be financially stable enough to get set on my life and my journey further abroad," Kendall says.  "Buying a house, everything, I won't be in debt." 

And Kendall says it's also important to her that with this program she gets to stay in the area, close to her family and friends 

"I feel like being close to home is helpful for me and my mental health, but also I could potentially care for people that are close to me, or like my friends, so staying close to home and helping my community gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling," Kendall says. 

Some of the other area schools represented were Central, Lafayette, Bishop LeBlond, and Riverside.

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

Mosaic and MWSU announce first Nurses of Scholar class

September corn closed up 4 cents and December corn was up 5 3/4 cents. August soybeans closed down 3 1/4 cents and November soybeans were down 1/4 cents. September KC wheat closed down 1 1/4 cents, September Chicago wheat was down 3 1/2 cents, September Minneapolis wheat was down 10 cents.

Row crop prices posted double-digit trading ranges on Monday in the first full session removed from Friday's USDA updates. It appears traders are torn between their previous bearish rationale given there has been little change on the weather radar with ample precipitation through the next 15 days. Outside markets were mixed Monday with stock indices recovering from a lower start amid heightened trade tensions between the U.S. and Mexico as well as the European Union. The EU has stated that retaliatory action will not be considered until following the Aug. 1 deadline, so investors took that with a hint of optimism. Energy markets on the other hand turned lower after a firm start as traders and investors await further news on possible U.S. sanctions against Russia, meanwhile the ongoing tariff headlines and OPEC+ production increases through summer are weighing on prices.

After aggressively running to new contract highs on Friday, the live cattle complex walked back some of the recent position it has concurred as traders aren't as bullish at the start of this week. Some external pressures, such as the high tariffs threat on Russia if a peace deal isn't met within 50 days could be unsettling to traders, but more than anything, it seems as though traders are still catching their breath from last week's whirlwind-like trade and are trying to decipher what to do with the market now.

The feeder cattle complex was feeling the same pressure that's affecting the live cattle complex, but only in a more aggressive form as most of its contracts traded $4.00 to $5.00 lower. Although the board traded sharply lower, it's likely that sales in the countryside will be largely unphased as supplies are limited enough that buyers have to remain aggressive if they want to fulfill their orders.

The lean hog complex saw some of the same skepticism from traders that the cattle complex did, but not near as dramatically, as most of its contracts are trading just $1.00 to $3.00 lower. What is encouraging to see, however, is the fact that pork cutout values were higher, which is mainly because of the belly's $9.06 jump, but the picnic, rib and ham were all up over $2.00 as well.

Click <a href="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/356/2025/07/14142149/web-closing-markets.mp3">HERE</a> for audio

Commodity markets daily recap

In Friday’s WASDE report, USDA pegged 2025/2026 corn and wheat ending stocks lower month-over-month and lower than the average trade expectation, while soybean ending stocks were increased month-over-month more than the average expectation. Old-crop corn exports were increased 100 million bushels to 2.75 billion bushels. The 2025-26 production was lowered by 115 million bushels to 15.7 billion bushels. Corn planted acres were lowered 100,000 acres to 95.2 million acres, matching the June 30 crop report. 

Harvested acres are projected at 86.8 million, down 600,000 acres from June. USDA integrated its 83.4-million-acre soybean planting estimate into its supply and demand forecast, resulting in a 5-million-bushel decline in production to 4.335 mb. The forecast for 2025-26 soybean ending stocks increased by 15 mb to 310 mb, within the range of pre-report expectations. Along with lower production, USDA increased its crush forecast by 50 mb, while cutting exports by 70 mb.

USDA slightly lowers corn production, boosts old-crop exports to record level

Agricultural producers who suffered eligible crop losses due to natural disasters in 2023 and 2024 can now apply for $16 billion in assistance through the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program. To expedite the help, assistance from the Farm Service Agency is coming in two stages. This first is open to producers with eligible crop losses who received assistance under crop insurance or the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program during 2023 and 2024. 

Stage One sign-ups started in person at FSA County Offices late last week, and prefilled applications are on the way to producers through the mail. Stage Two sign-ups for eligible shallow or uncovered losses begin in early Fall. Eligible losses must be the result of natural disasters occurring in calendar years 2023 and-or 2024. To qualify for drought losses, it must have occurred in a D2 or D3 drought or greater intensity level during the applicable calendar year. 

2023-24 disaster assistance for farmers now available

September corn closed down 3 1/4 cents and December corn was down 4 1/4 cents. August soybeans closed down 8 1/4 cents and November soybeans were down 6 1/2 cents. September KC wheat closed down 10 1/2 cents, September Chicago wheat was down 9 1/2 cents, September&nbsp; Minneapolis wheat was down 18 cents.

September corn closed down 24 1/4 cents and December corn was down 24 3/4 cents. August soybeans closed down 52 1/4 cents and November soybeans were down 42 cents. September KC wheat closed down 13 3/4 cents, September Chicago wheat was down 7 cents and September Minneapolis wheat was down 32 cents.

The market feature for Friday was the release of the July WASDE and Crop Production report from USDA. The report came in mostly in line with trader and analyst expectations with a few curveballs from the government. Overall, despite some of the estimates certainly having a bullish twist, market reaction was one of intense skepticism especially regarding the lower production estimates from USDA for the 2025 U.S. corn and soybean crops amid the rainy forecast for mid to late June. Moving forward, it will be a very interesting dynamic to watch the ongoing bearish weather trade go up against long-term support as row crops trade among and in a few instances beyond their 2025 lows into mid-summer.

What a day, what a day, what a day! The live cattle complex, upon seeing some light trade finally develop in the fed cash cattle market -- traders took one look at what the prices were of the cash market and opted to shoot the live cattle contracts mostly $2.00 to $3.00 higher. A light trade developed this morning in the North at $380, which is $10.00 higher than last week's weighted average in Nebraska. Some Southern live cattle have traded at $228 to $230, which is $4.00 to $6.00 higher than last week's weighted average. From a sheerly fundamental aspect, the power in this week's fed cash cattle market far outweighs the bearish note of the seasonal decline in boxed beef prices, which is why traders are willing to propel the contracts higher.

It was another exhilarating day for the feeder cattle complex as the market traded higher thanks to the continued support of strong market fundamentals, and the sheer willingness of traders to remain engaged in the marketplace. All throughout the week, the feeder cattle complex was well supported. Buyers have aggressively been procuring calves in auctions throughout the countryside, but upon seeing the fed cash cattle market trade higher -- the feeder cattle complex grabbed another bullish factor and opted to continue to trade higher.

The lean hog complex traded lower into Friday's close as pork cutout values were slightly lower and there simply isn't enough trader support to push the contracts higher at this point. It's likely that the market continues to trade in this sluggish manner into early next week.

Click <a href="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/356/2025/07/11151446/web-closing-markets.mp3">HERE</a> for audio

USDA says per capita total U.S. food spending increased 3.2 percent from 2023 to 2024, slightly outpacing the 2.3 percent increase in food prices during the same period. That showed a stronger demand for food despite higher prices. However, national trends in sales mask uneven growth across multiple U.S. states. Three states showed a decrease in per capita food sales, with New Hampshire dropping the most at two percent in 2024. 

This was driven by a 6.6 percent increase in sales at grocery stores, supercenters, and other food-at-home stores. West Virginia and Kansas were the only other states where total per capita food sales declined, dropping by one percent and 0.2 percent, respectively. Per capita food sales increased the most in Washington, D.C., rising ten percent, and were driven by food away from home sales. Other states with high growth included New York at 5.9 percent and California at 5.5 percent.

Food spending increases from 2023-2024

A new case of New World screwworm appeared this week, only 160 miles from the Mexico-U.S. border. USDA had previously announced a risk-based phased-in port reopening strategy for cattle, bison, and equine from Mexico that began on July 7. The new case raises significant concerns in the U.S. and compromises the outlined port reopening schedule for five ports in the southern U.S. 

In order to protect American livestock and the nation’s food supply, Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins has ordered the closure of livestock trade through southern ports of entry effective immediately. “The U.S. promised to be vigilant, and after detecting the new case, we are pausing the planned port reopenings to further quarantine and target this deadly pest in Mexico,” Rollins said. “We must see progress in multiple Mexican states in order to reopen livestock ports along the southern border.” Aggressive USDA staff monitoring allowed the U.S. to take quick action.

Rollins shuts down southern ports again

September corn closed unchanged and December corn was up 1 cent. August soybeans closed up 3 1/2 cents and November soybeans were up 6 1/2 cents. September KC wheat closed up 10 3/4 cents, September Chicago wheat was up 7 1/2 cents, September Minneapolis wheat was up 1/4 cent.

It was another session featuring futures squaring ahead of Friday's USDA release with row crop markets holding even to slightly higher for the most part. Wheat markets led the way higher, showing some life on the Kansas City board following Wednesday's reversal near contract lows. The thing most traders are anticipating on Friday's USDA release is how traders will react if adjustments are in fact at least temporarily bullish in direction. Given that weather and thus far strong crop conditions have really been the sole focus of bearish traders through the past few weeks, it will be interesting to see if Friday's estimates are taken with a grain of salt.

The live cattle complex&nbsp;traded mixed into Thursday's close, seeming to again hold its breath until there's an understanding of the direction fed cash cattle prices are going to trade this week. A few bids are on the table at mostly $223 in the South, but a regional packer is currently bidding up to $227. But with asking prices firm in the South at $228 to $230, still no cattle have traded yet. And the North remains incredibly quiet with no bids or asking prices having been posted just yet. Upon seeing that boxed beef prices are lower again today, it's safe to say that the seasonal downward trend of the third quarter for boxed beef prices has been set into motion.

With the USDA's updated announcement that the US border is again closed to Mexican imports, the feeder cattle complex again gained another leg up and traders are continuing to support its higher trend. We know that domestic supplies are tight, and buyer demand remains red hot, which is why traders remain confident in continuing to push the contracts higher.

Pork cutout values may be higher, but the lean hog complex went lower in part due to the slight downturn of exports having a negative impact on trader's minds as the contracts traded fully lower into Thursday's close. The carcass price was realistically able to print higher this morning because of the heavy lifting done by the belly which jumped $4.51 higher, and the ham which jumped $4.24.

Click <a href="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/356/2025/07/10152320/web-closing-markets.mp3">HERE</a> for audio

June runoff in the Missouri River Basin above Sioux City, Iowa, was 3.3 million acre-feet, 60 percent of the average. The updated 2025 calendar year runoff forecast for the Missouri River Basin above Sioux City is below average. Mountain snowpack melted more rapidly than normal, and all reaches except the Sioux City reach experienced below normal precipitation during June,” said John Remus of the Army Corps of Engineers. “The June runoff was less than forecast, and dry conditions will continue in July.” 

The June 2025 runoff forecast above Sioux City is 19.1 million acre-feet, 74 percent of the average and slightly lower than last month’s forecast. System storage on July 1 was 52.1 million acre-feet, four million below the top of the carryover multiple-use zone. The monthly study indicates that the winter release from Gavins Point will likely be at the minimum rate of 12,000 cubic feet per second. 

June Missouri River runoff far below average

All summer, Farmers for Free Trade has been on the road and holding events called Tariff Town Halls in half a dozen states. The events all brought together farmers, business leaders, economists, and trade experts to spotlight how newly-imposed tariffs are already harming the communities that grow and make American-made products that power local economies and are in demand around the world. At each stop, farmers and experts shared new data, on-the-ground stories, and growing urgency. 

Just days before the Fourth of July, agricultural leaders at a town hall in Little Rock, Arkansas put it bluntly: “I’ll tell you this much as a producer. Between 20 and 30 percent of the producers in the United States would be out if this doesn’t change between now and December.” On a per-state basis, Texas businesses paid $934 million more in tariff costs. North Carolina also saw a 190 percent spike in its tariff costs. 

Farmers for Free Trade sounding economic alarm regarding tariffs

Click <a href="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/356/2025/07/09142119/30001-closing-markets.mp3">HERE</a> to listen to audio

September corn closed up 1 1/4 cents and December corn was up 1 1/4 cents. August soybeans closed down 12 1/4 cents and November soybeans were down 10 1/4 cents. September KC wheat closed up 1 1/2 cents, September Chicago wheat was down 3/4 cents, September MIAX Minneapolis wheat was up 1 3/4 cents.

The U.S. Dollar Index is up 0.01 at 97.52. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is up 141.0 points at 44,653.0. August gold is up $3.80 at $3,320.70, September silver is down $0.16 at $36.59 and September copper is down $0.1520. August crude oil is up $0.03 at $68.36, August ultra-low sulfur diesel is down $0.0330, August RBOB gasoline is up $0.0029 and August natural gas is down $0.131.

September corn futures traded 1 1/4 cents higher on Wednesday to $3.99 1/4. New-crop December futures were up 1 1/4 cents to $4.15 1/2. It was a marginal recovery for corn on Wednesday as prices managed to bounce of daily lows, but September futures failed to regain support above $4.00 and December remained below former support near $4.20 as traders clearly remain tentative about exiting short positions ahead of the USDA report Friday, but more importantly ahead of what remains a friendly weather outlook for corn pollination through the middle part of July.

The Energy Information Administration released their weekly Petroleum Status report early Wednesday, pegging ethanol production in the U.S. at 1.085 million barrels per day (mbpd), snapping a three-week decline. Ethanol production through the first few days of July remains a steady 3.7% ahead of the 2023-24 corn marketing year. Ethanol stocks were reported at 24 million barrels, down slightly from the previous week, but up 1.5% from the same period in 2024. Ahead of the USDA report on Friday, I am still forecasting slightly less corn used for ethanol in 2024-25 than USDA, at 5.450 billion bushels (bb) versus USDA at 5.5 bb. However, it must be mentioned that there is wide variability in ethanol production and subsequent corn usage through July and August historically, so I would not be surprised to see USDA leave their estimate unchanged in Friday's release.

Despite the clear pricing in of a higher than trend yield for 2025, it is unlikely given the history of the July WASDE that USDA will change the corn yield on Friday. That along with slightly less acreage thanks to the update at the end of June, should leave 2025 production less than previously estimated. The biggest changes to the balance sheet will come from the 2024-25 ending stocks, of which I remain nervous that increases may come eventually due to less feed, residual and ethanol usage than currently being forecasted. The good news is that potential for increased exports still remains, which should partially offset any reductions to other categories either in Friday's report or subsequent reports. Still, the bottom line is that for Friday, new crop ending stocks are expected to be estimated at quite a bit lower than in the July 2024 WASDE report.

For corn technicals, the relative strength index on December corn is showing the potential for a diverging bottom pattern, essentially meaning the drop in prices this week has less momentum than the previous drop seen over late June. This could be a signal that traders are growing satisfied with their risk profile and heavy short positions heading into the crucial weather period for corn pollination. Immediate support is seen just below $4.10 for December futures, while the bullish target remains to reclaim support above $4.20.

The DTN National Corn Index finished Tuesday at $3.85. Wednesday's futures close and implied corn basis of 13 cents under the September board would indicate the index on Wednesday afternoon to be near $3.86.

August soybeans fell another 12 1/4 cents on Wednesday to $10.09. New-crop November soybeans were down 10 1/4 cents to $10.07 1/4. The August soybean contract has given up 46 cents of value through the trading week thus far as traders are apparently seeing enough reason in the good weather to remove risk premium from the market despite the relatively low acreage for soybeans in the U.S. as compared to last year. Concern over export demand next year is certainly playing a role in the bearish price action this week.

For Friday's WASDE, the average trade estimate for 2024-25 soybean ending stocks is for a slight increase to 358 million bushels (mb). I am torn at this point between the surprisingly high June 1 stocks of 1.008 bb, and ahead of pace crush and exports. It would appear if there were a surprising drop in demand, it is coming from the residual category currently. That being said, I wouldn't be surprised to see stocks hold near 350 mb in Friday's report. As for new crop, I find it also unlikely that we will see any change to the yield, so most likely any changes to 2025-26 carry out will be a result of the aforementioned adjustments to beginning stocks (2024-25 ending stocks) for the marketing year. The average trade estimate ahead of Friday is for 304 mb of soybean ending stocks for 2025-26, as compared to the estimate in 2024 of 435 mb.

For soybean technicals, November futures broke support at $10.15 en route to the lowest close for the contract since April 10. $10.00 is likely the next round of support above the tariff induced plunge to $9.80 seen in early April.

The DTN National Soybean Index finished Tuesday at $9.68. Wednesday's futures close and implied soybean basis of 53 cents under the August board would indicate the index on Wednesday afternoon to be near $9.56.

Wheat futures were mixed to slightly higher on Wednesday with September Kansas City prices trading 1 1/2 cents higher to $5.24. Chicago futures were fractionally lower on their September contract, while MIAX Minneapolis September futures traded 1 3/4 cents higher.

Friday's WASDE report will include USDA production estimates for the winter wheat crop, which is over 50% harvested as of the beginning of the week. The Dow Jones survey of analysts is on average calling for a decrease in production as compared to the June WASDE and NASS Crop Production reports. Assuming the June 1 stocks estimate released on the June 30 of 851 mb is accurate, the expectation is that 2025-26 wheat stocks will also decrease modestly with the average trade estimate calling for a 5 mb decline to 893 mb.

On the world stage, I will be interested to see how USDA sees China's winter wheat crop after a spring full of speculation regarding the drought conditions experienced in several key growing regions in northeast China. Beyond that, Russia and the EU will also be of key interest to traders, given the reversal in opinions regarding the Russian crop after a very poor start to the growing season, thanks in large part to timely rains this spring.

More than 100 area
Vietnam War veterans received a tangible “thank you” for their service Monday morning
during a special ceremony at Word of Life Church in St. Joseph.

The City of St.
Joseph, the AUSA Henry Leavenworth Chapter, and the St. Joseph Community
Alliance hosted a special pinning ceremony for Vietnam War veterans, giving them
a special pin and certificate for their service during a difficult time.

Missouri Adjutant
General, Charles Hausman, remembers that when his unit would return from
deployment, Vietnam War veterans – who didn’t receive a warm welcome home – always
participated in the welcome ceremonies.

“They were leading
the Freedom Riders. They were leading that welcome home. And it really, I
think, is because of the treatment they received when they came home, they
never wanted to see that again,” Hausman tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post after the
ceremony. “And it was very, very impactful and certainly not lost on all the
soldiers coming back during my generation of who was out there leading that
effort.”

Hausman, a native
of St. Joseph, has served in three deployments:&nbsp;
Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation
Inherent Resolve/Spartan Shield.

Hausman gave the
keynote address at the gathering. He and other speakers touched on the
inability of U.S. citizens to separate the unpopular war with the warrior often
drafted into service. Many Vietnam War veterans either returned unheralded or
as the object of protestors’ ire.

That makes their
participation in welcome home ceremonies now even more impressive, according to
Hausman.

“But to see that
generation take that experience and then turn it around and say, okay, never
again,” Hausman says. “It is truly welcomed. It is certainly appreciated by my
generation. And it’s a testament to that sense of never giving up and never abandoning
their duty and their commitment to their nation; very, very impressive.”

Around 115 Vietnam
War veterans from throughout the area registered. Some were unable to attend
Monday’s ceremony.

Special
recognition was given to Wilson Fletcher, the 1,000th veteran recognized in one
of the events coordinated with the Fort Leonard Wood Association of the United
States Army Chapter.

The program in St.
Joseph grew from the United States of America Vietnam War
Commemoration program signed into law by President Barack Obama in 2012 to
create a 13-year period to honor the country’s military veterans of that era
and their families.

You can follow&nbsp;Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ

Vietnam War veterans get their due during special ceremony

DEKALB COUNTY—One person died in a house fire Sunday in Cameron.

Just before 4p.m. Sunday, police along with fire crews and EMS responded to 911 call for a fire in a home at 424 N. Nettleton Street in Cameron, according to a media release from Cameron Police.&nbsp; 

The caller indicated a possible victim trapped inside the home. Another caller reported hearing an explosion within the home.

Cameron Police were first to arrive and observed heavy smoke and flames coming from the front porch area of the home. During this time, a good Samaritan was able to break a window and rescue a child from inside the home.&nbsp;

Despite the swift response and efforts from Cameron Fire crews, the home became fully engulfed. There was one fatality. Police have not released the name or additional details on the victim. The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Missouri State Fire Marshal's office with assistance from the Cameron Police Detectives.

1 dead, Good Samaritan rescues child from house fire

Nearly 73 million workers fall under such laws, a new report said.

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://stateline.org/author/avollers/">Anna Claire Vollers</a>&nbsp; <a href="https://stateline.org/">Stateline</a>

Across most of the South and Midwest, state laws bar local governments from requiring employers to provide paid sick leave, effectively stripping cities of the power to enact their own labor protections.

Nearly 73 million workers live in the 18 states that now have such preemptive laws, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://nationalpartnership.org/report/nearly-73-million-workers-live-in-states-that-block-local-communities-from-making-progress-on-paid-sick-days/" target="_blank">new report</a>&nbsp;from A Better Balance, a legal advocacy organization focused on workplace rights, and the National Partnership for Women &amp; Families, a nonprofit advocacy group.

“Local leaders know what’s best for their communities. To take away the decision-making power from local communities on this issue and others is very, very concerning,” said Feroza Freeland, policy director of the Southern office at A Better Balance, and one of the report’s authors.

Among the 18 states included in the report was Missouri. The legislature passed a measure in May to&nbsp;<a href="https://legiscan.com/MO/text/HB567/id/3166038" target="_blank">repeal</a>&nbsp;paid leave requirements voters had&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/05/01/missouri-paid-sick-leave-law-now-in-effect-though-legislative-challenges-still-loom/#:~:text=Under%20the%20law,least%2056%20hours." target="_blank">approved</a>&nbsp;in November that expanded access to paid sick leave for about 728,000 workers who lacked it. Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe on Thursday signed the statewide repeal into law. Local paid sick leave laws have been banned in Missouri since 2017.

Kehoe in a statement called the paid sick leave mandates “onerous,” saying they dictated when and how sick leave was provided and had “burdensome” recordkeeping and compliance obligations.

Nationwide, about 27 million workers don’t earn paid sick days, the report found. Many of them work low-wage and part-time jobs, and they’re disproportionately likely to be women, younger workers and people of color, according to the report.

“Folks are facing impossible choices between their own health — or the health of their children — and continuing to earn a paycheck to pay bills and put food on the table,” Freeland told Stateline.

In the absence of federal laws guaranteeing paid sick leave for workers, more cities and local governments&nbsp;<a href="https://www.abetterbalance.org/paid-sick-time-laws/" target="_blank">have passed their own</a>, including Chicago, Minneapolis, Pittsburgh and Seattle.

But lawmakers in 18 states, mainly in the South and Midwest, have done the opposite, the report found. GOP legislators have said such paid leave requirements&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/04/29/missouri-supreme-court-upholds-voter-approved-paid-sick-leave-law/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CIt%20is%20financially%20burdensome%2C%20just%20short%20of%20devastating%2C%20and%20its%20regulatory%20requirements%20are%20extremely%20difficult%20for%20single%20unit%20operators%2C%E2%80%9D%20Buddy%20Lahl%2C%20CEO%20of%20the%20Missouri%20Restaurant%20Association%2C%20told%20The%20Independent%20Tuesday." target="_blank">create financial hardship</a>&nbsp;for employers, particularly for smaller businesses.

Over the past decade, in GOP-led states across the country, Republican lawmakers have tried to limit the policymaking power of Democratic-led urban centers on issues ranging from immigration to voting rights to LGBTQ+ matters.

While all of the states that preempt local paid sick leave laws are&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ncsl.org/about-state-legislatures/state-partisan-composition" target="_blank">Republican-led</a>, many conservative-led states in the Mountain West don’t have such laws.

Katherine Gallagher Robbins, a senior fellow at the National Partnership and another author of the report, said that’s because Western states tend to have more of a libertarian bent. And she said preemption laws in the South have their&nbsp;<a href="https://www.epi.org/publication/preemption-in-the-south/" target="_blank">roots</a>&nbsp;in historically racist standards that undervalue Black workers.

More than half the Black labor force — 56% — lives in one of the 18 states that prohibit local paid sick time protections, the report said.

Freeland also pointed out that the paid sick leave issue impacts not just urban centers, but rural communities as well. Many people without paid sick leave work in physically demanding jobs such as manufacturing and farming.

The report’s authors say that paid sick leave laws can help reduce the spread of illness, increase employment and wages, particularly for women with child care responsibilities, and can help recruit and retain workers.

Editor’s note: This story was updated to clarify the scope of the new Missouri law. Stateline reporter Anna Claire Vollers can be reached at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:avollers@statline.org">avollers@statline.org</a>.

18 states now stop cities from enacting paid leave standards

ATCHISON COUNTY, Kan.—One person was injured in an accident just after 9p.m. Thursday in Atchison County.

A 2015 Ford Fusion driven by Anthony Quintois, 22, Atchison, was southbound in the 100 Block of North 9th Street, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson. An eastbound bicycle driven by a 14-year-old in an alley entered the roadway and collided with the car.&nbsp; 

EMS transported the 14-year-old male bicyclist&nbsp; to Amberwell Hospital.&nbsp;

14-year-old bicyclist injured after crash with a car

NODAWAY COUNTY —Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop H teamed with area first responders for Safety Alley at the Nodaway County Fair on Thursday, according to the patrol's social media account.

 "We enjoyed interacting with the community and sharing important safety tips for all ages," Troop H wrote.

The Nodaway County Fair continues through Friday.

MSHP: Safety Alley at the Nodaway County Fair

Gov. Mike Kehoe approved the tax cut expected to reduce revenues by $340 million annually even as he has been warning of future state funding shortfalls

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

Missouri&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/05/07/missouri-bill-exempting-capital-gains-from-income-tax-sent-to-governor/">investors will get a tax break</a>&nbsp;when they take profits and motorists&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/06/20/five-missouri-counties-no-longer-have-a-license-office-a-fee-hike-seeks-to-fix-that/">will pay more</a>&nbsp;to renew vehicle registrations under separate bills signed Thursday by Gov. Mike Kehoe.

Kehoe’s signature on&nbsp;<a href="https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB594&amp;year=2025&amp;code=R" target="_blank">the bill</a>&nbsp;granting an income tax exemption for long-term capital gains — profits on investments held for a year or longer — marks the third major tax cut in the past three years. And it comes just days after he vetoed&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/06/30/missouri-governor-hits-earmarks-with-veto-pen-as-he-signs-state-budget/">more than $300 million</a>&nbsp;in general revenue spending and restricted $211 million more amid worries about sluggish revenues.

In the fiscal year that ended June 30, the state took in $13.4 billion in general revenue and final figures show revenue increased just $1 million over the previous year. After Kehoe’s vetoes, the budget for the current fiscal year projects spending $15.5 billion in general revenue, with the gap between revenue and spending covered by surpluses accumulated in past years.

“Conservative leadership is about keeping more money in the hands of Missouri families, and less in government coffers,” Kehoe said&nbsp;in a news release.

The capital gains exemption for individuals is officially estimated to reduce revenue&nbsp;<a href="https://documents.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills251/fiscal/fispdf/1683S.04F.ORG.pdf" target="_blank">by about $110 million</a>&nbsp;annually. Independent economists, however, have warned that the annual revenue loss could be much more,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/04/07/missouri-lawmakers-set-to-pass-capital-gains-tax-cut-with-questions-about-its-total-cost/">perhaps as much as $600 million</a>.&nbsp;

Most of the benefits from a cut in the capital gains rate for individuals would go to a small slice of taxpayers. The 23,800 federal returns filed for 2022 with incomes greater than $500,000 a year represent 0.8% of all returns but included 65% of the capital gains income.

When Kehoe finished with the state budget, he warned he was making vetoes and restricting spending because of uncertainty in future state revenues and expenses.

When Kehoe released his budget proposal in January, it anticipated the state would end the current fiscal year with an unobligated general revenue balance of $2.6 billion. At that time, the unobligated surplus at the end of the coming fiscal year was projected at $1.4 billion, but during the recent special session state Budget Director Dan Haug told lawmakers he expects no more than half that amount — $600 million to $700 million — will remain on June 30, 2026.

“The Office of Administration’s Division of Budget and Planning estimates a nearly $1 billion shortfall in general revenue starting in (fiscal year 2027),” the release accompanying the budget actions stated. “Contributing to this shortfall, ongoing general revenue spending authorized in the (fiscal year 2026) budget is projected to outpace ongoing revenues by nearly over $1 billion and grow larger in future years.”

Both the vetoes and Haug’s forecast came before Congress finished work on the massive&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/07/04/repub/on-the-fourth-of-july-trump-signs-his-big-beautiful-bill-into-law/">federal budget reconciliation bill</a>&nbsp;signed July 4 by President Donald Trump. The conservative-leaning Tax Foundation estimated Missouri&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/06/02/proposed-federal-tax-changes-could-mean-170m-or-more-cut-to-missouri-state-revenues/">revenue would decline</a>&nbsp;by at least $170 million and possibly by more than $400 million under an earlier version of the bill.&nbsp;

That estimate has not been updated since the final bill was passed.

The federal budget bill is also expected to&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/07/03/federal-budget-megabill-would-shift-billions-in-cost-to-missouri-taxpayers/">shift billions of dollars</a>&nbsp;in costs for programs like food stamps and Medicaid to Missouri over the coming decade.

The liberal Missouri Budget Project, which opposed the tax cut during the session, issued a statement Thursday condemning Kehoe’s decision to sign the bill.

“Prioritizing an expensive special interest tax giveaway at this time is irresponsible and a mismanagement of taxpayer dollars,” CEO Amy Blouin said in a news release. “It’s also a slap in the face to the bulk of Missouri taxpayers who are struggling to afford groceries and who already pay a higher portion of their income in state and local taxes than do the folks who will get a windfall from the capital gains exemption.”

A capital gains exemption for corporations, also included in the bill, would take effect when future revenue growth or legislative action reduces the top individual income tax rate to 4.5% or below. The rate this year is 4.7%, with two reductions of 0.1 percentage point each already included in state law when revenue triggers are met.

The state budget office estimates the earliest date for the next rate cut triggered by revenue would be Jan. 1, 2028.

The bill that includes the capital gains tax cut also includes provisions increasing a&nbsp;<a href="https://dor.mo.gov/taxation/individual/tax-types/property-tax-credit/" target="_blank">refundable income tax credit</a>&nbsp;used by lower-income senior citizens and the disabled to offset property taxes. The increase in what is known as the Circuit Breaker tax credit would bump the maximum credit for homeowners to $1,550 from the current $1,100. Qualifying taxpayers who rent their homes would see their maximum credit increase to $1,055 from $750.

The maximum income for claiming the credit would also increase, to $38,200 for renters and $41,000 a year for homeowners.

The increased Circuit Breaker credit was negotiated by Democrats opposed to the capital gains cut. A bipartisan coalition also won sales tax exemptions for diapers and feminine hygiene products, bringing the total official estimate of the tax cut in the coming year to $430 million, with an ongoing revenue reduction of $340 million.

The Missouri Department of Revenue issues motor vehicle registrations and driver’s licenses through a system of contract offices that make money through fees, set by law, added to the&nbsp;<a href="https://dor.mo.gov/motor-vehicle/titling-registration/fees.html" target="_blank">state charge</a>&nbsp;for the&nbsp;<a href="https://dor.mo.gov/driver-license/resources/license.html#fees" target="_blank">transaction</a>.&nbsp;

There is supposed to be at least one license office in every county, but for much of this year, five counties&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/06/20/five-missouri-counties-no-longer-have-a-license-office-a-fee-hike-seeks-to-fix-that/">have had no office</a>&nbsp;because contractors wouldn’t work for the allowed fees.

The bill signed by Kehoe and sponsored by state Sen. Sandy Crawford, a Republican from Buffalo, would increase the fees received by the license offices by 50%.

The goal is to make the offices attractive to contractors and avoid closures, Crawford said during a House committee hearing in April.

“I live in a small town, and if my license bureau were to close, I would likely have to drive 45 minutes, take a half a day to drive and get my license,” Crawford said. “And so I would much rather pay $3 than take off half a day and drive 45 miles or 45 minutes to get this done.”

The transaction fee for a driver’s license or motor vehicle would go from $6 to $9 for the shortest period and from $12 to $18 for the longest, six years for a driver’s license and two years for a vehicle registration.

In fiscal 2024, the 175 license offices processed almost 9 million transactions and charged $58.4 million in fees.&nbsp;

The smallest, in Unionville in Putnam County on the Iowa border, generated $28,736 in fees on 4,519 transactions. There is currently no contractor for the Unionville office and it has been closed since mid-April.

The busiest license office is in Creve Coeur in St. Louis County, where 167,390 transactions generated almost $1.1 million in fee revenue.

Capital gains exemption and motor vehicle fee hike bills signed by Missouri governor

Business groups lobbied heavily to overturn the measure passed by 58% of voters, arguing it would cost jobs. The bill also repeals annual inflation adjustments for the minimum wage, in effect since 2006.

Missouri workers who started accruing paid sick leave on May 1 will lose it Aug. 28&nbsp;<a href="https://house.mo.gov/bill.aspx?bill=HB567&amp;year=2025&amp;code=R" target="_blank">under legislation</a>&nbsp;signed Thursday by Gov. Mike Kehoe.

The new benefit, linked to an increase in the minimum wage passed with&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/11/05/missourians-vote-to-increase-minimum-wage-require-paid-sick-leave/">58% of the vote</a>&nbsp;in November, became a target for business lobbying interests. Republican allies in the General Assembly pushed it to Kehoe’s desk by invoking a rarely used state Senate rule&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/05/14/missouri-republicans-shut-down-senate-debate-to-pass-abortion-ban-repeal-sick-leave-law/">to shut down debate</a>&nbsp;over Democratic objections.

The action followed a pattern established over the past 15 years where conservative Republicans have used their majorities in the legislature to roll back or repeal measures that became law through initiatives pushed to the ballot by progressive groups.

The minimum wage initiative was a statutory change, meaning lawmakers could make any changes that would command a majority.&nbsp;

In a news release issued after he signed the bills, Kehoe said he was approving the bill to defend small businesses.

“Today, we are protecting the people who make Missouri work—families, job creators, and small business owners—by cutting taxes, rolling back overreach, and eliminating costly mandates,” Kehoe said in the release.

Missouri House Democratic leader Ashley Aune of Kansas City denounced Kehoe’s decision to sign the bill as an attack on workers and voters.

“The governor’s action today demonstrates the absolute disdain Republicans have for working Missourians,” Aune said in a news release. “But in stripping workers of their legal right to earned sick leave, the governor and his allies have probably guaranteed this issue will be back on the ballot next year as a constitutional amendment that will place worker protections beyond their reach.”

Richard Von Glahn, policy director for Missouri Jobs with Justice, the organization that helped lead the campaign for the paid sick leave law, has filed a proposed constitutional amendment targeting the 2026 ballot.

The repeal doesn’t take effect immediately because Republicans were unable to muster the two-thirds majorities needed to pass an emergency clause even though the GOP holds more than two-thirds of the seats in each chamber. It goes into effect at the same time as other bills approved this year and signed by Kehoe.

The increased minimum wage, $13.75 an hour, took effect on Jan. 1. A second increase is set for Jan. 1, 2026, when it will increase to $15 an hour. The bill signed Thursday also repeals a provision, in effect since 2006, to adjust the minimum wage annually for inflation.

Organizers of the initiative that put the measure on the ballot set May 1 as the starting date for paid leave, available for personal illness or to stay home with a sick family member. The intent was to allow more time for businesses to adjust to the new rule than the short period between the election and the new year.

Workers at businesses with receipts greater than $500,000 a year are accruing at least one hour of paid leave for every 30 hours worked. Employers with fewer than 15 workers must allow workers to earn at least 40 hours per year, with larger employers mandated to allow at least 56 hours.

The measure made sick leave guaranteed for 728,000 workers who lacked it statewide, or over 1 in 3 Missouri workers, according to an analysis from the progressive nonprofit the Missouri Budget Project.

The leave can be used currently, but the repeal makes it uncertain if accrued leave can be used after the law is repealed.

The battle over the leave provisions revolved around its economic effect, pitting business interests and their backers in the legislature against supporters of the law.&nbsp;

During a&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/02/20/new-paid-sick-leave-requirement-targeted-by-missouri-republicans/">House committee hearing</a>&nbsp;in February, the sponsor, Republican state Rep. Sherri Gallick of Belton, suggested that employees can’t be trusted to use paid sick leave only for the reasons allowed by the law.

“Under the mandated sick leave, potential abuse is nearly impossible to address,” Gallick told the House Commerce Committee. “Employers cannot ask an employee why they were absent, leaving them vulnerable to lawsuits for merely inquiring.”

In a news release Thursday,&nbsp;Kara Corches, president and CEO of the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, called the mandated paid sick leave a “job killer.”

“Missouri employers value their employees and recognize the importance of offering competitive wages and benefits, but one-size-fits-all mandates threaten growth,” Corches said in the release.

At a May news conference, state Rep. Betsy Fogle, a Springfield Democrat, said that when Missouri workers are successful, businesses will succeed.

“The idea that providing workers with more protections is a business killer is wild,” she said. “…To try to make this seem like this is something that will kill business, that will keep businesses from opening, I think it’s absurd, and I think it’s quite disappointing, and I think it sends absolutely the wrong message.”

The action on sick leave is similar to a bill in 2011&nbsp;<a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/life/lifestyle/missouris-puppy-mill-politics-dog-breeders-outmaneuver-animal-rights-movement/" target="_blank">weakening provisions of a ballot measure from 2010</a>&nbsp;called the “Puppy Mill Cruelty and Prevention Act,” that specified appropriate living conditions for breeding operations and including action this year to overturn the abortion rights amendment approved in November.&nbsp;

The GOP’s willingness to overturn voter actions has led many initiative organizers to push their proposals as constitutional amendments, which require a statewide vote to repeal or revise. Amendments to&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/11/09/missouri-voters-amend-state-constitution-to-legalize-recreational-marijuana/">legalize marijuana</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/election/article244714972.html" target="_blank">expand Medicaid</a>&nbsp;coverage, revise the legislative redistricting process and&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/11/05/missouri-voters-overturn-states-near-total-abortion-ban/">protect abortion rights</a>&nbsp;have all been passed as constitutional amendments.

The Republican majority has responded by successfully pushing a&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2020/11/04/voters-repeal-clean-missouri-redistricting-plan-they-enacted-in-2018/">second revision</a>&nbsp;of redistricting and placing an&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/07/03/lawsuit-challenges-ballot-language-for-proposed-missouri-abortion-ban/">abortion rights repeal</a>&nbsp;on the 2026 ballot. A court challenge to Medicaid expansion was rejected&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2021/07/22/missouri-supreme-court-rules-voter-approved-medicaid-expansion-is-constitutional/">by the Missouri Supreme Court</a>.

Missouri Governor signs bill repealing paid sick leave 

NODAWAY COUNTY, Mo. — A record 113 Missouri 4-H clubs and FFA chapters have been awarded $500 Shaping Rural Missouri Grants from FCS Financial this summer to complete community improvement projects across the state.

The grants support a variety of efforts, including landscaping fairgrounds, painting bleachers, building picnic tables, and enhancing community parks.

In Nodaway County, two groups received funding:

Now in its 14th year, the Shaping Rural Missouri Grant program has awarded more than $364,000 statewide to support rural youth-led initiatives.

The projects are expected to be completed throughout the summer, helping shape not only rural spaces—but future community leaders as well.

Record Number of Missouri 4-H and FFA Groups Earn Rural Improvement Grants

Missouri Gov. Mike
Kehoe has signed into law a school safety measure that includes legislation
pushed by St. Joseph state Rep. Brenda Shields.

Shields, a
Republican, sponsored legislation in the Missouri House requiring school
districts to tighten security measures on their campuses.

“(It’s a) comprehensive
bill that’s going to allow our teachers and our students to feel safe and when
they feel safe, we know that quality learning happens,” Shields tells KFEQ/St.
Joseph Post.

Shields sponsored
<a href="https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB416&amp;year=2025&amp;code=R">House Bill 416</a><a href="https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB416&amp;year=2025&amp;code=R"></a>, which was incorporated into <a href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/25info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&amp;BillID=422">Senate Bill 68</a>, approved by the
legislature and now signed into law.

The legislation
requires school districts to adopt emergency operations plans and have annual
school security assessments. It establishes standards for anti-intruder door
locks in classrooms. Under its provisions, school districts must maintain Stop
the Bleed kits and train staff on their use.

One provision of
the bill has captured the most attention. It bans students from carrying their
cell phones during school hours.

“It’s really just
to encourage students to put their phones down and engage with other students
in the classroom,” Shields says. “When you talk to people that have already
implemented this, they said the difference is amazing what happens in school.”

Shields says school
cell phone bans have proven their worth in other states.

“Lunchrooms have
become very quiet places, because students are all on their phones,” Shields
says. “And when their phones are in their pockets, in their backpacks, not with
them they say the lunchrooms have returned to what we’re used to what
lunchrooms were with students engaging with each other. And I just truly
believe that for the mental health of everyone, people engaging with people
instead of through technology is probably better.”

Gov. Kehoe signs into law public safety bill pushed by Rep. Shields

MARYVILLE, Mo. — Golfers across the region can now register for the 35th Annual St. Francis Classic, taking place Friday, August 22 at Mozingo Lake Golf Course. This year's event aims to raise critical funds for state-of-the-art 3D mammography equipment at Mosaic Medical Center – Maryville.

More than 2,500 women receive mammograms at Mosaic each year. The new equipment is expected to significantly enhance early detection capabilities, leading to better outcomes for patients across Northwest Missouri.

This year's honorary host is Jeanne Pierson, a two-time breast cancer survivor whose story underscores the life-saving value of advanced diagnostic tools. Pierson was first diagnosed at age 50. A decade later, a second, more invasive cancer was caught early — thanks to 3D mammography.

Pierson is now a passionate advocate for annual screenings and continued investment in advanced technology to ensure others benefit from early diagnosis and effective treatment.

Those interested in registering or supporting the tournament can contact Mosaic Medical Center – Maryville for more information. Proceeds from the tournament will directly benefit the hospital’s mammography program and help save lives through early detection.

Registration Open for 35th Annual St. Francis Classic Golf Tournament

The St. Joseph Mustangs had their eight game winning streak snapped, falling in game one of a doubleheader with the Jefferson City Renegades 4-2, but bouncing back to win game two 12-6.&nbsp;

In the opener to the day of the two seven inning games, the Renegades got to Mustangs starter Aron Harrington, scoring two runs in the first inning as&nbsp;P.J. Green doubled in both runs, driving in&nbsp;Jack Dunn and Braydn O'Neal.&nbsp; Jefferson City extended the lead adding one run in the second on a home run by&nbsp;Will Bachman, and scored their final run in the third inning with an RBI single by&nbsp;Maddox Meier scoring&nbsp;Alex DiGicianto.

Trailing 4-0 entering the fourth the Mustangs scored both their runs, the first coming thanks to a sacrifice fly by Justin George, driving in Trevor McCollum and moving Darius Freeman to third, before Luke Bies singled to score Freeman.&nbsp;

Harrington took the loss pitching 4 1/3 innings and giving up all four runs on five hits, striking out six and walking four.&nbsp; East Buchanan alum Gage Busby pitched 2/3 of an inning giving up a hit, a walk, and striking out one, while Benton alum Chris Coy pitched one inning surrendering a hit with one strikeout.&nbsp; At the plate in game one, Freeman was 2-for-2 with a double, a walk. and a run scored.&nbsp; Easton Phillipe was 2-for-3 with a double.&nbsp;

Things fared much better for the Mustangs in game two, though they did have to come from behind again.&nbsp; But not before they took the lead in the top of the first inning as Northwest Missouri State's Parker Griffith singled home Freeman for the opening score. In the bottom half of the inning, the Renegades took the lead, first tying the game as&nbsp;O'Neal scored when&nbsp;Drew Vonder Harr.&nbsp;&nbsp;Karson Durnin doubled later in the inning to give them the lead, driving in&nbsp;DiGicianto.

The Renegades extended the lead in the second inning on an&nbsp;O'Neal that scored Green.&nbsp; The Mustangs were able to cut the lead back to one run in the third, Griffith reaching first on an error allowing Jack Mosh to score unearned, but in the bottom half Jefferson City got the run back as&nbsp;Tyler Towe doubled this time, driving in Durnin for the 4-2 lead.&nbsp;

After a scoreless fourth, the Mustangs snatched the lead back with a five run fifth inning, cutting the lead back to one again thanks to Griffith with an RBI single, scoring Mosh, and then tying the game on a single by Bishop LeBlond alum Frank Gall that brought home Griffith.&nbsp; St. Joseph took the lead thanks to a bases loaded walk to Lafayette alum Jayden Little that scored Phillipe. and extended the lead with a two RBI single by Bies, driving in Coy and Gall for the 7-4 lead.&nbsp;

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