By:<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/joshmerchant/">Josh Merchant</a>

The World Cup is just seven months away, and the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority faces the immense challenge of moving hundreds of thousands of fans around Kansas City next summer.

Now, the transit agency has decided to crack open its piggy bank.

For years, transit leaders have asked Kansas, Missouri and the federal government for financial support during the World Cup to manage massive crowds of fans who will travel to the region without cars.

But they have not received a dime for World Cup bus service. So the KCATA is planning to raid millions of dollars from a federal grant from 2018 intended to buy new buses. Instead, that money will be spent on 40 days of expanded service for fans and tourists.

Chuck Ferguson, the chief operations officer for the KCATA, asked the Mid-America Regional Council to approve the change at a committee meeting on Nov. 10.

“We — Johnson County, the Unified Government — have been pushing local, regional and the feds for some kind of dedicated funding for transit for the last few years to no avail,” Ferguson said. “So now we’re scrambling.”

The federal government created a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2025/10/13/drone-defenses-world-cup-00606174" target="_blank">$625 million grant program for safety and security</a>&nbsp;in World Cup cities. But none of that money can be used by transit agencies.

Ferguson told The Beacon that Missouri also provided some support with an “ambassador” program, which will pay people to be “wayfinders” to help visitors find bus stops at World Cup events. But again, that money can’t be used to pay for additional bus routes or operators.

In the absence of additional support, the KCATA is being asked to manage unprecedented numbers of bus riders in Kansas City with a budget that’s already spread thin. And that exposes funding challenges that the KCATA was already facing before the World Cup was even announced.

KC2026, the organizing committee&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/06/19/is-kansas-city-world-cup-ready-2026/" target="_blank">formed to raise funds for and manage the World Cup</a>, announced earlier this year that it plans to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/housing-development-section/2025-06-12/world-cup-kansas-city-2026-transportation" target="_blank">lease 200 buses</a>&nbsp;to get visitors between the airport, downtown and the six matches planned to be hosted at Arrowhead Stadium.

“KC2026 is currently planning to fund and operate all transportation required to meet the Host City obligations, as well as additional services to facilitate movement in the region,” a spokesperson for KC2026 said in an email statement. “This includes the 200 buses we have leased, as well as any event-specific services that may be provided by partners.”

But transportation leaders are still staring down a problem — getting fans to and from the&nbsp;<a href="https://kansascityfwc26.com/fan-fest/" target="_blank">FIFA Fan Festival</a>&nbsp;on the south lawn of the National World War I Museum and Memorial.

The World War I Museum sits along the newly extended streetcar line, which theoretically could move fans to and from the festival. But anyone who attended the recent Chappell Roan concerts or the NFL Draft in 2023 will remember long wait times to board the streetcar when tens of thousands of people left the venue at the end of the night.

Transportation planners call that a “crush load” —&nbsp;when people are packed shoulder-to-shoulder in the train and a long line of passengers has to wait for the next ride.

“The big worry right now,” Ferguson said at the MARC committee meeting, “is between 25,000 and 35,000 people leaving that venue at one point in time and looking to go somewhere.”

The streetcar, he said, can only handle a fraction of that number — a few thousand per hour.

KC2026 is planning to host the Fan Fest for 18 nights next summer — on the day of every Kansas City or Team USA match. But if the public transit along Main Street is overwhelmed that frequently, transit leaders worry it could be catastrophic for public safety and for the city’s reputation during the World Cup.

So the plan is to repurpose about $2.1 million that the KCATA received in 2018 to purchase new energy efficient buses. Instead, the agency will spend it on operations during the World Cup to run some extra buses along the streetcar line to manage the flood of fans. Another $387,500 would come from the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2018-04-09/second-most-popular-bus-line-in-kansas-city-receives-long-awaited-30m-federal-funding" target="_blank">Prospect MAX grant</a>.

That would fund overtime pay for bus operators and the extra fuel.

“It’s not going to be the massive amounts of service that people had originally envisioned,” Ferguson told the committee. “But it is one dedicated opportunity that we hope to put out there.”

Johnson County Transit made a similar request at the Nov. 10 meeting, except it would use $2.1 million to bolster bus lines to hotels like the Sheraton in Overland Park.

In both cases, if the extra buses are not needed, the money will not be spent and it will be returned to the fund, likely to pay for the new efficient buses as originally intended.

KCATA is expected to do more with the same budget

Ultimately, the MARC transportation and emissions committee voted to recommend the change for approval by the entire board later this year.

But there were some dissenters, including Eric Rogers, the executive director and cofounder of BikeWalkKC. Rogers was one of three “no” votes.

He voted that way because he’s concerned about sacrificing long-term transit investments —&nbsp;like buses that could last for 25 years — for the sake of solving a short-term problem at the World Cup.

But he remains frustrated that the KCATA is expected to provide transit service for an unprecedented event in Kansas City without any funding from FIFA or from state or federal partners.

“We are putting our transit agencies in a tough position,” he said. “My question is, ‘Why isn’t the event that’s creating all of this demand doing more to provide the funding that’s needed for the transit agency to respond to the demand?’”

That concern was echoed by several other members of the committee during the meeting, including some who voted yes.

Bailey Waters, the chief mobility officer at Kansas City, asked Ferguson if FIFA was providing any support for the planned World Cup events.

“FIFA is not, never was going to sponsor anything,” Ferguson said in response. “FIFA requires things. But really all that FIFA provides is the happiness that we get to host the World Cup.”

Kansas City Councilmember Eric Bunch, who also serves on the KCATA Board of Commissioners, supports the move to repurpose the green bus funds for World Cup operations. But he said the frustration with FIFA is not lost on him.

“That is the problem with major events like the World Cup, like the Olympics, like the DNC or the RNC,” he said. “They’re pitching this as a positive economic impact. And in the end, it’s the local governments that pick up the bill often, and it’s the local residents who are impacted by it.”

Bunch said this most recent situation is emblematic of ongoing funding issues at the KCATA.

Not only is the transit agency underfunded in the Kansas City area, but its biggest financial constraints are around operating costs, rather than buying new buses.

In other words, the KCATA does not tend to have problems paying for new buses. The issue is finding money to pay the drivers and mechanics or buying fuel.

That’s because the federal government is willing to give grants for “capital” like new buses or streetcar tracks, but it is much rarer for the KCATA to get grants that can be used for “operations.”

(The Trump administration has deprioritized public transit as a whole compared to the Biden administration.)

“The federal government basically says, ‘All right, we’ll help you build your transit system, we’ll buy buses, we’ll build tracks for streetcars and light rail,’” Bunch said. “But once it’s up and running, that’s (the city’s) responsibility.”

About 72% of the KCATA’s operations — $61 million out of total $85 million — are paid for by Kansas City Hall.

So if the KCATA can find a way to use the federal grants to pay bus operators during the World Cup, Bunch said, that’s a far more appealing option than tapping an already strained operations budget.

Tristin Amezcua-Hogan, the chair of the Regional Transit Alliance, told The Beacon in an email statement that the KCATA is “trapped in a cycle of poverty right now that is perpetuated by a lack of stable regional funding.”

“This is just one of the many instances of the organization having to choose what gets the job done over the optimal decision that would come out of consistent funding,” he said.

Some members of the MARC committee, including Westwood City Administrator Leslie Herring, believe that the positive side of the World Cup is that some Kansas Citians are going to be taking public transit for the first time to get to the Fan Fest.

“It might be an opportunity to expand who all in Kansas City actually feels comfortable riding the buses,” Herring said at the committee meeting. “When Mission would take residents down to the Plaza, in Westport, to go bar hop during the holiday season, that was one of my first times on a bus. And I feel very comfortable on KCATA buses now.”

In theory, that kind of public support from new bus riders could pay off in the future if a regional transit sales tax is placed on the ballot.

A sales tax has some support in the Jackson County Courthouse, and four out of five of the Unified Government commissioners elected earlier this month&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/10/23/wyandotte-county-election-2025-ug-districts/" target="_blank">told The Beacon that they would support putting a similar measure on the ballot</a>&nbsp;in Wyandotte County.

Bunch said polling shows the majority of voters in Jackson, Johnson, Clay and Wyandotte counties&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/housing-development-section/2025-10-02/kansas-city-regional-transit-alliance-poll-sales-tax-bus-service" target="_blank">already support raising taxes to fund public transit</a>. And that could increase if the KCATA does a good job during the World Cup.

“That is the opportunity we have with the World Cup, and enhancing bus service during that time,” he said. “That more people are going to be willing to try it out. And I think that that’s a really good thing.”

This&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/11/13/kcata-kansas-city-world-cup-public-transit/" target="_blank">article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/" target="_blank">Beacon: Kansas City</a>&nbsp;and is republished here under a&nbsp;<a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/" target="_blank">Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1763390696925.png" alt=" Kansas City expects about 650,000 visitors next summer over the course of the Kansas City World Cup. KC’s transit agency is concerned that if buses or the streetcar are overwhelmed with tourists, that could impact bus service for the city’s residents (Vaughn Wheat/The Beacon)." />
 <figcaption> Kansas City expects about 650,000 visitors next summer over the course of the Kansas City World Cup. KC’s transit agency is concerned that if buses or the streetcar are overwhelmed with tourists, that could impact bus service for the city’s residents (Vaughn Wheat/The Beacon).</figcaption>
 </figure>By:<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/joshmerchant/">Josh Merchant</a>The World Cup is just seven months away, and the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority faces the immense challenge of moving hundreds of thousands of fans around Kansas City next summer.Now, the transit agency has decided to crack open its piggy bank.For years, transit leaders have asked Kansas, Missouri and the federal government for financial support during the World Cup to manage massive crowds of fans who will travel to the region without cars.But they have not received a dime for World Cup bus service. So the KCATA is planning to raid millions of dollars from a federal grant from 2018 intended to buy new buses. Instead, that money will be spent on 40 days of expanded service for fans and tourists.Chuck Ferguson, the chief operations officer for the KCATA, asked the Mid-America Regional Council to approve the change at a committee meeting on Nov. 10.“We — Johnson County, the Unified Government — have been pushing local, regional and the feds for some kind of dedicated funding for transit for the last few years to no avail,” Ferguson said. “So now we’re scrambling.”The federal government created a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2025/10/13/drone-defenses-world-cup-00606174" target="_blank">$625 million grant program for safety and security</a>&nbsp;in World Cup cities. But none of that money can be used by transit agencies.Ferguson told The Beacon that Missouri also provided some support with an “ambassador” program, which will pay people to be “wayfinders” to help visitors find bus stops at World Cup events. But again, that money can’t be used to pay for additional bus routes or operators.In the absence of additional support, the KCATA is being asked to manage unprecedented numbers of bus riders in Kansas City with a budget that’s already spread thin. And that exposes funding challenges that the KCATA was already facing before the World Cup was even announced.<h2>Kansas City’s Fan Fest problem</h2>KC2026, the organizing committee&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/06/19/is-kansas-city-world-cup-ready-2026/" target="_blank">formed to raise funds for and manage the World Cup</a>, announced earlier this year that it plans to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/housing-development-section/2025-06-12/world-cup-kansas-city-2026-transportation" target="_blank">lease 200 buses</a>&nbsp;to get visitors between the airport, downtown and the six matches planned to be hosted at Arrowhead Stadium.“KC2026 is currently planning to fund and operate all transportation required to meet the Host City obligations, as well as additional services to facilitate movement in the region,” a spokesperson for KC2026 said in an email statement. “This includes the 200 buses we have leased, as well as any event-specific services that may be provided by partners.”But transportation leaders are still staring down a problem — getting fans to and from the&nbsp;<a href="https://kansascityfwc26.com/fan-fest/" target="_blank">FIFA Fan Festival</a>&nbsp;on the south lawn of the National World War I Museum and Memorial.The World War I Museum sits along the newly extended streetcar line, which theoretically could move fans to and from the festival. But anyone who attended the recent Chappell Roan concerts or the NFL Draft in 2023 will remember long wait times to board the streetcar when tens of thousands of people left the venue at the end of the night.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1763390661542.png" alt="Chappell Roan fans wait for the KC Streetcar following her Oct. 3 concert. The concert was attended by about 30,000 people, which roughly compares to the expected attendance of Fan Fest (Josh Merchant/The Beacon)." />
 <figcaption>Chappell Roan fans wait for the KC Streetcar following her Oct. 3 concert. The concert was attended by about 30,000 people, which roughly compares to the expected attendance of Fan Fest (Josh Merchant/The Beacon).</figcaption>
 </figure>Transportation planners call that a “crush load” —&nbsp;when people are packed shoulder-to-shoulder in the train and a long line of passengers has to wait for the next ride.“The big worry right now,” Ferguson said at the MARC committee meeting, “is between 25,000 and 35,000 people leaving that venue at one point in time and looking to go somewhere.”The streetcar, he said, can only handle a fraction of that number — a few thousand per hour.KC2026 is planning to host the Fan Fest for 18 nights next summer — on the day of every Kansas City or Team USA match. But if the public transit along Main Street is overwhelmed that frequently, transit leaders worry it could be catastrophic for public safety and for the city’s reputation during the World Cup.So the plan is to repurpose about $2.1 million that the KCATA received in 2018 to purchase new energy efficient buses. Instead, the agency will spend it on operations during the World Cup to run some extra buses along the streetcar line to manage the flood of fans. Another $387,500 would come from the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2018-04-09/second-most-popular-bus-line-in-kansas-city-receives-long-awaited-30m-federal-funding" target="_blank">Prospect MAX grant</a>.That would fund overtime pay for bus operators and the extra fuel.“It’s not going to be the massive amounts of service that people had originally envisioned,” Ferguson told the committee. “But it is one dedicated opportunity that we hope to put out there.”Johnson County Transit made a similar request at the Nov. 10 meeting, except it would use $2.1 million to bolster bus lines to hotels like the Sheraton in Overland Park.In both cases, if the extra buses are not needed, the money will not be spent and it will be returned to the fund, likely to pay for the new efficient buses as originally intended.<h2>KCATA is expected to do more with the same budget</h2>Ultimately, the MARC transportation and emissions committee voted to recommend the change for approval by the entire board later this year.But there were some dissenters, including Eric Rogers, the executive director and cofounder of BikeWalkKC. Rogers was one of three “no” votes.He voted that way because he’s concerned about sacrificing long-term transit investments —&nbsp;like buses that could last for 25 years — for the sake of solving a short-term problem at the World Cup.But he remains frustrated that the KCATA is expected to provide transit service for an unprecedented event in Kansas City without any funding from FIFA or from state or federal partners.“We are putting our transit agencies in a tough position,” he said. “My question is, ‘Why isn’t the event that’s creating all of this demand doing more to provide the funding that’s needed for the transit agency to respond to the demand?’”That concern was echoed by several other members of the committee during the meeting, including some who voted yes.Bailey Waters, the chief mobility officer at Kansas City, asked Ferguson if FIFA was providing any support for the planned World Cup events.“FIFA is not, never was going to sponsor anything,” Ferguson said in response. “FIFA requires things. But really all that FIFA provides is the happiness that we get to host the World Cup.”Kansas City Councilmember Eric Bunch, who also serves on the KCATA Board of Commissioners, supports the move to repurpose the green bus funds for World Cup operations. But he said the frustration with FIFA is not lost on him.“That is the problem with major events like the World Cup, like the Olympics, like the DNC or the RNC,” he said. “They’re pitching this as a positive economic impact. And in the end, it’s the local governments that pick up the bill often, and it’s the local residents who are impacted by it.”<h2>A fundamental funding challenge</h2>Bunch said this most recent situation is emblematic of ongoing funding issues at the KCATA.Not only is the transit agency underfunded in the Kansas City area, but its biggest financial constraints are around operating costs, rather than buying new buses.In other words, the KCATA does not tend to have problems paying for new buses. The issue is finding money to pay the drivers and mechanics or buying fuel.That’s because the federal government is willing to give grants for “capital” like new buses or streetcar tracks, but it is much rarer for the KCATA to get grants that can be used for “operations.”(The Trump administration has deprioritized public transit as a whole compared to the Biden administration.)“The federal government basically says, ‘All right, we’ll help you build your transit system, we’ll buy buses, we’ll build tracks for streetcars and light rail,’” Bunch said. “But once it’s up and running, that’s (the city’s) responsibility.”About 72% of the KCATA’s operations — $61 million out of total $85 million — are paid for by Kansas City Hall.So if the KCATA can find a way to use the federal grants to pay bus operators during the World Cup, Bunch said, that’s a far more appealing option than tapping an already strained operations budget.Tristin Amezcua-Hogan, the chair of the Regional Transit Alliance, told The Beacon in an email statement that the KCATA is “trapped in a cycle of poverty right now that is perpetuated by a lack of stable regional funding.”“This is just one of the many instances of the organization having to choose what gets the job done over the optimal decision that would come out of consistent funding,” he said.Some members of the MARC committee, including Westwood City Administrator Leslie Herring, believe that the positive side of the World Cup is that some Kansas Citians are going to be taking public transit for the first time to get to the Fan Fest.“It might be an opportunity to expand who all in Kansas City actually feels comfortable riding the buses,” Herring said at the committee meeting. “When Mission would take residents down to the Plaza, in Westport, to go bar hop during the holiday season, that was one of my first times on a bus. And I feel very comfortable on KCATA buses now.”In theory, that kind of public support from new bus riders could pay off in the future if a regional transit sales tax is placed on the ballot.A sales tax has some support in the Jackson County Courthouse, and four out of five of the Unified Government commissioners elected earlier this month&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/10/23/wyandotte-county-election-2025-ug-districts/" target="_blank">told The Beacon that they would support putting a similar measure on the ballot</a>&nbsp;in Wyandotte County.Bunch said polling shows the majority of voters in Jackson, Johnson, Clay and Wyandotte counties&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/housing-development-section/2025-10-02/kansas-city-regional-transit-alliance-poll-sales-tax-bus-service" target="_blank">already support raising taxes to fund public transit</a>. And that could increase if the KCATA does a good job during the World Cup.“That is the opportunity we have with the World Cup, and enhancing bus service during that time,” he said. “That more people are going to be willing to try it out. And I think that that’s a really good thing.”This&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/11/13/kcata-kansas-city-world-cup-public-transit/" target="_blank">article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/" target="_blank">Beacon: Kansas City</a>&nbsp;and is republished here under a&nbsp;<a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/" target="_blank">Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License</a>.

Kansas City wants state, federal help for extra bus service during World Cup

ANDREW COUNTY—Three people were injured in an accident just before 4:30p.m. Saturday in Andrew County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2021 Polaris Ranger Turbo S driven by a 40-year-old Savannah man was northbound on U.S. 71 just south of CR 57 four miles north of Savannah. The vehicle traveled off the west side of the road and struck a drainage culvert.

Andrew County EMS transported the driver and two passengers including a 45-year-old St. Joseph man and a 37-year-old Rosendale man to Mosaic Life Care. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

ANDREW COUNTY—Three people were injured in an accident just before 4:30p.m. Saturday in Andrew County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2021 Polaris Ranger Turbo S driven by a 40-year-old Savannah man was northbound on U.S. 71 just south of CR 57 four miles north of Savannah. The vehicle traveled off the west side of the road and struck a drainage culvert.Andrew County EMS transported the driver and two passengers including a 45-year-old St. Joseph man and a 37-year-old Rosendale man to Mosaic Life Care. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

3 Mo. men hospitalized after UTV accident

The Northwest Missouri State University football team fell to the Pittsburgh State Gorillas at Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City, losing 27-14 and settling for a shared regular season MIAA title.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Despite the Bearcats outgaining the Gorillas in both rushing and passing yards, four first half fumbles were to much to overcome for Northwest. 

Head Coach John McMenamin gave credit to Pittsburgh State and says they just played a better game than Northwest

"I told our guys it's a good spot to be in, what I'm saying is they walked out conference champs, they're walking in conference champs, they're going to be a playoff team and that's all we can ask for," McMenamin says in his postgame press conference.&nbsp; "It didn't go our way today, but I think there's some things we can fix to play, and anytime you lose four fumbles it's not a good recipe for winning."

A strong offensive drive from the Bearcats, highlighted by a 65 yard run from Quincy Torry, opened the game to lead to a quick lead for Northwest as&nbsp;Zechariah Owens threw a three yard touchdown pass to Erwin Nash.&nbsp; On the ensuing Pitt State drive, the Bearcats forced a punt, but their first fumble of the game gave the ball right back to the Gorillas, allowing them to tie up the game.&nbsp;

Jackson Berry threw a 14 yard touchdown pass in the front corner of the endzone to Jaelon Travis.&nbsp; Then, on the next drive Pittsburgh State forced Owens to fumble, and then took advantage to take the lead, Berry throwing a 78 yard touchdown pass to TyJuan Atkins Jr, despite pressure from Carter Edwards, to go ahead 14-7.

On the ensuing kickoff, the third fumble of the half gave the ball back to Pittsburgh State, Cooper Warren fumbling the kickoff, but this time the Bearcats defense stepped up to force a punt, getting the ball back into their offenses hands.&nbsp; Northwest though was unable to do anything with it and had to punt it right back to start the second quarter.&nbsp;

Northwest's special teams unit prevented the Gorillas from scoring next, Edwards blocking a 47 yard field goal attempt, but again the Bearcats were forced to punt, and after getting the ball back on a Pittsburgh State punt, the fourth fumble extended the lead more, Madixx Morriss fumbling a reception from Chris Ruhnke, and freshman Quintin Kirby taking the ball 71 yards to the house for a 21-7 lead.&nbsp;

Near the end of the first half, Gorillas kicker Austin Schmitt hit a 28 yard field goal.&nbsp; Northwest attempted to drive the field for a late score in the half, but a sack on Ruhnke would wind down the remaining time of the first half and Pittsburgh State took a 24-7 lead into the halftime break.&nbsp;

Northwest could never overcome the four first half fumbles,&nbsp;McMenamin saying there's a difference between getting your butt kicked and self sabotage.

"We contributed to much to their victory," McMenamin says.&nbsp; "And we needed to play more secure football and I think all our guys know that they can, and so it's picking their heads up, we'll come back to work there's a formula for it, and we put it to work today but it just didn't work out."

The third quarter flew by with both defenses holding each other scoreless, the Bearcats finally breaking back onto the scoreboard midway into the final quarter with a five yard pass from Ruhnke to Gannon Gragert, just Gragert's second touchdown catch of the season.&nbsp; But, it was to little, to late, Pitt State consuming almost five minutes of clock, with Schmitt hitting a 30 yard field goal to seal the game.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Ruhnke was 20 for 30 through the air for 202 yards with one touchdown, adding 35 rushing yards.&nbsp; Owens was a perfect 5 for 5 with one touchdown pass and 40 yards through the air, running for 13 yards.&nbsp; Torry rushed eight times for 101 yards.&nbsp; Nash had seven catches for 81 yards and a score.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Northwest finishes the regular season 9-2, 8-1 in the MIAA. They'll now turn their attention to the playoffs with the NCAA DII Selection Show coming up on Sunday at 5pm.

You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1763262044785.jpeg" alt="Chris Ruhnke (15) scrambles with the ball, attempting to score late in the game/ Photo by Matt Pike" />
 <figcaption>Chris Ruhnke (15) scrambles with the ball, attempting to score late in the game/ Photo by Matt Pike</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKEThe Northwest Missouri State University football team fell to the Pittsburgh State Gorillas at Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City, losing 27-14 and settling for a shared regular season MIAA title.&nbsp; &nbsp;Despite the Bearcats outgaining the Gorillas in both rushing and passing yards, four first half fumbles were to much to overcome for Northwest. Head Coach John McMenamin gave credit to Pittsburgh State and says they just played a better game than Northwest"I told our guys it's a good spot to be in, what I'm saying is they walked out conference champs, they're walking in conference champs, they're going to be a playoff team and that's all we can ask for," McMenamin says in his postgame press conference.&nbsp; "It didn't go our way today, but I think there's some things we can fix to play, and anytime you lose four fumbles it's not a good recipe for winning."A strong offensive drive from the Bearcats, highlighted by a 65 yard run from Quincy Torry, opened the game to lead to a quick lead for Northwest as&nbsp;Zechariah Owens threw a three yard touchdown pass to Erwin Nash.&nbsp; On the ensuing Pitt State drive, the Bearcats forced a punt, but their first fumble of the game gave the ball right back to the Gorillas, allowing them to tie up the game.&nbsp;<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">1Q ||| 𝐓𝐎𝐔𝐂𝐇𝐃𝐎𝐖𝐍 𝐁𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐒 😤 Owens -&gt; Nash -&gt; 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝟔 PAT is GOOD. 7-0, Bearcats. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OABAAB?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OABAAB</a> ||| <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RISE?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RISE</a> <a href="https://t.co/YhuExq1pu0">pic.twitter.com/YhuExq1pu0</a>&mdash; Northwest Football (@NWBearcat_FB) <a href="https://twitter.com/NWBearcat_FB/status/1989781565946101904?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Jackson Berry threw a 14 yard touchdown pass in the front corner of the endzone to Jaelon Travis.&nbsp; Then, on the next drive Pittsburgh State forced Owens to fumble, and then took advantage to take the lead, Berry throwing a 78 yard touchdown pass to TyJuan Atkins Jr, despite pressure from Carter Edwards, to go ahead 14-7.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1763262750393.jpeg" alt="Carter Edwards hits Pittsburgh State quarterback Jackson Berry (1) as Berry gets the ball off for a 78 yard touchdown pass/ Photo by Matt Pike" />
 <figcaption>Carter Edwards hits Pittsburgh State quarterback Jackson Berry (1) as Berry gets the ball off for a 78 yard touchdown pass/ Photo by Matt Pike</figcaption>
 </figure>On the ensuing kickoff, the third fumble of the half gave the ball back to Pittsburgh State, Cooper Warren fumbling the kickoff, but this time the Bearcats defense stepped up to force a punt, getting the ball back into their offenses hands.&nbsp; Northwest though was unable to do anything with it and had to punt it right back to start the second quarter.&nbsp;Northwest's special teams unit prevented the Gorillas from scoring next, Edwards blocking a 47 yard field goal attempt, but again the Bearcats were forced to punt, and after getting the ball back on a Pittsburgh State punt, the fourth fumble extended the lead more, Madixx Morriss fumbling a reception from Chris Ruhnke, and freshman Quintin Kirby taking the ball 71 yards to the house for a 21-7 lead.&nbsp;Near the end of the first half, Gorillas kicker Austin Schmitt hit a 28 yard field goal.&nbsp; Northwest attempted to drive the field for a late score in the half, but a sack on Ruhnke would wind down the remaining time of the first half and Pittsburgh State took a 24-7 lead into the halftime break.&nbsp;Northwest could never overcome the four first half fumbles,&nbsp;McMenamin saying there's a difference between getting your butt kicked and self sabotage."We contributed to much to their victory," McMenamin says.&nbsp; "And we needed to play more secure football and I think all our guys know that they can, and so it's picking their heads up, we'll come back to work there's a formula for it, and we put it to work today but it just didn't work out."The third quarter flew by with both defenses holding each other scoreless, the Bearcats finally breaking back onto the scoreboard midway into the final quarter with a five yard pass from Ruhnke to Gannon Gragert, just Gragert's second touchdown catch of the season.&nbsp; But, it was to little, to late, Pitt State consuming almost five minutes of clock, with Schmitt hitting a 30 yard field goal to seal the game.&nbsp;&nbsp;<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐋𝐋 𝐁𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐋𝐈𝐍&#39; Ruhnke -&gt; Gragert -&gt; 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝟔 PAT is GOOD. 24-14, Gorillas. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OABAAB?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OABAAB</a> ||| <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RISE?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RISE</a> <a href="https://t.co/ZaAQCr8ztP">pic.twitter.com/ZaAQCr8ztP</a>&mdash; Northwest Football (@NWBearcat_FB) <a href="https://twitter.com/NWBearcat_FB/status/1989815927634903268?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Ruhnke was 20 for 30 through the air for 202 yards with one touchdown, adding 35 rushing yards.&nbsp; Owens was a perfect 5 for 5 with one touchdown pass and 40 yards through the air, running for 13 yards.&nbsp; Torry rushed eight times for 101 yards.&nbsp; Nash had seven catches for 81 yards and a score.&nbsp;&nbsp;Northwest finishes the regular season 9-2, 8-1 in the MIAA. They'll now turn their attention to the playoffs with the NCAA DII Selection Show coming up on Sunday at 5pm.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1763263731689.jpeg" alt="Zechariah Owens (10) drops back for a pass/ Photo by Matt Pike" />
 <figcaption>Zechariah Owens (10) drops back for a pass/ Photo by Matt Pike</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.

First half fumbles hurt Bearcats in loss to Gorillas at Children's Mercy Park

BROWN COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after an arrest.

Just before 8p.m. Nov. 13, Sheriff's Deputies were attempting to locate a wanted Kansas man at 133 W. 13th Street in Horton, according to Brown County Sheriff John Merchant.

 A search warrant was granted for the residence and deputies&nbsp; executed the Warrant a short time later.&nbsp; &nbsp;Deputies found 45-year-old Gerald Adams of Horton hiding in a closet.&nbsp; He was arrested on a Brown County Felony Failure to Appear Warrant and is facing a charge of Felony Obstruction.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1763138131977.png" alt="Adams photo Brown County" />
 <figcaption>Adams photo Brown County</figcaption>
 </figure>BROWN COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after an arrest.Just before 8p.m. Nov. 13, Sheriff's Deputies were attempting to locate a wanted Kansas man at 133 W. 13th Street in Horton, according to Brown County Sheriff John Merchant. A search warrant was granted for the residence and deputies&nbsp; executed the Warrant a short time later.&nbsp; &nbsp;Deputies found 45-year-old Gerald Adams of Horton hiding in a closet.&nbsp; He was arrested on a Brown County Felony Failure to Appear Warrant and is facing a charge of Felony Obstruction.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Sheriff: Wanted Kansas suspect found hiding in closet

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.&nbsp;-&nbsp;The Missouri Department of Social Services (DSS) announced Thursday that all Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants in Missouri will receive their full November benefits, following the passage of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/5371" target="_blank">FY26 Appropriations Act</a>. , according to a media release from the agency.

President Donald J. Trump signed the act into law on November 12, which restored full federal funding for SNAP benefits.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“With federal funding back in place, our team is moving swiftly to issue full November benefits,” said&nbsp;Jess Bax, DSS Director. “We know how important this assistance is to Missouri households, especially after the uncertainty of recent weeks, and we thank the public for being patient with us as we navigated communicating effectively.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

DSS is taking immediate steps to ensure Missouri families receive their full November benefits as quickly as possible.&nbsp;&nbsp;

DSS is working closely with the United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service (USDA-FNS) and the state’s electronic benefit transfer (EBT) vendor to distribute funds to participating families.&nbsp;

For more information or updates about SNAP benefits in Missouri, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://mydss.mo.gov/federal-shutdown-impacts" target="_blank">https://mydss.mo.gov/federal-shutdown-impacts</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1761944916334.png" alt="Post photo" />
 <figcaption>Post photo</figcaption>
 </figure>JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.&nbsp;-&nbsp;The Missouri Department of Social Services (DSS) announced Thursday that all Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants in Missouri will receive their full November benefits, following the passage of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/5371" target="_blank">FY26 Appropriations Act</a>. , according to a media release from the agency.President Donald J. Trump signed the act into law on November 12, which restored full federal funding for SNAP benefits.&nbsp;&nbsp;“With federal funding back in place, our team is moving swiftly to issue full November benefits,” said&nbsp;Jess Bax, DSS Director. “We know how important this assistance is to Missouri households, especially after the uncertainty of recent weeks, and we thank the public for being patient with us as we navigated communicating effectively.”&nbsp;&nbsp;DSS is taking immediate steps to ensure Missouri families receive their full November benefits as quickly as possible.&nbsp;&nbsp;<ul>
 <li>DSS will continue to distribute partial benefits until we complete the system updates to begin distributing full benefits. &nbsp;</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>Participants who already received a partial amount will receive the remainder as soon as possible. &nbsp;</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>Participants do not need to take any action to receive their benefits.&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>DSS is working closely with the United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service (USDA-FNS) and the state’s electronic benefit transfer (EBT) vendor to distribute funds to participating families.&nbsp;For more information or updates about SNAP benefits in Missouri, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://mydss.mo.gov/federal-shutdown-impacts" target="_blank">https://mydss.mo.gov/federal-shutdown-impacts</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Full SNAP benefits returning for Missouri families following end of shutdown

BROWN COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after an alleged violent attack in Brown County.

Just before 3:30p.m. November 10, Brown County dispatched a deputy to a local hospital to take a report from a victim of alleged battery, according to Brown County Sheriff John Merchant.&nbsp; &nbsp; The deputy obtained suspect&nbsp; information from the victim while at the hospital and then alerted other Brown County deputies. 

A short time later, deputies encountered the suspect, Gerry Rilinger, 43 of Sabetha in Fairview, Kansas.&nbsp; When a deputy approached Rilinger for questioning, he became argumentative, defiant and initiated a scuffle which resulted in Rilinger's arrest.&nbsp; He was then&nbsp; transported to the Brown County jail.

He is being held on a $2 million dollar bond on requested charges of&nbsp; 2nd Degree Attempted Murder, Aggravated Domestic Battery, Aggravated kidnapping, Misdemeanor Battery on Law Enforcement Officers, Felony Battery on a Corrections Officer, Felony Obstruction and Transport an Open Container.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1763067344001.png" alt="Rilinger photo Brown Co." />
 <figcaption>Rilinger photo Brown Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>BROWN COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after an alleged violent attack in Brown County.Just before 3:30p.m. November 10, Brown County dispatched a deputy to a local hospital to take a report from a victim of alleged battery, according to Brown County Sheriff John Merchant.&nbsp; &nbsp; The deputy obtained suspect&nbsp; information from the victim while at the hospital and then alerted other Brown County deputies. A short time later, deputies encountered the suspect, Gerry Rilinger, 43 of Sabetha in Fairview, Kansas.&nbsp; When a deputy approached Rilinger for questioning, he became argumentative, defiant and initiated a scuffle which resulted in Rilinger's arrest.&nbsp; He was then&nbsp; transported to the Brown County jail.He is being held on a $2 million dollar bond on requested charges of&nbsp; 2nd Degree Attempted Murder, Aggravated Domestic Battery, Aggravated kidnapping, Misdemeanor Battery on Law Enforcement Officers, Felony Battery on a Corrections Officer, Felony Obstruction and Transport an Open Container.&nbsp;

Sheriff: Kansas attempted murder suspect captured

By:<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/robbiesequeira/">Robbie Sequeira</a> <a href="https://stateline.org/">Stateline</a>

Missouri, Maine and Vermont are dealing with especially severe bus driver shortages

School districts have made some progress in addressing the national shortage of school bus drivers, but there still aren’t as many drivers as there were in 2019, according to a new study.

The number of drivers has increased by 2,300, or 1.1%, since last year,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.epi.org/blog/the-school-bus-driver-shortage-has-improved-slightly-but-continues-to-stress-k-12-public-education/" target="_blank">according to the Economic Policy Institute</a>, a left-leaning research group. But there are still 21,200 fewer bus drivers than there were&nbsp;in 2019, a decline of 9.5%.

The researchers link the employment gain to higher wages: Average hourly wages are up 4.2% in the past year, the largest jump since the COVID-19 pandemic.

During and after the pandemic, many bus drivers&nbsp;<a href="https://www.adpresearch.com/assets/the-missing-school-bus-drivers-a-look-at-employment-data-before-and-after-the-covid-19-pandemic/" target="_blank">retired</a>, left the workforce or in some cases, died. Districts across the country have had to scramble to find someone to take the wheel — be it substitute teachers, administrators or even parents.

The number of bus drivers decreased by 15% between September 2019 and September 2023,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.epi.org/blog/the-school-bus-driver-shortage-remains-severe-without-job-quality-improvements-workers-children-and-parents-will-suffer/?utm_source=chatgpt.com" target="_blank">according</a>&nbsp;to the Economic Policy Institute. Private school bus contractors now account for 38% of the nation’s pupil transportation services, according to the National School Transportation Association.

Other school transportation options,&nbsp;<a href="https://stateline.org/2025/09/30/school-ride-hailing-services-may-be-nudging-aside-traditional-buses/" target="_blank">such as ride-hailing services</a>, have helped fill the gap in some places. But&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1811462116" target="_blank">roughly half</a>&nbsp;of all U.S. K–12 students rely on a school bus to get to school.

The report warns that school district budgets are tightening as federal pandemic relief funds&nbsp;<a href="https://www.brookings.edu/articles/what-comes-next-now-that-pandemic-aid-for-education-has-ended/" target="_blank">have expired</a>, and notes that the Trump administration has delayed some federal K-12 funding in its bid to shrink and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.americanprogress.org/article/public-education-under-threat-4-trump-administration-actions-to-watch-in-the-2025-26-school-year/" target="_blank">eventually eliminate</a>&nbsp;the U.S. Department of Education.

The report points to&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://fox23maine.com/newsletter-daily/maine-school-districts-still-struggling-to-find-bus-drivers-education-transportation-brunswick" target="_blank">Maine</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://spectrumlocalnews.com/mo/st-louis/news/2025/09/22/some-st--louis-area-school-districts-still-struggle-to-hire--retain-bus-drivers" target="_blank">Missouri</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wcax.com/2025/09/23/pay-boosts-route-cuts-school-districts-deal-with-bus-driver-shortages/" target="_blank">Vermont</a>&nbsp;as states that are dealing with especially severe bus driver shortages. It also notes that a dearth of drivers has a particularly pronounced&nbsp;effect on students with disabilities, and that not having enough drivers can lead to inconsistent bus schedules and routes, which contributes to absenteeism and missed school meals.

Stateline reporter Robbie Sequeira can be reached at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:rsequeira@stateline.org">rsequeira@stateline.org</a>

This story was originally produced by&nbsp;<a href="https://stateline.org/2025/11/12/national-school-bus-driver-shortage-persists-despite-recent-gains/" target="_blank">Stateline</a>, which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network which includes Missouri Independent, and is supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1763047052915.png" alt=" Buses are lined up at the Kansas City Public Schools bus barn in Kansas City between morning and afternoon routes. School districts have made some progress in addressing the national shortage of school bus drivers, but there still aren’t as many drivers as there were in 2019 (Kevin Hardy/Stateline)." />
 <figcaption> Buses are lined up at the Kansas City Public Schools bus barn in Kansas City between morning and afternoon routes. School districts have made some progress in addressing the national shortage of school bus drivers, but there still aren’t as many drivers as there were in 2019 (Kevin Hardy/Stateline).</figcaption>
 </figure>By:<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/robbiesequeira/">Robbie Sequeira</a> <a href="https://stateline.org/">Stateline</a><h2>Missouri, Maine and Vermont are dealing with especially severe bus driver shortages</h2>School districts have made some progress in addressing the national shortage of school bus drivers, but there still aren’t as many drivers as there were in 2019, according to a new study.The number of drivers has increased by 2,300, or 1.1%, since last year,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.epi.org/blog/the-school-bus-driver-shortage-has-improved-slightly-but-continues-to-stress-k-12-public-education/" target="_blank">according to the Economic Policy Institute</a>, a left-leaning research group. But there are still 21,200 fewer bus drivers than there were&nbsp;in 2019, a decline of 9.5%.The researchers link the employment gain to higher wages: Average hourly wages are up 4.2% in the past year, the largest jump since the COVID-19 pandemic.During and after the pandemic, many bus drivers&nbsp;<a href="https://www.adpresearch.com/assets/the-missing-school-bus-drivers-a-look-at-employment-data-before-and-after-the-covid-19-pandemic/" target="_blank">retired</a>, left the workforce or in some cases, died. Districts across the country have had to scramble to find someone to take the wheel — be it substitute teachers, administrators or even parents.The number of bus drivers decreased by 15% between September 2019 and September 2023,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.epi.org/blog/the-school-bus-driver-shortage-remains-severe-without-job-quality-improvements-workers-children-and-parents-will-suffer/?utm_source=chatgpt.com" target="_blank">according</a>&nbsp;to the Economic Policy Institute. Private school bus contractors now account for 38% of the nation’s pupil transportation services, according to the National School Transportation Association.Other school transportation options,&nbsp;<a href="https://stateline.org/2025/09/30/school-ride-hailing-services-may-be-nudging-aside-traditional-buses/" target="_blank">such as ride-hailing services</a>, have helped fill the gap in some places. But&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1811462116" target="_blank">roughly half</a>&nbsp;of all U.S. K–12 students rely on a school bus to get to school.The report warns that school district budgets are tightening as federal pandemic relief funds&nbsp;<a href="https://www.brookings.edu/articles/what-comes-next-now-that-pandemic-aid-for-education-has-ended/" target="_blank">have expired</a>, and notes that the Trump administration has delayed some federal K-12 funding in its bid to shrink and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.americanprogress.org/article/public-education-under-threat-4-trump-administration-actions-to-watch-in-the-2025-26-school-year/" target="_blank">eventually eliminate</a>&nbsp;the U.S. Department of Education.The report points to&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://fox23maine.com/newsletter-daily/maine-school-districts-still-struggling-to-find-bus-drivers-education-transportation-brunswick" target="_blank">Maine</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://spectrumlocalnews.com/mo/st-louis/news/2025/09/22/some-st--louis-area-school-districts-still-struggle-to-hire--retain-bus-drivers" target="_blank">Missouri</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wcax.com/2025/09/23/pay-boosts-route-cuts-school-districts-deal-with-bus-driver-shortages/" target="_blank">Vermont</a>&nbsp;as states that are dealing with especially severe bus driver shortages. It also notes that a dearth of drivers has a particularly pronounced&nbsp;effect on students with disabilities, and that not having enough drivers can lead to inconsistent bus schedules and routes, which contributes to absenteeism and missed school meals.Stateline reporter Robbie Sequeira can be reached at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:rsequeira@stateline.org">rsequeira@stateline.org</a>This story was originally produced by&nbsp;<a href="https://stateline.org/2025/11/12/national-school-bus-driver-shortage-persists-despite-recent-gains/" target="_blank">Stateline</a>, which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network which includes Missouri Independent, and is supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.

National school bus driver shortage persists, despite recent gains

As petitioners gather signatures for a possible referendum, attorneys battled over the meaning of words that govern the redistricting process. One big dispute was over how to interpret words that are not in the Missouri Constitution

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>

The old cliche that “silence is golden” became “silence is confusing” on Wednesday in Cole County Circuit Court as attorneys argued over the power of Missouri lawmakers to gerrymander congressional maps in the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/09/12/gerrymandered-congressional-map-initiative-petitions-limits-sent-to-missouri-governor/">middle of a decade</a>.&nbsp;

Circuit Judge Christopher Limbaugh must decide if language missing from the state Constitution’s directive on when and how to draw congressional district maps means lawmakers were allowed to redraw districts like they did in a September special session.&nbsp;

For those challenging the new map, the omission means lawmakers overstepped their authority.&nbsp;

Chuck Hatfield, an attorney representing the challengers, said drafters of the constitution adopted in 1945 knew what they were doing when they left out the power to revise districts at will.

“We think that language is pretty clear on its face,” Hatfield said.

If the constitutional convention had intended to prevent mid-decade redistricting, the delegates would have included a prohibition, Louis Capozzi, solicitor general in Attorney General Catherine Hanaway’s office, told the judge Wednesday.&nbsp;

Instead, he noted, they didn’t even discuss it.

“The General Assembly has the power to act unless the Missouri Constitution expressly takes a particular power away,” he said.

Gov. Mike Kehoe called lawmakers into special session in September at the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/07/25/trump-white-house-pressing-missouri-republicans-to-redraw-congressional-map/">insistence of President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;to give Republicans seven instead of six of Missouri’s eight congressional seats.

The new Missouri map targets the Kansas-City based 5th District, held by Democratic U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, to flip to the Republican Party.

Trump wants to preserve and expand the GOP’s slim majority in Congress, where they have a 219-213 edge in the U.S. House of Representatives. Democrats have countered with gerrymandering plans in states they control, with California on Nov. 5&nbsp; approving a plan to deliver up to five seats to Democrats.

The Missouri Republican Party, which intervened in the case, argued that Limbaugh didn’t have the power to consider the challenge. The federal Constitution grants state legislatures exclusive power over the time, place and manner of congressional elections, Washington, D.C., attorney John Gore said, subject only to federal law.

“That means courts, including this court, do not have free reign to review and invalidate state legislative enactments on federal elections, including congressional redistricting plans,” Gore said.

At the end of Wednesday’s 45-minute trial, Limbaugh gave attorneys on both sides 10 days to file proposed judgments. No decision will be delivered until after those filings.

The case is one of six pending in various courts concerning the new map.&nbsp;

One case, filed by the Missouri NAACP, challenged the authority of Kehoe to call lawmakers into a special session for redistricting. Limbaugh ruled against the NAACP but an appeal is certain.

The next case to be heard will be a Thursday trial before Cole County Circuit Judge Daniel Green over an effort to force a referendum on the map. The trial,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/11/03/judges-illness-delays-hearing-on-referendum-to-overturn-missouris-gerrymandered-map/">postponed from Nov. 3</a>, will be over whether a referendum petitioning effort can begin before legislation has been signed by the governor.

A federal trail scheduled for Nov. 25 will test whether a state referendum on a redistricting plan violates the U.S. Constitution.

Two other cases, filed in Jackson County, contest various aspects of the gerrymandered map, including whether a Kansas City voting district was inadvertently placed&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/09/18/court-battle-looms-over-kc-precinct-listed-twice-in-missouris-new-congressional-map/">into two separate districts</a>.&nbsp;

The constitutional directive on redistricting mandates that Missouri lawmakers revise district lines&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=III++++45&amp;bid=31801&amp;constit=y" target="_blank">after census results</a>&nbsp;are delivered to the state. The provision mandates that the districts be as equal in population as possible and made up of compact, continuous territory.

The current district boundaries were set in 2022 after the 2020 census.

The provision creates an obligation to redistrict after a census and no obligation to do it at any other time, Capozzi said. But without an express prohibition, lawmakers are free to do so.

And, he added, the boundaries of congressional districts are a political question the courts should avoid.

“This court cannot wade into that political fight without an express warrant,” he said.

The case is more ordinary than Capozzi portrayed it, Hatfield said. He likened it to every other challenge to new legislation.

That means the courts must measure it against the prohibitions on legislative power, both expressly stated and interpreted. In the case of the silence on mid-decade congressional redistricting, he said, Limbaugh should look at the provisions governing how legislative districts are determined.

That provision&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=III++++10&amp;bid=31748&amp;constit=y" target="_blank">allows districts</a>&nbsp;to be “altered from time to time as public convenience may require. The omission of that language is a conscious choice made by the drafters of the constitution, he said.

“The state’s view seems to say that you need a ‘thou shalt not’ sentence in here,” Hatfield said. “That’s never been the law in Missouri.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757444658128.png" alt="Source: U.S. Census Bureau. Basemap © OpenStreetMap contributors / Map by Anna Sago " />
 <figcaption>Source: U.S. Census Bureau. Basemap © OpenStreetMap contributors / Map by Anna Sago </figcaption>
 </figure><h2>As petitioners gather signatures for a possible referendum, attorneys battled over the meaning of words that govern the redistricting process. One big dispute was over how to interpret words that are not in the Missouri Constitution</h2>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>The old cliche that “silence is golden” became “silence is confusing” on Wednesday in Cole County Circuit Court as attorneys argued over the power of Missouri lawmakers to gerrymander congressional maps in the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/09/12/gerrymandered-congressional-map-initiative-petitions-limits-sent-to-missouri-governor/">middle of a decade</a>.&nbsp;Circuit Judge Christopher Limbaugh must decide if language missing from the state Constitution’s directive on when and how to draw congressional district maps means lawmakers were allowed to redraw districts like they did in a September special session.&nbsp;For those challenging the new map, the omission means lawmakers overstepped their authority.&nbsp;Chuck Hatfield, an attorney representing the challengers, said drafters of the constitution adopted in 1945 knew what they were doing when they left out the power to revise districts at will.“We think that language is pretty clear on its face,” Hatfield said.If the constitutional convention had intended to prevent mid-decade redistricting, the delegates would have included a prohibition, Louis Capozzi, solicitor general in Attorney General Catherine Hanaway’s office, told the judge Wednesday.&nbsp;Instead, he noted, they didn’t even discuss it.“The General Assembly has the power to act unless the Missouri Constitution expressly takes a particular power away,” he said.Gov. Mike Kehoe called lawmakers into special session in September at the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/07/25/trump-white-house-pressing-missouri-republicans-to-redraw-congressional-map/">insistence of President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;to give Republicans seven instead of six of Missouri’s eight congressional seats.The new Missouri map targets the Kansas-City based 5th District, held by Democratic U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, to flip to the Republican Party.Trump wants to preserve and expand the GOP’s slim majority in Congress, where they have a 219-213 edge in the U.S. House of Representatives. Democrats have countered with gerrymandering plans in states they control, with California on Nov. 5&nbsp; approving a plan to deliver up to five seats to Democrats.The Missouri Republican Party, which intervened in the case, argued that Limbaugh didn’t have the power to consider the challenge. The federal Constitution grants state legislatures exclusive power over the time, place and manner of congressional elections, Washington, D.C., attorney John Gore said, subject only to federal law.“That means courts, including this court, do not have free reign to review and invalidate state legislative enactments on federal elections, including congressional redistricting plans,” Gore said.At the end of Wednesday’s 45-minute trial, Limbaugh gave attorneys on both sides 10 days to file proposed judgments. No decision will be delivered until after those filings.The case is one of six pending in various courts concerning the new map.&nbsp;One case, filed by the Missouri NAACP, challenged the authority of Kehoe to call lawmakers into a special session for redistricting. Limbaugh ruled against the NAACP but an appeal is certain.The next case to be heard will be a Thursday trial before Cole County Circuit Judge Daniel Green over an effort to force a referendum on the map. The trial,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/11/03/judges-illness-delays-hearing-on-referendum-to-overturn-missouris-gerrymandered-map/">postponed from Nov. 3</a>, will be over whether a referendum petitioning effort can begin before legislation has been signed by the governor.A federal trail scheduled for Nov. 25 will test whether a state referendum on a redistricting plan violates the U.S. Constitution.Two other cases, filed in Jackson County, contest various aspects of the gerrymandered map, including whether a Kansas City voting district was inadvertently placed&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/09/18/court-battle-looms-over-kc-precinct-listed-twice-in-missouris-new-congressional-map/">into two separate districts</a>.&nbsp;The constitutional directive on redistricting mandates that Missouri lawmakers revise district lines&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=III++++45&amp;bid=31801&amp;constit=y" target="_blank">after census results</a>&nbsp;are delivered to the state. The provision mandates that the districts be as equal in population as possible and made up of compact, continuous territory.The current district boundaries were set in 2022 after the 2020 census.The provision creates an obligation to redistrict after a census and no obligation to do it at any other time, Capozzi said. But without an express prohibition, lawmakers are free to do so.And, he added, the boundaries of congressional districts are a political question the courts should avoid.“This court cannot wade into that political fight without an express warrant,” he said.The case is more ordinary than Capozzi portrayed it, Hatfield said. He likened it to every other challenge to new legislation.That means the courts must measure it against the prohibitions on legislative power, both expressly stated and interpreted. In the case of the silence on mid-decade congressional redistricting, he said, Limbaugh should look at the provisions governing how legislative districts are determined.That provision&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=III++++10&amp;bid=31748&amp;constit=y" target="_blank">allows districts</a>&nbsp;to be “altered from time to time as public convenience may require. The omission of that language is a conscious choice made by the drafters of the constitution, he said.“The state’s view seems to say that you need a ‘thou shalt not’ sentence in here,” Hatfield said. “That’s never been the law in Missouri.”

Judge hears arguments over legality of gerrymandered Missouri congressional map

Compromise
legislation approved in the United States Senate to end the federal government
shutdown has the support of northern Missouri Congressman Sam Graves, a Republican.

“I’m going to
support the compromise that the Senate is sending over. I’m glad it’s finally
over. You know, in a shutdown like this, nobody wins.&nbsp; Republicans don’t win. Democrats don’t win. And
it’s extraordinarily frustrating,” Graves tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “And who
loses is the American public.”

Graves, though,
does have one concern about the House considering the Senate bill.

“We have the votes
in the House on the Republican side to pass it, but I think we’ll get, it will
be bipartisan, I really do,” Graves says. “The biggest problem to be quite
honest with you is everyone coming back and how the flight delays and the cancelations
are going to affect people being on the floor. That’s going to be a bigger problem
than anything else.”

Graves doesn’t
expect it to take long for the federal government to become fully operational
again once the legislature is signed.

“The government
will get up and running right away. It will take a little bit longer for our
flight service to get back to normal. The airlines have got to ramp back up
again,” Graves says. “I think it will be pretty much back to normal by the
holiday season, by Thanksgiving.”

Graves does expect
some Democrats to vote for the measure.

If the House
approves the measure, it would go to President Trump who has indicated he will
sign it.

You can follow&nbsp;Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostCompromise
legislation approved in the United States Senate to end the federal government
shutdown has the support of northern Missouri Congressman Sam Graves, a Republican.“I’m going to
support the compromise that the Senate is sending over. I’m glad it’s finally
over. You know, in a shutdown like this, nobody wins.&nbsp; Republicans don’t win. Democrats don’t win. And
it’s extraordinarily frustrating,” Graves tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “And who
loses is the American public.”Graves, though,
does have one concern about the House considering the Senate bill.“We have the votes
in the House on the Republican side to pass it, but I think we’ll get, it will
be bipartisan, I really do,” Graves says. “The biggest problem to be quite
honest with you is everyone coming back and how the flight delays and the cancelations
are going to affect people being on the floor. That’s going to be a bigger problem
than anything else.”Graves doesn’t
expect it to take long for the federal government to become fully operational
again once the legislature is signed.“The government
will get up and running right away. It will take a little bit longer for our
flight service to get back to normal. The airlines have got to ramp back up
again,” Graves says. “I think it will be pretty much back to normal by the
holiday season, by Thanksgiving.”Graves does expect
some Democrats to vote for the measure.If the House
approves the measure, it would go to President Trump who has indicated he will
sign it.You can follow&nbsp;Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ

Graves supports legislation that would reopen the federal government

<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The northern lights were visible across northwest Missouri tonight, putting on a colorful display for skywatchers. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NorthernLights?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NorthernLights</a> <a href="https://t.co/v3y1gf9cOu">pic.twitter.com/v3y1gf9cOu</a>&mdash; MSHP Troop H (@MSHPTrooperH) <a href="https://twitter.com/MSHPTrooperH/status/1988453310014078980?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 12, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Even the northern lights are excited for the big game against Pitt State as the sky shines green and red! 🟢⚪️ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ThisIsNorthwest?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ThisIsNorthwest</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/gocats?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#gocats</a> <a href="https://t.co/pNnWEmD9MN">pic.twitter.com/pNnWEmD9MN</a>&mdash; Northwest Missouri State University (@NWMOSTATE) <a href="https://twitter.com/NWMOSTATE/status/1988451949419610617?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 12, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

Beautiful display: Northern lights show off across NW Missouri

More than 40,000 Missouri food establishments and stores are estimated to be impacted by federal regulations on hemp products

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/rebecca-rivas/">REBECCA RIVAS</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>

John Grady and his wife Kara opened up their hemp emporium in Rosebud on July 4 — and they say about 60% of their customers are veterans, like Grady, who are treating chronic pain or PTSD with intoxicating hemp products.

Last night, they watched the U.S. Senate vote to approve a spending package to end a record-breaking federal government shutdown. But what drew their attention was a provision tucked in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/agfy26conf.pdf" target="_blank">bill</a>&nbsp;that would prohibit hemp products from having more than .4 milligrams of total THC per container. If the House approves it and the president signs it, the prohibition will go into effect in one year.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The change, Grady said, will devastate his business.&nbsp;

“When this is done,” he said, “we’ll lose 52% of our revenue, meaning we won’t be able to stay in business.”&nbsp;

On Tuesday – a day they would normally be focused on honoring veterans – the couple said they didn’t have the energy.&nbsp;

“You’re sick to your stomach all day long,” said Kara Grady, “knowing your hard work is for not.”

State officials&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/10/03/cost-to-enforce-ban-on-intoxicating-hemp-products-in-missouri-estimated-at-nearly-900k/">estimated last year</a>&nbsp;that 40,000 food establishments and smoke shops and 1,800 food manufacturers were selling products that would be banned under the proposed federal regulations.&nbsp;

That estimate was part of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services’ 2025 budget estimate to enforce former Gov. Mike Parson’s abandoned<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/08/12/hemp-industry-leaders-call-missouri-governors-order-banning-thc-products-an-overreach/">&nbsp;2024 order that would have banned intoxicating hemp products</a>&nbsp;in the state.

Hemp was legalized in the 2018 Farm bill and naturally has very little THC, the intoxicating component mostly associated with marijuana.&nbsp;

But that potency can be increased with some&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/04/14/missouri-lawmakers-take-aim-at-unregulated-delta-8-thc-hemp-products/">science</a>.

While marijuana products must be sold in dispensaries and be grown and manufactured in state-regulated facilities,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/with-missouri-regulations-in-flux-whats-the-difference-between-hemp-and-marijuana/">intoxicating hemp products are completely unregulated</a>&nbsp;by any governmental agency.&nbsp;

There’s no state or federal law saying teenagers or children can’t buy them or stores can’t sell them to minors. However, some stores and vendors in Missouri have taken it upon themselves to impose age restrictions of 21 and up.

Missouri state Rep. Dave Himan, a Republican from O’Fallon, said he was planning on pre-filing legislation on Dec. 1 that would have established a licensing system to allow Missouri businesses to sell the low-dose hemp-derived THC beverages and edibles.&nbsp;

If the federal spending bill passes, his bill will reflect the .4 milligram limit of THC per package – and that also includes THC-A, which transforms into THC when heated.

“We are really kind of looking now to see what the federal government’s going to do,” he said, “and if we need to make adjustments in my bill to mirror what the federal government’s going to put in place.”

This will be Hinman’s second year — and Missouri’s&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/04/14/missouri-lawmakers-take-aim-at-unregulated-delta-8-thc-hemp-products/">fourth year</a>&nbsp;– trying to regulate intoxicating hemp products. Previous attempts failed because the proposed bills, backed by the marijuana industry, would have banned the products.&nbsp;

Last year, several bills failed to advance because the hemp industry itself couldn’t agree on provisions for things including THC limits and licensing requirements.&nbsp;

A&nbsp;<a href="https://missourihemphoax.com/" target="_blank">report</a>&nbsp;released last month by the Missouri Cannabis Trade Association, which represents the marijuana industry, tested&nbsp;55 intoxicating hemp products purchased from smoke shops and gas stations statewide. Results showed that nearly all of them were above the total THC limit that’s outlined in the pending federal spending bill.

While the debate in previous years has often been seen as a marijuana industry versus the hemp industry, both of those players have a growing common foe – the black-market marijuana products that are posing as certified hemp products, Hinman said.&nbsp;

“There are some great people out there that own mom-and-pop shops that really are doing the right thing,” Hinman said.&nbsp;

However, just last week, Hinman met with a group that brought in packages of about 40 different THC products purchased throughout the state that resemble Skittles, M&amp;M’s and chips that would easily be mistaken by children as regular products.&nbsp;

“That continues to proliferate throughout our state,” he said, “and it’s just getting worse and worse. So we’ve got to do something. And it’s actually not even hemp, it’s truly marijuana out there, and it’s really hurting the business.”

Eapen Thampy, a lobbyist who represents several hemp businesses, agreed that the “bad actors” have expanded and pose a threat to legitimate hemp businesses.

“We’re under attack from the marijuana industry that wants to protect their monopoly,” Thampy said, “and we’re under attack from bad actors who don’t care who they hurt to make a buck. We’re sort of the collateral damage in that picture.”

Thampy said the hemp industry is hopeful that Congress will take up the issue before the ban is implemented in a year, if the spending bill is approved. However, a Senate amendment to remove the language was defeated last night by a 76-24 vote, making the success of a separate bill unlikely.&nbsp;

President Donald Trump told reporters Monday that he supports the deal and the House could vote on the bill as early as Wednesday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1762945513387.png" alt=" Slaphappy Hemp farm in Rosebud (photo submitted)." />
 <figcaption> Slaphappy Hemp farm in Rosebud (photo submitted).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>More than 40,000 Missouri food establishments and stores are estimated to be impacted by federal regulations on hemp products</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/rebecca-rivas/">REBECCA RIVAS</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>John Grady and his wife Kara opened up their hemp emporium in Rosebud on July 4 — and they say about 60% of their customers are veterans, like Grady, who are treating chronic pain or PTSD with intoxicating hemp products.Last night, they watched the U.S. Senate vote to approve a spending package to end a record-breaking federal government shutdown. But what drew their attention was a provision tucked in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/agfy26conf.pdf" target="_blank">bill</a>&nbsp;that would prohibit hemp products from having more than .4 milligrams of total THC per container. If the House approves it and the president signs it, the prohibition will go into effect in one year.&nbsp;&nbsp;The change, Grady said, will devastate his business.&nbsp;“When this is done,” he said, “we’ll lose 52% of our revenue, meaning we won’t be able to stay in business.”&nbsp;On Tuesday – a day they would normally be focused on honoring veterans – the couple said they didn’t have the energy.&nbsp;“You’re sick to your stomach all day long,” said Kara Grady, “knowing your hard work is for not.”State officials&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/10/03/cost-to-enforce-ban-on-intoxicating-hemp-products-in-missouri-estimated-at-nearly-900k/">estimated last year</a>&nbsp;that 40,000 food establishments and smoke shops and 1,800 food manufacturers were selling products that would be banned under the proposed federal regulations.&nbsp;That estimate was part of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services’ 2025 budget estimate to enforce former Gov. Mike Parson’s abandoned<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/08/12/hemp-industry-leaders-call-missouri-governors-order-banning-thc-products-an-overreach/">&nbsp;2024 order that would have banned intoxicating hemp products</a>&nbsp;in the state.Hemp was legalized in the 2018 Farm bill and naturally has very little THC, the intoxicating component mostly associated with marijuana.&nbsp;But that potency can be increased with some&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/04/14/missouri-lawmakers-take-aim-at-unregulated-delta-8-thc-hemp-products/">science</a>.While marijuana products must be sold in dispensaries and be grown and manufactured in state-regulated facilities,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/with-missouri-regulations-in-flux-whats-the-difference-between-hemp-and-marijuana/">intoxicating hemp products are completely unregulated</a>&nbsp;by any governmental agency.&nbsp;There’s no state or federal law saying teenagers or children can’t buy them or stores can’t sell them to minors. However, some stores and vendors in Missouri have taken it upon themselves to impose age restrictions of 21 and up.Missouri state Rep. Dave Himan, a Republican from O’Fallon, said he was planning on pre-filing legislation on Dec. 1 that would have established a licensing system to allow Missouri businesses to sell the low-dose hemp-derived THC beverages and edibles.&nbsp;If the federal spending bill passes, his bill will reflect the .4 milligram limit of THC per package – and that also includes THC-A, which transforms into THC when heated.“We are really kind of looking now to see what the federal government’s going to do,” he said, “and if we need to make adjustments in my bill to mirror what the federal government’s going to put in place.”This will be Hinman’s second year — and Missouri’s&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/04/14/missouri-lawmakers-take-aim-at-unregulated-delta-8-thc-hemp-products/">fourth year</a>&nbsp;– trying to regulate intoxicating hemp products. Previous attempts failed because the proposed bills, backed by the marijuana industry, would have banned the products.&nbsp;Last year, several bills failed to advance because the hemp industry itself couldn’t agree on provisions for things including THC limits and licensing requirements.&nbsp;A&nbsp;<a href="https://missourihemphoax.com/" target="_blank">report</a>&nbsp;released last month by the Missouri Cannabis Trade Association, which represents the marijuana industry, tested&nbsp;55 intoxicating hemp products purchased from smoke shops and gas stations statewide. Results showed that nearly all of them were above the total THC limit that’s outlined in the pending federal spending bill.While the debate in previous years has often been seen as a marijuana industry versus the hemp industry, both of those players have a growing common foe – the black-market marijuana products that are posing as certified hemp products, Hinman said.&nbsp;“There are some great people out there that own mom-and-pop shops that really are doing the right thing,” Hinman said.&nbsp;However, just last week, Hinman met with a group that brought in packages of about 40 different THC products purchased throughout the state that resemble Skittles, M&amp;M’s and chips that would easily be mistaken by children as regular products.&nbsp;“That continues to proliferate throughout our state,” he said, “and it’s just getting worse and worse. So we’ve got to do something. And it’s actually not even hemp, it’s truly marijuana out there, and it’s really hurting the business.”Eapen Thampy, a lobbyist who represents several hemp businesses, agreed that the “bad actors” have expanded and pose a threat to legitimate hemp businesses.“We’re under attack from the marijuana industry that wants to protect their monopoly,” Thampy said, “and we’re under attack from bad actors who don’t care who they hurt to make a buck. We’re sort of the collateral damage in that picture.”Thampy said the hemp industry is hopeful that Congress will take up the issue before the ban is implemented in a year, if the spending bill is approved. However, a Senate amendment to remove the language was defeated last night by a 76-24 vote, making the success of a separate bill unlikely.&nbsp;President Donald Trump told reporters Monday that he supports the deal and the House could vote on the bill as early as Wednesday.

Missouri hemp businesses fear new federal THC limits will destroy the industry

Team owner Clark Hunt told reporters recently that he was still considering options on both sides of the Kansas-Missouri state line

BY&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/mchilson/">MORGAN CHILSON</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA, Kansas — The Kansas City Chiefs put out a request for proposals to design a new stadium on the Kansas side of the state line and are negotiating for land near the Kansas Speedway, according to two reports from Kansas City area talk show hosts.&nbsp;

Pete Mundo of KCMO talk radio&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcmotalkradio.com/shows/mundo-in-the-morning-2/" target="_blank">broke the news</a>&nbsp;that the Chiefs contacted multiple firms regarding a new stadium to be built at Interstate 435 and Interstate 70. He said the news was confirmed by several sources.

Mundo stressed that the RFP didn’t mean the Chiefs had selected Kansas as the location for a new stadium and added that his “gut” said they would stay in Missouri.&nbsp;

On Monday, Kevin Kietzman said on his podcast that the Chiefs are in negotiations with NASCAR and the state of Kansas to acquire land just west of the Kansas Speedway. He said the Chiefs also may be building a hotel by the Hollywood Casino and creating an entertainment district.&nbsp;

“NASCAR owns a total of 880 acres of land at Village West, folks,” Kietzman said. “They only use 300 of them.”

Patrick Lowry, spokesman for the Kansas Department of Commerce, said major development projects require confidentiality and the agency has no comment on negotiations regarding the stadium.&nbsp;

“Kansas Department of Commerce continues to conduct a careful analysis of costs and benefits as part of crafting agreements to keep the Chiefs and Royals in the region while maximizing growth opportunities for Kansas,” Lowry said.

The Kansas Legislature&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/07/07/kansas-lawmakers-extend-deadline-for-chiefs-royals-to-accept-stadium-incentives/" target="_blank">agreed to finance</a>&nbsp;up to 70% of the project, with a minimum $1 billion price tag, by issuing bonds to be repaid with sales tax collected in the STAR Bond district.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Missouri lawmakers hoping to convince the Chiefs and Kansas City Royals to remain in the state have&nbsp;authorized bonds covering up to 50% of the cost of new or renovated stadiums, plus up to $50 million of tax credits for each stadium and unspecified aid from local governments.

Clark Hunt, the Chiefs owner, recently told reporter that he and his family were still considering options in both Missouri and Kansas.

“I wouldn’t say we’re in limbo. Stadium projects move at their own pace,” Hunt said. “We’ve learned over the years that you can’t really force them to go faster, even if you want them to. And so it’s just important for us to keep working on both options.”

The possibility of moving the Chiefs stadium across the state line has both excited and concerned Kansas leaders. In Wyandotte County, where the Village West area is located, an economic development leader is hesitant to talk about what the stadium might bring to his county, although he’s positive that location would be a strong one for the Chiefs.&nbsp;

“I think that area is the No. 1 tourist destination in the state of Kansas,” said Greg Kindle, president of the Wyandotte Economic Development Council. “There’s infrastructure and highway infrastructure. We know there’s an ability to get people in and out of major sporting events, and if we can put a deal together that works for everybody, it’s a win-win.”

Much still needs to be assessed in terms of the economic development benefits for Wyandotte County.&nbsp;

“We’re still working through the economics of it,” Kindle said. “It has to be revenue development that works for the sports teams but also drives revenue into the community. On the front end, it’s super exciting to have a national sports team in your community because you get a lot of branding, you get more tourism, you get people who are excited about being near that environment.”

Kindle referred to the success of the Kansas Speedway and Sporting KC, both of which are in the area and hold numerous events all year.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748263709817.png" alt="&nbsp;GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, home of the Kansas City Chiefs (Anna Spoerre/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, home of the Kansas City Chiefs (Anna Spoerre/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Team owner Clark Hunt told reporters recently that he was still considering options on both sides of the Kansas-Missouri state line</h2>BY&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/mchilson/">MORGAN CHILSON</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA, Kansas — The Kansas City Chiefs put out a request for proposals to design a new stadium on the Kansas side of the state line and are negotiating for land near the Kansas Speedway, according to two reports from Kansas City area talk show hosts.&nbsp;Pete Mundo of KCMO talk radio&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcmotalkradio.com/shows/mundo-in-the-morning-2/" target="_blank">broke the news</a>&nbsp;that the Chiefs contacted multiple firms regarding a new stadium to be built at Interstate 435 and Interstate 70. He said the news was confirmed by several sources.Mundo stressed that the RFP didn’t mean the Chiefs had selected Kansas as the location for a new stadium and added that his “gut” said they would stay in Missouri.&nbsp;On Monday, Kevin Kietzman said on his podcast that the Chiefs are in negotiations with NASCAR and the state of Kansas to acquire land just west of the Kansas Speedway. He said the Chiefs also may be building a hotel by the Hollywood Casino and creating an entertainment district.&nbsp;“NASCAR owns a total of 880 acres of land at Village West, folks,” Kietzman said. “They only use 300 of them.”Patrick Lowry, spokesman for the Kansas Department of Commerce, said major development projects require confidentiality and the agency has no comment on negotiations regarding the stadium.&nbsp;“Kansas Department of Commerce continues to conduct a careful analysis of costs and benefits as part of crafting agreements to keep the Chiefs and Royals in the region while maximizing growth opportunities for Kansas,” Lowry said.The Kansas Legislature&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/07/07/kansas-lawmakers-extend-deadline-for-chiefs-royals-to-accept-stadium-incentives/" target="_blank">agreed to finance</a>&nbsp;up to 70% of the project, with a minimum $1 billion price tag, by issuing bonds to be repaid with sales tax collected in the STAR Bond district.&nbsp;Meanwhile, Missouri lawmakers hoping to convince the Chiefs and Kansas City Royals to remain in the state have&nbsp;authorized bonds covering up to 50% of the cost of new or renovated stadiums, plus up to $50 million of tax credits for each stadium and unspecified aid from local governments.Clark Hunt, the Chiefs owner, recently told reporter that he and his family were still considering options in both Missouri and Kansas.“I wouldn’t say we’re in limbo. Stadium projects move at their own pace,” Hunt said. “We’ve learned over the years that you can’t really force them to go faster, even if you want them to. And so it’s just important for us to keep working on both options.”<h2>Wyandotte opportunity</h2>The possibility of moving the Chiefs stadium across the state line has both excited and concerned Kansas leaders. In Wyandotte County, where the Village West area is located, an economic development leader is hesitant to talk about what the stadium might bring to his county, although he’s positive that location would be a strong one for the Chiefs.&nbsp;“I think that area is the No. 1 tourist destination in the state of Kansas,” said Greg Kindle, president of the Wyandotte Economic Development Council. “There’s infrastructure and highway infrastructure. We know there’s an ability to get people in and out of major sporting events, and if we can put a deal together that works for everybody, it’s a win-win.”Much still needs to be assessed in terms of the economic development benefits for Wyandotte County.&nbsp;“We’re still working through the economics of it,” Kindle said. “It has to be revenue development that works for the sports teams but also drives revenue into the community. On the front end, it’s super exciting to have a national sports team in your community because you get a lot of branding, you get more tourism, you get people who are excited about being near that environment.”Kindle referred to the success of the Kansas Speedway and Sporting KC, both of which are in the area and hold numerous events all year.&nbsp;“Tourism areas benefit,” he said. “New things have to be happening. This would be an interesting additional asset to the area that we hope would bring in additional hotels and restaurants and interest in that area.”Kindle said the negotiations with the Chiefs are going on through state officials and Wyandotte has offered support as needed. He’s excited about the idea the team may come to his county, but he also wants to encourage everyone to think long-term.“They’ve been in their current location for what, 50 or 60 years. We want to make sure that whatever happens here builds on what they’ve done and the success that they’ve had, but also that we ensure that we do, in fact, get that ancillary growth that goes with the project,” Kindle said.&nbsp;<h2>Stadium investments</h2>J.C. Bradbury, an economist and professor at Kennesaw State University in Georgia, is releasing a book next year titled “This One Will be Different: False Promises and Fiscal Realities of Publicly Funded Stadiums.”&nbsp;He said economic justifications for putting tax dollars behind stadium development don’t hold up.Economists look at economic development differently than other professionals, who consider the process about increasing business activity in a community, Bradbury said.“Economists use the term economic development to describe improving economic outcomes. And stadiums are absolutely not true economic development catalysts,” he said.Bradbury said he has looked for studies that show there is an economic benefit to stadiums and hasn’t found one.“If you went and called a doctor for a study on the dangers of smoking, you wouldn’t be able to find a doctor who would say smoking is good for you, right?” Bradbury said. “If you would ask economists about the economic benefits of stadiums, you probably couldn’t find an economist who would say that they’re beneficial. But no one wants to listen to economists on that.”Multiple changes happen in communities when stadiums are built that lead people to believe the economy benefits, he said. Increased spending definitely happening around the stadium, but Bradbury said that spending is pulled from restaurants and stores not in the stadium’s entertainment sphere.&nbsp;Other factors include being unable to track businesses that don’t open up in a stadium district, such as doctor’s offices and retail stores, because of traffic and people who don’t want to live near stadiums, he said.&nbsp;“There’s actually some negative spillover effects that no one likes to talk about,” Bradbury said. He gave an example of an area in Atlanta that was near where stadiums were formerly located. For years, it was a “ghost town,” but after stadiums moved, it is now a thriving commercial district.There are positives, including the novelty effect when the stadium first opens, Bradbury said.&nbsp;“This is a private business that largely benefits the owners of the team. It’s generating hundreds of millions, if not billions, of dollars,” Bradbury said. “Athletes are paid millions of dollars of salaries. These organizations exist as economic entities because they’re profitable. There’s zero justification for taxpayers putting a dime for professional sports stadiums, but we just sort of got in the habit of doing that, and now I’m hoping to try to break this habit.”This story was originally produced by&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/11/11/chiefs-weigh-stadium-in-kansas-but-economist-doubts-economic-gains/" target="_blank">Kansas Reflector</a>, which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network which includes Missouri Independent, and is supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.

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