It’s national
“8-1-1 Day” – the day homeowners are reminded to call 8-1-1 before they dig.

Manager of Damage
Prevention for Spire, Alan Meyer, says it’s important to call 8-1-1 before
beginning that excavation project.

“Well, the
importance is to keep you and your community safe,” Meyer tells KFEQ/St. Joseph
Post.

And a simple, free
call to 8-1-1 can accomplish that.

“Well, I would say
no matter how big or small the project is, you have utilities below ground. The
call is free,” Meyer says. “Why not protect yourself?”

After placing the
call to 8-1-1, utility representatives will come to your property and mark
where the utility lines run under your property. It takes two to three days for
utilities to respond to the job site.

Meyer says
property owners should place the free call to 8-1-1 before beginning to dig,
even if they think it’s a small project such as installing a mailbox, putting
on a deck, or planting flowers.

“The size of the
project doesn’t matter,” Meyer says. “Whether you’re planting tulips in your
flower bed or you’re planting trees in your backyard or you’re doing an
irrigation system intact, anything like that. It doesn’t relinquish the
importance of calling.”

But, if you don’t
call and you or your contractor rupture a gas line, Meyer says you need to move
to a safe location upwind of the damage. Call 9-1-1 immediately.

“And you also need
to call 8-1-1, notify them that you’ve hit a utility and you also need to call
the gas company so that they can respond,” Meyer says. “The beauty of calling
9-1-1 is you’re going to get people in route. They’re the first responders,
typically. They’ll start making the area safe. But, again, the first thing is
to move to a safe location, upwind of the damage.”

Spire recommends
these steps for safe digging:

• Dial 811 to
request a site be marked. The call and the locating services are free.

• Call at least
three days before digging. A locator will mark lines that could be impacted by
your project. Spire lines will be marked with yellow flags and/or spray paint.

• Be careful when
digging around the markers to avoid accidentally damaging buried natural gas or
other utility lines.

• Double check the
lines have been marked and ask your contractor if you hired one. Do not allow

The annual “811
Day” initiative is led by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety Administration.

For more
information about safe digging and excavation, visit
<a href="https://spireenergy.com/call-you-dig">spireenergy.com/call-you-dig</a>.

You can follow&nbsp;Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754672882162.jpeg" alt="Photo courtesy of Spire" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy of Spire</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINIt’s national
“8-1-1 Day” – the day homeowners are reminded to call 8-1-1 before they dig.Manager of Damage
Prevention for Spire, Alan Meyer, says it’s important to call 8-1-1 before
beginning that excavation project.“Well, the
importance is to keep you and your community safe,” Meyer tells KFEQ/St. Joseph
Post.And a simple, free
call to 8-1-1 can accomplish that.“Well, I would say
no matter how big or small the project is, you have utilities below ground. The
call is free,” Meyer says. “Why not protect yourself?”After placing the
call to 8-1-1, utility representatives will come to your property and mark
where the utility lines run under your property. It takes two to three days for
utilities to respond to the job site.Meyer says
property owners should place the free call to 8-1-1 before beginning to dig,
even if they think it’s a small project such as installing a mailbox, putting
on a deck, or planting flowers.“The size of the
project doesn’t matter,” Meyer says. “Whether you’re planting tulips in your
flower bed or you’re planting trees in your backyard or you’re doing an
irrigation system intact, anything like that. It doesn’t relinquish the
importance of calling.”But, if you don’t
call and you or your contractor rupture a gas line, Meyer says you need to move
to a safe location upwind of the damage. Call 9-1-1 immediately.“And you also need
to call 8-1-1, notify them that you’ve hit a utility and you also need to call
the gas company so that they can respond,” Meyer says. “The beauty of calling
9-1-1 is you’re going to get people in route. They’re the first responders,
typically. They’ll start making the area safe. But, again, the first thing is
to move to a safe location, upwind of the damage.”Spire recommends
these steps for safe digging:• Dial 811 to
request a site be marked. The call and the locating services are free.• Call at least
three days before digging. A locator will mark lines that could be impacted by
your project. Spire lines will be marked with yellow flags and/or spray paint.• Be careful when
digging around the markers to avoid accidentally damaging buried natural gas or
other utility lines.• Double check the
lines have been marked and ask your contractor if you hired one. Do not allowThe annual “811
Day” initiative is led by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety Administration.For more
information about safe digging and excavation, visit
<a href="https://spireenergy.com/call-you-dig">spireenergy.com/call-you-dig</a>.You can follow&nbsp;Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ

August 8th - 8/11 - or National 8-1-1 Day

ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect for an alleged violent knife attack.

At 6p.m. on Saturday police responded to a disturbance in an alley on the north side of the 800 block Commercial Street in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson. It was determined two men, who were known to each other, had been involved in the disturbance and both were still at the scene.&nbsp; 

A 52-year-old man had sustained a stab wound to his arm. EMS was called to the scene but he refused transport to the hospital. Police took 42-year-old Albert Goodman into custody at the scene on requested charges of aggravated battery and aggravated assault and taken to the County Jail. Police also recovered a knife used in the stabbing, according to Wilson.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754859611217.png" alt="Goodman photo Atchison Co." />
 <figcaption>Goodman photo Atchison Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect for an alleged violent knife attack.At 6p.m. on Saturday police responded to a disturbance in an alley on the north side of the 800 block Commercial Street in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson. It was determined two men, who were known to each other, had been involved in the disturbance and both were still at the scene.&nbsp; A 52-year-old man had sustained a stab wound to his arm. EMS was called to the scene but he refused transport to the hospital. Police took 42-year-old Albert Goodman into custody at the scene on requested charges of aggravated battery and aggravated assault and taken to the County Jail. Police also recovered a knife used in the stabbing, according to Wilson.

Police: Kansas man jailed after stabbing during dispute

Hospitals across Missouri are preparing for reduced revenue and increased costs under President Donald Trump’s new budget plan, which will slash more than $1 trillion from Medicaid spending over the next decade

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/megcunningham/">Meg Cunningham</a>

Missouri’s 67 rural hospitals are pondering a dramatically different future under President Donald Trump’s new budget plan.

The recently approved budget bill will slash federal Medicaid spending by more than $1 trillion over the next decade. By some estimates, it could lead to 8.6 million people nationwide losing health coverage.

Various estimates conclude that between 130,000 and 170,000 Missourians could lose coverage under the&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/07/11/medicaid-mo-healthnet-kancare-changes-2025/" target="_blank">state’s Medicaid program, known as MO HealthNet</a>, over the next decade.

And even if you have commercial insurance, the impact on hospital operations and finances could still affect your health care. As people delay treatment for their health conditions due to a lack of insurance, they’ll start relying more on the emergency room as their primary form of health care, experts say.

That will lead to more crowded emergency departments. Moreover, the burden to pay for uninsured patients will shift onto the hospitals that provide the care, and eventually back to patients.

With the budget plan in motion and spending cuts materializing, Missouri’s hospitals are now taking a look at their finances and preparing for an uptick in costs.

For rural Missourians, even those who aren’t on Medicaid, it means the types of health care available to them in the form of obstetric units, primary care providers or specialty providers could be changing.

Or their nearby hospital could be gone altogether.

“We are likely going to see rural hospital closures,” said Sheldon Weisgrau, the vice president of health policy at the Missouri Foundation for Health, in a press briefing.

“We have not had any rural hospitals close since we expanded the Medicaid program,” he said. “We are likely to see rural hospitals close because they operate on the financial edge.”

What do worsening hospital finances under Medicaid cuts mean for you?&nbsp;

Mercy, which is based in the St. Louis area, operates 112 hospitals and emergency rooms across Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma and Arkansas and has a large footprint in rural Missouri. Mercy estimates that the budget will lead to bigger revenue losses every year.

Five years from now, they estimate, they’ll lose $300 million in revenue annually.

“That’s going to mean we’re going to have to radically look at how we deliver care differently — that is still responsive to our communities,” said Cheryl Matejka, the executive vice president and chief financial officer at Mercy. “It’s going to be different for us to survive and thrive.”

Under the plan, Missouri stands to lose an estimated $23 billion in federal funding over the next decade, according to the Missouri Foundation for Health.* Much of Missouri’s federal money covers the cost of Medicaid for the Affordable Care Act expansion group, which voters approved coverage for with an amendment to the state constitution in 2020.

The new federal budget restricts how states and hospitals can pay for the services they provide by limiting the fees that states can collect from health care providers. It also puts limits on what states can pay hospitals to help them fill gaps in their finances for treating Medicaid patients.

Broken down by year, Missouri’s federal funding for Medicaid will drop about 20% annually as the plan moves forward, Weisgrau said.

“All of this is going to have a disproportionate impact in rural communities,” Weisgrau said.

The Missouri Foundation for Health analyzed the budget plan, he added, and found that rural health care providers could lose 21 cents of every dollar they currently get from Medicaid.

According to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kff.org/key-facts-about-hospitals/?entry=rural-hospitals-rural-profit-margins" target="_blank">KFF</a>, hospitals overall had an operating margin of 5.2% in 2023. For rural hospitals, that margin was 3.1%.

The bulk of the concern stems from an expected rise in uncompensated care — hospitals treating patients even if they cannot pay.

“When folks lose their insurance coverage, it doesn’t mean they don’t continue to get sick,” Weisgrau said. “A lot of them stay out of the health care system because they know they can’t afford it.”

Once their health deteriorates to a certain point, they go to the emergency room, where they are required to be treated, even if they cannot pay for that care.

Mercy, for example, sets aside part of its budget to account for that cost.

“We give away about half a billion dollars of uncompensated or unreimbursed care,” said John Mohart, the executive vice president and chief operation officer for Mercy. “Some of that is for Medicaid patients already, because it doesn’t cover the costs that we have.”

But for smaller hospitals, the flexibility to provide that uncompensated care isn’t there. Fewer insured people will only increase costs.

“If you see an uninsured patient, then you probably have to assume that there is a pretty good chance you’re just going to have to eat those costs,” said Timothy McBride, a public health expert and economist at the Washington University School of Public Health.

As a result, even those covered by commercial insurance could see their premiums rise to help cover the care.

“These costs are passed on to the rest of us,” Weisgrau said. “We will see private insurance premiums going up. Even folks who have good coverage from their employers and think they might be immune from some of these Medicaid cuts&nbsp;&nbsp;will see impacts of this down the line.”

How far will the rural hospital fund go in saving at-risk hospitals?&nbsp;

To help offset some of the costs rural hospitals are taking on, senators in Washington lobbied for the inclusion of a rural hospital stabilization fund. The budget included $50 billion for rural hospitals over the next five years with the possibility of renewing the fund in the future.

Half of it will be distributed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, while the other half will flow to states to then send to hospitals.

But the fund won’t be enough to offset the losses rural hospitals are anticipating.

Medicaid spending in rural parts of the country is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kff.org/medicaid/issue-brief/allocating-cbos-estimates-of-federal-medicaid-spending-reductions-across-the-states-enacted-reconciliation-package" target="_blank">expected to fall by $137 billion</a>&nbsp;over the next decade — $87 billion more than was allocated to the rural hospital fund, according to KFF.

And even those estimates, KFF said, are modest because they don’t account for how states may change the way they fund Medicaid.

During negotiations surrounding the budget bill, senators asked the University of North Carolina Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.markey.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/sheps_response.pdf" target="_blank">analyze</a>&nbsp;how many rural hospitals may be at risk under the plan.

Their report found that nearly 340 rural hospitals were at risk nationwide, based on the rate of Medicaid patients they serve and their consecutive years of financial losses.

In Missouri, four hospitals were considered at-risk, while in Kansas, six hospitals were listed.

One of those hospitals is Bothwell Regional Health Center in Sedalia, the city’s largest employer with more than 1,000 employees.

In 2024, the hospital posted its first profit since 2018, Bothwell CEO Lori Wightman said in a press release in July. Notably, Medicare and Medicaid provided 78% of the payments for its patients.

“These programs pay well below the actual cost of providing care,” Wightman said in the release. “Commercial insurance alone cannot close the gap, and that is where subsidies available to rural hospitals are essential. Unfortunately, the cost of providing care, from personnel to technology, continues to rise making a difficult situation harder to stabilize.”

Other Missouri hospitals included on the list were Scotland County Memorial Hospital in Memphis, Parkland Health Center in Bonne Terre and Lafayette Regional Health Center in Lexington — Sen. Josh Hawley’s hometown.

<a href="https://www.kff.org/medicaid/issue-%20brief/a-look-at-rural-hospital-closures-and-implications-for-access-to-care/" target="_blank">Studies</a>&nbsp;show that after a rural hospital closure, low-income and elderly patients were more likely to defer or skip their health care altogether because of transportation challenges.

Rural hospital closures also lead to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/abs/10.1377/hlthaff.2019.00916" target="_blank">loss of physicians</a>. One study found that the closure of a rural hospital led to an 8.3% drop in primary care physicians and a 4.8% drop in obstetricians and gynecologists.

“Health care providers are big employers,” Weisgrau said. “They are big users of local supplies and commodities. All of that will have to be reduced. People will lose jobs. Economies will decline as a result of these cuts.”

*Meg Cunningham’s coverage of rural health is funded by the Missouri Foundation for Health.&nbsp;

This&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/08/08/rural-hospitals-missouri-medicaid-cuts-at-risk-2025-closures/" target="_blank">article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/" target="_blank">Beacon: Missouri</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/2025/6/1750514507439.png" alt="Google image" />
 <figcaption>Google image</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Hospitals across Missouri are preparing for reduced revenue and increased costs under President Donald Trump’s new budget plan, which will slash more than $1 trillion from Medicaid spending over the next decade</h2>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/megcunningham/">Meg Cunningham</a>Missouri’s 67 rural hospitals are pondering a dramatically different future under President Donald Trump’s new budget plan.The recently approved budget bill will slash federal Medicaid spending by more than $1 trillion over the next decade. By some estimates, it could lead to 8.6 million people nationwide losing health coverage.Various estimates conclude that between 130,000 and 170,000 Missourians could lose coverage under the&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/07/11/medicaid-mo-healthnet-kancare-changes-2025/" target="_blank">state’s Medicaid program, known as MO HealthNet</a>, over the next decade.And even if you have commercial insurance, the impact on hospital operations and finances could still affect your health care. As people delay treatment for their health conditions due to a lack of insurance, they’ll start relying more on the emergency room as their primary form of health care, experts say.That will lead to more crowded emergency departments. Moreover, the burden to pay for uninsured patients will shift onto the hospitals that provide the care, and eventually back to patients.With the budget plan in motion and spending cuts materializing, Missouri’s hospitals are now taking a look at their finances and preparing for an uptick in costs.For rural Missourians, even those who aren’t on Medicaid, it means the types of health care available to them in the form of obstetric units, primary care providers or specialty providers could be changing.Or their nearby hospital could be gone altogether.“We are likely going to see rural hospital closures,” said Sheldon Weisgrau, the vice president of health policy at the Missouri Foundation for Health, in a press briefing.“We have not had any rural hospitals close since we expanded the Medicaid program,” he said. “We are likely to see rural hospitals close because they operate on the financial edge.”<h2>What do worsening hospital finances under Medicaid cuts mean for you?&nbsp;</h2>Mercy, which is based in the St. Louis area, operates 112 hospitals and emergency rooms across Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma and Arkansas and has a large footprint in rural Missouri. Mercy estimates that the budget will lead to bigger revenue losses every year.Five years from now, they estimate, they’ll lose $300 million in revenue annually.“That’s going to mean we’re going to have to radically look at how we deliver care differently — that is still responsive to our communities,” said Cheryl Matejka, the executive vice president and chief financial officer at Mercy. “It’s going to be different for us to survive and thrive.”Under the plan, Missouri stands to lose an estimated $23 billion in federal funding over the next decade, according to the Missouri Foundation for Health.* Much of Missouri’s federal money covers the cost of Medicaid for the Affordable Care Act expansion group, which voters approved coverage for with an amendment to the state constitution in 2020.The new federal budget restricts how states and hospitals can pay for the services they provide by limiting the fees that states can collect from health care providers. It also puts limits on what states can pay hospitals to help them fill gaps in their finances for treating Medicaid patients.Broken down by year, Missouri’s federal funding for Medicaid will drop about 20% annually as the plan moves forward, Weisgrau said.“All of this is going to have a disproportionate impact in rural communities,” Weisgrau said.The Missouri Foundation for Health analyzed the budget plan, he added, and found that rural health care providers could lose 21 cents of every dollar they currently get from Medicaid.According to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kff.org/key-facts-about-hospitals/?entry=rural-hospitals-rural-profit-margins" target="_blank">KFF</a>, hospitals overall had an operating margin of 5.2% in 2023. For rural hospitals, that margin was 3.1%.The bulk of the concern stems from an expected rise in uncompensated care — hospitals treating patients even if they cannot pay.“When folks lose their insurance coverage, it doesn’t mean they don’t continue to get sick,” Weisgrau said. “A lot of them stay out of the health care system because they know they can’t afford it.”Once their health deteriorates to a certain point, they go to the emergency room, where they are required to be treated, even if they cannot pay for that care.Mercy, for example, sets aside part of its budget to account for that cost.“We give away about half a billion dollars of uncompensated or unreimbursed care,” said John Mohart, the executive vice president and chief operation officer for Mercy. “Some of that is for Medicaid patients already, because it doesn’t cover the costs that we have.”But for smaller hospitals, the flexibility to provide that uncompensated care isn’t there. Fewer insured people will only increase costs.“If you see an uninsured patient, then you probably have to assume that there is a pretty good chance you’re just going to have to eat those costs,” said Timothy McBride, a public health expert and economist at the Washington University School of Public Health.As a result, even those covered by commercial insurance could see their premiums rise to help cover the care.“These costs are passed on to the rest of us,” Weisgrau said. “We will see private insurance premiums going up. Even folks who have good coverage from their employers and think they might be immune from some of these Medicaid cuts&nbsp;&nbsp;will see impacts of this down the line.”<h2>How far will the rural hospital fund go in saving at-risk hospitals?&nbsp;</h2>To help offset some of the costs rural hospitals are taking on, senators in Washington lobbied for the inclusion of a rural hospital stabilization fund. The budget included $50 billion for rural hospitals over the next five years with the possibility of renewing the fund in the future.Half of it will be distributed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, while the other half will flow to states to then send to hospitals.But the fund won’t be enough to offset the losses rural hospitals are anticipating.Medicaid spending in rural parts of the country is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kff.org/medicaid/issue-brief/allocating-cbos-estimates-of-federal-medicaid-spending-reductions-across-the-states-enacted-reconciliation-package" target="_blank">expected to fall by $137 billion</a>&nbsp;over the next decade — $87 billion more than was allocated to the rural hospital fund, according to KFF.And even those estimates, KFF said, are modest because they don’t account for how states may change the way they fund Medicaid.During negotiations surrounding the budget bill, senators asked the University of North Carolina Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.markey.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/sheps_response.pdf" target="_blank">analyze</a>&nbsp;how many rural hospitals may be at risk under the plan.Their report found that nearly 340 rural hospitals were at risk nationwide, based on the rate of Medicaid patients they serve and their consecutive years of financial losses.In Missouri, four hospitals were considered at-risk, while in Kansas, six hospitals were listed.One of those hospitals is Bothwell Regional Health Center in Sedalia, the city’s largest employer with more than 1,000 employees.In 2024, the hospital posted its first profit since 2018, Bothwell CEO Lori Wightman said in a press release in July. Notably, Medicare and Medicaid provided 78% of the payments for its patients.“These programs pay well below the actual cost of providing care,” Wightman said in the release. “Commercial insurance alone cannot close the gap, and that is where subsidies available to rural hospitals are essential. Unfortunately, the cost of providing care, from personnel to technology, continues to rise making a difficult situation harder to stabilize.”Other Missouri hospitals included on the list were Scotland County Memorial Hospital in Memphis, Parkland Health Center in Bonne Terre and Lafayette Regional Health Center in Lexington — Sen. Josh Hawley’s hometown.<a href="https://www.kff.org/medicaid/issue-%20brief/a-look-at-rural-hospital-closures-and-implications-for-access-to-care/" target="_blank">Studies</a>&nbsp;show that after a rural hospital closure, low-income and elderly patients were more likely to defer or skip their health care altogether because of transportation challenges.Rural hospital closures also lead to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/abs/10.1377/hlthaff.2019.00916" target="_blank">loss of physicians</a>. One study found that the closure of a rural hospital led to an 8.3% drop in primary care physicians and a 4.8% drop in obstetricians and gynecologists.“Health care providers are big employers,” Weisgrau said. “They are big users of local supplies and commodities. All of that will have to be reduced. People will lose jobs. Economies will decline as a result of these cuts.”*Meg Cunningham’s coverage of rural health is funded by the Missouri Foundation for Health.&nbsp;This&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/08/08/rural-hospitals-missouri-medicaid-cuts-at-risk-2025-closures/" target="_blank">article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/" target="_blank">Beacon: Missouri</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>.

Rural hospitals in Missouri struggle to turn a profit. Medicaid cuts could force some to close

CLINTON COUNTY—A Missouri man died in an accident just after 3p.m. Saturday in Clinton County.

The Missouri State highway Patrol reported a 1997 Ford Ranger driven by a 27-year-old Breckenridge man was southbound on MO 33 nine miles north of Platttsburg. The pickup traveled off the west side of the road, returned to the road, traveled off the east side of the road, came back on the road and rolled onto its top

The driver was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Forensic Medical. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

CLINTON COUNTY—A Missouri man died in an accident just after 3p.m. Saturday in Clinton County.The Missouri State highway Patrol reported a 1997 Ford Ranger driven by a 27-year-old Breckenridge man was southbound on MO 33 nine miles north of Platttsburg. The pickup traveled off the west side of the road, returned to the road, traveled off the east side of the road, came back on the road and rolled onto its topThe driver was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Forensic Medical. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Missouri man dies after pickup rollover accident

DAVIESS COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 4p.m. Saturday in Daviess County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2013 Ram 2500 driven by a 63-year-old Jamesport man was eastbound on U.S. 69 in Winston.

The pickup rear-ended a 2014 Kia Forte driven by a 16-year-old Gillman City boy who had slowed to make a left turn and a 2021 Ford Bronco driven by a 51-year-old Trenton man.&nbsp;

A private vehicle transported the teen driver to Cameron Regional Medical Center.&nbsp; All three drivers were properly restrained, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longe releases named of accident victims.

DAVIESS COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 4p.m. Saturday in Daviess County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2013 Ram 2500 driven by a 63-year-old Jamesport man was eastbound on U.S. 69 in Winston.The pickup rear-ended a 2014 Kia Forte driven by a 16-year-old Gillman City boy who had slowed to make a left turn and a 2021 Ford Bronco driven by a 51-year-old Trenton man.&nbsp;A private vehicle transported the teen driver to Cameron Regional Medical Center.&nbsp; All three drivers were properly restrained, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longe releases named of accident victims.

Missouri teen injured after 3-vehicle rear-end crash

HARRISON COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just befor 4p.m. Friday in Harrison County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 1999 Sea-Doo XP Limited driven by a 51-year-old Bethany man was on Harrison County Lake northeast of the old boat ramp.

The watercraft traveled into the path of a 1997 Sea-Doo XP driven by a 48-year-old Trenton man. The front of the 1997 watercraft struck the right side of the 1997 watercraft.

Harrison County EMS transported the 51-year-old to Liberty Hospital. There were not other injuries. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

HARRISON COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just befor 4p.m. Friday in Harrison County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 1999 Sea-Doo XP Limited driven by a 51-year-old Bethany man was on Harrison County Lake northeast of the old boat ramp.The watercraft traveled into the path of a 1997 Sea-Doo XP driven by a 48-year-old Trenton man. The front of the 1997 watercraft struck the right side of the 1997 watercraft.Harrison County EMS transported the 51-year-old to Liberty Hospital. There were not other injuries. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Missouri man injured after jet skis collide

GRUNDY COUNTY—A Missouri man died in an accident just before midnight Friday in Grundy County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2011 Ford F150 driven by an 82-year-old Trenton man was southbound on U.S. 65 two miles south of Spickard. The driver attempted to pass a 2003 Toyota Tundra driven by a 25-year-old Gallatin man as the vehicles approached the crest of a hill. The Ford struck a northbound 2021 Ford Expedition driven by a 21-year-old Spickard woman head-on.

After impact, the F150 skidded back into the southbound lanes and struck the Toyota. The impact pushed the Toyota into a utility pole and a fence. The F150 skidded off the west side of the road, struck an embankment and overturned.

Grundy County ambulance transported the F150 driver and a 72-year-old female passenger to Wright Memorial where the 82-year-old was pronounced deceased. The 72-year-old was later transferred to St. Lukes's on the Plaza. Mercer County EMS transported the 21-year-old SUV driver to Wright Memorial.&nbsp; There were no other injuries. The 82-year-old was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

GRUNDY COUNTY—A Missouri man died in an accident just before midnight Friday in Grundy County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2011 Ford F150 driven by an 82-year-old Trenton man was southbound on U.S. 65 two miles south of Spickard. The driver attempted to pass a 2003 Toyota Tundra driven by a 25-year-old Gallatin man as the vehicles approached the crest of a hill. The Ford struck a northbound 2021 Ford Expedition driven by a 21-year-old Spickard woman head-on.After impact, the F150 skidded back into the southbound lanes and struck the Toyota. The impact pushed the Toyota into a utility pole and a fence. The F150 skidded off the west side of the road, struck an embankment and overturned.Grundy County ambulance transported the F150 driver and a 72-year-old female passenger to Wright Memorial where the 82-year-old was pronounced deceased. The 72-year-old was later transferred to St. Lukes's on the Plaza. Mercer County EMS transported the 21-year-old SUV driver to Wright Memorial.&nbsp; There were no other injuries. The 82-year-old was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Missouri man dead after 3-vehicle head-on crash

BUCHANAN COUNTY — A St. Joseph man died in an accident just before 9:30a.m. Thursday in Buchanan County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2007 Chevy Colorado driven by an 83-year-old St. Joseph man was attempting to merge onto northbound Interstate 29 from southbound U.S. 71 seven miles north of St. Joseph. Upon entering Interstate 29, the pickup made an abrupt left turn into the path of a 2024 Cadillac driven by a 64-year-old Merriam, Kansas woman.&nbsp; The Cadillac struck the drivers side of the Chevy. After impact the Chevy overturned.

Andrew County EMS transported both drivers to Mosaic Life Care where the St. Joseph man was pronounced deceased.&nbsp; Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

BUCHANAN COUNTY — A St. Joseph man died in an accident just before 9:30a.m. Thursday in Buchanan County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2007 Chevy Colorado driven by an 83-year-old St. Joseph man was attempting to merge onto northbound Interstate 29 from southbound U.S. 71 seven miles north of St. Joseph. Upon entering Interstate 29, the pickup made an abrupt left turn into the path of a 2024 Cadillac driven by a 64-year-old Merriam, Kansas woman.&nbsp; The Cadillac struck the drivers side of the Chevy. After impact the Chevy overturned.Andrew County EMS transported both drivers to Mosaic Life Care where the St. Joseph man was pronounced deceased.&nbsp; Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

St. Joseph man dies in 2-vehicle I-29 crash

Chiefs Training Camp at Missouri Western State University has shown fans a number of explosive downfield plays from the Kansas City Chiefs offense 

Patrick Mahomes says it's not just because it's training camp you're seeing those types of plays either 

"We've got the guys that can make the contested catches, I think y'all have seen that out here, and we've told them we're going to give them a chance and they've got to prove to us that they can make those plays and they're proving that," Mahomes tells reporters after practice.  "Coach Reid has been adamant about pushing the ball, trying to make plays happen, and we’ve been having success with it and the goal is to keep that going throughout the regular season." 

Saturday will mark the first NFL action for several rookies and first year players on this squad 

Mahomes, who was once in those shoes, says they just need to go out there and do what they've done all training camp 

"Obviously it's going to be a bigger stage, you're going up against another team, but I think Coach Reid prepares us better than anybody else in the league to go out there and play your best football and that's because we practice hard, we practice fast, so when you get to the game it's not that huge step up, it's a step up for sure, but it's not that huge step up," Mahomes explains.  "So go out there like you practice, have the right mindset, and just play fast and let the rest handle itself." 

Head Coach Andy Reid says for the first game, the rotation will be typical, with Patrick Mahomes in the first quarter, Gardner Minshew in the second, and so on.  

Working with nearly an entirely new offensive line, Reid is prepared to play his number one unit for more drives than usual, but says 

We’ll see how it goes. I’ll play that by ear, but you know probably not more than a quarter," Reid says 

The Chiefs and Cardinals kickoff on Saturday at 7pm, pregame will air at 6 on Q Country 92.7 

Kansas City has just three more practices in St. Joseph remaining, returning to MoWest on Monday with practice at 10:15. 

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754597064618.jpeg" alt="Patrick Mahomes warms up as Matt Nagy watches on/ Photo by Justin Peacock" />
 <figcaption>Patrick Mahomes warms up as Matt Nagy watches on/ Photo by Justin Peacock</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKE Chiefs Training Camp at Missouri Western State University has shown fans a number of explosive downfield plays from the Kansas City Chiefs offense Patrick Mahomes says it's not just because it's training camp you're seeing those types of plays either "We've got the guys that can make the contested catches, I think y'all have seen that out here, and we've told them we're going to give them a chance and they've got to prove to us that they can make those plays and they're proving that," Mahomes tells reporters after practice. "Coach Reid has been adamant about pushing the ball, trying to make plays happen, and we’ve been having success with it and the goal is to keep that going throughout the regular season." Saturday will mark the first NFL action for several rookies and first year players on this squad Mahomes, who was once in those shoes, says they just need to go out there and do what they've done all training camp "Obviously it's going to be a bigger stage, you're going up against another team, but I think Coach Reid prepares us better than anybody else in the league to go out there and play your best football and that's because we practice hard, we practice fast, so when you get to the game it's not that huge step up, it's a step up for sure, but it's not that huge step up," Mahomes explains. "So go out there like you practice, have the right mindset, and just play fast and let the rest handle itself." Head Coach Andy Reid says for the first game, the rotation will be typical, with Patrick Mahomes in the first quarter, Gardner Minshew in the second, and so on. Working with nearly an entirely new offensive line, Reid is prepared to play his number one unit for more drives than usual, but says We’ll see how it goes. I’ll play that by ear, but you know probably not more than a quarter," Reid says The Chiefs and Cardinals kickoff on Saturday at 7pm, pregame will air at 6 on Q Country 92.7 Kansas City has just three more practices in St. Joseph remaining, returning to MoWest on Monday with practice at 10:15. You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Nearing end of time in St. Joseph, Chiefs ready for first preseason game Saturday

BROWN COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 5p.m. Wednesday in Brown County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2020 Polaris Ranger driven by Jace&nbsp;Twombly, 13, Hiawatha, was northbound on Mulberry Road and a 1978 Ford pickup driven by Luke A.&nbsp;Kessler, 25, Hiawatha,&nbsp;was eastbound on 230th Street. The vehicles collided in the intersection.

 EMS transported the boy to Amberwell Hospital. Kessler was not injured and properly restrained, according to the KHP.

BROWN COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 5p.m. Wednesday in Brown County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2020 Polaris Ranger driven by Jace&nbsp;Twombly, 13, Hiawatha, was northbound on Mulberry Road and a 1978 Ford pickup driven by Luke A.&nbsp;Kessler, 25, Hiawatha,&nbsp;was eastbound on 230th Street. The vehicles collided in the intersection. EMS transported the boy to Amberwell Hospital. Kessler was not injured and properly restrained, according to the KHP.

13-year-old UTV rider injured in crash with pickup

Storms sent fans home early and forced the Kansas City Chiefs into the Griffons indoor sports complex for practice today.  

After questions of if he would retire following last year's Super Bowl loss, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is back in St. Joseph with the Chiefs for a 13th year.  

Kelce says what juices him up more than anything is to see the way the Chiefs program has grown through those 13 years 

"The fact that we have created this culture, we have created this machine that when you do it the right way it works and you get to win football games because of it," Kelce tells reporters following practice.  "And I think that alone kind of gives you the excitement that what we're doing here is special." 

All those years, except for one, Chiefs Training Camp has been held in St. Joseph which Kelce has referred to in the past as his sanctuary, and he says that's still the case.  

"I love it here, it gets me away from everything else that's going on in this crazy world and I think you can really just focus in on your craft and focus in on being the best you can for the guys around you," Kelce explains.  "Football's always been the biggest driving force I've ever had so I love coming out here and focusing on this and getting better for another run at hopefully another Super Bowl." 

Kelce has said on his podcast 'New Heights' that when in St. Joseph it's all about football and people can't even get ahold of him.  

Coming into Chiefs Training Camp last season, running back Carson Steele was looking to make an impact wherever he could.   

Head Coach Andy Reid possibly viewed Steele as a fullback, which Steele did begin learning, but spent much of last season at running back behind Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt.

Coming into camp this year, Steele says he had a point of emphasis this offseason to continue working on several roles 

"Work a lot more on my fullback role, special teams, as well as keeping the running back side of me," Steele says.  "I kind of talked last year about being a swiss army knife, kind of doing everything, but taking that to the next step this year." 

Steele is listed on the Chiefs first unofficial depth chart as the starting fullback, showing the Chiefs confidence in the growth of his blocking abilities 

The Chiefs continued gearing up for their first preseason game Saturday.  Going into game one, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo says his focus is always on tackling and block destruction 

"I'm always going to be preaching guys let's find a way to get off blocks and tackle, the rest will take care of itself, and we'll build from there," Spagnuolo says.  "But if we're not doing that in game one then I'll be concerned you've got to go back to step one, et cetera, et cetera, so those will be big things." 

Kansas City takes on the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday on the road.   

The Chiefs still practiced for just over two hours, even after moving inside.  One more practice this week tomorrow at 9:15, before Saturday's preseason game. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754506665049.jpeg" alt="Travis Kelce works on a blocking drill during Chiefs Training Camp in St. Joseph/ Photo by Justin Peacock" />
 <figcaption>Travis Kelce works on a blocking drill during Chiefs Training Camp in St. Joseph/ Photo by Justin Peacock</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKE Storms sent fans home early and forced the Kansas City Chiefs into the Griffons indoor sports complex for practice today. After questions of if he would retire following last year's Super Bowl loss, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is back in St. Joseph with the Chiefs for a 13th year. Kelce says what juices him up more than anything is to see the way the Chiefs program has grown through those 13 years "The fact that we have created this culture, we have created this machine that when you do it the right way it works and you get to win football games because of it," Kelce tells reporters following practice. "And I think that alone kind of gives you the excitement that what we're doing here is special." All those years, except for one, Chiefs Training Camp has been held in St. Joseph which Kelce has referred to in the past as his sanctuary, and he says that's still the case. "I love it here, it gets me away from everything else that's going on in this crazy world and I think you can really just focus in on your craft and focus in on being the best you can for the guys around you," Kelce explains. "Football's always been the biggest driving force I've ever had so I love coming out here and focusing on this and getting better for another run at hopefully another Super Bowl." Kelce has said on his podcast 'New Heights' that when in St. Joseph it's all about football and people can't even get ahold of him. Coming into Chiefs Training Camp last season, running back Carson Steele was looking to make an impact wherever he could. Head Coach Andy Reid possibly viewed Steele as a fullback, which Steele did begin learning, but spent much of last season at running back behind Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754506714872.jpeg" alt="Carson Steele/ Photo by Justin Peacock" />
 <figcaption>Carson Steele/ Photo by Justin Peacock</figcaption>
 </figure>Coming into camp this year, Steele says he had a point of emphasis this offseason to continue working on several roles "Work a lot more on my fullback role, special teams, as well as keeping the running back side of me," Steele says. "I kind of talked last year about being a swiss army knife, kind of doing everything, but taking that to the next step this year." Steele is listed on the Chiefs first unofficial depth chart as the starting fullback, showing the Chiefs confidence in the growth of his blocking abilities The Chiefs continued gearing up for their first preseason game Saturday. Going into game one, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo says his focus is always on tackling and block destruction "I'm always going to be preaching guys let's find a way to get off blocks and tackle, the rest will take care of itself, and we'll build from there," Spagnuolo says. "But if we're not doing that in game one then I'll be concerned you've got to go back to step one, et cetera, et cetera, so those will be big things." Kansas City takes on the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday on the road. The Chiefs still practiced for just over two hours, even after moving inside. One more practice this week tomorrow at 9:15, before Saturday's preseason game. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754506747960.jpeg" alt="Travis Kelce catches a pass during Chiefs Training Camp/ Photo by Justin Peacock" />
 <figcaption>Travis Kelce catches a pass during Chiefs Training Camp/ Photo by Justin Peacock</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Kelce happy to return to his sanctuary during Chiefs Training Camp

St. Joseph —Great turnout for National Night Out in St. Joseph and Cameron, according to a social media report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop H.

"We enjoyed visiting and interacting with community members. Events like this help build relationships and trust—thank you for coming out."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754444234367.jpeg" alt="Photos MSHP Troop H" />
 <figcaption>Photos MSHP Troop H</figcaption>
 </figure>St. Joseph —Great turnout for National Night Out in St. Joseph and Cameron, according to a social media report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop H.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754444208251.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>"We enjoyed visiting and interacting with community members. Events like this help build relationships and trust—thank you for coming out."

MSHP: Great turnout for National Night Out

The Kansas City Chiefs were back at it today after a Monday off day, gearing up for the Arizona Cardinals during practice at Missouri Western State University.  

The Chiefs offense is working to get the explosive, downfield play back this season.  That's something offensive coordinator Matt Nagy felt they hit their stride with during today's practice 

"I really felt like today was one of our, as a group and in particular with Pat, one of our better days with those types of throws, some downfield stuff," Nagy tells reporters after practice.  "Where the timing element, it wasn't one of those deals where you're scrambling throwing the ball away and catching a ball off timing, these were all on timing throws and then guys were making great catches, so I was really pleased with that." 

The Chiefs offense remains without Hollywood Brown who did not practice again today with an ankle injury.   

The Chiefs safety group lost a piece this offseason as veteran safety Justin Reid was not resigned and moved on to the New Orleans Saints.   

Kansas City brought back safety Mike Edwards, who spent last year with Buffalo and Tampa Bay after being with Kansas City in 2023, to add that veteran presence to a young room.

Edwards says the last time he was here; it was Reid that was that leader, but now he feels like it's his responsibility to take on that role 

"Whatever it may be, trying to take on a leadership role," Edwards says.  "You know I feel like everybody can be a leader in that room, but being an older guy, being a vet, trying to take on that role so I can help out the younger guys as much as possible." 

Edwards says he's been impressed with the young safeties in the room like Jaden Hicks and Glendon Miller.  

He also adds there was no question he wanted to come back to Kansas City, because of how well the organization treated him 

Adding to that young core, the Chiefs drafted a rookie class that's very likeable and are becoming fan favorites during Chiefs Training Camp.  

Josh Simmons and Jalen Royals are greeted with cheers each morning coming down the hill.  But another working hard, and being recognized, is fifth round pick linebacker Jeffrey Bassa

Bassa sees himself as a swiss army knife of sorts, and says defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has had him working out all across the defense 

"Really learning both positions, the Mike and the Will, really trying to cross train so when it comes to a situation where he can get me in at either position, I feel like we've been doing a great job at that as well," Bassa says.  "Kind of knowing the fact that I'm learning two positions and now that I'm going to be able to later on in my career learn the back end and learn the full front, I feel like it's going to be a good job and it's going to help me in the long end."  

Bassa also credits leaning on veteran linebackers Drue Tranquill and Nick Bolton in the learning process as guys that have helped ease him into the NFL.  

The Chiefs held another over two-hour practice, a standard at this point in camp.  Kansas City will practice again tomorrow at 9:15. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753213356048.jpeg" alt="Gardner Minshew (17) hands the ball off to Brashard Smith (30) as Patrick Mahomes and offensive coordinator Matt Nagy watch on/ File photo" />
 <figcaption>Gardner Minshew (17) hands the ball off to Brashard Smith (30) as Patrick Mahomes and offensive coordinator Matt Nagy watch on/ File photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKE The Kansas City Chiefs were back at it today after a Monday off day, gearing up for the Arizona Cardinals during practice at Missouri Western State University. The Chiefs offense is working to get the explosive, downfield play back this season. That's something offensive coordinator Matt Nagy felt they hit their stride with during today's practice "I really felt like today was one of our, as a group and in particular with Pat, one of our better days with those types of throws, some downfield stuff," Nagy tells reporters after practice. "Where the timing element, it wasn't one of those deals where you're scrambling throwing the ball away and catching a ball off timing, these were all on timing throws and then guys were making great catches, so I was really pleased with that." The Chiefs offense remains without Hollywood Brown who did not practice again today with an ankle injury. The Chiefs safety group lost a piece this offseason as veteran safety Justin Reid was not resigned and moved on to the New Orleans Saints. Kansas City brought back safety Mike Edwards, who spent last year with Buffalo and Tampa Bay after being with Kansas City in 2023, to add that veteran presence to a young room.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754429932175.jpeg" alt="Mike Edwards (34) lines up to blitz during a defensive drill during Chiefs Training Camp Photo by Justin Peacock.jpg" />
 <figcaption>Mike Edwards (34) lines up to blitz during a defensive drill during Chiefs Training Camp Photo by Justin Peacock.jpg</figcaption>
 </figure>Edwards says the last time he was here; it was Reid that was that leader, but now he feels like it's his responsibility to take on that role "Whatever it may be, trying to take on a leadership role," Edwards says. "You know I feel like everybody can be a leader in that room, but being an older guy, being a vet, trying to take on that role so I can help out the younger guys as much as possible." Edwards says he's been impressed with the young safeties in the room like Jaden Hicks and Glendon Miller. He also adds there was no question he wanted to come back to Kansas City, because of how well the organization treated him Adding to that young core, the Chiefs drafted a rookie class that's very likeable and are becoming fan favorites during Chiefs Training Camp. Josh Simmons and Jalen Royals are greeted with cheers each morning coming down the hill. But another working hard, and being recognized, is fifth round pick linebacker Jeffrey Bassa<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754429904720.jpeg" alt="Rookie linebacker Jeffrey Bassa runs a drill during Chiefs Training Camp in St. Joseph Photo by Justin Peacock.jpg" />
 <figcaption>Rookie linebacker Jeffrey Bassa runs a drill during Chiefs Training Camp in St. Joseph Photo by Justin Peacock.jpg</figcaption>
 </figure>Bassa sees himself as a swiss army knife of sorts, and says defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has had him working out all across the defense "Really learning both positions, the Mike and the Will, really trying to cross train so when it comes to a situation where he can get me in at either position, I feel like we've been doing a great job at that as well," Bassa says. "Kind of knowing the fact that I'm learning two positions and now that I'm going to be able to later on in my career learn the back end and learn the full front, I feel like it's going to be a good job and it's going to help me in the long end." Bassa also credits leaning on veteran linebackers Drue Tranquill and Nick Bolton in the learning process as guys that have helped ease him into the NFL. The Chiefs held another over two-hour practice, a standard at this point in camp. Kansas City will practice again tomorrow at 9:15. You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.&nbsp;&nbsp;

With first preseason game on the horizon, Chiefs return to practice

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/kelcie-moseley-morris/">Kelcie Moseley-Morris</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/09/21/missouri-judge-once-again-delays-decision-on-closing-agape-boarding-school/">Missouri Independent</a>

The Trump administration has taken its first step toward restricting access to abortions for veterans who are covered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ medical benefits, reversing a<a href="https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2022-09-09/html/2022-19239.htm" target="_blank">&nbsp;2022 rule</a>.

Former Democratic President Joe Biden’s administration enacted the rule following the U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision, which ended federally protected access to abortion. More than a dozen states implemented abortion bans after that decision, and the policy was meant to preserve access to abortion for veterans in certain circumstances, regardless of where they lived. Veterans Affairs medical centers were allowed to provide abortions in cases of rape or incest, and when the life or health of the pregnant person was in jeopardy. Counseling about abortion was also permitted.

Under the proposal, nearly all abortions, except those to save a patient’s life, would be banned at U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals and would no longer be covered by VA medical benefits.

In<a href="https://www.guttmacher.org/state-policy/explore/state-policies-abortion-bans" target="_blank">&nbsp;eight states with abortion bans</a>, there are no rape or incest exceptions, including Texas, Alabama and Oklahoma, according to the Guttmacher Institute. Five states with bans also don’t have an exception in cases where the pregnant person’s health is at risk, only to save their life.

The rule also applies to recipients of the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA), which provides coverage to veterans’ families, including children, along with caregivers of veterans.

Officials&nbsp;<a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/08/04/2025-14687/reproductive-health-services#page-36416" target="_blank">wrote in the proposal</a>&nbsp;that the 2022 policy was enacted because the administration expected increased “demand” for abortion services, but the rule cited abortion bans in several states that created an environment of uncertainty for veterans who might need care.

The Department of Veterans Affairs provided 88 abortions in the first year after the rule went into place, 64 of which were performed because of a threat to the pregnant person’s health, according to VA data<a href="https://www.military.com/daily-news/2023/10/19/va-says-it-performed-88-abortions-past-year-congress-again-threatens-subpoenas-pursuit-of-more.html" target="_blank">&nbsp;reported by Military.com</a>.

Rescinding the rule was a directive in Project 2025, the blueprint document published by the conservative Heritage Foundation and co-authored by anti-abortion organizations such as Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America. The first of what the document calls “needed reforms” calls for rescinding all department clinical policy directives that are “contrary to principles of conservative governance, starting with abortion services and gender reassignment surgery.”

“Neither aligns with service-connected conditions that would warrant VA’s providing this type of clinical care,” the Project 2025 document reads.

U.S. law already mandates that federal funding cannot be used for abortions except in cases of rape, incest and in certain medical circumstances. The administration argues the 2022 rule violated the “bright line between elective abortion and health care services” and should return to a policy that only allows abortion care to save the pregnant person’s life. Counseling about abortion options would no longer be permitted.

“Taken together, claims in the prior administrations rule that abortions throughout pregnancy are needed to save the lives of pregnant women are incorrect,” officials wrote in the proposed rule description. “Prior to September 9, 2022, abortions and abortion counseling were excluded from the medical benefits package, with no exceptions.”

According to estimates from nonprofit National Partnership for Women and Families, more than 400,000 women veterans lived in states that already had an abortion ban in place or were likely to ban it in 2023. That figure represents more than half of the women veterans in the country.

<a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/08/04/2025-14687/reproductive-health-services#page-36416" target="_blank">Public comment</a>&nbsp;on the proposed rule will be accepted until Sept. 3.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754415459349.png" alt="Google image" />
 <figcaption>Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/kelcie-moseley-morris/">Kelcie Moseley-Morris</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/09/21/missouri-judge-once-again-delays-decision-on-closing-agape-boarding-school/">Missouri Independent</a>The Trump administration has taken its first step toward restricting access to abortions for veterans who are covered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ medical benefits, reversing a<a href="https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2022-09-09/html/2022-19239.htm" target="_blank">&nbsp;2022 rule</a>.Former Democratic President Joe Biden’s administration enacted the rule following the U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision, which ended federally protected access to abortion. More than a dozen states implemented abortion bans after that decision, and the policy was meant to preserve access to abortion for veterans in certain circumstances, regardless of where they lived. Veterans Affairs medical centers were allowed to provide abortions in cases of rape or incest, and when the life or health of the pregnant person was in jeopardy. Counseling about abortion was also permitted.Under the proposal, nearly all abortions, except those to save a patient’s life, would be banned at U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals and would no longer be covered by VA medical benefits.In<a href="https://www.guttmacher.org/state-policy/explore/state-policies-abortion-bans" target="_blank">&nbsp;eight states with abortion bans</a>, there are no rape or incest exceptions, including Texas, Alabama and Oklahoma, according to the Guttmacher Institute. Five states with bans also don’t have an exception in cases where the pregnant person’s health is at risk, only to save their life.The rule also applies to recipients of the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA), which provides coverage to veterans’ families, including children, along with caregivers of veterans.Officials&nbsp;<a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/08/04/2025-14687/reproductive-health-services#page-36416" target="_blank">wrote in the proposal</a>&nbsp;that the 2022 policy was enacted because the administration expected increased “demand” for abortion services, but the rule cited abortion bans in several states that created an environment of uncertainty for veterans who might need care.The Department of Veterans Affairs provided 88 abortions in the first year after the rule went into place, 64 of which were performed because of a threat to the pregnant person’s health, according to VA data<a href="https://www.military.com/daily-news/2023/10/19/va-says-it-performed-88-abortions-past-year-congress-again-threatens-subpoenas-pursuit-of-more.html" target="_blank">&nbsp;reported by Military.com</a>.Rescinding the rule was a directive in Project 2025, the blueprint document published by the conservative Heritage Foundation and co-authored by anti-abortion organizations such as Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America. The first of what the document calls “needed reforms” calls for rescinding all department clinical policy directives that are “contrary to principles of conservative governance, starting with abortion services and gender reassignment surgery.”“Neither aligns with service-connected conditions that would warrant VA’s providing this type of clinical care,” the Project 2025 document reads.U.S. law already mandates that federal funding cannot be used for abortions except in cases of rape, incest and in certain medical circumstances. The administration argues the 2022 rule violated the “bright line between elective abortion and health care services” and should return to a policy that only allows abortion care to save the pregnant person’s life. Counseling about abortion options would no longer be permitted.“Taken together, claims in the prior administrations rule that abortions throughout pregnancy are needed to save the lives of pregnant women are incorrect,” officials wrote in the proposed rule description. “Prior to September 9, 2022, abortions and abortion counseling were excluded from the medical benefits package, with no exceptions.”According to estimates from nonprofit National Partnership for Women and Families, more than 400,000 women veterans lived in states that already had an abortion ban in place or were likely to ban it in 2023. That figure represents more than half of the women veterans in the country.<a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/08/04/2025-14687/reproductive-health-services#page-36416" target="_blank">Public comment</a>&nbsp;on the proposed rule will be accepted until Sept. 3.&nbsp;

Trump admin. moves to end veterans’ abortion access in cases of rape, incest and health

ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a weekend traffic stop.&nbsp;

Just after&nbsp;2p.m. on Saturday police conducted a traffic stop in the 500 block U.S.59 in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson. A passenger in the vehicle, identified as 53-year-old Dwight Downing, was arrested on

outstanding warrants for failure to appear in court. During his arrest he was found to be in possession of methamphetamine and marijuana, according to Wilson.&nbsp; Downing remains in custody.

Dwight A. Downing, Jr., 53, Atchison, was arrested on Saturday on District and Municipal Court warrants for failure to appear in court. Also charged with possession of methamphetamine and possession of marijuana. Taken to County Jail.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754320137120.png" alt="Downing photo Atchison County." />
 <figcaption>Downing photo Atchison County.</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a weekend traffic stop.&nbsp;Just after&nbsp;2p.m. on Saturday police conducted a traffic stop in the 500 block U.S.59 in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson. A passenger in the vehicle, identified as 53-year-old Dwight Downing, was arrested onoutstanding warrants for failure to appear in court. During his arrest he was found to be in possession of methamphetamine and marijuana, according to Wilson.&nbsp; Downing remains in custody.Dwight A. Downing, Jr., 53, Atchison, was arrested on Saturday on District and Municipal Court warrants for failure to appear in court. Also charged with possession of methamphetamine and possession of marijuana. Taken to County Jail.

Police: Kan. man accused of skipping court, drug possession

The hot topic during this Kansas City Chiefs Training Camp at Missouri Western State University has been the battle along the offensive line 

With guys shifting to every position to find the best five along the line, players like Josh Simmons, Jaylon Moore, and Jawaan Taylor are competing every day for their spot.  

Taylor, who recently returned from the physically unable to perform list after an offseason knee procedure, says the competition is going well 

"Everyone's moving around, trying different positions and stuff like that, doing what Coach Heck is asking us to do," Taylor tells reporters after practice.  "And everyone's just trying to get better as a unit and be a better O-Line for sure." 

To find the best five guys to start week one, head coach Andy Reid and offensive line coach Andy Heck have players moving all across the offensive line, some in positions they may have not played much in their careers.

Like newly signed lineman Jaylon Moore, whose been working out at guard despite playing tackle for most of his career in San Francisco.  But Moore says while it's new, it's still just football 

"The biggest thing is just keep trying to take steps forward, keep trying to improve looking at the film and try to improve every day," Moore says. 

Moore has been competing with Mike Caliendo and Kingsley Suamataia to replace Joe Thuney at left guard, while also competing with rookie Josh Simmons at left tackle.  He's also rotated with Jawaan Taylor at right tackle.  

This year's NFL Draft brought an impressive crop of rookies to the Chiefs, many that have quickly become fan favorites during Chiefs Training Camp 

One of those is fourth round pick wide receiver Jalen Royals, whose impressed fans with his pass catching and route running ability for Patrick Mahomes.

Royals says he's been soaking in a lot of knowledge from his veteran quarterback 

"In the meeting room he tells me everything I need to do and then off the meetings and stuff like that where I'm just out here he'll tell me corrections and stuff like that," Royals says.  "And obviously after the play he'll let me know on the sidelines." 

Royals has built a good rapport with Mahomes, and could make a pretty immediate impact in the offense with the pending suspension to Rashee Rice and Hollywood Brown currently injured with an ankle injury

The Chiefs practiced again for just over two hours today, this time in shorts and out of pads.  They are off on Monday, and back to practice on Tuesday at 9:15.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754246656084.jpeg" alt="The Chiefs offensive line works hard at Kansas City Chiefs Training Camp. The offensive line battle has been a huge focus of this year's camp in St. Joseph/ Photo by Justin Peacock" />
 <figcaption>The Chiefs offensive line works hard at Kansas City Chiefs Training Camp. The offensive line battle has been a huge focus of this year's camp in St. Joseph/ Photo by Justin Peacock</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKE The hot topic during this Kansas City Chiefs Training Camp at Missouri Western State University has been the battle along the offensive line With guys shifting to every position to find the best five along the line, players like Josh Simmons, Jaylon Moore, and Jawaan Taylor are competing every day for their spot. Taylor, who recently returned from the physically unable to perform list after an offseason knee procedure, says the competition is going well "Everyone's moving around, trying different positions and stuff like that, doing what Coach Heck is asking us to do," Taylor tells reporters after practice. "And everyone's just trying to get better as a unit and be a better O-Line for sure." To find the best five guys to start week one, head coach Andy Reid and offensive line coach Andy Heck have players moving all across the offensive line, some in positions they may have not played much in their careers.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754246290245.jpeg" alt="Offensive tackle Jaylon Moore (77) walks down the hill alongside fellow offensive lineman Chukwuebuka Godrick (72) and rookie Josh Simmons (71)/ Photo by Alexis Starks" />
 <figcaption>Offensive tackle Jaylon Moore (77) walks down the hill alongside fellow offensive lineman Chukwuebuka Godrick (72) and rookie Josh Simmons (71)/ Photo by Alexis Starks</figcaption>
 </figure>Like newly signed lineman Jaylon Moore, whose been working out at guard despite playing tackle for most of his career in San Francisco. But Moore says while it's new, it's still just football "The biggest thing is just keep trying to take steps forward, keep trying to improve looking at the film and try to improve every day," Moore says. Moore has been competing with Mike Caliendo and Kingsley Suamataia to replace Joe Thuney at left guard, while also competing with rookie Josh Simmons at left tackle. He's also rotated with Jawaan Taylor at right tackle. This year's NFL Draft brought an impressive crop of rookies to the Chiefs, many that have quickly become fan favorites during Chiefs Training Camp One of those is fourth round pick wide receiver Jalen Royals, whose impressed fans with his pass catching and route running ability for Patrick Mahomes.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754245545125.jpeg" alt="Rookie Jalen Royals goes up for a catch during Chiefs Training Camp/ Photo by Justin Peacock" />
 <figcaption>Rookie Jalen Royals goes up for a catch during Chiefs Training Camp/ Photo by Justin Peacock</figcaption>
 </figure>Royals says he's been soaking in a lot of knowledge from his veteran quarterback "In the meeting room he tells me everything I need to do and then off the meetings and stuff like that where I'm just out here he'll tell me corrections and stuff like that," Royals says. "And obviously after the play he'll let me know on the sidelines." Royals has built a good rapport with Mahomes, and could make a pretty immediate impact in the offense with the pending suspension to Rashee Rice and Hollywood Brown currently injured with an ankle injury<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754245681052.jpeg" alt="Jalen Royals (11) goes for a catch during Chiefs Training Camp/ Photo by Justin Peacock" />
 <figcaption>Jalen Royals (11) goes for a catch during Chiefs Training Camp/ Photo by Justin Peacock</figcaption>
 </figure>The Chiefs practiced again for just over two hours today, this time in shorts and out of pads. They are off on Monday, and back to practice on Tuesday at 9:15.You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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