Maryville City Manager Ryan Heiland addressed the issue of short-term rentals not paying the additional 5% transient guest tax at a recent City Council meeting. 

Out of the 60 short-term rentals in Maryville, only 21 are legally registered and paying the tax. Heiland highlighted the challenges in ensuring compliance with the tax, as some rental owners were unaware of the requirement. 

The city is working to educate and collect the tax from all short-term rentals, with some owners already coming forward to pay back taxes. Airbnb has agreed to distribute the city's ordinance to all listed short-term rentals in Maryville to improve compliance.

Maryville City Manager Ryan Heiland addressed the issue of short-term rentals not paying the additional 5% transient guest tax at a recent City Council meeting. Out of the 60 short-term rentals in Maryville, only 21 are legally registered and paying the tax. Heiland highlighted the challenges in ensuring compliance with the tax, as some rental owners were unaware of the requirement. The city is working to educate and collect the tax from all short-term rentals, with some owners already coming forward to pay back taxes. Airbnb has agreed to distribute the city's ordinance to all listed short-term rentals in Maryville to improve compliance.

Two-thirds of Maryville short-term rentals failing to pay guest tax

BROWN COUNTY—Several scams are circulating throughout northeast Kansas regarding law enforcement.

According to Brown County Sheriff John Merchant, residents are&nbsp; receiving calls from computer generated&nbsp; numbers and areasking for donations to "Back the Blue".&nbsp; The caller has a heavy foreign accent.&nbsp; Residents&nbsp; have reported that the caller is very demanding and insistent that donations be made to this fund.&nbsp;

 When the caller is not getting anywhere with the resident, the caller then becomes belligerent and threatening.&nbsp; "This is a scam and in no way would any donation to this fund be on the up and up," according to Sheriff Merchant.

If you receive such a call, hang up immediately.

Several other residents have received calls from an organization that is establishing a monetary raffle to be given to local law enforcement.&nbsp; The caller is telling residents that donations received will be distributed to local law enforcement and their families in appreciation for their service.

Again, this caller has been reported to have a very heavy foreign accent. The caller is also very demanding and becomes belligerent when no donation is received.

These scammers&nbsp; appear to be preying on honest hard working individuals who are very loyal to law enforcement and are trying to pressure people into giving out their hard earned money.&nbsp; If you receive any call of this type, please hang up immediately. 

If you feel that you have been made a victim of this or any other scam, notify your local law enforcement immediately.

BROWN COUNTY—Several scams are circulating throughout northeast Kansas regarding law enforcement.According to Brown County Sheriff John Merchant, residents are&nbsp; receiving calls from computer generated&nbsp; numbers and areasking for donations to "Back the Blue".&nbsp; The caller has a heavy foreign accent.&nbsp; Residents&nbsp; have reported that the caller is very demanding and insistent that donations be made to this fund.&nbsp; When the caller is not getting anywhere with the resident, the caller then becomes belligerent and threatening.&nbsp; "This is a scam and in no way would any donation to this fund be on the up and up," according to Sheriff Merchant.If you receive such a call, hang up immediately.Several other residents have received calls from an organization that is establishing a monetary raffle to be given to local law enforcement.&nbsp; The caller is telling residents that donations received will be distributed to local law enforcement and their families in appreciation for their service.Again, this caller has been reported to have a very heavy foreign accent. The caller is also very demanding and becomes belligerent when no donation is received.These scammers&nbsp; appear to be preying on honest hard working individuals who are very loyal to law enforcement and are trying to pressure people into giving out their hard earned money.&nbsp; If you receive any call of this type, please hang up immediately. If you feel that you have been made a victim of this or any other scam, notify your local law enforcement immediately.

Sheriff: New scam calls mention area law enforcement

A 20-year-old man from Cameron, MO, was arrested for making a bomb threat at the Cameron Walmart on Friday night. 

Police responded to the incident and detained the man after a struggle. A search of the man, identified as Tucker James Craft, revealed drug paraphernalia and stolen electronic devices from the store. 

Craft had allegedly made the bomb threat after being denied service for presenting an expired driver's license. He faces multiple felony and misdemeanor charges for the incident including 2nd degree terrorist threat, resisting arrest, stealing, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769449786644.png" alt="Craft. photo Daviess-DeKalb jail" />
 <figcaption>Craft. photo Daviess-DeKalb jail</figcaption>
 </figure>A 20-year-old man from Cameron, MO, was arrested for making a bomb threat at the Cameron Walmart on Friday night. Police responded to the incident and detained the man after a struggle. A search of the man, identified as Tucker James Craft, revealed drug paraphernalia and stolen electronic devices from the store. Craft had allegedly made the bomb threat after being denied service for presenting an expired driver's license. He faces multiple felony and misdemeanor charges for the incident including 2nd degree terrorist threat, resisting arrest, stealing, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance, according to online jail records.

Cameron man arrested after alleged Walmart bomb threat

Missouri lawmakers are considering a bill, HB 2743, that would change the state's vehicle inspection program to only require inspections for vehicles made before 2013 or with over 150,000 miles. 

Currently, vehicles older than ten years or with over 150,000 miles must undergo a safety inspection every two years at a cost of $12. Supporters argue that the current requirements pose challenges for rural residents, while opponents fear that reducing inspections could lead to more fatal accidents. 

The bill has passed the House Government Efficiency Committee and will move to the House floor for further debate.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750778708132.jpg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Missouri lawmakers are considering a bill, HB 2743, that would change the state's vehicle inspection program to only require inspections for vehicles made before 2013 or with over 150,000 miles. Currently, vehicles older than ten years or with over 150,000 miles must undergo a safety inspection every two years at a cost of $12. Supporters argue that the current requirements pose challenges for rural residents, while opponents fear that reducing inspections could lead to more fatal accidents. The bill has passed the House Government Efficiency Committee and will move to the House floor for further debate.

Missouri House debates bill to scale back vehicle safety inspections

Here is a list of general highway maintenance and construction work the Missouri Department of Transportation has planned in the Northwest Missouri region for the week of Jan. 26 - Feb. 1.

Gene Field Road Bridge –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;due to damage from being struck by an oversized load. The project was awarded to Clarkson Construction Company.

Route 752 (Alabama Street) –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;from U.S. Route 59 to Sherman Street for an intersection improvement project through February 2026.&nbsp;

Route D –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;for a bridge replacement project at the Shoal Creek Bridge through March 2026.

Route W – Brush cutting from Route T to U.S. Route 65, Jan. 20-23, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily. The road will be narrowed to one lane with flaggers guiding motorists through the work zone.

Route PP –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;at the Mid-Fork Chariton River Overflow Bridge for replacement projects through the Northwest Bridge Bundle through March 2026.

Route KK –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;at the Puzzle Creek Bridge for a replacement project through the Northwest Bridge Bundle through mid-March 2026.

Route O –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;at the Bee Creek Bridge for a replacement project through the Northwest Bridge Bundle through April 2026.

Route KK –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;at the Little Chariton River Bridge for a deck replacement project through March 2026.

Route 11 –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;at the Badger Creek Bridge, north of New Boston, for a bridge replacement project through the Northwest Bridge Bundle through May 2026.

Route 139 -&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;at the Parson Creek Bridge, north of Meadville, for a bridge replacement project through the Northwest Bridge Bundle through May 2026.

U.S. Route 36 – Bridge maintenance westbound at the bridge over Turkey Creek, Jan. 26-29. The bridge will be narrowed to one lane around-the-clock.

Route K –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;at the North Fork Crooked Creek Bridge beginning Feb. 19 for a bridge replacement project through the Northwest Bridge Bundle through April 2026.

Route T –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;at the East Locust Creek bridge due to deterioration. The bridge is scheduled to be replaced in the spring of 2026 through the Northwest Bridge Bundle.

Route W –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;for a bridge replacement at the West Fork Grand River Bridge through January 2026.

There may be moving operations throughout the region, in addition to the work mentioned below. Inclement weather may cause schedule changes in some of the planned work.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704585565260.png" alt="MoDot" />
 <figcaption>MoDot</figcaption>
 </figure>(By RYAN SKAITH)Here is a list of general highway maintenance and construction work the Missouri Department of Transportation has planned in the Northwest Missouri region for the week of Jan. 26 - Feb. 1.Buchanan CountyGene Field Road Bridge –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;due to damage from being struck by an oversized load. The project was awarded to Clarkson Construction Company.Route 752 (Alabama Street) –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;from U.S. Route 59 to Sherman Street for an intersection improvement project through February 2026.&nbsp;Caldwell CountyRoute D –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;for a bridge replacement project at the Shoal Creek Bridge through March 2026.Carroll CountyRoute W – Brush cutting from Route T to U.S. Route 65, Jan. 20-23, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily. The road will be narrowed to one lane with flaggers guiding motorists through the work zone.Chariton CountyRoute PP –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;at the Mid-Fork Chariton River Overflow Bridge for replacement projects through the Northwest Bridge Bundle through March 2026.Route KK –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;at the Puzzle Creek Bridge for a replacement project through the Northwest Bridge Bundle through mid-March 2026.Route O –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;at the Bee Creek Bridge for a replacement project through the Northwest Bridge Bundle through April 2026.Route KK –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;at the Little Chariton River Bridge for a deck replacement project through March 2026.Linn CountyRoute 11 –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;at the Badger Creek Bridge, north of New Boston, for a bridge replacement project through the Northwest Bridge Bundle through May 2026.Route 139 -&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;at the Parson Creek Bridge, north of Meadville, for a bridge replacement project through the Northwest Bridge Bundle through May 2026.U.S. Route 36 – Bridge maintenance westbound at the bridge over Turkey Creek, Jan. 26-29. The bridge will be narrowed to one lane around-the-clock.Livingston CountyRoute K –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;at the North Fork Crooked Creek Bridge beginning Feb. 19 for a bridge replacement project through the Northwest Bridge Bundle through April 2026.Sullivan CountyRoute T –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;at the East Locust Creek bridge due to deterioration. The bridge is scheduled to be replaced in the spring of 2026 through the Northwest Bridge Bundle.Worth CountyRoute W –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;for a bridge replacement at the West Fork Grand River Bridge through January 2026.There may be moving operations throughout the region, in addition to the work mentioned below. Inclement weather may cause schedule changes in some of the planned work.

Planned roadwork for Northwest Missouri, Jan. 26 - Feb. 1

(Radio Iowa) - The Iowa Supreme Court upheld a district court ruling that says Iowa can sue the operators of the TikTok app for allegedly lying about its safety for kids. 

The state sued TikTok operators under the Iowa Consumer Frauds Act saying they kept a "12-plus" age rating on the app despite the presence of mature and age-inappropriate content. TikTok argued their terms of service agreement is a nationwide contract not directed specifically at Iowa customers. 

The Supreme Court ruling says TikTok has entered ongoing contractual relationships with hundreds of thousands of Iowa residents where they actively curate content for Iowa users and in exchange they extract valuable data. It says intentionally conducting business within a state comes with the protection of the state’s laws and the burden of being hauled into court to answer for misconduct related to its operations.

(Radio Iowa) - The Iowa Supreme Court upheld a district court ruling that says Iowa can sue the operators of the TikTok app for allegedly lying about its safety for kids. The state sued TikTok operators under the Iowa Consumer Frauds Act saying they kept a "12-plus" age rating on the app despite the presence of mature and age-inappropriate content. TikTok argued their terms of service agreement is a nationwide contract not directed specifically at Iowa customers. The Supreme Court ruling says TikTok has entered ongoing contractual relationships with hundreds of thousands of Iowa residents where they actively curate content for Iowa users and in exchange they extract valuable data. It says intentionally conducting business within a state comes with the protection of the state’s laws and the burden of being hauled into court to answer for misconduct related to its operations.

Iowa Supreme Court Says State Case Against TikTok Can Go Forward

DAVIESS COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 6p.m. Sunday in Daviess County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2018 Peterbilt semi driven by a 27-year-old Mission, Texas man was northbound on Interstate 35 three miles northwest of Winston. The semi began to slide, traveled off the west side of the road into the media, spun 180 degrees and overturned.&nbsp;

Daviess County ambulance transported the driver to Cameron Regional Medical Center. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

DAVIESS COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 6p.m. Sunday in Daviess County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2018 Peterbilt semi driven by a 27-year-old Mission, Texas man was northbound on Interstate 35 three miles northwest of Winston. The semi began to slide, traveled off the west side of the road into the media, spun 180 degrees and overturned.&nbsp;Daviess County ambulance transported the driver to Cameron Regional Medical Center. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Driver injured after violent Daviess Co. semi crash

LIVINGSTON COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 2p.m. Sunday in Livingston County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2026 Volvo semi driven by a man from Canada was eastbound on U.S. 36 one mile east of Wheeling behind a 1981 John Deere Tractor driven by a 64-year-old Meadville man.&nbsp; &nbsp; The semi began to follow too closely and attempted to overtake the tractor. The right front of the semi rear-ended the tractor. 

After impact the tractor overturned. A private vehicle transported the tractor driver to Hedrick Medical Center. The semi driver was not injured. The MSHP no longer releases names of accident victims.

LIVINGSTON COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 2p.m. Sunday in Livingston County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2026 Volvo semi driven by a man from Canada was eastbound on U.S. 36 one mile east of Wheeling behind a 1981 John Deere Tractor driven by a 64-year-old Meadville man.&nbsp; &nbsp; The semi began to follow too closely and attempted to overtake the tractor. The right front of the semi rear-ended the tractor. After impact the tractor overturned. A private vehicle transported the tractor driver to Hedrick Medical Center. The semi driver was not injured. The MSHP no longer releases names of accident victims.

Mo. man hospitalized after semi rear-ends a farm tractor.

CALDWELL COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 2p.m. Sunday in Caldwell County.

The Missouti State Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Toyota Camry driven by a 73-year-old Braymer woman was northbound on Main Street south of East 6th Street in Braymer. The car traveled off the west side of the road, struck a concrete barrier, struck the ground near a private driveway and came to rest in the driveway.

Livingston County ambulance transported the driver to Cameron Regional Medical Center. She was properly restrained, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

CALDWELL COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 2p.m. Sunday in Caldwell County.The Missouti State Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Toyota Camry driven by a 73-year-old Braymer woman was northbound on Main Street south of East 6th Street in Braymer. The car traveled off the west side of the road, struck a concrete barrier, struck the ground near a private driveway and came to rest in the driveway.Livingston County ambulance transported the driver to Cameron Regional Medical Center. She was properly restrained, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Missouri woman injured after car strikes concrete barrier

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>

At least seven marijuana cultivation facilities in Missouri have been fined over the last year for breaking what’s known in the industry as the “immaculate conception rule.”&nbsp;

Marijuana can’t pass over state lines because it’s still federally illegal, and state law mandates that all marijuana must be grown within the state.&nbsp;

However, there is one year after a licensee passes a commencement inspection when the state essentially closes its eyes and puts its hands over its ears on how a cultivation facility starts its inventory.&nbsp;

It’s called the immaculate conception rule, and six facilities were fined up to $500,000 from breaking it last year.&nbsp;

A spokesperson for the Missouri Division of Cannabis Regulation said regulators “discovered some licensees believed they were permitted to bring in clones or tissue cultures as well as seeds on an ongoing basis. However, this practice is a violation of seed-to-sale tracking regulations.”

To keep up with customers’ preferences and demand, these companies had been bringing in clones, or starter plants, and tissue cultures, which is a form of in-vitro propagation, of popular plant varieties from other states

“In lieu of penalties or other enforcement action, these violations were resolved for amounts ranging from $50,000 to $500,000, depending on the circumstances,” said Lisa Cox, spokeswoman for the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, which oversees the cannabis regulation division.

The licensees that saw the biggest fines are major players in other states as well, including the companies behind Good Day Farm and High Profile.

The combined fee for four cultivation licenses representing Good Day Farm and Codes, which share management, was $347,495. The facilities are located in Columbia, Carrollton and Chaffee.

For High Profile, it was $500,000 at its O’Fallon cultivation facility.

Two smaller cultivators also saw fines of $20,000 and $50,000.

None of the licensees who were fined by the state returned The Independent’s request for comment.

Cultivation facilities in Missouri are approved to grow marijuana plants, and the harvest is sent to a manufacturing facility that then makes pre-rolls, edibles and other products.

Oftentimes, cultivators will develop “a mother plant” to collect clones, or cuttings, from the plant and put those into their own pots. Those are genetically identical to the plant that they’re cut from.

But where does the mother plant come from?

For a facility’s first year, the “rules and law are silent on how that occurs,” Cox said.

After that, the facilities can ask the state for permission to bring in seeds for “ongoing inventory needs,” she said, or get clones from other licensed cultivators located in Missouri.&nbsp;&nbsp;

But the state fined several licensees last year for not sticking to those rules, sending a clear message to all Missouri companies that they have to grow plants from seed or get starter plants from their competitors.&nbsp;

Ryan Schepers, instructor for St. Louis Community College’s cannabis program, said as a “plant nerd,” he doesn’t believe starting from seed is a necessarily difficult thing — or a bad thing for the industry’s innovation.

“I think a lot of the cultivation centers are set up to care for already established plants, and that would be a little bit of a challenge,” he said.&nbsp;

But it’s nothing the “well versed” plant growers working in the cultivation centers can’t handle, he said. The main challenge is the delay in production, he said. It will take about a month to six weeks for a cannabis plant to start to be well established, he said, but they’ll be “pretty hardy plants.”&nbsp;

“Clones are obviously much easier to deal with,” he said.&nbsp;

But tissue cultures involve a small amount of cells to get started, he said, and that process can take about as long as seed sprouting.

He understands that it’s difficult for companies to align the plant growth time with the need to keep up with trends in other states. If a product is selling really well in California, he said, “of course we’re going to try to get that same thing in Missouri.”

However, he said it can disincentivize cultivation centers from trying new things. For the sake of his students, he hopes the emphasis will shift to breeding and innovation.&nbsp;

“We, at St Louis Community College, really emphasize that our students be plant scientists who focus on cannabis,” he said.

Innovation can be difficult when the federal and state laws are rapidly changing, he added.

The Independent asked if the state would consider a variance for licensees to get clones in the future to keep up with popular varieties.&nbsp;

“The department was considering&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26501250-dea-letter-on-clones/" target="_blank">guidance</a>&nbsp;from the DEA that indicated clones may no longer be considered marijuana under federal law due to low Delta 9 [THC] concentrations,” Cox said.

However, she said recent changes to federal law “may change the status of seeds and clones.” She was&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/11/11/missouri-hemp-businesses-fear-new-federal-thc-limits-will-destroy-the-industry/">referring to restrictions</a>&nbsp;on hemp that were passed as part of the federal spending package last year and will be effective in November.

“So the department will need to follow how federal guidance,” Cox said, “and interpretation develops over the next year before it makes any changes to rules or processes.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1695833331678.png" alt="&nbsp;Marijuana can’t pass over state lines because it’s still federally illegal, and state law mandates that all marijuana must be grown within the state (Rebecca Rivas/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;Marijuana can’t pass over state lines because it’s still federally illegal, and state law mandates that all marijuana must be grown within the state (Rebecca Rivas/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure>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>At least seven marijuana cultivation facilities in Missouri have been fined over the last year for breaking what’s known in the industry as the “immaculate conception rule.”&nbsp;Marijuana can’t pass over state lines because it’s still federally illegal, and state law mandates that all marijuana must be grown within the state.&nbsp;However, there is one year after a licensee passes a commencement inspection when the state essentially closes its eyes and puts its hands over its ears on how a cultivation facility starts its inventory.&nbsp;It’s called the immaculate conception rule, and six facilities were fined up to $500,000 from breaking it last year.&nbsp;A spokesperson for the Missouri Division of Cannabis Regulation said regulators “discovered some licensees believed they were permitted to bring in clones or tissue cultures as well as seeds on an ongoing basis. However, this practice is a violation of seed-to-sale tracking regulations.”To keep up with customers’ preferences and demand, these companies had been bringing in clones, or starter plants, and tissue cultures, which is a form of in-vitro propagation, of popular plant varieties from other states“In lieu of penalties or other enforcement action, these violations were resolved for amounts ranging from $50,000 to $500,000, depending on the circumstances,” said Lisa Cox, spokeswoman for the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, which oversees the cannabis regulation division.The licensees that saw the biggest fines are major players in other states as well, including the companies behind Good Day Farm and High Profile.The combined fee for four cultivation licenses representing Good Day Farm and Codes, which share management, was $347,495. The facilities are located in Columbia, Carrollton and Chaffee.For High Profile, it was $500,000 at its O’Fallon cultivation facility.Two smaller cultivators also saw fines of $20,000 and $50,000.None of the licensees who were fined by the state returned The Independent’s request for comment.<h2>The ‘mother plant’</h2>Cultivation facilities in Missouri are approved to grow marijuana plants, and the harvest is sent to a manufacturing facility that then makes pre-rolls, edibles and other products.Oftentimes, cultivators will develop “a mother plant” to collect clones, or cuttings, from the plant and put those into their own pots. Those are genetically identical to the plant that they’re cut from.But where does the mother plant come from?For a facility’s first year, the “rules and law are silent on how that occurs,” Cox said.After that, the facilities can ask the state for permission to bring in seeds for “ongoing inventory needs,” she said, or get clones from other licensed cultivators located in Missouri.&nbsp;&nbsp;But the state fined several licensees last year for not sticking to those rules, sending a clear message to all Missouri companies that they have to grow plants from seed or get starter plants from their competitors.&nbsp;Ryan Schepers, instructor for St. Louis Community College’s cannabis program, said as a “plant nerd,” he doesn’t believe starting from seed is a necessarily difficult thing — or a bad thing for the industry’s innovation.“I think a lot of the cultivation centers are set up to care for already established plants, and that would be a little bit of a challenge,” he said.&nbsp;But it’s nothing the “well versed” plant growers working in the cultivation centers can’t handle, he said. The main challenge is the delay in production, he said. It will take about a month to six weeks for a cannabis plant to start to be well established, he said, but they’ll be “pretty hardy plants.”&nbsp;“Clones are obviously much easier to deal with,” he said.&nbsp;But tissue cultures involve a small amount of cells to get started, he said, and that process can take about as long as seed sprouting.He understands that it’s difficult for companies to align the plant growth time with the need to keep up with trends in other states. If a product is selling really well in California, he said, “of course we’re going to try to get that same thing in Missouri.”However, he said it can disincentivize cultivation centers from trying new things. For the sake of his students, he hopes the emphasis will shift to breeding and innovation.&nbsp;“We, at St Louis Community College, really emphasize that our students be plant scientists who focus on cannabis,” he said.Innovation can be difficult when the federal and state laws are rapidly changing, he added.The Independent asked if the state would consider a variance for licensees to get clones in the future to keep up with popular varieties.&nbsp;“The department was considering&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26501250-dea-letter-on-clones/" target="_blank">guidance</a>&nbsp;from the DEA that indicated clones may no longer be considered marijuana under federal law due to low Delta 9 [THC] concentrations,” Cox said.However, she said recent changes to federal law “may change the status of seeds and clones.” She was&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/11/11/missouri-hemp-businesses-fear-new-federal-thc-limits-will-destroy-the-industry/">referring to restrictions</a>&nbsp;on hemp that were passed as part of the federal spending package last year and will be effective in November.“So the department will need to follow how federal guidance,” Cox said, “and interpretation develops over the next year before it makes any changes to rules or processes.”

Missouri cannabis growers fined for breaking the ‘immaculate conception’ rule

BROWN COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a traffic stop.

Just after 6:30p.m. on Jan. 19, Brown County dispatch received several reckless driving 911 calls on a white Cadillac Escalade on US 75 Highway, according to Sheriff John Merchant.

&nbsp; A Brown County deputy was near the location and was able to observe the vehicle cross the center line at least twice.&nbsp;&nbsp; The deputy then initiated a traffic stop on the SUV and spoke with the driver identified as 32-year-old Cassondra Smith of Falls City, Nebraska.

The deputy immediately detected the odor of burnt marijuana coming from inside the vehicle.&nbsp; At the conclusion of the traffic stop,&nbsp; Smith was arrested on charges of DUI and Child Endangerment.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769117609372.png" alt="Smith photo Brown County" />
 <figcaption>Smith photo Brown County</figcaption>
 </figure>BROWN COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a traffic stop.Just after 6:30p.m. on Jan. 19, Brown County dispatch received several reckless driving 911 calls on a white Cadillac Escalade on US 75 Highway, according to Sheriff John Merchant.&nbsp; A Brown County deputy was near the location and was able to observe the vehicle cross the center line at least twice.&nbsp;&nbsp; The deputy then initiated a traffic stop on the SUV and spoke with the driver identified as 32-year-old Cassondra Smith of Falls City, Nebraska.The deputy immediately detected the odor of burnt marijuana coming from inside the vehicle.&nbsp; At the conclusion of the traffic stop,&nbsp; Smith was arrested on charges of DUI and Child Endangerment.

Sheriff: Driver was smoking pot with child in the SUV

BUCHANAN COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 8a.m. Saturday in Buchanan County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2025 Ram 2500 driven by a 61-year-old Faucett man was northbound on Interstate 229 near the Andrew County line. The driver began braking to avoid a collision with another vehicle.&nbsp; The pickup began to slide, traveled off the east side of the road and down a steep embankment. The pickup struck several trees and cam to rest in a creek.

Andrew County EMS transported the driver and a 67-year-old passenger to Mosaic Life Care. The passenger was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

BUCHANAN COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 8a.m. Saturday in Buchanan County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2025 Ram 2500 driven by a 61-year-old Faucett man was northbound on Interstate 229 near the Andrew County line. The driver began braking to avoid a collision with another vehicle.&nbsp; The pickup began to slide, traveled off the east side of the road and down a steep embankment. The pickup struck several trees and cam to rest in a creek.Andrew County EMS transported the driver and a 67-year-old passenger to Mosaic Life Care. The passenger was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

2 Mo. men injured after pickup lands in Buchanan Co. creek

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Omaha and Kansas City districts have released a draft feasibility report and environmental study aimed at revolutionizing flood risk management along the Lower Missouri River.

The System Plan, detailed in a newly published Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS), outlines a comprehensive strategy to bolster resiliency across the entire basin. Beyond flood protection, the plan identifies projects designed to deliver ecological, recreational, and economic benefits to local communities.

Officials are now inviting federal and state agencies, Tribal nations, local governments, and the general public to review the documents and submit formal comments. The public comment period is open through March 9, 2026.

“The System Plan is a roadmap for the future of the Lower Missouri River,” the districts stated in a joint release. “We are looking for input to ensure these actions effectively address flood risks while supporting the social and environmental health of the region.”

The draft files and an electronic comment form are available on the project’s official website. Written comments can also be submitted via mail or email to the Planning Branches in Kansas City or Omaha:

USACE has scheduled a series of in-person public meetings and webinars for late February 2026. Specific dates, times, and locations will be posted on the project website, though officials noted that schedules may shift due to inclement weather.

Following the review period, the Corps expects to address all feedback and issue a Final PEIS in the spring of 2026.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681308032853.jpeg" alt="Missouri River" />
 <figcaption>Missouri River</figcaption>
 </figure>(By RYAN SKAITH)The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Omaha and Kansas City districts have released a draft feasibility report and environmental study aimed at revolutionizing flood risk management along the Lower Missouri River.The System Plan, detailed in a newly published Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS), outlines a comprehensive strategy to bolster resiliency across the entire basin. Beyond flood protection, the plan identifies projects designed to deliver ecological, recreational, and economic benefits to local communities.Officials are now inviting federal and state agencies, Tribal nations, local governments, and the general public to review the documents and submit formal comments. The public comment period is open through March 9, 2026.“The System Plan is a roadmap for the future of the Lower Missouri River,” the districts stated in a joint release. “We are looking for input to ensure these actions effectively address flood risks while supporting the social and environmental health of the region.”The draft files and an electronic comment form are available on the project’s official website. Written comments can also be submitted via mail or email to the Planning Branches in Kansas City or Omaha:<ul>
 <li>Kansas City District: ATTN: Planning Branch, 601 E. 12th St., Kansas City, MO 64106; email: max.r.headlee@usace.army.mil.</li><li>Omaha District: 1616 Capitol Ave., Omaha, NE 68102; email: david.j.crane@usace.army.mil.</li>
 </ul>USACE has scheduled a series of in-person public meetings and webinars for late February 2026. Specific dates, times, and locations will be posted on the project website, though officials noted that schedules may shift due to inclement weather.Following the review period, the Corps expects to address all feedback and issue a Final PEIS in the spring of 2026.

USACE Seeks Public Input on Lower Missouri River Flood Resiliency Plan

House Speaker Jon Patterson says the intent is to exempt fuel and the bill — which would allow sales tax on ‘any goods and services’ — will be changed so there is no new tax on fill-ups

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 latest&nbsp;<a href="https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HJR174&amp;year=2026&amp;code=R" target="_blank">version of a proposal</a>&nbsp;meant to implement the governor’s income tax cut could also trigger a first for Missouri: sales taxes on gasoline and diesel, a result the bill’s sponsor says was accidental.

Under the terms of the proposed constitutional amendment sponsored by House Speaker Jon Patterson, sales tax could be imposed “on transactions involving any goods and services” and the revenue would be exempt from the prohibition on using money generated from a tax on fuel sales for state needs&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=IV++++30(a)&amp;bid=31846&amp;constit=y" target="_blank">other than highways</a>.&nbsp;

Missouri has earmarked money from taxes on motor fuels for highways&nbsp;<a href="https://www.modot.org/modot-history" target="_blank">since 1928</a>.

That is not the intent, Patterson said in an interview with The Independent on Thursday, the day after he filed a revised version of the proposal that fixes earlier errors and expands on limitations intended to prevent a windfall of new revenue for state and local governments.

“There is absolutely zero intention on my part to see any increase in the motor fuel tax,” Patterson said.

An amendment to his bill will be prepared to make that explicit, Patterson said. The reference to how taxes on motor fuels are used is intended to prevent a new sales tax on fuel, Patterson said, not to divert money from highways.&nbsp;

“The purpose of that whole paragraph is to say, ‘no, the motor fuel tax is not part&nbsp;of this,’” Patterson said.

Gov. Mike Kehoe, in a brief interview, declined to comment on imposing sales tax on fuel. He said he had not read Patterson’s proposal.

Missourians, who would have to vote on Patterson’s proposal, don’t want to pay more for gasoline, said Senate Minority Leader Doug Beck, a Democrat from Affton, at his weekly news conference.

“They’re going to be upset,” Beck said. “I think they’re going to be upset because there’s a lot of this.”

Kehoe and Republicans who control the General Assembly have made&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2026/01/13/gov-mike-kehoe-wants-voters-to-decide-whether-missouri-should-eliminate-its-income-tax/">eliminating the state income tax</a>&nbsp;on individuals their top priority for the year. Patterson’s proposal, which is expected to receive a public hearing next week, does not specify a sales tax rate to replace the income tax.

Missouri currently charges 4.225% on taxable goods other than food from groceries and vending machines. Of that, 3% is for general revenue, generating about one-fifth of the $13.4 billion in general revenue collected in the most recent fiscal year.

Local sales tax can double or almost triple the basic state rate.

The version filed Wednesday is Patterson’s second attempt. A constitutional amendment he&nbsp;<a href="https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HJR165&amp;year=2026&amp;code=R" target="_blank">filed last week</a>&nbsp;had a drafting error that misstated which article contains the limit on the use of highway funds.

Patterson’s new proposal asks voters to grant lawmakers broad authority to expand sales tax to currently untaxed goods and services. Services such as accounting fees for tax preparation or car repairs are not currently taxed, and goods currently exempt include prescription drugs and home utilities.

In his State of the State Address, Kehoe said he wants to target “monthly subscriptions and digital services like online advertising, e-books and AI platforms that fall outside our current sales tax base.”

Lawmakers are also authorized by Patterson’s proposed amendment to set revenue triggers that would reduce, and then eliminate, the individual income tax as early as Jan. 1, 2031.

The exact list of things to be taxed, and the rate needed to replace current revenue, will be decided later, if voters approve his amendment, Patterson said.

“The people and their elected representatives will come together and decide, No.1, if they even want to do this, and if they do how they’re going to do it,” Patterson said. “But it’ll be the people and their elected representatives doing it together.”

Asking voters to trust Republican leaders to get the details right is irresponsible, Beck said. The GOP has rushed and made mistakes on tax cuts,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/09/18/court-battle-looms-over-kc-precinct-listed-twice-in-missouris-new-congressional-map/">congressional district maps</a>&nbsp;and state budget estimates, he added.

When a bill eliminating the income tax on capital gains passed last year, it carried an estimated price tag of about&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-approves-tax-cuts-for-capital-gains-diapers-and-low-income-seniors/">$160 million</a>&nbsp;in the current fiscal year and ongoing cost of $111 million The actual revenue cut is about $500 million in the current year and $350 million annually.

The mistake in state budget estimates was a&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2026/01/20/missouri-discovers-250m-budget-mistake-but-officials-warn-spending-squeeze-remains/">$250 million math error</a>&nbsp;in the forecast for how much the state would have on hand at the end of June 2027.

“The whole tax scheme in general, I’m just going to be honest with you, is ill conceived,” Beck said.

Missouri’s two largest population centers are on the state’s border and people who can shift purchases over the state line to avoid taxes will do so, Beck said.

“I don’t see this as an economic driver for the state,” Beck said. “I don’t see this as helping anything.”

Gasoline prices are one of the most visible barometers of the economy, rising after disruptions or when there is high sustained demand and falling when supplies are plentiful or purchases fall off in a recession.

Missouri fuel taxes have increased 12.5 cents per gallon since Oct. 1, 2021, and stand at 29.5 cents a gallon.&nbsp;

Missourians consume about 4.1 billion gallons each year, generating approximately $1.2 billion in highway revenue.

That fuel, if sold at $2.50 per gallon, would generate about $435 million if subject to the the current state sales tax. The price of a 15-gallon fill-up would increase from $37.50 to $39.10.

Republicans have been cutting state income tax rates since 2014, when the top rate stood at 6% for taxable incomes greater than $9,000. The top rate is now 4.7%. Two future cuts, bringing the rate down to 4.5%, are already on the books and will take effect if general revenue growth hits certain targets.

Missouri collected $9.2 billion from the individual income tax before refunds in fiscal 2025. Generating the same revenue on the current sales tax base would require an additional sales tax of about 8.5%.

Those funds pay for public schools, prisons and medical care for more than 1.3 million people, among other state services.

The goal, Patterson said, is to replace a tax structure put in place in the 1920s and 1930s with one that fits modern economic activity.

“It really needs to be modernized,” Patterson said. “And this is something that you’re seeing, not just in red states or blue states. A lot of states are looking at modernizing their tax system.”

The lack of details on what will — and what won’t — be taxed is a big problem, Beck said.

“They’re taking (income tax) away,” Beck said, “and they’re saying the legislature knows better than the people, just like they’ve done in the past.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769259665319.png" alt=" House Speaker Jon Patterson, a Lee’s Summit Republican, speaks at a press conference at the end of special session on June 11, 2025 (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> House Speaker Jon Patterson, a Lee’s Summit Republican, speaks at a press conference at the end of special session on June 11, 2025 (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>House Speaker Jon Patterson says the intent is to exempt fuel and the bill — which would allow sales tax on ‘any goods and services’ — will be changed so there is no new tax on fill-ups</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 latest&nbsp;<a href="https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HJR174&amp;year=2026&amp;code=R" target="_blank">version of a proposal</a>&nbsp;meant to implement the governor’s income tax cut could also trigger a first for Missouri: sales taxes on gasoline and diesel, a result the bill’s sponsor says was accidental.Under the terms of the proposed constitutional amendment sponsored by House Speaker Jon Patterson, sales tax could be imposed “on transactions involving any goods and services” and the revenue would be exempt from the prohibition on using money generated from a tax on fuel sales for state needs&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=IV++++30(a)&amp;bid=31846&amp;constit=y" target="_blank">other than highways</a>.&nbsp;Missouri has earmarked money from taxes on motor fuels for highways&nbsp;<a href="https://www.modot.org/modot-history" target="_blank">since 1928</a>.That is not the intent, Patterson said in an interview with The Independent on Thursday, the day after he filed a revised version of the proposal that fixes earlier errors and expands on limitations intended to prevent a windfall of new revenue for state and local governments.“There is absolutely zero intention on my part to see any increase in the motor fuel tax,” Patterson said.An amendment to his bill will be prepared to make that explicit, Patterson said. The reference to how taxes on motor fuels are used is intended to prevent a new sales tax on fuel, Patterson said, not to divert money from highways.&nbsp;“The purpose of that whole paragraph is to say, ‘no, the motor fuel tax is not part&nbsp;of this,’” Patterson said.Gov. Mike Kehoe, in a brief interview, declined to comment on imposing sales tax on fuel. He said he had not read Patterson’s proposal.Missourians, who would have to vote on Patterson’s proposal, don’t want to pay more for gasoline, said Senate Minority Leader Doug Beck, a Democrat from Affton, at his weekly news conference.“They’re going to be upset,” Beck said. “I think they’re going to be upset because there’s a lot of this.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769259632235.png" alt="Senate Minority Leader Doug Beck, D-Affton, discusses Democratic opposition to increasing the sales tax during a Thursday news conference. Beck was joined by Sens. Angela Mossley, D-Florissant, left, and Steve Roberts, D-St. Louis (Rudi Keller/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption>Senate Minority Leader Doug Beck, D-Affton, discusses Democratic opposition to increasing the sales tax during a Thursday news conference. Beck was joined by Sens. Angela Mossley, D-Florissant, left, and Steve Roberts, D-St. Louis (Rudi Keller/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure>Kehoe and Republicans who control the General Assembly have made&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2026/01/13/gov-mike-kehoe-wants-voters-to-decide-whether-missouri-should-eliminate-its-income-tax/">eliminating the state income tax</a>&nbsp;on individuals their top priority for the year. Patterson’s proposal, which is expected to receive a public hearing next week, does not specify a sales tax rate to replace the income tax.Missouri currently charges 4.225% on taxable goods other than food from groceries and vending machines. Of that, 3% is for general revenue, generating about one-fifth of the $13.4 billion in general revenue collected in the most recent fiscal year.Local sales tax can double or almost triple the basic state rate.The version filed Wednesday is Patterson’s second attempt. A constitutional amendment he&nbsp;<a href="https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HJR165&amp;year=2026&amp;code=R" target="_blank">filed last week</a>&nbsp;had a drafting error that misstated which article contains the limit on the use of highway funds.Patterson’s new proposal asks voters to grant lawmakers broad authority to expand sales tax to currently untaxed goods and services. Services such as accounting fees for tax preparation or car repairs are not currently taxed, and goods currently exempt include prescription drugs and home utilities.In his State of the State Address, Kehoe said he wants to target “monthly subscriptions and digital services like online advertising, e-books and AI platforms that fall outside our current sales tax base.”Lawmakers are also authorized by Patterson’s proposed amendment to set revenue triggers that would reduce, and then eliminate, the individual income tax as early as Jan. 1, 2031.Other provisions would:<ul>
 <li>Exempt the tax legislation implementing the proposal from revenue lids that require tax increases to be&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=X++++18(e)&amp;bid=32055&amp;constit=y" target="_blank">submitted to voters</a>.</li><li>Require local governments to adjust local tax rates downward to offset any increase in revenue from the broader sales tax base.</li><li>Reduce the constitutionally imposed sales taxes for conservation and state parks and soil conservation, 0.225% total, to make revenue from the new tax base equal the average of recent years.</li><li>Keep in place income taxes on corporations and other businesses, as well as allow income taxes on estates and trusts.</li>
 </ul>The exact list of things to be taxed, and the rate needed to replace current revenue, will be decided later, if voters approve his amendment, Patterson said.“The people and their elected representatives will come together and decide, No.1, if they even want to do this, and if they do how they’re going to do it,” Patterson said. “But it’ll be the people and their elected representatives doing it together.”Asking voters to trust Republican leaders to get the details right is irresponsible, Beck said. The GOP has rushed and made mistakes on tax cuts,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/09/18/court-battle-looms-over-kc-precinct-listed-twice-in-missouris-new-congressional-map/">congressional district maps</a>&nbsp;and state budget estimates, he added.When a bill eliminating the income tax on capital gains passed last year, it carried an estimated price tag of about&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-approves-tax-cuts-for-capital-gains-diapers-and-low-income-seniors/">$160 million</a>&nbsp;in the current fiscal year and ongoing cost of $111 million The actual revenue cut is about $500 million in the current year and $350 million annually.The mistake in state budget estimates was a&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2026/01/20/missouri-discovers-250m-budget-mistake-but-officials-warn-spending-squeeze-remains/">$250 million math error</a>&nbsp;in the forecast for how much the state would have on hand at the end of June 2027.“The whole tax scheme in general, I’m just going to be honest with you, is ill conceived,” Beck said.Missouri’s two largest population centers are on the state’s border and people who can shift purchases over the state line to avoid taxes will do so, Beck said.“I don’t see this as an economic driver for the state,” Beck said. “I don’t see this as helping anything.”Gasoline prices are one of the most visible barometers of the economy, rising after disruptions or when there is high sustained demand and falling when supplies are plentiful or purchases fall off in a recession.Missouri fuel taxes have increased 12.5 cents per gallon since Oct. 1, 2021, and stand at 29.5 cents a gallon.&nbsp;Missourians consume about 4.1 billion gallons each year, generating approximately $1.2 billion in highway revenue.That fuel, if sold at $2.50 per gallon, would generate about $435 million if subject to the the current state sales tax. The price of a 15-gallon fill-up would increase from $37.50 to $39.10.Republicans have been cutting state income tax rates since 2014, when the top rate stood at 6% for taxable incomes greater than $9,000. The top rate is now 4.7%. Two future cuts, bringing the rate down to 4.5%, are already on the books and will take effect if general revenue growth hits certain targets.Missouri collected $9.2 billion from the individual income tax before refunds in fiscal 2025. Generating the same revenue on the current sales tax base would require an additional sales tax of about 8.5%.Those funds pay for public schools, prisons and medical care for more than 1.3 million people, among other state services.The goal, Patterson said, is to replace a tax structure put in place in the 1920s and 1930s with one that fits modern economic activity.“It really needs to be modernized,” Patterson said. “And this is something that you’re seeing, not just in red states or blue states. A lot of states are looking at modernizing their tax system.”The lack of details on what will — and what won’t — be taxed is a big problem, Beck said.“They’re taking (income tax) away,” Beck said, “and they’re saying the legislature knows better than the people, just like they’ve done in the past.”

New Missouri income tax cut plan could allow first-ever sales tax on gas and diesel

NASA’s giant new moon rocket, Artemis II, moved to the launch pad Jan. 17, in preparation for astronauts’ first fly-around the moon in more than half a century. The out-and-back trip could blast off as early as February.

The trip will send astronauts farther than any crew has traveled.  Last spring we visited with the pilot of the mission, Victor Glover.

He was selected as an astronaut in 2013 and most recently served as pilot of the Crew-1 Dragon spacecraft which flew to the International Space Station.  Here is our interview with NASA astronaut Victor Glover.

Gary Shorman:&nbsp;&nbsp;Welcome again to "Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times" with a special guest from Houston, astronaut Victor.&nbsp;Thanks for being on our program today.

Victor Glover:&nbsp;Thanks, Gary, great to be here. Thanks for&nbsp;having me.

Gary Shorman:&nbsp;&nbsp;You know, one of the things I know that we talk about on this program is leadership. You have walked in space four times. I believe you've been on the space station. You've lived up there for a while. What puts you in position?

Victor Glover:&nbsp;You know, from a leadership, from a career standpoint, to be in the astronaut program, I love talking about leadership.&nbsp;I love the subject and, well, I think a part of it would be following having a bunch of great leaders to work with and look up to. 

Initially, when you're put into a leadership position, you can freestyle it, or you can mimic what you've seen. So I would say some great leaders do imitate. 

I worked for some amazing people. My squadron commanders, I worked for John McCain for almost a year. Charlie Bolden, who ran NASA, but he was a Marine Corps general when I worked for him the first time, and so I think that's a big part of it, having some really amazing leaders to look up to in the beginning.

Gary Shorman:&nbsp;Were there some key moments in your career that kind of turned you towards being an astronaut?

Victor Glover:&nbsp;Key moments? Wow. I was in college, tutoring for a program, and loved working with kids, teaching engineering, and felt like I really had found my calling. I was considering the military and teaching at the time.

So my boss in that program, thinking she was going to help, really set the hook for being an educator, had me meet the executive director of this program.

I went up to the University of California office, and I walk in his office, and there's a constellation of our solar system and a rocket. And he sees me, leans back in his chair, he takes his glasses off and sets it on a book.

I shake his hand, and sit down, and he taps on that book. And he says, you see that right there? That's how I live my dreams of space exploration and flying. And he says, You have a chance to go fly in the Navy. Go do it, and if anything else, it'll make you a better educator. 

That conversation, which was that quick, really turned my thinking. I've always loved education and the impact we can have on young people, but that really helped me get comfortable with the idea of going and starting this Navy journey, which, you know, lots of other decisions on the way, but that was the big one, whether or not to leave college and go be an educator or to go serve in the military.

Gary Shorman: In our story, you talk to students about that. I'm sure you make those choices, make those things that can change your life. You've done that.

You had a chance to be at the space station, walk in space. Let's talk a little bit about that. What did it feel like to step outside the spaceship and just go shooting? I see space right there that has to be a breathtaking experience.

Victor Glover:&nbsp;That is it? It is breathtaking because you don't know what it's going to feel like when you first get out there. The advice I received that really just kept repeating in my head was, "Keep your world small."

 One of my classmates said to me, and so I just focused on right what was in front of my face, my hands and the handrail, where I'm going next. And so it took me about three hours before I felt like, OK.

I kind of got the hang of this. I'm going to start looking around and maybe taking some pictures. Actually, on my first spacewalk, I did not take a single picture. There were no selfies to be taken on. it, but it was busy. 

I'll tell you, that's what it is. You're busy. When you're outside, there's a lot to be done, and it all requires intense focus. 

I&nbsp;wrestled in college, and I think space walking has a lot in common with wrestling, even though it may be physical in a different way. It's very physical. It's very three-dimensional.

Your success requires you to integrate the three dimensions and to think about what's coming next. And that's very true in wrestling and space walks. It's so challenging. It's busy physically and mentally.

But most importantly, you're working with a team. And that team, Mike Hopkins, who had been out on a spacewalk before, and led our first one, the first one I went on, and also the ground team, they all helped to make that possible. 

But that first moment when you look out, and you can see that for real, there are just no words to describe it. We train in a pool where you can see the bottom of the pool. When you look out, and it's 250 miles straight down, you go, "Wow! this is amazing and special. But also, what am I doing?"

Gary Shorman:&nbsp;Letting go to actually float would have to be one of those experiences that you can think about, and I can say, "Boy, that'd be hard to do." But letting go when you're out there, and you see that space out there, that's amazing. What did it feel like when you were named to be on the Artemis mission?

Victor Glover:&nbsp;Ah, wow. It's interesting, because people ask about the excitement, and excitement is a part of it. But the professionals who do what I do, understand the risks associated with this.

There's a lot of software, a lot of pieces and parts to this, hardware, lots of people. This is made all over the country, in all 50 states of the Union, and then also parts overseas. 

And it all has to work flawlessly the first time for the duration of the mission. 

So we understand the risk. And so I would say the overriding feeling was, first of all shocked, because I didn't expect to be on this mission, so I was a little shocked. But then also, I know focus isn't a feeling, but the seriousness, that's my overriding feeling, was the seriousness of this. 

This means a lot for our country, for our agency, for our Artemis Accords, international partners, and it's risky. My family is going to have to go on this journey with&nbsp;me. We have a lot to get done in the next couple of years. And so, yeah, profundity, if it's a if that's an emotion, it was profundity.

Gary Shorman:&nbsp;If you look at 50 years since we've had a mission like this, and you'll be the first one to head to the moon, there's more to it than just circling the moon, though. Tell us a little bit more about the long-term plans for the Artemis mission.

Victor Glover:&nbsp;Artemis is our generation's deep-space exploration program. It's not just the Moon Program. We're going to make sure this Orion capsule is safe for humans to fly, so that we can fly it to eventually dock to a lunar lander.

That will get us to the surface of the moon, or to a gateway space station that's orbiting the moon. Both of those things are going to enable future technologies and future techniques and future teams to go beyond the moon on to Mars.

And continue to understand, maybe, how the Earth looked in its past, or where we may be headed in the future, if we don't take better care of our planet. 

So the Artemis program is a big campaign. The moon is just one destination, and that's our mission. Our mission is to do the free return trajectory around the moon, but really to test out Orion as one big step on this journey that's going to eventually get humans to Mars.

Gary Shorman:&nbsp;Orion is your spaceship, and you'll be the pilot of that as you approach the moon and circle the moon. What are you going to be looking for?

Victor Glover:&nbsp;Oh, wow. So there's a potential. The region of the moon, what we would call the Western Hemisphere, looking at it from Earth on the far side. That part has not been completely seen by human eyes, and I just learned that recently.

So the fact that there's a potential for us to see something that's never been seen before, that's amazing. 

But no matter what, even if it's completely dark, to look out the window of the spacecraft and to look at the moon in the foreground, and then see the Earth in the background, in the distance, a quarter of a million miles away, with my crewmates, Reed, Cristina, and Jeremy. I don't know what that's going to feel like, but I'm looking forward to that. That's going to be amazing.

Gary Shorman:&nbsp;I hope you send us pictures back, Victor.&nbsp; I know you're short on time because you have a lot of people and you have a lot of training to do. That has to be intense training, because there are so many moving parts, as you say, that intensity, that focus it takes. How many hours a day do you train?

Victor Glover:&nbsp;So we will start training next month, and I imagine it's going to be chock full. I think they're going to schedule our days full. And you know, while some of it will be technical training, some of it will be continuing to engage the public, like we are now.

But also, we will be engaging the team that's developing the hardware or building hardware and software, and thanking them for their hard work and letting them know how much we count on their technical expertise. And so they're going to keep us busy. Gary, you can be best believe we'll have some full days until launch.

Gary Shorman:&nbsp;I can't wait to see how this all develops. Look forward to it, and maybe again later on, once you're back, get a chance to follow up on that. But Victor, thanks for being on our program.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769203436542.png" alt="The crew of NASA’s Artemis II mission (left to right):NASA astronauts Christina Hammock Koch, Reid Wiseman (seated), Victor Glover, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen- Credits: NASA" />
 <figcaption>The crew of NASA’s Artemis II mission (left to right):NASA astronauts Christina Hammock Koch, Reid Wiseman (seated), Victor Glover, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen- Credits: NASA</figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YJ_Q6DXnnVo?si=gvZ1wvb7HSk3HYnX" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>NASA’s giant new moon rocket, Artemis II, moved to the launch pad Jan. 17, in preparation for astronauts’ first fly-around the moon in more than half a century. The out-and-back trip could blast off as early as February.The trip will send astronauts farther than any crew has traveled. Last spring we visited with the pilot of the mission, Victor Glover.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1661448577852.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>He was selected as an astronaut in 2013 and most recently served as pilot of the Crew-1 Dragon spacecraft which flew to the International Space Station. Here is our interview with NASA astronaut Victor Glover.Gary Shorman:&nbsp;&nbsp;Welcome again to "Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times" with a special guest from Houston, astronaut Victor.&nbsp;Thanks for being on our program today. Victor Glover:&nbsp;Thanks, Gary, great to be here. Thanks for&nbsp;having me. Gary Shorman:&nbsp;&nbsp;You know, one of the things I know that we talk about on this program is leadership. You have walked in space four times. I believe you've been on the space station. You've lived up there for a while. What puts you in position? Victor Glover:&nbsp;You know, from a leadership, from a career standpoint, to be in the astronaut program, I love talking about leadership.&nbsp;I love the subject and, well, I think a part of it would be following having a bunch of great leaders to work with and look up to. Initially, when you're put into a leadership position, you can freestyle it, or you can mimic what you've seen. So I would say some great leaders do imitate. I worked for some amazing people. My squadron commanders, I worked for John McCain for almost a year. Charlie Bolden, who ran NASA, but he was a Marine Corps general when I worked for him the first time, and so I think that's a big part of it, having some really amazing leaders to look up to in the beginning.Gary Shorman:&nbsp;Were there some key moments in your career that kind of turned you towards being an astronaut?Victor Glover:&nbsp;Key moments? Wow. I was in college, tutoring for a program, and loved working with kids, teaching engineering, and felt like I really had found my calling. I was considering the military and teaching at the time. So my boss in that program, thinking she was going to help, really set the hook for being an educator, had me meet the executive director of this program.I went up to the University of California office, and I walk in his office, and there's a constellation of our solar system and a rocket. And he sees me, leans back in his chair, he takes his glasses off and sets it on a book.I shake his hand, and sit down, and he taps on that book. And he says, you see that right there? That's how I live my dreams of space exploration and flying. And he says, You have a chance to go fly in the Navy. Go do it, and if anything else, it'll make you a better educator. That conversation, which was that quick, really turned my thinking. I've always loved education and the impact we can have on young people, but that really helped me get comfortable with the idea of going and starting this Navy journey, which, you know, lots of other decisions on the way, but that was the big one, whether or not to leave college and go be an educator or to go serve in the military.Gary Shorman: In our story, you talk to students about that. I'm sure you make those choices, make those things that can change your life. You've done that. You had a chance to be at the space station, walk in space. Let's talk a little bit about that. What did it feel like to step outside the spaceship and just go shooting? I see space right there that has to be a breathtaking experience.Victor Glover:&nbsp;That is it? It is breathtaking because you don't know what it's going to feel like when you first get out there. The advice I received that really just kept repeating in my head was, "Keep your world small." One of my classmates said to me, and so I just focused on right what was in front of my face, my hands and the handrail, where I'm going next. And so it took me about three hours before I felt like, OK.I kind of got the hang of this. I'm going to start looking around and maybe taking some pictures. Actually, on my first spacewalk, I did not take a single picture. There were no selfies to be taken on. it, but it was busy. I'll tell you, that's what it is. You're busy. When you're outside, there's a lot to be done, and it all requires intense focus. I&nbsp;wrestled in college, and I think space walking has a lot in common with wrestling, even though it may be physical in a different way. It's very physical. It's very three-dimensional.Your success requires you to integrate the three dimensions and to think about what's coming next. And that's very true in wrestling and space walks. It's so challenging. It's busy physically and mentally.But most importantly, you're working with a team. And that team, Mike Hopkins, who had been out on a spacewalk before, and led our first one, the first one I went on, and also the ground team, they all helped to make that possible. But that first moment when you look out, and you can see that for real, there are just no words to describe it. We train in a pool where you can see the bottom of the pool. When you look out, and it's 250 miles straight down, you go, "Wow! this is amazing and special. But also, what am I doing?"Gary Shorman:&nbsp;Letting go to actually float would have to be one of those experiences that you can think about, and I can say, "Boy, that'd be hard to do." But letting go when you're out there, and you see that space out there, that's amazing. What did it feel like when you were named to be on the Artemis mission?Victor Glover:&nbsp;Ah, wow. It's interesting, because people ask about the excitement, and excitement is a part of it. But the professionals who do what I do, understand the risks associated with this. There's a lot of software, a lot of pieces and parts to this, hardware, lots of people. This is made all over the country, in all 50 states of the Union, and then also parts overseas. And it all has to work flawlessly the first time for the duration of the mission. So we understand the risk. And so I would say the overriding feeling was, first of all shocked, because I didn't expect to be on this mission, so I was a little shocked. But then also, I know focus isn't a feeling, but the seriousness, that's my overriding feeling, was the seriousness of this. This means a lot for our country, for our agency, for our Artemis Accords, international partners, and it's risky. My family is going to have to go on this journey with&nbsp;me. We have a lot to get done in the next couple of years. And so, yeah, profundity, if it's a if that's an emotion, it was profundity.Gary Shorman:&nbsp;If you look at 50 years since we've had a mission like this, and you'll be the first one to head to the moon, there's more to it than just circling the moon, though. Tell us a little bit more about the long-term plans for the Artemis mission.Victor Glover:&nbsp;Artemis is our generation's deep-space exploration program. It's not just the Moon Program. We're going to make sure this Orion capsule is safe for humans to fly, so that we can fly it to eventually dock to a lunar lander.That will get us to the surface of the moon, or to a gateway space station that's orbiting the moon. Both of those things are going to enable future technologies and future techniques and future teams to go beyond the moon on to Mars.And continue to understand, maybe, how the Earth looked in its past, or where we may be headed in the future, if we don't take better care of our planet. So the Artemis program is a big campaign. The moon is just one destination, and that's our mission. Our mission is to do the free return trajectory around the moon, but really to test out Orion as one big step on this journey that's going to eventually get humans to Mars.Gary Shorman:&nbsp;Orion is your spaceship, and you'll be the pilot of that as you approach the moon and circle the moon. What are you going to be looking for?Victor Glover:&nbsp;Oh, wow. So there's a potential. The region of the moon, what we would call the Western Hemisphere, looking at it from Earth on the far side. That part has not been completely seen by human eyes, and I just learned that recently. So the fact that there's a potential for us to see something that's never been seen before, that's amazing. But no matter what, even if it's completely dark, to look out the window of the spacecraft and to look at the moon in the foreground, and then see the Earth in the background, in the distance, a quarter of a million miles away, with my crewmates, Reed, Cristina, and Jeremy. I don't know what that's going to feel like, but I'm looking forward to that. That's going to be amazing.Gary Shorman:&nbsp;I hope you send us pictures back, Victor.&nbsp; I know you're short on time because you have a lot of people and you have a lot of training to do. That has to be intense training, because there are so many moving parts, as you say, that intensity, that focus it takes. How many hours a day do you train?Victor Glover:&nbsp;So we will start training next month, and I imagine it's going to be chock full. I think they're going to schedule our days full. And you know, while some of it will be technical training, some of it will be continuing to engage the public, like we are now.But also, we will be engaging the team that's developing the hardware or building hardware and software, and thanking them for their hard work and letting them know how much we count on their technical expertise. And so they're going to keep us busy. Gary, you can be best believe we'll have some full days until launch.Gary Shorman:&nbsp;I can't wait to see how this all develops. Look forward to it, and maybe again later on, once you're back, get a chance to follow up on that. But Victor, thanks for being on our program.