WASHINGTON, D.C. –&nbsp;Today, Congressman Jimmy Patronis introduced a resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives in conjunction with Senator Rick Scott, who filed a similar resolution in the U.S. Senate, to honor the life and legacy of Charlie Kirk.

 The resolution supports the designation of a “National Day of Remembrance for Charlie Kirk” on Oct. 14 and recognizes Charlie Kirk for his contributions to civic education and public service.&nbsp;The House adopted H. Res. 719 by a vote of 310-58, with 38 voting present.&nbsp;

Original Co-Sponsors include Representatives Mark Alford of Missouri, Greg Steube,&nbsp; Anna Paulina Luna, Cory Mills, Gus Bilirakis, Barry Moore, Maria Salazar, Aaron Bean, Mike Collins, Carlos Gimenez, Austin Scott, and Derrick Van Orden.

Congressman Jimmy Patronis&nbsp;said, “Charlie Kirk was more than a conservative thought leader. He was a fearless warrior of free speech, faith, and the principles that make America the greatest country in the world. He empowered young people to find their voice, defend their values, and embrace their role in shaping the future of our nation. Charlie willingly braved the public square of colleges and universities to remind us all what makes free speech so important and how best we can come together as a nation: through the peaceful and respectful sharing of ideas. By honoring is life with a National Day of Remembrance, we ensure that Charlie’s legacy lives on, inspiring future generations to stand boldly for freedom and the Constitution.”

Senator Rick Scott&nbsp;said, “Charlie was a magnetic leader, a loving father and husband, and a friend and inspiration to so many. His loss is devastating, I’ll always cherish the friendship I had with him. Charlie loved our nation and its founding principles, and believed deeply in his faith, in his family, and in beauty of ideas and discussion. He lived with purpose and conviction, never shying away from hard truths and hard conversations, and always believing that the strength of our ideas and our faith could bring people together. Charlie worked to make our nation a better place in his 31 years before he was lost in an evil act of political violence, and will leave a lasting legacy on our nation. We know what Charlie would want us to do: he’d want us to stand strong by the ideas we believe in, have discussions, carry on with hope, strength and courage, and look to God for guidance. I am proud to lead a resolution honoring Charlie’s legacy as an American patriot by designating October 14th, what would have been his 32nd birthday, as National Day of Remembrance for Charlie Kirk – a day to come together, pray, and celebrate Charlie’s impact on the nation.”

Expressing support of the House of Representatives that October 14, 2025, be designated as a “National Day of Remembrance for Charlie Kirk.”&nbsp;

WHEREAS&nbsp;Charlie Kirk was a champion of free speech, civil dialogue, and faith;

WHEREAS&nbsp;Mr. Kirk consistently promoted the values of individual liberty, open debate, the importance of civic engagement, and the defense of constitutional principles;

WHEREAS&nbsp;Charlie Kirk was recognized as one of the leading voices among young leaders in the United States, creating opportunities for civic education, fostering youth leadership, and promoting principles of liberty and democracy across the United States;

WHEREAS&nbsp;Charlie Kirk was the founder and executive director of Turning Point USA, a nonprofit organization of thousands of chapters across the United States dedicated to educating students about the principles of freedom, free markets, and limited government;

WHEREAS&nbsp;Charlie Kirk authored multiple national bestselling books, that engage readers in critical conversations about civics, culture, and the future of the United States;&nbsp;

WHEREAS, through Mr. Kirk’s writing, public speaking, and media presence, Charlie Kirk reached millions of United States citizens, inspiring the next generation to become active participants in civic life;&nbsp;

WHEREAS&nbsp;Mr. Kirk’s life’s work has contributed to strengthening public discourse, defending constitutional principles, and fostering active citizenship; and

WHEREAS&nbsp;Mr. Kirk’s life’s work, especially his efforts to bring these American ideals to life on our college campuses, cost him his life by means of an assassin’s bullet on September 10, 2025: Now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives—&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757541376269.png" alt="File photo Charlie Kirk courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>File photo Charlie Kirk courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON, D.C. –&nbsp;Today, Congressman Jimmy Patronis introduced a resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives in conjunction with Senator Rick Scott, who filed a similar resolution in the U.S. Senate, to honor the life and legacy of Charlie Kirk. The resolution supports the designation of a “National Day of Remembrance for Charlie Kirk” on Oct. 14 and recognizes Charlie Kirk for his contributions to civic education and public service.&nbsp;The House adopted H. Res. 719 by a vote of 310-58, with 38 voting present.&nbsp;Original Co-Sponsors include Representatives Mark Alford of Missouri, Greg Steube,&nbsp; Anna Paulina Luna, Cory Mills, Gus Bilirakis, Barry Moore, Maria Salazar, Aaron Bean, Mike Collins, Carlos Gimenez, Austin Scott, and Derrick Van Orden.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">BREAKING: AOC just took to the House floor to defend her No vote on the Resolution honoring the life of Charlie Kirk. This is going to make your blood boil. AOC: &quot;We should be clear about who Charlie Kirk was... His rhetoric and beliefs were ignorant, uneducated, and sought to… <a href="https://t.co/MMjecCmyk5">pic.twitter.com/MMjecCmyk5</a>&mdash; Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) <a href="https://twitter.com/GuntherEagleman/status/1969061502624653528?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 19, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/RepAOC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RepAOC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AOC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AOC</a> on House-passed resolution honoring the life and legacy of Charlie Kirk: &quot;Instead of uniting Congress in this tragedy with one of the many bipartisan options to condemn political violence and Kirk&#39;s murder, as we did with the late Melissa Hortman, instead the… <a href="https://t.co/lkx3JGO1gN">pic.twitter.com/lkx3JGO1gN</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1969067634399629430?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 19, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Congressman Jimmy Patronis&nbsp;said, “Charlie Kirk was more than a conservative thought leader. He was a fearless warrior of free speech, faith, and the principles that make America the greatest country in the world. He empowered young people to find their voice, defend their values, and embrace their role in shaping the future of our nation. Charlie willingly braved the public square of colleges and universities to remind us all what makes free speech so important and how best we can come together as a nation: through the peaceful and respectful sharing of ideas. By honoring is life with a National Day of Remembrance, we ensure that Charlie’s legacy lives on, inspiring future generations to stand boldly for freedom and the Constitution.”Senator Rick Scott&nbsp;said, “Charlie was a magnetic leader, a loving father and husband, and a friend and inspiration to so many. His loss is devastating, I’ll always cherish the friendship I had with him. Charlie loved our nation and its founding principles, and believed deeply in his faith, in his family, and in beauty of ideas and discussion. He lived with purpose and conviction, never shying away from hard truths and hard conversations, and always believing that the strength of our ideas and our faith could bring people together. Charlie worked to make our nation a better place in his 31 years before he was lost in an evil act of political violence, and will leave a lasting legacy on our nation. We know what Charlie would want us to do: he’d want us to stand strong by the ideas we believe in, have discussions, carry on with hope, strength and courage, and look to God for guidance. I am proud to lead a resolution honoring Charlie’s legacy as an American patriot by designating October 14th, what would have been his 32nd birthday, as National Day of Remembrance for Charlie Kirk – a day to come together, pray, and celebrate Charlie’s impact on the nation.”RESOLUTIONExpressing support of the House of Representatives that October 14, 2025, be designated as a “National Day of Remembrance for Charlie Kirk.”&nbsp;WHEREAS&nbsp;Charlie Kirk was a champion of free speech, civil dialogue, and faith;WHEREAS&nbsp;Mr. Kirk consistently promoted the values of individual liberty, open debate, the importance of civic engagement, and the defense of constitutional principles;WHEREAS&nbsp;Charlie Kirk was recognized as one of the leading voices among young leaders in the United States, creating opportunities for civic education, fostering youth leadership, and promoting principles of liberty and democracy across the United States;WHEREAS&nbsp;Charlie Kirk was the founder and executive director of Turning Point USA, a nonprofit organization of thousands of chapters across the United States dedicated to educating students about the principles of freedom, free markets, and limited government;WHEREAS&nbsp;Charlie Kirk authored multiple national bestselling books, that engage readers in critical conversations about civics, culture, and the future of the United States;&nbsp;WHEREAS, through Mr. Kirk’s writing, public speaking, and media presence, Charlie Kirk reached millions of United States citizens, inspiring the next generation to become active participants in civic life;&nbsp;WHEREAS&nbsp;Mr. Kirk’s life’s work has contributed to strengthening public discourse, defending constitutional principles, and fostering active citizenship; andWHEREAS&nbsp;Mr. Kirk’s life’s work, especially his efforts to bring these American ideals to life on our college campuses, cost him his life by means of an assassin’s bullet on September 10, 2025: Now, therefore, be itRESOLVED, That the House of Representatives—&nbsp;<ol>
 <li>supports the designation of a “National Day of Remembrance for Charlie Kirk”;</li><li>recognizes Charlie Kirk for his contributions to civic education and public service; and</li><li>encourages educational institutions, civic organizations, and citizens across the United States to observe this day with appropriate programs, activities, prayers, and ceremonies that promote civic engagement and the principles of faith, liberty, and democracy that Charlie Kirk championed.</li>
 </ol>

Mo. Rep. leads effort to pass Charlie Kirk Day resolution in the U.S. House

By:<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/columbiamissourianstaff/">Columbia Missourian staff</a>

A federal judge ruled Friday that Mizzou Students for Justice in Palestine can participate in next weekend’s Homecoming parade, as long as they comply with the university’s parade policy.

In his ruling, U.S. District Judge Stephen Bough noted that while the court finds that the organization must be permitted to participate in the parade, nothing in the order prohibits the University of Missouri from enforcing the requirements of the parade policy.

Earlier this year, the university updated its Homecoming parade policy to exclude political expression. The new policy also denies participation of organizations that don’t adhere to the parade’s “black and gold” theme.

According to the updated policy, “the purpose of the Homecoming parade is to celebrate Mizzou and its supporters. It is not a venue for protests.”

Todd McCubbin, executive director of the Mizzou Alumni Association, told the judge during a hearing Tuesday that the organization’s 2025 application would likely be preliminarily approved, and the Office of Alumni Engagement would work with the group to ensure it complied with the parade policy.

Last month, Mizzou Students for Justice in Palestine sued Mun Choi, president of the University of Missouri System, to secure a place in the parade.

In the lawsuit, the group argued that Choi violated the students’ First Amendment rights by forbidding them to participate in the parade because of their views on Israel and Palestine.

In his ruling, the judge agreed with the organization that there is more than a “fair chance” that Choi’s denial of their participation in the parade violates the First Amendment.

In the Tuesday hearing, Choi ‘s legal team argued that the denial was largely based on safety concerns. They&nbsp; cited two prior incidents involving a member of the group that resulted in a student conduct charge for stalking and a restriction that limits her presence on campus to academic purposes.

The legal team also noted incidents of violence at student protests on other university campuses nationwide as part of Choi’s rationale.

The court agreed that safety is&nbsp;a “significant [governmental] interest,” but aside from the instances involving one group member, could not find that Mizzou Students for Justice in Palestine had violated any university policy.

Thus, Choi’s decision to exclude the organization on the basis of safety could not be supported.

According to the ruling, “Dr. Choi’s decision to exclude the organization in its entirety is not narrowly tailored to the stated interest of safety. Dr. Choi ‘could, instead, forbid the specific student(s) giving rise to [safety] concerns’ from participating.”

Thus, assuming the Homecoming parade is an unlimited public forum, the court found Choi’s decision had been too narrowly applied.

Ultimately, the court decided that there was little evidence that the students had been engaged in or connected to any form of violence, and that denying their participation in the Homecoming parade would likely be a violation of the First Amendment’s free speech clause.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758305381450.png" alt="&nbsp;The iconic columns of the University of Missouri-Columbia campus (University of Missouri photo)." />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;The iconic columns of the University of Missouri-Columbia campus (University of Missouri photo).</figcaption>
 </figure>By:<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/columbiamissourianstaff/">Columbia Missourian staff</a>A federal judge ruled Friday that Mizzou Students for Justice in Palestine can participate in next weekend’s Homecoming parade, as long as they comply with the university’s parade policy.In his ruling, U.S. District Judge Stephen Bough noted that while the court finds that the organization must be permitted to participate in the parade, nothing in the order prohibits the University of Missouri from enforcing the requirements of the parade policy.Earlier this year, the university updated its Homecoming parade policy to exclude political expression. The new policy also denies participation of organizations that don’t adhere to the parade’s “black and gold” theme.According to the updated policy, “the purpose of the Homecoming parade is to celebrate Mizzou and its supporters. It is not a venue for protests.”Todd McCubbin, executive director of the Mizzou Alumni Association, told the judge during a hearing Tuesday that the organization’s 2025 application would likely be preliminarily approved, and the Office of Alumni Engagement would work with the group to ensure it complied with the parade policy.Last month, Mizzou Students for Justice in Palestine sued Mun Choi, president of the University of Missouri System, to secure a place in the parade.In the lawsuit, the group argued that Choi violated the students’ First Amendment rights by forbidding them to participate in the parade because of their views on Israel and Palestine.In his ruling, the judge agreed with the organization that there is more than a “fair chance” that Choi’s denial of their participation in the parade violates the First Amendment.In the Tuesday hearing, Choi ‘s legal team argued that the denial was largely based on safety concerns. They&nbsp; cited two prior incidents involving a member of the group that resulted in a student conduct charge for stalking and a restriction that limits her presence on campus to academic purposes.The legal team also noted incidents of violence at student protests on other university campuses nationwide as part of Choi’s rationale.The court agreed that safety is&nbsp;a “significant [governmental] interest,” but aside from the instances involving one group member, could not find that Mizzou Students for Justice in Palestine had violated any university policy.Thus, Choi’s decision to exclude the organization on the basis of safety could not be supported.According to the ruling, “Dr. Choi’s decision to exclude the organization in its entirety is not narrowly tailored to the stated interest of safety. Dr. Choi ‘could, instead, forbid the specific student(s) giving rise to [safety] concerns’ from participating.”Thus, assuming the Homecoming parade is an unlimited public forum, the court found Choi’s decision had been too narrowly applied.Ultimately, the court decided that there was little evidence that the students had been engaged in or connected to any form of violence, and that denying their participation in the Homecoming parade would likely be a violation of the First Amendment’s free speech clause.

Judge allows Mizzou Students for Justice in Palestine to join the Homecoming parade

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement investigating a double homicide in Kansas City have released the name of the second victim as 17-year-old Delvyon Q. Carmichael, according to Jackson County Sheriff Daryl Forte'.

Just after&nbsp;7a.m. Sunday, patrol officers were dispatched to the 6800 block of Longview Road on a reported shooting.

Upon arrival officers were directed to the front of a grocery store where they located 49-year-old Gande A. Salamed, according to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino. He was suffering from gunshot wounds. Officers began to render aid as KCFD Medics simultaneously arrived. He was pronounced deceased on scene.

Other officers arriving were directed to the north side of the grocery store parking lot where they located Carmichael also suffering from gunshot wounds. He was transported to a local hospital by ambulance, with life threatening injuries. Just before 9 a.m., investigators were notified that he died of his injuries at the hospital.&nbsp;

&nbsp;Preliminary information indicates there was an interaction outside of the grocery store between multiple individuals just prior to the shots being fired.&nbsp;This is being investigated as a homicide, and no one is in custody.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757900925738.png" alt="Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'" />
 <figcaption>Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement investigating a double homicide in Kansas City have released the name of the second victim as 17-year-old Delvyon Q. Carmichael, according to Jackson County Sheriff Daryl Forte'.Just after&nbsp;7a.m. Sunday, patrol officers were dispatched to the 6800 block of Longview Road on a reported shooting.Upon arrival officers were directed to the front of a grocery store where they located 49-year-old Gande A. Salamed, according to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino. He was suffering from gunshot wounds. Officers began to render aid as KCFD Medics simultaneously arrived. He was pronounced deceased on scene.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758298352490.png" alt="Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'" />
 <figcaption>Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'</figcaption>
 </figure>Other officers arriving were directed to the north side of the grocery store parking lot where they located Carmichael also suffering from gunshot wounds. He was transported to a local hospital by ambulance, with life threatening injuries. Just before 9 a.m., investigators were notified that he died of his injuries at the hospital.&nbsp;&nbsp;Preliminary information indicates there was an interaction outside of the grocery store between multiple individuals just prior to the shots being fired.&nbsp;This is being investigated as a homicide, and no one is in custody.

Police ID second victim in KC grocery store parking lot gunfight

COWLEY COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating two reports of cattle theft from pasture land in the northwest part of Cowley County, according to Sheriff Dave Faletti.

The sheriff's office received the first report on September 12, and a second report on September 16. In total, approximately 30 head of cattle have been reported stolen.

Deputies are actively investigating both cases and are working closely with neighboring law enforcement agencies, area ranchers, and livestock markets in an effort to track the movement of the stolen cattle.

Sheriff David Falletti urges residents, particularly those in rural and agricultural areas, to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity involving livestock transport or unfamiliar vehicles near pastures.

Anyone with information regarding these thefts is encouraged to contact the Cowley County Sheriff’s Office at (620) 221-5444 or submit a tip through Cowley County Crime Stoppers at (620) 221-7777. Callers may remain anonymous.

COWLEY COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating two reports of cattle theft from pasture land in the northwest part of Cowley County, according to Sheriff Dave Faletti.The sheriff's office received the first report on September 12, and a second report on September 16. In total, approximately 30 head of cattle have been reported stolen.Deputies are actively investigating both cases and are working closely with neighboring law enforcement agencies, area ranchers, and livestock markets in an effort to track the movement of the stolen cattle.Sheriff David Falletti urges residents, particularly those in rural and agricultural areas, to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity involving livestock transport or unfamiliar vehicles near pastures.Anyone with information regarding these thefts is encouraged to contact the Cowley County Sheriff’s Office at (620) 221-5444 or submit a tip through Cowley County Crime Stoppers at (620) 221-7777. Callers may remain anonymous.

Sheriff investigating more cattle thefts in Kansas

Gov. Mike Kehoe defends the bill as properly drafted, while the ACLU of Missouri and Democrats opposed to the plan say the listing is a fatal flaw

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>

Gov. Mike Kehoe went on the offensive Wednesday against critics of the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/09/12/gerrymandered-congressional-map-initiative-petitions-limits-sent-to-missouri-governor/">new congressional map</a>&nbsp;approved by Missouri lawmakers, issuing a statement seeking to rebut charges that one Kansas City precinct was accidentally placed in two different districts.

The ACLU of Missouri, in a case filed&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/cnet/cases/newHeader.do?inputVO.caseNumber=2516-CV29597&amp;inputVO.courtId=CT16" target="_blank">last week in Jackson County</a>, argues that the bill approved in a special session improperly designates a voting district of Kansas City to both the 4th Congressional District and the 5th District. While the lawsuit claims that alone should result in the map being thrown out, the ACLU also challenges the map on grounds it splits communities and violates the Missouri Constitution by changing the districts between federal censuses, which occur every 10 years.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB1&amp;year=2025&amp;code=S2" target="_blank">new congressional map</a>&nbsp;is awaiting action by Kehoe, who called lawmakers into special session at the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/07/25/trump-white-house-pressing-missouri-republicans-to-redraw-congressional-map/">insistence of President Donald Trump</a>. The goal is to give Republicans seven of the state’s eight congressional districts by redrawing the 5th District, currently held by U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, a Democrat.

In the statement, Kehoe said he intends to sign the bill. The lawsuit’s allegations are wrong, he insists, because there are two distinct geographic areas with the same designation — VTD 811 — in the Census Bureau files used for determining the population of any particular location. That doesn’t mean, he said, the same voters are in two different districts.&nbsp;

“The entire source of confusion is due to the existence of two entirely different VTDs using the same number,” he said.

The ACLU lawsuit is one of&nbsp;three pending cases&nbsp;that are challenging the state’s authority to revise congressional district lines between census reports. One, heard this week in Jefferson City, challenges Kehoe’s authority to call a special session for that purpose.&nbsp;

The other,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/cnet/cases/newHeader.do?inputVO.caseNumber=25AC-CC06964&amp;inputVO.courtId=SMPDB0004_CT19#docket" target="_blank">also in Cole County</a>, argues that no authority exists at all for the new map.&nbsp;

The lawsuit filed in Jackson County is in a very early stage and the only hearing date set so far is a routine court appearance on Dec. 29.&nbsp;As she ponders the duplicate designation, Jackson County Circuit Judge&nbsp;Jalilah Otto must determine whether the bill passed by lawmakers provides enough information to know which of the two voting districts with the same name is in which district.

The ACLU contends that because the bill only lists the district, and not the smaller census blocks within the voting district, for the portions in the 4th District and the 5th District, it is flawed and therefore should be thrown out.

If the two areas with the same designation were properly assigned to different districts, the bill should have identified the census blocks that are part of each, the ACLU lawsuit states.

“We believe the double precinct is just one of several legal flaws which is why we are asking the court to prohibit this map or others from going into effect and to declare the 2022 map as Missouri’s lawful congressional map,” ACLU of Missouri spokesman Tom Bastian said in a statement provided by email.&nbsp;

Former Missouri Supreme Court Chief Justice Mike Wolff said the courts must read the language of a bill and cannot add anything that is not included. Fixing any potential errors in the new map, Wolff said, would likely require action by the legislature.&nbsp;

“Drafting errors are supposed to be corrected by new drafts,” Wolff said. “I don’t think you can interpret your way out of this.”

The information the bill does not contain is the geographic coding that the Census Bureau attaches to each of the voter tally districts — commonly known as precincts. Those files designate two precincts in Kansas City as KC811, corresponding with the 11th precinct of Kansas City’s 8th ward. One is assigned to the 4th District in the new map, while the other is assigned to the 5th.

That coding determines which of the two precincts — one containing 32 people, the other 843 — goes into which district, Adam Kincaid, executive director of the National Republican Redistricting Trust, the GOP’s chief redistricting organization, said in an interview with The Independent.

Kincaid said the descriptions are the same ones used in 2022 to redraw Missouri’s eight congressional districts.&nbsp;

The bill describing the congressional districts currently in place, passed in 2022,&nbsp;<a href="https://documents.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills221/hlrbillspdf/5799H.02T.pdf" target="_blank">has only one reference</a>&nbsp;to KC 811. That is actually a flaw in that bill, Kincaid contends, and left some voters technically unassigned to a district.

In that case, “the current congressional or the previous congressional map would have been the one that was unconstitutional,” Kincaid said.

A properly written bill should use both designations, Kincadi said.

“If the two Kansas City 811s had both been assigned to district five, they would actually appear twice in district five,” Kincaid said. “If they had been assigned twice to district four, they would appear twice in district four. If one of them had been assigned and the other one not assigned, they would only appear once and the other one would have been left out because it was unassigned.”

Earlier this month, Kincaid produced a memo for the map’s legislative sponsor, Republican state Rep. Dirk Deaton of Noel, explaining the details of the new districts. But he insists that is not evidence that he had a hand in creating the map, pushing back on Democratic claims that the districts were drawn in Washington, D.C., as opposed to the governor’s office.&nbsp;

“I’ll defer to the governor’s office, and what the governor said about the map on that,” Kincaid said. “The governor’s team clearly produced and developed this map.”

He said the point of the memo, which was obtained by The Independent, was to provide arguments about why the bill meets constitutional requirements for compact districts with connected geographic areas.

“I looked at the way the districts were drawn, and how they were drawn, and I gave a report to the representative about it,” Kincaid said. “I had been asked to do the report. So I did it.”

A spokeswoman for Kehoe said the map was drawn by members of the governor’s staff “with extensive knowledge and experience in the redistricting and map drawing process.”

Democrats who oppose the new map said the duplicated description is an error that should sink the bill.

“I hope it is horribly fatal,” said state Sen. Barbara Washington, a Democrat from Kansas City.

Senate Minority Leader Doug Beck, an Affton Democrat, said the duplication is hard for Republicans to explain.

“The president told Missouri Republicans to pass his map ‘as is,’ and they did – with all its flaws,” Beck said. “Now, the governor has to choose between telling the president his ‘as is’ map might be wrong or signing a flawed map into law and hoping a judge doesn’t care. Any Republican who was told to blindly follow their leaders and not ask questions should be feeling pretty ticked off right about now.”&nbsp;

Under pressure from Trump, Republicans took just 10 days for the special session. The two bills passed — changes to the majority requirements for passing constitutional amendments by initiative along with redistricting — were sped through the House, then approved in the Senate with no changes from the point they were introduced.

The Senate allowed only four hours of debate on redistricting and none on the initiative changes.

In 2022, redistricting dominated the entire session. The first bills were introduced in December, before the legislature convened, and the&nbsp;final version wasn’t passed&nbsp;until the last day of work in May.

“It is no surprise that the slapdash process in which the legislature engaged — ramming through the bill, failing to publicly release an electronic GIS file that legislators, staff, and the public could view and vet, and instead only releasing the district assignments in PDF to obscure the map from any transparency — resulted in the most basic of errors,” the ACLU lawsuit states.

Chuck Hatfield, a Jefferson City attorney representing opponents in one of the lawsuits in Cole County, said he was not aware of the duplicate designations when he filed his challenge.

“Our position is you’re not allowed to draw maps at all,” Hatfield said. “You can’t do that in between censuses. So our position is, we don’t care what this map looks like, you can’t be doing them.”

Hatfield said he thought the duplicated designation is a “fatal flaw” in the map.

Regardless of where the map was drawn or any potential flaws, Democratic state Sen. Stephen Webber of Columbia said the special session showed Republicans are determined to have complete power in the state and will not tolerate dissent.

Senate Republicans shut off debate on both bills passed during the special session, wouldn’t allow any debate on one, refused to consider amendments and removed state Sen. Lincoln Hough of Springfield as&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/09/14/missouri-gop-senator-slams-party-leaders-for-forcing-vote-on-bills-without-allowing-debate/">chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee</a>&nbsp;after he opposed the bills.

“This is about consolidating power,” Webber said, “and having as few people as possible run the state of Missouri.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757444658128.png" alt="Source: U.S. Census Bureau. Basemap © OpenStreetMap contributors / Map by Anna Sago " />
 <figcaption>Source: U.S. Census Bureau. Basemap © OpenStreetMap contributors / Map by Anna Sago </figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Gov. Mike Kehoe defends the bill as properly drafted, while the ACLU of Missouri and Democrats opposed to the plan say the listing is a fatal flaw</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>Gov. Mike Kehoe went on the offensive Wednesday against critics of the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/09/12/gerrymandered-congressional-map-initiative-petitions-limits-sent-to-missouri-governor/">new congressional map</a>&nbsp;approved by Missouri lawmakers, issuing a statement seeking to rebut charges that one Kansas City precinct was accidentally placed in two different districts.The ACLU of Missouri, in a case filed&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/cnet/cases/newHeader.do?inputVO.caseNumber=2516-CV29597&amp;inputVO.courtId=CT16" target="_blank">last week in Jackson County</a>, argues that the bill approved in a special session improperly designates a voting district of Kansas City to both the 4th Congressional District and the 5th District. While the lawsuit claims that alone should result in the map being thrown out, the ACLU also challenges the map on grounds it splits communities and violates the Missouri Constitution by changing the districts between federal censuses, which occur every 10 years.The&nbsp;<a href="https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB1&amp;year=2025&amp;code=S2" target="_blank">new congressional map</a>&nbsp;is awaiting action by Kehoe, who called lawmakers into special session at the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/07/25/trump-white-house-pressing-missouri-republicans-to-redraw-congressional-map/">insistence of President Donald Trump</a>. The goal is to give Republicans seven of the state’s eight congressional districts by redrawing the 5th District, currently held by U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, a Democrat.In the statement, Kehoe said he intends to sign the bill. The lawsuit’s allegations are wrong, he insists, because there are two distinct geographic areas with the same designation — VTD 811 — in the Census Bureau files used for determining the population of any particular location. That doesn’t mean, he said, the same voters are in two different districts.&nbsp;“The entire source of confusion is due to the existence of two entirely different VTDs using the same number,” he said.The ACLU lawsuit is one of&nbsp;three pending cases&nbsp;that are challenging the state’s authority to revise congressional district lines between census reports. One, heard this week in Jefferson City, challenges Kehoe’s authority to call a special session for that purpose.&nbsp;The other,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/cnet/cases/newHeader.do?inputVO.caseNumber=25AC-CC06964&amp;inputVO.courtId=SMPDB0004_CT19#docket" target="_blank">also in Cole County</a>, argues that no authority exists at all for the new map.&nbsp;The lawsuit filed in Jackson County is in a very early stage and the only hearing date set so far is a routine court appearance on Dec. 29.&nbsp;As she ponders the duplicate designation, Jackson County Circuit Judge&nbsp;Jalilah Otto must determine whether the bill passed by lawmakers provides enough information to know which of the two voting districts with the same name is in which district.The ACLU contends that because the bill only lists the district, and not the smaller census blocks within the voting district, for the portions in the 4th District and the 5th District, it is flawed and therefore should be thrown out.If the two areas with the same designation were properly assigned to different districts, the bill should have identified the census blocks that are part of each, the ACLU lawsuit states.“We believe the double precinct is just one of several legal flaws which is why we are asking the court to prohibit this map or others from going into effect and to declare the 2022 map as Missouri’s lawful congressional map,” ACLU of Missouri spokesman Tom Bastian said in a statement provided by email.&nbsp;Former Missouri Supreme Court Chief Justice Mike Wolff said the courts must read the language of a bill and cannot add anything that is not included. Fixing any potential errors in the new map, Wolff said, would likely require action by the legislature.&nbsp;“Drafting errors are supposed to be corrected by new drafts,” Wolff said. “I don’t think you can interpret your way out of this.”The information the bill does not contain is the geographic coding that the Census Bureau attaches to each of the voter tally districts — commonly known as precincts. Those files designate two precincts in Kansas City as KC811, corresponding with the 11th precinct of Kansas City’s 8th ward. One is assigned to the 4th District in the new map, while the other is assigned to the 5th.That coding determines which of the two precincts — one containing 32 people, the other 843 — goes into which district, Adam Kincaid, executive director of the National Republican Redistricting Trust, the GOP’s chief redistricting organization, said in an interview with The Independent.Kincaid said the descriptions are the same ones used in 2022 to redraw Missouri’s eight congressional districts.&nbsp;The bill describing the congressional districts currently in place, passed in 2022,&nbsp;<a href="https://documents.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills221/hlrbillspdf/5799H.02T.pdf" target="_blank">has only one reference</a>&nbsp;to KC 811. That is actually a flaw in that bill, Kincaid contends, and left some voters technically unassigned to a district.In that case, “the current congressional or the previous congressional map would have been the one that was unconstitutional,” Kincaid said.A properly written bill should use both designations, Kincadi said.“If the two Kansas City 811s had both been assigned to district five, they would actually appear twice in district five,” Kincaid said. “If they had been assigned twice to district four, they would appear twice in district four. If one of them had been assigned and the other one not assigned, they would only appear once and the other one would have been left out because it was unassigned.”Earlier this month, Kincaid produced a memo for the map’s legislative sponsor, Republican state Rep. Dirk Deaton of Noel, explaining the details of the new districts. But he insists that is not evidence that he had a hand in creating the map, pushing back on Democratic claims that the districts were drawn in Washington, D.C., as opposed to the governor’s office.&nbsp;“I’ll defer to the governor’s office, and what the governor said about the map on that,” Kincaid said. “The governor’s team clearly produced and developed this map.”He said the point of the memo, which was obtained by The Independent, was to provide arguments about why the bill meets constitutional requirements for compact districts with connected geographic areas.“I looked at the way the districts were drawn, and how they were drawn, and I gave a report to the representative about it,” Kincaid said. “I had been asked to do the report. So I did it.”A spokeswoman for Kehoe said the map was drawn by members of the governor’s staff “with extensive knowledge and experience in the redistricting and map drawing process.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757550296708.png" alt=" Senate Minority Leader Doug Beck, D-Affton, speaks against proposed Senate rule changes Wednesday during the special session for redistricting (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent). " />
 <figcaption> Senate Minority Leader Doug Beck, D-Affton, speaks against proposed Senate rule changes Wednesday during the special session for redistricting (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent). </figcaption>
 </figure>Democrats who oppose the new map said the duplicated description is an error that should sink the bill.“I hope it is horribly fatal,” said state Sen. Barbara Washington, a Democrat from Kansas City.Senate Minority Leader Doug Beck, an Affton Democrat, said the duplication is hard for Republicans to explain.“The president told Missouri Republicans to pass his map ‘as is,’ and they did – with all its flaws,” Beck said. “Now, the governor has to choose between telling the president his ‘as is’ map might be wrong or signing a flawed map into law and hoping a judge doesn’t care. Any Republican who was told to blindly follow their leaders and not ask questions should be feeling pretty ticked off right about now.”&nbsp;Under pressure from Trump, Republicans took just 10 days for the special session. The two bills passed — changes to the majority requirements for passing constitutional amendments by initiative along with redistricting — were sped through the House, then approved in the Senate with no changes from the point they were introduced.The Senate allowed only four hours of debate on redistricting and none on the initiative changes.In 2022, redistricting dominated the entire session. The first bills were introduced in December, before the legislature convened, and the&nbsp;final version wasn’t passed&nbsp;until the last day of work in May.“It is no surprise that the slapdash process in which the legislature engaged — ramming through the bill, failing to publicly release an electronic GIS file that legislators, staff, and the public could view and vet, and instead only releasing the district assignments in PDF to obscure the map from any transparency — resulted in the most basic of errors,” the ACLU lawsuit states.Chuck Hatfield, a Jefferson City attorney representing opponents in one of the lawsuits in Cole County, said he was not aware of the duplicate designations when he filed his challenge.“Our position is you’re not allowed to draw maps at all,” Hatfield said. “You can’t do that in between censuses. So our position is, we don’t care what this map looks like, you can’t be doing them.”Hatfield said he thought the duplicated designation is a “fatal flaw” in the map.Regardless of where the map was drawn or any potential flaws, Democratic state Sen. Stephen Webber of Columbia said the special session showed Republicans are determined to have complete power in the state and will not tolerate dissent.Senate Republicans shut off debate on both bills passed during the special session, wouldn’t allow any debate on one, refused to consider amendments and removed state Sen. Lincoln Hough of Springfield as&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/09/14/missouri-gop-senator-slams-party-leaders-for-forcing-vote-on-bills-without-allowing-debate/">chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee</a>&nbsp;after he opposed the bills.“This is about consolidating power,” Webber said, “and having as few people as possible run the state of Missouri.”

Court battle looms over KC precinct listed twice in Missouri’s new congressional map

KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City man faces charges for his role in stealing a vehicle and a stand-off with police.

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2724/Tyrin-REDACT-COMP">Tyrin Mosby-Sherman</a>&nbsp;is charged with 1st Degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child, one count of Resisting Arrest/Detention/Stop by Fleeing, one count of Leaving the Scene of an Accident, and one count of 1st Degree Tampering with a Motor Vehicle, according to&nbsp;Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2723/Mosby-Sherman-REDACT-PC">According to court records</a>, Kansas City police were patrolling the area of East Linwood Boulevard and Bellefontaine Avenue on Sept. 10 when they observed an accident.&nbsp;

Mosby-Sherman was standing near the driver’s side door of an Audi, which crashed into the back side of a white SUV. Officers observed him pulling a small child from the Audi and then fled on foot from the accident. Officers took him into custody and safely recovered the child. The Audi was confirmed stolen.&nbsp;

Officers recovered a firearm and three vehicle key fobs, including one for an Audi, on the ground where the defendant was taken into custody.&nbsp; Mosby-Sherman met the requirement for bond and is no longer in custody, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758228467300.png" alt="Mosby-Sherman is no longer in custody, according to online jail records in Jackson County." />
 <figcaption>Mosby-Sherman is no longer in custody, according to online jail records in Jackson County.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City man faces charges for his role in stealing a vehicle and a stand-off with police.<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2724/Tyrin-REDACT-COMP">Tyrin Mosby-Sherman</a>&nbsp;is charged with 1st Degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child, one count of Resisting Arrest/Detention/Stop by Fleeing, one count of Leaving the Scene of an Accident, and one count of 1st Degree Tampering with a Motor Vehicle, according to&nbsp;Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2723/Mosby-Sherman-REDACT-PC">According to court records</a>, Kansas City police were patrolling the area of East Linwood Boulevard and Bellefontaine Avenue on Sept. 10 when they observed an accident.&nbsp;Mosby-Sherman was standing near the driver’s side door of an Audi, which crashed into the back side of a white SUV. Officers observed him pulling a small child from the Audi and then fled on foot from the accident. Officers took him into custody and safely recovered the child. The Audi was confirmed stolen.&nbsp;Officers recovered a firearm and three vehicle key fobs, including one for an Audi, on the ground where the defendant was taken into custody.&nbsp; Mosby-Sherman met the requirement for bond and is no longer in custody, according to online jail records.

Kansas City man fled from crash in stolen car carrying a child 

WASHINGTON, D.C.&nbsp;– Today, Florida U.S. Senator Rick Scott on the Senate floor called for the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/services/files/55A19212-1EC1-4868-A72B-8E271E2D81B2">passage of&nbsp;his resolution</a>&nbsp;honoring the legacy of Charlie Kirk by designating October 14, 2025 as a&nbsp;National Day of Remembrance for Charlie Kirk.

By voice vote Senators agreed to S. Res. 403 to express support for the resolution.

The resolution is cosponsored by Senators Tommy Tuberville, Jim Risch, Bill Cassidy, Mike Crapo, Dan Sullivan, Cindy Hyde-Smith, Bernie Moreno, Pete Ricketts, Rand Paul, Josh Hawley, Lindsey Graham, Mike Lee, John Kennedy, Marsha Blackburn, Tim Sheehy, Ted Cruz, James Lankford, Steve Daines, Ashley Moody, Markwayne Mullin, and Deb Fischer. 

Congressman Jimmy Patronis is leading the companion resolution in the House of Representatives.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757551583450.png" alt="Charlie Kirk photo White House" />
 <figcaption>Charlie Kirk photo White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON, D.C.&nbsp;– Today, Florida U.S. Senator Rick Scott on the Senate floor called for the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/services/files/55A19212-1EC1-4868-A72B-8E271E2D81B2">passage of&nbsp;his resolution</a>&nbsp;honoring the legacy of Charlie Kirk by designating October 14, 2025 as a&nbsp;National Day of Remembrance for Charlie Kirk.By voice vote Senators agreed to S. Res. 403 to express support for the resolution.The resolution is cosponsored by Senators Tommy Tuberville, Jim Risch, Bill Cassidy, Mike Crapo, Dan Sullivan, Cindy Hyde-Smith, Bernie Moreno, Pete Ricketts, Rand Paul, Josh Hawley, Lindsey Graham, Mike Lee, John Kennedy, Marsha Blackburn, Tim Sheehy, Ted Cruz, James Lankford, Steve Daines, Ashley Moody, Markwayne Mullin, and Deb Fischer. Congressman Jimmy Patronis is leading the companion resolution in the House of Representatives.

Charlie Kirk Day: U.S. Senate passes resolution for "National Day of Remembrance" 

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a traffic stop arrest in Kansas.

Just before 2a.m. on Tuesday, a sheriff's deputy conducted a traffic stop on a black 2003 Chevrolet Trax with an unreadable license plate near SW 11th Street and SW Lincoln Street, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

During the investigation, it was discovered that the driver had a suspended driver’s license and illegal narcotics were located.

Just after 4:30a.m., Frederick L. Sanders, 53, of Topeka, was booked into the Shawnee County Dept. of Corrections on&nbsp; requested charges of Distribute opiate/opium/narcotic/certain stimulant,&nbsp;Possession of an opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant, Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia, Driving while license suspended and for the&nbsp;Display of license plate. According to online jail records he met the requirement for bond and was released from custody at 8:41a.m.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758136265428.png" alt="Sanders photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Sanders photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a traffic stop arrest in Kansas.Just before 2a.m. on Tuesday, a sheriff's deputy conducted a traffic stop on a black 2003 Chevrolet Trax with an unreadable license plate near SW 11th Street and SW Lincoln Street, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.During the investigation, it was discovered that the driver had a suspended driver’s license and illegal narcotics were located.Just after 4:30a.m., Frederick L. Sanders, 53, of Topeka, was booked into the Shawnee County Dept. of Corrections on&nbsp; requested charges of Distribute opiate/opium/narcotic/certain stimulant,&nbsp;Possession of an opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant, Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia, Driving while license suspended and for the&nbsp;Display of license plate. According to online jail records he met the requirement for bond and was released from custody at 8:41a.m.

Alleged Kansas drug dealer out of jail hours after arrest

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement in Kansas City, Missouri investigating another homicide have identified the victim as 36-year-old&nbsp; Ashton Hams.

Just t before 9:30p.m. Wednesday, police were dispatched to 10th and Prospect in Kansas City on a sound of gunshots call, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina.

First responders were directed to the east side of the intersection where they located Hams on the ground unresponsive. Officers ordered EMS to the scene who declared him deceased.

Numerous callers reported hearing the sound of gunshots near the intersection of 10th and Prospect and looking out and seeing the victim down on the ground.&nbsp; Preliminary investigation indicates that one or more suspects fired shots that struck the victim at the location where the victim was located by officers. This occurred outside an apartment complex so detectives are hopeful that someone heard or saw something.

Homicide detectives are making headway piecing together the sequence of events that led up to the shooting and identifying involved persons, according to Becchina.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758211037513.png" alt="Photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement in Kansas City, Missouri investigating another homicide have identified the victim as 36-year-old&nbsp; Ashton Hams.Just t before 9:30p.m. Wednesday, police were dispatched to 10th and Prospect in Kansas City on a sound of gunshots call, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina.First responders were directed to the east side of the intersection where they located Hams on the ground unresponsive. Officers ordered EMS to the scene who declared him deceased.Numerous callers reported hearing the sound of gunshots near the intersection of 10th and Prospect and looking out and seeing the victim down on the ground.&nbsp; Preliminary investigation indicates that one or more suspects fired shots that struck the victim at the location where the victim was located by officers. This occurred outside an apartment complex so detectives are hopeful that someone heard or saw something.Homicide detectives are making headway piecing together the sequence of events that led up to the shooting and identifying involved persons, according to Becchina.

KCPD: Body of shooting victim found outside apartment complex

BARRY COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a fatal hit-and-run that occurred just before 9:30p.m. Wednesday in Barry County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a vehicle struck a 39-year-old Springfield woman on MO 39 at Shell Knob and fled the scene.

The woman was pronounced dead just after 11p.m. at Mercy Hospital in Springfield.&nbsp; The MSHP no longer releases names of accident victims.

BARRY COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a fatal hit-and-run that occurred just before 9:30p.m. Wednesday in Barry County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a vehicle struck a 39-year-old Springfield woman on MO 39 at Shell Knob and fled the scene.The woman was pronounced dead just after 11p.m. at Mercy Hospital in Springfield.&nbsp; The MSHP no longer releases names of accident victims.

Missouri woman killed in hit-and-run

Working groups studying performance incentives, local effort, student counts and funding targets bring subject-matter experts to influence formula

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

Additional public education experts are joining discussions on the future of the state’s school funding formula as work groups convene for bi-monthly meetings.

Gov. Mike Kehoe created the Missouri School Funding Modernization Task Force in an executive order in January and&nbsp;<a href="https://governor.mo.gov/press-releases/archive/governor-kehoe-announces-appointments-missouri-school-funding-modernization" target="_blank">appointed members</a>&nbsp;from a wide swath of backgrounds, including a leader from the Missouri Soybean Association and a senior director from the Herzog Foundation, one of six educational assistance organizations that help distribute private school scholarships under the state’s MOScholars program.

Now, with work groups meeting, the number of people guiding the discussion has more than doubled. Among those joining the effort are Linda Quinley, who serves as senior director of school finance for the Missouri School Boards Association, and Premier Charter School’s director of finance Andy Vien.

Between the two working groups that met Wednesday, seven of the new advisors have experience as superintendents or other administrative positions for public school districts.

The groups will meet six times through the end of the year and are expected to give a report to the larger task force in January or February.

Wednesday’s meetings of the local effort and performance incentives work groups largely served to orient members to their mission.

The local effort task force is charged with finding solutions to adapt a new funding formula to varying property values and tax rates statewide.

The current foundation formula calculates local funding with an assumed tax rate of $3.43 per $100 of assessed valuation. This is multiplied by the assessed property values within a school district from the 2004-05 school year.

Now, 20 years later, school districts with shrinking property values or with tax rates below 3.43% are shortchanged.

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s recently retired finance chief Kari Monsees, who led Wednesday’s meetings, said the group should find a way to unfreeze property values.

“Is there another way we can calculate this local revenue that remains more accurate over time?” he said. “It’s going to be a moving target, but we just need to be thinking about how we try to make our recommendations more immune to those policy shifts over time.”

Complicating the group’s efforts are&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/09/04/jackass-legislation-missouri-lawmakers-urged-to-reject-quick-fixes-for-property-taxes/">conversations statewide about property-tax policies</a>&nbsp;and a push from the Missouri State Tax Commission to increase residential assessments.

Monsees raised the idea of adding local income levels as a factor.

The second group meeting Tuesday is charged with creating additional sources of funding for high-performing schools, following Kehoe’s call for “incentives based on performance of schools and educational outcomes.” This would be a new addition to Missouri’s school funding formula.

“What is it that we want to incentivize? We have to be able to do it mechanically, but it also needs to be for the right reasons, for the benefit of students,” Monsees told the group.

He recommended that the incentives adapt to districts’ various socioeconomic conditions.

“Some are more advantaged or disadvantaged than others,” he said. The suggestion is we avoid something that would just automatically reward those with low poverty with more money.”

The&nbsp;<a href="https://comptroller.tn.gov/content/dam/cot/orea/advanced-search/2025/TISAoutcomesfunding.pdf" target="_blank">state of Tennessee adopted a formula</a>&nbsp;in the past few years that gives extra funding when students reach certain targets. Students identified as English-language learners, economically disadvantaged or disabled who reach targets earn more for their schools.

Tennessee’s performance-based funding is a small portion from the state’s formula, Monsees pointed out.

The group suggested a variety of factors that could earn districts a bonus.&nbsp;

Monsees recommended third-grade literacy or college readiness as factors to incentivize. But he also questioned whether the state has enough data to be able to look into student success after graduation.

“I would describe our data systems here within our state as less than robust,” he said. “So that’s a challenging area, especially if we want to get something that tries to connect the K-12 setting with post-secondary outcomes.”

Mike Podgursky, a semi-retired economics professor from the University of Missouri-Columbia and affiliated scholar at the Sinquefield Center for Applied Economic Research, suggested using Missouri’s growth model.

“Missouri has a growth model which does adjust for prior achievement and does a very good job of leveling out the playing field,” he said.

The growth model is part of the state’s school accreditation program and has drawn questions in recent years, with&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/12/18/missouri-administrators-question-school-district-scores-in-second-year-of-new-formula/">school superintendents asking for more transparency</a>&nbsp;in how growth is calculated.

Other suggestions included incentivizing schools who meet five days a week and looking at teacher effectiveness. A bill passed in 2024 gave a small financial incentive to have classes five days a week.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758225012699.png" alt="Kari Monsees, the state education department’s former finance chief, discusses the state’s public education funding formula during the Missouri School Funding Modernization Task Force meeting Sept. 9 (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption>Kari Monsees, the state education department’s former finance chief, discusses the state’s public education funding formula during the Missouri School Funding Modernization Task Force meeting Sept. 9 (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Working groups studying performance incentives, local effort, student counts and funding targets bring subject-matter experts to influence formula</h2>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/ahanshaw/">Annelise Hanshaw</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>Additional public education experts are joining discussions on the future of the state’s school funding formula as work groups convene for bi-monthly meetings.Gov. Mike Kehoe created the Missouri School Funding Modernization Task Force in an executive order in January and&nbsp;<a href="https://governor.mo.gov/press-releases/archive/governor-kehoe-announces-appointments-missouri-school-funding-modernization" target="_blank">appointed members</a>&nbsp;from a wide swath of backgrounds, including a leader from the Missouri Soybean Association and a senior director from the Herzog Foundation, one of six educational assistance organizations that help distribute private school scholarships under the state’s MOScholars program.Now, with work groups meeting, the number of people guiding the discussion has more than doubled. Among those joining the effort are Linda Quinley, who serves as senior director of school finance for the Missouri School Boards Association, and Premier Charter School’s director of finance Andy Vien.Between the two working groups that met Wednesday, seven of the new advisors have experience as superintendents or other administrative positions for public school districts.The groups will meet six times through the end of the year and are expected to give a report to the larger task force in January or February.Wednesday’s meetings of the local effort and performance incentives work groups largely served to orient members to their mission.The local effort task force is charged with finding solutions to adapt a new funding formula to varying property values and tax rates statewide.The current foundation formula calculates local funding with an assumed tax rate of $3.43 per $100 of assessed valuation. This is multiplied by the assessed property values within a school district from the 2004-05 school year.Now, 20 years later, school districts with shrinking property values or with tax rates below 3.43% are shortchanged.The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s recently retired finance chief Kari Monsees, who led Wednesday’s meetings, said the group should find a way to unfreeze property values.“Is there another way we can calculate this local revenue that remains more accurate over time?” he said. “It’s going to be a moving target, but we just need to be thinking about how we try to make our recommendations more immune to those policy shifts over time.”Complicating the group’s efforts are&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/09/04/jackass-legislation-missouri-lawmakers-urged-to-reject-quick-fixes-for-property-taxes/">conversations statewide about property-tax policies</a>&nbsp;and a push from the Missouri State Tax Commission to increase residential assessments.Monsees raised the idea of adding local income levels as a factor.The second group meeting Tuesday is charged with creating additional sources of funding for high-performing schools, following Kehoe’s call for “incentives based on performance of schools and educational outcomes.” This would be a new addition to Missouri’s school funding formula.“What is it that we want to incentivize? We have to be able to do it mechanically, but it also needs to be for the right reasons, for the benefit of students,” Monsees told the group.He recommended that the incentives adapt to districts’ various socioeconomic conditions.“Some are more advantaged or disadvantaged than others,” he said. The suggestion is we avoid something that would just automatically reward those with low poverty with more money.”The&nbsp;<a href="https://comptroller.tn.gov/content/dam/cot/orea/advanced-search/2025/TISAoutcomesfunding.pdf" target="_blank">state of Tennessee adopted a formula</a>&nbsp;in the past few years that gives extra funding when students reach certain targets. Students identified as English-language learners, economically disadvantaged or disabled who reach targets earn more for their schools.Tennessee’s performance-based funding is a small portion from the state’s formula, Monsees pointed out.The group suggested a variety of factors that could earn districts a bonus.&nbsp;Monsees recommended third-grade literacy or college readiness as factors to incentivize. But he also questioned whether the state has enough data to be able to look into student success after graduation.“I would describe our data systems here within our state as less than robust,” he said. “So that’s a challenging area, especially if we want to get something that tries to connect the K-12 setting with post-secondary outcomes.”Mike Podgursky, a semi-retired economics professor from the University of Missouri-Columbia and affiliated scholar at the Sinquefield Center for Applied Economic Research, suggested using Missouri’s growth model.“Missouri has a growth model which does adjust for prior achievement and does a very good job of leveling out the playing field,” he said.The growth model is part of the state’s school accreditation program and has drawn questions in recent years, with&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/12/18/missouri-administrators-question-school-district-scores-in-second-year-of-new-formula/">school superintendents asking for more transparency</a>&nbsp;in how growth is calculated.Other suggestions included incentivizing schools who meet five days a week and looking at teacher effectiveness. A bill passed in 2024 gave a small financial incentive to have classes five days a week.

Public education leaders guide task force studying Missouri school funding

Beyond his social media comment, President Trump on Thursday made his first public comments about the ABC television network's decision to suspend Jimmy Kimmel's late night show.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758149830141.png" alt="Image courtesy ABC" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy ABC</figcaption>
 </figure>Beyond his social media comment, President Trump on Thursday made his first public comments about the ABC television network's decision to suspend Jimmy Kimmel's late night show.&nbsp;<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Trump: &quot;Jimmy Kimmel was fired because he had bad ratings more than anything else and he said a horrible thing about a great gentleman known as Charlie Kirk and Jimmy Kimmel is not a talented person. He had very bad ratings and they should have fired him a long time… <a href="https://t.co/GOgpw9UW5m">pic.twitter.com/GOgpw9UW5m</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1968692081590767948?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">&quot;Great News for America: The ratings challenged Jimmy Kimmel Show is CANCELLED. Congratulations to <a href="https://twitter.com/ABC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ABC</a> for finally having the courage to do what had to be done...&quot; - President Donald J. Trump <a href="https://t.co/Vhj6DQSssu">pic.twitter.com/Vhj6DQSssu</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1968468758533451910?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

🎥President Trump on why Jimmy Kimmel's show was pulled 

SALINE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a scam that cost a woman thousands of dollars.

On Wednesday, a 60-year old woman reported she was a victim of fraud in connection with a scam on Facebook Dating, according to Salina. Police.

In November 2023, the victim met a man on Facebook Dating from Kansas City, before the fraudulent occurrences started.

Reportedly, the man told the victim he was on his way to 'Malaysia for a work trip.' He allegedly advised her that he needed money to pay for 'taxes and other issues.' The victim then sent him $10,000 to cover the costs 'he needed.'

She later sent an additional $5,000 for other issues and after more requests for money, the victim eventually cut off contact with him. However, the man sent money to her, where she then redistributed the funds back to him. During that time, she received over $66,000 where she redistributed the full amount back through various payment apps.

After this, the victim contacted Salina Police about the situation. According to Salina Police, the victim currently out a total of $14,694.

SALINE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a scam that cost a woman thousands of dollars.On Wednesday, a 60-year old woman reported she was a victim of fraud in connection with a scam on Facebook Dating, according to Salina. Police.In November 2023, the victim met a man on Facebook Dating from Kansas City, before the fraudulent occurrences started.Reportedly, the man told the victim he was on his way to 'Malaysia for a work trip.' He allegedly advised her that he needed money to pay for 'taxes and other issues.' The victim then sent him $10,000 to cover the costs 'he needed.'She later sent an additional $5,000 for other issues and after more requests for money, the victim eventually cut off contact with him. However, the man sent money to her, where she then redistributed the funds back to him. During that time, she received over $66,000 where she redistributed the full amount back through various payment apps.After this, the victim contacted Salina Police about the situation. According to Salina Police, the victim currently out a total of $14,694.

Police: Kan. woman lost $14,000 in Facebook Dating scam

Yellowstone National Park, WY—A hiker is recovering after an encounter with a bear that sent him to the hospital.&nbsp; Yellowstone National Park released details.

Be&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/backcountrysafety.htm">bear aware</a>&nbsp;to help avoid surprise bear encounters

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758205106024.jpeg" alt="Turbid Lake photo by Jacob W. Frank National Park Service" />
 <figcaption>Turbid Lake photo by Jacob W. Frank National Park Service</figcaption>
 </figure>Yellowstone National Park, WY—A hiker is recovering after an encounter with a bear that sent him to the hospital.&nbsp; Yellowstone National Park released details.<ul>
 <li>On the afternoon of Tuesday, Sept. 16, a male, age 29, sustained injuries from a bear while hiking on the Turbid Lake Trail, located northeast of Mary Bay in Yellowstone Lake.</li><li>The incident occurred approximately 2.5 miles from the Pelican Valley Trailhead in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/management/bear.htm">Pelican Valley Bear Management Area</a>.</li><li>The male was hiking alone when he encountered the bear near Turbid Lake. The hiker began to deploy bear spray when the bear made contact, and he sustained significant but non-life-threatening injuries to his chest and left arm. National Park Service medics responded to the incident and walked out with the hiker.</li><li>Once arriving to the trailhead, NPS transported the hiker in a park ambulance to the Lake Medical Clinic. He was then flown to a nearby hospital for treatment.</li><li>The hiker thought the bear was a black bear; however, the location, size, and behavior of the described bear suggest&nbsp;it might have been a grizzly bear. Bear management staff will attempt to confirm the species through DNA analysis, if possible.</li><li>The Turbid Lake Trail is closed until further notice.&nbsp;Bear management staff are sweeping the trail to ensure no other hikers are on the trail. Visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/situationreport.htm">Backcountry Conditions</a>&nbsp;for status and conditions of park trails.</li><li>Because this incident was a defensive reaction by the bear during a surprise encounter, the park will not be taking any management action against the bear.</li><li>This incident remains under investigation and there are no further details to share at this time.</li><li>This is the first incident of a bear injuring a person in Yellowstone in 2025. The last incident was in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/news/210528.htm">May 2021</a>&nbsp;when a grizzly bear injured a solo hiker on the Beaver Ponds Trail in Mammoth Hot Springs.</li>
 </ul>Be&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/backcountrysafety.htm">bear aware</a>&nbsp;to help avoid surprise bear encounters<ul>
 <li>Carry bear spray and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nps.gov/media/video/view.htm?id=F7EC7B4D-1DD8-B71B-0BA8E72257EBE39A">know how to use it</a>.</li><li>Be alert. See the bear before you surprise it. Watch for fresh tracks, scat, and feeding sites (signs of digging, rolled rocks, torn up logs, ripped open ant hills).</li><li>Make noise.</li><li>Hike in groups of three or more people.</li><li>Stay 100 yards (91 meters) away from bears at all times.</li><li>Stay on trail and don't hike at dawn, dusk, or at night, when grizzlies are most active.</li><li>Don’t run from a bear.&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>

Hiker hospitalized after bear attack at Yellowstone National Park

JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a priest from a Catholic church in Leawood, according to the Archdiocese of Kansas City, Kansas.

On Wednesday, Father Richard Storey advised the Archdiocese of his decision to resign as the pastor of Curé of Ars Parish in Leawood, according to a statement on the diocese website.

The Prairie Village Police Department has informed the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas of a criminal investigation involving Father Storey concerning another adult. The Archdiocese is fully cooperating with authorities so they can investigate the serious allegations being made against Father Storey.

In addition, Archbishop McKnight has initiated a preliminary canonical investigation.

Due to Father Storey’s decision to resign, and in compliance with archdiocesan policy, he has been temporarily suspended from the public exercise of priestly ministry. He is not allowed to function publicly as a priest during this time, which includes celebrating Mass and performing pastoral duties. He is presumed innocent until the investigations are concluded.

As is normative for such a process, the diocese will not provide any further information on the matter during the investigation.

Father John Riley, vicar general of the archdiocese, has been appointed as temporary administrator of the parish.

We are devastated by this situation. While we cooperate with law enforcement and engage in our own efforts to understand the circumstances and to determine next steps for the community, we also ask for prayers for all affected.

If you have any information you believe the police should know, please contact the Prairie Village Police Department at 913-642-6868.

Our archdiocese takes all allegations of abuse and misconduct by church personnel very seriously and works to respond to survivors’ needs with urgency, respect, and compassion. We encourage anyone with knowledge about any misconduct by a church volunteer, employee, religious or clergy member — regardless of when it may have occurred — to contact civil authorities first, and then call or text the archdiocese’s confidential report line at 913-276-8703 or online at&nbsp;<a href="https://archkck.org/protection-and-care/reportabuse/">www.archkck.org/reportabuse</a>.

To learn more about our archdiocesan safe environment policies and procedures, click&nbsp;<a href="https://archkck.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Creating-Safe-Enviroment-Explainer.pdf">here</a>.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758193607832.png" alt="Curé of Ars Parish in Leawood -Google image" />
 <figcaption>Curé of Ars Parish in Leawood -Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a priest from a Catholic church in Leawood, according to the Archdiocese of Kansas City, Kansas.On Wednesday, Father Richard Storey advised the Archdiocese of his decision to resign as the pastor of Curé of Ars Parish in Leawood, according to a statement on the diocese website.The Prairie Village Police Department has informed the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas of a criminal investigation involving Father Storey concerning another adult. The Archdiocese is fully cooperating with authorities so they can investigate the serious allegations being made against Father Storey.In addition, Archbishop McKnight has initiated a preliminary canonical investigation.Due to Father Storey’s decision to resign, and in compliance with archdiocesan policy, he has been temporarily suspended from the public exercise of priestly ministry. He is not allowed to function publicly as a priest during this time, which includes celebrating Mass and performing pastoral duties. He is presumed innocent until the investigations are concluded.As is normative for such a process, the diocese will not provide any further information on the matter during the investigation.Father John Riley, vicar general of the archdiocese, has been appointed as temporary administrator of the parish.We are devastated by this situation. While we cooperate with law enforcement and engage in our own efforts to understand the circumstances and to determine next steps for the community, we also ask for prayers for all affected.If you have any information you believe the police should know, please contact the Prairie Village Police Department at 913-642-6868.Our archdiocese takes all allegations of abuse and misconduct by church personnel very seriously and works to respond to survivors’ needs with urgency, respect, and compassion. We encourage anyone with knowledge about any misconduct by a church volunteer, employee, religious or clergy member — regardless of when it may have occurred — to contact civil authorities first, and then call or text the archdiocese’s confidential report line at 913-276-8703 or online at&nbsp;<a href="https://archkck.org/protection-and-care/reportabuse/">www.archkck.org/reportabuse</a>.To learn more about our archdiocesan safe environment policies and procedures, click&nbsp;<a href="https://archkck.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Creating-Safe-Enviroment-Explainer.pdf">here</a>.&nbsp;

Kansas priest resigns amid police investigation

SEWARD COUNTY, Kansas– The U.S. Marshals are seeking the public’s help and offering a reward of up to&nbsp;$5,000&nbsp;for information leading to the arrest of a Guatemalan man wanted in Seward County on multiple counts of crimes against children, according to a media release.

Juan Ralios-Batz, (estimated age) 30, is wanted on three counts of rape of a child, one count of aggravated kidnapping, one count of aggravated human trafficking, and one count of abuse of a child.

Batz and his sister are alleged to have sponsored a 13-year-old unaccompanied alien child and, over a two-year-period, Batz allegedly raped the child and forced the child to do manual labor. &nbsp;The child eventually became pregnant and has a child with Batz. When Batz became aware of his wanted status, his family allegedly helped him escape to Fremont, Nebraska, to evade the charges against him. &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Batz is a white or Hispanic man, stands 5-feet-1 inch and weighs approximately 115 pounds. He has brown eyes and black hair and a tattoo of the letter J on his right arm.&nbsp;

Batz, who is in the U.S. illegally, is known to use multiple aliases, including Juan Ralios, Juan Batz, Randy Guerro, Juan Ramos-Batz, Juan Ramos and Omar Gonzalez.&nbsp;

Anyone with information regarding his location is urged to contact the U.S. Marshals at&nbsp;1-877-WANTED-2&nbsp;or send tip information via the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usmarshals.gov/what-we-do/fugitive-investigations/submitting-a-tip">USMS Tips App</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758163504048.png" alt="Batz photo Seward Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Batz photo Seward Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>SEWARD COUNTY, Kansas– The U.S. Marshals are seeking the public’s help and offering a reward of up to&nbsp;$5,000&nbsp;for information leading to the arrest of a Guatemalan man wanted in Seward County on multiple counts of crimes against children, according to a media release.Juan Ralios-Batz, (estimated age) 30, is wanted on three counts of rape of a child, one count of aggravated kidnapping, one count of aggravated human trafficking, and one count of abuse of a child.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758163443530.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Batz and his sister are alleged to have sponsored a 13-year-old unaccompanied alien child and, over a two-year-period, Batz allegedly raped the child and forced the child to do manual labor. &nbsp;The child eventually became pregnant and has a child with Batz. When Batz became aware of his wanted status, his family allegedly helped him escape to Fremont, Nebraska, to evade the charges against him. &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;Batz is a white or Hispanic man, stands 5-feet-1 inch and weighs approximately 115 pounds. He has brown eyes and black hair and a tattoo of the letter J on his right arm.&nbsp;Batz, who is in the U.S. illegally, is known to use multiple aliases, including Juan Ralios, Juan Batz, Randy Guerro, Juan Ramos-Batz, Juan Ramos and Omar Gonzalez.&nbsp;Anyone with information regarding his location is urged to contact the U.S. Marshals at&nbsp;1-877-WANTED-2&nbsp;or send tip information via the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usmarshals.gov/what-we-do/fugitive-investigations/submitting-a-tip">USMS Tips App</a>.

Sex crime suspect in U.S. illegally may be hiding in Nebraska

<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">WATCH IN FULL: President Donald J. Trump and the First Lady receive a marvelous welcome to Windsor Castle earlier today, kicking off the President&#39;s unprecedented second state visit to the United Kingdom. <a href="https://t.co/3IOBmn8cVo">pic.twitter.com/3IOBmn8cVo</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1968393607976456671?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://t.co/UpX0M1yM5c">pic.twitter.com/UpX0M1yM5c</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1968412389054775622?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Welcome President Trump 🇺🇸🇬🇧 <a href="https://t.co/Xpm5Nq2XRA">pic.twitter.com/Xpm5Nq2XRA</a>&mdash; The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) <a href="https://twitter.com/KensingtonRoyal/status/1968305875686449290?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🇺🇸 🇬🇧 This afternoon, a Beating Retreat ceremony was held at Windsor Castle to mark President Trump’s State Visit. The ceremony has its origins in the early years of organised warfare when the beating of drums and the parading of Post Guards heralded the closing of camp gates… <a href="https://t.co/UnFCeOYL29">pic.twitter.com/UnFCeOYL29</a>&mdash; The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) <a href="https://twitter.com/RoyalFamily/status/1968387149734330404?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">WOW! A joint U.S.-U.K. flyover of F-35s and Red Arrows atop <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/FLOTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FLOTUS</a>, and Their Majesties at Windsor Castle! 🇺🇸🇬🇧 <a href="https://t.co/CvMEtO3o3a">pic.twitter.com/CvMEtO3o3a</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1968343366929907847?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> and the First Lady listen to the Chapel Choristers inside St. George’s Chapel 🇺🇸🇬🇧 <a href="https://t.co/Qzw0FVowkJ">pic.twitter.com/Qzw0FVowkJ</a>&mdash; Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) <a href="https://twitter.com/MargoMartin47/status/1968337163357188250?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> inspecting the Guard of Honor with King Charles 🇺🇸🇬🇧 <a href="https://t.co/OtFaUxKMyp">pic.twitter.com/OtFaUxKMyp</a>&mdash; Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) <a href="https://twitter.com/MargoMartin47/status/1968294714886734156?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/FLOTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FLOTUS</a> arrive at Windsor Castle with King Charles and Queen Camilla 🇺🇸🇬🇧 <a href="https://t.co/p0RMi3zKA8">pic.twitter.com/p0RMi3zKA8</a>&mdash; Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) <a href="https://twitter.com/MargoMartin47/status/1968293874230767665?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🇬🇧 🇺🇸 The King and Queen inspect the banquet table in St George’s Hall ahead of this evening’s State Banquet <a href="https://t.co/T5OJm7MY3C">pic.twitter.com/T5OJm7MY3C</a>&mdash; The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) <a href="https://twitter.com/RoyalFamily/status/1968356830087889211?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/FLOTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FLOTUS</a>, together with Their Majesties, arrive for a state banquet at Windsor Castle. 🇺🇸🇬🇧 <a href="https://t.co/tyO8lTW4xv">pic.twitter.com/tyO8lTW4xv</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1968403182070960249?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &quot;We&#39;re joined by history and fate, by love and language, and by transcendent ties of culture, tradition, ancestry, and destiny... The bond of kinship and identity between America and the United Kingdom is priceless and eternal — it&#39;s irreplaceable and unbreakable.&quot; 🇺🇸🇬🇧 <a href="https://t.co/RhFIaLNcAp">pic.twitter.com/RhFIaLNcAp</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1968410080077832446?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &quot;On behalf of all Americans, I offer a toast to one of the great friendships, two great countries, and to His Majesty, King Charlies III — a very, very special man and also a very, very special Queen.&quot; 🥂🇺🇸🇬🇧 <a href="https://t.co/kzLKVhUFgA">pic.twitter.com/kzLKVhUFgA</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1968409465629053016?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> delivers remarks at the State Banquet at Windsor Castle: &quot;This is truly one of the highest honors of my life... for many decades, His Majesty The King has epitomized the fortitude, nobility, and the spirit of the British Monarchy, and the British people.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/NhePpGOpJH">pic.twitter.com/NhePpGOpJH</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1968408158696567144?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">King Charles III: &quot;Allow me to propose a toast to President Trump and the First Lady — and to the health, prosperity, and happiness of the people of the United States of America.&quot; 🥂🇺🇸🇬🇧 <a href="https://t.co/KOjIIpHdwo">pic.twitter.com/KOjIIpHdwo</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1968407680457887907?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

🎥 Highlights of the President's big day with the Royal family

COOPER COUNTY —Two people died in an accident just before 4p.m. Wednesday in Cooper County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2014 Ford Escape driven by a 24-year-old Booneville man was northbound on MO 87 just north of Hail Ridge Court. The SUV crossed the center line and struck a southbound 2008 Ford F150 driven by a 77-year-old Booneville man. 

Both drivers were pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Howard Funeral Home. The drivers were not wearing seat belts at the time of the accident, according to the MSHP. 

The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

COOPER COUNTY —Two people died in an accident just before 4p.m. Wednesday in Cooper County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2014 Ford Escape driven by a 24-year-old Booneville man was northbound on MO 87 just north of Hail Ridge Court. The SUV crossed the center line and struck a southbound 2008 Ford F150 driven by a 77-year-old Booneville man. Both drivers were pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Howard Funeral Home. The drivers were not wearing seat belts at the time of the accident, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

2 Missouri men dead after SUV, pickup crash

CASS COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect in connection with a three vehicle accident near Kansas City.

Just before 5:30 p.m. Sept 15, sheriff deputies responded to the area of 195th Street on Route D in Belton regarding a three-vehicle accident, according to the Cass County Sheriff.

The driver of a pickup truck had struck a semi and another vehicle. The vehicles sustained heavy damage. Deputies conducted standardized field sobriety tests for the driver of the pickup truck. He was placed into custody --- and has been identified as 37-year-old Justin Sherman of Amoret, Missouri.

 Sherman has been charged with two felony counts of Property Damage - 1st Degree, a felony for Leaving the Scene of an Accident - Property Damage Exceeding $1,000 and a misdemeanor for Driving While Intoxicated. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758127542818.png" alt="Sherman photo Cass Co." />
 <figcaption>Sherman photo Cass Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>CASS COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect in connection with a three vehicle accident near Kansas City.Just before 5:30 p.m. Sept 15, sheriff deputies responded to the area of 195th Street on Route D in Belton regarding a three-vehicle accident, according to the Cass County Sheriff.The driver of a pickup truck had struck a semi and another vehicle. The vehicles sustained heavy damage. Deputies conducted standardized field sobriety tests for the driver of the pickup truck. He was placed into custody --- and has been identified as 37-year-old Justin Sherman of Amoret, Missouri. Sherman has been charged with two felony counts of Property Damage - 1st Degree, a felony for Leaving the Scene of an Accident - Property Damage Exceeding $1,000 and a misdemeanor for Driving While Intoxicated. Sherman is being held on a$50,000 bond, according to the sheriff's office.