BROWN COUNTY —Law enforcement continue to search for a suspect wanted for criminal activity in northeast Kansas.

Just before 1a.m. Sept. 1, a sheriff's deputy initiated a traffic stop&nbsp; in the vicinity of U.S. 36 Highway and Hopi Drive in Hiawatha, according to Brown County Sheriff John Merchant.

 The passenger of the vehicle, Joshua Heideman from the traffic stop. Deputies arrested the driver 65-year-old Leonard Bindel of Hiawatha on requested&nbsp; charges of Flee and Attempt to Elude and Drive While License Cancelled, Suspended or Revoked.

Heideman is described as a 38-year-old  white male,  6-foot tall and he weighs approximately 230 pounds.&nbsp; He is wanted for a variety of criminal activity in Brown and Jackson County, accoring to Merchant.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1756995493636.png" alt="Bindel photo Brown Co." />
 <figcaption>Bindel photo Brown Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>BROWN COUNTY —Law enforcement continue to search for a suspect wanted for criminal activity in northeast Kansas.Just before 1a.m. Sept. 1, a sheriff's deputy initiated a traffic stop&nbsp; in the vicinity of U.S. 36 Highway and Hopi Drive in Hiawatha, according to Brown County Sheriff John Merchant. The passenger of the vehicle, Joshua Heideman from the traffic stop. Deputies arrested the driver 65-year-old Leonard Bindel of Hiawatha on requested&nbsp; charges of Flee and Attempt to Elude and Drive While License Cancelled, Suspended or Revoked.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1756917615076.png" alt="Heidman photo Brown Co." />
 <figcaption>Heidman photo Brown Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Heideman is described as a 38-year-old white male, 6-foot tall and he weighs approximately 230 pounds.&nbsp; He is wanted for a variety of criminal activity in Brown and Jackson County, accoring to Merchant.

Sheriff: Wanted suspect ran from traffic stop

The Missouri House committee studying property taxes held its sixth and final public hearing. Now, the chairman said, comes the work of turning the ideas presented into meaningful changes in the way taxes are assessed and levied

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

Missouri lawmakers should repeal property tax freeze laws that are warping the system, shifting the tax burden and failing to help those most in need of relief, St. Charles County Collector Michelle McBride said Wednesday.

Speaking to the House Special Interim Committee on Property Tax Reform, McBride said there are 115 properties in St. Charles County worth more than $1 million covered by a senior citizens tax freeze law. Many were built recently, including a $4 million home built this decade, she said.

And during June, she noted, a bill with caps on growth in tax bills for residential&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/06/11/missouri-special-session-ends-with-passage-kc-stadium-funding-disaster-aid/">taxpayers in 97 counties</a>&nbsp;exacerbated the problem. She likened it to the television and movie series “Jackass,” where dangerous stunts and potential injuries were the main attraction.

“It’s Jackass legislation, pardon my French, done on the dare, done to look good, to sound good, to capture votes, to put on a show, just like some kid on a trail bike lining up the barrels and trying to jump over them,” McBride said. “It ain’t going to work out. We’re going to hit the fence.”

Lawmakers need to reject anything that doesn’t deal with underlying issues in the tax system, she said.

“We need you to be the adults in the room at the Missouri General Assembly,” McBride said.&nbsp;

McBride’s testimony opened the hearing, which was the last of six&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/08/28/missouri-house-committee-urged-to-silo-property-into-separate-classes-for-taxes/">held across the state</a>&nbsp;over the past three months. The committee was formed because aggravation over higher property tax bills has held the attention of state lawmakers for the past three years.

A last-minute change in the committee lineup caught both the chairman, Republican state Rep. Tim Taylor of Boonville, and the ranking Democrat, state Rep. Kathy Steinhoff of Columbia, unaware.

State Rep. Kemp Strickler, a Democrat from Lee’s Summit, was replaced by state Rep. Tiffany Price, a Kansas City Democrat, without explanation.

Under questioning from Steinhoff, Taylor said he had not received notice prior to the meeting that House Speaker Jonathan Patterson had made the change.&nbsp;

“Rep. Strickler was a very valuable member of this committee,” Steinhoff said. “He was in the eye of the storm in Jackson County.”

Strickler, who drove to the Missouri Capitol Wednesday morning for the hearing, said he was not told why he was removed and only found out shortly before the committee was set to meet.

During the almost six-hour meeting, the committee was urged to change how taxes are levied and how values are determined. Members also heard complaints from the public, including allegations that vengeful assessors will punish property owners who challenge their appraisals. Representatives of agencies dependent on property tax asked that nothing be done that would reduce their revenue.

And, to close it out, committee members questioned Missouri State Tax Commission members and staff over policies and processes that have pushed assessors to increase residential assessments to reflect the rapid runup in home values.

Taylor told members their work is not over as the hearing ended.

“This is by far not the last meeting,” Taylor said.

One idea the committee was again urged to adopt would require separate rates for the four classes of property — residential, commercial, agricultural and personal — that could be adjusted when assessed values rise faster than inflation.

Under the Hancock Amendment in the state constitution, when the value of property in a taxing district grows faster than inflation, rates are supposed to be reduced. But when one class of property is increasing faster than others, the effect is a smaller rollback than if the class of property had its own rate.

Another idea that came up again was requiring buyers to file information about the price paid for property — known as a certificate of value — to help assessors when comparing property values.

Some of the most dramatic testimony came from individual property owners trying to understand their assessments.

Jennifer Phanton of Grandview said the assessment on her home doubled in 2023. She found that the comparable sales used weren’t actually comparable, she said, and the assessment form listed improvements that had not been made.

She won her appeal, Phantom said, but it was a lengthy process.

“It’s just a lot because the onus is on us, it is not on the county, to prove the valuation,” Phanton said.

The increase was doubly hard to take, Phanton said, because her income was just above the threshold for the&nbsp;<a href="https://dor.mo.gov/taxation/individual/tax-types/property-tax-credit/" target="_blank">Circuit Breaker tax credit</a>, available to people with a disability or who are 65 and older.&nbsp;

The circuit breaker tax credit was established in 1973. People over age 65 and those who have a qualifying disability and rent their homes can claim a tax credit to offset property taxes of up to $1,055 if their income is less than $38,200. The credit for homeowners is up to $1,550 if they own their home if their income is less than $41,000.

If the credit is more than the taxpayer owes, the state will write a check for the difference.

Increasing the income limits and credit amounts is the best way to help vulnerable people keep their homes, McBride said.

Missouri law requires county assessors to estimate the value of every property every two years. The tax commission is responsible for making sure the values are within 90 to 100% of market value.

The commission sought to get counties to sign a “memorandum of understanding” when tax assessments fall behind that standard. Some counties are suing over requirements that residential assessments increase by up to 15%. That is the most home values can be increased without an inspection of the exterior.

Under questioning from the committee, Tax Commission member Greg Razer said the commission has acted to control the excessive increases in Jackson County.

Values below market hurt public services, he said.&nbsp;

“We have to protect the entities that are receiving the tax dollars that the voters have approved, and so if you’re at 60%, eventually you’re not keeping up with inflation, and you can’t provide the same services,” Razer said.

Most of the counties asked to sign a memorandum of understanding have seen a rapid increase in home values in the past five years, said Steve Hobbs, executive director of the Missouri Association of Counties.

Part of it is people moving from high-cost coastal areas and part of it is investors looking for rental properties.&nbsp;

But Hobbs, like McBride, warned against artificial controls on tax bills.&nbsp;

“When you create a carve out for one entity,” he said, “you shift the tax burden to others.”

At the end of the hearing, Taylor asked members to make a list of the five issues they would like to see addressed in the committee’s report. The next meeting will be while the General Assembly is holding its special session on redistricting, he said, with a future meeting to finalize a report and prepare legislation.

“It is a big old bucket of stuff we have to digest,” Taylor said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1756990882646.png" alt=" St. Charles County Collector Michelle McBride testifies Wednesday during a hearing of the Missouri House Special Interim Committee on Property Tax Reform (Rudi Keller/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> St. Charles County Collector Michelle McBride testifies Wednesday during a hearing of the Missouri House Special Interim Committee on Property Tax Reform (Rudi Keller/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>The Missouri House committee studying property taxes held its sixth and final public hearing. Now, the chairman said, comes the work of turning the ideas presented into meaningful changes in the way taxes are assessed and levied</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>Missouri lawmakers should repeal property tax freeze laws that are warping the system, shifting the tax burden and failing to help those most in need of relief, St. Charles County Collector Michelle McBride said Wednesday.Speaking to the House Special Interim Committee on Property Tax Reform, McBride said there are 115 properties in St. Charles County worth more than $1 million covered by a senior citizens tax freeze law. Many were built recently, including a $4 million home built this decade, she said.And during June, she noted, a bill with caps on growth in tax bills for residential&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/06/11/missouri-special-session-ends-with-passage-kc-stadium-funding-disaster-aid/">taxpayers in 97 counties</a>&nbsp;exacerbated the problem. She likened it to the television and movie series “Jackass,” where dangerous stunts and potential injuries were the main attraction.“It’s Jackass legislation, pardon my French, done on the dare, done to look good, to sound good, to capture votes, to put on a show, just like some kid on a trail bike lining up the barrels and trying to jump over them,” McBride said. “It ain’t going to work out. We’re going to hit the fence.”Lawmakers need to reject anything that doesn’t deal with underlying issues in the tax system, she said.“We need you to be the adults in the room at the Missouri General Assembly,” McBride said.&nbsp;McBride’s testimony opened the hearing, which was the last of six&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/08/28/missouri-house-committee-urged-to-silo-property-into-separate-classes-for-taxes/">held across the state</a>&nbsp;over the past three months. The committee was formed because aggravation over higher property tax bills has held the attention of state lawmakers for the past three years.A last-minute change in the committee lineup caught both the chairman, Republican state Rep. Tim Taylor of Boonville, and the ranking Democrat, state Rep. Kathy Steinhoff of Columbia, unaware.State Rep. Kemp Strickler, a Democrat from Lee’s Summit, was replaced by state Rep. Tiffany Price, a Kansas City Democrat, without explanation.Under questioning from Steinhoff, Taylor said he had not received notice prior to the meeting that House Speaker Jonathan Patterson had made the change.&nbsp;“Rep. Strickler was a very valuable member of this committee,” Steinhoff said. “He was in the eye of the storm in Jackson County.”Strickler, who drove to the Missouri Capitol Wednesday morning for the hearing, said he was not told why he was removed and only found out shortly before the committee was set to meet.During the almost six-hour meeting, the committee was urged to change how taxes are levied and how values are determined. Members also heard complaints from the public, including allegations that vengeful assessors will punish property owners who challenge their appraisals. Representatives of agencies dependent on property tax asked that nothing be done that would reduce their revenue.And, to close it out, committee members questioned Missouri State Tax Commission members and staff over policies and processes that have pushed assessors to increase residential assessments to reflect the rapid runup in home values.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1756990844795.png" alt="State Rep. Tim Taylor of Boonville, chairman of the Missouri House Special Interim Committee on Property Tax Reform, listens Wednesday during testimony at a public hearing (Rudi Keller/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption>State Rep. Tim Taylor of Boonville, chairman of the Missouri House Special Interim Committee on Property Tax Reform, listens Wednesday during testimony at a public hearing (Rudi Keller/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure>Taylor told members their work is not over as the hearing ended.“This is by far not the last meeting,” Taylor said.One idea the committee was again urged to adopt would require separate rates for the four classes of property — residential, commercial, agricultural and personal — that could be adjusted when assessed values rise faster than inflation.Under the Hancock Amendment in the state constitution, when the value of property in a taxing district grows faster than inflation, rates are supposed to be reduced. But when one class of property is increasing faster than others, the effect is a smaller rollback than if the class of property had its own rate.Another idea that came up again was requiring buyers to file information about the price paid for property — known as a certificate of value — to help assessors when comparing property values.Some of the most dramatic testimony came from individual property owners trying to understand their assessments.Jennifer Phanton of Grandview said the assessment on her home doubled in 2023. She found that the comparable sales used weren’t actually comparable, she said, and the assessment form listed improvements that had not been made.She won her appeal, Phantom said, but it was a lengthy process.“It’s just a lot because the onus is on us, it is not on the county, to prove the valuation,” Phanton said.The increase was doubly hard to take, Phanton said, because her income was just above the threshold for the&nbsp;<a href="https://dor.mo.gov/taxation/individual/tax-types/property-tax-credit/" target="_blank">Circuit Breaker tax credit</a>, available to people with a disability or who are 65 and older.&nbsp;The circuit breaker tax credit was established in 1973. People over age 65 and those who have a qualifying disability and rent their homes can claim a tax credit to offset property taxes of up to $1,055 if their income is less than $38,200. The credit for homeowners is up to $1,550 if they own their home if their income is less than $41,000.If the credit is more than the taxpayer owes, the state will write a check for the difference.Increasing the income limits and credit amounts is the best way to help vulnerable people keep their homes, McBride said.Missouri law requires county assessors to estimate the value of every property every two years. The tax commission is responsible for making sure the values are within 90 to 100% of market value.The commission sought to get counties to sign a “memorandum of understanding” when tax assessments fall behind that standard. Some counties are suing over requirements that residential assessments increase by up to 15%. That is the most home values can be increased without an inspection of the exterior.Under questioning from the committee, Tax Commission member Greg Razer said the commission has acted to control the excessive increases in Jackson County.Values below market hurt public services, he said.&nbsp;“We have to protect the entities that are receiving the tax dollars that the voters have approved, and so if you’re at 60%, eventually you’re not keeping up with inflation, and you can’t provide the same services,” Razer said.Most of the counties asked to sign a memorandum of understanding have seen a rapid increase in home values in the past five years, said Steve Hobbs, executive director of the Missouri Association of Counties.Part of it is people moving from high-cost coastal areas and part of it is investors looking for rental properties.&nbsp;But Hobbs, like McBride, warned against artificial controls on tax bills.&nbsp;“When you create a carve out for one entity,” he said, “you shift the tax burden to others.”At the end of the hearing, Taylor asked members to make a list of the five issues they would like to see addressed in the committee’s report. The next meeting will be while the General Assembly is holding its special session on redistricting, he said, with a future meeting to finalize a report and prepare legislation.“It is a big old bucket of stuff we have to digest,” Taylor said.

‘Jackass legislation’: Missouri lawmakers urged to reject quick fixes for property taxes

ANDREW COUNTY—Two people were injured in an accident just after 3:30p.m. Wednesday in Andrew County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2006 Chevy passenger vehicle driven by a 24-year-old St. Joseph man was westbound on Route B attempting to cross U.S. 71. The driver failed to yield a northbound 2012 Nissan Maxima driven by a 23-year-old Maryville woman.&nbsp; The Nissan struck the drivers side of the Chevy.&nbsp; After impact both vehicle skidded off the road into the median.

Andrew County EMS transported both drivers to Mosaic Life Care. The Nissan driver was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

ANDREW COUNTY—Two people were injured in an accident just after 3:30p.m. Wednesday in Andrew County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2006 Chevy passenger vehicle driven by a 24-year-old St. Joseph man was westbound on Route B attempting to cross U.S. 71. The driver failed to yield a northbound 2012 Nissan Maxima driven by a 23-year-old Maryville woman.&nbsp; The Nissan struck the drivers side of the Chevy.&nbsp; After impact both vehicle skidded off the road into the median.Andrew County EMS transported both drivers to Mosaic Life Care. The Nissan driver was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

St. Joseph man, Maryville woman injured in 2-vehicle crash

BROWN COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating a series of criminal activity in Brown and Jackson County are asking the public for help in locating 38-year-old&nbsp; Joshua Heideman of Centralia, according to Brown County Sheriff John Merchant.

Heideman is&nbsp; &nbsp;Heideman is described as a 38-year-old&nbsp; white male,&nbsp; 6-foot tall and he weighs approximately 230 pounds.&nbsp; 

Anyone with information of Heidemans whereabouts is asked to contact the Brown County Sheriff's office at785-742-7125 or Jackson County Sheriff's office at 785-364-2251

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1756917615076.png" alt="Heidman photo Brown County" />
 <figcaption>Heidman photo Brown County</figcaption>
 </figure>BROWN COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating a series of criminal activity in Brown and Jackson County are asking the public for help in locating 38-year-old&nbsp; Joshua Heideman of Centralia, according to Brown County Sheriff John Merchant.Heideman is&nbsp; &nbsp;Heideman is described as a 38-year-old&nbsp; white male,&nbsp; 6-foot tall and he weighs approximately 230 pounds.&nbsp; Anyone with information of Heidemans whereabouts is asked to contact the Brown County Sheriff's office at785-742-7125 or Jackson County Sheriff's office at 785-364-2251

Sheriff asks for help to locate Kansas crime suspect

Northwest Missouri State University is commemorating lives lost during the tragic events that transpired in New York City on September 11th with its annual stair climb.

Northwest’s Emergency and Disaster Management Club, the 1-129th Field Artillery of the Missouri National Guard and the Maryville Fire Department are partnering in support of the event.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Maryville Fire Department will start the event with a bell ceremony and a moment of silenc

The stair climb will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 11, at Bearcat Stadium. The event is free and open to the public. Attendees must sign a waiver to participate in the 2,071-step challenge, which may be completed individually or in groups of two to five people.&nbsp; Participants can register at Bearcat Stadium on the evening of the event.

Travis Surprise, an instructor of emergency and disaster management at Northwest, is serving as this year’s master of ceremonies and helping to organize the event.

“The value of this event is to learn our history, so it’s never repeated,” Surprise says in a news release from the University. “We learn why 9/11 is so important and understand the physical exertion that was needed that day to save the lives they were able to save. We can teach the younger generation what happened that day and what came from those terrorist actions.”

The Memorial Bell Tower, located at the center of the Northwest campus, will chime at 8:46 a.m., 9:03 a.m., 9:37 a.m. and 10:03 a.m., marking the times that each of the four planes crashed on 9/11.&nbsp; Additionally, Northwest will play footage of the events of 9/11 on the Bearcat Stadium video board.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1756904178117.jpeg" alt="Northwest community members participate in the 9/11 stair climb last year at Bearcat Stadium/ Photo by Maria Nino-Elliott/Northwest Missouri State University" />
 <figcaption>Northwest community members participate in the 9/11 stair climb last year at Bearcat Stadium/ Photo by Maria Nino-Elliott/Northwest Missouri State University</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKENorthwest Missouri State University is commemorating lives lost during the tragic events that transpired in New York City on September 11th with its annual stair climb.Northwest’s Emergency and Disaster Management Club, the 1-129th Field Artillery of the Missouri National Guard and the Maryville Fire Department are partnering in support of the event.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Maryville Fire Department will start the event with a bell ceremony and a moment of silencThe stair climb will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 11, at Bearcat Stadium. The event is free and open to the public. Attendees must sign a waiver to participate in the 2,071-step challenge, which may be completed individually or in groups of two to five people.&nbsp; Participants can register at Bearcat Stadium on the evening of the event.Travis Surprise, an instructor of emergency and disaster management at Northwest, is serving as this year’s master of ceremonies and helping to organize the event.“The value of this event is to learn our history, so it’s never repeated,” Surprise says in a news release from the University. “We learn why 9/11 is so important and understand the physical exertion that was needed that day to save the lives they were able to save. We can teach the younger generation what happened that day and what came from those terrorist actions.”The Memorial Bell Tower, located at the center of the Northwest campus, will chime at 8:46 a.m., 9:03 a.m., 9:37 a.m. and 10:03 a.m., marking the times that each of the four planes crashed on 9/11.&nbsp; Additionally, Northwest will play footage of the events of 9/11 on the Bearcat Stadium video board.

NWMSU to host annual stair climb honoring those lost on 9/11

Two county clerks report being contacted by the DOJ seeking access to election machines made by Dominion Voting Systems, the company at the center of false allegations of vote rigging during the 2020 presidential election

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

The U.S. Department of Justice has been reaching out to Missouri election officials requesting access to voting equipment used in the 2020 presidential election.

According to a memo produced by the Missouri Association of County Clerks and Election Authorities, at least two county clerks have been contacted in recent weeks by Andrew McCoy “Mac” Warner, a DOJ official. While serving as West Virginia’s secretary of state, Warner&nbsp;<a href="https://westvirginiawatch.com/2023/12/14/warners-election-comments-endanger-our-democracy/" target="_blank">falsely claimed the CIA and FBI colluded with Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg</a>&nbsp;to steal the 2020 presidential election from Trump.&nbsp;

The memo was shared with election officials across the state and obtained by The Independent through a public records request.

Warner requested Jasper County Clerk Charlie Davis and McDonald County Clerk Jessica Cole allow the DOJ to “access, physically inspect and perhaps take physical custody” of election equipment made by Dominion Voting Systems that was used in the November 2020 election, according to the memo.&nbsp;

In an interview with The Independent, Davis said he informed the DOJ his office purchased new equipment and no longer has the machines used in the 2020 election. But even if he had those machines, Davis said it would be illegal for him to allow anyone access to them.&nbsp;

“Absolutely not,” he said. “The laws prohibit us from allowing anybody to touch our equipment.”

Davis said he’s not sure why the DOJ wants to access machines used in the 2020 election, which Trump won in Missouri with 57% of the vote. But after the call from the DOJ, Davis said he was also contacted by former Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft urging him to comply with the DOJ request.&nbsp;

In a statement included in the memo, Cole said custody, maintenance, preparation, testing and storage of election equipment are the responsibility of the local election authority. Allowing unauthorized access, she said, is a crime.&nbsp;

“These safeguards exist to protect the security, accuracy and integrity of our elections,” she said.&nbsp;

Livingston County Clerk Sherry Parks, who serves as president of the Missouri Association of County Clerks and Election Authorities, echoed Cole’s point in an email to The Independent, noting that while “robust pre- and post-election equipment testing is open to the public for observation, it is illegal to allow unauthorized access or tampering to election equipment.”

The DOJ did not respond to a request for comment.&nbsp;

Ashcroft, who in July was appointed by the governor to serve as an administrative law judge, said in a brief interview on Tuesday: “If I were involved, it was a request from someone to help connect people together. And it would have been something that I’d done on my own time, not during work hours. And it would have just been, ‘Hey, do you know someone? Can you give me their number?’ That sort of thing.”

A spokeswoman for Secretary of State Denny Hoskins said in an email to The Independent that Hoskins was contacted by the DOJ hoping to speak with local election officials “for more information and context. Our office referred them to the clerks directly.”

In recent months, the DOJ has been contacting states demanding access to sensitive election and voting data. The department has sent letters to at least nine states asking for information related to voter list maintenance in the states under the National Voter Registration Act and the Help America Vote Act,&nbsp;<a href="https://stateline.org/2025/08/01/doj-plans-to-ask-all-states-for-detailed-voting-info/" target="_blank">according to Stateline</a>.&nbsp;

The focus on Dominion machines harkens back to the web of baseless conspiracy theories spread by Trump supporters in the years following his 2020 defeat that the company was at the heart of a scheme designed to rig the presidential election.&nbsp;

Those lies about a stolen election helped fuel the attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and continue to percolate through Trump’s political base even after he won a second term last year.&nbsp;

Dominion won a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fox-news-dominion-lawsuit-trial-trump-2020-0ac71f75acfacc52ea80b3e747fb0afe" target="_blank">$787.5 million settlement from Fox News in 2023</a>&nbsp;after the network repeatedly promoted lies that the company’s machines had been used to flip votes away from Trump in an effort to help Biden win the White House.

More recently, right-wing cable channel&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/18/business/media/newsmax-dominion-defamation-lawsuit-settlement.html" target="_blank">Newsmax agreed in August to pay Dominion $67 million</a>&nbsp;to settle a libel lawsuit based on similar false claims of election rigging.&nbsp;

Davis, who still uses Dominion machines, said he knows there are some people who question the integrity of the 2020 election.&nbsp;

“But it’s been proven, especially here in Jasper County and in the State of Missouri, that our election results are the results of the elections,” he said. “It’s proven that the machines count the ballots correctly.”

<h2>Two county clerks report being contacted by the DOJ seeking access to election machines made by Dominion Voting Systems, the company at the center of false allegations of vote rigging during the 2020 presidential election</h2>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jason-hancock/">Jason Hancock</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>The U.S. Department of Justice has been reaching out to Missouri election officials requesting access to voting equipment used in the 2020 presidential election.According to a memo produced by the Missouri Association of County Clerks and Election Authorities, at least two county clerks have been contacted in recent weeks by Andrew McCoy “Mac” Warner, a DOJ official. While serving as West Virginia’s secretary of state, Warner&nbsp;<a href="https://westvirginiawatch.com/2023/12/14/warners-election-comments-endanger-our-democracy/" target="_blank">falsely claimed the CIA and FBI colluded with Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg</a>&nbsp;to steal the 2020 presidential election from Trump.&nbsp;The memo was shared with election officials across the state and obtained by The Independent through a public records request.Warner requested Jasper County Clerk Charlie Davis and McDonald County Clerk Jessica Cole allow the DOJ to “access, physically inspect and perhaps take physical custody” of election equipment made by Dominion Voting Systems that was used in the November 2020 election, according to the memo.&nbsp;In an interview with The Independent, Davis said he informed the DOJ his office purchased new equipment and no longer has the machines used in the 2020 election. But even if he had those machines, Davis said it would be illegal for him to allow anyone access to them.&nbsp;“Absolutely not,” he said. “The laws prohibit us from allowing anybody to touch our equipment.”Davis said he’s not sure why the DOJ wants to access machines used in the 2020 election, which Trump won in Missouri with 57% of the vote. But after the call from the DOJ, Davis said he was also contacted by former Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft urging him to comply with the DOJ request.&nbsp;In a statement included in the memo, Cole said custody, maintenance, preparation, testing and storage of election equipment are the responsibility of the local election authority. Allowing unauthorized access, she said, is a crime.&nbsp;“These safeguards exist to protect the security, accuracy and integrity of our elections,” she said.&nbsp;Livingston County Clerk Sherry Parks, who serves as president of the Missouri Association of County Clerks and Election Authorities, echoed Cole’s point in an email to The Independent, noting that while “robust pre- and post-election equipment testing is open to the public for observation, it is illegal to allow unauthorized access or tampering to election equipment.”The DOJ did not respond to a request for comment.&nbsp;Ashcroft, who in July was appointed by the governor to serve as an administrative law judge, said in a brief interview on Tuesday: “If I were involved, it was a request from someone to help connect people together. And it would have been something that I’d done on my own time, not during work hours. And it would have just been, ‘Hey, do you know someone? Can you give me their number?’ That sort of thing.”A spokeswoman for Secretary of State Denny Hoskins said in an email to The Independent that Hoskins was contacted by the DOJ hoping to speak with local election officials “for more information and context. Our office referred them to the clerks directly.”In recent months, the DOJ has been contacting states demanding access to sensitive election and voting data. The department has sent letters to at least nine states asking for information related to voter list maintenance in the states under the National Voter Registration Act and the Help America Vote Act,&nbsp;<a href="https://stateline.org/2025/08/01/doj-plans-to-ask-all-states-for-detailed-voting-info/" target="_blank">according to Stateline</a>.&nbsp;The focus on Dominion machines harkens back to the web of baseless conspiracy theories spread by Trump supporters in the years following his 2020 defeat that the company was at the heart of a scheme designed to rig the presidential election.&nbsp;Those lies about a stolen election helped fuel the attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and continue to percolate through Trump’s political base even after he won a second term last year.&nbsp;Dominion won a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fox-news-dominion-lawsuit-trial-trump-2020-0ac71f75acfacc52ea80b3e747fb0afe" target="_blank">$787.5 million settlement from Fox News in 2023</a>&nbsp;after the network repeatedly promoted lies that the company’s machines had been used to flip votes away from Trump in an effort to help Biden win the White House.More recently, right-wing cable channel&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/18/business/media/newsmax-dominion-defamation-lawsuit-settlement.html" target="_blank">Newsmax agreed in August to pay Dominion $67 million</a>&nbsp;to settle a libel lawsuit based on similar false claims of election rigging.&nbsp;Davis, who still uses Dominion machines, said he knows there are some people who question the integrity of the 2020 election.&nbsp;“But it’s been proven, especially here in Jasper County and in the State of Missouri, that our election results are the results of the elections,” he said. “It’s proven that the machines count the ballots correctly.”

Trump’s DOJ wants access to Missouri voting equipment used in 2020 election

ANDREW COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just before noon Tuesday in Andrew County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2016 Ford Escape driven by an 82-year-old Topeka woman was southbound on Business 71 at Country Road 348 seven miles south of Savannah.&nbsp; The SUV traveled through a private driver and into a ditch.

Andrew County EMS transported the driver to Mosaic Life Care. She was properly restrained, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

ANDREW COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just before noon Tuesday in Andrew County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2016 Ford Escape driven by an 82-year-old Topeka woman was southbound on Business 71 at Country Road 348 seven miles south of Savannah.&nbsp; The SUV traveled through a private driver and into a ditch.Andrew County EMS transported the driver to Mosaic Life Care. She was properly restrained, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Kansas woman injured after Andrew Co. SUV accident

HARRISON COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 11a.m. Tuesday in Harrison County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2008 Honda Gold Wing driven by a 71-year=old Stover man was eastbound on Route MM at 290th Street six miles north of Gilman City. The driver saw animals in the road.&nbsp; The motorcycle traveled off the south side of the road and the driver was partially ejected.&nbsp;

Lifenet transported the driver to Mosaic Life Care. He was wearing a helmet, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

HARRISON COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 11a.m. Tuesday in Harrison County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2008 Honda Gold Wing driven by a 71-year=old Stover man was eastbound on Route MM at 290th Street six miles north of Gilman City. The driver saw animals in the road.&nbsp; The motorcycle traveled off the south side of the road and the driver was partially ejected.&nbsp;Lifenet transported the driver to Mosaic Life Care. He was wearing a helmet, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Mo. man hospitalized after motorcycle accident

ATCHISON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a Kansas felon on new allegations after a weekend altercation in Atchison.

Shortly after 8p.m. on Saturday officers began an investigation that focused on an incident that had occurred between two people in the 800 block South 5th Street in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

Neither person were at the scene when police arrived.&nbsp; Officers soon learned that a 31-year-old woman was at Amberwell Hospital being treated for a stab wound to the leg. 

It was determined that an argument had occurred between two women who were known to each other and had been in a vehicle together when the two exited the vehicle in the 800 block South 5th Street where a disturbance occurred and the 31-year-old victim was stabbed in the leg. 

She was taken to the hospital by a family member. She was treated and released.&nbsp; The 29-year-old suspect was not immediately located. 

Shortly after 9p.m. on Sunday, officers located the suspect, Allison Blakely, in the 400 block South 10th Street and she was taken into custody. At the time of her arrest she was found to be in possession of fentanyl, drug paraphernalia, and marijuana. She is being held on requested charges of aggravated battery, possession of fentanyl, drug paraphernalia, and marijuana, according to Wilson.

Blakley has previous convictions for aggravated arson, interference with law enforcement, criminal damage to property and for drugs, according to the KDOC.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1756744879790.png" alt="Blakely photo Atchison&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Blakely photo Atchison&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a Kansas felon on new allegations after a weekend altercation in Atchison.Shortly after 8p.m. on Saturday officers began an investigation that focused on an incident that had occurred between two people in the 800 block South 5th Street in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.Neither person were at the scene when police arrived.&nbsp; Officers soon learned that a 31-year-old woman was at Amberwell Hospital being treated for a stab wound to the leg. It was determined that an argument had occurred between two women who were known to each other and had been in a vehicle together when the two exited the vehicle in the 800 block South 5th Street where a disturbance occurred and the 31-year-old victim was stabbed in the leg. She was taken to the hospital by a family member. She was treated and released.&nbsp; The 29-year-old suspect was not immediately located. Shortly after 9p.m. on Sunday, officers located the suspect, Allison Blakely, in the 400 block South 10th Street and she was taken into custody. At the time of her arrest she was found to be in possession of fentanyl, drug paraphernalia, and marijuana. She is being held on requested charges of aggravated battery, possession of fentanyl, drug paraphernalia, and marijuana, according to Wilson.Blakley has previous convictions for aggravated arson, interference with law enforcement, criminal damage to property and for drugs, according to the KDOC.

Kan. felon accused of knife attack on another woman

As the kids go
back to school, don’t forget the pets.

Melaine Barnes
with Friends of the Animal Shelter reminds residents that back-to-school can be
a big adjustment for everyone, including the pets.

“Pets get used to
routines and what their comfort level is with those routines,” Barnes tells
KFEQmmunity.&nbsp; “And that includes the routines
of their people, and their owners, and their loved ones.”

Barnes says a
shift from an unstructured summer to the structure of school can be jarring to
a pet.

“So, if you’ve had
two, three months of no routine or routine of you being home all the time or maybe
kids being home all the time then all of the sudden going back to school,” Barnes
says, adding, “obviously the dogs and cats don’t understand what’s going on and
so then all of the sudden one day, it’s different. Why is it different?”

Barnes suggests
pet owners take intentional steps to help with the transition.

“So, just give
them a little bit of time to adjust,” Barnes says. “It’s a big change for them.
So, make sure that you’re monitoring them in a way that they’re getting
satisfied still. That could be going for a walk after school or taking them
outside to the yard to play fetch.”

Barnes says every
family is different, every household routine is different, and every pet is
different.

“Not all pets are
affectionate. Some are very satisfied being just on their own, hanging out. But
if you have an affectionate pet and now you’ve gone from being home all day to
going to work for eight or nine or ten hours a day, they’re going to miss you. &nbsp;You are their world,” Barnes says. “So, when
you come home, you need to make sure they’re getting a little bit of extra love
and attention to help adapt to your absence.”

You can follow&nbsp;Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostAs the kids go
back to school, don’t forget the pets.Melaine Barnes
with Friends of the Animal Shelter reminds residents that back-to-school can be
a big adjustment for everyone, including the pets.“Pets get used to
routines and what their comfort level is with those routines,” Barnes tells
KFEQmmunity.&nbsp; “And that includes the routines
of their people, and their owners, and their loved ones.”Barnes says a
shift from an unstructured summer to the structure of school can be jarring to
a pet.“So, if you’ve had
two, three months of no routine or routine of you being home all the time or maybe
kids being home all the time then all of the sudden going back to school,” Barnes
says, adding, “obviously the dogs and cats don’t understand what’s going on and
so then all of the sudden one day, it’s different. Why is it different?”Barnes suggests
pet owners take intentional steps to help with the transition.“So, just give
them a little bit of time to adjust,” Barnes says. “It’s a big change for them.
So, make sure that you’re monitoring them in a way that they’re getting
satisfied still. That could be going for a walk after school or taking them
outside to the yard to play fetch.”Barnes says every
family is different, every household routine is different, and every pet is
different.“Not all pets are
affectionate. Some are very satisfied being just on their own, hanging out. But
if you have an affectionate pet and now you’ve gone from being home all day to
going to work for eight or nine or ten hours a day, they’re going to miss you. &nbsp;You are their world,” Barnes says. “So, when
you come home, you need to make sure they’re getting a little bit of extra love
and attention to help adapt to your absence.”You can follow&nbsp;Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ

Back to school can be hard on the household pet, too

Multiple law enforcement agencies responded to North Daviess R-III School on Saturday night for a report of a loud noise and damage. Upon arrival, they found that the roof of the gymnasium had collapsed. 

At approximately 9:45 pm on August 30, Jameson Fire District, Gallatin Fire District, Pattonsburg Fire District, Daviess County Ambulance District, Daviess County Sheriff's Office, and the Missouri State Highway Patrol arrived at the school.

The release from the Daviess County Sheriff's office stated that the call was made by a school worker who was in the building at the time of the loud noise. The teacher was in the main school building near the gym at the time of the collapse. She says it sounded like someone “messing with lockers in the hallway.” 

The roof of the school had reportedly collapsed, falling inside the gym and causing the east wall of the gym to collapse onto the exterior of the school.&nbsp; First responders stated that there was no fire or explosion after the incident, although multiple stress cracks were located in the building. 

Due to the damage and other signs of possible structural compromise, unauthorized personnel are not allowed to enter the school building until a structural engineer conducts an inspection.

Superintendent&nbsp;John Rockhold says students will use AMI days while the building is assessed, and the school is planning to distribute chromebooks and other materials to ensure learning isn't lost due to the situation.

According to North Daviess R-III School District, classes for students not in their VoTech program on Tuesday September 2nd are cancelled. 

VoTech classes are still in session as scheduled.

By MATT PIKEMultiple law enforcement agencies responded to North Daviess R-III School on Saturday night for a report of a loud noise and damage. Upon arrival, they found that the roof of the gymnasium had collapsed. At approximately 9:45 pm on August 30, Jameson Fire District, Gallatin Fire District, Pattonsburg Fire District, Daviess County Ambulance District, Daviess County Sheriff's Office, and the Missouri State Highway Patrol arrived at the school.The release from the Daviess County Sheriff's office stated that the call was made by a school worker who was in the building at the time of the loud noise. The teacher was in the main school building near the gym at the time of the collapse. She says it sounded like someone “messing with lockers in the hallway.” The roof of the school had reportedly collapsed, falling inside the gym and causing the east wall of the gym to collapse onto the exterior of the school.&nbsp; First responders stated that there was no fire or explosion after the incident, although multiple stress cracks were located in the building. Due to the damage and other signs of possible structural compromise, unauthorized personnel are not allowed to enter the school building until a structural engineer conducts an inspection.Superintendent&nbsp;John Rockhold says students will use AMI days while the building is assessed, and the school is planning to distribute chromebooks and other materials to ensure learning isn't lost due to the situation.According to North Daviess R-III School District, classes for students not in their VoTech program on Tuesday September 2nd are cancelled. VoTech classes are still in session as scheduled.

Gym collapse at North Daviess R-III over holiday weekend

ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.&nbsp;

At&nbsp; noon on Sunday an officer on patrol observed&nbsp; 37-year-old James Myers of Warrensburg, Missouri, walking in the 300 block South 4th Street in Atchison and took him into custody on a Municipal Court warrant, according to Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson.

&nbsp;Myers is being held on requested charges for possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia and on a Municipal Court warrant for failure to appear in court.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1756745613744.png" alt="Myers photo Atchison County" />
 <figcaption>Myers photo Atchison County</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.&nbsp;At&nbsp; noon on Sunday an officer on patrol observed&nbsp; 37-year-old James Myers of Warrensburg, Missouri, walking in the 300 block South 4th Street in Atchison and took him into custody on a Municipal Court warrant, according to Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson.&nbsp;Myers is being held on requested charges for possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia and on a Municipal Court warrant for failure to appear in court.&nbsp;

Missouri man accused of skipping court, meth possession

ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.

At 5:20p.m. on Friday an officer on patrol observed 21-year-old Jeremiah Mullins on foot in the area of 9th and Unity Street in the city. of Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson. The officer took him into custody on a Municipal Court warrant for failure to appear in court. Mullins was found to be in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. Taken to County Jail.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1756745872411.png" alt="Mullins photo Atchison County" />
 <figcaption>Mullins photo Atchison County</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.At 5:20p.m. on Friday an officer on patrol observed 21-year-old Jeremiah Mullins on foot in the area of 9th and Unity Street in the city. of Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson. The officer took him into custody on a Municipal Court warrant for failure to appear in court. Mullins was found to be in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. Taken to County Jail.

Police: Kan. man who skipped court caught with meth

‘Imagine the need for sanitary products being called a luxury,’ state Rep. Raychel Proudie said while advocating for the new tax law

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/annaspoerre/">ANNA SPOERRE</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/20/state-senator-throws-first-punches-of-2024-missouri-governors-campaign/">Missouri Independent</a>

Diapers and menstrual hygiene products such as tampons and pads will now be taxed at a lower rate in Missouri stores.&nbsp;

The new law, which went into effect last week, eliminates what’s commonly known as the “luxury” state sales tax rate of 4.225% on these products and reduces it to 1.225%, the same rate at which necessities such as groceries are taxed.&nbsp;

After&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/01/05/missouri-abortion-legislative-session/">years of bipartisan support for eliminating this luxury tax&nbsp;</a>in Missouri, the new law finally got across the finish line in May as part of a larger bill that&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-becomes-first-state-to-repeal-capital-gains-tax-at-an-estimated-625m-cost/">repealed the state’s capital gains tax.&nbsp;</a>

Incontinence products for babies, children and adults are included in the exemption, as are products used during menstruation, including period “cups” and period underwear.

Heading into the 2025 legislative session,&nbsp;<a href="https://nationaldiaperbanknetwork.org/diaper-tax/" target="_blank">Missouri was one of about two dozen states with the inflated tax on diapers still in place</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://allianceforperiodsupplies.org/tampon-tax/" target="_blank">one of 19 states with a luxury tax on period products.</a>&nbsp;This year it joined Alabama in eliminating both.

“Imagine the need for sanitary products being called a luxury,” state Rep. Raychel Proudie, a Democrat from Ferguson, said during a House committee hearing this spring. “Any of us who has experienced such a luxury once a month would argue strongly against that being the case.”&nbsp;

Advocates for the elimination of this tax on diapers and period products often cite the exclusion of products such as Viagra, which treats erectile dysfunction, from the luxury tax.

<a href="https://dor.mo.gov/news/newsitem/uuid/835b25b8-02f4-4f63-87b9-fb20c6ecc08b" target="_blank">Trish Vincent,</a>&nbsp;director of the Missouri Department of Revenue, said in a statement that the change “provides meaningful relief for Missouri families.”

This year, Missouri had the greatest number of state legislators working to eliminate the diaper tax, with 17 pieces of legislation proposed, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://nationaldiaperbanknetwork.org/legislation-tracker/" target="_blank">National Diaper Bank Network’s legislation tracker.&nbsp;</a>

In 2024, nearly half of U.S. families with children younger than 4 who were wearing diapers reported experiencing diaper insecurity, according to a study published in May&nbsp;<a href="https://nationaldiaperbanknetwork.org/the-ndbn-diaper-check-2024/" target="_blank">by the&nbsp;National Diaper Bank Network and the marketing research group YouGov.&nbsp;</a>

Of those experiencing diaper insecurity, 79% of mothers surveyed said they felt stressed or anxious about potentially being unable to afford diapers, which also contributed to feelings of loneliness and fears about the future.

The St. Louis Area Diaper Bank called the new law a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19xonuHejm/?mibextid=wwXIfr" target="_blank">“monumental win for families across Missouri.”</a>

An estimated one in four parents experiencing diaper insecurity reported missing an average of five days of school or work a month because they didn’t have enough diapers and therefore couldn’t drop their child off at day care, where parents are typically required to provide their own diapers,&nbsp;<a href="https://nationaldiaperbanknetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/Missouri.pdf" target="_blank">according to the network.</a>

Lack of access to period products also contributes to missed school and work for countless American girls and women every year.&nbsp;<a href="https://allianceforperiodsupplies.org/period-poverty/" target="_blank">The Alliance for Period Supplies&nbsp;</a>estimates two in five people struggle to afford period supplies.&nbsp;

State Sen. Barbara Washington, a Kansas City Democrat and a proponent of eliminating the diaper and period product taxes, also filed legislation aimed at&nbsp;<a href="https://govwatch.net/bill/2025-sb342" target="_blank">requiring public schools to provide free period products</a>&nbsp;to students beginning in fourth grade. The bill never got a hearing.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1756724713049.jpg" alt="A new Missouri law went into effect last week eliminating the luxury tax on period products and diapers Image PIxaby" />
 <figcaption>A new Missouri law went into effect last week eliminating the luxury tax on period products and diapers Image PIxaby</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>‘Imagine the need for sanitary products being called a luxury,’ state Rep. Raychel Proudie said while advocating for the new tax law</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/annaspoerre/">ANNA SPOERRE</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/20/state-senator-throws-first-punches-of-2024-missouri-governors-campaign/">Missouri Independent</a>Diapers and menstrual hygiene products such as tampons and pads will now be taxed at a lower rate in Missouri stores.&nbsp;The new law, which went into effect last week, eliminates what’s commonly known as the “luxury” state sales tax rate of 4.225% on these products and reduces it to 1.225%, the same rate at which necessities such as groceries are taxed.&nbsp;After&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/01/05/missouri-abortion-legislative-session/">years of bipartisan support for eliminating this luxury tax&nbsp;</a>in Missouri, the new law finally got across the finish line in May as part of a larger bill that&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-becomes-first-state-to-repeal-capital-gains-tax-at-an-estimated-625m-cost/">repealed the state’s capital gains tax.&nbsp;</a>Incontinence products for babies, children and adults are included in the exemption, as are products used during menstruation, including period “cups” and period underwear.Heading into the 2025 legislative session,&nbsp;<a href="https://nationaldiaperbanknetwork.org/diaper-tax/" target="_blank">Missouri was one of about two dozen states with the inflated tax on diapers still in place</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://allianceforperiodsupplies.org/tampon-tax/" target="_blank">one of 19 states with a luxury tax on period products.</a>&nbsp;This year it joined Alabama in eliminating both.“Imagine the need for sanitary products being called a luxury,” state Rep. Raychel Proudie, a Democrat from Ferguson, said during a House committee hearing this spring. “Any of us who has experienced such a luxury once a month would argue strongly against that being the case.”&nbsp;Advocates for the elimination of this tax on diapers and period products often cite the exclusion of products such as Viagra, which treats erectile dysfunction, from the luxury tax.<a href="https://dor.mo.gov/news/newsitem/uuid/835b25b8-02f4-4f63-87b9-fb20c6ecc08b" target="_blank">Trish Vincent,</a>&nbsp;director of the Missouri Department of Revenue, said in a statement that the change “provides meaningful relief for Missouri families.”This year, Missouri had the greatest number of state legislators working to eliminate the diaper tax, with 17 pieces of legislation proposed, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://nationaldiaperbanknetwork.org/legislation-tracker/" target="_blank">National Diaper Bank Network’s legislation tracker.&nbsp;</a>In 2024, nearly half of U.S. families with children younger than 4 who were wearing diapers reported experiencing diaper insecurity, according to a study published in May&nbsp;<a href="https://nationaldiaperbanknetwork.org/the-ndbn-diaper-check-2024/" target="_blank">by the&nbsp;National Diaper Bank Network and the marketing research group YouGov.&nbsp;</a>Of those experiencing diaper insecurity, 79% of mothers surveyed said they felt stressed or anxious about potentially being unable to afford diapers, which also contributed to feelings of loneliness and fears about the future.The St. Louis Area Diaper Bank called the new law a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19xonuHejm/?mibextid=wwXIfr" target="_blank">“monumental win for families across Missouri.”</a>An estimated one in four parents experiencing diaper insecurity reported missing an average of five days of school or work a month because they didn’t have enough diapers and therefore couldn’t drop their child off at day care, where parents are typically required to provide their own diapers,&nbsp;<a href="https://nationaldiaperbanknetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/Missouri.pdf" target="_blank">according to the network.</a>Lack of access to period products also contributes to missed school and work for countless American girls and women every year.&nbsp;<a href="https://allianceforperiodsupplies.org/period-poverty/" target="_blank">The Alliance for Period Supplies&nbsp;</a>estimates two in five people struggle to afford period supplies.&nbsp;State Sen. Barbara Washington, a Kansas City Democrat and a proponent of eliminating the diaper and period product taxes, also filed legislation aimed at&nbsp;<a href="https://govwatch.net/bill/2025-sb342" target="_blank">requiring public schools to provide free period products</a>&nbsp;to students beginning in fourth grade. The bill never got a hearing.

Missouri joins dozens of states in eliminating ‘luxury’ tax on diapers, period products

HARRISON COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just before 4:30a.m. Sunday in Harrison County.

&nbsp;The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2024 Peterbilt semi driven by a 55-year-old Lafayette, Louisiana, man was southbound on Interstate 35 six miles north of Bethany. The vehicle traveled off the east side of the road, struck a concrete culvert, crossed over the northbound lane of the Interstate and traveled off the east side of the road.

EMS transported the driver to Harrison County Community Hospital. He was properly restrained, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

HARRISON COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just before 4:30a.m. Sunday in Harrison County.&nbsp;The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2024 Peterbilt semi driven by a 55-year-old Lafayette, Louisiana, man was southbound on Interstate 35 six miles north of Bethany. The vehicle traveled off the east side of the road, struck a concrete culvert, crossed over the northbound lane of the Interstate and traveled off the east side of the road.EMS transported the driver to Harrison County Community Hospital. He was properly restrained, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Driver hospitalized after semi accident

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>

Two initiative petition campaigns seeking constitutional protections for public education are suing Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins alleging he crafted “deceptive and prejudicial” summaries that will appear on the ballot.

One campaign, called “the Missouri Right to Education Initiative,” hopes to amend the state constitution to declare education a “fundamental right.”

The other, filed by an attorney with the public education law firm EdCounsel, would amend the constitution to prohibit public funding of nonpublic schools except for when it benefits disabled students. It also would label new charter schools as nonpublic.

Both believe Hoskins’ summaries were written to deceive voters and sink their chances on the ballot next year.

“It is so far away from what we proposed that it really seems like they went to great lengths to try to bring something into the conversation that is not part of this amendment,” Spencer Toder, treasurer of the&nbsp;<a href="https://moeducation.org/" target="_blank">Missouri Right to Education Initiative</a>, told The Independent.

Hoskins’ office did not respond to a request for comment.

In addition to declaring education a “fundamental right,” Toder’s&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/Exhibit%20A.PDF?courtCode=19&amp;di=3646146" target="_blank">proposed amendment</a>&nbsp;would require state lawmakers to maintain “adequate, thorough and uniform high quality free public schools.”

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/Exhibit%20B.PDF?courtCode=19&amp;di=3646147" target="_blank">summary from the Secretary of State’s Office</a>&nbsp;describes the initiative as an attempt to dismantle the state’s private-school voucher program. It specifically says the initiative petition would “eliminate existing state scholarship programs that provide direct aid to students with disabilities and low-income families” and “prevent the State from supporting educational choices other than free public schools.”

Toder says the petition doesn’t touch the state’s private school scholarship program, MOScholars.

“Our intent is not to get involved in the voucher dialog. It is to ensure that no matter if vouchers exist, it doesn’t come at the expense of public school students’ quality of education,” he said. “All (the amendment) says is that the students have a guaranteed right to a quality public education.”

The second&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/Ex.%20A%20-%202026-071%201.PDF?courtCode=19&amp;di=3650864" target="_blank">initiative petition</a>&nbsp;does train its sights on MOScholars.

“We’re watching the statewide elected officials from Missouri slowly dismantle public schools, this public school system that Missourians have built,” Duane Martin, a public education attorney who filed the initiative petition, told The Independent.

<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/Ex.%20B%20-%202026-071%20Cert%20Packet.PDF?courtCode=19&amp;di=3650865" target="_blank">Hoskins’ summary</a>&nbsp;describes the proposed amendment as “eliminating existing programs that provide direct aid to students with special education needs.”&nbsp;

“It did not look to me like they had carefully read the initiative petition because some of what they summarized is the exact opposite of the language of the initiative petition itself,” Martin said.

Both campaigns are hoping to get on the ballot in 2026 and are in the early stages of organizing.

“I’m optimistic that a judge will look at this and see that some of the false statements that are made by the Secretary of State’s office can be corrected pretty readily,” Martin said.

Both Martin and Toder said they have not had contact with the Secretary of State’s Office other than receiving their petitions’ certification letters and serving the office with the lawsuit.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1756640213263.png" alt="Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins walks into a Missouri Right to Life rally wearing his signature red sport coat in March. Hoskins is currently facing two lawsuits alleging he crafted deceptive ballot language for public-education initiative petitions (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption>Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins walks into a Missouri Right to Life rally wearing his signature red sport coat in March. Hoskins is currently facing two lawsuits alleging he crafted deceptive ballot language for public-education initiative petitions (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure>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>Two initiative petition campaigns seeking constitutional protections for public education are suing Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins alleging he crafted “deceptive and prejudicial” summaries that will appear on the ballot.One campaign, called “the Missouri Right to Education Initiative,” hopes to amend the state constitution to declare education a “fundamental right.”The other, filed by an attorney with the public education law firm EdCounsel, would amend the constitution to prohibit public funding of nonpublic schools except for when it benefits disabled students. It also would label new charter schools as nonpublic.Both believe Hoskins’ summaries were written to deceive voters and sink their chances on the ballot next year.“It is so far away from what we proposed that it really seems like they went to great lengths to try to bring something into the conversation that is not part of this amendment,” Spencer Toder, treasurer of the&nbsp;<a href="https://moeducation.org/" target="_blank">Missouri Right to Education Initiative</a>, told The Independent.Hoskins’ office did not respond to a request for comment.In addition to declaring education a “fundamental right,” Toder’s&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/Exhibit%20A.PDF?courtCode=19&amp;di=3646146" target="_blank">proposed amendment</a>&nbsp;would require state lawmakers to maintain “adequate, thorough and uniform high quality free public schools.”The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/Exhibit%20B.PDF?courtCode=19&amp;di=3646147" target="_blank">summary from the Secretary of State’s Office</a>&nbsp;describes the initiative as an attempt to dismantle the state’s private-school voucher program. It specifically says the initiative petition would “eliminate existing state scholarship programs that provide direct aid to students with disabilities and low-income families” and “prevent the State from supporting educational choices other than free public schools.”Toder says the petition doesn’t touch the state’s private school scholarship program, MOScholars.“Our intent is not to get involved in the voucher dialog. It is to ensure that no matter if vouchers exist, it doesn’t come at the expense of public school students’ quality of education,” he said. “All (the amendment) says is that the students have a guaranteed right to a quality public education.”The second&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/Ex.%20A%20-%202026-071%201.PDF?courtCode=19&amp;di=3650864" target="_blank">initiative petition</a>&nbsp;does train its sights on MOScholars.“We’re watching the statewide elected officials from Missouri slowly dismantle public schools, this public school system that Missourians have built,” Duane Martin, a public education attorney who filed the initiative petition, told The Independent.<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/Ex.%20B%20-%202026-071%20Cert%20Packet.PDF?courtCode=19&amp;di=3650865" target="_blank">Hoskins’ summary</a>&nbsp;describes the proposed amendment as “eliminating existing programs that provide direct aid to students with special education needs.”&nbsp;“It did not look to me like they had carefully read the initiative petition because some of what they summarized is the exact opposite of the language of the initiative petition itself,” Martin said.Both campaigns are hoping to get on the ballot in 2026 and are in the early stages of organizing.“I’m optimistic that a judge will look at this and see that some of the false statements that are made by the Secretary of State’s office can be corrected pretty readily,” Martin said.Both Martin and Toder said they have not had contact with the Secretary of State’s Office other than receiving their petitions’ certification letters and serving the office with the lawsuit.

Lawsuits challenge ‘deceptive’ summaries for Missouri public education ballot measures

BUCHANAN COUNTY, Mo. — Nine people on a church bus were injured in an accident just 3:30p.m. Friday in Buchanan County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2013 Ford F550 owned by&nbsp;Olivet Baptist Church of Westwood and driven by a 61-year-old Merriam, Kansas, man was northbound on Interstate 29 one half mile south of Faucett.&nbsp; The front passenger side tire blew out.&nbsp; The vehicle began to skid and then the back passenger side tire blew out. The vehicle traveled off the east side of the road, struck a ditch and overturned.

EMS transported 9 passengers including two 14-year-old girls, a 14-year-old boy and a 12-year-old girl all from Kansas City, Kansas and a 16-year-old Lee's Summit boy to North Kansas City Hospital; a 15-year-old Merriam, Kansas girl, a 16-year-old Shawnee, Kansas boy; a 14-year-old&nbsp; Kansas City, Kansas girl and a 44-year-old Shawnee, Kansas, woman to Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph.&nbsp; The driver was not injured, according to the patrol.&nbsp;

There were 30 people on the bus at the time of the accident.&nbsp;Interstate 29 was closed for several hours but reopened while first responders worked the scene. The highway was&nbsp; open again just after 7 p.m. Friday.&nbsp; &nbsp;The MSHP no longer releases the names of accident victims.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1756555858424.png" alt="Photo courtesy KMBC" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy KMBC</figcaption>
 </figure>BUCHANAN COUNTY, Mo. — Nine people on a church bus were injured in an accident just 3:30p.m. Friday in Buchanan County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2013 Ford F550 owned by&nbsp;Olivet Baptist Church of Westwood and driven by a 61-year-old Merriam, Kansas, man was northbound on Interstate 29 one half mile south of Faucett.&nbsp; The front passenger side tire blew out.&nbsp; The vehicle began to skid and then the back passenger side tire blew out. The vehicle traveled off the east side of the road, struck a ditch and overturned.EMS transported 9 passengers including two 14-year-old girls, a 14-year-old boy and a 12-year-old girl all from Kansas City, Kansas and a 16-year-old Lee's Summit boy to North Kansas City Hospital; a 15-year-old Merriam, Kansas girl, a 16-year-old Shawnee, Kansas boy; a 14-year-old&nbsp; Kansas City, Kansas girl and a 44-year-old Shawnee, Kansas, woman to Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph.&nbsp; The driver was not injured, according to the patrol.&nbsp;There were 30 people on the bus at the time of the accident.&nbsp;Interstate 29 was closed for several hours but reopened while first responders worked the scene. The highway was&nbsp; open again just after 7 p.m. Friday.&nbsp; &nbsp;The MSHP no longer releases the names of accident victims.

8 students injured in church bus crash on Interstate 29 

ATCHISON —Law enforcement are investigating a Kansas felon on new allegations.

At 8:30p.m. on Thursday, police responded to an apartment complex in the 300 block Santa Fe Street in Atchison to investigate a possible burglary, according to Police Chief Mike Wilsonm.

It was determined that no burglary had occurred but during the investigation the resident and reporting party, 61-year-old Gary Odum, was found to be in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

&nbsp;Odum was arrested on a requested charge for possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. He has a previous conviction for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1756477662042.png" alt="Odum photo KDOC" />
 <figcaption>Odum photo KDOC</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON —Law enforcement are investigating a Kansas felon on new allegations.At 8:30p.m. on Thursday, police responded to an apartment complex in the 300 block Santa Fe Street in Atchison to investigate a possible burglary, according to Police Chief Mike Wilsonm.It was determined that no burglary had occurred but during the investigation the resident and reporting party, 61-year-old Gary Odum, was found to be in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.&nbsp;Odum was arrested on a requested charge for possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. He has a previous conviction for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Call about burglary led to Kansas felon's drug arrest

It's another long holiday weekend as the Missouri Highway Patrol expects travelers to hit the road today.  

Seargent Shane Hux with Troop H says Labor Day marks the third of the four major travel holidays. Hux encourages everyone to plan for save travel during the weekend 

"This is one of the holiday's it seems like where alcohol is involved because a lot of people take to the water because the weather is still nice this time of year," Hux tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.  "So, we just encourage you to be responsible, if you consume anything that causes impairment, plan ahead, have a plan in place, and use a designated driver."  

MoDOT reports roadway fatalities are trending downward for a third year in a row, down two percent so far, with 344 deaths this year compared to 364 in 2023. 

Hux says during last year's Labor Day holiday period, 110 arrests were made for driving while intoxicated, because drivers are not being responsible after drinking 

By MATT PIKE It's another long holiday weekend as the Missouri Highway Patrol expects travelers to hit the road today. Seargent Shane Hux with Troop H says Labor Day marks the third of the four major travel holidays. Hux encourages everyone to plan for save travel during the weekend "This is one of the holiday's it seems like where alcohol is involved because a lot of people take to the water because the weather is still nice this time of year," Hux tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. "So, we just encourage you to be responsible, if you consume anything that causes impairment, plan ahead, have a plan in place, and use a designated driver." MoDOT reports roadway fatalities are trending downward for a third year in a row, down two percent so far, with 344 deaths this year compared to 364 in 2023. Hux says during last year's Labor Day holiday period, 110 arrests were made for driving while intoxicated, because drivers are not being responsible after drinking "They're not making plans to get home with a sober driver, and that's what we're trying to stress here, because last year on Missouri roadways 17 people died in traffic crashes during the three-day Labor Day weekend, two people were killed in boating fatalities," Hux explains. Hux says if you have any trouble, remember to contact the patrols star 55 emergency hotline for help "Now we also encourage them to contact us if they're behind a vehicle careless and imprudent operation, traveling at high speeds, or if they believe the driver is impaired or even on their phone," Hux says. "Or if they see a small child inside a vehicle that's unsecured." The Highway Patrol will be out in force starting this evening at 6pm until Monday at midnight. You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Local