ATCHISON COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 8p.m. Tuesday in Atchison.

A 2017 Dodge Ram pickup&nbsp; driven by Matthew Carr, 40, Atchison, was northbound on 10th Street in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

The pickup turned west onto U.S.59, crossed the median and left the roadway on the south side of U.S.59.&nbsp; The vehicle continued southbound down an embankment, across a parking lot and then struck the north side of Hotel Eastin,&nbsp;401 S 10th Street.&nbsp;

The hotel room that was struck was unoccupied. 

EMS transported Matthew Carr, the only occupant in the vehicle, to Amberwell Hospital for examination. It is believed that the driver suffered some type of medical episode prior to the accident, according to Wilson.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769009819295.jpeg" alt="Photo Atchison Police" />
 <figcaption>Photo Atchison Police</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 8p.m. Tuesday in Atchison.A 2017 Dodge Ram pickup&nbsp; driven by Matthew Carr, 40, Atchison, was northbound on 10th Street in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.The pickup turned west onto U.S.59, crossed the median and left the roadway on the south side of U.S.59.&nbsp; The vehicle continued southbound down an embankment, across a parking lot and then struck the north side of Hotel Eastin,&nbsp;401 S 10th Street.&nbsp;The hotel room that was struck was unoccupied. EMS transported Matthew Carr, the only occupant in the vehicle, to Amberwell Hospital for examination. It is believed that the driver suffered some type of medical episode prior to the accident, according to Wilson.

Kansas man injured after pickup crash into hotel room

The Missouri Department of Transportation and Evergy will host a public meeting today to discuss a planned intersection improvement project on U.S. Route 71 at 340th Street, south of Maryville.

The meeting is scheduled for Jan. 21, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the Maryville Public Safety Training Room, located at 101 N. Vine St. The event will follow an open-house format with no formal presentation, allowing residents to view project plans and speak directly with representatives from MoDOT and Evergy.

The proposed upgrades are designed to accommodate a projected increase in traffic following the construction of a new natural gas plant in the area. MoDOT officials recommend replacing the existing crossover at 340th Street with J-turns to improve traffic flow and reduce the risk of high-speed collisions.

Under the J-turn design, motorists on side roads will no longer cross multiple lanes of fast-moving traffic to turn left or travel straight. Instead, drivers will turn right in the direction of traffic, merge into the passing lane, and use a dedicated lane to make a U-turn into the opposite direction of travel.

The project is currently scheduled to be made available for contractor bids during MoDOT’s April 2026 letting.

Community members are encouraged to attend the meeting to share concerns or submit comments. Those unable to speak with project leaders directly will have the opportunity to provide feedback via written comment forms.

Nodaway U.S. Route 71 Intersection Improvement

Missouri Department of Transportation

All comments must be postmarked by Feb. 4, 2026.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/8/1566589245645.jpeg" alt="MoDOT Northwest district" />
 <figcaption>MoDOT Northwest district</figcaption>
 </figure>(By RYAN SKAITH)The Missouri Department of Transportation and Evergy will host a public meeting today to discuss a planned intersection improvement project on U.S. Route 71 at 340th Street, south of Maryville.The meeting is scheduled for Jan. 21, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the Maryville Public Safety Training Room, located at 101 N. Vine St. The event will follow an open-house format with no formal presentation, allowing residents to view project plans and speak directly with representatives from MoDOT and Evergy.The proposed upgrades are designed to accommodate a projected increase in traffic following the construction of a new natural gas plant in the area. MoDOT officials recommend replacing the existing crossover at 340th Street with J-turns to improve traffic flow and reduce the risk of high-speed collisions.Under the J-turn design, motorists on side roads will no longer cross multiple lanes of fast-moving traffic to turn left or travel straight. Instead, drivers will turn right in the direction of traffic, merge into the passing lane, and use a dedicated lane to make a U-turn into the opposite direction of travel.The project is currently scheduled to be made available for contractor bids during MoDOT’s April 2026 letting.Community members are encouraged to attend the meeting to share concerns or submit comments. Those unable to speak with project leaders directly will have the opportunity to provide feedback via written comment forms.You can also mail your comments to:Nodaway U.S. Route 71 Intersection ImprovementMissouri Department of Transportation3602 North Belt HighwaySt. Joseph, MO 64506All comments must be postmarked by Feb. 4, 2026.

MoDOT and Evergy to host public meeting for U.S. 71 intersection upgrades south of Maryville today

(Radio Iowa) - The Iowa Department of Transportation now has a new online website where you can and appointment to renew your driver’s license or vehicle registration. 

Motor Vehicle Division Director Kathleen Meradith-Eyers says it combines scheduling and walk-in management systems for all 18 D-O-T locations as well as offices for 79 different county treasurers. Meradith-Eyers says the sites were not connected in the previous system. 

The new website is linked to the D-O-T website and she says you can select what kind of service you want and the system will intuitively guide you to locations based on proximity or based on the soonest an appointment is available.

(Radio Iowa) - The Iowa Department of Transportation now has a new online website where you can and appointment to renew your driver’s license or vehicle registration. Motor Vehicle Division Director Kathleen Meradith-Eyers says it combines scheduling and walk-in management systems for all 18 D-O-T locations as well as offices for 79 different county treasurers. Meradith-Eyers says the sites were not connected in the previous system. The new website is linked to the D-O-T website and she says you can select what kind of service you want and the system will intuitively guide you to locations based on proximity or based on the soonest an appointment is available.

DOT unveils new site to schedule driver's license renewals

Savannah will not be getting a new aquatics facility after all.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Instead, after several discussions with professionals, the Andrew County Aquatics Initiative has decided to keep and renovate the current pool facility in Savannah.&nbsp;&nbsp;

President Diane Gould says after reviewing the pool with the professionals, it showed the&nbsp;facility&nbsp;was in&nbsp;good shape, but needed some work&nbsp;

“They came to the conclusion that we could have a really nice facility that, to anyone who didn’t know, will appear to be and will function like&nbsp;a&nbsp;brand-new&nbsp;facility for under $1 million,” Gould tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post&nbsp;

Gould says a new facility, that was&nbsp;essentially the&nbsp;same as what already existed in Savannah, would have cost around&nbsp;$6 million&nbsp;to build.&nbsp;

The fundraising goal for the project is still short by around&nbsp;$165,000.&nbsp; A trivia night will be held on March 21st, which is also when the Andrew County Aquatics Initiative hopes to hit the goal.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Gould says today will begin the first steps towards reopening the pool as they get ready for renovations at the facility.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“There is a company coming out to do what is called a pressure test on the pool to make sure that&nbsp;we’re&nbsp;leak tight,&nbsp;we’ve&nbsp;done a few things to get prepared for that,&nbsp;change some&nbsp;valves and&nbsp;fixed a few things,” Gould explains&nbsp;

Gould says once that test gets passed.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“As long as we get an A+ on&nbsp;that,&nbsp;we will be pushing forward and probably, hopefully breaking ground in a few weeks,” Gould says.&nbsp;

Gould says the hope is to be able to have the Savannah Pool open by the Memorial Day holiday.&nbsp;

Gould says the way things have fallen into place with this project have been&nbsp;really exciting&nbsp;

“I got a call from a company who renovates old water slides &nbsp;just a couple days ago, and they were interested in coming, and it’s like things are just falling into place in such a way that I’m like&nbsp;man I feel like God’s just shining down on this project and&nbsp;its&nbsp;opening all the doors and making the right decisions really obvious,” Gould says.&nbsp;

(You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.)

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746644589613.jpeg" alt="File photo" />
 <figcaption>File photo</figcaption>
 </figure>(By MATT PIKE)Savannah will not be getting a new aquatics facility after all.&nbsp;&nbsp;Instead, after several discussions with professionals, the Andrew County Aquatics Initiative has decided to keep and renovate the current pool facility in Savannah.&nbsp;&nbsp;President Diane Gould says after reviewing the pool with the professionals, it showed the&nbsp;facility&nbsp;was in&nbsp;good shape, but needed some work&nbsp;“They came to the conclusion that we could have a really nice facility that, to anyone who didn’t know, will appear to be and will function like&nbsp;a&nbsp;brand-new&nbsp;facility for under $1 million,” Gould tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post&nbsp;Gould says a new facility, that was&nbsp;essentially the&nbsp;same as what already existed in Savannah, would have cost around&nbsp;$6 million&nbsp;to build.&nbsp;The fundraising goal for the project is still short by around&nbsp;$165,000.&nbsp; A trivia night will be held on March 21st, which is also when the Andrew County Aquatics Initiative hopes to hit the goal.&nbsp;&nbsp;Gould says today will begin the first steps towards reopening the pool as they get ready for renovations at the facility.&nbsp;&nbsp;“There is a company coming out to do what is called a pressure test on the pool to make sure that&nbsp;we’re&nbsp;leak tight,&nbsp;we’ve&nbsp;done a few things to get prepared for that,&nbsp;change some&nbsp;valves and&nbsp;fixed a few things,” Gould explains&nbsp;Gould says once that test gets passed.&nbsp;&nbsp;“As long as we get an A+ on&nbsp;that,&nbsp;we will be pushing forward and probably, hopefully breaking ground in a few weeks,” Gould says.&nbsp;Gould says the hope is to be able to have the Savannah Pool open by the Memorial Day holiday.&nbsp;Gould says the way things have fallen into place with this project have been&nbsp;really exciting&nbsp;“I got a call from a company who renovates old water slides &nbsp;just a couple days ago, and they were interested in coming, and it’s like things are just falling into place in such a way that I’m like&nbsp;man I feel like God’s just shining down on this project and&nbsp;its&nbsp;opening all the doors and making the right decisions really obvious,” Gould says.&nbsp;(You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.)

Savannah pool hopes to be open by Memorial Day following renovations 

A long-term narcotics investigation spanning two counties resulted in the seizure of drugs and firearms and the arrest of two individuals last week, according to the Nodaway County Sheriff’s Office.

The investigation, conducted in cooperation with the Northwest Missouri Drug Task Force, began in 2025 following a traffic stop. That initial stop led to a search warrant at a rural Nodaway County residence, where authorities seized approximately one ounce of methamphetamine and packaging materials.

Last week, deputies executed a follow-up search warrant in Clearmont, MO. During the search, officers recovered additional controlled substances, multiple firearms, and packaging material consistent with the distribution of narcotics.

A suspect, identified by authorities as a convicted felon, was taken into custody and is being held on a $100,000 bond. The individual faces several charges, including distribution of a controlled substance in a protected location, unlawful possession of a firearm, and driving while revoked or suspended.

The Clearmont investigation provided leads that prompted a second search warrant in neighboring Atchison County. That operation resulted in the arrest of a second subject.

The second individual faces charges of distribution of a controlled substance in a protected location, possession of a controlled substance, tampering with physical evidence, and resisting arrest for a felony.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768993510867.jpeg" alt="Photo Nodaway Co Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Photo Nodaway Co Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>A long-term narcotics investigation spanning two counties resulted in the seizure of drugs and firearms and the arrest of two individuals last week, according to the Nodaway County Sheriff’s Office.The investigation, conducted in cooperation with the Northwest Missouri Drug Task Force, began in 2025 following a traffic stop. That initial stop led to a search warrant at a rural Nodaway County residence, where authorities seized approximately one ounce of methamphetamine and packaging materials.Last week, deputies executed a follow-up search warrant in Clearmont, MO. During the search, officers recovered additional controlled substances, multiple firearms, and packaging material consistent with the distribution of narcotics.A suspect, identified by authorities as a convicted felon, was taken into custody and is being held on a $100,000 bond. The individual faces several charges, including distribution of a controlled substance in a protected location, unlawful possession of a firearm, and driving while revoked or suspended.The Clearmont investigation provided leads that prompted a second search warrant in neighboring Atchison County. That operation resulted in the arrest of a second subject.The second individual faces charges of distribution of a controlled substance in a protected location, possession of a controlled substance, tampering with physical evidence, and resisting arrest for a felony.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768993552673.jpeg" alt="Courtesy of Nodaway Co Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy of Nodaway Co Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>

Nodaway County Sheriff seizes drugs and weapons; two arrested

NODAWAY COUNTY—Two people were injured in an accident just before noon Tuesday in Nodaway County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2023 Toyota Tundra driven by a 68-year-old Fridley, Minnesota man was southbound on Interstate 35 seven miles north of Winston. The driver had a medial emergency. The pickup traveled off the west side of the road, struck a culvert, a fence and came to rest.

Daviess County Ambulance transported the driver to Cameron Regional Medical Center.&nbsp; NTA Ambulance transported a 77-year-old female passenger to Cameron Regional Medical Center. Both were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

NODAWAY COUNTY—Two people were injured in an accident just before noon Tuesday in Nodaway County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2023 Toyota Tundra driven by a 68-year-old Fridley, Minnesota man was southbound on Interstate 35 seven miles north of Winston. The driver had a medial emergency. The pickup traveled off the west side of the road, struck a culvert, a fence and came to rest.Daviess County Ambulance transported the driver to Cameron Regional Medical Center.&nbsp; NTA Ambulance transported a 77-year-old female passenger to Cameron Regional Medical Center. Both were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Two hospitalized after pickup strikes a fence in Nodaway County

(Radio Iowa) -&nbsp;A northwest Iowa farmer who has agreed to let the Summit Carbon pipeline run through his family's land is part of a group lobbying legislators Tuesday -- urging passage of the proposal that would give the company more leeway to rechart its pipeline route around landowners who won't sign a voluntary easement. 

Kelly Nieuwenhuis of Primghar, a former member of the Iowa Corn Promotion Board, was president of the Siouxland Energy ethanol plant in Sioux Center when it signed the contract to hook up to Summit's pipeline. He says the project has taken longer than anticipated to get off the group, but the success of a pipeline in Nebraska that started shipping liquid carbon to Wyoming this fall shows the value of Summit's project. 

Nieuwenhuis has four natural gas pipelines, a crude oil pipeline, wind turbines and electrical transmission lines on his farms -- and Nieuwenhuis says he had no qualms about signing a voluntary easement for Summit's pipeline to cross his property given his experience with all of those projects.

(Radio Iowa) -&nbsp;A northwest Iowa farmer who has agreed to let the Summit Carbon pipeline run through his family's land is part of a group lobbying legislators Tuesday -- urging passage of the proposal that would give the company more leeway to rechart its pipeline route around landowners who won't sign a voluntary easement. Kelly Nieuwenhuis of Primghar, a former member of the Iowa Corn Promotion Board, was president of the Siouxland Energy ethanol plant in Sioux Center when it signed the contract to hook up to Summit's pipeline. He says the project has taken longer than anticipated to get off the group, but the success of a pipeline in Nebraska that started shipping liquid carbon to Wyoming this fall shows the value of Summit's project. Nieuwenhuis has four natural gas pipelines, a crude oil pipeline, wind turbines and electrical transmission lines on his farms -- and Nieuwenhuis says he had no qualms about signing a voluntary easement for Summit's pipeline to cross his property given his experience with all of those projects.

Pipeline supporters lobbying lawmakers

Policies aim to get ahead of Legislature’s debate about weakening tenure rights

By:<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">Tim Carpenter</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — The Kansas Board of Regents ordered state public universities to implement faculty workload and tenure review policies that will bring underperforming professors to remediation, with termination a potential consequence for failure to address deficiencies.

The mandate applied to thousands of faculty employed at Kansas State University, the University of Kansas, Pittsburg State University, Fort Hays State University, Emporia State University and Wichita State University. Expectations for nontenure, tenure-track and tenured faculty wouldn’t be identical from university to university, but all would be assigned annual course instructional loads and undergo yearly reviews in terms of teaching, research and public service.

Faculty at the state’s three research-oriented universities — KU, K-State and WSU — would be expected to teach six to nine credit hours per semester. Annual reviews of these faculty would be based on teaching at 40% to 55% of the workload. Research obligations would range from 35% to 45% of the total. Public service would be 5% to 20% of the job.

Faculty at the three regional universities — PSU, ESU and FHSU — would be assigned 12 credit hours of instructional course work each semester. The faculty evaluation breakdown: teaching, 60% to 75%; research, 15% to 30%; and public service, 5% to 20%.

Tenured university faculty in the Board of Regents system would undergo performance assessments by a campus committee every five years. Those determined to be less than satisfactory would be placed on self-improvement plans. If a faculty member earned a second unsatisfactory annual review, the policy said, the individual would be subject to dismissal, reassignment or other personnel action.

Rusty Monhollon, vice president of academic affairs for the Board of Regents, said the post-tenure and workload policies would help administrators identify faculty falling short of standards and those exceeding those metrics. The goal was to make evaluation of faculty less subjective and to address consternation about the rigor of decisions about faculty appointments, he said.

He expected few university faculty to fail to abide by new productivity standards because the “work they do is good.”

“These are very important policies that are impactful. We want to make sure we get it right,” said Alysia Johnston, a member of the Board of Regents.

Johnston, a former president of Fort Scott Community College, said the final version of policies approved by the Board of Regents left the analysis of tenure review cases to university administrators because the state board didn’t have the expertise to make scholarly judgments. She said the Board of Regents would consider tenure appeals based on claims that due process rights were violated by university administrators.

The Board of Regents voted unanimously at its January meeting to require the six universities to begin documenting and reporting faculty performance data that would be shared with legislators and others to enhance transparency and accountability in higher education.

University reporting would include statistics on student credit hours produced, percentage of credit hours by full-time faculty, bachelor’s degrees awarded, student retention, faculty scholarship and faculty research funding. Information about the number of people granted and denied tenure and the number of faculty who left each university must be documented.

Board of Regents member Matt Crocker, a Manhattan businessman, said he appreciated that the development of a systemwide faculty review policy involved considerable effort by the Board of Regents. He said there was an expectation among members of the Kansas Legislature that faculty workload policies would be rigorous. In the past two years, members of the Legislature raised the possibility of modifying tenure at the state universities.

“The question I seem to get all the time, especially here in Topeka, is making sure I’m a good steward for the state’s funding for higher education,” he said.

Under the Board of Regents policy, each university would craft faculty workload expectations that were “equitable, fair and balanced, and aligned with the unique needs of each department and the whole institution.” While all faculty would be assigned teaching loads, the policy said, exceptions would be permitted for clinical or research faculty, librarians and other personnel in noninstructional roles.

The new systemwide policy was developed by Board of Regents’ staff, university administrators and faculty as well as state politicians. At least four drafts were circulated for review and comment during the past seven months.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768943639729.png" alt=" Kansas Board of Regents member Alysia Johnston, who leads the board’s academic affairs committee, endorses faculty workload and post-tenure review policies applicable at the six public universities in the state system. This image of Johnston is of her at a Board of Regents meeting in 2024 in Manhattan. (Photo by Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Kansas Board of Regents member Alysia Johnston, who leads the board’s academic affairs committee, endorses faculty workload and post-tenure review policies applicable at the six public universities in the state system. This image of Johnston is of her at a Board of Regents meeting in 2024 in Manhattan. (Photo by Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Policies aim to get ahead of Legislature’s debate about weakening tenure rights</h2>By:<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">Tim Carpenter</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — The Kansas Board of Regents ordered state public universities to implement faculty workload and tenure review policies that will bring underperforming professors to remediation, with termination a potential consequence for failure to address deficiencies.The mandate applied to thousands of faculty employed at Kansas State University, the University of Kansas, Pittsburg State University, Fort Hays State University, Emporia State University and Wichita State University. Expectations for nontenure, tenure-track and tenured faculty wouldn’t be identical from university to university, but all would be assigned annual course instructional loads and undergo yearly reviews in terms of teaching, research and public service.Faculty at the state’s three research-oriented universities — KU, K-State and WSU — would be expected to teach six to nine credit hours per semester. Annual reviews of these faculty would be based on teaching at 40% to 55% of the workload. Research obligations would range from 35% to 45% of the total. Public service would be 5% to 20% of the job.Faculty at the three regional universities — PSU, ESU and FHSU — would be assigned 12 credit hours of instructional course work each semester. The faculty evaluation breakdown: teaching, 60% to 75%; research, 15% to 30%; and public service, 5% to 20%.Tenured university faculty in the Board of Regents system would undergo performance assessments by a campus committee every five years. Those determined to be less than satisfactory would be placed on self-improvement plans. If a faculty member earned a second unsatisfactory annual review, the policy said, the individual would be subject to dismissal, reassignment or other personnel action.Rusty Monhollon, vice president of academic affairs for the Board of Regents, said the post-tenure and workload policies would help administrators identify faculty falling short of standards and those exceeding those metrics. The goal was to make evaluation of faculty less subjective and to address consternation about the rigor of decisions about faculty appointments, he said.He expected few university faculty to fail to abide by new productivity standards because the “work they do is good.”“These are very important policies that are impactful. We want to make sure we get it right,” said Alysia Johnston, a member of the Board of Regents.Johnston, a former president of Fort Scott Community College, said the final version of policies approved by the Board of Regents left the analysis of tenure review cases to university administrators because the state board didn’t have the expertise to make scholarly judgments. She said the Board of Regents would consider tenure appeals based on claims that due process rights were violated by university administrators.The Board of Regents voted unanimously at its January meeting to require the six universities to begin documenting and reporting faculty performance data that would be shared with legislators and others to enhance transparency and accountability in higher education.University reporting would include statistics on student credit hours produced, percentage of credit hours by full-time faculty, bachelor’s degrees awarded, student retention, faculty scholarship and faculty research funding. Information about the number of people granted and denied tenure and the number of faculty who left each university must be documented.Board of Regents member Matt Crocker, a Manhattan businessman, said he appreciated that the development of a systemwide faculty review policy involved considerable effort by the Board of Regents. He said there was an expectation among members of the Kansas Legislature that faculty workload policies would be rigorous. In the past two years, members of the Legislature raised the possibility of modifying tenure at the state universities.“The question I seem to get all the time, especially here in Topeka, is making sure I’m a good steward for the state’s funding for higher education,” he said.Under the Board of Regents policy, each university would craft faculty workload expectations that were “equitable, fair and balanced, and aligned with the unique needs of each department and the whole institution.” While all faculty would be assigned teaching loads, the policy said, exceptions would be permitted for clinical or research faculty, librarians and other personnel in noninstructional roles.The new systemwide policy was developed by Board of Regents’ staff, university administrators and faculty as well as state politicians. At least four drafts were circulated for review and comment during the past seven months.

Kansas adopts faculty workload, post-tenure review system for public universities

The Mosaic Life Care Foundation will host a free community night at the inspireU Children’s Discovery Center Jan. 22, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The event is the latest in a series of four free nights made possible by a gift from the Leah Spratt Charitable Trust. Foundation officials credited committee members Rhonda Rochambeau, Rick Rochambeau and Rene Rochambeau McCrary for their commitment to providing local families access to the facility.

Located at 521 Felix St. in downtown St. Joseph, the center focuses on physical health, mental wellness and educational enrichment. The facility is designed for children from birth to age 10 and their families.

The discovery center features more than 20 core exhibits, including a rooftop exploratorium and various interactive play areas. Mosaic Life Care Foundation representatives said the gift aims to encourage a fun evening of play and learning for the entire community.

For more information about the first community night, <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/f01407ae-4f75-4909-85d7-e5d613a8b251">visit here</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729116203362.jpeg" alt="Photo by Matt Pike" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Matt Pike</figcaption>
 </figure>(By RYAN SKAITH)The Mosaic Life Care Foundation will host a free community night at the inspireU Children’s Discovery Center Jan. 22, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.The event is the latest in a series of four free nights made possible by a gift from the Leah Spratt Charitable Trust. Foundation officials credited committee members Rhonda Rochambeau, Rick Rochambeau and Rene Rochambeau McCrary for their commitment to providing local families access to the facility.Located at 521 Felix St. in downtown St. Joseph, the center focuses on physical health, mental wellness and educational enrichment. The facility is designed for children from birth to age 10 and their families.The discovery center features more than 20 core exhibits, including a rooftop exploratorium and various interactive play areas. Mosaic Life Care Foundation representatives said the gift aims to encourage a fun evening of play and learning for the entire community.For more information about the first community night, <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/f01407ae-4f75-4909-85d7-e5d613a8b251">visit here</a>.

Free family night scheduled for Thursday at inspireU in St. Joseph

It has been a relatively mild winter thus far, but temperatures are expected to take a major dive by this weekend throughout the Midland Empire.

Meteorologist Dan Holiday says extreme cold air could reach the area by Thursday. "There is a significant arctic air mass coming down from Canada and we'll really start to feel the effects of that Thursday night with lows forecast anywhere from zero to 5 above."

While it will be bitterly cold, Holiday says snow chances are light for northern Missouri. "There are low-end snow chances for Friday and Saturday. Most of the heavier snowfall should be south of us, but its still too early to tell for sure."

With such low temperatures, Holiday says to keep an extra eye on your pets. "If you have outdoor pets or even livestock, its going to be really important to watch them carefully from Thursday through the remainder of the weekend because temperatures will be frigid combined with gusty winds."

Friday's high is forecast between 10 and 15 degrees with a low of negative 2. Saturday will be in the single digits with a 30% chance of snow.

Holiday emphasizes that while northern Missouri may not get as much precipitation, motorists should stay cautious as weather conditions can change quickly.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol recommends packing extra blankets and pillows in case you become stranded in your vehicle. Drivers can also call Star 55 to be connected with the nearest Patrol headquarters.

The area will see a slight warm-up early next week with temperatures in the low to mid 30s.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768927332353.jpg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>(By RYAN SKAITH)It has been a relatively mild winter thus far, but temperatures are expected to take a major dive by this weekend throughout the Midland Empire.Meteorologist Dan Holiday says extreme cold air could reach the area by Thursday. "There is a significant arctic air mass coming down from Canada and we'll really start to feel the effects of that Thursday night with lows forecast anywhere from zero to 5 above."While it will be bitterly cold, Holiday says snow chances are light for northern Missouri. "There are low-end snow chances for Friday and Saturday. Most of the heavier snowfall should be south of us, but its still too early to tell for sure."With such low temperatures, Holiday says to keep an extra eye on your pets. "If you have outdoor pets or even livestock, its going to be really important to watch them carefully from Thursday through the remainder of the weekend because temperatures will be frigid combined with gusty winds."Friday's high is forecast between 10 and 15 degrees with a low of negative 2. Saturday will be in the single digits with a 30% chance of snow.Holiday emphasizes that while northern Missouri may not get as much precipitation, motorists should stay cautious as weather conditions can change quickly.The Missouri State Highway Patrol recommends packing extra blankets and pillows in case you become stranded in your vehicle. Drivers can also call Star 55 to be connected with the nearest Patrol headquarters.The area will see a slight warm-up early next week with temperatures in the low to mid 30s.

Frigid temps expected this weekend in the Midland Empire

(Radio Iowa) -&nbsp;Governor Kim Reynolds is proposing that Iowa join a handful of other states that have made it legal for pharmacists to make over-the-counter sales of the drug Ivermectin. The F-D-A has approved it as treatment parasitic infections, like stomach worms and head lice in humans. 

People began to buy ivermectin approved for use in livestock during the pandemic as a treatment for COVID. The Governor says people have asked if the state could make it over-the-counter.

The bill Reynolds is proposing isn't publicly available in the legislature's online system yet. The Food and Drug Administration's website says the agency has not authorized or approved ivermectin for use in preventing or treatment COVID-19 in humans and it has received multiple reports of patients who have required medical attention after self-medicating with ivermectin intended for animals.

(Radio Iowa) -&nbsp;Governor Kim Reynolds is proposing that Iowa join a handful of other states that have made it legal for pharmacists to make over-the-counter sales of the drug Ivermectin. The F-D-A has approved it as treatment parasitic infections, like stomach worms and head lice in humans. People began to buy ivermectin approved for use in livestock during the pandemic as a treatment for COVID. The Governor says people have asked if the state could make it over-the-counter.The bill Reynolds is proposing isn't publicly available in the legislature's online system yet. The Food and Drug Administration's website says the agency has not authorized or approved ivermectin for use in preventing or treatment COVID-19 in humans and it has received multiple reports of patients who have required medical attention after self-medicating with ivermectin intended for animals.

Governor Says State Should Consider Over The Counter Ivermectin

The following is a list of general highway maintenance and construction work the Missouri Department of Transportation has planned for Northwest Missouri for the week of Jan. 19 - 25.

There may be moving operations throughout the region, in addition to the work mentioned below.

Route F –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;at the Rock Creek Bridge for a bridge rehabilitation project through January 2026.

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

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

Faraon Street – Eastbound right-hand turn lane&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;for utility work at Belt Highway, Jan. 21, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

U.S. Route 169 (Belt Highway) – Utility work southbound from Fredrick Avenue to Faraon Street, overnight starting at 8:30 p.m. Jan. 23, to 8:30 a.m. Jan. 24. The southbound driving lane will be closed.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

U.S. Route 36 – Bridge maintenance westbound at the bridge over Turkey Creek, Jan. 20-22. The bridge will be narrowed to one lane around-the-clock.

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

U.S. Route 71 – Pothole patching both directions from the Iowa State line to Route FF, Jan. 20-23.

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

U.S. Route 169 –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;for a bridge deck replacement project at the Middle Fork Grand River Bridge through January 2026.

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

MoDOT&nbsp; says inclement weather may cause schedule changes to some of the planned work.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704585565260.png" alt="MoDot" />
 <figcaption>MoDot</figcaption>
 </figure>(By RYAN SKAITH)The following is a list of general highway maintenance and construction work the Missouri Department of Transportation has planned for Northwest Missouri for the week of Jan. 19 - 25.There may be moving operations throughout the region, in addition to the work mentioned below.Atchison CountyRoute F –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;at the Rock Creek Bridge for a bridge rehabilitation project through January 2026.Buchanan CountyGene Field Road Bridge –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;due to damage from being struck by an oversized load. The project was awarded to Clarkson Construction Company. The project schedule is currently being determined.&nbsp;Route 752 (Alabama Street) –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;from U.S. Route 59 to Sherman Street for an intersection improvement project through February 2026.&nbsp;Faraon Street – Eastbound right-hand turn lane&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;for utility work at Belt Highway, Jan. 21, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.U.S. Route 169 (Belt Highway) – Utility work southbound from Fredrick Avenue to Faraon Street, overnight starting at 8:30 p.m. Jan. 23, to 8:30 a.m. Jan. 24. The southbound driving lane will be closed.Caldwell CountyRoute D –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;for a bridge replacement project at the Shoal Creek Bridge through March 2026.Carroll CountyRoute W – Brush cutting from Route T to U.S. Route 65, Jan. 20-23, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily. The road will be narrowed to one lane with flaggers guiding motorists through the work zone.Chariton CountyRoute PP –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;at the Mid-Fork Chariton River Overflow Bridge for replacement projects through the Northwest Bridge Bundle through March 2026.Route KK –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;at the Puzzle Creek Bridge for a replacement project through the Northwest Bridge Bundle through mid-March 2026.Route O –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;at the Bee Creek Bridge for a replacement project through the Northwest Bridge Bundle through April 2026.Route KK –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;at the Little Chariton River Bridge for a deck replacement project through March 2026.&nbsp;Linn CountyRoute 11 –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;at the Badger Creek Bridge, north of New Boston, for a bridge replacement project through the Northwest Bridge Bundle through May 2026.Route 139 -&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;at the Parson Creek Bridge, north of Meadville, for a bridge replacement project through the Northwest Bridge Bundle through May 2026.U.S. Route 36 – Bridge maintenance westbound at the bridge over Turkey Creek, Jan. 20-22. The bridge will be narrowed to one lane around-the-clock.Livingston CountyRoute K –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;at the North Fork Crooked Creek Bridge beginning Feb. 19 for a bridge replacement project through the Northwest Bridge Bundle through April 2026.Nodaway CountyU.S. Route 71 – Pothole patching both directions from the Iowa State line to Route FF, Jan. 20-23.Sullivan CountyRoute T –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;at the East Locust Creek bridge due to deterioration. The bridge is scheduled to be replaced in the spring of 2026 through the Northwest Bridge Bundle.Worth CountyU.S. Route 169 –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;for a bridge deck replacement project at the Middle Fork Grand River Bridge through January 2026.Route W –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;for a bridge replacement at the West Fork Grand River Bridge through January 2026.MoDOT&nbsp; says inclement weather may cause schedule changes to some of the planned work.

Planned roadwork for Northwest Missouri, Jan. 19 - 25

By SUZANNE KING <a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2026/01/08/why-30-rural-hospitals-in-kansas-and-12-in-missouri-are-at-risk/">The Beacon</a>

Kansas has more hospitals in immediate danger of closing than any other state, according to a recent analysis of the financial health of the country’s most remote hospitals.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://chqpr.org/">Center for Healthcare Quality &amp; Payment Reform</a>, a national policy organization, found that 68 rural Kansas hospitals are at risk of closing, including 30 at immediate risk. Its&nbsp;<a href="https://ruralhospitals.chqpr.org/downloads/Rural_Hospitals_at_Risk_of_Closing.pdf">analysis</a>&nbsp;also put Missouri among the 10 worst states for rural closings, with 29 rural hospitals at risk of closing, including a dozen at immediate risk.

Nationwide, the analysis found that 756 hospitals — one-third of all rural hospitals — could be in jeopardy, including 323 that are at&nbsp;<a href="https://ruralhospitals.chqpr.org/Solutions.html#the-need-for-rapid-action-to-prevent-closures-and-sustain-rural-healthcare">immediate risk</a>&nbsp;of closure. Hospitals that are losing money on patient services and don’t have enough reserves to offset those losses for more than six or seven years are considered to be at immediate risk.

Harold D. Miller, the Center for Healthcare Quality’s president and CEO, said the problem boils down to simple economics. Rural hospitals spend more than they bring in.

Because they are located in remote parts of the country, rural hospitals have fewer patients. But operating costs — like necessary staff and equipment — are the same as for hospitals in more populated areas.

At the same time, the cost of health care continues to climb, workforce shortages&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/12/24/traveling-nurses-kansas-hospitals/">make it more expensive to fill jobs</a>&nbsp;at rural facilities and much of the financial support that helped them through the COVID pandemic has gone away.

“Costs have gone up and payers haven’t kept up,” Miller said. “The hospital isn’t being paid based on actual cost. More likely it gets underpaid.”

A pessimistic assessment of the financial health of rural hospitals is not new. For years, experts have warned about pending closures. And across the country almost 200 rural hospitals have shut down since 2005, including 19 across&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/08/08/rural-hospitals-missouri-medicaid-cuts-at-risk-2025-closures/">Missouri</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kwch.com/2026/01/07/derbys-rock-regional-hospital-eviction-process-cleared-proceed-judge-decides/">Kansas</a>.

The rural hospitals that have closed their doors since 2012,&nbsp;<a href="https://ruralhospitals.chqpr.org/Problems.html#the-magnitude-of-financial-losses-at-rural-hospitals">the Center for Healthcare Quality found</a>, had a median operating loss of 9%. Rural hospitals that stayed open had a median 5% profit margin.

Cindy Samuelson, spokeswoman for the Kansas Hospital Association, cautioned that the report’s dire predictions of 30 Kansas hospitals being on the brink of closing may be overblown. Many rural Kansas communities provide taxpayer support in the form of a city or county levy. Although that funding is not guaranteed, she said it is a good bet that it will continue.

“I really think you’re not going to see 30” hospitals close, Samuelson said. “Those people who live in those 30 areas are going to say, ‘We’ll pay the tax. Health care is important to us.’”&nbsp;

Kansas still has 100 rural hospitals — second only to Texas — while Missouri has 58. But many operate at a loss. And the challenges only seem to be growing.

Recent changes at the federal level are expected to dramatically increase the number of people without insurance&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/12/19/aca-expiring-tax-credits-health-insurance/">beginning this year</a>. That will likely add to the number of patients hospitals have to treat for free, and it is expected to ultimately lead to more expensive care since people who skip doctors’ appointments or medicine often end up sicker.

Hospitals also are watching what will happen at the state and federal levels to the 340B Drug Pricing Program, which helps many hospitals subsidize the cost of care across their operations. Some lawmakers would like to change the way the program works, which could leave hospitals with another big funding gap.

“It could impact essential services the hospitals provide,” Samuelson said.

While loss of the drug program or reduced government insurance coverage under Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act marketplace will likely mean problems for hospitals, Miller said many rural hospitals will face grim prospects even if none of those changes occurs. Already, he said, they are dealing with the reality that insurance plans aren’t paying them enough to cover their expenses.

Many people assume Medicare and Medicaid are the primary culprits for funding shortfalls, Miller said, but private insurance is actually a bigger factor for many small rural providers.

Private insurance is often the&nbsp;<a href="https://ruralhospitals.chqpr.org/Data4A.html">largest contributor</a>&nbsp;to rural hospital revenue — especially since private Medicare Advantage plans have become increasingly popular. But often hospitals are getting the smallest reimbursements from that sector.

Traditional Medicare plans are required to cover most of the cost of care for the patients they cover, but the same is not true of Medicare Advantage plans, which are sold through private insurance companies and work like any other private plan.

Rural hospitals may fall outside a Medicare Advantage plan’s network, or the plan will quibble about paying for certain procedures or services. That can leave patients without nearby care options and hospitals without funds to cover costs.

All of it contributes to rural hospitals’ funding gaps, Miller said.

“If those private insurers are paying half as much as it costs to deliver services in the hospital,” he said, “that hospital is not going to stay open.”

A&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kha-net.org/CriticalIssues/FinancialStability/FinanceResources/d175040.aspx?type=view">2024 study</a>&nbsp;from the Kansas Hospital Association found that private insurers, or commercial payers, in the state paid less than payers in neighboring states. That left Kansas hospitals with fewer private dollars to help cover the costs of care for uninsured or underinsured patients.&nbsp;

And because private plans were covering less, patients were left carrying more bad debt, the study found, because they couldn’t afford out-of-pocket costs. Or they were avoiding care when they needed it, which ultimately drives up cost.

The closure of any rural hospital puts people’s health at risk. Not only are patients left with long drives to hospitals in an emergency, they also lose affiliated physician practices, laboratories and imaging services, which often puts preventive care in jeopardy.

“The bottom line for patients if they lose their hospital is that there’s always going to be a larger barrier for them to go seek care,” said Tom Mueller, director of the Kansas Center for Rural Health at the University of Kansas Medical Center. “It’s important to point out that rural folks are happy to drive for the most part. … But, regardless, if you’re talking about a 20-minute drive versus a two-hour drive, you might not go get that thing checked out.”

As a result, chances at early detection are missed. Screenings are postponed or avoided. And people’s health suffers.

Hope for rural transformation funds

Kansas hospitals are waiting for details about the funds the state has been awarded through the new $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Fund, which is being dolled out to states across the country for the next five years.

Missouri&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/12/29/medicaid-missouri-rural-health-transformation-hr-1/">will receive</a>&nbsp;$216 million during the 2026 fiscal year, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced, while Kansas will receive $222 million.&nbsp;

Samuelson said the details of exactly what was funded from the Kansas proposal will be announced in coming days. But she expects the programs funded will help hospitals. It won’t mean an immediate influx of money, but it will mean a chance for the state to invest in shoring up rural hospitals.&nbsp;

And the industry hopes the funds will bring structural changes, like addressing root causes of disease, which would make care less expensive. And investing in the rural health workforce.

“It’s going to be changes that will be impactful and hopefully long-lived with regards to transformative care in rural areas,” Samuelson said.

Lucretia Stargell, CEO of Goodland Regional Medical Center and Rawlins County Health Center in northwest Kansas, said she hopes the new transformation fund drives rural hospitals to be more collaborative.&nbsp;

In May, her hospital brought oncology care back to Goodland one day a week by sharing the cost with other rural hospitals. Now cancer patients can see a doctor close to home rather than driving to Hays or other faraway cities.

It’s an example of how rural hospitals can bring care to the patients, Stargell said, but also help patients navigate finding specialist care in other places when necessary.&nbsp;

“Our big audacious goal is to be a medical home for the region, she said. “We want to help coordinate your care. We want to get you to Hays or Salina or Kansas City, but we want you back. It’s a complex world to navigate, and that’s our duty as a hospital to be part of that.”

Hospitals haven’t gotten to the point of being on the brink of closure overnight, and getting back to health won’t be simple either, Stargell said. But taking deliberate steps to create long-term change seems like the best approach, she said.

“If there were a quick fix,” she said, “hospitals wouldn’t be closing.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768575830427.png" alt="A new study of rural hospitals finds that 30 hospitals in Kansas and 12 in Missouri are at risk of immediate closure. (Naomi O'Donnell/The Beacon)" />
 <figcaption>A new study of rural hospitals finds that 30 hospitals in Kansas and 12 in Missouri are at risk of immediate closure. (Naomi O'Donnell/The Beacon)</figcaption>
 </figure>By SUZANNE KING <a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2026/01/08/why-30-rural-hospitals-in-kansas-and-12-in-missouri-are-at-risk/">The Beacon</a>Kansas has more hospitals in immediate danger of closing than any other state, according to a recent analysis of the financial health of the country’s most remote hospitals.The&nbsp;<a href="https://chqpr.org/">Center for Healthcare Quality &amp; Payment Reform</a>, a national policy organization, found that 68 rural Kansas hospitals are at risk of closing, including 30 at immediate risk. Its&nbsp;<a href="https://ruralhospitals.chqpr.org/downloads/Rural_Hospitals_at_Risk_of_Closing.pdf">analysis</a>&nbsp;also put Missouri among the 10 worst states for rural closings, with 29 rural hospitals at risk of closing, including a dozen at immediate risk.Nationwide, the analysis found that 756 hospitals — one-third of all rural hospitals — could be in jeopardy, including 323 that are at&nbsp;<a href="https://ruralhospitals.chqpr.org/Solutions.html#the-need-for-rapid-action-to-prevent-closures-and-sustain-rural-healthcare">immediate risk</a>&nbsp;of closure. Hospitals that are losing money on patient services and don’t have enough reserves to offset those losses for more than six or seven years are considered to be at immediate risk.Harold D. Miller, the Center for Healthcare Quality’s president and CEO, said the problem boils down to simple economics. Rural hospitals spend more than they bring in.Because they are located in remote parts of the country, rural hospitals have fewer patients. But operating costs — like necessary staff and equipment — are the same as for hospitals in more populated areas.At the same time, the cost of health care continues to climb, workforce shortages&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/12/24/traveling-nurses-kansas-hospitals/">make it more expensive to fill jobs</a>&nbsp;at rural facilities and much of the financial support that helped them through the COVID pandemic has gone away.“Costs have gone up and payers haven’t kept up,” Miller said. “The hospital isn’t being paid based on actual cost. More likely it gets underpaid.”Challenges keep growingA pessimistic assessment of the financial health of rural hospitals is not new. For years, experts have warned about pending closures. And across the country almost 200 rural hospitals have shut down since 2005, including 19 across&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/08/08/rural-hospitals-missouri-medicaid-cuts-at-risk-2025-closures/">Missouri</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kwch.com/2026/01/07/derbys-rock-regional-hospital-eviction-process-cleared-proceed-judge-decides/">Kansas</a>.The rural hospitals that have closed their doors since 2012,&nbsp;<a href="https://ruralhospitals.chqpr.org/Problems.html#the-magnitude-of-financial-losses-at-rural-hospitals">the Center for Healthcare Quality found</a>, had a median operating loss of 9%. Rural hospitals that stayed open had a median 5% profit margin.Cindy Samuelson, spokeswoman for the Kansas Hospital Association, cautioned that the report’s dire predictions of 30 Kansas hospitals being on the brink of closing may be overblown. Many rural Kansas communities provide taxpayer support in the form of a city or county levy. Although that funding is not guaranteed, she said it is a good bet that it will continue.“I really think you’re not going to see 30” hospitals close, Samuelson said. “Those people who live in those 30 areas are going to say, ‘We’ll pay the tax. Health care is important to us.’”&nbsp;Kansas still has 100 rural hospitals — second only to Texas — while Missouri has 58. But many operate at a loss. And the challenges only seem to be growing.Recent changes at the federal level are expected to dramatically increase the number of people without insurance&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/12/19/aca-expiring-tax-credits-health-insurance/">beginning this year</a>. That will likely add to the number of patients hospitals have to treat for free, and it is expected to ultimately lead to more expensive care since people who skip doctors’ appointments or medicine often end up sicker.Hospitals also are watching what will happen at the state and federal levels to the 340B Drug Pricing Program, which helps many hospitals subsidize the cost of care across their operations. Some lawmakers would like to change the way the program works, which could leave hospitals with another big funding gap.“It could impact essential services the hospitals provide,” Samuelson said.Lagging reimbursement ratesWhile loss of the drug program or reduced government insurance coverage under Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act marketplace will likely mean problems for hospitals, Miller said many rural hospitals will face grim prospects even if none of those changes occurs. Already, he said, they are dealing with the reality that insurance plans aren’t paying them enough to cover their expenses.Many people assume Medicare and Medicaid are the primary culprits for funding shortfalls, Miller said, but private insurance is actually a bigger factor for many small rural providers.Private insurance is often the&nbsp;<a href="https://ruralhospitals.chqpr.org/Data4A.html">largest contributor</a>&nbsp;to rural hospital revenue — especially since private Medicare Advantage plans have become increasingly popular. But often hospitals are getting the smallest reimbursements from that sector.Traditional Medicare plans are required to cover most of the cost of care for the patients they cover, but the same is not true of Medicare Advantage plans, which are sold through private insurance companies and work like any other private plan.Rural hospitals may fall outside a Medicare Advantage plan’s network, or the plan will quibble about paying for certain procedures or services. That can leave patients without nearby care options and hospitals without funds to cover costs.All of it contributes to rural hospitals’ funding gaps, Miller said.“If those private insurers are paying half as much as it costs to deliver services in the hospital,” he said, “that hospital is not going to stay open.”A&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kha-net.org/CriticalIssues/FinancialStability/FinanceResources/d175040.aspx?type=view">2024 study</a>&nbsp;from the Kansas Hospital Association found that private insurers, or commercial payers, in the state paid less than payers in neighboring states. That left Kansas hospitals with fewer private dollars to help cover the costs of care for uninsured or underinsured patients.&nbsp;And because private plans were covering less, patients were left carrying more bad debt, the study found, because they couldn’t afford out-of-pocket costs. Or they were avoiding care when they needed it, which ultimately drives up cost.The closure of any rural hospital puts people’s health at risk. Not only are patients left with long drives to hospitals in an emergency, they also lose affiliated physician practices, laboratories and imaging services, which often puts preventive care in jeopardy.“The bottom line for patients if they lose their hospital is that there’s always going to be a larger barrier for them to go seek care,” said Tom Mueller, director of the Kansas Center for Rural Health at the University of Kansas Medical Center. “It’s important to point out that rural folks are happy to drive for the most part. … But, regardless, if you’re talking about a 20-minute drive versus a two-hour drive, you might not go get that thing checked out.”As a result, chances at early detection are missed. Screenings are postponed or avoided. And people’s health suffers.Hope for rural transformation fundsKansas hospitals are waiting for details about the funds the state has been awarded through the new $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Fund, which is being dolled out to states across the country for the next five years.Missouri&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/12/29/medicaid-missouri-rural-health-transformation-hr-1/">will receive</a>&nbsp;$216 million during the 2026 fiscal year, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced, while Kansas will receive $222 million.&nbsp;Samuelson said the details of exactly what was funded from the Kansas proposal will be announced in coming days. But she expects the programs funded will help hospitals. It won’t mean an immediate influx of money, but it will mean a chance for the state to invest in shoring up rural hospitals.&nbsp;And the industry hopes the funds will bring structural changes, like addressing root causes of disease, which would make care less expensive. And investing in the rural health workforce.“It’s going to be changes that will be impactful and hopefully long-lived with regards to transformative care in rural areas,” Samuelson said.Lucretia Stargell, CEO of Goodland Regional Medical Center and Rawlins County Health Center in northwest Kansas, said she hopes the new transformation fund drives rural hospitals to be more collaborative.&nbsp;In May, her hospital brought oncology care back to Goodland one day a week by sharing the cost with other rural hospitals. Now cancer patients can see a doctor close to home rather than driving to Hays or other faraway cities.It’s an example of how rural hospitals can bring care to the patients, Stargell said, but also help patients navigate finding specialist care in other places when necessary.&nbsp;“Our big audacious goal is to be a medical home for the region, she said. “We want to help coordinate your care. We want to get you to Hays or Salina or Kansas City, but we want you back. It’s a complex world to navigate, and that’s our duty as a hospital to be part of that.”Hospitals haven’t gotten to the point of being on the brink of closure overnight, and getting back to health won’t be simple either, Stargell said. But taking deliberate steps to create long-term change seems like the best approach, she said.“If there were a quick fix,” she said, “hospitals wouldn’t be closing.”

Why 12 hospitals in Missouri and 30 in Kansas are at risk of closure

(Radio Iowa) - Iowa's preliminary number shows the lowest number of traffic deaths since the state started keeping records 100 years ago.

 D-O-T State Highway Safety Program Manager Larry Grant says motorcycle deaths dropped from 64 to 38 in 2025 and that was one factor. Grant says All Terrain Vehicles and Utility Terrain Vehicle crashes have led to more deaths as laws changed regarding their use, but he says those deaths dropped by half this year from 20 to 10. Grant says one other statistic that stands out is the number of accidents where more than one person died. 

There were 12 of those crashes that resulted in 24 deaths, compared to two years ago when there were 39 multiple death crashes with 88 people dying. Grant says the 2025 total now is 259, but they wait 30 days after the end of the year to make it a final count.

(Radio Iowa) - Iowa's preliminary number shows the lowest number of traffic deaths since the state started keeping records 100 years ago. D-O-T State Highway Safety Program Manager Larry Grant says motorcycle deaths dropped from 64 to 38 in 2025 and that was one factor. Grant says All Terrain Vehicles and Utility Terrain Vehicle crashes have led to more deaths as laws changed regarding their use, but he says those deaths dropped by half this year from 20 to 10. Grant says one other statistic that stands out is the number of accidents where more than one person died. There were 12 of those crashes that resulted in 24 deaths, compared to two years ago when there were 39 multiple death crashes with 88 people dying. Grant says the 2025 total now is 259, but they wait 30 days after the end of the year to make it a final count.

Motorcycle And ATV Deaths Were Down This Year

HARRISON COUNTY —A Missouri man died in an accident just before 8a.m. Sunday in Harrison County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 1986 Ford F150 driven by a 46-year-old Redgeway man was turning north onto E 240 Avenue from E 320th Avenue two and one half miles south of Eagleville.&nbsp;The driver lost control of the pickup. The vehicle began to skid and overturned onto the drivers side.

The driver was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Roberson Funeral Home. He was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident, according to the MSHP. The patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

HARRISON COUNTY —A Missouri man died in an accident just before 8a.m. Sunday in Harrison County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 1986 Ford F150 driven by a 46-year-old Redgeway man was turning north onto E 240 Avenue from E 320th Avenue two and one half miles south of Eagleville.&nbsp;The driver lost control of the pickup. The vehicle began to skid and overturned onto the drivers side.The driver was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Roberson Funeral Home. He was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident, according to the MSHP. The patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Missouri man dies after pickup skids and overturns

A Missouri House committee heard proposals Thursday to expand screenings for gifted education and add state funding for gifted students on a per-pupil basis

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>

More Missouri public school students could receive gifted education under two proposals debated by the House Education Committee Thursday.

State Rep. Brenda Shields, a Republican from St. Joseph, is sponsoring a bill that would require schools to screen all students to determine if they qualify as gifted before they reach third grade.

She estimates that there are 20,000 Missouri students that are gifted but not currently enrolled in specialized classes.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB1757&amp;year=2026&amp;code=R" target="_blank">bill</a>&nbsp;expands on a state law that requires schools to offer gifted education when at least 3% of their student body is identified as gifted. This requirement began last school year.

“If screenings don’t happen, gifted and talented students aren’t identified,” she told the committee. “If the students are not identified, schools will never reach the 3% threshold to be able to offer a gifted program.”

Gifted students can present as squirrely or distracted in the classroom, Shields said, with thoughts and ideas beyond the basic curriculum. Providing a more enriching education will help both the students and their teacher, she said.

Beth Winton, chair of the Advisory Council on the Education of Gifted and Talented Children, agreed that many gifted students “are not always a pleasure to have in class.”

“The standard grade level curriculum is not designed to meet their academic or emotional needs,” she said. “And regular teachers already have enough demands on their time.”

Committee members largely spoke in favor of the bill, sharing personal anecdotes of their experiences in the classroom as teachers, parents and former students.

State Rep. Ann Kelley, a Republican from Lamar, said gifted education provides a needed challenge for some kids. Kelley, who taught eighth-grade English, said she saw students who were never identified as gifted but could benefit from the program.

“By (eighth grade), they don’t really test very many students at that point. And if they’ve been missed in that window, they’ve already checked out,” she said.

The largest concern came from state Rep. Mark Boyko, a Democrat from Kirkwood, who wondered if requiring schools to start screening by this fall is too tight of a timeline.

“As someone who has been on school boards, I know that drafting a good policy for a district is a process that takes a number of months,” he said. “So I have concerns that the bill starts one school year too early.”

Bolstering Shields’ legislation, a&nbsp;<a href="https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB1748&amp;year=2026&amp;code=R" target="_blank">bill</a>&nbsp;by state Rep. Scott Miller would ensure districts have the resources to educate gifted students by adding a line to the formula that determines state aid for public schools.

“High-quality gifted programming often includes advanced curriculum, specialized instructional strategies, social-emotional supports with trained educators and individualized learning pathways,” Miller, a St. Charles Republican, told the committee. “These services require additional staffing, materials and professional infrastructure, all of which come at a greater cost than general education alone.”

His bill would fund gifted students 60% higher than the base per-pupil amount. Based on the state’s current per-pupil funding, this means schools would receive an additional $4,287 per gifted student.

This number may decrease if the bill moves along in the legislative process. The committee’s chair, state Rep. Ed Lewis, a Moberly Republican, told Miller the multiplier was “pretty high.”

The bill’s fiscal note estimates it would have an annual cost of nearly $121.5 million, though Miller questioned the accuracy of the estimate.&nbsp;

Lobbyists for education groups such as the Missouri State Teachers Association and the Missouri Association of School Administrators spoke in favor of the funding boost.

“(The state) really does need to have a component in the formula to support gifted students,” said Otto Fajen, lobbyist for teachers union Missouri National Education Association. “That is critical.”

The committee did not take action on the bills Thursday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768689933562.png" alt=" State Rep. Brenda Shields, pictured presenting her child care tax credit legislation in a January 2024 House hearing, is hoping to expand gifted education in a bill heard by the House Education committee Thursday. Shields, a Republican from St. Joseph, estimates that 20,000 gifted students in Missouri are not receiving specialized classes to meet their needs (Tim Bommel/Missouri House Communications)." />
 <figcaption> State Rep. Brenda Shields, pictured presenting her child care tax credit legislation in a January 2024 House hearing, is hoping to expand gifted education in a bill heard by the House Education committee Thursday. Shields, a Republican from St. Joseph, estimates that 20,000 gifted students in Missouri are not receiving specialized classes to meet their needs (Tim Bommel/Missouri House Communications).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>A Missouri House committee heard proposals Thursday to expand screenings for gifted education and add state funding for gifted students on a per-pupil basis</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>More Missouri public school students could receive gifted education under two proposals debated by the House Education Committee Thursday.State Rep. Brenda Shields, a Republican from St. Joseph, is sponsoring a bill that would require schools to screen all students to determine if they qualify as gifted before they reach third grade.She estimates that there are 20,000 Missouri students that are gifted but not currently enrolled in specialized classes.The&nbsp;<a href="https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB1757&amp;year=2026&amp;code=R" target="_blank">bill</a>&nbsp;expands on a state law that requires schools to offer gifted education when at least 3% of their student body is identified as gifted. This requirement began last school year.“If screenings don’t happen, gifted and talented students aren’t identified,” she told the committee. “If the students are not identified, schools will never reach the 3% threshold to be able to offer a gifted program.”Gifted students can present as squirrely or distracted in the classroom, Shields said, with thoughts and ideas beyond the basic curriculum. Providing a more enriching education will help both the students and their teacher, she said.Beth Winton, chair of the Advisory Council on the Education of Gifted and Talented Children, agreed that many gifted students “are not always a pleasure to have in class.”“The standard grade level curriculum is not designed to meet their academic or emotional needs,” she said. “And regular teachers already have enough demands on their time.”Committee members largely spoke in favor of the bill, sharing personal anecdotes of their experiences in the classroom as teachers, parents and former students.State Rep. Ann Kelley, a Republican from Lamar, said gifted education provides a needed challenge for some kids. Kelley, who taught eighth-grade English, said she saw students who were never identified as gifted but could benefit from the program.“By (eighth grade), they don’t really test very many students at that point. And if they’ve been missed in that window, they’ve already checked out,” she said.The largest concern came from state Rep. Mark Boyko, a Democrat from Kirkwood, who wondered if requiring schools to start screening by this fall is too tight of a timeline.“As someone who has been on school boards, I know that drafting a good policy for a district is a process that takes a number of months,” he said. “So I have concerns that the bill starts one school year too early.”Bolstering Shields’ legislation, a&nbsp;<a href="https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB1748&amp;year=2026&amp;code=R" target="_blank">bill</a>&nbsp;by state Rep. Scott Miller would ensure districts have the resources to educate gifted students by adding a line to the formula that determines state aid for public schools.“High-quality gifted programming often includes advanced curriculum, specialized instructional strategies, social-emotional supports with trained educators and individualized learning pathways,” Miller, a St. Charles Republican, told the committee. “These services require additional staffing, materials and professional infrastructure, all of which come at a greater cost than general education alone.”His bill would fund gifted students 60% higher than the base per-pupil amount. Based on the state’s current per-pupil funding, this means schools would receive an additional $4,287 per gifted student.This number may decrease if the bill moves along in the legislative process. The committee’s chair, state Rep. Ed Lewis, a Moberly Republican, told Miller the multiplier was “pretty high.”The bill’s fiscal note estimates it would have an annual cost of nearly $121.5 million, though Miller questioned the accuracy of the estimate.&nbsp;Lobbyists for education groups such as the Missouri State Teachers Association and the Missouri Association of School Administrators spoke in favor of the funding boost.“(The state) really does need to have a component in the formula to support gifted students,” said Otto Fajen, lobbyist for teachers union Missouri National Education Association. “That is critical.”The committee did not take action on the bills Thursday.

Missouri lawmakers seek to improve gifted education in public schools

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

A proposed constitutional amendment sponsored by state Rep. Darin Chappell would hold Missouri to 80-hour work requirements from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act even if federal law change

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768574376873.png" alt="State Rep. Darin Chappell of Rogersville speaks in March 2024 during Missouri House debate (Tim Bommel/Missouri House Communications)." />
 <figcaption>State Rep. Darin Chappell of Rogersville speaks in March 2024 during Missouri House debate (Tim Bommel/Missouri House Communications).</figcaption>
 </figure>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/squinn/">Steph Quinn</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a><h2>A proposed constitutional amendment sponsored by state Rep. Darin Chappell would hold Missouri to 80-hour work requirements from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act even if federal law change</h2>A plan to add Medicaid work requirements to the state Constitution was debated by a Missouri House committee this week, with Republican lawmakers hoping to put the issue before voters later this year.The proposed ballot measure, if approved by a majority of Missouri voters, would make it more difficult for the state to reverse federal restrictions on Medicaid eligibility included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed by Congress this summer if those requirements change in the future.&nbsp;“The reality of it is this is coming to Missouri, irrespective of this,” said state Rep. Darin Chappell, a Rogersville Republican sponsoring legislation that would propose the change. “This is just saying we should keep it that way.”Starting Jan. 1, 2027, the federal law will require adults ages 19 to 64 who are covered as part of Medicaid expansion to show that they work, volunteer or study at least 80 hours a month to qualify for the health care program for low-income people. The law also requires states to recertify enrollees’ eligibility every six months instead of once a year.With Missouri’s Department of Social Services&nbsp;<a href="https://instatrac-production.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/GovWatch/files/bill_files/f6db0ad8a353a0e88f853707267aadcc.pdf" target="_blank">requesting an additional $131 million</a>&nbsp;to cover costs this fiscal year of implementing the federal law, state lawmakers debated during the Tuesday hearing of the House Legislative Review Committee whether work requirements would slash MO HealthNet costs or add to the expense of implementing the federal law.Chappell said the intent of his legislation is “to mirror what has been done at the national level already.” He believes the constitutional amendment would save Missouri money.“There will be individuals who were not the original intent of Medicaid and choose not to engage in the work requirements that will not have access to Medicaid any longer,” Chappell told The Independent.Medicaid eligibility changes in the federal law could cause&nbsp;<a href="https://shvs.org/resource/senate-passed-h-r-1-updated-estimates-on-impact-to-state-medicaid-coverage-and-expenditures-hospital-expenditures-including-impacts-by-congressional-district/" target="_blank">130,000</a>&nbsp;Missourians to become uninsured in the next decade, according to one estimate from Princeton University. There were&nbsp;<a href="https://dss.mo.gov/mis/clcounter/" target="_blank">363,641 MO HealthNet adult expansion enrollees</a>&nbsp;in December, an all-time high, according to data from the state social services department.The ballot measure described in Chappell’s joint resolution is not identical to changes the federal law makes to Medicaid eligibility. While the measure would require the Missouri Department of Social Services to go back three months in an individual’s employment history to verify that they meet work requirements, the federal law only requires states to check one month prior to enrollment. And Chappell left open how often the department would have to verify that current enrollees are still meeting requirements.“Some of this is going to have to be departmental capacity,” Chappell said. “I don’t know that it’s every 30 days.”Democrats insisted the fiscal note attached to the legislation didn’t reveal the full costs of the changes and questioned why lawmakers should amend a section of the state constitution recently changed by a popular vote of Missourians.Missourians voted in 2020 to expand Medicaid, opening eligibility to people earning up to 138% of the federal poverty level, though enrollment did not begin until Oct. 2021 because state lawmakers&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2021/03/25/republican-lawmakers-vote-down-funding-for-missouri-medicaid-expansion/">refused</a>&nbsp;to&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2021/04/29/missouri-senate-rejects-funding-for-voter-approved-medicaid-expansion/">fund</a>&nbsp;it.State Rep. Aaron Crossley, a Democrat from Independence, asked Chappell if he had considered a “trigger law” that would change statute to reflect the federal law, but only as long as the federal law remains in force.&nbsp;“Why not do that and then say, ‘OK, we’ll go back to what the voters approved a few years ago when federal law likely changes?” Crossley said.Chappell emphasized that if his bill passes, voters will have final say about the constitutional amendment.“If we believe in the will of the people, as I certainly do, why are we so afraid to let them speak again, to modify what’s already been said?” Chappell said in an interview with The Independent. “How is that horrible?”The&nbsp;<a href="https://documents.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills261/fiscal/fispdf/6310H.01I.ORG.pdf" target="_blank">fiscal note</a>&nbsp;included only the projected cost of putting Chappell’s proposal on the ballot in November, which comes out to roughly $9 million.&nbsp;But State Rep. Jo Doll, a Democrat from St. Louis, said that if voters approved the measure, the cost to the state would be much higher.&nbsp;“Where are we going to find the workers?” Doll said. “Because it’s going to take a lot of people to verify that someone has been working for three months prior and every month following.”Gov. Mike Kehoe’s executive budget for fiscal year 2027 recommends a&nbsp;<a href="https://budplan.oa.mo.gov/media/pdf/fy2027-eb-hb-11-social-services" target="_blank">reduction of 238 staff</a>&nbsp;in the state’s social services department, which is in charge of eligibility and enrollment for MO HealthNet. The recommended cut includes a reduction of 173 “income maintenance” staff, who according to a description in the&nbsp;<a href="https://budplan.oa.mo.gov/media/pdf/fy27-dss-appropriation-book" target="_blank">department’s budget request</a>, “determine eligibility for assistance programs.”&nbsp;In its&nbsp;<a href="https://instatrac-production.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/GovWatch/files/bill_files/f6db0ad8a353a0e88f853707267aadcc.pdf" target="_blank">supplemental budget request</a>&nbsp;for the current fiscal year, the department asked for an additional $9 million in state general revenue and $123 million in federal funds to implement the federal law — partly to pay for income maintenance system updates. The department requested another $530 million to cover the adult expansion Medicaid population.Chappell underlined that the ballot measure would not affect people exempt from federal work requirements due to disability or pregnancy.But Crossley, who works in health care and has helped clients apply for Medicaid, said he has seen people lose coverage for administrative reasons that they were legally entitled to.“If they miss one piece of mail and it’s time for them to renew their Medicaid…[or] they miss that one notification, then they’re off their insurance,” Crossley said.Chappell acknowledged that some costs of more uncompensated care as more Missourians go uninsured could fall to taxpayers, but he said he believes the constitutional amendment would help people in the long run.“If we encourage people to go to work, and we change the dynamic of their world view…so that they become part of the working population, I think we’ll see that they’ll increase their money that’s available to them,” Chappell told The Independent. “They’ll create for themselves skill sets whereby they can get employed and thereby have healthcare access through their employers.”

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