Team owner Clark Hunt told reporters recently that he was still considering options on both sides of the Kansas-Missouri state line

BY&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/mchilson/">MORGAN CHILSON</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA, Kansas — The Kansas City Chiefs put out a request for proposals to design a new stadium on the Kansas side of the state line and are negotiating for land near the Kansas Speedway, according to two reports from Kansas City area talk show hosts.&nbsp;

Pete Mundo of KCMO talk radio&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcmotalkradio.com/shows/mundo-in-the-morning-2/" target="_blank">broke the news</a>&nbsp;that the Chiefs contacted multiple firms regarding a new stadium to be built at Interstate 435 and Interstate 70. He said the news was confirmed by several sources.

Mundo stressed that the RFP didn’t mean the Chiefs had selected Kansas as the location for a new stadium and added that his “gut” said they would stay in Missouri.&nbsp;

On Monday, Kevin Kietzman said on his podcast that the Chiefs are in negotiations with NASCAR and the state of Kansas to acquire land just west of the Kansas Speedway. He said the Chiefs also may be building a hotel by the Hollywood Casino and creating an entertainment district.&nbsp;

“NASCAR owns a total of 880 acres of land at Village West, folks,” Kietzman said. “They only use 300 of them.”

Patrick Lowry, spokesman for the Kansas Department of Commerce, said major development projects require confidentiality and the agency has no comment on negotiations regarding the stadium.&nbsp;

“Kansas Department of Commerce continues to conduct a careful analysis of costs and benefits as part of crafting agreements to keep the Chiefs and Royals in the region while maximizing growth opportunities for Kansas,” Lowry said.

The Kansas Legislature&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/07/07/kansas-lawmakers-extend-deadline-for-chiefs-royals-to-accept-stadium-incentives/" target="_blank">agreed to finance</a>&nbsp;up to 70% of the project, with a minimum $1 billion price tag, by issuing bonds to be repaid with sales tax collected in the STAR Bond district.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Missouri lawmakers hoping to convince the Chiefs and Kansas City Royals to remain in the state have&nbsp;authorized bonds covering up to 50% of the cost of new or renovated stadiums, plus up to $50 million of tax credits for each stadium and unspecified aid from local governments.

Clark Hunt, the Chiefs owner, recently told reporter that he and his family were still considering options in both Missouri and Kansas.

“I wouldn’t say we’re in limbo. Stadium projects move at their own pace,” Hunt said. “We’ve learned over the years that you can’t really force them to go faster, even if you want them to. And so it’s just important for us to keep working on both options.”

The possibility of moving the Chiefs stadium across the state line has both excited and concerned Kansas leaders. In Wyandotte County, where the Village West area is located, an economic development leader is hesitant to talk about what the stadium might bring to his county, although he’s positive that location would be a strong one for the Chiefs.&nbsp;

“I think that area is the No. 1 tourist destination in the state of Kansas,” said Greg Kindle, president of the Wyandotte Economic Development Council. “There’s infrastructure and highway infrastructure. We know there’s an ability to get people in and out of major sporting events, and if we can put a deal together that works for everybody, it’s a win-win.”

Much still needs to be assessed in terms of the economic development benefits for Wyandotte County.&nbsp;

“We’re still working through the economics of it,” Kindle said. “It has to be revenue development that works for the sports teams but also drives revenue into the community. On the front end, it’s super exciting to have a national sports team in your community because you get a lot of branding, you get more tourism, you get people who are excited about being near that environment.”

Kindle referred to the success of the Kansas Speedway and Sporting KC, both of which are in the area and hold numerous events all year.&nbsp;

“Tourism areas benefit,” he said. “New things have to be happening. This would be an interesting additional asset to the area that we hope would bring in additional hotels and restaurants and interest in that area.”

Kindle said the negotiations with the Chiefs are going on through state officials and Wyandotte has offered support as needed. He’s excited about the idea the team may come to his county, but he also wants to encourage everyone to think long-term.

“They’ve been in their current location for what, 50 or 60 years. We want to make sure that whatever happens here builds on what they’ve done and the success that they’ve had, but also that we ensure that we do, in fact, get that ancillary growth that goes with the project,” Kindle said.&nbsp;

J.C. Bradbury, an economist and professor at Kennesaw State University in Georgia, is releasing a book next year titled “This One Will be Different: False Promises and Fiscal Realities of Publicly Funded Stadiums.”&nbsp;

He said economic justifications for putting tax dollars behind stadium development don’t hold up.

Economists look at economic development differently than other professionals, who consider the process about increasing business activity in a community, Bradbury said.

“Economists use the term economic development to describe improving economic outcomes. And stadiums are absolutely not true economic development catalysts,” he said.

Bradbury said he has looked for studies that show there is an economic benefit to stadiums and hasn’t found one.

“If you went and called a doctor for a study on the dangers of smoking, you wouldn’t be able to find a doctor who would say smoking is good for you, right?” Bradbury said. “If you would ask economists about the economic benefits of stadiums, you probably couldn’t find an economist who would say that they’re beneficial. But no one wants to listen to economists on that.”

Multiple changes happen in communities when stadiums are built that lead people to believe the economy benefits, he said. Increased spending definitely happening around the stadium, but Bradbury said that spending is pulled from restaurants and stores not in the stadium’s entertainment sphere.&nbsp;

Other factors include being unable to track businesses that don’t open up in a stadium district, such as doctor’s offices and retail stores, because of traffic and people who don’t want to live near stadiums, he said.&nbsp;

“There’s actually some negative spillover effects that no one likes to talk about,” Bradbury said. He gave an example of an area in Atlanta that was near where stadiums were formerly located. For years, it was a “ghost town,” but after stadiums moved, it is now a thriving commercial district.

There are positives, including the novelty effect when the stadium first opens, Bradbury said.&nbsp;

“This is a private business that largely benefits the owners of the team. It’s generating hundreds of millions, if not billions, of dollars,” Bradbury said. “Athletes are paid millions of dollars of salaries. These organizations exist as economic entities because they’re profitable. There’s zero justification for taxpayers putting a dime for professional sports stadiums, but we just sort of got in the habit of doing that, and now I’m hoping to try to break this habit.”

This story was originally produced by&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/11/11/chiefs-weigh-stadium-in-kansas-but-economist-doubts-economic-gains/" target="_blank">Kansas Reflector</a>, which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network which includes Missouri Independent, and is supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748263709817.png" alt="&nbsp;GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, home of the Kansas City Chiefs (Anna Spoerre/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, home of the Kansas City Chiefs (Anna Spoerre/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Team owner Clark Hunt told reporters recently that he was still considering options on both sides of the Kansas-Missouri state line</h2>BY&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/mchilson/">MORGAN CHILSON</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA, Kansas — The Kansas City Chiefs put out a request for proposals to design a new stadium on the Kansas side of the state line and are negotiating for land near the Kansas Speedway, according to two reports from Kansas City area talk show hosts.&nbsp;Pete Mundo of KCMO talk radio&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcmotalkradio.com/shows/mundo-in-the-morning-2/" target="_blank">broke the news</a>&nbsp;that the Chiefs contacted multiple firms regarding a new stadium to be built at Interstate 435 and Interstate 70. He said the news was confirmed by several sources.Mundo stressed that the RFP didn’t mean the Chiefs had selected Kansas as the location for a new stadium and added that his “gut” said they would stay in Missouri.&nbsp;On Monday, Kevin Kietzman said on his podcast that the Chiefs are in negotiations with NASCAR and the state of Kansas to acquire land just west of the Kansas Speedway. He said the Chiefs also may be building a hotel by the Hollywood Casino and creating an entertainment district.&nbsp;“NASCAR owns a total of 880 acres of land at Village West, folks,” Kietzman said. “They only use 300 of them.”Patrick Lowry, spokesman for the Kansas Department of Commerce, said major development projects require confidentiality and the agency has no comment on negotiations regarding the stadium.&nbsp;“Kansas Department of Commerce continues to conduct a careful analysis of costs and benefits as part of crafting agreements to keep the Chiefs and Royals in the region while maximizing growth opportunities for Kansas,” Lowry said.The Kansas Legislature&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/07/07/kansas-lawmakers-extend-deadline-for-chiefs-royals-to-accept-stadium-incentives/" target="_blank">agreed to finance</a>&nbsp;up to 70% of the project, with a minimum $1 billion price tag, by issuing bonds to be repaid with sales tax collected in the STAR Bond district.&nbsp;Meanwhile, Missouri lawmakers hoping to convince the Chiefs and Kansas City Royals to remain in the state have&nbsp;authorized bonds covering up to 50% of the cost of new or renovated stadiums, plus up to $50 million of tax credits for each stadium and unspecified aid from local governments.Clark Hunt, the Chiefs owner, recently told reporter that he and his family were still considering options in both Missouri and Kansas.“I wouldn’t say we’re in limbo. Stadium projects move at their own pace,” Hunt said. “We’ve learned over the years that you can’t really force them to go faster, even if you want them to. And so it’s just important for us to keep working on both options.”<h2>Wyandotte opportunity</h2>The possibility of moving the Chiefs stadium across the state line has both excited and concerned Kansas leaders. In Wyandotte County, where the Village West area is located, an economic development leader is hesitant to talk about what the stadium might bring to his county, although he’s positive that location would be a strong one for the Chiefs.&nbsp;“I think that area is the No. 1 tourist destination in the state of Kansas,” said Greg Kindle, president of the Wyandotte Economic Development Council. “There’s infrastructure and highway infrastructure. We know there’s an ability to get people in and out of major sporting events, and if we can put a deal together that works for everybody, it’s a win-win.”Much still needs to be assessed in terms of the economic development benefits for Wyandotte County.&nbsp;“We’re still working through the economics of it,” Kindle said. “It has to be revenue development that works for the sports teams but also drives revenue into the community. On the front end, it’s super exciting to have a national sports team in your community because you get a lot of branding, you get more tourism, you get people who are excited about being near that environment.”Kindle referred to the success of the Kansas Speedway and Sporting KC, both of which are in the area and hold numerous events all year.&nbsp;“Tourism areas benefit,” he said. “New things have to be happening. This would be an interesting additional asset to the area that we hope would bring in additional hotels and restaurants and interest in that area.”Kindle said the negotiations with the Chiefs are going on through state officials and Wyandotte has offered support as needed. He’s excited about the idea the team may come to his county, but he also wants to encourage everyone to think long-term.“They’ve been in their current location for what, 50 or 60 years. We want to make sure that whatever happens here builds on what they’ve done and the success that they’ve had, but also that we ensure that we do, in fact, get that ancillary growth that goes with the project,” Kindle said.&nbsp;<h2>Stadium investments</h2>J.C. Bradbury, an economist and professor at Kennesaw State University in Georgia, is releasing a book next year titled “This One Will be Different: False Promises and Fiscal Realities of Publicly Funded Stadiums.”&nbsp;He said economic justifications for putting tax dollars behind stadium development don’t hold up.Economists look at economic development differently than other professionals, who consider the process about increasing business activity in a community, Bradbury said.“Economists use the term economic development to describe improving economic outcomes. And stadiums are absolutely not true economic development catalysts,” he said.Bradbury said he has looked for studies that show there is an economic benefit to stadiums and hasn’t found one.“If you went and called a doctor for a study on the dangers of smoking, you wouldn’t be able to find a doctor who would say smoking is good for you, right?” Bradbury said. “If you would ask economists about the economic benefits of stadiums, you probably couldn’t find an economist who would say that they’re beneficial. But no one wants to listen to economists on that.”Multiple changes happen in communities when stadiums are built that lead people to believe the economy benefits, he said. Increased spending definitely happening around the stadium, but Bradbury said that spending is pulled from restaurants and stores not in the stadium’s entertainment sphere.&nbsp;Other factors include being unable to track businesses that don’t open up in a stadium district, such as doctor’s offices and retail stores, because of traffic and people who don’t want to live near stadiums, he said.&nbsp;“There’s actually some negative spillover effects that no one likes to talk about,” Bradbury said. He gave an example of an area in Atlanta that was near where stadiums were formerly located. For years, it was a “ghost town,” but after stadiums moved, it is now a thriving commercial district.There are positives, including the novelty effect when the stadium first opens, Bradbury said.&nbsp;“This is a private business that largely benefits the owners of the team. It’s generating hundreds of millions, if not billions, of dollars,” Bradbury said. “Athletes are paid millions of dollars of salaries. These organizations exist as economic entities because they’re profitable. There’s zero justification for taxpayers putting a dime for professional sports stadiums, but we just sort of got in the habit of doing that, and now I’m hoping to try to break this habit.”This story was originally produced by&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/11/11/chiefs-weigh-stadium-in-kansas-but-economist-doubts-economic-gains/" target="_blank">Kansas Reflector</a>, which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network which includes Missouri Independent, and is supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.

Chiefs reportedly put out request for proposals for a new stadium in Kansas

Refugees and asylees are among those who can no longer qualify for federal nutrition support until 5 years after obtaining green cards

By:<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>

More than 3,000 immigrants who are in Missouri legally but are not citizens are expected to lose eligibility for the nation’s largest federal food assistance program this month due to the massive tax and spending bill President Donald Trump signed into law in July, according to the state’s Department of Social Services.

Another 6,000 could lose benefits in the coming months.&nbsp;

The bill disqualifies refugees, people who have been granted asylum and other humanitarian immigrants from receiving benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.

As a result, families who have already missed November SNAP payments due to the ongoing federal government shutdown are staring down reduced food budgets that will outlast the current gridlock in Washington.

People who lose eligibility because they are in an affected group cannot re-qualify for SNAP until they have held lawful permanent residence, commonly known as a green card, for 5 years, said Chris Moreland, director of communications for the state’s social services department.

Syed Yousuf Hussain, case manager for ICNA Relief Missouri, a Muslim faith-based charity in St. Louis, said the center’s food pantry has seen a 20% increase in attendance since SNAP payments were suspended on Nov. 1. Of the 90 families the food pantry serves each month, Hussain said, most are refugees, from countries including Afghanistan, Syria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Venezuela and Colombia, but the food pantry is open to anyone in need, regardless of their immigration status or religion.

“Many families, they’re suddenly left with a big question mark, how to cope up with the situation when suddenly the benefits have been drastically reduced,” Hussain said.

Joan Kelly, director of strategic partnerships at Jewish Vocational Services of Kansas City, a nonprofit that aids refugees, said she expects 170 of the families her organization serves to lose benefits. Of these, she said 78% have at least one working family member and 75% have children.

“In a family that is working, and working really hard, these are really challenging conversations that we are having with folks already to say, ‘I don’t know how we’re going to make your budget work,’” Kelly said. “You’re already working. Your wife is working. You can’t really just walk in and say, ‘Hey boss, I lost my SNAP benefits. Can I get a raise?’”

Members of these groups have long been the exception to federal restrictions on immigrants’ access to safety-net programs.&nbsp;

Adults living in the U.S. without legal status are not&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/recipient/eligibility#:~:text=Are%20students%20eligible%20for%20SNAP,Be%20children%20under%2018." target="_blank">eligible</a>&nbsp;for SNAP, though they can apply and get benefits for members of their household who meet requirements, such as children born in the U.S.&nbsp;

Since 1996, federal law has required most immigrants with green cards to wait 5 years before they can qualify, even if they meet all other requirements applied to U.S. citizens.

Adriana Cadena, executive director of Protecting Immigrant Families, a national coalition of groups that advocates for low-income immigrants, said the new exclusions mark a departure from longstanding U.S. policy.

“In the past, there would be this sort of division among different types of immigrants in this country,” Cadena said. “Right now, the attack is on everyone.”

Advocates said that while many refugees are eager to support themselves and their families without assistance, SNAP is a key tool for clients to meet basic needs during their early days in the U.S.

“Some of them are just gung-ho, ‘I don’t want any of this orientation stuff. Just get me a job. I want to support my family,’” Paul Costigan, state refugee coordinator at the Missouri Office of Refugee Administration.

Hussain said that in addition to food, the ICNA center in St. Louis provides English language and financial literacy courses, resume and job interview support, and mental health services. ICNA Relief USA provides a broader array of services throughout the country, including disaster relief, transitional housing and support for students.

“One can understand when somebody is coming here in the beginning, much more support is needed,” Hussain said, “but we try our best to make them fully self-reliant as soon as possible.”

For some refugees still using SNAP, Kelly said, the prospect of going to a food pantry after taking steps toward self-sufficiency is demoralizing.

“We have clients that have said, ‘I’ve stood in line for food my entire life. The thought of going to a pantry and standing for food again is untenable,’” Kelly said.

Baylee Watts, media director for the state’s social services department, said in an email that 3,651 individuals are expected to lose SNAP benefits because they belong to one of the impacted groups. Another 6,052 could lose eligibility after further examination of their cases.

The department has been updating its systems during the government shutdown to apply SNAP eligibility changes.

Watts said the department is working on implementing the new eligibility rules for refugees and other humanitarian immigrants in accordance with guidance from the&nbsp;<a href="https://fns-prod.azureedge.us/sites/default/files/resource-files/OBBB-Implementation-Memo-Alien-SNAP-Eligibility-Oct31.pdf#page=5" target="_blank">U.S. Department of Agriculture</a>. Once the updates are complete, the department will notify impacted people and “issue the necessary adverse action notices.”&nbsp;

The changes will then apply to current recipients’ cases at their next annual recertification, or when they submit a change to the department, Watts said.&nbsp;

The federal law also&nbsp;<a href="https://mydss.mo.gov/hr1/timeline" target="_blank">excludes</a>&nbsp;refugees, asylees and some other groups from eligibility for&nbsp;<a href="https://stateline.org/2025/10/03/1-4m-lawfully-present-immigrants-could-lose-subsidized-health-coverage/" target="_blank">Medicaid</a>, the nation’s health insurance program for low-income people, beginning October 2026.

Meanwhile, some advocates said it remains unclear which groups of humanitarian immigrants will lose eligibility for SNAP and how many families they work with will be affected.&nbsp;

Costigan said new restrictions may apply mostly to refugees who entered the country in late 2024 or January 2025.

New arrivals of refugees have all but halted since Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/realigning-the-united-states-refugee-admissions-program/" target="_blank">suspended</a>&nbsp;the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program in late January. Refugees must live in the U.S. for one year before they can apply for a green card.

“It may just be a small number of people who have come in over the last year who have not adjusted their status yet, because it hasn’t been the one year mark,” Costigan said.

Cadena, of Protecting Immigrant Families, said her group has been working since January to understand the Trump administration’s policy changes on immigration and who is still eligible to receive help.

“What are the actual changes?” Cadena said. “Because a lot of this as well is about creating fear in keeping people from not accessing services they are really eligible for.”

Cadena noted that households with children who are U.S. citizens can qualify for SNAP benefits, regardless of the status of their parents.

The state social services department confirmed this.

Watts said that when an individual loses eligibility due to membership in one of the affected groups, “the household would still receive benefits for members of the household that meet citizenship requirements.”

Hussain said that although he expects more families to visit the food pantry in the coming months, donations have increased, and the center is coordinating with local partners to reach more households and supplementing food distribution with meal deliveries.

“We are trying to support our clients in the best way possible, regardless of the legal situation,” Hussain said. “This is something secondary, but our primary objective is to support those families.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1762870268356.png" alt="A worker prepares food packages for distribution to clients visiting ICNA Relief's food pantry in St. Louis (photo submitted)." />
 <figcaption>A worker prepares food packages for distribution to clients visiting ICNA Relief's food pantry in St. Louis (photo submitted).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Refugees and asylees are among those who can no longer qualify for federal nutrition support until 5 years after obtaining green cards</h2>By:<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>More than 3,000 immigrants who are in Missouri legally but are not citizens are expected to lose eligibility for the nation’s largest federal food assistance program this month due to the massive tax and spending bill President Donald Trump signed into law in July, according to the state’s Department of Social Services.Another 6,000 could lose benefits in the coming months.&nbsp;The bill disqualifies refugees, people who have been granted asylum and other humanitarian immigrants from receiving benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.As a result, families who have already missed November SNAP payments due to the ongoing federal government shutdown are staring down reduced food budgets that will outlast the current gridlock in Washington.People who lose eligibility because they are in an affected group cannot re-qualify for SNAP until they have held lawful permanent residence, commonly known as a green card, for 5 years, said Chris Moreland, director of communications for the state’s social services department.Syed Yousuf Hussain, case manager for ICNA Relief Missouri, a Muslim faith-based charity in St. Louis, said the center’s food pantry has seen a 20% increase in attendance since SNAP payments were suspended on Nov. 1. Of the 90 families the food pantry serves each month, Hussain said, most are refugees, from countries including Afghanistan, Syria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Venezuela and Colombia, but the food pantry is open to anyone in need, regardless of their immigration status or religion.“Many families, they’re suddenly left with a big question mark, how to cope up with the situation when suddenly the benefits have been drastically reduced,” Hussain said.Joan Kelly, director of strategic partnerships at Jewish Vocational Services of Kansas City, a nonprofit that aids refugees, said she expects 170 of the families her organization serves to lose benefits. Of these, she said 78% have at least one working family member and 75% have children.“In a family that is working, and working really hard, these are really challenging conversations that we are having with folks already to say, ‘I don’t know how we’re going to make your budget work,’” Kelly said. “You’re already working. Your wife is working. You can’t really just walk in and say, ‘Hey boss, I lost my SNAP benefits. Can I get a raise?’”Members of these groups have long been the exception to federal restrictions on immigrants’ access to safety-net programs.&nbsp;Adults living in the U.S. without legal status are not&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/recipient/eligibility#:~:text=Are%20students%20eligible%20for%20SNAP,Be%20children%20under%2018." target="_blank">eligible</a>&nbsp;for SNAP, though they can apply and get benefits for members of their household who meet requirements, such as children born in the U.S.&nbsp;Since 1996, federal law has required most immigrants with green cards to wait 5 years before they can qualify, even if they meet all other requirements applied to U.S. citizens.Adriana Cadena, executive director of Protecting Immigrant Families, a national coalition of groups that advocates for low-income immigrants, said the new exclusions mark a departure from longstanding U.S. policy.“In the past, there would be this sort of division among different types of immigrants in this country,” Cadena said. “Right now, the attack is on everyone.”<h2>A key tool for self-sufficiency</h2>Advocates said that while many refugees are eager to support themselves and their families without assistance, SNAP is a key tool for clients to meet basic needs during their early days in the U.S.“Some of them are just gung-ho, ‘I don’t want any of this orientation stuff. Just get me a job. I want to support my family,’” Paul Costigan, state refugee coordinator at the Missouri Office of Refugee Administration.Hussain said that in addition to food, the ICNA center in St. Louis provides English language and financial literacy courses, resume and job interview support, and mental health services. ICNA Relief USA provides a broader array of services throughout the country, including disaster relief, transitional housing and support for students.“One can understand when somebody is coming here in the beginning, much more support is needed,” Hussain said, “but we try our best to make them fully self-reliant as soon as possible.”For some refugees still using SNAP, Kelly said, the prospect of going to a food pantry after taking steps toward self-sufficiency is demoralizing.“We have clients that have said, ‘I’ve stood in line for food my entire life. The thought of going to a pantry and standing for food again is untenable,’” Kelly said.<h2>Changing eligibility during the shutdown</h2>Baylee Watts, media director for the state’s social services department, said in an email that 3,651 individuals are expected to lose SNAP benefits because they belong to one of the impacted groups. Another 6,052 could lose eligibility after further examination of their cases.The department has been updating its systems during the government shutdown to apply SNAP eligibility changes.Watts said the department is working on implementing the new eligibility rules for refugees and other humanitarian immigrants in accordance with guidance from the&nbsp;<a href="https://fns-prod.azureedge.us/sites/default/files/resource-files/OBBB-Implementation-Memo-Alien-SNAP-Eligibility-Oct31.pdf#page=5" target="_blank">U.S. Department of Agriculture</a>. Once the updates are complete, the department will notify impacted people and “issue the necessary adverse action notices.”&nbsp;The changes will then apply to current recipients’ cases at their next annual recertification, or when they submit a change to the department, Watts said.&nbsp;The federal law also&nbsp;<a href="https://mydss.mo.gov/hr1/timeline" target="_blank">excludes</a>&nbsp;refugees, asylees and some other groups from eligibility for&nbsp;<a href="https://stateline.org/2025/10/03/1-4m-lawfully-present-immigrants-could-lose-subsidized-health-coverage/" target="_blank">Medicaid</a>, the nation’s health insurance program for low-income people, beginning October 2026.Meanwhile, some advocates said it remains unclear which groups of humanitarian immigrants will lose eligibility for SNAP and how many families they work with will be affected.&nbsp;Costigan said new restrictions may apply mostly to refugees who entered the country in late 2024 or January 2025.New arrivals of refugees have all but halted since Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/realigning-the-united-states-refugee-admissions-program/" target="_blank">suspended</a>&nbsp;the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program in late January. Refugees must live in the U.S. for one year before they can apply for a green card.“It may just be a small number of people who have come in over the last year who have not adjusted their status yet, because it hasn’t been the one year mark,” Costigan said.<h2>Supporting families</h2>Cadena, of Protecting Immigrant Families, said her group has been working since January to understand the Trump administration’s policy changes on immigration and who is still eligible to receive help.“What are the actual changes?” Cadena said. “Because a lot of this as well is about creating fear in keeping people from not accessing services they are really eligible for.”Cadena noted that households with children who are U.S. citizens can qualify for SNAP benefits, regardless of the status of their parents.The state social services department confirmed this.Watts said that when an individual loses eligibility due to membership in one of the affected groups, “the household would still receive benefits for members of the household that meet citizenship requirements.”Hussain said that although he expects more families to visit the food pantry in the coming months, donations have increased, and the center is coordinating with local partners to reach more households and supplementing food distribution with meal deliveries.“We are trying to support our clients in the best way possible, regardless of the legal situation,” Hussain said. “This is something secondary, but our primary objective is to support those families.”

Thousands of refugees, legal immigrants in Missouri could lose food assistance

DAVIESS COUNTY—Three people were injured in an accident just after noon Monday in Daviess County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2007 Freightliner semi driven by a&nbsp; 34-year-old Kansas City, Missouri, man was southbound in the driving lane of Interstate 35 seven miles south of Patronsburg.

The semi struck the towed unit of a 2005 Winnebago driven by an 81-year-old Golden Valley, Minnesota man.&nbsp; After impact the Winnebago began to skid and rotated counterclockwise.&nbsp; The towed unit from the Winnebago became unhooked, skidded off the right side of the road down an embankment and struck a tree. The Winnebago skidded off the left side of the road and overturned. The semi traveled off the road to the right, down an embankment and struck a tree.

EMS transported the Winnebago driver to Cameron Regional Medical Center and a 77-year-old female passenger to Liberty Hospital.&nbsp; The semi driver refused treatment at the scene. The MSHP had incomplete seat belt usage information. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

DAVIESS COUNTY—Three people were injured in an accident just after noon Monday in Daviess County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2007 Freightliner semi driven by a&nbsp; 34-year-old Kansas City, Missouri, man was southbound in the driving lane of Interstate 35 seven miles south of Patronsburg.The semi struck the towed unit of a 2005 Winnebago driven by an 81-year-old Golden Valley, Minnesota man.&nbsp; After impact the Winnebago began to skid and rotated counterclockwise.&nbsp; The towed unit from the Winnebago became unhooked, skidded off the right side of the road down an embankment and struck a tree. The Winnebago skidded off the left side of the road and overturned. The semi traveled off the road to the right, down an embankment and struck a tree.EMS transported the Winnebago driver to Cameron Regional Medical Center and a 77-year-old female passenger to Liberty Hospital.&nbsp; The semi driver refused treatment at the scene. The MSHP had incomplete seat belt usage information. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

2 hospitalized after semi rear-ends towed unit on RV

The Northwest
Missouri Labor Council has elected Zack Dunn as President.

The council also
elected Daniel Robinson as Vice President, stating the elections usher in a new
era of leadership focused on rebuilding worker power and strengthening the
voice of organized labor across northwest Missouri.

The elections come
after the death of Mike Veale in August. Veale served as President of the
Northwest Missouri Labor Council for the last 11 years.

“Mike was a
courageous leader who stood shoulder to shoulder with members of the community.
He never hesitated to jump in and offer his help whenever the need arose. Mike
was a kind man and a strong leader,” Jake Hummel, President of the Missouri
AFL-CIO, said in a written statement. “Mike has left big shoes to fill and I’m
confident Zack’s leadership will carry that commitment forward.”

Dunn now serves as
Government Affairs Director for the Missouri and Kansas Laborers District
Council of the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA). Dunn, a
Savannah native, began his career in 2018 as Regional Field Director during
Missouri’s historic campaign to defeat “right-to-work” legislation. Under his
leadership, Northwest Missouri organized 200 volunteers who knocked on more
than 15,000 doors and delivered victories in 16 of 17 counties on Election Day.

“This is about
rebuilding strength from the ground up,” Dunn said in a written statement.
“Northwest Missouri has always had a proud union history. From the men and
women who built our roads, bridges, and schools to the workers who keep our
communities running today. We’re going to honor that legacy by building an
organization that fights for all working people, union and non-union alike.”

&nbsp;The Northwest Missouri Labor Council, an
affiliate of the Missouri AFL-CIO, represents union members across eleven
counties. The Council brings together labor unions, trade organizations, and
community allies who collectively advocate for fair wages, strong benefits, and
the dignity of work.

You can follow&nbsp;Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1762802085185.jpeg" alt="Zack Dunn/Photo courtesy of NW Missouri Labor Council" />
 <figcaption>Zack Dunn/Photo courtesy of NW Missouri Labor Council</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINThe Northwest
Missouri Labor Council has elected Zack Dunn as President.The council also
elected Daniel Robinson as Vice President, stating the elections usher in a new
era of leadership focused on rebuilding worker power and strengthening the
voice of organized labor across northwest Missouri.The elections come
after the death of Mike Veale in August. Veale served as President of the
Northwest Missouri Labor Council for the last 11 years.“Mike was a
courageous leader who stood shoulder to shoulder with members of the community.
He never hesitated to jump in and offer his help whenever the need arose. Mike
was a kind man and a strong leader,” Jake Hummel, President of the Missouri
AFL-CIO, said in a written statement. “Mike has left big shoes to fill and I’m
confident Zack’s leadership will carry that commitment forward.”Dunn now serves as
Government Affairs Director for the Missouri and Kansas Laborers District
Council of the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA). Dunn, a
Savannah native, began his career in 2018 as Regional Field Director during
Missouri’s historic campaign to defeat “right-to-work” legislation. Under his
leadership, Northwest Missouri organized 200 volunteers who knocked on more
than 15,000 doors and delivered victories in 16 of 17 counties on Election Day.“This is about
rebuilding strength from the ground up,” Dunn said in a written statement.
“Northwest Missouri has always had a proud union history. From the men and
women who built our roads, bridges, and schools to the workers who keep our
communities running today. We’re going to honor that legacy by building an
organization that fights for all working people, union and non-union alike.”&nbsp;The Northwest Missouri Labor Council, an
affiliate of the Missouri AFL-CIO, represents union members across eleven
counties. The Council brings together labor unions, trade organizations, and
community allies who collectively advocate for fair wages, strong benefits, and
the dignity of work.You can follow&nbsp;Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ

Dunn elected president of Northwest Missouri Labor Council

Maximize Northwest
Missouri has received national recognition.

Communities of
Excellence and Resilience [C.O.R.E.], a national nonprofit organization,
recently awarded bronze recognition to Maximize NWMO, the regional vitality
initiative of The Community Foundation of Northwest Missouri. 

West Kendall, Florida
and Coral Springs, Florida earned silver. Coral Gables, Florida received gold
recognition.

“These communities
exemplify what happens when people come together across sectors to create
shared systems for improvement,” Stephanie Norling, President and CEO of
C.O.R.E. aid in a written statement. “Each one shows us that resilience and
excellence are not separate goals – they’re what make communities stronger over
time.”

The communities
participated in C.O.R.E.’s Assessment and Recognition Program, where
cross-sector teams describe their processes, partnerships, and key results
using The C.O.R.E. Guide’s criteria of questions on leadership, strategy,
residents and other stakeholders, data measurement and management, people
resources, operations, and culture.

The communities
were recognized during the annual Fall Conference in Denver.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1762796763366.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINMaximize Northwest
Missouri has received national recognition.Communities of
Excellence and Resilience [C.O.R.E.], a national nonprofit organization,
recently awarded bronze recognition to Maximize NWMO, the regional vitality
initiative of The Community Foundation of Northwest Missouri. West Kendall, Florida
and Coral Springs, Florida earned silver. Coral Gables, Florida received gold
recognition.“These communities
exemplify what happens when people come together across sectors to create
shared systems for improvement,” Stephanie Norling, President and CEO of
C.O.R.E. aid in a written statement. “Each one shows us that resilience and
excellence are not separate goals – they’re what make communities stronger over
time.”The communities
participated in C.O.R.E.’s Assessment and Recognition Program, where
cross-sector teams describe their processes, partnerships, and key results
using The C.O.R.E. Guide’s criteria of questions on leadership, strategy,
residents and other stakeholders, data measurement and management, people
resources, operations, and culture.Maximize NWMO servers
18 counties.The communities
were recognized during the annual Fall Conference in Denver.You can follow&nbsp;Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ

Maximize NWMO earns national recognition

Water releases
into the Missouri River from the Gavins Point Dam will soon be reduced.

The United States
Army Corps of Engineers reports releases will be reduced late this month as
navigation along the Missouri comes to an end. Releases are currently 25,500
cubic feet per second (cfs).

“We will continue
to make releases from Gavins Point Dam to provide flow support at a level 4,500
cfs less than full service, through the end of the navigation flow support
season, which ends on Dec. 1 at the mouth of the Missouri River,” John Remus,
chief of the USACE, Missouri River Water Management Division, said in a written
statement released by the Corps.

The Army Corps of
Engineers will begin reducing flows from Gavins Point around November 22nd.
The Corps plans to reduce releases by 3,000 cfs each day until reaching a rate
of 15,000 cfs. The Corps says the rate of reduction will then slow to 1,000 cfs
every five days until reaching the winter release.

“Based on the
Sept. 1 Mainstem Reservoir System storage check, releases from Gavins Point Dam
for the 2025-2026 winter will be at the minimum rate of 12,000 cfs,” said
Remus.

The Corps reports October
runoff in the Missouri River basin above Sioux City, Iowa, was 1.1
million-acre-feet (MAF), which is 89% of average. Runoff was below average in
the Fort Peck, Garrison, and Fort Randall reaches and above normal for the
remaining reaches. Based on the most recent Drought Monitor, about 54% of the
Basin is currently in abnormally dry or drought conditions. 

Reservoir studies
indicate System storage will be below the base of the Flood Control Zone at the
start of the 2026 runoff season, according to the Corps.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1762795078348.jpeg" alt="Gavins Point Dam/file photo" />
 <figcaption>Gavins Point Dam/file photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINWater releases
into the Missouri River from the Gavins Point Dam will soon be reduced.The United States
Army Corps of Engineers reports releases will be reduced late this month as
navigation along the Missouri comes to an end. Releases are currently 25,500
cubic feet per second (cfs).“We will continue
to make releases from Gavins Point Dam to provide flow support at a level 4,500
cfs less than full service, through the end of the navigation flow support
season, which ends on Dec. 1 at the mouth of the Missouri River,” John Remus,
chief of the USACE, Missouri River Water Management Division, said in a written
statement released by the Corps.The Army Corps of
Engineers will begin reducing flows from Gavins Point around November 22nd.
The Corps plans to reduce releases by 3,000 cfs each day until reaching a rate
of 15,000 cfs. The Corps says the rate of reduction will then slow to 1,000 cfs
every five days until reaching the winter release.“Based on the
Sept. 1 Mainstem Reservoir System storage check, releases from Gavins Point Dam
for the 2025-2026 winter will be at the minimum rate of 12,000 cfs,” said
Remus.The Corps reports October
runoff in the Missouri River basin above Sioux City, Iowa, was 1.1
million-acre-feet (MAF), which is 89% of average. Runoff was below average in
the Fort Peck, Garrison, and Fort Randall reaches and above normal for the
remaining reaches. Based on the most recent Drought Monitor, about 54% of the
Basin is currently in abnormally dry or drought conditions. Reservoir studies
indicate System storage will be below the base of the Flood Control Zone at the
start of the 2026 runoff season, according to the Corps.You can follow&nbsp;Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ

Releases from Gavins Point Dam to be reduced later this month

Many are grappling with financial uncertainty of investing their life savings as they work to make their marijuana businesses a success

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/rebecca-rivas/">REBECCA RIVAS</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>

Samantha Blum hasn’t been able to secure investors for her small-scale marijuana cultivation facility in the two years since Missouri awarded her a microbusiness license.

So she and her longtime partner, Anthony La Pietra, decided to give up and fund the entire operation themselves, cashing in La Pietra’s retirement to build a greenhouse in Adrian, an hour outside of Kansas City.&nbsp;

After two years of “blood, sweat and tears,” they finally received the state’s final approval to begin operating on Sept. 3. But just hours after the state’s email arrived, a massive storm crushed one side of the greenhouse.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“To go from such a high to such an incredibly bottom low…” she said. “It’s been such a roller coaster.”

Despite the setback, her family rallied to fix the wall, and now their business, Bud Wizard, is expected to have its first harvest in the coming weeks.

Blum’s facility is among the 12 microbusinesses the state has approved to begin operating out of 68 total licenses issued. Two are dispensaries. The rest are wholesale licenses like Blum’s that can grow up to 250 plants and manufacture marijuana products.&nbsp;

The microbusiness program — sometimes called the social-equity cannabis program —&nbsp;was designed to boost opportunities in the industry for people in disadvantaged communities that have been most impacted by the war on drugs. It began in 2023, after passing as part of the&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=XIV%20%20%202&amp;constit=y" target="_blank">constitutional amendment</a>&nbsp;to legalize recreational marijuana in 2022.

Up until this summer, the state had approved only a handful licenses to commence operations – which involves meeting rigorous health standards and security protocols. But in the past few months, the microbusiness community has finally started to fill in, with the state greenlighting a surge of cultivation licensees.

Like Blum, many of these owners stopped looking for funding and finally decided to put their life savings into getting the business off the ground. Now they’ve either had their first harvest this month or are expecting one in the next few weeks.&nbsp;

James Mondl, owner of Klondike Cannabis micro cultivation facility in Farmington, just watched his first harvest ship Tuesday to another licensed facility for the manufacturing phase.

“I haven’t completely exhaled, to be honest,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of time and money in this, and so to see the product leave today was as big a step – maybe a bigger one than when we brought plants in.”

Wholesalers’ products can legally only go to the two operational microbusiness dispensaries at the moment:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/816Dispensary/about" target="_blank">816 Dispensary</a>&nbsp;in Platte City and&nbsp;<a href="https://kush21.com/kush21-poplar-bluff/" target="_blank">Kush 21</a>&nbsp;in Poplar Bluff. The Missouri Constitution mandates that micro cultivators only sell to micro dispensaries.

Lesley Turk, chief equity officer with the Missouri Division of Cannabis Regulation who oversees the program, says the success of the micro community is like a “puzzle” because it depends on enough growers and dispensaries being up and running at the same time.&nbsp;

And both of them depend on the middleman – the manufacturers – or wholesalers who have gotten approval to make things like edibles and vapes.

“My excitement lies in the next six months,” Turk said.

As anticipation around more micros opening builds, so does the pressure to succeed.&nbsp;

Some license owners have already hit a number of road blocks and aren’t sure how much more they can invest into getting the business off the ground. Sam Vosburg, whose cultivation facility in Aurora has been operational since March, fears he invested his retirement on a failed business.&nbsp;

“We’re suffering right now,” Vosburg, owner of Ozark Mountain Gypsy LLC, told The Independent in October. “I don’t know how much longer I keep my lights on. Our electric bills are crazy, and we’re not making any money. So, yeah, it’s not looking good.”

However last week, Vosburg was approved to become one of the first two manufacturers, so he says he sees “a light at the end of the tunnel.”

Blum is the chairwoman of the Missouri Microbusiness Association, and she says her passion for the industry is a major driving force in making it through “one of the hardest things I’ve ever done in my entire life.”&nbsp;

The other driver is her four daughters.&nbsp;

“One day they’ll have dreams,” Blum said of her daughters, “and they’ll want to do something big, that’s insurmountable and accomplish it because they watched their mom and their dad accomplish it.”

Jimi Poe is the owner of 816 Dispensary, which was the first micro dispensary to open its doors to the public on Aug. 16. He’s quickly become a pillar for the microbusiness community, as someone to not only buy wholesalers’ products but also offer guidance on getting started.&nbsp;

“I’m not going to succeed if I can’t get wholesalers to succeed,” he said.

October was his biggest month yet, he said, with 1,500 transactions. He works closely with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/blumecannabis/" target="_blank">Blume LLC</a>, one of the first operating wholesalers, because he says they’ve been “killing it” on their craft marijuana buds, or what the industry calls flower.

Up until now, a major challenge for Poe has been that no wholesale facility had the capability to manufacture products, such as edibles or vapes, because it can require expensive equipment.&nbsp;

With the state approving Vosburg and Kansas-City area microbusiness Urban Farm to manufacture products, Poe only expects his sales to grow. Another one in the Farmington area, Levity Cannabis, has also applied for approval, according to the division.&nbsp;

Nearly 20 years ago, Poe was sent to prison for 14 months on a non-violent marijuana felony – a charge that made it hard to find work or a place to live. Because the program aims to mend some of the harm marijuana prohibition has caused on people’s lives, his offense made him eligible to apply for the microbusiness program.

“When I was in prison, I was telling myself I was never going to sell cannabis again,” he said. “And now I’m legally able to sell cannabis at my own store. So it’s been a crazy journey, that is for sure.”

In 2023, Mitchell Alexander submitted one microbusiness application with his uncle, Jesse Greco, who qualifies for the program as a disabled veteran, and paid a $1,500 fee. Their application was entered into the lottery with&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/08/29/missouri-announces-lottery-results-for-microbusiness-cannabis-licenses/">more than 1,600 applications</a>, and they were picked.

“He and I got together and decided to do it because we had nothing to lose,” Alexander said. “Because the lottery was: if you lose, you get your money back. If you win, you get your license.”

Alexander runs ReLeaf Dispensary in Kansas City, and he’s excited to grow in the way that he believes produces the best weed: living soil.

“No chemicals, no pesticides,” he said. “It’s literally, we’re just feeding the soil, and it’s as organic as it gets.”

For Greco, cannabis has always been something he turned to in his life for his PTSD, Alexander said. They’ve invested their own money and resources, and he’s optimistic about their first harvest that’s expected just before Christmas.

“We take so much pride in being completely independent,” he said. “We didn’t have any consulting groups help us out. We really just grassrooted this, and that’s exactly how we’re going to run this company.”

The team at Monsta Farms LLC in Sarcoxie has a similar mantra. It’s a group that includes two couples who’ve all pulled together their own money and time. They all have a “strength in the building,” said co-owner Chris Hampel, and everyone’s doing something they’re passionate about.

“I like watering the plants, for example,” Hampel said. “My wife hates watering the plants. But she’ll sit over there with dirt and pot plants all day long. And she loves that. I hate that.”&nbsp;

However, they each balance their cannabis work with their fulltime jobs, including two who work as nurses. Their collective dream is to make it their fulltime jobs.&nbsp;

They just had their first harvest on Monday.

Chad Sommer, an owner of&nbsp;<a href="https://strainworxmo.com/" target="_blank">Strainworx LLC</a>&nbsp;in Lebanon, is also expecting his first harvest soon, he said, after two years of trying to keep “everything in check.”&nbsp;

“I mean, trying to keep family in check, trying to keep my fulltime job in check,&nbsp;and then also wanting to try to build this out,” he said.&nbsp;

His specialty is industrial automation systems, and it’s taken time to finetune that process, he said. He got into cannabis because he suffered from migraines. He realized a cannabis gummy worked a lot better at controlling them than the expensive shots he was receiving.

“So from that point, it’s held a special position in my heart,” Sommer said.

Now his migraines are gone. His team had to “hit several retirement funds,” to start up the business, but they’re optimistic.

“One thing that is a challenge is for many of the micros…starting resources,” he said. “It is a tough start. Everything is so expensive with the hope that one day you get a return.”

When Vosburg’s cultivation facility Ozark Mountain Gypsy LLC got its approval to open in March, he was feeling “very optimistic.”&nbsp;

“The only thing I didn’t calculate was the delays from the state,” he said.

State marijuana rules mandate that regulators approve labels before products are sent to stores. And it took months for that approval to come back.&nbsp;

“Now they’re putting all these tutorials on how to do this,” Vosburg said of the labels and packaging. “We were doing this from scratch with no help.”&nbsp;

Turk said the division has worked to improve tutorials, and now each facility has a designated compliance representative who can help guide the micros through the labeling and packaging approval process.&nbsp;

Another challenge for his team has been the lack of manufacturing equipment. It’s been hard to compete with the other companies that are selling only flower and pre-rolled joints.&nbsp;

All together, Vosburg estimates they’ve put $500,000 of their own money into the business. And he fears they could lose it all at any moment.&nbsp;

But as of last week, Vosburg was approved to manufacture products on a small scale, providing him with a way forward.&nbsp;

“I could pay my electric bill if I can sell a few dabs by the end of the month,” he said.

Veteran David Huckins owns a dispensary license in Columbia with his wife, and they lead a weekly podcast to help microbusinesses share resources on a variety of topics.

But they aren’t anywhere close to being able to open, he said.&nbsp;

While the cultivators can often find land to build a facility in rural areas, dispensaries need to be in places with high visibility and traffic. And that’s hard when landlords often don’t want to lease a building to dispensaries, Huckins said, and he can’t get capital to buy a building.

The Missouri Division of Cannabis Regulation is not aware of any microbusinesses that have received loans from banks, a spokesperson said.

“It’s so hard for the cannabis businesses,” he said. “I don’t qualify for small business loans. So far, this has not been the blessing that I hoped it was going to be.”&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1762780543421.png" alt=" Brenton Ihms, lead grower and part owner of Klondike Cannabis in Farmington, tends to marijuana plants (photo submitted)." />
 <figcaption> Brenton Ihms, lead grower and part owner of Klondike Cannabis in Farmington, tends to marijuana plants (photo submitted).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Many are grappling with financial uncertainty of investing their life savings as they work to make their marijuana businesses a success</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/rebecca-rivas/">REBECCA RIVAS</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>Samantha Blum hasn’t been able to secure investors for her small-scale marijuana cultivation facility in the two years since Missouri awarded her a microbusiness license.So she and her longtime partner, Anthony La Pietra, decided to give up and fund the entire operation themselves, cashing in La Pietra’s retirement to build a greenhouse in Adrian, an hour outside of Kansas City.&nbsp;After two years of “blood, sweat and tears,” they finally received the state’s final approval to begin operating on Sept. 3. But just hours after the state’s email arrived, a massive storm crushed one side of the greenhouse.&nbsp;&nbsp;“To go from such a high to such an incredibly bottom low…” she said. “It’s been such a roller coaster.”Despite the setback, her family rallied to fix the wall, and now their business, Bud Wizard, is expected to have its first harvest in the coming weeks.Blum’s facility is among the 12 microbusinesses the state has approved to begin operating out of 68 total licenses issued. Two are dispensaries. The rest are wholesale licenses like Blum’s that can grow up to 250 plants and manufacture marijuana products.&nbsp;The microbusiness program — sometimes called the social-equity cannabis program —&nbsp;was designed to boost opportunities in the industry for people in disadvantaged communities that have been most impacted by the war on drugs. It began in 2023, after passing as part of the&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=XIV%20%20%202&amp;constit=y" target="_blank">constitutional amendment</a>&nbsp;to legalize recreational marijuana in 2022.Up until this summer, the state had approved only a handful licenses to commence operations – which involves meeting rigorous health standards and security protocols. But in the past few months, the microbusiness community has finally started to fill in, with the state greenlighting a surge of cultivation licensees.Like Blum, many of these owners stopped looking for funding and finally decided to put their life savings into getting the business off the ground. Now they’ve either had their first harvest this month or are expecting one in the next few weeks.&nbsp;James Mondl, owner of Klondike Cannabis micro cultivation facility in Farmington, just watched his first harvest ship Tuesday to another licensed facility for the manufacturing phase.“I haven’t completely exhaled, to be honest,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of time and money in this, and so to see the product leave today was as big a step – maybe a bigger one than when we brought plants in.”Wholesalers’ products can legally only go to the two operational microbusiness dispensaries at the moment:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/816Dispensary/about" target="_blank">816 Dispensary</a>&nbsp;in Platte City and&nbsp;<a href="https://kush21.com/kush21-poplar-bluff/" target="_blank">Kush 21</a>&nbsp;in Poplar Bluff. The Missouri Constitution mandates that micro cultivators only sell to micro dispensaries.Lesley Turk, chief equity officer with the Missouri Division of Cannabis Regulation who oversees the program, says the success of the micro community is like a “puzzle” because it depends on enough growers and dispensaries being up and running at the same time.&nbsp;And both of them depend on the middleman – the manufacturers – or wholesalers who have gotten approval to make things like edibles and vapes.“My excitement lies in the next six months,” Turk said.As anticipation around more micros opening builds, so does the pressure to succeed.&nbsp;Some license owners have already hit a number of road blocks and aren’t sure how much more they can invest into getting the business off the ground. Sam Vosburg, whose cultivation facility in Aurora has been operational since March, fears he invested his retirement on a failed business.&nbsp;“We’re suffering right now,” Vosburg, owner of Ozark Mountain Gypsy LLC, told The Independent in October. “I don’t know how much longer I keep my lights on. Our electric bills are crazy, and we’re not making any money. So, yeah, it’s not looking good.”However last week, Vosburg was approved to become one of the first two manufacturers, so he says he sees “a light at the end of the tunnel.”Blum is the chairwoman of the Missouri Microbusiness Association, and she says her passion for the industry is a major driving force in making it through “one of the hardest things I’ve ever done in my entire life.”&nbsp;The other driver is her four daughters.&nbsp;“One day they’ll have dreams,” Blum said of her daughters, “and they’ll want to do something big, that’s insurmountable and accomplish it because they watched their mom and their dad accomplish it.”<h2>Winning the lottery</h2>Jimi Poe is the owner of 816 Dispensary, which was the first micro dispensary to open its doors to the public on Aug. 16. He’s quickly become a pillar for the microbusiness community, as someone to not only buy wholesalers’ products but also offer guidance on getting started.&nbsp;“I’m not going to succeed if I can’t get wholesalers to succeed,” he said.October was his biggest month yet, he said, with 1,500 transactions. He works closely with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/blumecannabis/" target="_blank">Blume LLC</a>, one of the first operating wholesalers, because he says they’ve been “killing it” on their craft marijuana buds, or what the industry calls flower.Up until now, a major challenge for Poe has been that no wholesale facility had the capability to manufacture products, such as edibles or vapes, because it can require expensive equipment.&nbsp;With the state approving Vosburg and Kansas-City area microbusiness Urban Farm to manufacture products, Poe only expects his sales to grow. Another one in the Farmington area, Levity Cannabis, has also applied for approval, according to the division.&nbsp;Nearly 20 years ago, Poe was sent to prison for 14 months on a non-violent marijuana felony – a charge that made it hard to find work or a place to live. Because the program aims to mend some of the harm marijuana prohibition has caused on people’s lives, his offense made him eligible to apply for the microbusiness program.“When I was in prison, I was telling myself I was never going to sell cannabis again,” he said. “And now I’m legally able to sell cannabis at my own store. So it’s been a crazy journey, that is for sure.”In 2023, Mitchell Alexander submitted one microbusiness application with his uncle, Jesse Greco, who qualifies for the program as a disabled veteran, and paid a $1,500 fee. Their application was entered into the lottery with&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/08/29/missouri-announces-lottery-results-for-microbusiness-cannabis-licenses/">more than 1,600 applications</a>, and they were picked.“He and I got together and decided to do it because we had nothing to lose,” Alexander said. “Because the lottery was: if you lose, you get your money back. If you win, you get your license.”Alexander runs ReLeaf Dispensary in Kansas City, and he’s excited to grow in the way that he believes produces the best weed: living soil.“No chemicals, no pesticides,” he said. “It’s literally, we’re just feeding the soil, and it’s as organic as it gets.”For Greco, cannabis has always been something he turned to in his life for his PTSD, Alexander said. They’ve invested their own money and resources, and he’s optimistic about their first harvest that’s expected just before Christmas.“We take so much pride in being completely independent,” he said. “We didn’t have any consulting groups help us out. We really just grassrooted this, and that’s exactly how we’re going to run this company.”The team at Monsta Farms LLC in Sarcoxie has a similar mantra. It’s a group that includes two couples who’ve all pulled together their own money and time. They all have a “strength in the building,” said co-owner Chris Hampel, and everyone’s doing something they’re passionate about.“I like watering the plants, for example,” Hampel said. “My wife hates watering the plants. But she’ll sit over there with dirt and pot plants all day long. And she loves that. I hate that.”&nbsp;However, they each balance their cannabis work with their fulltime jobs, including two who work as nurses. Their collective dream is to make it their fulltime jobs.&nbsp;They just had their first harvest on Monday.Chad Sommer, an owner of&nbsp;<a href="https://strainworxmo.com/" target="_blank">Strainworx LLC</a>&nbsp;in Lebanon, is also expecting his first harvest soon, he said, after two years of trying to keep “everything in check.”&nbsp;“I mean, trying to keep family in check, trying to keep my fulltime job in check,&nbsp;and then also wanting to try to build this out,” he said.&nbsp;His specialty is industrial automation systems, and it’s taken time to finetune that process, he said. He got into cannabis because he suffered from migraines. He realized a cannabis gummy worked a lot better at controlling them than the expensive shots he was receiving.“So from that point, it’s held a special position in my heart,” Sommer said.Now his migraines are gone. His team had to “hit several retirement funds,” to start up the business, but they’re optimistic.“One thing that is a challenge is for many of the micros…starting resources,” he said. “It is a tough start. Everything is so expensive with the hope that one day you get a return.”<h2>Financial troubles</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1762780493337.png" alt="An employee at Ozark Mountain Gypsy wholesale microbusiness tends to the marijuana plants in the greenhouse (photo submitted)." />
 <figcaption>An employee at Ozark Mountain Gypsy wholesale microbusiness tends to the marijuana plants in the greenhouse (photo submitted).</figcaption>
 </figure>When Vosburg’s cultivation facility Ozark Mountain Gypsy LLC got its approval to open in March, he was feeling “very optimistic.”&nbsp;“The only thing I didn’t calculate was the delays from the state,” he said.State marijuana rules mandate that regulators approve labels before products are sent to stores. And it took months for that approval to come back.&nbsp;“Now they’re putting all these tutorials on how to do this,” Vosburg said of the labels and packaging. “We were doing this from scratch with no help.”&nbsp;Turk said the division has worked to improve tutorials, and now each facility has a designated compliance representative who can help guide the micros through the labeling and packaging approval process.&nbsp;Another challenge for his team has been the lack of manufacturing equipment. It’s been hard to compete with the other companies that are selling only flower and pre-rolled joints.&nbsp;All together, Vosburg estimates they’ve put $500,000 of their own money into the business. And he fears they could lose it all at any moment.&nbsp;But as of last week, Vosburg was approved to manufacture products on a small scale, providing him with a way forward.&nbsp;“I could pay my electric bill if I can sell a few dabs by the end of the month,” he said.Veteran David Huckins owns a dispensary license in Columbia with his wife, and they lead a weekly podcast to help microbusinesses share resources on a variety of topics.But they aren’t anywhere close to being able to open, he said.&nbsp;While the cultivators can often find land to build a facility in rural areas, dispensaries need to be in places with high visibility and traffic. And that’s hard when landlords often don’t want to lease a building to dispensaries, Huckins said, and he can’t get capital to buy a building.The Missouri Division of Cannabis Regulation is not aware of any microbusinesses that have received loans from banks, a spokesperson said.“It’s so hard for the cannabis businesses,” he said. “I don’t qualify for small business loans. So far, this has not been the blessing that I hoped it was going to be.”&nbsp;

‘Blood, sweat and tears’: Missouri cannabis microbusiness owners begin to see light

ATCHISON COUNTY —Three teens were injured in an accident just before 3p.m. Saturday in Atchison County, Missouri.3&nbsp;

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2012 Acura MDX driven by an 18-year-old Bellevue, Nebraska man was northbound on Interstate 29 eight miles south of Hamburg, Iowa.

The SUV traveled off the west side of the road. The vehicle returned to the road, crossed the center line, traveled off the east side of the road and down an embankment. The vehicle struck several trees a fence, became airborne and rolled into a field.&nbsp; One occupant was ejected.

Atchison Holt ambulance transported the driver and a passenger identified as a 16-year-old Bellevue boy to Grape Community Hospital.&nbsp; Air by Starcare transported a second passenger, 18-year-old from Bellevue, to Bryan West Medial Center in Lincoln, Nebraska.&nbsp; All three were not wearing seat belts at the time of the crash, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

ATCHISON COUNTY —Three teens were injured in an accident just before 3p.m. Saturday in Atchison County, Missouri.3&nbsp;The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2012 Acura MDX driven by an 18-year-old Bellevue, Nebraska man was northbound on Interstate 29 eight miles south of Hamburg, Iowa.The SUV traveled off the west side of the road. The vehicle returned to the road, crossed the center line, traveled off the east side of the road and down an embankment. The vehicle struck several trees a fence, became airborne and rolled into a field.&nbsp; One occupant was ejected.Atchison Holt ambulance transported the driver and a passenger identified as a 16-year-old Bellevue boy to Grape Community Hospital.&nbsp; Air by Starcare transported a second passenger, 18-year-old from Bellevue, to Bryan West Medial Center in Lincoln, Nebraska.&nbsp; All three were not wearing seat belts at the time of the crash, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

3 teens hospitalized after violent SUV crash

As Kansans brace for frigid temperatures this weekend, safety experts and local officials are urging residents to take precautions when heating their homes. With house fires spiking during the coldest months of the year, knowing how to safely use space heaters, fireplaces, and furnaces can be the difference between comfort and catastrophe.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, heating equipment is the second leading cause of home fires in the U.S., with space heaters responsible for the majority of incidents. The American Red Cross of South Central and Southeast Kansas reports that home fire responses are 30% higher during cold weather than during the rest of the year.

“Too often we see preventable tragedies happen when families try to stay warm,” said Shannon Wedge, Executive Director of the regional Red Cross. “Simple steps like keeping flammable items three feet away from heat sources and testing smoke alarms can save lives.”

To reduce the risk of fire, officials recommend these guidelines:

In addition to safe heating practices, it is recommended to test smoke alarms monthly and practice a two-minute home escape plan — the average amount of time a family may have to get out of a burning home.&nbsp;

Families who cannot afford smoke alarms or who are unable to install them can contact their local Red Cross office for help.

Home Fire Campaign Continues Saving Lives

Since 2014, the Red Cross Home Fire Campaign has partnered with communities nationwide to install free smoke alarms, create fire escape plans, and educate residents on fire safety. The campaign has been credited with saving over 2,500 lives so far.

“Preparing now can make all the difference,” Wedge said. “We encourage families to take action before the temperatures drop — your safety depends on it.”

For more resources — including the Red Cross First Aid and Emergency apps — <a href="http://redcross.org/apps">visit redcross.org/apps</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658154478904.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>As Kansans brace for frigid temperatures this weekend, safety experts and local officials are urging residents to take precautions when heating their homes. With house fires spiking during the coldest months of the year, knowing how to safely use space heaters, fireplaces, and furnaces can be the difference between comfort and catastrophe.According to the National Fire Protection Association, heating equipment is the second leading cause of home fires in the U.S., with space heaters responsible for the majority of incidents. The American Red Cross of South Central and Southeast Kansas reports that home fire responses are 30% higher during cold weather than during the rest of the year.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1613165765594.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>“Too often we see preventable tragedies happen when families try to stay warm,” said Shannon Wedge, Executive Director of the regional Red Cross. “Simple steps like keeping flammable items three feet away from heat sources and testing smoke alarms can save lives.”<h2>Safe Heating Tips for Winter</h2>To reduce the risk of fire, officials recommend these guidelines:<ol>
 <li>Use space heaters responsibly: Keep them on a hard, flat, nonflammable surface, turn them off before sleeping or leaving the room, and never plug them into an extension cord.</li><li>Create a safety zone: Maintain at least a three-foot clearance around heaters, fireplaces, and wood stoves, keeping children, pets, and flammable objects at a safe distance..</li><li>Avoid makeshift heating: Never use ovens or stoves to heat your home — these appliances are not designed for this purpose and can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning or fires.</li><li>Monitor fireplaces carefully: Always use a metal or glass screen, and make sure embers are fully extinguished before going to bed or leaving the house.</li><li>Schedule annual inspections: Have a professional check your furnace, chimney, and heating systems each year.</li>
 </ol><h2>Plan Ahead for Fire Safety</h2>In addition to safe heating practices, it is recommended to test smoke alarms monthly and practice a two-minute home escape plan — the average amount of time a family may have to get out of a burning home.&nbsp;Families who cannot afford smoke alarms or who are unable to install them can contact their local Red Cross office for help.<h2>Home Fire Campaign Continues Saving Lives</h2>Since 2014, the Red Cross Home Fire Campaign has partnered with communities nationwide to install free smoke alarms, create fire escape plans, and educate residents on fire safety. The campaign has been credited with saving over 2,500 lives so far.“Preparing now can make all the difference,” Wedge said. “We encourage families to take action before the temperatures drop — your safety depends on it.”For more resources — including the Red Cross First Aid and Emergency apps — <a href="http://redcross.org/apps">visit redcross.org/apps</a>.

Experts urge safe home heating practices as winter weather arrives

DAVIESS COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 8p.m. Friday in Daviess County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 1992 Suzuki RM250 driven by a 32-year-old Jamesport man was southbound on 250th Street just north of Key Avenue two miles east of Jamison. The motorcycle struck a deer and traveled off the road.&nbsp;

Daviess County EMS transported the rider Lifeflight and to Truman Medical Center. He was not wearing a helmet, at the time of the accident, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

DAVIESS COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 8p.m. Friday in Daviess County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 1992 Suzuki RM250 driven by a 32-year-old Jamesport man was southbound on 250th Street just north of Key Avenue two miles east of Jamison. The motorcycle struck a deer and traveled off the road.&nbsp;Daviess County EMS transported the rider Lifeflight and to Truman Medical Center. He was not wearing a helmet, at the time of the accident, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Mo. man airlifted to hospital after motorcycle, deer crash

NODAWAY COUNTY — One person was injured in an accident just after 7:30p.m. Friday in Nodaway County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2025 Chevy Trailblazer driven by 27-year-old Clarinda, Iowa man was westbound on U.S. 71 five miles north of Maryville. The SUV sruck a deer.&nbsp;

A private vehicle transported a passenger identified as a 25-year-old New Market, Iowa woman to Mosaic in Maryville. The SUV driver was not injured. Both were properly restrained, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

NODAWAY COUNTY — One person was injured in an accident just after 7:30p.m. Friday in Nodaway County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2025 Chevy Trailblazer driven by 27-year-old Clarinda, Iowa man was westbound on U.S. 71 five miles north of Maryville. The SUV sruck a deer.&nbsp;A private vehicle transported a passenger identified as a 25-year-old New Market, Iowa woman to Mosaic in Maryville. The SUV driver was not injured. Both were properly restrained, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Woman hospitalized after SUV strikes a deer

LIVINGSTON COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 6p.m. Friday in Livingston County,.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2016 Chevy Equinox driven by a 32-year-old Chula woman was southbound on U.S. 65 two miles south of Chillicothe. The SUV rear-ended a 2016 Jeep Renegade driven by a 28-year-old Chillicothe man who had slowed suddenly for an animal in the road.

LIVINGSTON COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 6p.m. Friday in Livingston County,.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2016 Chevy Equinox driven by a 32-year-old Chula woman was southbound on U.S. 65 two miles south of Chillicothe. The SUV rear-ended a 2016 Jeep Renegade driven by a 28-year-old Chillicothe man who had slowed suddenly for an animal in the road.Chillicothe EMS transported the Chevy driver to Hedrick Medical Center. The Jeep driver was not injured. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

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