Missouri Gov. Mike
Kehoe has appointed Dr. Rolfe McCoy, a dentist from Chillicothe, to the
Missouri Dental Board.

McCoy is a partner
at McCoy Samples Mattingly Dental Clinic. McCoy also serves as the chairman and
a trainer of the Missouri Dental Association's Expanded Function Dental
Assistant program and teaches for the Missouri Department of Health and Senior
Services (DHSS) Office of Dental Health pilot program in long-term care facilities.

McCoy serves on
the Chillicothe Arts Council, the Chillicothe Area Chamber of Commerce, the
Chillicothe Board of Public Works, and is a member of the Chillicothe Rotary
Club.

McCoy earned his
Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology and his Doctor of Dental Medicine degree
from Washington University in St. Louis.

By BRENT MARTINMissouri Gov. Mike
Kehoe has appointed Dr. Rolfe McCoy, a dentist from Chillicothe, to the
Missouri Dental Board.McCoy is a partner
at McCoy Samples Mattingly Dental Clinic. McCoy also serves as the chairman and
a trainer of the Missouri Dental Association's Expanded Function Dental
Assistant program and teaches for the Missouri Department of Health and Senior
Services (DHSS) Office of Dental Health pilot program in long-term care facilities.McCoy serves on
the Chillicothe Arts Council, the Chillicothe Area Chamber of Commerce, the
Chillicothe Board of Public Works, and is a member of the Chillicothe Rotary
Club.McCoy earned his
Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology and his Doctor of Dental Medicine degree
from Washington University in St. Louis.

Gov. Kehoe appoints Chillicothe dentist to Missouri Dental Board

By:<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jacobtukker/">Jacob Tukker</a>

On Dec. 1, Missourians will officially be able to start placing sports bets.

As the rollout has progressed, a number of sportsbooks have already been jockeying for positioning in the market and will continue to do so up to and past the launch date.

That means prospective gamblers will be able to choose between a variety of sportsbooks that offer different experiences and promotions. Currently, there are nine that have received temporary licenses to offer mobile betting:

Customers will be able to start signing up with different sportsbooks beginning Nov. 17, which is also the date the books can start hooking them up with preregistration promotions.

Despite comments from Missouri Gaming Commission chair Jan Zimmerman, Missourians living anywhere in the state can sign up for and bet with any of the nine books.

Here are some common questions you might have when choosing a sportsbook and starting the sports gambling process. To begin, we’ll discuss how we got to this point and then some common numbers and terms you’ll see when placing your first bets.

Since a law banning sports gambling in states other than Nevada was struck down in 2018, states slowly began creating policies to legalize it. Missouri was late to the party, becoming the 41st state to legalize it when Amendment 2 was passed in November 2024.

When Kansas passed a bill allowing sports gambling in 2022, it became visibly clear on what market Missouri was missing out. Since then, drivers from Missouri can be seen stopping on off ramps after crossing over the border to place bets.

Pro sports franchises were also growing impatient because they were missing out on an extra revenue stream and a valuable way to target younger demographics. So, a few sports teams, including the Cardinals, with the help of national gambling companies, were able to rally to get the measure onto the November ballot.

After a close vote, it passed. What resulted was a turbulent process of figuring out when the betting would actually begin.

At first, the Missouri Gaming Commission hoped to set up emergency rules to make sports gambling fully functional by March 4, in time for Missourians to bet on March Madness. However, the attempt was nixed by Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins, who argued there wasn’t an emergency requiring hastened legalization.

That’s where we stand today. A deliberate application process has led to nine sportsbooks and various casinos gearing up for the launch … and bettors patiently waiting to bet on their favorite players and teams.

What do all of these different types of bets mean?

The most common bets to place are moneyline bets, spread bets and over/under bets.

Moneyline bets are straightforward: You are betting on which team or player will win a game or event.

When you place a moneyline bet, you will see odds that either start with a plus or minus. For example, if the Chiefs are playing the Broncos and the Chiefs are -150, that means they are favorites. In this case, a $150 bet will win you $100 (you get the original $150 back). On the other side of the bet, the Broncos would be underdogs, let’s say at +125, which means that a bet of $100 would win you $125 (plus the original bet).

For bigger or smaller wagers, payouts scale according to the odds. Going back to the Chiefs’ -150 odds, a $15 bet would win $10 and a $450 bet would win $300.

Spread bets operate a little differently. They use a point margin, where the favorite must win by more than the listed number while the underdog can lose by that many points and still cover. For example, if the Chiefs are -3.5 (- implies the favorite) versus the Broncos, KC must win by 4 or more to cash and Denver covers if it loses by 3 points or fewer or if it wins.

Usually, both sides of spread bets feature similar odds, which are normally close to -110 (again, meaning a $110 wager would win $100).

Finally, over/under bets are gambles on whether or not the combined score of a game will be higher or lower than a predetermined amount. In the Chiefs-Broncos contest, let’s say the over/under line is 50.5, and the final score is 30-27. The total would then be 57 (30+27), and the over would win. If the total ends up lower than 50.5, under bettors would rejoice.

Similar to spread bets, the odds on both over and under bets are generally similar and centered around -110.

You may also come across the term “parlay.” This is just a group of bets combined into one that must all win in order for the wager to pay out.

What are the differences between all of these sportsbooks?

Not all of the nine mobile sportsbooks are created equal. Some focus on catering to customers who are likely to place larger wagers, others feature high-value promotions designed to attract a huge user base, and a handful more are known for a fantasy-sports-driven interface.

• Circa Sports primarily markets itself as a sportsbook for the big guns and high riders. It’s known for its tight moneyline spreads and allowing experienced bettors, or “sharps,” to place large wagers.

• DraftKings and FanDuel, for most intents and purposes, are identical. These two books are by far the biggest players in the nationwide sports betting market, and both offer large promotions in hopes of getting new users to sign up. In total, these two behemoths make up almost 80% of the market, according to Reuters.

• Both books also offer tons of bet types, frequent promotions such as odds boosts and market themselves toward everyday bettors.

• Caesars and Fanatics operate on more of a loyalty platform than others. Sports Illustrated publishes sportsbook reviews and says Caesars has the best rewards program, which includes credits that can be redeemed for stays at some of its hotels. Fanatics, similarly, offers users digital FanCash with every bet, which can be turned into tickets, bonus bets and more.

• Underdog started solely as a daily fantasy sports site but has moved into the traditional sports gambling world as well. It is known for its fantasy draft games like best ball and parlay-style pick ’em.

The rest of the bunch are similar. BetMGM and Bet365 are especially known for the amount of sports that are available to bet on, so if you’re looking for a book to place a wager on Russian pingpong, those might be your best bets.

Good news! Along with the nine mobile licenses that have been approved, the Missouri Gaming Commission also granted eight brick-and-mortar casinos retail licenses to operate onsite sportsbooks.

• Ameristar Casino Hotel Kansas City — Partnered with Fanatics Sportsbook.

• Ameristar Casino Resort and Spa St. Charles — Fanatics Sportsbook.

• Harrah’s Kansas City — Caesars Sportsbook.

• Horseshoe St. Louis — Caesars Sportsbook.

• Hollywood Casino &amp; Hotel in St. Louis — ESPN BET.

• River City Casino &amp; Hotel in St. Louis — ESPN BET.

• Argosy Casino &amp; Hotel in Kansas City — ESPN BET.

• Century Casino &amp; Hotel in Cape Girardeau — BetMGM.

These casinos will open sportsbooks Dec. 1, the same time mobile books will be allowed to begin collecting bets.

What promotions are available, and are there any restrictions?While companies aren’t allowed to directly offer promotions to draw in Missouri customers until Nov. 17, there are sites that offer projections into what those may be when Nov. 17 comes around. Legal Sports Report is one of them, and here are the offers it thinks customers will be able to grab:

• DraftKings and FanDuel: Bet $5, get $300 in bonus bets on launch.

• Caesars: Bet $1, Double Your Money 20x.

• BetMGM: Up To $1,500 First-Bet Bonus.

• Fanatics: Up To $2,000 in No-Sweat Bets OR Choose Your Offer.

• Bet365: Bet $5 To Get $200 OR Up to $1,000 First Bet Safety Net.

• BetRivers (not yet licensed in Missouri): Second-Chance Bet Up To $500.

Since Circa Sports is geared toward those “sharp” bettors, it will likely not offer significant promotions.

What’s important to realize about all these deals is how the refunds or bonus bets are credited. They come as site credit that must be wagered again before you can withdraw. For example, with DraftKings’ offer, you’d need to place (and win) another bet with the $300 credit to cash out.

The only notable restriction is that bettors can’t place player-specific prop bets on college games involving Missouri schools. Betting on Missouri-specific team outcomes is still legal. Also, you cannot bet on high school games.

There are resources available if you are struggling with problems related to gambling. Missouri’s problem gambling helpline is 888-BETS-OFF, or 888-238-7633, and is open 24/7.

The Missouri Department of Mental Health also provides a list of certified gambling treatment counselors for those struggling or worried about someone who is. However, experts worry these counselors might not be aptly trained to deal with the fast-acting consequences that come from having access to a mobile casino at all times.

Amendment 2 also specified that per year, the greater of $5 million or up to 10% of sports betting tax revenues will go toward Missouri’s compulsive gambling fund, which intends to provide resources for troubled gamblers.

This story originally appeared in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.columbiamissourian.com/sports/other_sports/missouri-sports-betting-is-a-month-away-heres-what-you-need-to-know/article_48547610-7a23-4ed5-964a-b904bbb7c96f.html" target="_blank">Columbia Missourian</a>. It can be republished in print or online.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1707620687273.png" alt="Photo Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>Photo Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>By:<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jacobtukker/">Jacob Tukker</a>On Dec. 1, Missourians will officially be able to start placing sports bets.As the rollout has progressed, a number of sportsbooks have already been jockeying for positioning in the market and will continue to do so up to and past the launch date.That means prospective gamblers will be able to choose between a variety of sportsbooks that offer different experiences and promotions. Currently, there are nine that have received temporary licenses to offer mobile betting:• Circa Sports.• DraftKings.• FanDuel.• ESPN BET.• BetMGM.• Bet365.• Caesars Sportsbook.• Fanatics.• Underdog.Customers will be able to start signing up with different sportsbooks beginning Nov. 17, which is also the date the books can start hooking them up with preregistration promotions.Despite comments from Missouri Gaming Commission chair Jan Zimmerman, Missourians living anywhere in the state can sign up for and bet with any of the nine books.Here are some common questions you might have when choosing a sportsbook and starting the sports gambling process. To begin, we’ll discuss how we got to this point and then some common numbers and terms you’ll see when placing your first bets.<h2>How did we get here?</h2>Since a law banning sports gambling in states other than Nevada was struck down in 2018, states slowly began creating policies to legalize it. Missouri was late to the party, becoming the 41st state to legalize it when Amendment 2 was passed in November 2024.When Kansas passed a bill allowing sports gambling in 2022, it became visibly clear on what market Missouri was missing out. Since then, drivers from Missouri can be seen stopping on off ramps after crossing over the border to place bets.Pro sports franchises were also growing impatient because they were missing out on an extra revenue stream and a valuable way to target younger demographics. So, a few sports teams, including the Cardinals, with the help of national gambling companies, were able to rally to get the measure onto the November ballot.After a close vote, it passed. What resulted was a turbulent process of figuring out when the betting would actually begin.At first, the Missouri Gaming Commission hoped to set up emergency rules to make sports gambling fully functional by March 4, in time for Missourians to bet on March Madness. However, the attempt was nixed by Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins, who argued there wasn’t an emergency requiring hastened legalization.That’s where we stand today. A deliberate application process has led to nine sportsbooks and various casinos gearing up for the launch … and bettors patiently waiting to bet on their favorite players and teams.<h2>What do all of these different types of bets mean?</h2>The most common bets to place are moneyline bets, spread bets and over/under bets.Moneyline bets are straightforward: You are betting on which team or player will win a game or event.When you place a moneyline bet, you will see odds that either start with a plus or minus. For example, if the Chiefs are playing the Broncos and the Chiefs are -150, that means they are favorites. In this case, a $150 bet will win you $100 (you get the original $150 back). On the other side of the bet, the Broncos would be underdogs, let’s say at +125, which means that a bet of $100 would win you $125 (plus the original bet).For bigger or smaller wagers, payouts scale according to the odds. Going back to the Chiefs’ -150 odds, a $15 bet would win $10 and a $450 bet would win $300.Spread bets operate a little differently. They use a point margin, where the favorite must win by more than the listed number while the underdog can lose by that many points and still cover. For example, if the Chiefs are -3.5 (- implies the favorite) versus the Broncos, KC must win by 4 or more to cash and Denver covers if it loses by 3 points or fewer or if it wins.Usually, both sides of spread bets feature similar odds, which are normally close to -110 (again, meaning a $110 wager would win $100).Finally, over/under bets are gambles on whether or not the combined score of a game will be higher or lower than a predetermined amount. In the Chiefs-Broncos contest, let’s say the over/under line is 50.5, and the final score is 30-27. The total would then be 57 (30+27), and the over would win. If the total ends up lower than 50.5, under bettors would rejoice.Similar to spread bets, the odds on both over and under bets are generally similar and centered around -110.You may also come across the term “parlay.” This is just a group of bets combined into one that must all win in order for the wager to pay out.<h2>What are the differences between all of these sportsbooks?</h2>Not all of the nine mobile sportsbooks are created equal. Some focus on catering to customers who are likely to place larger wagers, others feature high-value promotions designed to attract a huge user base, and a handful more are known for a fantasy-sports-driven interface.• Circa Sports primarily markets itself as a sportsbook for the big guns and high riders. It’s known for its tight moneyline spreads and allowing experienced bettors, or “sharps,” to place large wagers.• DraftKings and FanDuel, for most intents and purposes, are identical. These two books are by far the biggest players in the nationwide sports betting market, and both offer large promotions in hopes of getting new users to sign up. In total, these two behemoths make up almost 80% of the market, according to Reuters.• Both books also offer tons of bet types, frequent promotions such as odds boosts and market themselves toward everyday bettors.• Caesars and Fanatics operate on more of a loyalty platform than others. Sports Illustrated publishes sportsbook reviews and says Caesars has the best rewards program, which includes credits that can be redeemed for stays at some of its hotels. Fanatics, similarly, offers users digital FanCash with every bet, which can be turned into tickets, bonus bets and more.• Underdog started solely as a daily fantasy sports site but has moved into the traditional sports gambling world as well. It is known for its fantasy draft games like best ball and parlay-style pick ’em.The rest of the bunch are similar. BetMGM and Bet365 are especially known for the amount of sports that are available to bet on, so if you’re looking for a book to place a wager on Russian pingpong, those might be your best bets.<h2>What if I want to sports-bet in person?</h2>Good news! Along with the nine mobile licenses that have been approved, the Missouri Gaming Commission also granted eight brick-and-mortar casinos retail licenses to operate onsite sportsbooks.Those are:• Ameristar Casino Hotel Kansas City — Partnered with Fanatics Sportsbook.• Ameristar Casino Resort and Spa St. Charles — Fanatics Sportsbook.• Harrah’s Kansas City — Caesars Sportsbook.• Horseshoe St. Louis — Caesars Sportsbook.• Hollywood Casino &amp; Hotel in St. Louis — ESPN BET.• River City Casino &amp; Hotel in St. Louis — ESPN BET.• Argosy Casino &amp; Hotel in Kansas City — ESPN BET.• Century Casino &amp; Hotel in Cape Girardeau — BetMGM.These casinos will open sportsbooks Dec. 1, the same time mobile books will be allowed to begin collecting bets.What promotions are available, and are there any restrictions?While companies aren’t allowed to directly offer promotions to draw in Missouri customers until Nov. 17, there are sites that offer projections into what those may be when Nov. 17 comes around. Legal Sports Report is one of them, and here are the offers it thinks customers will be able to grab:• DraftKings and FanDuel: Bet $5, get $300 in bonus bets on launch.• Caesars: Bet $1, Double Your Money 20x.• BetMGM: Up To $1,500 First-Bet Bonus.• Fanatics: Up To $2,000 in No-Sweat Bets OR Choose Your Offer.• Bet365: Bet $5 To Get $200 OR Up to $1,000 First Bet Safety Net.• BetRivers (not yet licensed in Missouri): Second-Chance Bet Up To $500.Since Circa Sports is geared toward those “sharp” bettors, it will likely not offer significant promotions.What’s important to realize about all these deals is how the refunds or bonus bets are credited. They come as site credit that must be wagered again before you can withdraw. For example, with DraftKings’ offer, you’d need to place (and win) another bet with the $300 credit to cash out.The only notable restriction is that bettors can’t place player-specific prop bets on college games involving Missouri schools. Betting on Missouri-specific team outcomes is still legal. Also, you cannot bet on high school games.<h2>Where can I get problem gambling help?</h2>There are resources available if you are struggling with problems related to gambling. Missouri’s problem gambling helpline is 888-BETS-OFF, or 888-238-7633, and is open 24/7.The Missouri Department of Mental Health also provides a list of certified gambling treatment counselors for those struggling or worried about someone who is. However, experts worry these counselors might not be aptly trained to deal with the fast-acting consequences that come from having access to a mobile casino at all times.Amendment 2 also specified that per year, the greater of $5 million or up to 10% of sports betting tax revenues will go toward Missouri’s compulsive gambling fund, which intends to provide resources for troubled gamblers.This story originally appeared in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.columbiamissourian.com/sports/other_sports/missouri-sports-betting-is-a-month-away-heres-what-you-need-to-know/article_48547610-7a23-4ed5-964a-b904bbb7c96f.html" target="_blank">Columbia Missourian</a>. It can be republished in print or online.&nbsp;

Missouri sports betting is a month away. Here’s what you need to know

ATCHISON COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 10a.m. Sunday in Atchison County, Missouri.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2018 Hyundai Ioniq driven by a 48-year-old Freeland, Washington woman was southbound on Interstate 29 five miles east of Watson. The Hyundai rear-ended a 2023 Nissan Titan driven by a 49-year-old Independence, Missouri man who merged in driving lane in front of the Hyundai as the vehicles approached exit 116.

Atchison Holt ambulance transported the Hyundai driver to Grape Community Hospital in Iowa. The Nissan driver was not injured.&nbsp; Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

ATCHISON COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 10a.m. Sunday in Atchison County, Missouri.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2018 Hyundai Ioniq driven by a 48-year-old Freeland, Washington woman was southbound on Interstate 29 five miles east of Watson. The Hyundai rear-ended a 2023 Nissan Titan driven by a 49-year-old Independence, Missouri man who merged in driving lane in front of the Hyundai as the vehicles approached exit 116.Atchison Holt ambulance transported the Hyundai driver to Grape Community Hospital in Iowa. The Nissan driver was not injured.&nbsp; Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Woman hospitalized after rear-end crash with Mo. pickup driver

LEAVENWORTH COUNTY—One person died in an accident just before 4a.m. Saturday in Leavenworth County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2008 Chevy Corvette driven by Jeremy Head, 41, Leavenworth, was eastbound in the 700 Block of Shawnee Street in Leavenworth.at a high rate of speed. The car went airborne, became unstable when it made contact with the roadway. The vehicle rotated and struck the curb, a tree and a building.&nbsp;

Head was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Forensic Medical. EMS transported a passenger&nbsp;Margaret Spain, 32, Leavenworth to KU Medical Center. They were not wearing seat belts, according to the KHP.

LEAVENWORTH COUNTY—One person died in an accident just before 4a.m. Saturday in Leavenworth County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2008 Chevy Corvette driven by Jeremy Head, 41, Leavenworth, was eastbound in the 700 Block of Shawnee Street in Leavenworth.at a high rate of speed. The car went airborne, became unstable when it made contact with the roadway. The vehicle rotated and struck the curb, a tree and a building.&nbsp;Head was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Forensic Medical. EMS transported a passenger&nbsp;Margaret Spain, 32, Leavenworth to KU Medical Center. They were not wearing seat belts, according to the KHP.

Kansas man dead, woman injured in violent crash into a building

While the average premium for one carrier will decline, most consumers in the health care marketplace will pay more due to the loss of tax credits passed during the pandemic

By:<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/rudi-keller/">Rudi Keller</a>&nbsp;and&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>

Most individual health insurance plans sold in Missouri will&nbsp;<a href="https://insurance.mo.gov/sites/insurance/files/2025-10/Public%20posting%20-%20Final%202026%20Rates.pdf" target="_blank">increase in price next year</a>&nbsp;even as customers prepare to dig deeper into their own funds to replace costs previously covered by federal tax credits.

The state Department of Commerce and Insurance on Friday released the approved rates for individual plans, most of which are sold on the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.healthcare.gov/" target="_blank">health insurance marketplace</a>. One carrier, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City, is lowering premiums an average of 4.1% for its plans available in 30 western Missouri counties. Some plans offered by the company will see an increase of as much as 9%.

Premiums will increase for the other eight carriers offering plans in all or part of the state. Ambetter Health plans, available off the marketplace in 109 counties, will increase an average of 1.9%, while Cox Health Plans, available in five southwest Missouri counties, will go up an average of 30.4%.

The costs for some Missourians will increase 70% or more if Congress does not extend tax credits enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The federal government has been&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/10/01/repub/protesters-at-us-capitol-back-democrats-in-shutdown-fight-over-health-care-costs/">shut down since Oct. 1</a>&nbsp;because congressional Democrats refuse to vote to fund the government until Republicans add an extension of the credits to the spending bill. Republicans argue the government should be reopened before negotiations over subsidies resume.

There are at least two companies offering health plans in&nbsp;<a href="https://insurance.mo.gov/individual-health-insurance-market-map" target="_blank">every county</a>, with a handful in the St. Louis area seeing seven vying for their business.&nbsp;

“First and foremost, Missourians need to know our state continues to have a competitive market, which means they will continue to have meaningful choices when it comes to their health coverage,” Angela Nelson, department director, said in a news release.&nbsp;

In addition to reporting the average change, the department also provided the largest change in cost for any single plan offered by the nine carriers. Those increases ranged from 6.4% for an Ambetter Health plan, to 110% for a Medica plan offered in 54 counties.&nbsp;

Open enrollment for the individual health plans begins Saturday. Consumers who purchase coverage by Dec. 15 will have it start Jan. 1. Plans may be purchased until Jan. 15, but coverage will not begin until Feb. 1, the release stated.

Missourians will start considering their choices without knowing whether enhanced subsidies enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic emergency will be extended.

The original Affordable Care Act subsidies that took effect in 2014 tied the actual cost to consumers to a percentage of their income for people earning less than four times the federal poverty level. Consumers with poverty level income — $15,650 for 2025 for individuals, $32,150 for a family of four —&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/rp-25-25.pdf" target="_blank">paid 2.1% of their income as premiums</a>, sliding up to 10% for households with income between three and four times the poverty level.

The enhanced tax credits put a cap on out-of-pocket premium costs for all consumers, with the highest earners paying 8.5% of their income and those with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/rp-23-29.pdf" target="_blank">incomes below 150%</a>&nbsp;of poverty level paying no premiums for their insurance.

“There is still a tremendous amount of uncertainty about whether Congress will extend the premium tax subsidies into 2026, and we are keeping a close eye on any developments at the federal level,” Nelson said.

Only two of the eight companies offering individual plans in Missouri through the federal marketplace will have plans available in every county or almost every county in the state. United Healthcare plans are available in every county and Ambetter from Home State Health plans can be purchased in every county except Clark, Lewis, Marion, St. Francois, Schuyler and Scotland.

The average monthly premium is about $755 for both the United Healthcare and Ambetter offerings, an increase of about 15% and 25%, respectively.&nbsp;

An individual with an income of $62,600 a year or more would have to pay the full premium if the enhanced credits are not extended. That means paying $9,060 over a year for the average Ambetter or United Healthcare plan instead of $5,321, an increase of 70%.

A panel of community members and experts hosted by the Community Health Commission of Missouri in St. Louis on Thursday underlined potential impacts of the expiring subsidies.

Sheldon Weisgrau, vice president for health and policy advocacy at the Missouri Foundation for Health, said higher premiums could lead younger, healthier people to forgo insurance, driving up prices for those who continue to purchase plans.

“When folks can’t afford to buy insurance, it doesn’t mean they won’t get sick,” Weisgrau said. When they do enter the health system, providers pick up the cost, “and again, that eventually gets passed on to everybody else.”&nbsp;

As Missourians confront higher insurance premiums, 650,000 low-income residents of the state could also be forced to cope with a loss of federal food benefits, with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, set to run out of funding on Nov. 1. Federal judges in Massachusetts and Rhode Island on Friday&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/10/31/repub/trump-administration-blocked-from-cutting-off-snap-benefits-as-two-judges-issue-orders/">ordered</a>&nbsp;the Trump administration to use contingency funds to pay at least partial benefits, but SNAP recipients could still face delays.

Panelists on Thursday said instability across federal safety net programs means communities will have to fill in the gaps through mutual aid.

“I think the neighborhood, the village, needs to be recreated,” said Shanelle Woods, one of the community members.

“There’s someone probably on your block that has extra,” Woods said. “Maybe Miss Jones has a pot of soup and she’s willing to share with your children. But, you have to build a relationship with your neighbor first.”

Panelists said policy conversations don’t address the difficulty of accessing safety net programs even when they are not being cut or suspended.

Shellie Robinson, who went on medical leave after being diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, said she struggled so long to prove she was eligible to receive disability benefits that she eventually had to go back to work.

Her doctors vouched for her, but, Robinson said, “it still wasn’t enough.”

“Who has the time to wait online or wait on a call for nearly three hours to talk to someone, to get it?” Robinson asked.

Timothy McBride, a health economist at Washington University in St. Louis, said that despite a “myth” that people who buy marketplace insurance plans are “undeserving, or they’re lazy,” many working people don’t have access to affordable insurance. Older adults who don’t qualify for Medicare – for instance, due to a chronic condition – may also need marketplace plans.

“There are flaws in our insurance markets that put people in this situation,” McBride said. “That’s the truth of the matter, and you don’t hear that from Washington. It’s a blame game.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746559302789.jpg" alt="&nbsp;The price of health insurance will increase for most Missourians using the ACA marketplace as premiums increase and subsidies expire.-image Pixaby&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;The price of health insurance will increase for most Missourians using the ACA marketplace as premiums increase and subsidies expire.-image Pixaby&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>While the average premium for one carrier will decline, most consumers in the health care marketplace will pay more due to the loss of tax credits passed during the pandemic</h2>By:<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/rudi-keller/">Rudi Keller</a>&nbsp;and&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>Most individual health insurance plans sold in Missouri will&nbsp;<a href="https://insurance.mo.gov/sites/insurance/files/2025-10/Public%20posting%20-%20Final%202026%20Rates.pdf" target="_blank">increase in price next year</a>&nbsp;even as customers prepare to dig deeper into their own funds to replace costs previously covered by federal tax credits.The state Department of Commerce and Insurance on Friday released the approved rates for individual plans, most of which are sold on the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.healthcare.gov/" target="_blank">health insurance marketplace</a>. One carrier, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City, is lowering premiums an average of 4.1% for its plans available in 30 western Missouri counties. Some plans offered by the company will see an increase of as much as 9%.Premiums will increase for the other eight carriers offering plans in all or part of the state. Ambetter Health plans, available off the marketplace in 109 counties, will increase an average of 1.9%, while Cox Health Plans, available in five southwest Missouri counties, will go up an average of 30.4%.The costs for some Missourians will increase 70% or more if Congress does not extend tax credits enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic.The federal government has been&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/10/01/repub/protesters-at-us-capitol-back-democrats-in-shutdown-fight-over-health-care-costs/">shut down since Oct. 1</a>&nbsp;because congressional Democrats refuse to vote to fund the government until Republicans add an extension of the credits to the spending bill. Republicans argue the government should be reopened before negotiations over subsidies resume.Premiums will increase for the other eight carriers offering plans in all or part of the state. Ambetter Health plans, available off the marketplace in 109 counties, will increase an average of 1.9%, while Cox Health Plans, available in five southwest Missouri counties, will go up an average of 30.4%.There are at least two companies offering health plans in&nbsp;<a href="https://insurance.mo.gov/individual-health-insurance-market-map" target="_blank">every county</a>, with a handful in the St. Louis area seeing seven vying for their business.&nbsp;“First and foremost, Missourians need to know our state continues to have a competitive market, which means they will continue to have meaningful choices when it comes to their health coverage,” Angela Nelson, department director, said in a news release.&nbsp;In addition to reporting the average change, the department also provided the largest change in cost for any single plan offered by the nine carriers. Those increases ranged from 6.4% for an Ambetter Health plan, to 110% for a Medica plan offered in 54 counties.&nbsp;Open enrollment for the individual health plans begins Saturday. Consumers who purchase coverage by Dec. 15 will have it start Jan. 1. Plans may be purchased until Jan. 15, but coverage will not begin until Feb. 1, the release stated.Missourians will start considering their choices without knowing whether enhanced subsidies enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic emergency will be extended.The original Affordable Care Act subsidies that took effect in 2014 tied the actual cost to consumers to a percentage of their income for people earning less than four times the federal poverty level. Consumers with poverty level income — $15,650 for 2025 for individuals, $32,150 for a family of four —&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/rp-25-25.pdf" target="_blank">paid 2.1% of their income as premiums</a>, sliding up to 10% for households with income between three and four times the poverty level.The enhanced tax credits put a cap on out-of-pocket premium costs for all consumers, with the highest earners paying 8.5% of their income and those with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/rp-23-29.pdf" target="_blank">incomes below 150%</a>&nbsp;of poverty level paying no premiums for their insurance.“There is still a tremendous amount of uncertainty about whether Congress will extend the premium tax subsidies into 2026, and we are keeping a close eye on any developments at the federal level,” Nelson said.Only two of the eight companies offering individual plans in Missouri through the federal marketplace will have plans available in every county or almost every county in the state. United Healthcare plans are available in every county and Ambetter from Home State Health plans can be purchased in every county except Clark, Lewis, Marion, St. Francois, Schuyler and Scotland.The average monthly premium is about $755 for both the United Healthcare and Ambetter offerings, an increase of about 15% and 25%, respectively.&nbsp;An individual with an income of $62,600 a year or more would have to pay the full premium if the enhanced credits are not extended. That means paying $9,060 over a year for the average Ambetter or United Healthcare plan instead of $5,321, an increase of 70%.<h2>Cost increase impacts</h2>A panel of community members and experts hosted by the Community Health Commission of Missouri in St. Louis on Thursday underlined potential impacts of the expiring subsidies.Sheldon Weisgrau, vice president for health and policy advocacy at the Missouri Foundation for Health, said higher premiums could lead younger, healthier people to forgo insurance, driving up prices for those who continue to purchase plans.“When folks can’t afford to buy insurance, it doesn’t mean they won’t get sick,” Weisgrau said. When they do enter the health system, providers pick up the cost, “and again, that eventually gets passed on to everybody else.”&nbsp;As Missourians confront higher insurance premiums, 650,000 low-income residents of the state could also be forced to cope with a loss of federal food benefits, with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, set to run out of funding on Nov. 1. Federal judges in Massachusetts and Rhode Island on Friday&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/10/31/repub/trump-administration-blocked-from-cutting-off-snap-benefits-as-two-judges-issue-orders/">ordered</a>&nbsp;the Trump administration to use contingency funds to pay at least partial benefits, but SNAP recipients could still face delays.Panelists on Thursday said instability across federal safety net programs means communities will have to fill in the gaps through mutual aid.“I think the neighborhood, the village, needs to be recreated,” said Shanelle Woods, one of the community members.“There’s someone probably on your block that has extra,” Woods said. “Maybe Miss Jones has a pot of soup and she’s willing to share with your children. But, you have to build a relationship with your neighbor first.”Panelists said policy conversations don’t address the difficulty of accessing safety net programs even when they are not being cut or suspended.Shellie Robinson, who went on medical leave after being diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, said she struggled so long to prove she was eligible to receive disability benefits that she eventually had to go back to work.Her doctors vouched for her, but, Robinson said, “it still wasn’t enough.”“Who has the time to wait online or wait on a call for nearly three hours to talk to someone, to get it?” Robinson asked.Timothy McBride, a health economist at Washington University in St. Louis, said that despite a “myth” that people who buy marketplace insurance plans are “undeserving, or they’re lazy,” many working people don’t have access to affordable insurance. Older adults who don’t qualify for Medicare – for instance, due to a chronic condition – may also need marketplace plans.“There are flaws in our insurance markets that put people in this situation,” McBride said. “That’s the truth of the matter, and you don’t hear that from Washington. It’s a blame game.”

Missouri health premiums to rise as much as 30% for 2026 amid uncertainty over subsidies

ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after an arrest.

On October 29, police arrested 47-year-old&nbsp;Jason E. Blakley of Atchison, on city of Horton and Atchison Municipal Court warrants for failure to appear in court, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

Blakley was also issued a notice to appear in court in the 100 block South 15th Street for driving in violation of restrictions, illegal tag, inattentive driving, limitations on backing, failure to yield to emergency vehicle, failure to provide proof of insurance and for not wearing seat belt. He met the requirement of bond and is no longer in custody, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1761924939805.png" alt="Blakley-photo Atchison County" />
 <figcaption>Blakley-photo Atchison County</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after an arrest.On October 29, police arrested 47-year-old&nbsp;Jason E. Blakley of Atchison, on city of Horton and Atchison Municipal Court warrants for failure to appear in court, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.Blakley was also issued a notice to appear in court in the 100 block South 15th Street for driving in violation of restrictions, illegal tag, inattentive driving, limitations on backing, failure to yield to emergency vehicle, failure to provide proof of insurance and for not wearing seat belt. He met the requirement of bond and is no longer in custody, according to online jail records.

Kansas man continues to skip court on multiple allegations

42M Americans rely on the program now facing disruptions because of the shutdown.

By:<a href="https://stateline.org/author/khardy/">Kevin Hardy</a> <a href="https://stateline.org/">Stateline</a>

There’s no way his local government can fill the void created by a disruption in the federal food stamp program, but local official Gregg Wright says his Minnesota county had to do something.

“This is pretty much a crisis for families,” said Wright, a member of the Olmsted County Board of Commissioners.

Last week, the board unanimously voted to send up to $200,000 to a local food bank to help neighbors at risk of losing food assistance because of the federal government shutdown.

Olmsted County, which has a population of about 165,000 and is home to the renowned Mayo Clinic in Rochester, expects to lose about $1.7 million per month in benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as SNAP. It’s a predicament facing leaders across the country preparing for an unprecedented pause in the nation’s largest food assistance program as the shutdown drags on.

While attorneys general and governors from 25 states and the District of Columbia&nbsp;<a href="https://stateline.org/2025/10/28/repub/democratic-ags-governors-sue-trump-over-snap-benefits-as-shutdown-hits-day-28/">sued the Trump administration</a>&nbsp;on Tuesday to try to force it to pay SNAP benefits next month, the administration says it will not release funds until the congressional budget impasse is resolved.

That leaves food banks, food pantries and local governments scrambling to prepare for an onslaught of demand. States are declaring emergencies, deploying National Guard members and sending millions of taxpayer dollars to local food banks. Nonprofits are bracing for long lines, bare shelves and even panic or civic unrest as some 42 million Americans are expected to lose access to the safety net program in a matter of days.

“The enormity of this issue is almost hard to comprehend,” said Wright, who noted that his county is just one of the more than 3,000 across the country.

The local food bank estimated it could serve SNAP families for one month by spending about $400,000 on bulk food purchases. Rather than front that whole amount, the county board challenged community members to help raise another $200,000.

Wright said the county is unable to keep funding food assistance for long.

“We can’t continue to do this without raising taxes, because it isn’t in our budget,” he said. “ … Who could plan for this? Who would expect that this would come from the federal government?”

Minnesota is among 10 states where counties administer the food stamp program rather than state governments. Across the country, state and county governments have been redirecting local resources to try to fill the shutdown gap.

California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom has set aside&nbsp;<a href="https://calmatters.org/newsletter/calfresh-government-shutdown/" target="_blank">$80 million</a>&nbsp;in state funds and deployed members of the National Guard to help food banks.

Virginia Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin declared a state of&nbsp;<a href="https://virginiamercury.com/2025/10/27/it-goes-quick-virginians-stretch-dollars-and-hope-as-snap-funding-freezes/" target="_blank">emergency</a>, saying the commonwealth would use its own funds to temporarily help SNAP recipients.

In&nbsp;<a href="https://lailluminator.com/2025/10/24/louisiana-prepares-to-continue-snap-benefits-with-150m-in-state-funding-monthly/" target="_blank">Louisiana</a>, state leaders are preparing to use $150 million monthly to help continue SNAP aid, while&nbsp;<a href="https://nevadacurrent.com/2025/10/28/nevada-officials-devising-snap-contingency-plan-relying-on-food-banks/" target="_blank">Nevada</a>&nbsp;plans to funnel $38.8 million toward local food banks.

Minnesota Democratic Gov. Tim Walz announced the state would divert&nbsp;<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/briefs/walz-directs-4-million-to-food-shelves-as-snap-cutoff-approaches/" target="_blank">$4 million</a>&nbsp;to food shelves across the state.

“This is meant to be a bridge,” Walz said during a Monday news conference. “It will not make up and backfill everything.”

Food banks across the country are already facing increased demand.

Virginia Witherspoon, executive director of Channel One Regional Food Bank in Rochester, Minnesota, said the phone was “ringing off the hook” last week. The nonprofit distributes food to partners across 14 counties and operates its own food shelf in Rochester. That pantry saw an average of about 450 families per day last month, but by last week was already averaging 550 per day, Witherspoon said.

“I don’t blame anyone who is rushing to their local food shelf and stocking up because they’re afraid they won’t be able to feed their families,” she told Stateline. “What I would say is that food shelves in Minnesota — we’re here, we’re open, we want to serve you. We’re doing our absolute best.”

Channel One and other operators, though, are concerned about the potential for panic by families scrambling for food.

Witherspoon told the Olmsted County Board of Commissioners her organization has considered asking for a police presence, but wants to be careful about what kind of message it sends to the public. She said even increasing food distribution from once to twice a week could cause people to rush in.

She said it reminds her of the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, when she went on local television to tell people not to worry, though she was privately concerned about running out of food.

“It’s tough. On the one hand, I’m in public sounding the alarm to you, to our donors, to our government,” she told commissioners. “But on the other hand, we don’t want to make the public panic and all come shop at once. It’s really not a good situation, and we’ve never been here before.”

The predicament facing nonprofits and local governments is unprecedented: Food stamps have not been disrupted during other government shutdowns. And even the Trump administration previously offered assurance that it would tap into a multiyear contingency fund to continue paying SNAP benefits.

The administration&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/usda-wont-shuffle-funds-extend-snap-during-shutdown-about-face-earlier-plan" target="_blank">reversed</a>&nbsp;that position on Friday, when the U.S. Department of Agriculture said it would not release funds in November and warned states they would not be reimbursed for spending their own revenues on the food program.

SNAP has about $6 billion in its contingency fund — short of the roughly $9 billion needed to cover a full month of the program.

It’s unclear what the administration’s position means for states that have already begun setting aside their own dollars.

Following Virginia’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.governor.virginia.gov/media/governorvirginiagov/executive-actions/EO-54.pdf" target="_blank">emergency declaration</a>, the newly created Virginia Emergency Nutrition Assistance program is expected to send money to SNAP beneficiaries starting on Nov. 3.

The governor estimates that about $37.5 million will be allocated per week to Virginia’s roughly&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dss.virginia.gov/geninfo/reports/financial_assistance/snap_participation.cgi" target="_blank">850,000</a>&nbsp;SNAP recipients, the Virginia Mercury&nbsp;<a href="https://virginiamercury.com/2025/10/28/virginia-snap-substitute-to-roll-out-weekly-through-november/" target="_blank">reported</a>.

Neither the governor’s office nor the Virginia Department of Social Services responded to Stateline requests for comment.

North Dakota officials said they had enough cash on hand to cover November SNAP benefits, but are unable to load the funds onto people’s electronic payment cards, the North Dakota Monitor&nbsp;<a href="https://northdakotamonitor.com/2025/10/21/north-dakota-snap-funding-in-jeopardy-with-government-shutdown/" target="_blank">reported</a>.

State and federal lawmakers, advocates and attorneys general across the country have pushed the administration to release November SNAP funds.

Last week, the chief executive officer of the National Conference of State Legislatures asked the USDA to issue&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ncsl.org/resources/details/ncsl-urges-usda-to-issue-immediate-guidance-on-snap?utm_source=act-on+software&amp;utm_term=read%20ncsl%27s%20letter%20to%20the%20usda&amp;utm_campaign=ncsl%20letters%20on%20shutdown%20resisting%20preemption%20of%20state%20ai%20laws%20snap%20updates&amp;cm_mmc=act-on%20software-_-email-_-ncsl%20letters%20on%20shutdown%20resisting%20preemption%20of%20state%20ai%20laws%20snap%20updates-_-read%20ncsl%27s%20letter%20to%20the%20usda&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_content=email" target="_blank">clear guidance</a>&nbsp;on states’ ability to spend and be reimbursed for ongoing administrative costs.

North Carolina Democratic Attorney General Jeff Jackson, one of the officials who sued the Trump administration Tuesday, said 1.4 million people — including nearly 600,000 children — would lose SNAP aid in his state.

“They have emergency money to help feed children during this shutdown, and they’re refusing to spend it.”

In New Hampshire, Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte announced a state&nbsp;<a href="https://newhampshirebulletin.com/2025/10/23/new-hampshire-announces-contingency-plan-for-snap-during-government-shutdown/" target="_blank">“contingency plan”</a>&nbsp;to help SNAP recipients. Pending approval from other state leaders, the plan would divert $2 million to the New Hampshire Food Bank to open up to 20 locations for SNAP recipients twice a week over the next five weeks.

Officials in Ayotte’s office and the state health department did not respond to Stateline requests for comment.

Elsy Cipriani, executive director of the New Hampshire Food Bank, said the organization is still working out details with the state. She said the group would likely ask to see people’s electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards — the debit cards people use to access SNAP benefits at grocery stores — to ensure the state-purchased food goes to SNAP recipients.

“While we don’t intend to replace SNAP benefits — because we can’t; there is no way that we can replace that — we are hoping to provide some relief,” she told Stateline.

In Minnesota, county leaders are working overtime in some areas to respond to questions from SNAP recipients and help find other food assistance.

That additional workload comes without any state or federal reimbursement, said Tina Schenk, the health and human services director in rural Meeker County.

“That’s just to respond to our community, because that’s our job,” she said. “But that’s very different work than we normally do.”

The reserve funds of Meeker County, home to about 23,000 people, aren’t large enough to cover even one month’s worth of SNAP benefits, Schenk said. So county staff are instead working with local nonprofits and reaching out to families who will be hardest hit by an interruption in benefits to connect them with other state grant programs.

The sole local food shelf is increasing its orders with a central food bank, Schenk said — but so is nearly every other operation in the state.

“Are they going to have enough to fulfill these orders? That’s a question that I don’t know the answer to.”

Stateline reporter Kevin Hardy can be reached at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:khardy@stateline.org">khardy@stateline.org</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689674819900.png" alt="USDA image" />
 <figcaption>USDA image</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>42M Americans rely on the program now facing disruptions because of the shutdown.</h2>By:<a href="https://stateline.org/author/khardy/">Kevin Hardy</a> <a href="https://stateline.org/">Stateline</a>There’s no way his local government can fill the void created by a disruption in the federal food stamp program, but local official Gregg Wright says his Minnesota county had to do something.“This is pretty much a crisis for families,” said Wright, a member of the Olmsted County Board of Commissioners.Last week, the board unanimously voted to send up to $200,000 to a local food bank to help neighbors at risk of losing food assistance because of the federal government shutdown.Olmsted County, which has a population of about 165,000 and is home to the renowned Mayo Clinic in Rochester, expects to lose about $1.7 million per month in benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as SNAP. It’s a predicament facing leaders across the country preparing for an unprecedented pause in the nation’s largest food assistance program as the shutdown drags on.While attorneys general and governors from 25 states and the District of Columbia&nbsp;<a href="https://stateline.org/2025/10/28/repub/democratic-ags-governors-sue-trump-over-snap-benefits-as-shutdown-hits-day-28/">sued the Trump administration</a>&nbsp;on Tuesday to try to force it to pay SNAP benefits next month, the administration says it will not release funds until the congressional budget impasse is resolved.That leaves food banks, food pantries and local governments scrambling to prepare for an onslaught of demand. States are declaring emergencies, deploying National Guard members and sending millions of taxpayer dollars to local food banks. Nonprofits are bracing for long lines, bare shelves and even panic or civic unrest as some 42 million Americans are expected to lose access to the safety net program in a matter of days.“The enormity of this issue is almost hard to comprehend,” said Wright, who noted that his county is just one of the more than 3,000 across the country.The local food bank estimated it could serve SNAP families for one month by spending about $400,000 on bulk food purchases. Rather than front that whole amount, the county board challenged community members to help raise another $200,000.Wright said the county is unable to keep funding food assistance for long.“We can’t continue to do this without raising taxes, because it isn’t in our budget,” he said. “ … Who could plan for this? Who would expect that this would come from the federal government?”Minnesota is among 10 states where counties administer the food stamp program rather than state governments. Across the country, state and county governments have been redirecting local resources to try to fill the shutdown gap.California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom has set aside&nbsp;<a href="https://calmatters.org/newsletter/calfresh-government-shutdown/" target="_blank">$80 million</a>&nbsp;in state funds and deployed members of the National Guard to help food banks.Virginia Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin declared a state of&nbsp;<a href="https://virginiamercury.com/2025/10/27/it-goes-quick-virginians-stretch-dollars-and-hope-as-snap-funding-freezes/" target="_blank">emergency</a>, saying the commonwealth would use its own funds to temporarily help SNAP recipients.In&nbsp;<a href="https://lailluminator.com/2025/10/24/louisiana-prepares-to-continue-snap-benefits-with-150m-in-state-funding-monthly/" target="_blank">Louisiana</a>, state leaders are preparing to use $150 million monthly to help continue SNAP aid, while&nbsp;<a href="https://nevadacurrent.com/2025/10/28/nevada-officials-devising-snap-contingency-plan-relying-on-food-banks/" target="_blank">Nevada</a>&nbsp;plans to funnel $38.8 million toward local food banks.Minnesota Democratic Gov. Tim Walz announced the state would divert&nbsp;<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/briefs/walz-directs-4-million-to-food-shelves-as-snap-cutoff-approaches/" target="_blank">$4 million</a>&nbsp;to food shelves across the state.“This is meant to be a bridge,” Walz said during a Monday news conference. “It will not make up and backfill everything.”Food banks across the country are already facing increased demand.Virginia Witherspoon, executive director of Channel One Regional Food Bank in Rochester, Minnesota, said the phone was “ringing off the hook” last week. The nonprofit distributes food to partners across 14 counties and operates its own food shelf in Rochester. That pantry saw an average of about 450 families per day last month, but by last week was already averaging 550 per day, Witherspoon said.“I don’t blame anyone who is rushing to their local food shelf and stocking up because they’re afraid they won’t be able to feed their families,” she told Stateline. “What I would say is that food shelves in Minnesota — we’re here, we’re open, we want to serve you. We’re doing our absolute best.”Channel One and other operators, though, are concerned about the potential for panic by families scrambling for food.Witherspoon told the Olmsted County Board of Commissioners her organization has considered asking for a police presence, but wants to be careful about what kind of message it sends to the public. She said even increasing food distribution from once to twice a week could cause people to rush in.She said it reminds her of the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, when she went on local television to tell people not to worry, though she was privately concerned about running out of food.“It’s tough. On the one hand, I’m in public sounding the alarm to you, to our donors, to our government,” she told commissioners. “But on the other hand, we don’t want to make the public panic and all come shop at once. It’s really not a good situation, and we’ve never been here before.”<h2>Debate over federal funds</h2>The predicament facing nonprofits and local governments is unprecedented: Food stamps have not been disrupted during other government shutdowns. And even the Trump administration previously offered assurance that it would tap into a multiyear contingency fund to continue paying SNAP benefits.The administration&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/usda-wont-shuffle-funds-extend-snap-during-shutdown-about-face-earlier-plan" target="_blank">reversed</a>&nbsp;that position on Friday, when the U.S. Department of Agriculture said it would not release funds in November and warned states they would not be reimbursed for spending their own revenues on the food program.SNAP has about $6 billion in its contingency fund — short of the roughly $9 billion needed to cover a full month of the program.It’s unclear what the administration’s position means for states that have already begun setting aside their own dollars.Following Virginia’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.governor.virginia.gov/media/governorvirginiagov/executive-actions/EO-54.pdf" target="_blank">emergency declaration</a>, the newly created Virginia Emergency Nutrition Assistance program is expected to send money to SNAP beneficiaries starting on Nov. 3.The governor estimates that about $37.5 million will be allocated per week to Virginia’s roughly&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dss.virginia.gov/geninfo/reports/financial_assistance/snap_participation.cgi" target="_blank">850,000</a>&nbsp;SNAP recipients, the Virginia Mercury&nbsp;<a href="https://virginiamercury.com/2025/10/28/virginia-snap-substitute-to-roll-out-weekly-through-november/" target="_blank">reported</a>.Neither the governor’s office nor the Virginia Department of Social Services responded to Stateline requests for comment.North Dakota officials said they had enough cash on hand to cover November SNAP benefits, but are unable to load the funds onto people’s electronic payment cards, the North Dakota Monitor&nbsp;<a href="https://northdakotamonitor.com/2025/10/21/north-dakota-snap-funding-in-jeopardy-with-government-shutdown/" target="_blank">reported</a>.State and federal lawmakers, advocates and attorneys general across the country have pushed the administration to release November SNAP funds.Last week, the chief executive officer of the National Conference of State Legislatures asked the USDA to issue&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ncsl.org/resources/details/ncsl-urges-usda-to-issue-immediate-guidance-on-snap?utm_source=act-on+software&amp;utm_term=read%20ncsl%27s%20letter%20to%20the%20usda&amp;utm_campaign=ncsl%20letters%20on%20shutdown%20resisting%20preemption%20of%20state%20ai%20laws%20snap%20updates&amp;cm_mmc=act-on%20software-_-email-_-ncsl%20letters%20on%20shutdown%20resisting%20preemption%20of%20state%20ai%20laws%20snap%20updates-_-read%20ncsl%27s%20letter%20to%20the%20usda&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_content=email" target="_blank">clear guidance</a>&nbsp;on states’ ability to spend and be reimbursed for ongoing administrative costs.North Carolina Democratic Attorney General Jeff Jackson, one of the officials who sued the Trump administration Tuesday, said 1.4 million people — including nearly 600,000 children — would lose SNAP aid in his state.“They have emergency money to help feed children during this shutdown, and they’re refusing to spend it.”<h2>Contingency plans</h2>In New Hampshire, Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte announced a state&nbsp;<a href="https://newhampshirebulletin.com/2025/10/23/new-hampshire-announces-contingency-plan-for-snap-during-government-shutdown/" target="_blank">“contingency plan”</a>&nbsp;to help SNAP recipients. Pending approval from other state leaders, the plan would divert $2 million to the New Hampshire Food Bank to open up to 20 locations for SNAP recipients twice a week over the next five weeks.Officials in Ayotte’s office and the state health department did not respond to Stateline requests for comment.Elsy Cipriani, executive director of the New Hampshire Food Bank, said the organization is still working out details with the state. She said the group would likely ask to see people’s electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards — the debit cards people use to access SNAP benefits at grocery stores — to ensure the state-purchased food goes to SNAP recipients.“While we don’t intend to replace SNAP benefits — because we can’t; there is no way that we can replace that — we are hoping to provide some relief,” she told Stateline.In Minnesota, county leaders are working overtime in some areas to respond to questions from SNAP recipients and help find other food assistance.That additional workload comes without any state or federal reimbursement, said Tina Schenk, the health and human services director in rural Meeker County.“That’s just to respond to our community, because that’s our job,” she said. “But that’s very different work than we normally do.”The reserve funds of Meeker County, home to about 23,000 people, aren’t large enough to cover even one month’s worth of SNAP benefits, Schenk said. So county staff are instead working with local nonprofits and reaching out to families who will be hardest hit by an interruption in benefits to connect them with other state grant programs.The sole local food shelf is increasing its orders with a central food bank, Schenk said — but so is nearly every other operation in the state.“Are they going to have enough to fulfill these orders? That’s a question that I don’t know the answer to.”Stateline reporter Kevin Hardy can be reached at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:khardy@stateline.org">khardy@stateline.org</a>.

Local leaders rush to help, but can’t fill massive SNAP void

Northern Missouri
Congressman Sam Graves lays the blame for the extended federal government
shutdown directly on Senate Democrats.

“It’s a dangerous
game that they’re playing,” Graves tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.&nbsp; “They’re playing chicken with people’s benefits,
with people’s paychecks, they’re livelihoods, national security, you name it.
You know, it’s funny, that Sen. Schumer voted 13 times for a clean CR, continuing
resolution, under the Biden administration, now all of the sudden he’s decided
he doesn’t want to.”

Graves, a Republican,
is especially harsh on the top Democrat in the Senate, Chuck Schumer of New
York, for refusing to vote for an extension of current spending. Senate
Democrats want Republicans to extend additional Affordable Care Act tax credits
before agreeing to reopen the government. The shutdown soon will enter its
second month.

Graves insists
Democrats need to reopen the government for negotiations on the issue to begin.
And Graves claims Democrats are being disingenuous when they insist ACA tax
credits must be extended first.

“They had every
opportunity when they had the majority and the presidency; they had every
opportunity to make those permanent at the time and they didn’t do it. And now,
all of the sudden, they want to do it,” Graves says. “But the bottom line is we
need to pass a clean CR, get the government open, then we can negotiate these
things.”

Some federal
workers will not get paid; food stamps won’t be extended if the shutdown
continues much longer.

Graves asserts negotiations
over that main sticking point, extension of ACA tax credits, cannot begin until
the government shutdown ends.

“I mean, this is
so easy and it’s so ridiculous,” Graves says. “That’s what we do is negotiate spending
bills. We have to get to the table to be able to do that and the only way to
get to the table to do that is to keep the government open.”

You can follow&nbsp;Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1761854316412.jpeg" alt="Congressman Sam Graves/file photo" />
 <figcaption>Congressman Sam Graves/file photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINNorthern Missouri
Congressman Sam Graves lays the blame for the extended federal government
shutdown directly on Senate Democrats.“It’s a dangerous
game that they’re playing,” Graves tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.&nbsp; “They’re playing chicken with people’s benefits,
with people’s paychecks, they’re livelihoods, national security, you name it.
You know, it’s funny, that Sen. Schumer voted 13 times for a clean CR, continuing
resolution, under the Biden administration, now all of the sudden he’s decided
he doesn’t want to.”Graves, a Republican,
is especially harsh on the top Democrat in the Senate, Chuck Schumer of New
York, for refusing to vote for an extension of current spending. Senate
Democrats want Republicans to extend additional Affordable Care Act tax credits
before agreeing to reopen the government. The shutdown soon will enter its
second month.Graves insists
Democrats need to reopen the government for negotiations on the issue to begin.
And Graves claims Democrats are being disingenuous when they insist ACA tax
credits must be extended first.“They had every
opportunity when they had the majority and the presidency; they had every
opportunity to make those permanent at the time and they didn’t do it. And now,
all of the sudden, they want to do it,” Graves says. “But the bottom line is we
need to pass a clean CR, get the government open, then we can negotiate these
things.”Some federal
workers will not get paid; food stamps won’t be extended if the shutdown
continues much longer.Graves asserts negotiations
over that main sticking point, extension of ACA tax credits, cannot begin until
the government shutdown ends.“I mean, this is
so easy and it’s so ridiculous,” Graves says. “That’s what we do is negotiate spending
bills. We have to get to the table to be able to do that and the only way to
get to the table to do that is to keep the government open.”You can follow&nbsp;Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ

Graves claims Democrats are playing dangerous game during shutdown

China’s agreement to purchase 180,000 metric tons of soybeans from this year’s U.S. crop could mark one of the biggest agricultural trade developments in years — and Kansas producers stand to gain in a major way.

According to Senator Roger Marshall, the deal represents roughly $15 billion in U.S. soybean exports nationwide and could generate around $1 billion annually for Kansas soybean farmers. Kansas sorghum producers are also expected to benefit, with an estimated additional $1 billion in sorghum sales.

“Kansans grow about half of the entire sorghum crop for the country, and believe it or not, China typically purchases about 80 percent of that,” one official said. “This is the biggest news we’ve had in agriculture in years.”

The deal, reached during President Donald Trump’s recent overseas visit, is being hailed as a breakthrough in reopening key markets in China and Southeast Asia. The agreement is also seen as a potential boost for other major Kansas industries, including aerospace.

"China is sitting there. They can buy Boeing jets, or they can buy Air France jets” Marshall said. "We're the ones here that are buying all of your T shirts and tennis shoes and your televisions and your iPhones, all these types of things. So, I think it's going to mean a lot to to multiple industries across the state of Kansas, agriculture and aerospace, leading the way"

Beyond agriculture, the agreement may signal a broader thaw in U.S.-China relations. Marshall believes that President Xi Jinping is expected to hold additional talks with President Trump.&nbsp; &nbsp;

"I don't doubt that President Xi will make some type of a trip here to America, and then, as these other world conferences happen from time to time that they're both there, I expect them to build upon this relationship." Marshall said.

Some observers say the move could also help stabilize global markets and ease tensions across Southeast Asia. "You know when there is, when there is world peace, the entire economy, the world economy grows as well." Marshall added.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1761790203525.png" alt="Photo from White House video" />
 <figcaption>Photo from White House video</figcaption>
 </figure>MARC JACOBS Hutch PostChina’s agreement to purchase 180,000 metric tons of soybeans from this year’s U.S. crop could mark one of the biggest agricultural trade developments in years — and Kansas producers stand to gain in a major way.According to Senator Roger Marshall, the deal represents roughly $15 billion in U.S. soybean exports nationwide and could generate around $1 billion annually for Kansas soybean farmers. Kansas sorghum producers are also expected to benefit, with an estimated additional $1 billion in sorghum sales.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600284821318.jpeg" alt="<a href="https://www.dieselfuelinjectionrepair.com/diesel-fuel-injector-rebuilds?useYB=2,4&amp;cam=ppc-m-m178243-c851458-g-">Click here to visit Diesel Control Technicians website</a>" />
 <figcaption><a href="https://www.dieselfuelinjectionrepair.com/diesel-fuel-injector-rebuilds?useYB=2,4&amp;cam=ppc-m-m178243-c851458-g-">Click here to visit Diesel Control Technicians website</a></figcaption>
 </figure>“Kansans grow about half of the entire sorghum crop for the country, and believe it or not, China typically purchases about 80 percent of that,” one official said. “This is the biggest news we’ve had in agriculture in years.”The deal, reached during President Donald Trump’s recent overseas visit, is being hailed as a breakthrough in reopening key markets in China and Southeast Asia. The agreement is also seen as a potential boost for other major Kansas industries, including aerospace."China is sitting there. They can buy Boeing jets, or they can buy Air France jets” Marshall said. "We're the ones here that are buying all of your T shirts and tennis shoes and your televisions and your iPhones, all these types of things. So, I think it's going to mean a lot to to multiple industries across the state of Kansas, agriculture and aerospace, leading the way"Beyond agriculture, the agreement may signal a broader thaw in U.S.-China relations. Marshall believes that President Xi Jinping is expected to hold additional talks with President Trump.&nbsp; &nbsp;"I don't doubt that President Xi will make some type of a trip here to America, and then, as these other world conferences happen from time to time that they're both there, I expect them to build upon this relationship." Marshall said.Some observers say the move could also help stabilize global markets and ease tensions across Southeast Asia. "You know when there is, when there is world peace, the entire economy, the world economy grows as well." Marshall added.&nbsp;

China's soybean purchase could bring $1B to Kansas ag economy annually

The 25th annual Christmas for Kids Toy drive hosted by JoeTown 107.5's Gregg Lynn begins Saturday 

Lynn says each Christmas children in need from places such as the Noyes Home or the YWCA submit lists of what they want for Christmas, and listeners help purchase those gifts 

"Each kid is allowed three, and a lot of people ask me why don’t you just make it any toy, just make it all generic, well it’s just not the same,” Lynn says on the KFEQmnunnity show.  “If you’re a kid who never has anything for Christmas, you want what you want, and we get them what they want, so all of the organizations and all the caregivers will send me these lists, we’ll post them online, and then the listeners will go and start buying gifts for all these kids.” 

Lists are going up on the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/GreggLynnRadioShow">Gregg Lynn Radio Show Facebook page</a>. You can also donate online by clicking <a href="https://www.joetown1075.com/christmas-coins-for-kids/">HERE</a>, or in various coin jars around town.&nbsp; A list of coin jar locations is also at the link.

Lynn says most of the kids are taken care of by listeners, but the rest is where the donations to help buy the things on the lists that don't get purchased 

"So, they make sure every kid, we’ve had as many as 150, every kid gets what they want, all three of their gifts,” Lynn explains.  “Now the rest of the money is given to support the agencies and support these kids which would be the YWCA, Adopt-A-Family, Noyes Home for Children, a group called Care Portal and their mission is to take care of all the kids in foster care.” 

Lynn says after you pick your list off the Facebook page, it's a pretty simple process after that 

"You go buy the toys, you bring them to me new and unwrapped, and that’s all you have to do and we take care of everything,” Lynn says.  “We get them all wrapped, we get them all sorted, we get them all delivered to the kids at the Christmas party, if that’s like way to much, if that’s a lot of pressure, just go buy some toys, if you’re shopping anyway buy one or two extra toys, bring them here to the station and you can dump them in the barrel.” 

The toy drive will run until Black Friday and ends with an all-day broadcast on that day from 6am to 5pm.  New and unwrapped toys can be dropped off at the Eagle Radio studios at 4104 Country Ln in St. Joseph. 

You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.

By MATT PIKEThe 25th annual Christmas for Kids Toy drive hosted by JoeTown 107.5's Gregg Lynn begins Saturday Lynn says each Christmas children in need from places such as the Noyes Home or the YWCA submit lists of what they want for Christmas, and listeners help purchase those gifts "Each kid is allowed three, and a lot of people ask me why don’t you just make it any toy, just make it all generic, well it’s just not the same,” Lynn says on the KFEQmnunnity show. “If you’re a kid who never has anything for Christmas, you want what you want, and we get them what they want, so all of the organizations and all the caregivers will send me these lists, we’ll post them online, and then the listeners will go and start buying gifts for all these kids.” Lists are going up on the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/GreggLynnRadioShow">Gregg Lynn Radio Show Facebook page</a>. You can also donate online by clicking <a href="https://www.joetown1075.com/christmas-coins-for-kids/">HERE</a>, or in various coin jars around town.&nbsp; A list of coin jar locations is also at the link.Lynn says most of the kids are taken care of by listeners, but the rest is where the donations to help buy the things on the lists that don't get purchased "So, they make sure every kid, we’ve had as many as 150, every kid gets what they want, all three of their gifts,” Lynn explains. “Now the rest of the money is given to support the agencies and support these kids which would be the YWCA, Adopt-A-Family, Noyes Home for Children, a group called Care Portal and their mission is to take care of all the kids in foster care.” Lynn says after you pick your list off the Facebook page, it's a pretty simple process after that "You go buy the toys, you bring them to me new and unwrapped, and that’s all you have to do and we take care of everything,” Lynn says. “We get them all wrapped, we get them all sorted, we get them all delivered to the kids at the Christmas party, if that’s like way to much, if that’s a lot of pressure, just go buy some toys, if you’re shopping anyway buy one or two extra toys, bring them here to the station and you can dump them in the barrel.” The toy drive will run until Black Friday and ends with an all-day broadcast on that day from 6am to 5pm. New and unwrapped toys can be dropped off at the Eagle Radio studios at 4104 Country Ln in St. Joseph. You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.

25th Gregg Lynn's Christmas for Kids Toy Drive kicks off this weekend

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>

Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe and state health officials on Wednesday announced continued funding for food assistance amid worry that key federal safety net programs will run dry as the government shutdown enters its fifth week.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services said federal nutrition benefits for low-income mothers and their young children will remain available into November, through the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, better known as WIC.

Over 98,000 Missourians received WIC benefits in September, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://health.mo.gov/living/families/wic/dashboard/index.php" target="_blank">department</a>.

“At this time, there is no plan to pause WIC operations or benefit redemption,” said Lisa Cox, a spokesperson for the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, in an email to The Independent.&nbsp;

The department said in an earlier&nbsp;<a href="https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/MODHSS/bulletins/3f92ffa" target="_blank">press release</a>&nbsp;that it will notify retailers and WIC recipients if it becomes necessary to suspend benefits “in the latter half of the month.”

Kehoe also&nbsp;<a href="https://governor.mo.gov/press-releases/archive/governor-kehoe-announces-expedited-appropriations-food-assistance-democrat" target="_blank">announced</a>&nbsp;the transfer of $10.6 million to Missouri Area Agencies on Aging to help provide meals to seniors and the early distribution of a $5 million appropriation to food banks that was planned for later in the year.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1761829989716.png" alt=" Bread at the Schnuck’s grocery story in Columbia marked as permitted to be purchased through Missouri's WIC program, which provides supplemental foods, nutrition education and referrals to health care, at no cost, to low-income pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum women, infants, and children up to age 5 who are determined to be at nutritional risk (Jason Hancock/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> Bread at the Schnuck’s grocery story in Columbia marked as permitted to be purchased through Missouri's WIC program, which provides supplemental foods, nutrition education and referrals to health care, at no cost, to low-income pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum women, infants, and children up to age 5 who are determined to be at nutritional risk (Jason Hancock/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure>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>Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe and state health officials on Wednesday announced continued funding for food assistance amid worry that key federal safety net programs will run dry as the government shutdown enters its fifth week.The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services said federal nutrition benefits for low-income mothers and their young children will remain available into November, through the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, better known as WIC.Over 98,000 Missourians received WIC benefits in September, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://health.mo.gov/living/families/wic/dashboard/index.php" target="_blank">department</a>.“At this time, there is no plan to pause WIC operations or benefit redemption,” said Lisa Cox, a spokesperson for the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, in an email to The Independent.&nbsp;The department said in an earlier&nbsp;<a href="https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/MODHSS/bulletins/3f92ffa" target="_blank">press release</a>&nbsp;that it will notify retailers and WIC recipients if it becomes necessary to suspend benefits “in the latter half of the month.”Kehoe also&nbsp;<a href="https://governor.mo.gov/press-releases/archive/governor-kehoe-announces-expedited-appropriations-food-assistance-democrat" target="_blank">announced</a>&nbsp;the transfer of $10.6 million to Missouri Area Agencies on Aging to help provide meals to seniors and the early distribution of a $5 million appropriation to food banks that was planned for later in the year.&nbsp;While advocates welcomed the measures, they cautioned that they won’t replace a funding plan for the federal government that would place programs like WIC on a firm footing in the longer term.Wes Buchholz, vice president of programs at Crosslines Resource Center in Springfield, said he was “really excited” to hear that WIC will stay afloat for now, because baby formula is so difficult for food pantries like his to source.“We have never found a way to buy formula at a good price, and it’s not something that gets donated hardly ever,” Buchholz said.“Obviously, December is in question.”Casey Hanson, deputy director at Kids Win Missouri, a nonprofit that advocates for children and families in the state, said the stopgaps will help families, but the shutdown is “continuing to create an environment that is difficult for parents to navigate.”A much larger federal food assistance program, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, is expected to&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/10/28/missouri-food-pantries-families-lose-federal-aid/">run out of funds</a>&nbsp;at the end of the week.&nbsp;In addition to SNAP and WIC, federal funding for Head Start programs, which provide early childhood education, nutritious meals and other support services to families, is also in jeopardy while the shutdown continues.As the end-of-year holidays approach, Hanson said, “kids are going to be home more, and families are going to need access to all of those resources.”“Those families are already navigating tough situations in most cases, which is why they need those safety net programs,” Hanson said.State Senate Minority Leader Doug Beck called Kehoe’s transfer of just over $15 million a “hollow gesture” in a post on X, noting that Missouri disbursed $131.5 million in SNAP benefits in September.&nbsp;“We need real solutions,” Beck said. “Not Washington-style stunts that don’t fix anything.”Cox, the spokesperson for the state health department, said the continued availability of WIC is thanks to the program’s funding structure and cost-saving measures taken by the department predating the shutdown.The department receives an annual sum from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and must adjust its offerings to ensure funding lasts as the number of WIC participants rises or falls each month. In October, for instance, the department cut yogurt, goat milk and evaporated milk, as well as some name brand items, from&nbsp;<a href="https://health.mo.gov/living/families/wic/approved-food-list.php" target="_blank">WIC-eligible purchases</a>&nbsp;in response to rising costs.Sarah Willson, the department’s director, said the measures “have been valuable in extending the benefits to WIC families longer.”Buchholz urged Missourians hoping to help ease hunger to volunteer and donate to their local food pantries. Financial donations allow food pantries to purchase needed items at lower prices than are available to consumers, he noted.“We’re going to need greater community support,” Buchholz said, “if the shutdown continues for a prolonged period of time.”