Beginning Thursday, Jan. 1, Iowans caught handling a smartphone while driving could face a $170 ticket, a total that includes the fine, court fees, and additional charges.

While the law officially took effect July 1, law enforcement officers have spent the last six months issuing warnings rather than citations to allow for a transition period. According to Iowa State Patrol Sgt. Alex Dinkla, state troopers had issued approximately 10,000 warnings by the end of November.

Brett Tjepkes, chief of the Governor's Traffic Safety Bureau, noted that Iowa modeled its "soft rollout" after other states with similar "hands-free" laws. To support this educational phase, his agency printed 60,000 information cards to help motorists understand the new restrictions.

The educational cards were distributed at every rest area and driver’s license station across the state, and law enforcement officers have also been handing them out during traffic stops.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692987228841.jpg" alt="driving, cell phone, typing" />
 <figcaption>driving, cell phone, typing</figcaption>
 </figure>By RYAN SKAITHBeginning Thursday, Jan. 1, Iowans caught handling a smartphone while driving could face a $170 ticket, a total that includes the fine, court fees, and additional charges.While the law officially took effect July 1, law enforcement officers have spent the last six months issuing warnings rather than citations to allow for a transition period. According to Iowa State Patrol Sgt. Alex Dinkla, state troopers had issued approximately 10,000 warnings by the end of November.Brett Tjepkes, chief of the Governor's Traffic Safety Bureau, noted that Iowa modeled its "soft rollout" after other states with similar "hands-free" laws. To support this educational phase, his agency printed 60,000 information cards to help motorists understand the new restrictions.The educational cards were distributed at every rest area and driver’s license station across the state, and law enforcement officers have also been handing them out during traffic stops.

Hands Off: Iowa’s $170 distracted driving fines start this Thursday

The Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services (CMS) on Monday announced that all 50 states will receive awards under the Rural Health Transformation Program, a $50 billion initiative established under President Trump’s Working Families Tax Cuts legislation (Public Law 119-21) to strengthen and modernize health care in rural communities across the country, according to a statement from CMS.&nbsp;

In 2026, states will receive first-year awards from CMS averaging $200 million within a range of $147 million to $281 million. Missouri will receive&nbsp;$216,276,818, Kansas&nbsp;$221,898,008.

&nbsp;This unprecedented federal investment will help states expand access to care in rural communities, strengthen the rural health workforce, modernize rural facilities and technology, and support innovative models that bring high-quality, dependable care closer to home.&nbsp;

“More than 60 million Americans living in rural areas have the right to equal access to quality care,”&nbsp;said Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. “This historic investment puts local hospitals, clinics, and health workers in control of their communities’ healthcare. Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, rural Americans will now have affordable healthcare close to home, free from bureaucratic obstacles.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

“Today marks an extraordinary milestone for rural health in America,”&nbsp;said CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz. “Thanks to Congress establishing this investment and President Trump for his leadership, states are stepping forward with bold, creative plans to expand rural access, strengthen their workforces, modernize care, and support the communities that keep our nation running. CMS is proud to partner with every state to turn their ideas into lasting improvements for rural families.”

A Nationwide Commitment to Strengthen Rural Health Care

The Rural Health Transformation Program is a national commitment to improving the health and well-being of rural communities across the country. With this funding, states will implement comprehensive strategies to improve care delivery, support providers, and advance new approaches to coordinating health care services across rural communities. Across the country, many states are planning efforts that will:

States will advance Make Rural America Healthy Again goals by expanding preventive, primary, maternal, and behavioral health services and creating new access points that bring care closer to home and help preserve strong local health systems. Many states are implementing evidence-based, outcomes-driven strategies—such as physical fitness and nutrition programs, food-as-medicine initiatives, and chronic disease prevention models—to address root causes of diseases and manage chronic conditions. States will also strengthen rural emergency care through improved emergency medical services (EMS) communication, treat-in-place options, and coordinated transfers.

States will support clinical workforce training, residencies, recruitment and retention incentives, and new pathways that help students begin health care careers in their own communities. States are also investing in programs to train and support the existing clinical workforce and build futures close to home.&nbsp;

Investments will modernize rural facilities and equipment; strengthen cybersecurity and interoperability; and expand telehealth, remote patient monitoring, and digital tools that enable timely access to care. States are also exploring the use of technology such as AI scribes and clinical workflow improvement tools to reduce burdens on clinicians.&nbsp;

States will prioritize streamlining operations, empowering providers to enhance coordination of care and resources, and building partnerships across the state with the goal of keeping care local. This includes establishing specialized hub-and-spoke models, rural regional centers of excellence, comprehensive data-sharing platforms, and rural clinically integrated networks.

States will test new primary care and value-based care models, strengthen partnerships among rural and other providers, and promote regional collaboration that improves health sustainability and patient outcomes.

The Rural Health Transformation Program’s $50 billion in funds will be allocated to approved states over five years, with $10 billion available each year from 2026 through 2030. As directed by Public Law 119-21:

CMS made funding awards to all 50 states.&nbsp;

The Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services (CMS) on Monday announced that all 50 states will receive awards under the Rural Health Transformation Program, a $50 billion initiative established under President Trump’s Working Families Tax Cuts legislation (Public Law 119-21) to strengthen and modernize health care in rural communities across the country, according to a statement from CMS.&nbsp;In 2026, states will receive first-year awards from CMS averaging $200 million within a range of $147 million to $281 million. Missouri will receive&nbsp;$216,276,818, Kansas&nbsp;$221,898,008.&nbsp;This unprecedented federal investment will help states expand access to care in rural communities, strengthen the rural health workforce, modernize rural facilities and technology, and support innovative models that bring high-quality, dependable care closer to home.&nbsp;“More than 60 million Americans living in rural areas have the right to equal access to quality care,”&nbsp;said Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. “This historic investment puts local hospitals, clinics, and health workers in control of their communities’ healthcare. Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, rural Americans will now have affordable healthcare close to home, free from bureaucratic obstacles.”&nbsp;&nbsp;“Today marks an extraordinary milestone for rural health in America,”&nbsp;said CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz. “Thanks to Congress establishing this investment and President Trump for his leadership, states are stepping forward with bold, creative plans to expand rural access, strengthen their workforces, modernize care, and support the communities that keep our nation running. CMS is proud to partner with every state to turn their ideas into lasting improvements for rural families.”A Nationwide Commitment to Strengthen Rural Health CareThe Rural Health Transformation Program is a national commitment to improving the health and well-being of rural communities across the country. With this funding, states will implement comprehensive strategies to improve care delivery, support providers, and advance new approaches to coordinating health care services across rural communities. Across the country, many states are planning efforts that will:<ul>
 <li>Bring More Care Within Reach</li>
 </ul>States will advance Make Rural America Healthy Again goals by expanding preventive, primary, maternal, and behavioral health services and creating new access points that bring care closer to home and help preserve strong local health systems. Many states are implementing evidence-based, outcomes-driven strategies—such as physical fitness and nutrition programs, food-as-medicine initiatives, and chronic disease prevention models—to address root causes of diseases and manage chronic conditions. States will also strengthen rural emergency care through improved emergency medical services (EMS) communication, treat-in-place options, and coordinated transfers.<ul>
 <li>Strengthen and Sustain the Rural Clinical Workforce</li>
 </ul>States will support clinical workforce training, residencies, recruitment and retention incentives, and new pathways that help students begin health care careers in their own communities. States are also investing in programs to train and support the existing clinical workforce and build futures close to home.&nbsp;<ul>
 <li>Modernize Rural Health Infrastructure and Technology</li>
 </ul>Investments will modernize rural facilities and equipment; strengthen cybersecurity and interoperability; and expand telehealth, remote patient monitoring, and digital tools that enable timely access to care. States are also exploring the use of technology such as AI scribes and clinical workflow improvement tools to reduce burdens on clinicians.&nbsp;<ul>
 <li>Driving Structural Efficiency &amp; Empowering the Community Providers</li>
 </ul>States will prioritize streamlining operations, empowering providers to enhance coordination of care and resources, and building partnerships across the state with the goal of keeping care local. This includes establishing specialized hub-and-spoke models, rural regional centers of excellence, comprehensive data-sharing platforms, and rural clinically integrated networks.<ul>
 <li>Advance Innovative Care Models and Payment Reform</li>
 </ul>States will test new primary care and value-based care models, strengthen partnerships among rural and other providers, and promote regional collaboration that improves health sustainability and patient outcomes.Awardees and Funding AmountsThe Rural Health Transformation Program’s $50 billion in funds will be allocated to approved states over five years, with $10 billion available each year from 2026 through 2030. As directed by Public Law 119-21:<ul>
 <li>50% of the funding is distributed equally among all approved states. This provides states with a strong foundation to begin implementing their Rural Health Transformation Plans; and</li><li>50% is allocated based on a variety of factors.&nbsp;As described in the&nbsp;<a href="https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/360442">Notice of Funding Opportunity</a>, those factors include individual state metrics around rurality and a state’s rural health system, current or proposed state policy actions that enhance access and quality of care in rural communities, and application initiatives or activities that reflect the greatest potential for, and scale of, impact on the health of rural communities. All scoring factors are outlined further in the Notice of Funding Opportunity.</li>
 </ul>CMS made funding awards to all 50 states.&nbsp;

Missouri secures $221 Million in 2026 from Rural Healthcare Transformation Fund

The fund held $5.8 billion, a record, at the end of June 2023. Without changes to the budget, State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick warns, the money will all be gone by June 2028

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

Missouri’s budget faces a fiscal cliff by mid-2028 when accumulated surpluses will be depleted, state Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick said in a report released Monday&nbsp;<a href="https://auditor.mo.gov/AuditReport/ViewReport?report=2025101&amp;token=0111925473" target="_blank">analyzing spending trends</a>&nbsp;since 2000.

The report, following soon after revenue projections estimating general revenue will be&nbsp;$400 million less than expected, warns that a recession could deplete the surplus even faster, by the end of fiscal 2027.

“The time is now to make the tough decisions that will prevent drastic, emergency budget cuts from being necessary in the months and years ahead,” Fitzpatrick said in a news release.&nbsp;

Fitzpatrick, the auditor since 2023, was previously chairman of the House Budget Committee. When he was a lawmaker, from 2013 to 2019, state revenues were tight and often subject to large cuts when growth was sluggish.

Few current legislators have experienced shrinking budgets, Fitzpatrick said.

“Many current legislators have only been in office during these last few years during which strong economic growth and a huge influx of federal money have made hard budget decisions unnecessary,” Fitzpatrick said. “But they’re about to face the challenge of crafting a budget in the face of slowing revenue growth and reduced federal funding.“

Gov. Mike Kehoe on Jan. 13 will deliver his budget proposal for fiscal 2027. When he released the reduced revenue estimate on Dec. 17, Kehoe warned of a tight budget coming and a need to limit new spending.

There will be upward pressure on the general revenue fund from changes to&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/03/26/medicaid-snap-cuts-could-create-a-massive-hole-in-missouri-budget-cost-thousands-of-jobs/">shared federal programs</a>&nbsp;and spending from soon-to-be-depleted funds that substitute for general revenue. At the same time, the estimate shows, there will be downward pressure on revenues due to the bill eliminating the state income tax on&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/07/10/capital-gains-exemption-and-motor-vehicle-fee-hike-bills-signed-by-missouri-governor/">capital gains</a>&nbsp;pushed through by Republicans in Missouri and changes to the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/06/02/proposed-federal-tax-changes-could-mean-170m-or-more-cut-to-missouri-state-revenues/">federal tax code</a>&nbsp;pushed through by Republicans in Congress.

The budget for fiscal 2026, which ends on June 30, projects general revenue spending on state operations at $15 billion, with another $725 million appropriated for building projects. General revenue receipts for the year should be about $13.15 billion, a decline of 2.1% over fiscal 2025, according to the estimate released Dec. 17.

If the estimate is correct, it would be the fourth consecutive year when state revenues&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/09/17/missouri-tax-revenues-declining-in-first-months-of-fiscal-year-raising-concerns/">lag behind inflation</a>&nbsp;and the first time revenues have declined year-over-year outside of a recession or COVID-impacted fiscal 2020.

Previous estimates had projected revenue growth for the year.

The Dec. 17 estimate forecasts growing revenues in the coming budget year, and Fitzpatrick used the 25-year average of year-over-year growth to project further.

Fitzpatrick said if lawmakers add nothing to the current budget for three years, and the revenue estimate is accurate, the general revenue fund balance, which reached a&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/06/30/missouri-surplus-peaking-at-8-billion-as-governor-prepares-to-act-on-state-budget/">record $5.8 billion</a>&nbsp;on June 30, 2023, will be depleted before fiscal 2028 ends on June 30, 2028.

The general revenue fund balance was $3.4 billion at the end of November. The state will be about $370 million short in fiscal 2028, Fitzpatrick’s report projects.

If a recession hits and Missouri experiences a repetition of the worst decline this century, Fitzpatrick said, the balance will be depleted as much as a year earlier. The gap between revenue and spending could reach $3.8 billion, the report states.

“Economic trends are unpredictable and we need to make sure Missouri is ready to face any challenge,” he said.

Spending has exceeded revenues in each year since fiscal 2023, with the surplus providing the difference. The surplus was accumulated by replacing state funds with federal COVID-19 pandemic aid and year-over-year revenue windfalls due to inflation and rapid wage growth.

In a statement issued Monday afternoon, House Budget Committee Chairman Dirk Deaton, a Republican from Noel, said Fitzpatrick’s projection is not surprising.

“His analysis confirms what I have said both in private and public comments over the past year about the long-term condition of the state budget,” Deaton said. “Specifically, the concern about a structural deficit created when ongoing general revenue spending exceeds what the state collects within a given fiscal year.”

Keeping spending flat into future years will be difficult. This year’s state budget includes about $1.2 billion in spending from non-general revenue funds that will be depleted at the end of the fiscal year. Department budget requests have identified&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/10/09/missouri-public-schools-medicaid-need-1-billion-more-to-continue-current-programs/">about $1 billion in spending</a>&nbsp;in just a handful of large items that must come from general revenue for programs to continue at their current level.

“There are certainly significant mandatory increases that we’re going to have to deal with,” state Budget Director Dan Haug said in an interview with The Independent earlier this month.

Fitzpatrick’s report notes that Missouri has a budget reserve fund holding about $900 million but that it cannot be used to cover shortfalls except in an emergency.

The report does not address whether other funds, holding about $2.5 billion for major projects, should be recaptured for general revenue. It also does not estimate the potential impact of future tax cuts in law and being proposed.

Ongoing expenses have increased for public education, increased payments to medical and mental health providers and&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/09/missouri-state-employee-pay-raise-advances-with-vote-on-spending-bill/">state employee payrolls</a>. The budget has also been increased by lawmakers sprinkling hundreds of millions in&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/06/30/missouri-governor-hits-earmarks-with-veto-pen-as-he-signs-state-budget/">earmarked projects</a>&nbsp;into spending bills to fund local needs or help favored organizations.&nbsp;

State lawmakers asked by The Independent about the budget said they expect cuts in a number of programs when Kehoe presents his plan.

State Rep. Jeff Vernetti, a Republican from Camdenton on the House Budget Committee, said decreasing revenues will force spending reductions.

“I think every single department across the state, every single area, needs to be looked at so that Missouri can not have a crisis on its hands.”

State Rep. Betsy Fogle of Springfield, the ranking Democrat on the House Budget Committee, said Republicans are facing the impact of policies that put tax cuts ahead of state obligations.

The capital gains tax cut will reduce revenue by $500 million but Republicans, when it passed, insisted it was closer to $110 million annually.

“I do not understand how they think outcomes in this state will change when they continue to blow holes in our budget through things like the elimination of the capital gains tax,” Fogle said.

State Sen. Maggie Nurrenbern, a Kansas City Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, echoed Fogle’s criticism of GOP tax policies. Additional costly tax cuts for top earners are already in state law, she said.

“Because of the decisions of Republican politicians to give tax cuts to the most wealthy, fundamental state services are going to suffer,” Nurrenbern said.

Reducing ongoing programs now will protect future budgets from cuts, Fitzpatrick said in the news release.

“The longer Missouri waits to take action,” Fitzpatrick said, “the harder this exercise will become.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1751110830433.png" alt="&nbsp;Missouri Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick on Monday forecast the state will burn through the rest of its general revenue surplus by June 2028 unless spending increases slow.&nbsp;He is shown speaking to reporters during a Jan. 23, 2024, news conference. (Jason Hancock/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;Missouri Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick on Monday forecast the state will burn through the rest of its general revenue surplus by June 2028 unless spending increases slow.&nbsp;He is shown speaking to reporters during a Jan. 23, 2024, news conference. (Jason Hancock/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>The fund held $5.8 billion, a record, at the end of June 2023. Without changes to the budget, State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick warns, the money will all be gone by June 2028</h2>BY:&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/rudi-keller/">RUDI KELLER</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>Missouri’s budget faces a fiscal cliff by mid-2028 when accumulated surpluses will be depleted, state Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick said in a report released Monday&nbsp;<a href="https://auditor.mo.gov/AuditReport/ViewReport?report=2025101&amp;token=0111925473" target="_blank">analyzing spending trends</a>&nbsp;since 2000.The report, following soon after revenue projections estimating general revenue will be&nbsp;$400 million less than expected, warns that a recession could deplete the surplus even faster, by the end of fiscal 2027.“The time is now to make the tough decisions that will prevent drastic, emergency budget cuts from being necessary in the months and years ahead,” Fitzpatrick said in a news release.&nbsp;Fitzpatrick, the auditor since 2023, was previously chairman of the House Budget Committee. When he was a lawmaker, from 2013 to 2019, state revenues were tight and often subject to large cuts when growth was sluggish.Few current legislators have experienced shrinking budgets, Fitzpatrick said.“Many current legislators have only been in office during these last few years during which strong economic growth and a huge influx of federal money have made hard budget decisions unnecessary,” Fitzpatrick said. “But they’re about to face the challenge of crafting a budget in the face of slowing revenue growth and reduced federal funding.“Gov. Mike Kehoe on Jan. 13 will deliver his budget proposal for fiscal 2027. When he released the reduced revenue estimate on Dec. 17, Kehoe warned of a tight budget coming and a need to limit new spending.There will be upward pressure on the general revenue fund from changes to&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/03/26/medicaid-snap-cuts-could-create-a-massive-hole-in-missouri-budget-cost-thousands-of-jobs/">shared federal programs</a>&nbsp;and spending from soon-to-be-depleted funds that substitute for general revenue. At the same time, the estimate shows, there will be downward pressure on revenues due to the bill eliminating the state income tax on&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/07/10/capital-gains-exemption-and-motor-vehicle-fee-hike-bills-signed-by-missouri-governor/">capital gains</a>&nbsp;pushed through by Republicans in Missouri and changes to the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/06/02/proposed-federal-tax-changes-could-mean-170m-or-more-cut-to-missouri-state-revenues/">federal tax code</a>&nbsp;pushed through by Republicans in Congress.The budget for fiscal 2026, which ends on June 30, projects general revenue spending on state operations at $15 billion, with another $725 million appropriated for building projects. General revenue receipts for the year should be about $13.15 billion, a decline of 2.1% over fiscal 2025, according to the estimate released Dec. 17.If the estimate is correct, it would be the fourth consecutive year when state revenues&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/09/17/missouri-tax-revenues-declining-in-first-months-of-fiscal-year-raising-concerns/">lag behind inflation</a>&nbsp;and the first time revenues have declined year-over-year outside of a recession or COVID-impacted fiscal 2020.Previous estimates had projected revenue growth for the year.The Dec. 17 estimate forecasts growing revenues in the coming budget year, and Fitzpatrick used the 25-year average of year-over-year growth to project further.Fitzpatrick said if lawmakers add nothing to the current budget for three years, and the revenue estimate is accurate, the general revenue fund balance, which reached a&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/06/30/missouri-surplus-peaking-at-8-billion-as-governor-prepares-to-act-on-state-budget/">record $5.8 billion</a>&nbsp;on June 30, 2023, will be depleted before fiscal 2028 ends on June 30, 2028.The general revenue fund balance was $3.4 billion at the end of November. The state will be about $370 million short in fiscal 2028, Fitzpatrick’s report projects.If a recession hits and Missouri experiences a repetition of the worst decline this century, Fitzpatrick said, the balance will be depleted as much as a year earlier. The gap between revenue and spending could reach $3.8 billion, the report states.“Economic trends are unpredictable and we need to make sure Missouri is ready to face any challenge,” he said.Spending has exceeded revenues in each year since fiscal 2023, with the surplus providing the difference. The surplus was accumulated by replacing state funds with federal COVID-19 pandemic aid and year-over-year revenue windfalls due to inflation and rapid wage growth.In a statement issued Monday afternoon, House Budget Committee Chairman Dirk Deaton, a Republican from Noel, said Fitzpatrick’s projection is not surprising.“His analysis confirms what I have said both in private and public comments over the past year about the long-term condition of the state budget,” Deaton said. “Specifically, the concern about a structural deficit created when ongoing general revenue spending exceeds what the state collects within a given fiscal year.”Keeping spending flat into future years will be difficult. This year’s state budget includes about $1.2 billion in spending from non-general revenue funds that will be depleted at the end of the fiscal year. Department budget requests have identified&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/10/09/missouri-public-schools-medicaid-need-1-billion-more-to-continue-current-programs/">about $1 billion in spending</a>&nbsp;in just a handful of large items that must come from general revenue for programs to continue at their current level.“There are certainly significant mandatory increases that we’re going to have to deal with,” state Budget Director Dan Haug said in an interview with The Independent earlier this month.Fitzpatrick’s report notes that Missouri has a budget reserve fund holding about $900 million but that it cannot be used to cover shortfalls except in an emergency.The report does not address whether other funds, holding about $2.5 billion for major projects, should be recaptured for general revenue. It also does not estimate the potential impact of future tax cuts in law and being proposed.Ongoing expenses have increased for public education, increased payments to medical and mental health providers and&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/09/missouri-state-employee-pay-raise-advances-with-vote-on-spending-bill/">state employee payrolls</a>. The budget has also been increased by lawmakers sprinkling hundreds of millions in&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/06/30/missouri-governor-hits-earmarks-with-veto-pen-as-he-signs-state-budget/">earmarked projects</a>&nbsp;into spending bills to fund local needs or help favored organizations.&nbsp;State lawmakers asked by The Independent about the budget said they expect cuts in a number of programs when Kehoe presents his plan.State Rep. Jeff Vernetti, a Republican from Camdenton on the House Budget Committee, said decreasing revenues will force spending reductions.“I think every single department across the state, every single area, needs to be looked at so that Missouri can not have a crisis on its hands.”State Rep. Betsy Fogle of Springfield, the ranking Democrat on the House Budget Committee, said Republicans are facing the impact of policies that put tax cuts ahead of state obligations.The capital gains tax cut will reduce revenue by $500 million but Republicans, when it passed, insisted it was closer to $110 million annually.“I do not understand how they think outcomes in this state will change when they continue to blow holes in our budget through things like the elimination of the capital gains tax,” Fogle said.State Sen. Maggie Nurrenbern, a Kansas City Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, echoed Fogle’s criticism of GOP tax policies. Additional costly tax cuts for top earners are already in state law, she said.“Because of the decisions of Republican politicians to give tax cuts to the most wealthy, fundamental state services are going to suffer,” Nurrenbern said.Reducing ongoing programs now will protect future budgets from cuts, Fitzpatrick said in the news release.“The longer Missouri waits to take action,” Fitzpatrick said, “the harder this exercise will become.”

Missouri auditor warns of vanishing state general revenue surplus as spending rises

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports that ten people died in traffic crashes over the 2025 Christmas holiday. 

The counting period began at 6 p.m. Dec. 24, and ended at 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 28.

In addition to the fatalities, troopers responded to 258 total crashes and 94 injuries. The Patrol&nbsp; also remained active in enforcement, making 93 arrests for driving while intoxicated over the long weekend.

The fatalities were reported across several regions of the state. These incidents occurred in areas patrolled by Troop A in Lee’s Summit, Troop B in Macon, Troop C in St. Charles, Troop E in Poplar Bluff, Troop G in Willow Springs, and Troop H in St. Joseph.

The 2025 totals were higher than the previous year, which saw only three deaths. However, it was noted the couting

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports that ten people died in traffic crashes over the 2025 Christmas holiday. The counting period began at 6 p.m. Dec. 24, and ended at 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 28.In addition to the fatalities, troopers responded to 258 total crashes and 94 injuries. The Patrol&nbsp; also remained active in enforcement, making 93 arrests for driving while intoxicated over the long weekend.The fatalities were reported across several regions of the state. These incidents occurred in areas patrolled by Troop A in Lee’s Summit, Troop B in Macon, Troop C in St. Charles, Troop E in Poplar Bluff, Troop G in Willow Springs, and Troop H in St. Joseph.The 2025 totals were higher than the previous year, which saw only three deaths. However, it was noted the couting

10 dead, 93 arrested in Missouri holiday traffic

By:<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/tyler-kirwan/">Tyler Kirwan</a>

Contracts are in place for a project that will test the wastewater of public schools in Missouri for signs of fentanyl and other drug use.

The Missouri Department of Public Safety has been negotiating with Mighty Good Solutions DBA Stercus Bioanalytics, and the Missouri-based company is now the contractor on a $7 million statewide project.

The project is planned to test the wastewater of 12 schools around Missouri for drug use and was touted by Gov. Mike Kehoe in January.

“In an effort to identify areas of high fentanyl use in schools across the state, we are including $4 million in investment for fentanyl testing in wastewater systems at schools,” Kehoe said during his first State of the State address in January.

An additional $3 million was allocated to the project to fund wastewater testing involving law enforcement efforts. The project was then moved from the Missouri Department of Health and Human services to the Department of Public Safety, Mike O’Connell, public safety communications director, said in an email.

“I believe that at that point, the decision was made to move the whole program to DPS,” O’Connell said.

Last month, Missouri school superintendents received emails asking them to notify the agency if they are interested in enrolling in the wastewater test program, O’Connell said.

In the email sent to superintendents and obtained by the Missourian, the program is said to include ongoing weekly testing that will provide insights into short- and long-term trends.

“Through the collection of one small wastewater sample per week, schools will receive near real-time insights into local substance misuse trends at no cost and with no additional responsibilities for your staff,” said Mark James, director of the Department of Public Safety in the email.

The project dates are not yet set, but the email asks that superintendents request inclusion in the program by this week, adding that the data from the testing may be used to shape initiatives that attempt to counteract drug use.

Opioid overdose is the leading cause of death for those aged 18 to 44 in Missouri, according to the Health and Human Services website.

The project had received $2 million in funding from former Gov. Mike Parson in his 2025 budget. No wastewater testing in schools has taken place yet.

The company in charge of testing, Mighty Good Solutions, says on their website, “By analyzing wastewater for specific biomarkers, we provide governments with powerful tools to detect narcotics prevalence, understand usage patterns, and identify trends — all through anonymous, macro-level data.”

Plans for testing don’t give specific details on how the Department of Public Safety will use the data to help combat opioid usage. Other states have been in conversations with the same company, and Mississippi lawmakers are currently considering them for wastewater testing.

This story originally appeared in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/state_news/contractors-selected-for-fentanyl-testing-in-school-wastewater/article_a72ac90b-b955-4643-afe9-ab4b48097fab.html#tncms-source=topstory" target="_blank">Columbia Missourian</a>.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1608245358476.png" alt="DEA image" />
 <figcaption>DEA image</figcaption>
 </figure>By:<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/tyler-kirwan/">Tyler Kirwan</a>Contracts are in place for a project that will test the wastewater of public schools in Missouri for signs of fentanyl and other drug use.The Missouri Department of Public Safety has been negotiating with Mighty Good Solutions DBA Stercus Bioanalytics, and the Missouri-based company is now the contractor on a $7 million statewide project.The project is planned to test the wastewater of 12 schools around Missouri for drug use and was touted by Gov. Mike Kehoe in January.“In an effort to identify areas of high fentanyl use in schools across the state, we are including $4 million in investment for fentanyl testing in wastewater systems at schools,” Kehoe said during his first State of the State address in January.An additional $3 million was allocated to the project to fund wastewater testing involving law enforcement efforts. The project was then moved from the Missouri Department of Health and Human services to the Department of Public Safety, Mike O’Connell, public safety communications director, said in an email.“I believe that at that point, the decision was made to move the whole program to DPS,” O’Connell said.Last month, Missouri school superintendents received emails asking them to notify the agency if they are interested in enrolling in the wastewater test program, O’Connell said.In the email sent to superintendents and obtained by the Missourian, the program is said to include ongoing weekly testing that will provide insights into short- and long-term trends.“Through the collection of one small wastewater sample per week, schools will receive near real-time insights into local substance misuse trends at no cost and with no additional responsibilities for your staff,” said Mark James, director of the Department of Public Safety in the email.The project dates are not yet set, but the email asks that superintendents request inclusion in the program by this week, adding that the data from the testing may be used to shape initiatives that attempt to counteract drug use.Opioid overdose is the leading cause of death for those aged 18 to 44 in Missouri, according to the Health and Human Services website.The project had received $2 million in funding from former Gov. Mike Parson in his 2025 budget. No wastewater testing in schools has taken place yet.The company in charge of testing, Mighty Good Solutions, says on their website, “By analyzing wastewater for specific biomarkers, we provide governments with powerful tools to detect narcotics prevalence, understand usage patterns, and identify trends — all through anonymous, macro-level data.”Plans for testing don’t give specific details on how the Department of Public Safety will use the data to help combat opioid usage. Other states have been in conversations with the same company, and Mississippi lawmakers are currently considering them for wastewater testing.This story originally appeared in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/state_news/contractors-selected-for-fentanyl-testing-in-school-wastewater/article_a72ac90b-b955-4643-afe9-ab4b48097fab.html#tncms-source=topstory" target="_blank">Columbia Missourian</a>.&nbsp;

Contractors selected for fentanyl testing in Missouri school wastewater

Falls from tree stands have surpassed firearm-related incidents as the leading cause of injury for deer hunters, according to a recent national study. While environmental factors and equipment failure play a role, experts say human error is a primary driver of these accidents.

Megan Anderson, an injury prevention coordinator at Emplify Health by Gundersen, noted that while bad weather and faulty stand construction contribute to falls, many incidents occur simply because a hunter loses their balance while perched on the platform.

To mitigate these risks, Anderson recommends that all hunters wear a full-body harness. Safety advocates emphasize that a harness can provide a critical fail-safe for those positioned on wooden platforms high above the ground.

The safety warning comes as several deer hunting seasons remain active, with some set to run through Jan. 25. The risk is widespread, as statistics show that 80% of firearm hunters and 90% of bow hunters utilize tree stands during the season.

By RYAN SKAITHFalls from tree stands have surpassed firearm-related incidents as the leading cause of injury for deer hunters, according to a recent national study. While environmental factors and equipment failure play a role, experts say human error is a primary driver of these accidents.Megan Anderson, an injury prevention coordinator at Emplify Health by Gundersen, noted that while bad weather and faulty stand construction contribute to falls, many incidents occur simply because a hunter loses their balance while perched on the platform.To mitigate these risks, Anderson recommends that all hunters wear a full-body harness. Safety advocates emphasize that a harness can provide a critical fail-safe for those positioned on wooden platforms high above the ground.The safety warning comes as several deer hunting seasons remain active, with some set to run through Jan. 25. The risk is widespread, as statistics show that 80% of firearm hunters and 90% of bow hunters utilize tree stands during the season.

Study: Tree stand falls now leading cause of deer hunting injuries

DEKALB COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 4:30p.m. Sunday in DeKalb County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2004 GMC Envoy driven by a 36-year-old Maysville man was southbound on MO 33 just south of Maysville. The SUV struck a patch of ice, traveled off the west side of the road and rolled.

A private vehicle transported the driver to Mosaic in St. Joseph. He was properly restrained, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

DEKALB COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 4:30p.m. Sunday in DeKalb County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2004 GMC Envoy driven by a 36-year-old Maysville man was southbound on MO 33 just south of Maysville. The SUV struck a patch of ice, traveled off the west side of the road and rolled.A private vehicle transported the driver to Mosaic in St. Joseph. He was properly restrained, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Mo. man hospitalized in St. Joe after SUV rolls on the ice

NODAWAY COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just before 3:30p.m. Sunday in Nodaway County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Ford F150 driven by a 47-year-old Stanberry man was westbound on U.S. 136 three miles east of Conception Junction. The driver lost control on the snow covered road. The pickup traveled off the north side of the road and rolled.

Grand River EMS transported the driver to Mosaic in Maryville. He was 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 before 3:30p.m. Sunday in Nodaway County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Ford F150 driven by a 47-year-old Stanberry man was westbound on U.S. 136 three miles east of Conception Junction. The driver lost control on the snow covered road. The pickup traveled off the north side of the road and rolled.Grand River EMS transported the driver to Mosaic in Maryville. He was properly restrained, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Missouri man injured after rollover crash in the snow

ATCHISON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating suspect in connection with alleged child abuse.

Just after 8a.m. on Saturday police responded to a disturbance at a residence in the 1200 block South 10th Street in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson. It was determined that a child less than two years old had been struck multiple times.&nbsp; 

Police took 28-year-old Zachary Voelker into custody at the scene. During his arrest he was found to be in possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.&nbsp; Voelker is being held on requested charges of aggravated battery, abuse of a child, and possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.&nbsp; The child did not require hospital care, according to Wilson.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1766951410418.png" alt="Voelker-photo Atchison police" />
 <figcaption>Voelker-photo Atchison police</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating suspect in connection with alleged child abuse.Just after 8a.m. on Saturday police responded to a disturbance at a residence in the 1200 block South 10th Street in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson. It was determined that a child less than two years old had been struck multiple times.&nbsp; Police took 28-year-old Zachary Voelker into custody at the scene. During his arrest he was found to be in possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.&nbsp; Voelker is being held on requested charges of aggravated battery, abuse of a child, and possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.&nbsp; The child did not require hospital care, according to Wilson.

Police: Kansas man accused of beating a toddler

DEKALB COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 9p.m. Saturday in DeKalb County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a Chevy Tahoe driven by a 34-year-old Savannah man was northbound on MO 33 two miles west of Osborn. The driver failed to stop at the stop sign at U.S. 36. The Tahoe traveled into the path of an eastbound 2025 Volvo semi. After impact, the semi overturned and came to rest blocking the eastbound passing lane of the highway.

The 34-year-old Tahoe driver was pronounced dead at the scene. DeKalb Clinton Ambulance transported a 12-year-old girl and a 13-year-old boy, passengers in the Tahoe, to Mosaic in St. Joseph. The 36-year-old semi driver from Florida was not injured. The 13-year-old in the Tahoe was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

DEKALB COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 9p.m. Saturday in DeKalb County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a Chevy Tahoe driven by a 34-year-old Savannah man was northbound on MO 33 two miles west of Osborn. The driver failed to stop at the stop sign at U.S. 36. The Tahoe traveled into the path of an eastbound 2025 Volvo semi. After impact, the semi overturned and came to rest blocking the eastbound passing lane of the highway.The 34-year-old Tahoe driver was pronounced dead at the scene. DeKalb Clinton Ambulance transported a 12-year-old girl and a 13-year-old boy, passengers in the Tahoe, to Mosaic in St. Joseph. The 36-year-old semi driver from Florida was not injured. The 13-year-old in the Tahoe was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Mo. man dead, 2 juveniles injured after semi, SUV crash

NODAWAY COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 2:30p.m. Saturday in Nodaway County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2018 Kawasaki Vulcan driven by a 35-year-old Carrollton was eastbound on Route M five and one half miles east of Guilford. The driver failed to negotiate a cure. The motorcycle traveled off the south side of the road down an embankment, struck a ditch, overturned and the driver was ejected.

EMS transported the driver to Mosaic in Maryville where he was pronounced deceased. He was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

NODAWAY COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 2:30p.m. Saturday in Nodaway County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2018 Kawasaki Vulcan driven by a 35-year-old Carrollton was eastbound on Route M five and one half miles east of Guilford. The driver failed to negotiate a cure. The motorcycle traveled off the south side of the road down an embankment, struck a ditch, overturned and the driver was ejected.EMS transported the driver to Mosaic in Maryville where he was pronounced deceased. He was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Missouri man dies in motorcycle accident

CALDWELL COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 9:30p.m. Friday in Caldwell County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2002 Chevy 2500 driven by a 27-year-old Dalton M. Stith of Hamilton was southbound on MO 13 three miles south of Hamilton. The pickup traveled off the west side of the road and rolled onto its top.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Stith was arrested on requested charges of driving while intoxicated, driving without a valid license and careless and imprudent driving involving a crash. He was also not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.

Caldwell County EMS transported Stith to Cameron Regional Medial Center and then on to Truman Medical Center.

CALDWELL COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 9:30p.m. Friday in Caldwell County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2002 Chevy 2500 driven by a 27-year-old Dalton M. Stith of Hamilton was southbound on MO 13 three miles south of Hamilton. The pickup traveled off the west side of the road and rolled onto its top.&nbsp;&nbsp;Stith was arrested on requested charges of driving while intoxicated, driving without a valid license and careless and imprudent driving involving a crash. He was also not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.Caldwell County EMS transported Stith to Cameron Regional Medial Center and then on to Truman Medical Center.

Mo. man accused of DWI after injured in rollover crash

By:<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/charleyduffin/">Charley Duffin</a>

When Jan. 1 rolls around, Missouri’s minimum wage will increase from $13.75 to $15 an hour, putting the state ahead of many others.

The Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations announced that the minimum wage is set to increase by $1.25 beginning in 2026. The minimum wage rate will be in effect for all non-exempt employers.

Missouri’s HB 567, signed by Gov. Mike Kehoe into law on July 10, repealed statewide earned paid sick time while simultaneously modifying the state’s minimum wage law.

It eliminated the automatic inflation adjustments that were set to begin in 2027 and kept the $15 per hour rate for public employers. However, it is also removing voter-approved worker protections for businesses as of Aug. 28.

Lily Roberts is the managing director of economic policy at the Center for American Progress, a nonpartisan economic policy institute. She said conversations about adjusting the minimum wage reflect rising prices that have increased in recent years.

“Everybody can tell you about inflation, and everybody can tell you about the cost of rent or groceries or childcare being really expensive, but the flip side of that is wages,” Roberts said. “There are many folks who are worse off and less able to keep up with those raising prices because a major pillar of how we make wage policy hasn’t been changed since 2009.”

The federal minimum wage is $7.25 and it hasn’t been adjusted since 2009, which Roberts said is the longest it’s gone unchanged since the introduction of minimum wage in 1938.

“$7.25 is so unbelievably low that many people don’t even believe that it’s still that low,” Roberts said.

In Missouri, employers who are involved in retail or service businesses and have an annual gross income less than $500,000 are exempt from having to pay the state minimum wage rate. Instead, those employers can pay their workers any wage at their discretion, according to the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.

Roberts said Missouri is unique in the fact that it raised its minimum wage to reflect inflation numbers, but when the state implements a $15 an hour minimum wage, it is no longer required to factor in inflation.

Between 2015 and 2019, Missouri’s minimum wage rose just under a dollar, from $7.65 to $8.60. Since 2019, the increase has been at least $0.75 annually every year except for 2023. The $1.25 jump will be the second straight year that the minimum wage has increased by more than a dollar.

Missouri is one of 34 U.S. states, territories and districts that has a higher minimum wage than the federal requirement.

Roberts said Missouri is in line with nearby states, such as South Dakota, Nebraska and Arkansas. All of those states, plus Missouri, have consistently been working on increasing their respective minimum wages.

“Some of them are doing it gradually over time to get to ($15 an hour) and others are passing individual laws,” Roberts said. “These longer-term predictable changes are really the trend right now, where you give businesses and employees a sense of how their wages will grow over time, and it means that it’s easier to predict and easier for employers to budget for.”

She said business owners are often fighting for higher wages, contrary to popular belief, because they need to be able to compete.

“The higher your wages that you pay, in general, the lower your turnover is,” Roberts said. “So businesses that pay really small dollars tend to have a lot of turnover. It actually gets really counterproductive and expensive very quickly because the business owner has to spend all of their time hiring, training and trying to retain folks.”

This story originally appeared in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/state_news/missouri-minimum-wage-set-to-increase-over-a-dollar-in-2026/article_3d33d784-f2f7-4fb3-a7a7-34fe23712ad8.html#tncms-source=topstory" target="_blank">Columbia Missourian</a>.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741714465522.jpeg" alt="pixabay" />
 <figcaption>pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By:<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/charleyduffin/">Charley Duffin</a>When Jan. 1 rolls around, Missouri’s minimum wage will increase from $13.75 to $15 an hour, putting the state ahead of many others.The Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations announced that the minimum wage is set to increase by $1.25 beginning in 2026. The minimum wage rate will be in effect for all non-exempt employers.Missouri’s HB 567, signed by Gov. Mike Kehoe into law on July 10, repealed statewide earned paid sick time while simultaneously modifying the state’s minimum wage law.It eliminated the automatic inflation adjustments that were set to begin in 2027 and kept the $15 per hour rate for public employers. However, it is also removing voter-approved worker protections for businesses as of Aug. 28.Lily Roberts is the managing director of economic policy at the Center for American Progress, a nonpartisan economic policy institute. She said conversations about adjusting the minimum wage reflect rising prices that have increased in recent years.“Everybody can tell you about inflation, and everybody can tell you about the cost of rent or groceries or childcare being really expensive, but the flip side of that is wages,” Roberts said. “There are many folks who are worse off and less able to keep up with those raising prices because a major pillar of how we make wage policy hasn’t been changed since 2009.”The federal minimum wage is $7.25 and it hasn’t been adjusted since 2009, which Roberts said is the longest it’s gone unchanged since the introduction of minimum wage in 1938.“$7.25 is so unbelievably low that many people don’t even believe that it’s still that low,” Roberts said.In Missouri, employers who are involved in retail or service businesses and have an annual gross income less than $500,000 are exempt from having to pay the state minimum wage rate. Instead, those employers can pay their workers any wage at their discretion, according to the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.Roberts said Missouri is unique in the fact that it raised its minimum wage to reflect inflation numbers, but when the state implements a $15 an hour minimum wage, it is no longer required to factor in inflation.Between 2015 and 2019, Missouri’s minimum wage rose just under a dollar, from $7.65 to $8.60. Since 2019, the increase has been at least $0.75 annually every year except for 2023. The $1.25 jump will be the second straight year that the minimum wage has increased by more than a dollar.Missouri is one of 34 U.S. states, territories and districts that has a higher minimum wage than the federal requirement.Roberts said Missouri is in line with nearby states, such as South Dakota, Nebraska and Arkansas. All of those states, plus Missouri, have consistently been working on increasing their respective minimum wages.“Some of them are doing it gradually over time to get to ($15 an hour) and others are passing individual laws,” Roberts said. “These longer-term predictable changes are really the trend right now, where you give businesses and employees a sense of how their wages will grow over time, and it means that it’s easier to predict and easier for employers to budget for.”She said business owners are often fighting for higher wages, contrary to popular belief, because they need to be able to compete.“The higher your wages that you pay, in general, the lower your turnover is,” Roberts said. “So businesses that pay really small dollars tend to have a lot of turnover. It actually gets really counterproductive and expensive very quickly because the business owner has to spend all of their time hiring, training and trying to retain folks.”This story originally appeared in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/state_news/missouri-minimum-wage-set-to-increase-over-a-dollar-in-2026/article_3d33d784-f2f7-4fb3-a7a7-34fe23712ad8.html#tncms-source=topstory" target="_blank">Columbia Missourian</a>.&nbsp;

Missouri minimum wage set to increase over a dollar in 2026

MERCER COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 10p.m. Thursday in Mercer County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2015 Mercedes CL2 driven by a 19-year-old Kirksville woman was southbound on High Street just south of U.S. 65 in Princeton. The driver ran a stop sign. The vehicle traveled off the east side of the road, struck a large piece of concrete in the ditch, started sliding counterclockwise, struck another ditch, rolled and the driver was ejected. The vehicle continued over Elm Street, traveled off the south side of Elm Street and struck another embankment.

Mercer County EMS transported the driver to Liberty Hospital. She was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

MERCER COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 10p.m. Thursday in Mercer County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2015 Mercedes CL2 driven by a 19-year-old Kirksville woman was southbound on High Street just south of U.S. 65 in Princeton. The driver ran a stop sign. The vehicle traveled off the east side of the road, struck a large piece of concrete in the ditch, started sliding counterclockwise, struck another ditch, rolled and the driver was ejected. The vehicle continued over Elm Street, traveled off the south side of Elm Street and struck another embankment.Mercer County EMS transported the driver to Liberty Hospital. She was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Mo. woman hospitalized after ejected in rollover crash

The Iowa State Patrol is reporting a dangerous rise in extreme speeding across the state. Sergeant Alex Dinkla says troopers are increasingly stopping everyday "Plain Jane" vehicles traveling at over 140 mph, including one recent stop where a driver reached 164 mph on the interstate.

While troopers regularly train at the Iowa Speedway, Dinkla notes that the patrol’s Dodge Chargers would never reach those speeds during a pursuit. Last year alone, Iowa troopers issued more than 1,000 tickets to drivers exceeding 100 mph.

In response, a state lawmaker who also serves as a trooper has introduced a bill in the Iowa House to significantly increase fines for excessive speeding to deter reckless driving.

By RYAN SKAITHThe Iowa State Patrol is reporting a dangerous rise in extreme speeding across the state. Sergeant Alex Dinkla says troopers are increasingly stopping everyday "Plain Jane" vehicles traveling at over 140 mph, including one recent stop where a driver reached 164 mph on the interstate.While troopers regularly train at the Iowa Speedway, Dinkla notes that the patrol’s Dodge Chargers would never reach those speeds during a pursuit. Last year alone, Iowa troopers issued more than 1,000 tickets to drivers exceeding 100 mph.In response, a state lawmaker who also serves as a trooper has introduced a bill in the Iowa House to significantly increase fines for excessive speeding to deter reckless driving.

Iowa Troopers See Surge in Extreme Speeding

LIVINGSTON COUNTY —Three people were injured in an accident just before 5:30p.m. Wednesday in Livingston County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2018 Chevy Malibu driven by an 18-year-old Chillicothe woman was southbound on U.S. 65 four miles north of Chillicothe. The car struck the passenger side of a 2022 Honda Pilot driven by a 62-year-old Chillicothe man who was attempting to make a u-turn.

Chillicothe EMS transported the teen driver, a 13-year-old and a 50-year-old who were both passengers in the Honda to Hedrick Medical Center.&nbsp; The Honda driver was not injured. All four were properly restrained, accoding to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

LIVINGSTON COUNTY —Three people were injured in an accident just before 5:30p.m. Wednesday in Livingston County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2018 Chevy Malibu driven by an 18-year-old Chillicothe woman was southbound on U.S. 65 four miles north of Chillicothe. The car struck the passenger side of a 2022 Honda Pilot driven by a 62-year-old Chillicothe man who was attempting to make a u-turn.Chillicothe EMS transported the teen driver, a 13-year-old and a 50-year-old who were both passengers in the Honda to Hedrick Medical Center.&nbsp; The Honda driver was not injured. All four were properly restrained, accoding to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

3 hospitalized after crash during u-turn

As Missouri lawmakers head into the 2026 legislative session, new federal THC limits are forcing a fresh debate over how — and whether — intoxicating hemp products should be regulated

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>

Businesses and Missouri lawmakers are scrambling to understand what will happen in November, when&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/11/11/missouri-hemp-businesses-fear-new-federal-thc-limits-will-destroy-the-industry/">new federal limits on intoxicating hemp products&nbsp;</a>go into effect.

It’s unclear just how proactive the federal government will be enforcing the new restrictions. Will it clamp down, or like it has with marijuana, look the other way as states enact their own rules?&nbsp;&nbsp;

To add to the uncertainty,&nbsp;President Donald Trump signed an&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/12/18/repub/trump-signs-order-to-loosen-federal-restrictions-on-marijuana-but-its-still-illegal/">executive order&nbsp;</a>last week to loosen federal restrictions on marijuana. That action could impact whether or not the feds choose to enforce hemp products as well, according to a congressional&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/LSB11381" target="_blank">report</a>.

Amidst the swirling questions, several Missouri lawmakers have pre-filed bills for the upcoming legislative session that begins in January to establish state regulations on intoxicating hemp products.&nbsp;

Not all of the Missouri proposals include the federal THC limit in their definitions of hemp, which&nbsp;will take effect&nbsp;Nov. 12 and was included in a&nbsp; federal spending package approved by Congress and signed by the president in November.&nbsp;

One&nbsp;<a href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/26info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&amp;BillID=443" target="_blank">proposal</a>&nbsp;that does align with the federal restrictions comes from Republican state Sen. David Gregory of Chesterfield, and it would regulate intoxicating hemp the same as marijuana. That would essentially ban current hemp products, because marijuana must be grown in Missouri and most hemp currently is grown outside of the state. It would also require hemp products to be sold in licensed cannabis dispensaries, where most are currently sold in gas stations, liquor stores and restaurants and smoke shops.&nbsp;

Republican state Rep. Matthew Overcast of Ava said he has “no concerns” about the federal language impacting the hemp industry. He plans on continuing to push his&nbsp;<a href="https://documents.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills261/hlrbillspdf/4263H.01I.pdf" target="_blank">proposed constitutional amendment</a>&nbsp;that would overturn the current regulatory framework for the cannabis industry and instead allow marijuana and intoxicating hemp products to be sold in the same stores as alcohol and tobacco.&nbsp;

“Historically, there’s been this softened congressional enforcement of our federally illicit marijuana programs that have regulated programs across the nation,” he said. “Even if the language were to stand, I don’t see — outside of big marijuana continuing to try to influence congressional and state legislators and state agencies — that we’re going to see federal enforcement on hemp.”

Democratic state Sen. Karla May of St. Louis pre-filed a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/26Info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&amp;BillID=208" target="_blank">bill</a>&nbsp;that would allow intoxicating hemp products to continue to be sold outside of dispensaries with a $1,000 registration fee annually. Her bill does not include the federal definition, she said, because it was drafted before the spending package went through. May called her bill a “starting point.”

Through it all, intoxicating hemp businesses — along with companies that assist them — are trying to figure out what their future might look like.&nbsp;

“Think about your bank, your payroll company, your merchant processor — they may not want to wait out the 365 days,” said Jessica Velazquez, a Las Vegas-based accountant with Beach Fleishman, during a November webinar for hemp businesses. “They may take a more conservative approach and say, ‘Hey, you know, this really is like [marijuana] and maybe we don’t want to service you anymore’ in the way that they currently are now.’”

Hemp and marijuana are essentially terms the government uses to distinguish between the part of the cannabis plant that has high amounts of THC.

Hemp has previously been defined as any part of the plant containing 0.3% or less&nbsp;delta-9 THC&nbsp;by dry weight.

Last month, a provision in the federal spending bill amended the&nbsp;<a href="https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?path=/prelim@title7/chapter38/subchapter7&amp;edition=prelim" target="_blank">definition of hemp</a>, changing the limit to a total THC concentration of less than .3% on a dry weight basis, rather than only delta-9 THC. It also prohibits products from containing more than 0.4 milligrams of THC per container.

The changes address some of the concerns Congress heard from groups like the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cann-ra.org/news-events/cannra-responds-to-congressional-request-for-information-on-federal-cannabinoid-hemp-regulation" target="_blank">Cannabis Regulators Association</a>, which represents state marijuana regulators across the nation.

The association submitted information to Congress in a<a href="https://www.cann-ra.org/news-events/cannra-responds-to-congressional-request-for-information-on-federal-cannabinoid-hemp-regulation" target="_blank">&nbsp;2023 report&nbsp;</a>stating that many hemp businesses are selling “THCA hemp” flower, or buds, containing less than 0.3% delta-9 THC.&nbsp;

“However, cannabis plants produce THCA, not THC,” the report states.&nbsp;

When the plant is smoked, the THCA converts or decarboxylates into delta-9 THC – and that’s why every state marijuana program defines THC in terms of both THCA and delta-9 THC, regulators said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

THCA products – including flower, vape cartridges and concentrates – are “indistinguishable” from marijuana products sold in dispensaries, the association stated.

And that’s why, regulators argued, there was a need to add language about total THC, instead of only delta-9.

Regarding weight, the association told Congress that the threshold of 0.3% delta-9 THC by weight is a small amount of THC in a hemp plant. However, when applied to things like chocolate bars or beverages that can weigh significantly more, 0.3% by weight can amount to hundreds of milligrams of THC.

The association gave the example of a 50-gram chocolate bar at 0.3% THC would have around 150 mg of THC — 30 times the standard 5 mg THC dose established by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. A family sized pack of cookies weighing 20 oz can contain around 1,700 mg of THC using the 0.3% THC threshold.

“The whole question was: what is hemp and what is marijuana?” said Jack Cardetti, spokesman for the Missouri Cannabis Trade Association. “There was not a bright line there, and it was a line that obviously some bad actors have used to push intoxicating products that were completely unregulated.”

The lack of government oversight on these products makes them a public health risk, Cardetti said. Now there is a “clear bright line,” he said, and he believes a majority of Missouri lawmakers will want to align with the federal definition.

The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee stated the changes were made to prevent “<a href="https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/fy26_agriculture_rural_development_fda_bill_summary_-_majority.pdf" target="_blank">the unregulated sale of intoxicating</a>” hemp products.

A&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/IN12620" target="_blank">report</a>&nbsp;from the Congressional Research Service released this month states that it “remains to be seen” whether the FDA will opt to try and remove the products from the market or not.

The FDA and DEA, in coordination with the Department of Justice, “have a range of civil and criminal remedies they may use in efforts to exercise control over these activities,” it states.

It also says these federal agencies, “may lack the resources to broadly enforce the laws prohibiting intoxicating hemp products on the market.”

Congress may also choose to exercise oversight over federal enforcement priorities regarding state-regulated cannabis activities, the report says. It took that step with medical marijuana, when it prohibited spending money on enforcement.

“Congress can say that, ‘FDA and DEA, we prohibit you from using federal dollars to enforce against state-compliant hemp programs,’” said Craig Small, a Denver-based cannabis attorney.&nbsp;

With the federal limits, Small said hemp companies could run into the same banking and tax issues that marijuana companies do — where there are no business tax deductions allowed and banks largely won’t take them as customers.&nbsp;

How much priority federal agencies need to put on enforcing hemp-derived products seemed to be a “subtext” of Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/12/increasing-medical-marijuana-and-cannabidiol-research/" target="_blank">executive order</a>&nbsp;to reschedule marijuana, Small said.&nbsp;

It ordered his administration to work with Congress to develop a framework that permits full-spectrum CBD products, which have a trace amount of THC. Those products “will once again be controlled as marijuana,” under the federal spending bill’s provision, the executive order states.&nbsp;

However, it also states the regulatory framework should preserve Congress’ “intent to restrict the sale of products that pose serious health risks.”

And it orders federal health agencies to “develop research methods and models utilizing real-world evidence to improve access to hemp-derived cannabinoid products.”&nbsp;

“It does signal to the industry that if we were on a DEFCON 1 before, we’re now on DEFCON 3,” Small said. “Whatever arguments law enforcement want to make on a federal or state level about the danger of these products and how serious it is that we get them off the streets, I do think that’s lessened a little bit with these instructions.”

This will be the fourth year in a row that Missouri lawmakers have attempted to regulate intoxicating hemp products, with previous debates ending in stalemates.&nbsp;

May said she’s planning on sitting down with Gregory to talk about how to move forward this legislative session.&nbsp;

“We really want to solve the issue,” May said. “That’s the key, so I want to make sure that everybody’s on the same page saying the same thing.”

Under May’s bill, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services would be tasked with establishing rules on potency limits, recall procedures of dangerous products, advertising standards and “create mechanisms for compliance and enforcement.”

May led a&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/04/10/intoxicating-hemp-regulations-stall-in-missouri-senate-after-7-hour-filibuster/">seven-hour bipartisan filibuster</a>&nbsp;in April against a bill similar to Gregory’s, after arguing it was nothing more than an attempt by the marijuana industry to stomp out its competition.&nbsp;

“It reminds me so much of a street drug war,” May said during an April Senate floor debate. “All drugs have always been about distribution and territory. And this is no different.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1766599327452.png" alt=" Slaphappy Hemp farm in Rosebud (photo submitted)." />
 <figcaption> Slaphappy Hemp farm in Rosebud (photo submitted).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>As Missouri lawmakers head into the 2026 legislative session, new federal THC limits are forcing a fresh debate over how — and whether — intoxicating hemp products should be regulated</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>Businesses and Missouri lawmakers are scrambling to understand what will happen in November, when&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/11/11/missouri-hemp-businesses-fear-new-federal-thc-limits-will-destroy-the-industry/">new federal limits on intoxicating hemp products&nbsp;</a>go into effect.It’s unclear just how proactive the federal government will be enforcing the new restrictions. Will it clamp down, or like it has with marijuana, look the other way as states enact their own rules?&nbsp;&nbsp;To add to the uncertainty,&nbsp;President Donald Trump signed an&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/12/18/repub/trump-signs-order-to-loosen-federal-restrictions-on-marijuana-but-its-still-illegal/">executive order&nbsp;</a>last week to loosen federal restrictions on marijuana. That action could impact whether or not the feds choose to enforce hemp products as well, according to a congressional&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/LSB11381" target="_blank">report</a>.Amidst the swirling questions, several Missouri lawmakers have pre-filed bills for the upcoming legislative session that begins in January to establish state regulations on intoxicating hemp products.&nbsp;Not all of the Missouri proposals include the federal THC limit in their definitions of hemp, which&nbsp;will take effect&nbsp;Nov. 12 and was included in a&nbsp; federal spending package approved by Congress and signed by the president in November.&nbsp;One&nbsp;<a href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/26info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&amp;BillID=443" target="_blank">proposal</a>&nbsp;that does align with the federal restrictions comes from Republican state Sen. David Gregory of Chesterfield, and it would regulate intoxicating hemp the same as marijuana. That would essentially ban current hemp products, because marijuana must be grown in Missouri and most hemp currently is grown outside of the state. It would also require hemp products to be sold in licensed cannabis dispensaries, where most are currently sold in gas stations, liquor stores and restaurants and smoke shops.&nbsp;Republican state Rep. Matthew Overcast of Ava said he has “no concerns” about the federal language impacting the hemp industry. He plans on continuing to push his&nbsp;<a href="https://documents.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills261/hlrbillspdf/4263H.01I.pdf" target="_blank">proposed constitutional amendment</a>&nbsp;that would overturn the current regulatory framework for the cannabis industry and instead allow marijuana and intoxicating hemp products to be sold in the same stores as alcohol and tobacco.&nbsp;“Historically, there’s been this softened congressional enforcement of our federally illicit marijuana programs that have regulated programs across the nation,” he said. “Even if the language were to stand, I don’t see — outside of big marijuana continuing to try to influence congressional and state legislators and state agencies — that we’re going to see federal enforcement on hemp.”Democratic state Sen. Karla May of St. Louis pre-filed a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/26Info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&amp;BillID=208" target="_blank">bill</a>&nbsp;that would allow intoxicating hemp products to continue to be sold outside of dispensaries with a $1,000 registration fee annually. Her bill does not include the federal definition, she said, because it was drafted before the spending package went through. May called her bill a “starting point.”Through it all, intoxicating hemp businesses — along with companies that assist them — are trying to figure out what their future might look like.&nbsp;“Think about your bank, your payroll company, your merchant processor — they may not want to wait out the 365 days,” said Jessica Velazquez, a Las Vegas-based accountant with Beach Fleishman, during a November webinar for hemp businesses. “They may take a more conservative approach and say, ‘Hey, you know, this really is like [marijuana] and maybe we don’t want to service you anymore’ in the way that they currently are now.’”<h2>What is the law?</h2>Hemp and marijuana are essentially terms the government uses to distinguish between the part of the cannabis plant that has high amounts of THC.Hemp has previously been defined as any part of the plant containing 0.3% or less&nbsp;delta-9 THC&nbsp;by dry weight.Last month, a provision in the federal spending bill amended the&nbsp;<a href="https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?path=/prelim@title7/chapter38/subchapter7&amp;edition=prelim" target="_blank">definition of hemp</a>, changing the limit to a total THC concentration of less than .3% on a dry weight basis, rather than only delta-9 THC. It also prohibits products from containing more than 0.4 milligrams of THC per container.The changes address some of the concerns Congress heard from groups like the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cann-ra.org/news-events/cannra-responds-to-congressional-request-for-information-on-federal-cannabinoid-hemp-regulation" target="_blank">Cannabis Regulators Association</a>, which represents state marijuana regulators across the nation.The association submitted information to Congress in a<a href="https://www.cann-ra.org/news-events/cannra-responds-to-congressional-request-for-information-on-federal-cannabinoid-hemp-regulation" target="_blank">&nbsp;2023 report&nbsp;</a>stating that many hemp businesses are selling “THCA hemp” flower, or buds, containing less than 0.3% delta-9 THC.&nbsp;“However, cannabis plants produce THCA, not THC,” the report states.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1698531124512.png" alt="(Rebecca Rivas/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption>(Rebecca Rivas/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure>When the plant is smoked, the THCA converts or decarboxylates into delta-9 THC – and that’s why every state marijuana program defines THC in terms of both THCA and delta-9 THC, regulators said.&nbsp;&nbsp;THCA products – including flower, vape cartridges and concentrates – are “indistinguishable” from marijuana products sold in dispensaries, the association stated.And that’s why, regulators argued, there was a need to add language about total THC, instead of only delta-9.Regarding weight, the association told Congress that the threshold of 0.3% delta-9 THC by weight is a small amount of THC in a hemp plant. However, when applied to things like chocolate bars or beverages that can weigh significantly more, 0.3% by weight can amount to hundreds of milligrams of THC.The association gave the example of a 50-gram chocolate bar at 0.3% THC would have around 150 mg of THC — 30 times the standard 5 mg THC dose established by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. A family sized pack of cookies weighing 20 oz can contain around 1,700 mg of THC using the 0.3% THC threshold.“The whole question was: what is hemp and what is marijuana?” said Jack Cardetti, spokesman for the Missouri Cannabis Trade Association. “There was not a bright line there, and it was a line that obviously some bad actors have used to push intoxicating products that were completely unregulated.”The lack of government oversight on these products makes them a public health risk, Cardetti said. Now there is a “clear bright line,” he said, and he believes a majority of Missouri lawmakers will want to align with the federal definition.The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee stated the changes were made to prevent “<a href="https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/fy26_agriculture_rural_development_fda_bill_summary_-_majority.pdf" target="_blank">the unregulated sale of intoxicating</a>” hemp products.A&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/IN12620" target="_blank">report</a>&nbsp;from the Congressional Research Service released this month states that it “remains to be seen” whether the FDA will opt to try and remove the products from the market or not.The FDA and DEA, in coordination with the Department of Justice, “have a range of civil and criminal remedies they may use in efforts to exercise control over these activities,” it states.It also says these federal agencies, “may lack the resources to broadly enforce the laws prohibiting intoxicating hemp products on the market.”Congress may also choose to exercise oversight over federal enforcement priorities regarding state-regulated cannabis activities, the report says. It took that step with medical marijuana, when it prohibited spending money on enforcement.“Congress can say that, ‘FDA and DEA, we prohibit you from using federal dollars to enforce against state-compliant hemp programs,’” said Craig Small, a Denver-based cannabis attorney.&nbsp;With the federal limits, Small said hemp companies could run into the same banking and tax issues that marijuana companies do — where there are no business tax deductions allowed and banks largely won’t take them as customers.&nbsp;How much priority federal agencies need to put on enforcing hemp-derived products seemed to be a “subtext” of Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/12/increasing-medical-marijuana-and-cannabidiol-research/" target="_blank">executive order</a>&nbsp;to reschedule marijuana, Small said.&nbsp;It ordered his administration to work with Congress to develop a framework that permits full-spectrum CBD products, which have a trace amount of THC. Those products “will once again be controlled as marijuana,” under the federal spending bill’s provision, the executive order states.&nbsp;However, it also states the regulatory framework should preserve Congress’ “intent to restrict the sale of products that pose serious health risks.”And it orders federal health agencies to “develop research methods and models utilizing real-world evidence to improve access to hemp-derived cannabinoid products.”&nbsp;“It does signal to the industry that if we were on a DEFCON 1 before, we’re now on DEFCON 3,” Small said. “Whatever arguments law enforcement want to make on a federal or state level about the danger of these products and how serious it is that we get them off the streets, I do think that’s lessened a little bit with these instructions.”<h2>Lawmakers weigh in</h2>This will be the fourth year in a row that Missouri lawmakers have attempted to regulate intoxicating hemp products, with previous debates ending in stalemates.&nbsp;May said she’s planning on sitting down with Gregory to talk about how to move forward this legislative session.&nbsp;“We really want to solve the issue,” May said. “That’s the key, so I want to make sure that everybody’s on the same page saying the same thing.”Under May’s bill, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services would be tasked with establishing rules on potency limits, recall procedures of dangerous products, advertising standards and “create mechanisms for compliance and enforcement.”May led a&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/04/10/intoxicating-hemp-regulations-stall-in-missouri-senate-after-7-hour-filibuster/">seven-hour bipartisan filibuster</a>&nbsp;in April against a bill similar to Gregory’s, after arguing it was nothing more than an attempt by the marijuana industry to stomp out its competition.&nbsp;“It reminds me so much of a street drug war,” May said during an April Senate floor debate. “All drugs have always been about distribution and territory. And this is no different.”The&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/02/26/missouri-lawmakers-weigh-the-cost-of-regulating-intoxicating-hemp-products/">department has previously put a high price tag</a>&nbsp;on proposals that create separate rules for intoxicating hemp and marijuana products.&nbsp;Republican state Rep. Dave Hinman of O’Fallon led a&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/03/14/lawmakers-vote-down-a-second-bill-to-regulate-intoxicating-hemp-products-in-missouri/">similar effort&nbsp;</a>as May to license hemp business during the last legislative session, but he said he will file a bill that aligns with the new federal definition.Overcast’s constitutional amendment would replace the marijuana legalization amendment approved by voters in 2022 with language that instructs Missouri lawmakers to create regulations that are no more burdensome than what we already have for alcohol and tobacco.&nbsp;The amendment is nearly identical to four&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sos.mo.gov/CMSImages/Elections/Petitions/2026-141.pdf" target="_blank">initiative petitions</a>&nbsp;filed in&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/09/09/new-initiative-petition-would-regulate-missouri-marijuana-hemp-products-the-same-as-alcohol/">September and bankrolled by American Shaman</a>&nbsp;owner Vince Sanders and some other major hemp business owners. While the petitions have been approved to circulate for signatures, the effort has been put on pause, said Eapen Thampy, a lobbyist for American Shaman.“Although we were successful at securing some commitments,” Thampy said, “it wasn’t to the level where we felt comfortable moving forward with a full fledged signature campaign.”

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