With one week until their first preseason game, the Kansas City Chiefs were back at practice on Saturday continuing to prepare for the Arizona Cardinals.  

Ahead of the first preseason game, Special Teams Coordinator Dave Toub says there's a checklist of things to prepare for, wanting to be ready for every situation 

"We go over it and we go over it, and we have a lot of walkthroughs in the afternoon where you don't see us working on hands team or onside kick, all those different scenarios, and there's thousands of them on special teams, we have to be sure we're on those," Toub tells reporters following practice.  "And every group's got to do it, it's not just the ones, you finish a game your hands team is going to be your fourteen guys, so they need to know what to do, how to lineup, and everything that goes along with it, which is a lot." 

The first preseason game will give Chiefs rookies their first taste of NFL game action, 

One of those rookies is third round pick defensive end Ashton Gillotte, whose been getting reps with both the first and second team defense.

Gillotte says getting to touch that field for the first time against the Arizona Cardinals will be a dream come true 

"I've been dreaming of this since I was a kid and God put this journey on my heart and just to be able to live it out and play at the highest level that's a privilege and an honor," Gillotte says. 

At this point, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo wants Gillotte to focus on learning defensive end but hopes during his career to be able to move him around on the defensive line.

There's a bit of a dark cloud that's been looming over Chiefs Training Camp at Missouri Western State University.  

Wide receiver Rashee Rice has been back at camp at full strength after suffering a season ending injury in week four last season.  But, after being sentenced for an offseason crash last year, Rice is awaiting punishment from the league.  

For Rice, while the league and his team sort that suspension out, there's only one thing he says he can worry about 

"All I can do is focus on what I can control right now, and that's doing what I do best right here on the field," Rice says. 

As for coming back from the injury, Rice says he feels even better than he felt during last year's camp, being able to focus on things that he hadn't focused on before during the offseason. 

The Chiefs practiced without Jared Wiley today, a new addition to the injury list.  Drue Tranquill remained out after a back injury in yesterday's practice.&nbsp; wide receivers Hollywood Brown and Skyy Moore,&nbsp; tight end Jake Briningstool, safety Deon Bush, and cornerback Kristian Fulton also remained absent from practice due to injury.

The Chiefs practiced again for just over two hours today.  They are back at practice tomorrow at 9:15, before an off day on Monday. 

You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1722794628807.jpeg" alt="Chiefs head coach Andy Reid and Special Teams Coordinator Dave Toub during the first official practice in St. Joseph during last year's training camp/ File photo" />
 <figcaption>Chiefs head coach Andy Reid and Special Teams Coordinator Dave Toub during the first official practice in St. Joseph during last year's training camp/ File photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKE With one week until their first preseason game, the Kansas City Chiefs were back at practice on Saturday continuing to prepare for the Arizona Cardinals. Ahead of the first preseason game, Special Teams Coordinator Dave Toub says there's a checklist of things to prepare for, wanting to be ready for every situation "We go over it and we go over it, and we have a lot of walkthroughs in the afternoon where you don't see us working on hands team or onside kick, all those different scenarios, and there's thousands of them on special teams, we have to be sure we're on those," Toub tells reporters following practice. "And every group's got to do it, it's not just the ones, you finish a game your hands team is going to be your fourteen guys, so they need to know what to do, how to lineup, and everything that goes along with it, which is a lot." The first preseason game will give Chiefs rookies their first taste of NFL game action, One of those rookies is third round pick defensive end Ashton Gillotte, whose been getting reps with both the first and second team defense.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754163309621.jpeg" alt="Ashton Gillotte/ Photo by Justin Peacock" />
 <figcaption>Ashton Gillotte/ Photo by Justin Peacock</figcaption>
 </figure>Gillotte says getting to touch that field for the first time against the Arizona Cardinals will be a dream come true "I've been dreaming of this since I was a kid and God put this journey on my heart and just to be able to live it out and play at the highest level that's a privilege and an honor," Gillotte says. At this point, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo wants Gillotte to focus on learning defensive end but hopes during his career to be able to move him around on the defensive line.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753383787856.jpeg" alt="Rashee Rice (4) cathces a pass with coverage by linebacker Leo Chenal (54)/ Photo by Matt Pike" />
 <figcaption>Rashee Rice (4) cathces a pass with coverage by linebacker Leo Chenal (54)/ Photo by Matt Pike</figcaption>
 </figure>There's a bit of a dark cloud that's been looming over Chiefs Training Camp at Missouri Western State University. Wide receiver Rashee Rice has been back at camp at full strength after suffering a season ending injury in week four last season. But, after being sentenced for an offseason crash last year, Rice is awaiting punishment from the league. For Rice, while the league and his team sort that suspension out, there's only one thing he says he can worry about "All I can do is focus on what I can control right now, and that's doing what I do best right here on the field," Rice says. As for coming back from the injury, Rice says he feels even better than he felt during last year's camp, being able to focus on things that he hadn't focused on before during the offseason. The Chiefs practiced without Jared Wiley today, a new addition to the injury list. Drue Tranquill remained out after a back injury in yesterday's practice.&nbsp; wide receivers Hollywood Brown and Skyy Moore,&nbsp; tight end Jake Briningstool, safety Deon Bush, and cornerback Kristian Fulton also remained absent from practice due to injury.The Chiefs practiced again for just over two hours today. They are back at practice tomorrow at 9:15, before an off day on Monday. You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Chiefs gearing up at training camp with one week left until first preseason action

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/sauravrahman/">Saurav Rahman</a>

All eight of Missouri’s metropolitan areas experienced higher unemployment rates in June than a month before, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/metro.pdf" target="_blank">new data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics</a>&nbsp;that is not seasonally adjusted.

n comparison to a year earlier, the jobless rate also increased in all of those metro areas.

St. Joseph had the highest unemployment rate among all of the state’s metro areas in June, rising to 4.5% from 4% in May. The city’s unemployment rate was 4.2% a year before.

Columbia saw the highest monthly increase in its unemployment rate, which was 4.2% in June, up 0.7 percentage points from 3.5% in May.

Jefferson City had the state’s lowest unemployment rate at 3.7% in June.

Springfield and Kansas City had the same jobless rate in June at 4.2%, increasing from 3.7% and 3.8%, respectively, in May.

The statewide unemployment rate before seasonal adjustment in June was 4.4%, rising from 3.9% in May. The unemployment rate was 3.8% in June 2024.

Missouri’s total civilian labor force in June was 3.2 million, with about 140,946 unemployed.

This story originally appeared in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.missouribusinessalert.com/" target="_blank">Missouri Business Alert</a>, a digital newsroom covering businessand the economy in Missouri.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1659729356814.jpeg" alt="Photo Unsplash&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Photo Unsplash&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/sauravrahman/">Saurav Rahman</a>All eight of Missouri’s metropolitan areas experienced higher unemployment rates in June than a month before, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/metro.pdf" target="_blank">new data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics</a>&nbsp;that is not seasonally adjusted.n comparison to a year earlier, the jobless rate also increased in all of those metro areas.St. Joseph had the highest unemployment rate among all of the state’s metro areas in June, rising to 4.5% from 4% in May. The city’s unemployment rate was 4.2% a year before.Columbia saw the highest monthly increase in its unemployment rate, which was 4.2% in June, up 0.7 percentage points from 3.5% in May.Jefferson City had the state’s lowest unemployment rate at 3.7% in June.Springfield and Kansas City had the same jobless rate in June at 4.2%, increasing from 3.7% and 3.8%, respectively, in May.The statewide unemployment rate before seasonal adjustment in June was 4.4%, rising from 3.9% in May. The unemployment rate was 3.8% in June 2024.Missouri’s total civilian labor force in June was 3.2 million, with about 140,946 unemployed.This story originally appeared in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.missouribusinessalert.com/" target="_blank">Missouri Business Alert</a>, a digital newsroom covering businessand the economy in Missouri.

All Missouri metro areas saw unemployment increases in June

This December, St. Joseph's Civic Arena will again play host to Division I women's college basketball  

"We're really fortunate and honored that we're able to host Division I women's college basketball at a time where the product is arguably as popular as it's ever been," St. Joseph Sports Commision Director Brett Esely tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.  

Esely says the third annual Bill Snyder Classic will play host to the Kansas State women again, this year taking on Ole Miss of the SEC.  

Esely says the matchup is one that should draw a lot of interest 

"Just a really, really intriguing matchup anywhere, let alone here in St. Joseph, when you've got one of the Big 12's best teams taking on one of the SEC's best teams," Esely says. 

Eseley says this year's matchup will take place on Sunday, rather than Saturday, and tipoff at 2pm which is significant because this matchup could attract national attention 

"ESPN obviously has a lot of family of networks, and whereas those time windows may not be as readily available on Saturday, they could be on Sunday, and so we hope that that's the case this time around," Esely explains.  "Because the matchup sells itself, there's very little to sell with the matchup, any time you've got two teams that are likely going to be nationally ranked and two teams just with the recent history that they've had and what they did a season ago, there's going to be interest around this game." 

Esely does point out games are always streamed online typically, but that TV window for women's basketball is typically on Sunday's, which made moving a matchup like this intriguing.  

Both teams made the sweet 16 in last season's NCAA tournament, and finished the season ranked in the top 25, with Kansas State at #13 and Ole Miss at #17.   

Esely is already expecting a large crowd on hand at the arena on December 7th 

"I'll be honest, I'd be disappointed if we didn't sell this game out," Esely candidly says.  "I think the uniqueness of the event, the opponents that are playing, I would say there's a very good chance going into that game that these two teams are going to be nationally ranked, which is another huge selling point, I'd be really disappointed if this game didn't sell out, I think our tickets will be very affordably priced depending on where you want to sit in the arena." 

Tickets will go on sale this month, with an early presale for people who have purchased tickets to the two previous Bill Snyder classics. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734233150922.jpeg" alt="The Kansas State Wildcats and Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders played in the second annual Bill Snyder Women's Basketball Classic at Civic Arena/ Photo by Matt Pike" />
 <figcaption>The Kansas State Wildcats and Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders played in the second annual Bill Snyder Women's Basketball Classic at Civic Arena/ Photo by Matt Pike</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKE This December, St. Joseph's Civic Arena will again play host to Division I women's college basketball "We're really fortunate and honored that we're able to host Division I women's college basketball at a time where the product is arguably as popular as it's ever been," St. Joseph Sports Commision Director Brett Esely tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. Esely says the third annual Bill Snyder Classic will play host to the Kansas State women again, this year taking on Ole Miss of the SEC. Esely says the matchup is one that should draw a lot of interest "Just a really, really intriguing matchup anywhere, let alone here in St. Joseph, when you've got one of the Big 12's best teams taking on one of the SEC's best teams," Esely says. Eseley says this year's matchup will take place on Sunday, rather than Saturday, and tipoff at 2pm which is significant because this matchup could attract national attention "ESPN obviously has a lot of family of networks, and whereas those time windows may not be as readily available on Saturday, they could be on Sunday, and so we hope that that's the case this time around," Esely explains. "Because the matchup sells itself, there's very little to sell with the matchup, any time you've got two teams that are likely going to be nationally ranked and two teams just with the recent history that they've had and what they did a season ago, there's going to be interest around this game." Esely does point out games are always streamed online typically, but that TV window for women's basketball is typically on Sunday's, which made moving a matchup like this intriguing. Both teams made the sweet 16 in last season's NCAA tournament, and finished the season ranked in the top 25, with Kansas State at #13 and Ole Miss at #17. Esely is already expecting a large crowd on hand at the arena on December 7th "I'll be honest, I'd be disappointed if we didn't sell this game out," Esely candidly says. "I think the uniqueness of the event, the opponents that are playing, I would say there's a very good chance going into that game that these two teams are going to be nationally ranked, which is another huge selling point, I'd be really disappointed if this game didn't sell out, I think our tickets will be very affordably priced depending on where you want to sit in the arena." Tickets will go on sale this month, with an early presale for people who have purchased tickets to the two previous Bill Snyder classics. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753981987157.jpeg" alt="Photo courtesy of St. Joseph Sports Commision" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy of St. Joseph Sports Commision</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Third annual Bill Snyder Classic brings intriguing matchup to Civic Arena

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

Just before 6:30p.m. on Thursday officers responded to a residence in the 1100 block South 7th Street to investigate an unwanted person at the residence, according to Police Mike Wilson.

Once at the scene officers found the resident outside of the home who told police he arrived home to see a man identified as 36-year-old Joshua R. Morgan at the back of his residence.&nbsp; The resident knows Morgan.

It was determined that entry had been made into the residence and police searched the residence and found Morgan hiding in a closet. He was taken into custody on requested charges of burglary, attempted theft, and criminal damage to property

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754058456279.png" alt="Morgan-photo Atchison County" />
 <figcaption>Morgan-photo Atchison County</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after an arrest in Atchison.Just before 6:30p.m. on Thursday officers responded to a residence in the 1100 block South 7th Street to investigate an unwanted person at the residence, according to Police Mike Wilson.Once at the scene officers found the resident outside of the home who told police he arrived home to see a man identified as 36-year-old Joshua R. Morgan at the back of his residence.&nbsp; The resident knows Morgan.It was determined that entry had been made into the residence and police searched the residence and found Morgan hiding in a closet. He was taken into custody on requested charges of burglary, attempted theft, and criminal damage to property

Kansas burglary suspect found hiding in a closet

How much do you really know about the history, meaning, and fun facts behind Labor Day? Take this quiz to find out! Take the quiz for your chance to win $50! Don't pass up the extra entries at the end of the quiz to better your chances of winning!

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August Quiz Corner

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/noahgrabianski/">Noah Grabianski</a>

Cattle farms and feedlots in Missouri today are populated by cows that are a far cry from those that roamed pastures 80 or 90 years ago.

Cattle back then were referred to as “buckle cows” – named that way because they only went about as high as a rancher’s belt buckle. But in the 1950s, when cattle herd numbers were low, cattlemen began putting more emphasis on cows’ “frame size,” or their height.

In the past few decades, with improvements in genetic technology, farmers have been able to measure extremely specific qualities in their cattle. This has led to a shift from increasing the frame size of cattle to increasing the “performance,” or weight, of cattle. That means cattle aren’t getting taller, but heavier.

The U.S. cattle inventory&nbsp;<a href="https://downloads.usda.library.cornell.edu/usda-esmis/files/h702q636h/6108x003v/kk91h696g/catl0124.pdf" target="_blank">hit its lowest level in 73 years</a>&nbsp;in 2024,&nbsp;largely as a result of recent droughts. The solution isn’t as simple as just breeding more cows, because cattle producers have to balance the amount of cattle they hold back to reproduce, and the amount they sell off to feedyards to generate revenue.

Don Close, a senior animal protein analyst at agriculture publication Terrain Ag, said the industry has been shifting breeding practices to mitigate the recent cattle shortage.

“Being the lowest we’ve been since 1951, the industry has elected to make cattle bigger, to compensate in pounds what we’re losing in head count,” Close said.

Close estimated that the average live weight of U.S. cattle increases by about eight pounds a year. The carcass weight, or how much cattle weigh once the hide, bone and other inedible parts are removed, increases by about five pounds a year.

But there has been a particularly noticeable spike in the past decade or so, caused by incentives from meatpacking plants.

This trend can be seen through what’s known as the hot carcass weight discount, which is the payout reduction cattle producers receive when carcasses exceed a meatpacking plant’s maximum weight. As a result, producers try to get their cattle as close to that weight limit as possible without exceeding it.

Jamie Courter, the state beef genetics specialist at University of Missouri Extension, said that when she first started in the industry about 10 years ago, that weight limit was 1,000 pounds. It’s been creeping up ever since. The limit went up to 1,050 pounds, then 1,100, and now some plants have improved their technology enough to accept 1,200-pound carcasses.

“We keep pushing what we’re willing to accept, as far as size of feedyard steers, higher and higher,” Courter said. “The packers are incentivizing the feedyards and the commercial cattlemen to do so, and — right, wrong or indifferent — commercial cattlemen are going to chase that incentive because that impacts their bottom line.”

Higher cattle weights also have an effect on consumers down the line. Certain beef cuts, namely ribeye and loin, are getting too big to be easily packaged. Because the cows are bigger, these cuts are larger, meaning they have to be cut thinner and with more surface area than they used to be to maintain a consistent weight.

But Close said these high cattle weights are, in large part, a good thing for beef consumers.

“If we were to limit weights on the cattle, it would limit the total of beef production, limiting supply, that would drive price higher,” Close said. “So in a backwards kind of way, yes, it’s actually supporting … consumers, because it keeps more product available to the counter.”

Beef is getting more expensive, with the average price of ground beef hitting a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nationalbeefwire.com/beef-prices-soar-to-record-highs-in-june" target="_blank">record high of $6.12 per pound</a>&nbsp;in June. However, bigger cows also means better quality. Bigger size leads to higher fat content and better marbling. Close estimated that 82% to 84% of all beef is of choice or prime grade, which lines up with consumer tastes.

However, researchers and cattle producers have said the current trajectory of beef performance isn’t sustainable. Courter said it’s important to consider the economic factors of farming cattle when trying to breed for size.

“We can’t have 2,000-pound mature-weight cows, because those cows eat more, which means you need more acres to raise that cow in a year,” Courter said. “Which means, if you don’t buy more land, you have to decrease the number of cows you have, or you have to increase how much hay or corn or whatever you’re buying to sustain that 2,000-pound cow.”

Doug Frank, co-owner of the Frank/Hazelrigg Cattle Co., said that cattle performance is reaching a threshold. In recent years, this has led farmers to start analyzing other significant traits.

“Maintenance costs are going up, and maybe we’re past the point of the most efficiency there,” Frank said. “We’re probably at the limit of what our commercial customers have for resources, and we’re a lot more interested in other traits.”

Where farmers used to look towards breeding for weight, some are now beginning to place importance in feeding efficiency. Farmers are tracking relative feed intake, which measures how much weight a cow gains from a certain amount of feed. Those that need less food to gain weight are more profitable for farmers.

Cattle performance may be starting to even out, but Frank highlighted the industry’s ability to continue delivering product, even during a downturn in inventory.

“Beef is not cheap today, but … we’ve increased production pretty substantially in the U.S. beef industry,” Frank said, “and we’ve done it with the lowest cow numbers that we’ve had in (decades).”

This story originally appeared in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.missouribusinessalert.com/" target="_blank">Missouri&nbsp;Business&nbsp;Alert</a>, a digital newsroom covering&nbsp;businessand the economy in&nbsp;Missouri.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753957064006.png" alt=" Cows are pictured at the University of Missouri South Farm. Cattle weight may be approaching a tipping point, experts say (Noah Grabianski/Missouri Business Alert)" />
 <figcaption> Cows are pictured at the University of Missouri South Farm. Cattle weight may be approaching a tipping point, experts say (Noah Grabianski/Missouri Business Alert)</figcaption>
 </figure>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/noahgrabianski/">Noah Grabianski</a>Cattle farms and feedlots in Missouri today are populated by cows that are a far cry from those that roamed pastures 80 or 90 years ago.Cattle back then were referred to as “buckle cows” – named that way because they only went about as high as a rancher’s belt buckle. But in the 1950s, when cattle herd numbers were low, cattlemen began putting more emphasis on cows’ “frame size,” or their height.In the past few decades, with improvements in genetic technology, farmers have been able to measure extremely specific qualities in their cattle. This has led to a shift from increasing the frame size of cattle to increasing the “performance,” or weight, of cattle. That means cattle aren’t getting taller, but heavier.The U.S. cattle inventory&nbsp;<a href="https://downloads.usda.library.cornell.edu/usda-esmis/files/h702q636h/6108x003v/kk91h696g/catl0124.pdf" target="_blank">hit its lowest level in 73 years</a>&nbsp;in 2024,&nbsp;largely as a result of recent droughts. The solution isn’t as simple as just breeding more cows, because cattle producers have to balance the amount of cattle they hold back to reproduce, and the amount they sell off to feedyards to generate revenue.Don Close, a senior animal protein analyst at agriculture publication Terrain Ag, said the industry has been shifting breeding practices to mitigate the recent cattle shortage.“Being the lowest we’ve been since 1951, the industry has elected to make cattle bigger, to compensate in pounds what we’re losing in head count,” Close said.Close estimated that the average live weight of U.S. cattle increases by about eight pounds a year. The carcass weight, or how much cattle weigh once the hide, bone and other inedible parts are removed, increases by about five pounds a year.But there has been a particularly noticeable spike in the past decade or so, caused by incentives from meatpacking plants.This trend can be seen through what’s known as the hot carcass weight discount, which is the payout reduction cattle producers receive when carcasses exceed a meatpacking plant’s maximum weight. As a result, producers try to get their cattle as close to that weight limit as possible without exceeding it.Jamie Courter, the state beef genetics specialist at University of Missouri Extension, said that when she first started in the industry about 10 years ago, that weight limit was 1,000 pounds. It’s been creeping up ever since. The limit went up to 1,050 pounds, then 1,100, and now some plants have improved their technology enough to accept 1,200-pound carcasses.“We keep pushing what we’re willing to accept, as far as size of feedyard steers, higher and higher,” Courter said. “The packers are incentivizing the feedyards and the commercial cattlemen to do so, and — right, wrong or indifferent — commercial cattlemen are going to chase that incentive because that impacts their bottom line.”Higher cattle weights also have an effect on consumers down the line. Certain beef cuts, namely ribeye and loin, are getting too big to be easily packaged. Because the cows are bigger, these cuts are larger, meaning they have to be cut thinner and with more surface area than they used to be to maintain a consistent weight.But Close said these high cattle weights are, in large part, a good thing for beef consumers.“If we were to limit weights on the cattle, it would limit the total of beef production, limiting supply, that would drive price higher,” Close said. “So in a backwards kind of way, yes, it’s actually supporting … consumers, because it keeps more product available to the counter.”Beef is getting more expensive, with the average price of ground beef hitting a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nationalbeefwire.com/beef-prices-soar-to-record-highs-in-june" target="_blank">record high of $6.12 per pound</a>&nbsp;in June. However, bigger cows also means better quality. Bigger size leads to higher fat content and better marbling. Close estimated that 82% to 84% of all beef is of choice or prime grade, which lines up with consumer tastes.However, researchers and cattle producers have said the current trajectory of beef performance isn’t sustainable. Courter said it’s important to consider the economic factors of farming cattle when trying to breed for size.“We can’t have 2,000-pound mature-weight cows, because those cows eat more, which means you need more acres to raise that cow in a year,” Courter said. “Which means, if you don’t buy more land, you have to decrease the number of cows you have, or you have to increase how much hay or corn or whatever you’re buying to sustain that 2,000-pound cow.”Doug Frank, co-owner of the Frank/Hazelrigg Cattle Co., said that cattle performance is reaching a threshold. In recent years, this has led farmers to start analyzing other significant traits.“Maintenance costs are going up, and maybe we’re past the point of the most efficiency there,” Frank said. “We’re probably at the limit of what our commercial customers have for resources, and we’re a lot more interested in other traits.”Where farmers used to look towards breeding for weight, some are now beginning to place importance in feeding efficiency. Farmers are tracking relative feed intake, which measures how much weight a cow gains from a certain amount of feed. Those that need less food to gain weight are more profitable for farmers.Cattle performance may be starting to even out, but Frank highlighted the industry’s ability to continue delivering product, even during a downturn in inventory.“Beef is not cheap today, but … we’ve increased production pretty substantially in the U.S. beef industry,” Frank said, “and we’ve done it with the lowest cow numbers that we’ve had in (decades).”This story originally appeared in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.missouribusinessalert.com/" target="_blank">Missouri&nbsp;Business&nbsp;Alert</a>, a digital newsroom covering&nbsp;businessand the economy in&nbsp;Missouri.

Thinning herd, heavier cattle reshape Missouri’s beef supply chain

It was a lighter day at practice for the Kansas City Chiefs after three consecutive days of padded practices in the heat, with cooler temperatures today as well. 

Back at full strength in this year's camp has been defensive end Charles Omenihu.  Injuries have limited Omenihu during his time with the Chiefs, but for the first time in Kansas City, he'll be on the field in week one. 

For Omenihu, he says it will be exciting to be able to be on the field week one.

"It is going to be the first time I play in Week 1 since my fourth year in the league. So, I have definitely, these last two years have understood the fact of not taking things for granted. Understood the fact that you got to cherish everything in this game. Because I have been on the end where you’ve had to sit and wait for different reasons," Omenihu tells reporters. "So, I’ll be excited, I’ll be geeked (and) I’ll be ready to rock and ready to go help us get a win.”

Omenihu had just one sack in six games for the Chiefs last year, first hitting the field in week 13. 

With a very young receiving group, when asked who the leader in that room is, Head Coach Andy Reid quickly said it was ninth year receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster. 

Smith-Schuster says that's a responsiblility he does not take lightly

"We’ve got a bunch of young guys in the room, different ages; and you know, for me it’s a big responsibility,"  Smith-Schuster says. "I take full control. I think I lead by, you know, not just by my words, but by my actions. And, you know, like I said there’s a lot of guys, a lot of experience, different ages, and everyone’s coachable, so, you know, I’m glad to take (on) that responsibility.”

After returning to practice yesterday (Tues), Xavier Worthy was out of practice today, and it was reported he is in concussion protocol, putting the Chiefs down three receivers with injuries to Skyy Moore and Hollywood Brown

The Chiefs are getting a little break after a tough stretch of practices, with three straight days of padded practices in pretty extreme heats. 

Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo says he felt like the team held up pretty well through that tough stretch

"What will be really interesting to me, you know, we had the three hard days, we had today was 10-10-10 – we get the day off. The tough day to come back is the next one, you know after you’ve had the day off so I’m looking for them – if we can ramp it up on that day, I’ll be pretty happy," Spagnuolo says.

The “10-10-10” specifically refers to the team cycling through 10 offensive plays, 10 defensive plays and 10 minutes of special teams work during the duration of the practice session. 

The Chiefs practiced for an hour and a half.  They are off tomorrow and will practice again on Friday at 9:15.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753903544787.jpeg" alt="JuJu Smith-Schuster (9) warms up before a lighter 10-10-10 practice alongside Nikki Remigio (81) and Jason Brownlee (89)/ Photo by Justin Peacock" />
 <figcaption>JuJu Smith-Schuster (9) warms up before a lighter 10-10-10 practice alongside Nikki Remigio (81) and Jason Brownlee (89)/ Photo by Justin Peacock</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKEIt was a lighter day at practice for the Kansas City Chiefs after three consecutive days of padded practices in the heat, with cooler temperatures today as well. Back at full strength in this year's camp has been defensive end Charles Omenihu. Injuries have limited Omenihu during his time with the Chiefs, but for the first time in Kansas City, he'll be on the field in week one. For Omenihu, he says it will be exciting to be able to be on the field week one."It is going to be the first time I play in Week 1 since my fourth year in the league. So, I have definitely, these last two years have understood the fact of not taking things for granted. Understood the fact that you got to cherish everything in this game. Because I have been on the end where you’ve had to sit and wait for different reasons," Omenihu tells reporters. "So, I’ll be excited, I’ll be geeked (and) I’ll be ready to rock and ready to go help us get a win.”Omenihu had just one sack in six games for the Chiefs last year, first hitting the field in week 13. With a very young receiving group, when asked who the leader in that room is, Head Coach Andy Reid quickly said it was ninth year receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster. Smith-Schuster says that's a responsiblility he does not take lightly"We’ve got a bunch of young guys in the room, different ages; and you know, for me it’s a big responsibility," Smith-Schuster says. "I take full control. I think I lead by, you know, not just by my words, but by my actions. And, you know, like I said there’s a lot of guys, a lot of experience, different ages, and everyone’s coachable, so, you know, I’m glad to take (on) that responsibility.”After returning to practice yesterday (Tues), Xavier Worthy was out of practice today, and it was reported he is in concussion protocol, putting the Chiefs down three receivers with injuries to Skyy Moore and Hollywood BrownThe Chiefs are getting a little break after a tough stretch of practices, with three straight days of padded practices in pretty extreme heats. Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo says he felt like the team held up pretty well through that tough stretch"What will be really interesting to me, you know, we had the three hard days, we had today was 10-10-10 – we get the day off. The tough day to come back is the next one, you know after you’ve had the day off so I’m looking for them – if we can ramp it up on that day, I’ll be pretty happy," Spagnuolo says.The “10-10-10” specifically refers to the team cycling through 10 offensive plays, 10 defensive plays and 10 minutes of special teams work during the duration of the practice session. The Chiefs practiced for an hour and a half. They are off tomorrow and will practice again on Friday at 9:15.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753903613835.jpeg" alt="Charles Omenihu (90) walks down the hill with rookie Ashton Gillotte (97) for practice on Wednesday/ Photo by Justin Peacock" />
 <figcaption>Charles Omenihu (90) walks down the hill with rookie Ashton Gillotte (97) for practice on Wednesday/ Photo by Justin Peacock</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Chiefs get relief from heat with lighter practice on Wednesday

ATCHISON COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement are investigating an injury accident that occurred at&nbsp;5p.m. on Tuesday in Atchison.

Isaiah Williams, 24, Atchison, was riding his electric scooter eastbound in the 1800 block Main Street in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

Williams lost control of the scooter and crashed. There were no other vehicles involved.&nbsp; A private vehicle transported Williams to Amberwell Hospital&nbsp; for treatment of injuries. Police were then notified and an investigation followed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753888339864.png" alt="Photo of the scooter involved -Atchison Police" />
 <figcaption>Photo of the scooter involved -Atchison Police</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement are investigating an injury accident that occurred at&nbsp;5p.m. on Tuesday in Atchison.Isaiah Williams, 24, Atchison, was riding his electric scooter eastbound in the 1800 block Main Street in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.Williams lost control of the scooter and crashed. There were no other vehicles involved.&nbsp; A private vehicle transported Williams to Amberwell Hospital&nbsp; for treatment of injuries. Police were then notified and an investigation followed.

Police: Kansas man injured in electric scooter crash

Nonprofit organizations that provide refugee services in Missouri are pivoting to diversified financial strategies to reduce their dependency&nbsp;on government funding. These organizations are now focusing more on expanding community-based crowdfunding and scaling up revenue-generating programs to address anticipated financial gaps and ensure continued support for refugees.

City of Refuge, a Columbia-based nonprofit that provides services for refugees resettled in mid-Missouri, was notified that 40% of its federal and state funding might dry up by October 2026.

Jackson Efuta, a former refugee and now a staff member at City of Refuge, said witnessing the ongoing funding cuts is deeply painful.

“I have personally experienced how vital these resources are during the most vulnerable time in a person’s life, when they are trying to adjust, heal and survive in a completely new environment,” Efuta said. “It is life-changing, providing emotional, practical and community based help that gives individuals the chance to thrive, not just survive.”

Garrett Rucinski, director&nbsp;of engagement at City of Refuge, said the organization is making plans in case its funding dries up.

“We already have a plan now,” Rucinski said. “It’s to grow the revenue producers, grow the monthly donors.”

Hilary Cohen Singer, executive director at Jewish Vocational Service of Kansas City, said it’s hard to determine a specific number of funds lost, as some programs have been discontinued permanently, others temporarily paused and some funding has fluctuated between being frozen and unfrozen.

“We are increasingly looking to our local community to help provide the vital services for refugees and immigrants to help them integrate into the community,” Cohen Singer said. “We are certainly affected in significant ways by the loss of federal funding.”

David Gonzalez, vice president of development at the International Institute of St. Louis, thinks the future for these service providers is going to be less reliant on government funding, and that is the direction his organization is moving in.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://moora.org/data-reports" target="_blank">Missouri Office of Refugee Administration reported</a>&nbsp;3,272 refugee arrivals in Missouri during the 2024 fiscal year, which extended from Oct. 1, 2023 to Sept. 30, 2024 — the highest number in the past eight years. According to the American Immigration Council, the&nbsp;<a href="https://map.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/locations/missouri/" target="_blank">total number of refugees in Missouri</a>&nbsp;is estimated to be around 24,600.

City of Refuge launched a campaign to recruit 1,000 donors contributing $50 per month. According to Rucinski, it has reached 20% of that goal within just a couple of months.

The organization is also focusing on its three revenue-generating initiatives — City Boutique, City Cuisine and City Preschool. City Boutique is a thrift shop that sells goods from local donors and refugee artisans; City Cuisine operates a food truck and provides catering services; and the preschool program supports young children’s social and language development.

Together, these initiatives help fund the larger organization, with revenue from the boutique funding 15% of the total annual budget, Rucinski said.

“We are knocking on every door possible, asking for monthly gifts, asking for end-of-year gifts. That’s what every nonprofit is doing right now,” Rucinski said. “We have the benefit of having those three revenue generators, and those revenue generators are going to help&nbsp;us.”

Amid news of future funding cuts, an unexpected opportunity arose for City of Refuge — the building next to its location was listed for sale. The organization purchased it using previously awarded American Rescue Plan Act funds to expand on its services.

“When the building came up, we realized that we could put down the down payment,” Rucinski said. “With tenants still in the building next door, we can continue to operate as we were, while affording the building next door to us, so it is self-sustaining.”

City of Refuge is now planning to use the remaining space in that new building for youth programming and a commercial kitchen, which it hopes will generate additional revenue for the organization, Rucinski said.

“If we keep getting more monthly donors and end-of-year donors, if we keep getting more visitors to the Boutique, Cuisine and people attending our preschool, more sponsors and we continue on the pace that we are at, I feel very positive about October 2026,” Rucinski said.

Jewish Vocational Service of Kansas City continues to support refugees despite the ongoing challenges caused by the federal funding cuts. The organization has adapted by reducing staff and expanding its search for alternative funding sources.

Katie Norman, communication manager at JVS, said that the organization supports approximately 7,500 refugees and immigrants each year, with community integration, health and education.

“We do receive quite a bit of funding&nbsp;from the federal government, so we have been impacted by the cuts and freezes to federal funds,” Norman said. “But we also receive funding from private foundations and the state as well.”

Due to federal funding cuts, JVS has already reduced its services and is now seeking and has received new funding to continue much of its work, Cohen Singer said.

“We did have to make staff reductions, and so we have done that,” Cohen Singer said. “We anticipate being able to continue with our operations at the size and scale that we are certainly into next fiscal year, and that is probably as far as we are able to plan for.”

Agencies like JVS have traditionally been closely involved in the initial resettlement period of refugees. That program has now stopped, and there are no new arrivals associated with it. Following that, there is no funding available for refugee resettlement, said Cohen Singer.

“But that doesn’t mean that our work stops, because the work that we do provides support to people who have been here one year, but also three years or five years or 10 years, depending on what their needs are,” she said.

According to Cohen Singer, the organization now reaches the local community, individuals, foundations, and state and local governments that have programs to support people’s wellbeing, even if the funding is not specifically for refugees and immigrants.

“The people that we serve can benefit from funding that is targeted towards employment or education or youth services or mental health, or any number of things,” Cohen Singer said. “So we are talking to folks that provide funding in all of those areas so that we can bring additional resources into the organization.”

The International Institute of St. Louis, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping refugees, has been forced to make staff reductions and a renewed push for community and private-sector support to adapt to the federal funding cuts.

The organization has been a government contractor since the 70s, working to safely and legally bring refugees to the area and support them by providing housing, education and employment. Last year, the organization served over 3,500 individuals. However, since&nbsp;January, things have been tough due to a roughly $500,000 funding cut.

Gonzalez said that even when federal funding was frozen, the organization still had an agreement with the federal government to bring refugees to the St. Louis region and provide support.

“We immediately found a shortfall of about half a million dollars that we had to come up with,” Gonzalez said. “This money would be used for things like housing.”

To continue that support, the International Institute of St. Louis launched a campaign in February called Keeping Our Promise, aiming to raise $500,000. The organization also made workforce reductions in areas that didn’t have much direct client access, Gonzalez said.

“We had about 125 people here locally, and we had to cut about 60% of those,” Gonzalez said. “So we were down to under 60 staff in February and March.”

Gonzalez said the organization has now been able to bring some staff back, bringing the current team size to around 70 to 75, with some community support.

The annual budget of the International Institute of St. Louis is roughly $24 to $25 million, with 70% to 80% of that coming from federal funding, Gonzalez said.

“That is not a long-term solution for funding, particularly when our funding is at the whims of whoever’s in&nbsp;the White House,” he said. “So we have looked at&nbsp;re-establishing or establishing alternative sources of funding.”

Gonzalez outlined three key strategies for future financing: increasing support from the corporate sector by making&nbsp;them understand the importance of new people in the local economy; uncovering new grant opportunities from organizations that are new but interested&nbsp;in the program outcomes; and engaging the broader community, which values the long-term impact of this work.

“They understood the cuts, they understood what was happening. And so we had a tremendous response to the Keeping Our Promise campaign,” Gonzalez said. “I will say now we’ve had more individual donors already, at this point, halfway through the year, than we had all of last year.”

Last year, the International Institute of St. Louis increased its non-governmental fundraising by 33%, which amounted to over a million dollars, Gonzalez said.

Kindness Begins with Me supports refugee women in the greater St. Louis area, providing English lessons and driving instruction. The organization serves 225 refugees each week.

Half of its annual budget comes from federal funding through the Missouri Office of Refugee Administration, which is about $125,000.

Jessica Pachak, executive director at Kindness Begins with Me, said its funding was temporarily frozen, then came back after the freeze. But it’s still unstable.

“We are going to have to be a mixture of fundraising initiatives, which will be individual donors and then additional foundations,” Pachak said. “So in the past, we relied 50% on federal funds, and now that 50% of federal funds, potentially, is going to need to be replaced with foundation donors.”

Pachak thinks that Kindness Begins with Me is going to be able to raise most of that money but not all.

KC for Refugees, an organization that supports refugees in the Kansas City metro area, is mostly funded by donations from the community and friends. It has not received any federal funding since 2019.

Linda Zemke, president of the Board of Directors at KC for Refugees, said it is planning to expand its program in the coming days.

“We’d like to have more to be able to help the refugees with more things, maybe with rent and emergency assistance,” Zemke said. “But right now we don’t have the money for that. So that would be a good thing to be able to get donations for that, for grants for that.”

Carson Myers, interim executive director at Refuge KC, said its programs are funded 100% by donations from individuals and churches.

“We have experienced an increased bandwidth for operations and support and future planning in the midst of a time of deep need,” Myers said in an email.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753872060905.png" alt=" Jewish Vocational Service of Kansas City helps refugees integrate into the local community (photo submitted)." />
 <figcaption> Jewish Vocational Service of Kansas City helps refugees integrate into the local community (photo submitted).</figcaption>
 </figure>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/sauravrahman/">Saurav Rahman</a>Nonprofit organizations that provide refugee services in Missouri are pivoting to diversified financial strategies to reduce their dependency&nbsp;on government funding. These organizations are now focusing more on expanding community-based crowdfunding and scaling up revenue-generating programs to address anticipated financial gaps and ensure continued support for refugees.City of Refuge, a Columbia-based nonprofit that provides services for refugees resettled in mid-Missouri, was notified that 40% of its federal and state funding might dry up by October 2026.Jackson Efuta, a former refugee and now a staff member at City of Refuge, said witnessing the ongoing funding cuts is deeply painful.“I have personally experienced how vital these resources are during the most vulnerable time in a person’s life, when they are trying to adjust, heal and survive in a completely new environment,” Efuta said. “It is life-changing, providing emotional, practical and community based help that gives individuals the chance to thrive, not just survive.”Garrett Rucinski, director&nbsp;of engagement at City of Refuge, said the organization is making plans in case its funding dries up.“We already have a plan now,” Rucinski said. “It’s to grow the revenue producers, grow the monthly donors.”Hilary Cohen Singer, executive director at Jewish Vocational Service of Kansas City, said it’s hard to determine a specific number of funds lost, as some programs have been discontinued permanently, others temporarily paused and some funding has fluctuated between being frozen and unfrozen.“We are increasingly looking to our local community to help provide the vital services for refugees and immigrants to help them integrate into the community,” Cohen Singer said. “We are certainly affected in significant ways by the loss of federal funding.”David Gonzalez, vice president of development at the International Institute of St. Louis, thinks the future for these service providers is going to be less reliant on government funding, and that is the direction his organization is moving in.The&nbsp;<a href="https://moora.org/data-reports" target="_blank">Missouri Office of Refugee Administration reported</a>&nbsp;3,272 refugee arrivals in Missouri during the 2024 fiscal year, which extended from Oct. 1, 2023 to Sept. 30, 2024 — the highest number in the past eight years. According to the American Immigration Council, the&nbsp;<a href="https://map.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/locations/missouri/" target="_blank">total number of refugees in Missouri</a>&nbsp;is estimated to be around 24,600.<h2>Expanding revenue-generating services</h2>City of Refuge launched a campaign to recruit 1,000 donors contributing $50 per month. According to Rucinski, it has reached 20% of that goal within just a couple of months.The organization is also focusing on its three revenue-generating initiatives — City Boutique, City Cuisine and City Preschool. City Boutique is a thrift shop that sells goods from local donors and refugee artisans; City Cuisine operates a food truck and provides catering services; and the preschool program supports young children’s social and language development.Together, these initiatives help fund the larger organization, with revenue from the boutique funding 15% of the total annual budget, Rucinski said.“We are knocking on every door possible, asking for monthly gifts, asking for end-of-year gifts. That’s what every nonprofit is doing right now,” Rucinski said. “We have the benefit of having those three revenue generators, and those revenue generators are going to help&nbsp;us.”Amid news of future funding cuts, an unexpected opportunity arose for City of Refuge — the building next to its location was listed for sale. The organization purchased it using previously awarded American Rescue Plan Act funds to expand on its services.“When the building came up, we realized that we could put down the down payment,” Rucinski said. “With tenants still in the building next door, we can continue to operate as we were, while affording the building next door to us, so it is self-sustaining.”City of Refuge is now planning to use the remaining space in that new building for youth programming and a commercial kitchen, which it hopes will generate additional revenue for the organization, Rucinski said.“If we keep getting more monthly donors and end-of-year donors, if we keep getting more visitors to the Boutique, Cuisine and people attending our preschool, more sponsors and we continue on the pace that we are at, I feel very positive about October 2026,” Rucinski said.<h2>Leaning on community support</h2>Jewish Vocational Service of Kansas City continues to support refugees despite the ongoing challenges caused by the federal funding cuts. The organization has adapted by reducing staff and expanding its search for alternative funding sources.Katie Norman, communication manager at JVS, said that the organization supports approximately 7,500 refugees and immigrants each year, with community integration, health and education.“We do receive quite a bit of funding&nbsp;from the federal government, so we have been impacted by the cuts and freezes to federal funds,” Norman said. “But we also receive funding from private foundations and the state as well.”Due to federal funding cuts, JVS has already reduced its services and is now seeking and has received new funding to continue much of its work, Cohen Singer said.“We did have to make staff reductions, and so we have done that,” Cohen Singer said. “We anticipate being able to continue with our operations at the size and scale that we are certainly into next fiscal year, and that is probably as far as we are able to plan for.”Agencies like JVS have traditionally been closely involved in the initial resettlement period of refugees. That program has now stopped, and there are no new arrivals associated with it. Following that, there is no funding available for refugee resettlement, said Cohen Singer.“But that doesn’t mean that our work stops, because the work that we do provides support to people who have been here one year, but also three years or five years or 10 years, depending on what their needs are,” she said.According to Cohen Singer, the organization now reaches the local community, individuals, foundations, and state and local governments that have programs to support people’s wellbeing, even if the funding is not specifically for refugees and immigrants.“The people that we serve can benefit from funding that is targeted towards employment or education or youth services or mental health, or any number of things,” Cohen Singer said. “So we are talking to folks that provide funding in all of those areas so that we can bring additional resources into the organization.”<h2>Less reliance on government funding</h2>The International Institute of St. Louis, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping refugees, has been forced to make staff reductions and a renewed push for community and private-sector support to adapt to the federal funding cuts.The organization has been a government contractor since the 70s, working to safely and legally bring refugees to the area and support them by providing housing, education and employment. Last year, the organization served over 3,500 individuals. However, since&nbsp;January, things have been tough due to a roughly $500,000 funding cut.Gonzalez said that even when federal funding was frozen, the organization still had an agreement with the federal government to bring refugees to the St. Louis region and provide support.“We immediately found a shortfall of about half a million dollars that we had to come up with,” Gonzalez said. “This money would be used for things like housing.”To continue that support, the International Institute of St. Louis launched a campaign in February called Keeping Our Promise, aiming to raise $500,000. The organization also made workforce reductions in areas that didn’t have much direct client access, Gonzalez said.“We had about 125 people here locally, and we had to cut about 60% of those,” Gonzalez said. “So we were down to under 60 staff in February and March.”Gonzalez said the organization has now been able to bring some staff back, bringing the current team size to around 70 to 75, with some community support.The annual budget of the International Institute of St. Louis is roughly $24 to $25 million, with 70% to 80% of that coming from federal funding, Gonzalez said.“That is not a long-term solution for funding, particularly when our funding is at the whims of whoever’s in&nbsp;the White House,” he said. “So we have looked at&nbsp;re-establishing or establishing alternative sources of funding.”Gonzalez outlined three key strategies for future financing: increasing support from the corporate sector by making&nbsp;them understand the importance of new people in the local economy; uncovering new grant opportunities from organizations that are new but interested&nbsp;in the program outcomes; and engaging the broader community, which values the long-term impact of this work.“They understood the cuts, they understood what was happening. And so we had a tremendous response to the Keeping Our Promise campaign,” Gonzalez said. “I will say now we’ve had more individual donors already, at this point, halfway through the year, than we had all of last year.”Last year, the International Institute of St. Louis increased its non-governmental fundraising by 33%, which amounted to over a million dollars, Gonzalez said.<h2>Urge for more support</h2>Kindness Begins with Me supports refugee women in the greater St. Louis area, providing English lessons and driving instruction. The organization serves 225 refugees each week.Half of its annual budget comes from federal funding through the Missouri Office of Refugee Administration, which is about $125,000.Jessica Pachak, executive director at Kindness Begins with Me, said its funding was temporarily frozen, then came back after the freeze. But it’s still unstable.“We are going to have to be a mixture of fundraising initiatives, which will be individual donors and then additional foundations,” Pachak said. “So in the past, we relied 50% on federal funds, and now that 50% of federal funds, potentially, is going to need to be replaced with foundation donors.”Pachak thinks that Kindness Begins with Me is going to be able to raise most of that money but not all.KC for Refugees, an organization that supports refugees in the Kansas City metro area, is mostly funded by donations from the community and friends. It has not received any federal funding since 2019.Linda Zemke, president of the Board of Directors at KC for Refugees, said it is planning to expand its program in the coming days.“We’d like to have more to be able to help the refugees with more things, maybe with rent and emergency assistance,” Zemke said. “But right now we don’t have the money for that. So that would be a good thing to be able to get donations for that, for grants for that.”Carson Myers, interim executive director at Refuge KC, said its programs are funded 100% by donations from individuals and churches.“We have experienced an increased bandwidth for operations and support and future planning in the midst of a time of deep need,” Myers said in an email.This story originally appeared in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.missouribusinessalert.com/" target="_blank">Missouri&nbsp;Business&nbsp;Alert</a>, a digital newsroom covering&nbsp;businessand the economy in&nbsp;Missouri.

Missouri refugee service providers adjust financial strategies amid federal funding uncertainty

&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a traffic stop.

Just after 8:30p.m. July 27, a Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a Cadillac sedan on U.S. Highway 75 near 126th Road, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

 Jennifer Ann Bailey-Johnson, 41, of Atchison, was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and felony interference with law enforcement.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753809678169.png" alt="Bailey-Johnson-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Bailey-Johnson-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a traffic stop.Just after 8:30p.m. July 27, a Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a Cadillac sedan on U.S. Highway 75 near 126th Road, according to Sheriff Tim Morse. Jennifer Ann Bailey-Johnson, 41, of Atchison, was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and felony interference with law enforcement.

Kan. woman accused of interference with deputy during arrest

The Kansas City Chiefs held their longest training camp practice today at Missouri Western State University in temperatures that felt upwards of 110 degrees with the heat index.  

Transitioning to a new position in camp is offensive lineman Kingsley  Suamataia, moving from left tackle to a position he's played just once left guard.  

Head Coach Andy Reid says now that players have had pads on for a few days now, he's seen good things from Suamataia 

“He’s done a nice job. He really battled in there, (he) looks solid. (I) really like what we see,” Reid tells reporters following practice 

Suamataia says while the move is going well, it's still a learning process, with things moving much faster at the guard position 

"It’s all just taking my mind from out here to in here and working it from in there and getting the work from Trey (Smith) and the inside guys,” Suamataia says.  “So, it’s been good.” 

Things did get chippy today in the heat with rookies Josh Simmons and Ashton Gillotte going at each other.     

With a packed running back room, Kansas City Chiefs seventh round pick Brashard Smith is trying to find whatever way he can to make the team and make an impact 

Smith spent his career at SMU as a pass catching back, which he could do with the Chiefs, but he has to work his way past Elijah Mitchell and Kareem Hunt first. Special Teams Coordinator Dave Toub also likes Smith's potential as a punt and kick returner.  

For Smith, who didn't spend much time on special teams in college, he says he likes the possibility of being a returner.  

"I love the ball in my hands, and I feel like I can make explosive plays,” Smith says.  “So, I’d love to play punt return, kick return, it doesn’t matter just to help the team win I’ll do whatever for sure.” 

Practice at Chiefs Training Camp went just about two hours today.  The Chiefs will have one more practice tomorrow at 9:15 before an off day on Thursday. 

The heat at camp brought a slew of injuries with some leaving practice. Reid reported that linebacker Jeffrey Bassa was out with an ankle sprain. Tight end Jake Briningstool was out with a hamstring injury as was safety Deon Bush. Cornerback Kristian Fulton remains on the PUP list with a knee injury, and cornerback Darius Rush was out with a hamstring injury, 

Cornerback Eric Scott also had a hamstring injury. Wide receiver Xavier Worthy had a rough fall during practice and left for the medical tent, but did return to practice, however fellow wide receivers Hollywood Brown and Skyy Moore left practice in a cart, Moore with a hamstring injury and Brown with an ankle injury. Linebacker Cooper McDonald was out of practice with an illness. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753827674364.jpeg" alt="Kingsley Suamataia walks down the hill alongside offensive guard Trey Smith/ Photo by Alexis Starks" />
 <figcaption>Kingsley Suamataia walks down the hill alongside offensive guard Trey Smith/ Photo by Alexis Starks</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKEThe Kansas City Chiefs held their longest training camp practice today at Missouri Western State University in temperatures that felt upwards of 110 degrees with the heat index. Transitioning to a new position in camp is offensive lineman Kingsley Suamataia, moving from left tackle to a position he's played just once left guard. Head Coach Andy Reid says now that players have had pads on for a few days now, he's seen good things from Suamataia “He’s done a nice job. He really battled in there, (he) looks solid. (I) really like what we see,” Reid tells reporters following practice Suamataia says while the move is going well, it's still a learning process, with things moving much faster at the guard position "It’s all just taking my mind from out here to in here and working it from in there and getting the work from Trey (Smith) and the inside guys,” Suamataia says. “So, it’s been good.” Things did get chippy today in the heat with rookies Josh Simmons and Ashton Gillotte going at each other. With a packed running back room, Kansas City Chiefs seventh round pick Brashard Smith is trying to find whatever way he can to make the team and make an impact Smith spent his career at SMU as a pass catching back, which he could do with the Chiefs, but he has to work his way past Elijah Mitchell and Kareem Hunt first. Special Teams Coordinator Dave Toub also likes Smith's potential as a punt and kick returner. For Smith, who didn't spend much time on special teams in college, he says he likes the possibility of being a returner. "I love the ball in my hands, and I feel like I can make explosive plays,” Smith says. “So, I’d love to play punt return, kick return, it doesn’t matter just to help the team win I’ll do whatever for sure.” Practice at Chiefs Training Camp went just about two hours today. The Chiefs will have one more practice tomorrow at 9:15 before an off day on Thursday. The heat at camp brought a slew of injuries with some leaving practice. Reid reported that linebacker Jeffrey Bassa was out with an ankle sprain. Tight end Jake Briningstool was out with a hamstring injury as was safety Deon Bush. Cornerback Kristian Fulton remains on the PUP list with a knee injury, and cornerback Darius Rush was out with a hamstring injury, Cornerback Eric Scott also had a hamstring injury. Wide receiver Xavier Worthy had a rough fall during practice and left for the medical tent, but did return to practice, however fellow wide receivers Hollywood Brown and Skyy Moore left practice in a cart, Moore with a hamstring injury and Brown with an ankle injury. Linebacker Cooper McDonald was out of practice with an illness. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753827733978.jpeg" alt="Bailey Zappe hands the ball off to Brashard Smith/ Photo by Alexis Starks" />
 <figcaption>Bailey Zappe hands the ball off to Brashard Smith/ Photo by Alexis Starks</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Suamataia settling into new position as Chiefs tackle practice on hot day

Maryville has
gotten a $4 million boost from the state.

The Missouri
Department of Natural Resources has awarded a $4.1 million loan to the city of
Maryville to plan and design its drinking water improvement project. The money
will finance early engineering and administrative costs while the city and the DNR
work to secure a larger financial package for its drinking water project.

The Maryville
water upgrade is expected to cost of total of $48 million. The city hopes to
begin construction next year.

The DNR loan is
designed to help in the early phase of the project. It comes with no interest.

“MoDNR provides
crucial financing and technical assistance to help communities build public
infrastructure that protects public health and the environment,” DNR Director, Kurt
Schaefer, said in a written statement released by DNR. “Investing in the
wellbeing of Missouri’s infrastructure is also a catalyst to economic growth
and prosperity.”

The Drinking Water
State Revolving Fund finances improvements to water treatment plants,
distribution systems, water storage and supply facilities, and for
interconnection or consolidation projects, according to DNR.

By BRENT MARTINMaryville PostMaryville has
gotten a $4 million boost from the state.The Missouri
Department of Natural Resources has awarded a $4.1 million loan to the city of
Maryville to plan and design its drinking water improvement project. The money
will finance early engineering and administrative costs while the city and the DNR
work to secure a larger financial package for its drinking water project.The Maryville
water upgrade is expected to cost of total of $48 million. The city hopes to
begin construction next year.The DNR loan is
designed to help in the early phase of the project. It comes with no interest.“MoDNR provides
crucial financing and technical assistance to help communities build public
infrastructure that protects public health and the environment,” DNR Director, Kurt
Schaefer, said in a written statement released by DNR. “Investing in the
wellbeing of Missouri’s infrastructure is also a catalyst to economic growth
and prosperity.”The Drinking Water
State Revolving Fund finances improvements to water treatment plants,
distribution systems, water storage and supply facilities, and for
interconnection or consolidation projects, according to DNR.

Maryville receives $4M state loan for water project

Missouri has a long history of struggling to process MO HealthNet applications in a timely manner. As states prepare for new federal work requirements for Medicaid and SNAP, advocates worry about what the workload will mean for people receiving benefits in Missouri

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/megcunningham/">Meg Cunningham</a>&nbsp;

Kevin Wehner has been there for Missourians as they have dealt with unanswered questions, long wait times and the confusion as they enrolled for government insurance.

He was there as the Affordable Care Act marketplace came online, and as Missouri slowly expanded its Medicaid program, known as MO HealthNet.

He’s witnessed Missouri struggling for years to process benefits applications in a timely manner.

Now,&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/07/11/medicaid-mo-healthnet-kancare-changes-2025/" target="_blank">under President Donald Trump’s new budget plan</a>, Americans aged 19 to 64 who are enrolled in Medicaid will be required to show proof of 80 hours of work, school, caregiving or volunteering a month to be eligible for coverage.

Wehner worries about what new Medicaid work requirements might mean for the people he assists on a day-to-day basis.

“It’s going to directly affect the Medicaid expansion (group),” said Wehner, a benefits enrollment counselor at Missouri Connections for Health in Columbia. “I think tangentially, it will affect the other populations, just because of the amount of resources that will be needed to see if these people are putting in 80 hours.”

For years, Missouri has struggled to process social services applications in a timely manner, drawing the ire of advocates and the courts. Federal regulations require states to process Medicaid applications based on income in 45 days, but Missouri has&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/03/22/missouri-medicaid-application-delays-exceed-federal-limits-for-third-straight-month/">repeatedly violated the time frame requirements</a>.

Wehner anticipates more confusion with the new rules, which are slated to begin in December 2026, after the midterm elections.

<a href="https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/politifact-healthcheck-fact-check-scott-jennings-medicaid-work-requirements/" target="_blank">Research</a>&nbsp;in states that have put work requirements in place confirms that suspicion. Enrollees found it difficult to fulfill the requirements and submit the proper documentation, leading to people losing coverage.

“I imagine I’m going to get a lot of people asking for help,” Wehner said. “You get your yellow letter in the mail. It’s several pages. Even when I’m working with people, I get a highlighter and I go through and find, ‘OK, here’s what we need to do.’ It’s not really obvious what you need to do.”

New estimates from KFF found that the Trump administration’s budget package would reduce federal Medicaid spending by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kff.org/medicaid/issue-brief/allocating-cbos-estimates-of-federal-medicaid-spending-reductions-across-the-states-enacted-reconciliation-package/" target="_blank">$911 billion over the next 10 years</a>&nbsp;and increase the number of uninsured Americans by 10 million. The largest portion of savings would come from work requirements on the Affordable Care Act expansion group – totaling about $326 billion saved over the next decade.

In Missouri, that would amount to an estimated 130,000 people losing access to Medicaid as their form of health insurance.

How the state may shift to handle increased eligibility checks&nbsp;

For years, Missouri has looked to update its technology to better handle the administrative burden as advocates demanded solutions to the delays across Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) applications.

“It really is going to be a new system to implement,” said Lucas Caldwell-McMillan, the chief of policy at Empower Missouri, an anti-poverty advocacy group. “Right now we’ve got a pretty outdated system that is struggling. I think the frontline agency staff are working their hardest to implement it now, but they’re falling short.”

Under the new framework for Medicaid, states will need to process proof of the 80 hours of work, school, caregiving or volunteering, and will need to check eligibility for enrollment twice a year, rather than the current standard of once annually.

“These are six-month eligibility checks, so essentially doubling the work there,” said Caldwell-McMillan. “Both on the participant, but also the agency. And instituting these work requirements in Medicaid will require a whole new system to verify information that’s never been verified by the Medicaid agency before.”

According to Timothy McBride, a health economist and professor at the Washington University School of Public Health, states and enrollees have struggled to keep track of the documentation required to track whether people are working.

“The recipient has to actually interact with the program and make sure they get the paperwork filled out and submitted and it doesn’t get lost,” McBride said. “And that’s where it has broken down in states like Missouri, and where this has caused problems in our past.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753817239739.png" alt=" Federal regulations require states to process Medicaid applications based on income in 45 days, but Missouri has repeatedly violated the time frame requirements (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> Federal regulations require states to process Medicaid applications based on income in 45 days, but Missouri has repeatedly violated the time frame requirements (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Missouri has a long history of struggling to process MO HealthNet applications in a timely manner. As states prepare for new federal work requirements for Medicaid and SNAP, advocates worry about what the workload will mean for people receiving benefits in Missouri</h2>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/megcunningham/">Meg Cunningham</a>&nbsp;Kevin Wehner has been there for Missourians as they have dealt with unanswered questions, long wait times and the confusion as they enrolled for government insurance.He was there as the Affordable Care Act marketplace came online, and as Missouri slowly expanded its Medicaid program, known as MO HealthNet.He’s witnessed Missouri struggling for years to process benefits applications in a timely manner.Now,&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/07/11/medicaid-mo-healthnet-kancare-changes-2025/" target="_blank">under President Donald Trump’s new budget plan</a>, Americans aged 19 to 64 who are enrolled in Medicaid will be required to show proof of 80 hours of work, school, caregiving or volunteering a month to be eligible for coverage.Wehner worries about what new Medicaid work requirements might mean for the people he assists on a day-to-day basis.“It’s going to directly affect the Medicaid expansion (group),” said Wehner, a benefits enrollment counselor at Missouri Connections for Health in Columbia. “I think tangentially, it will affect the other populations, just because of the amount of resources that will be needed to see if these people are putting in 80 hours.”For years, Missouri has struggled to process social services applications in a timely manner, drawing the ire of advocates and the courts. Federal regulations require states to process Medicaid applications based on income in 45 days, but Missouri has&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/03/22/missouri-medicaid-application-delays-exceed-federal-limits-for-third-straight-month/">repeatedly violated the time frame requirements</a>.Wehner anticipates more confusion with the new rules, which are slated to begin in December 2026, after the midterm elections.<a href="https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/politifact-healthcheck-fact-check-scott-jennings-medicaid-work-requirements/" target="_blank">Research</a>&nbsp;in states that have put work requirements in place confirms that suspicion. Enrollees found it difficult to fulfill the requirements and submit the proper documentation, leading to people losing coverage.“I imagine I’m going to get a lot of people asking for help,” Wehner said. “You get your yellow letter in the mail. It’s several pages. Even when I’m working with people, I get a highlighter and I go through and find, ‘OK, here’s what we need to do.’ It’s not really obvious what you need to do.”New estimates from KFF found that the Trump administration’s budget package would reduce federal Medicaid spending by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kff.org/medicaid/issue-brief/allocating-cbos-estimates-of-federal-medicaid-spending-reductions-across-the-states-enacted-reconciliation-package/" target="_blank">$911 billion over the next 10 years</a>&nbsp;and increase the number of uninsured Americans by 10 million. The largest portion of savings would come from work requirements on the Affordable Care Act expansion group – totaling about $326 billion saved over the next decade.In Missouri, that would amount to an estimated 130,000 people losing access to Medicaid as their form of health insurance.<h2>How the state may shift to handle increased eligibility checks&nbsp;</h2>For years, Missouri has looked to update its technology to better handle the administrative burden as advocates demanded solutions to the delays across Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) applications.“It really is going to be a new system to implement,” said Lucas Caldwell-McMillan, the chief of policy at Empower Missouri, an anti-poverty advocacy group. “Right now we’ve got a pretty outdated system that is struggling. I think the frontline agency staff are working their hardest to implement it now, but they’re falling short.”Under the new framework for Medicaid, states will need to process proof of the 80 hours of work, school, caregiving or volunteering, and will need to check eligibility for enrollment twice a year, rather than the current standard of once annually.“These are six-month eligibility checks, so essentially doubling the work there,” said Caldwell-McMillan. “Both on the participant, but also the agency. And instituting these work requirements in Medicaid will require a whole new system to verify information that’s never been verified by the Medicaid agency before.”According to Timothy McBride, a health economist and professor at the Washington University School of Public Health, states and enrollees have struggled to keep track of the documentation required to track whether people are working.“The recipient has to actually interact with the program and make sure they get the paperwork filled out and submitted and it doesn’t get lost,” McBride said. “And that’s where it has broken down in states like Missouri, and where this has caused problems in our past.”The increased burden for the state could come at a high cost, with not much savings. Research shows that both in Missouri and at the national level,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kff.org/medicaid/issue-brief/5-key-facts-about-medicaid-work-requirements/" target="_blank">about 90% of adults</a>&nbsp;on Medicaid already have a job or would be considered exempt from work requirements.States like Arkansas and Georgia have looked to put work requirements in place for years, but both have struggled.Arkansas briefly put 20-hour per week work requirements in place from 2018 to 2019 for childless adults aged 30 to 49. After a federal court blocked the requirements, Arkansas stopped the program.But in the brief time those requirements were in place, about 18,000 enrollees in the state lost their coverage. The state spent more than $26 million in administrative costs on eligibility checks and to put the program in place.<a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7497731/" target="_blank">A study</a>&nbsp;found that half of those in Arkansas who had lost Medicaid as part of the requirements reported serious problems paying off medical debt, while 56% delayed some form of medical care due to the cost and 64% delayed medication due to the cost.The study also found that the work requirements did little to increase the number of enrollees who were employed. More than 95% of those in the work requirement group were either already working or qualified for an exemption. There did not appear to be any significant upticks in employment as a result of the requirements.<a href="https://www.kff.org/medicaid/issue-brief/understanding-the-intersection-of-medicaid-and-work-an-update/" target="_blank">In 2023,</a>&nbsp;44% of the adults 19-64 enrolled in Medicaid were working full time, while 20% were working part time. Another 12% didn’t work due to caregiving, while 10% didn’t work due to illness and 7% didn’t work because they were enrolled in school, leaving only 8% not working due to another reason.In an interview with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stlpr.org/government-politics-issues/2025-07-24/missouri-medicaid-director-todd-richardson-requirements-seamless-enrollees" target="_blank">St. Louis Public Radio</a>, Todd Richardson, the director of Missouri’s Medicaid program, said the state would look into using an online portal to streamline the process for enrollees.“Our goal is to make sure that people who are eligible and entitled to be on the program have the easiest path to get access to those benefits, while at the same time ensuring that those who are not eligible for the program are not on the program,” he told the outlet.“If they’re working and we can verify that they’re working through income data, then that’s a verification right there,” Richardson added. “Now, there are other exceptions to the work requirements that probably will require a participant to send some documentation or to involve a human. But I think there’s a lot of that income verification that can be done electronically.”Reduction of federal support for the program and the ways that states can fund Medicaid will leave Missouri lawmakers with a&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/07/14/missouri-governor-budget-cuts-kansas-city/" target="_blank">tricky budget situation</a>&nbsp;in the years to come. Because the state’s expansion came through a voter-approved constitutional amendment, lawmakers won’t be able to easily undo the expansion, and the state is on the hook to pay for the full cost of the program.States may turn to other programs to find ways to recoup the costs.Missouri offers benefits through Medicaid beyond what is required by the federal government. Things like dental coverage, some mental health coverage, long-term care or Missouri’s recent expansion of Medicaid for postpartum women could be targets for cuts.“I imagine they’re pretty nervous about this,” McBride said. “Frankly, those of us who just want the state to function are nervous for them because we want them to be able to do this. It’s really potentially catastrophic for the state.”Otherwise, McBride said, programs like education, roads or prison funding would be likely places for the state to turn.“The other options are to cut spending elsewhere,” McBride said. “They would cut Medicaid in places where they can cut Medicaid, and I’m pretty sure the state would have to cut from all of the above.”<h2>How could work requirements look in rural Missouri?&nbsp;</h2>New work requirements pose hurdles in rural parts of the state that urban areas may not face. Completing the necessary paperwork with unreliable internet or technology access could add another layer of difficulty.Things like access to transportation, or a job with enough hours, could set Missourians back from obtaining coverage, said Caldwell-McMillan.“It’s finding a job, and finding a job that is going to give you enough hours all of the time when they’re checking eligibility requirements,” Caldwell-McMillan said. “Retail workers, cashiers, cooks, those shifts can change. All of those folks are very much at risk — although they’re working — of not exactly meeting the hourly requirements and at risk of losing coverage.”Navigators like Wehner will have to consider ways to help people report their work or caregiving when they may not have much access to technology.“A lot of people I work with live out in rural areas. They may not even have a smartphone and definitely not internet access,” Wehner said. “So just to report things online is going to be really burdensome.”Other trickle-down impacts could also hit rural Missouri the hardest. Rural hospitals, for example, rely heavily on Medicaid reimbursements to keep their doors open. Most&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kff.org/medicaid/issue-brief/a-closer-look-at-the-50-billion-rural-health-fund-in-the-new-reconciliation-law/?utm_campaign=KFF-Medicaid&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;_hsenc=p2ANqtz--27paKCYlJEiAcVd9I52rdx8tOb2rJWYbIOiclkFMsYdG1ueFy_iwhfaouA4C0I6eBdmMHi8wZMbuk7OzDbAW3JSj6bg&amp;_hsmi=371627437&amp;utm_content=371627437&amp;utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">recent data</a>&nbsp;show 44% of rural hospitals have negative margins.The budget package includes $50 billion for a rural hospital fund, which is equal to about one-third of the estimated loss of federal Medicaid funding in rural communities. The budget provides $10 billion a year for five years for the fund, but health economists and Medicaid experts say the federal spending will be finished before many of the losses to Medicaid funding are fully realized.Coupled with cuts to SNAP, the potential loss of a hospital in a rural area could be damaging to local economies, Caldwell-McMillan said.“Many of those counties are the folks who are facing perhaps a closure of a clinic or the closure of the closest hospital because of cuts to Medicaid,” Caldwell-McMillan said. “So it really is a perfect storm of folks — working families — who need the support, and then two big sources of support are going to be taken away.”“There’s going to be really tough choices and really tough consequences.”This&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/07/25/missouri-work-requirements-medicaid-mo-healthnet/" target="_blank">article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/" target="_blank">Beacon: Missouri</a>&nbsp;and is republished here under a&nbsp;<a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/" target="_blank">Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License</a>.

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