AGP Executive Report

Missouri Agriculture Relief: Gov. Mike Kehoe signed an emergency order easing harvest rules—Missouri will allow dyed diesel on state highways and raise ag hauling weight limits from 88,000 to 90,000 pounds for 30 days, aiming to cut transportation costs. Public Safety Tech: The Missouri Department of Public Safety issued new guidelines for Flock cameras and license plate readers, urging a legitimate reason to access data, tracking who uses it, deleting much of it after 30 days, and auditing use monthly. Courts & Accountability: A Missouri judge sentenced Kelli Lepler to 15 years probation and ordered $266,636 restitution tied to Monument Advisors headstone fraud. Healthcare Money: The Trump administration began mailing $500 Affordable Care Act refund checks to nearly 1 million Americans in 30 states, excluding people who got subsidies. Higher Ed & DEI: Mizzou is investigating a professor after a secret recording claimed DEI work continues despite state restrictions. Local Life: Kansas City’s Sun Fresh on Blue Parkway has drawn complaints for months of near-empty shelves. Sports Politics: Missouri Sen. Eric Schmitt’s Hawks-vs-Hawkeyes gotcha at a Jack Smith hearing backfired, turning attention to his mistake.

Missouri Politics: Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins says the Supreme Court’s rejection of efforts to use the 2025 congressional map will be remembered as a historic legal fight, even as voters will stick with 2022 district lines. Courts & Justice: A federal appeals court halted Tennessee’s planned execution of Christa Pike about an hour before it was set to happen, ordering review of whether her childhood sexual abuse claims were fully considered at sentencing. Local Government & Infrastructure: MoDOT plans a one-lane reduction on Route E in Wayne County for pavement repairs Oct. 8, with flaggers and a pilot car guiding traffic. Education & Community: MU Extension is offering urban farm classes in the St. Louis area, including zoning-focused training and a farm labor workshop for growers. Business & Jobs: Norton Rose Fulbright named Luke Maher partner-in-charge of its St. Louis office as the firm grows. Tech & Industry: Missouri’s redistricting fight also remains in the national spotlight as lawmakers and analysts debate how much presidential influence can reach election systems.

Missouri Politics & Courts: A Missouri jury heard opening arguments in the first Roundup cancer trial after the U.S. Supreme Court ruling, as plaintiffs accuse Monsanto of downplaying risks and steering regulators. Public Safety & Community: Neosho voted to sell its water and wastewater system to Missouri American Water, with residents expecting first bills in late October or early November. Consumer & State Services: Missouri drivers have until Wednesday to claim a refund tied to the state’s gas tax increase—12.5 cents per gallon on fuel bought from last July through this June. Health & Education: Mizzou is forming a committee to boost NSSE response rates and better use student survey data for planning and student success. Environment & Energy: Ameren Missouri filed a long-range energy plan that would lean more on fossil fuels, drawing criticism over its emissions goals and public health impacts. Local Human Interest: Over 100 animals were rescued from a Lawrence County hoarding case, with the rescue ongoing and custody set for an Oct. 26 hearing. Sports: Missouri faces Florida Saturday as Jadan Baugh’s explosive start puts pressure on the Tigers’ defense.

Missouri Supreme Court: The U.S. Supreme Court kept Missouri’s 2022 congressional map in place for the Nov. 3 election, again blocking a GOP-drawn alternative—another setback for state Republicans after multiple high-court rulings. Federal politics: Missouri Sen. Eric Schmitt helped push the Protect College Sports Act through the U.S. Senate, aiming to rein in NIL and transfer “chaos” with new eligibility rules. Public safety & courts: A Missouri Supreme Court case continues to draw attention as the state’s cannabis business application process faces renewed scrutiny. Local government: Maryville rejected a short-term rental permit and an RV park plan tied to data-center construction workers, citing neighborhood concerns. State policy & business: TruMo Analytics opened a Missouri cannabis testing lab in Strafford, promising faster compliance panels and statewide sample pickup. Infrastructure: MoDOT scheduled major road closures for culvert work, including Route H in Weston (Sept. 30–Nov. 4) and Route O in Sullivan County (Sept. 30, 7 a.m.–3 p.m.). Health & community: Pregnant patients face higher heat risks, with doctors urging extra precautions during hot weather.

FBI Leadership Shake-Up: Former Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey is stepping down as FBI co-deputy director after a little more than a year, saying he’s returning to family as the bureau continues major leadership changes under Kash Patel. Missouri Politics: The U.S. Supreme Court has again ordered Missouri to use the 2022 congressional map for the November election, ending another round of map fights and leaving candidates to recalibrate campaigns. Public Safety & Surveillance: A northeast Missouri city voted unanimously to end its Flock camera contract, with officials citing concerns about surveillance and costs tied to removal. College Sports Overhaul: The U.S. Senate passed a major bipartisan college athletics bill that sets national rules on athlete compensation and eligibility, sending it to the House. Local Governance & Crime Concerns: Downtown Cape Girardeau business owners are pushing for action after a recent shooting, saying safety issues are hurting foot traffic. Health Coverage Risk: Thousands in the Kansas City metro face losing Medicaid coverage soon due to federal funding changes tied to immigration status. Missouri Economy: Diesel prices hit an all-time high, squeezing farmers during peak harvest season. Education & Community: Mizzou is forming a committee to boost NSSE survey response rates to improve planning and student experience.

FBI Leadership Shake-Up: Former Missouri AG Andrew Bailey is stepping down as FBI co-deputy director after about a year, citing family reasons, as the bureau’s unusual top structure under Kash Patel continues to draw scrutiny. Missouri Politics/Redistricting: The U.S. Supreme Court again blocked Missouri’s GOP congressional map changes, keeping the 2022 map in place for the 2026 election—prompting fresh backlash from Trump and GOP officials. Education in Focus: Mizzou is forming a committee to boost NSSE response rates and better use student-survey data for strategic planning, while St. Louis Public Schools faces major enrollment decline and potential school closures. Community & Local Life: Springfield’s historic Gillioz Theatre will host a Rocky Horror tribute screening Oct. 23, and Trenton is taking parade entries for its Oct. 17 Missouri Day Parade. Housing/Business: Hunt Capital Partners closed financing to rehabilitate a Kansas City affordable housing complex into 55 units, and MyEyeDr. announced plans to acquire EyeCare Partners’ optometry division. Health & Literacy: A new report highlights low adult reading levels as a “silent crisis,” with major knock-on effects for jobs and health care.

Supreme Court & Missouri Politics: President Trump blasted the U.S. Supreme Court after it blocked Missouri’s GOP-backed 2025 congressional map for the third time, saying the justices “will just not let Missouri have an Election Victory,” as the court ordered Missouri to use the 2022 districts for the Nov. 3 election. Public Safety & Downtown Columbia: Race Matters, Friends plans a Monday Zoom press conference on downtown public safety governance and scrutiny of Reign Bar, arguing the focus on specific businesses near Eighth, Ninth and Walnut streets is a distraction from broader economic goals. Health Policy & PBMs: Pharmacist Ginny Crisp says pharmacy benefit managers use hidden offshore subsidiaries to capture rebate money before it reaches health plans, calling the lack of contract visibility “the silence is the design.” Missouri Economy & Infrastructure: The Missouri Chamber of Commerce is starting a full headquarters transformation on Jefferson City’s East Capitol Avenue, aiming for new event space and member work areas as part of the avenue’s revitalization. Agritourism for Farmers: Missouri farm families are turning to farm stays and ranch experiences as a hedge against rising costs, with Airbnb and American Farmland Trust backing more grant efforts. Roadwork: MoDOT announced mid-Missouri road projects and I-70 lane closures running Monday through Sunday.

Supreme Court & Elections: The U.S. Supreme Court blocked Missouri from using a GOP-backed congressional map for the Nov. 3 election for the third time, ordering use of the 2022 map and warning “electoral chaos” if lawmakers were allowed to switch. State Politics: President Trump blasted the justices online after the latest Missouri redistricting setback. Health Care Funding: CMS announced $45M for Missouri rural hospitals, EMS workforce training, and behavioral and maternal health services. Medicaid Work Rules: As federal work requirements begin, at least six states—including Arkansas and others—will require medical proof instead of allowing self-attestation for some exemptions. Public Safety Vote: Jefferson City residents will vote Nov. 3 on raising a public safety sales tax to help cover staffing and service needs. Local Government: Kirksville City Council meets Monday on airport upgrades and sewer rehabilitation, plus adopting 2027 city goals. Community & Justice: A Desloge man accused of violating a sex-offender distance rule was arrested after a social-media tip and surveillance.

Supreme Court Map Fight: The U.S. Supreme Court again blocked Missouri Republicans’ 2025 congressional map, ordering the 2022 lines be used for the 2026 midterms—ending a chaotic, repeated legal scramble and keeping Kansas City districts intact. Abortion Ballot Pressure: Missouri voters face a second abortion vote in two years as GOP lawmakers push to overturn 2024 constitutional protections via Amendment 3. Medicaid Work Requirements: As Medicaid work rules begin, some Republican-led states are tightening proof requirements for people deemed “medically frail,” raising fears new enrollees can’t afford doctor documentation. Investigative Journalism: The Missouri Independent won an investigative prize for its foster care reporting, with judges citing major policy failures and real-world impact. Local News & Community: Warrensburg’s Star-Journal earned top Missouri Press Association awards; and Jefferson City’s Oktoberfest returned with German culture, music, and fundraising. Public Safety: A Kansas City man was sentenced to 11 years for a fentanyl conspiracy, and Gloversville, N.Y., police say a Missouri man was behind two bomb threats. Business & Life: The Dog Stop is opening in Kansas City in late October, adding daycare, boarding, grooming, and retail.

Missouri Supreme Court fallout: The U.S. Supreme Court ordered Missouri to use its 2022 congressional map for the Nov. 3 election, rejecting another GOP-backed attempt to switch to the 2025 districts after voting had already started—warning that changing maps now would trigger “electoral chaos.” Election integrity vs. access: The same week, the Court also revived a Trump administration voter-verification database using Social Security data, a move critics say could disenfranchise eligible voters. Missouri AG probe: Attorney General Catherine Hanaway launched a consumer-fraud investigation into ActBlue, alleging possible violations tied to foreign donations and hard-to-trace payment methods. Local roads: Springfield begins overnight microsurfacing on Primrose Street starting Sept. 30, with intermittent closures expected. Public safety: A 40-year-old bicyclist was airlifted after a serious crash on MO-51 in Butler County. Education spotlight: A Missouri teacher says she lost her job after a staffing company found her OnlyFans account. Sports (Missouri): Mizzou opens SEC play Saturday at Mississippi State, with Missouri listed as the underdog.

Redistricting Fight: The U.S. Supreme Court blocked Missouri from using a GOP-backed congressional map for the Nov. 3 midterms for a third straight time, ordering the state to stick with the 2022 lines after voting had already started—an effort officials warned could trigger “electoral chaos.” Election Rules & Voting Access: In a separate ruling, the Court allowed states to resume using the Trump administration’s revamped voter eligibility database (SAVE) for now, after a lower court had paused it over privacy and wrongful-purge concerns. State Politics: Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway is investigating ActBlue over claims it accepted foreign donations, setting up another high-stakes legal fight as absentee voting ramps up. Public Safety & Health: A Cape Girardeau treatment center says kratom withdrawal can be harder than opioid withdrawal, while Missouri AG actions target concentrated kratom products. Local Watch: Lee’s Summit is moving forward with Oktoberfest using a fenced, ticketed setup after Downtown Days turned chaotic last year.

EV policy shake-up: A proposed federal annual fee for EV drivers (starting around $130–$135) has been delayed as the surface-transport bill stalls in Congress, meaning drivers may get a reprieve while road funding fights continue. Missouri courts & elections: The U.S. Supreme Court revived the Trump administration’s expanded plan to use Social Security-linked federal data to help states verify voter citizenship, setting up more legal battles even as it’s allowed for the November midterms. Missouri legal spotlight: The Missouri Supreme Court heard arguments on whether to disbar former St. Louis prosecutor Kim Gardner over alleged ethics violations tied to her Greitens-era prosecution. Local infrastructure: MoDOT scheduled a Sept. 28–Oct. 2 closure of the I-229 Double-Decker Bridge in St. Joseph for inspections and repairs, with detours via U.S. 36 and I-29. Business in the state: Schreiber Foods announced a $267M Carthage process-cheese facility expected to add about 100 jobs starting in 2028. Sports betting crackdown: Missouri AG Catherine Hanaway sent cease-and-desist letters to prediction market operators accused of offering unlicensed sports wagering to Missourians.

Live Nation Taxpayer Subsidies: A new study says nearly half of Live Nation’s big outdoor venues are effectively propped up by state and local governments, with researchers pointing to hundreds of millions in public support and long-term deals that often skip competitive bidding. Independence Police Chief Search: Independence residents met finalists for the next police chief at a community open house, with city leaders emphasizing public input as the department looks to its next chapter. Kirksville Plant Closing: WireCo will close its Kirksville wire-rope assembly plant, affecting 40–45 full-time jobs, with production shifting to the Houston area and a phased shutdown targeted for March 2027. Columbia Bar Scrutiny: A Columbia nonprofit says the AG’s pressure on Reign Bar fits a wider pattern of Black-owned businesses being singled out over public safety concerns, while city leaders push back on blaming one business. Missouri Ballot Fight: Missouri voters will decide in November whether to raise the bar for lawmakers to change voter-approved laws through the initiative process. AI Camera Privacy Clash: U.S. senators grilled Flock Safety over its nationwide AI license-plate camera network, raising privacy and false-arrest concerns. Local Business & Jobs: A KC Wellness Court adds entrepreneurship lessons for participants, and the city council advances plans to fund the Royals’ stadium share with about $600M.

War Powers Showdown: Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley is set to weigh in as the Senate votes on a resolution urging President Trump to end U.S. military operations against Iran, with Democrats pushing Congress to reclaim its war role. Cybersecurity & Health Data: Missouri’s Attorney General Tong helped lead a $2.3 million multistate settlement with LabCorp over the AMCA data breach that potentially exposed 27.5 million people. Medicaid Work Rules Fight: Kansas City-area Medicaid enrollee Emily Byrd and others sued over Trump-era “medically frail” exemption rules, arguing the standard unlawfully narrows access. Local Government & Housing: Kirkwood leaders rejected a massive Chapter 100 tax abatement for a downtown housing plan, throwing the project’s incentives into doubt. Energy Infrastructure: Nobles County commissioners heard concerns about proposed 765-kV transmission lines, as opponents worry about impacts while utilities stress long-term reliability. Public Health Watch: St. Joseph issued safety warnings after an algal bloom at Corby Pond, urging people and pets to stay out. Faith & Culture: Archbishop Fulton Sheen is set for beatification in St. Louis, with Pope Leo XIV praising his media legacy. Transportation Updates: MoDOT plans overnight I-70/Business Loop 70 and Versailles roundabout closures for pavement and bridge work.

Missouri Supreme Court Map Fight: Kansas City voters are facing ballot limbo as the U.S. Supreme Court nears a decision on which congressional map Missouri must use for November, with absentee voting already underway and election officials warning that once ballots are cast, they’re final. Campus Free Speech: A federal appeals court heard arguments over whether the University of Missouri improperly blocked Students for Justice in Palestine from marching in a homecoming parade, while Missouri’s attorney general said her office is investigating the group. Surveillance Cameras: Sen. Josh Hawley pushed lawmakers to confront Flock’s nationwide license-plate reader network, arguing it can enable warrantless tracking and treating people like suspects—while Flock says privacy shouldn’t hinge on a vendor’s judgment. Columbia Bar Crackdown: Missouri AG Catherine Hanaway demanded Reign Bar address “nuisance conditions” tied to violence concerns, escalating a downtown safety dispute. Public Safety: A 15-year-old in Warrensburg is in serious condition after being hit by a car while riding a bicycle. Health & Community: Lewis and Clark Community College will host the final Bike MS: Gateway Getaway Ride Sept. 26-27 before the event moves on.

Missouri Health & Safety: State health officials warned of possible measles exposure tied to Busch Stadium and multiple St. Louis-area businesses, urging anyone who was at specific spots and times to watch for symptoms. State Courts & Elections: Missouri’s congressional map fight is back before the U.S. Supreme Court for a third time, with challengers asking justices to block use of the GOP-backed map as ballots go out. Health Insurance Costs: Missouri consumers buying their own coverage—or getting it through small-business plans—could see premium hikes of roughly 10% to 26% in 2027, driven by rising medical and prescription drug costs. Public Safety Tech Backlash: Springfield city leaders faced angry pushback over Flock automatic license plate reader cameras after a resolution was fast-tracked toward review. Local Government & Infrastructure: Jefferson City won $10 million from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources to upgrade its wastewater system and cut sanitary sewer overflows. Business & Jobs: Costco plans 10 new U.S. stores this fall, including a new location in Lee’s Summit, Missouri. Community & Culture: Missouri Good Neighbor Week is set for Sept. 28–Oct. 4, with more cities issuing proclamations to promote “neighboring” year-round.