Governor's Workforce of the Future Challenge Report released

(From Gov, Mike Kehoe)

Today, Governor Mike Kehoe, in collaboration with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and the Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development (DHEWD), announced the release of the Executive Order (EO) 25-16: Governor's Workforce of the Future Challenge Report, which lays out a path to modernize Missouri's career and technical education (CTE) system and strengthen the state's workforce pipeline.

“Missouri's future depends on preparing the next generation to take on the jobs that drive our economy,” said Governor Kehoe. “This report confirms that career and technical education is an essential part of Missouri's long-term economic strength. We must ensure that every student has the opportunity to succeed and every business has the skilled workforce it needs to thrive.” 

EO 25-16, which was announced during Governor Kehoe's inaugural State of the State Address, charged DESE, with DHEWD as a principal partner, to lead a a statewide review of CTE delivery. Over four months, the departments convened a statewide working group made up of educators, business leaders, and workforce experts and surveyed more than 5,600 Missourians—including parents, educators, students, and employers.

The working group and survey findings highlighted broad public support for CTE and an urgent need to expand access, improve advising, and deepen business-education partnerships. Highlights of the surveys include: 92.3% of Missourians view CTE positively, and 90.8% see it as a pathway to higher education.
The top benefits identified were leadership skills (82.4%) and life skills (85.4%).

Business leaders stressed the need for stronger partnerships with schools to expand internships and apprenticeships.

Parents and educators called for clearer information on credentials and college credit transfers.

To capitalize on these findings, three recommended priority areas were identified: 

Strengthen Work-Based Learning, Employer Engagement, and Workforce Development – Create a statewide work-based learning innovation grant, expand registered apprenticeships, develop a work-based learning toolkit, enhance work-based learning opportunities for non-traditional students, and conduct a comprehensive review of WorkKeys.

Expand Early Career Exploration, School Counseling, and Advising Systems – Launch career counseling earlier in schools, hire more full-time advisors, provide resources for K-12 students and counselors, and carry out a full assessment of Missouri Connections.

Strategic Communication and Marketing to Promote CTE – Launch a statewide CTE awareness campaign, highlight student success stories, market high-needs sectors through region-focused social media campaigns, and increase awareness of Missouri’s CTE Certificate.

“This report shows that families, educators, and employers are united in support of strong career and technical education,” said Dr. Karla Eslinger, Commissioner of Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. “Our job now is to turn that support into action by expanding work-based learning, improving career advising, and creating clear pathways to high-demand careers.”

“By strengthening partnerships between schools, colleges, and employers, we can prepare Missourians for long-term success,” said Dr. Bennett Boggs, Commissioner of Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development. “Missouri’s economy is strongest when education and workforce go hand in hand.”

The Governor's Office will review these recommendations to guide continued efforts to expand CTE access, strengthen business-education partnerships, and ensure Missouri students are equipped with the skills needed to thrive in the economy of tomorrow.

For more information on career and technical education, click here.

Newton County Sheriff's Office announces steps toward increasing coverage of eastern part of county

(From the Newton County Sheriff's Office)

One of the goals for the Sheriff's Office this year was to increase our visibility and coverage within the County and especially increase our visibility and coverage on the east side of the County. The Sheriff’s Office has worked with the County Commissioners to add an additional four Corporals to our Patrol Division. Due to this increased staffing, we have been able to better utilize our patrol division to ensure that the entire County receives more adequate coverage. 

For several years, the Sheriff’s Office has had two different patrol beats for the County, North and South. As the County continues to grow, it is important that our agency adapts with that growth and that we continue to provide adequate coverage for the citizens, visitors, and businesses of Newton County. 

Beginning in September 2025, the Newton County Sheriff’s Office has implemented a third beat that will cover the east side of the County. The addition of this east beat means that a deputy will be assigned to patrol the east side of the County each day. The boundary for the new beat will be 59 Highway starting at the Jasper County line going south, including the City limits of Diamond that are west of 59 Highway, continuing south on 60 Hwy to HH Highway and then south on Owl Road to the McDonald County line. The dividing line for the north and south beat is Iris Road from the west end of the county to Lime Kiln Rd north to Foliage Road, and then east to 59 Highway. 

We utilized different factors in determining the best boundary for the new beat. The use of 59/60 highway provides a clear and easily defined boundary. We also looked at previous call volumes to try and keep our call volume manageable for each deputy working their assigned beat. 

In 2023 57% of our calls were in the south beat and 43% of our calls were in the north beat. In 2024 58% of our calls were in the south beat and 42% of our calls were in the north beat. 

With the addition of the east beat the call volume breakdown will be as follows: In 2023, 37% would be in the north beat, 38% in the south beat, and 25% in the east beat. In 2024, 36% would be in the north beat, 36% would be in the south beat, and 28% would be in the east beat. The addition of the east beat also helps to better equalize the call volume in each beat which helps to better distribute the workload and provide more opportunities for proactive patrol time. 

“The Sheriff’s Office is committed to providing adequate coverage to our entire service area. I want to thank our Commissioners for providing us with adequate staffing to be able to make this happen. I also want to thank our deputies for providing input into how we could best utilize our resources. The Newton County Central Dispatch Center also played a critical role in working with our CAD vendor to add this additional map layer to our dispatching system.”

Shake's Frozen Custard fails Joplin Health Department inspection

Shake's Frozen Custard, 1441 S. Range Line Road, failed its Joplin Health Department inspection today, according to information posted on the department website.

Shake's received a priority violation for having an abundance of drain flies in the dish area and core violations for having damaged cabinet edging in the front area and a damaged floor wall juncture near the mop sink.

Lotus Garden, 1818 W. 7th Street and It's Greek to Me, 101 N. Range Line Road, passed re-inspections after failing recently.

The following establishments have passed inspection this week:

Texas Roadhouse, 3317 S. Range Line Road

Queen's Bee, 3106 S. Connecticut Avenue

Joplin 44 Petro, 4240 State Highway 43

Turtleheads Raw Bar, 4218 S. Main Street

Tropical Smoothie Cafe, 3102 E. 7th Street

Joplin Senior Center, 2616 S. Picher Avenue

Caribou Coffee @ Petro, 4240 State Highway 43

Caroline's, 1027 S. Main Street

Bamboo, 2316 S. Maiden Lane

Mercy Hospital Kitchen: Morris Management Specialists, 100 E. Mercy Way

Rock 'N Rolled Ice Cream, 1802 W. 32nd Street

College View State School, 1101 N. Goetz Boulevard

Magic Noodle, 804 S. Range Line Road 

Nancy Hughes: Her nose in the air

“Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment.”

John 7:24 (NIV)

A friend of mine remembers her first experiences as a licensed driver at age 16. Not because she had accidents or near-accidents (although I am sure there may have been some). But she remembers distinctly having to tilt her head up at an angle to see over the dashboard every time she drove. The reason? She was not very tall and their family car was huge. So the only way she could see clearly was to lean back at an angle, nose in the air, focused on where she was going.

One day at her high school there were class changes and she found herself in a room with girls she didn’t know. As they became acquainted, the girls chatted about clothes, music and getting their licenses and my friend shared her frustration at being so short that she had to constantly peek over the dashboard as she drove. 

Only later did two of the girls tell her: “We always saw you driving with your nose up in the air and we thought you were a snob. You never looked at us or even waved. We want to apologize because we judged you on something silly without even knowing you or what was going on.”

I think we have all had that same thing happen at least once in our lives. Someone judged us unfairly and based their opinion on something totally wrong. But let’s take it one step further: have WE been the ones doing that judging?

How about the time we saw two people together talking and we assumed and judged a relationship that was not there. Then we shared our assumption repeatedly until it became “fact.” Or the time we overheard one comment during a conversation and built a story in our minds that had no basis in fact at all. And we shared our opinions. And people were hurt.

In John 7:24, Jesus speaks very clearly concerning making assumptions and judging. He doesn’t say “If someone judges you, judge them back.” or “Only judge when you have the facts.” No, He leaves no doubt in what we should do when He says “Stop judging by mere appearance.” Stop it. Don’t do it. Period.

Why not simply lift up that person in prayer and say “Father, I am not sure if there is something going on in her life but I AM sure that you know. I am lifting them up to you.” There is only one outcome for judging and jumping to conclusions: missing the target and landing face down in a heap of embarrassment and regret. God’s job is to judge. Our job is to pray. Even when it comes to a nose in the air.

Father, forgive me for those times when I have assumed and judged someone instead of praying. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

R.A.P. it up . . .

Reflect

Have you ever had a rumor told about you that was based on a completely wrong assumption?

Have you ever judged someone because you made an incorrect assumption about a situation?

Apply

The next time you are tempted to assume and judge a situation by what you have seen, stop and put yourself in that person’s place immediately.

Then lift them up to the Lord and thank Him for being in control of all things.

Power

John 7:24 (NIV) “Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment.”

James 5:9 (NIV) “Don’t grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!”

Luke 6:31 (NIV) “Do to others as you would have them do to you.”

(For more of Nancy Hughes' writing, check out her blog, Encouragement from the War Room.)

Joplin man charged with child abuse following incident at Michigan Place Apartments

The Jasper County Prosecuting Attorney's office charged a Joplin man with child abuse, a felony, and fourth-degree assault, a misdemeanor, following an incident today at the Michigan Place Apartments, 1502 S. Michigan in Joplin.

Gerald Wayne Hatfield (DOB 1957) is being held in the Joplin City Jail on $50,000 bond cash or surety.

From the probable cause statement:

On today's date Joplin Police Department was dispatched to a child abuse at 1502 S Michigan Ave.
Upon arrival I contacted all parties at the bus stop located on the east side of 1502 S Michigan. I
contacted Alisha Cox, Alisha stated that she was walking her child to the bus stop at approximately
0645 hours and heard screaming coming from the back of building 14. 

Alisha stated that she observed a male grab Victim 1 by the throat, slam her on the ground and smack her 3 to 4 times on the left side of her face.

Alisha ran over to the male to help the child and remove her from the altercation. During that process
Alisha was grabbed by the male and shoved backwards, Alisha suffered bruising from the altercation
but was able to remove the child from the altercation.

Alisha stayed with Victim 1 until the mother arrived on scene. Alisha stated that the whole altercation
occurred in ront of a camera on the back side of the building.

I contacted the property manager and asked her to view the camera. The following is what I observed
from the camera footage: 

Several juveniles walk outside and stand under the little pavilion. Victim 1 is observed standing outside by the door holding her jacket, Gerald is observed walking towards the building with his dog. Gerald opens the door, stops and looks at Victim 1 for a brief moment. 

Gerald then grabs Victim 1 by the neck/ throat area with his right hand, pushes her against the railing and then uses his right hand and smacks victim 1 across the left side of her face causing her to fall to the ground crying.

Alisha then breaks the altercation apart and removes the child from the male. Victim 1 suffered apparent minor injuries in the altercation at this time.

Alisha stated that she also had minor injuries at this time for the physical altercation she was in with
Gerald as well.

Gerald was interviewed at the police department by Detective David McGough. Gerald admitted he
slapped {Victim 1) for yelling. He denied grabbing her by the throat/neck area and was shown the video
where he later said he grabbed her by the chin. He admitted his behavior was not ok and wrote an
apology letter to {Victim 1}

Attorney General seeks to dismiss lawsuit against stadium funding bill

By Annelise Hanshaw

Missouri Independent

Legislators upset that a bill they oppose becomes law don’t have a right to sue over it, attorneys defending the special session measure that provides state support to professional sports stadiums said in court on Tuesday.

“It’s not recognized in the state of Missouri that a legislator can come to the court simply because they don’t like a vote that was taken… the court system would be flooded,” Marc Ellinger, an attorney representing the Missouri General Assembly, argued in Cole County Circuit Court.

Ellinger was joined by assistant attorney general Sean McDowell in arguments seeking to dismiss the lawsuit filed in July by state Sen. Mike Moon, a Republican from Ash Grove, and state Rep. Bryant Wolfin, a Republican from Ste. Genevieve and conservative activist Ron Calzone.

Moon and the other plaintiffs want to throw out the entire legislative package, which includes tax credits for home repairs after natural disasters this year and property-tax restrictions for some counties.

The law, they say, goes beyond the bill’s original subject and provides unconstitutional aid to private interests. But if the state’s motion to dismiss is approved, they won’t get to argue these points in court.

Ellinger and McDowell argued the case can’t move forward, saying plaintiffs lack taxpayer standing and dismissing the idea of “legislative standing.”

“I don’t think there’s any standing for specific legislators to bring a case as the plaintiffs have,” McDowell said.

Taxpayer standing requires a direct expenditure and because the bill operates through tax credits and is “subject to appropriation,” there is no direct cost to the taxpayer, he argued.

Attorney Bevis Schock, who is representing the law’s challengers, said there are up-front costs to the bill such as an estimated $10,000 expense to create the tax-credit application.

“If these plaintiffs have no standing and we throw this case in the trash, we might as well pitch the constitution in there with it,” he wrote in a pre-hearing filing.

The purpose of the lawsuit, Schock said in court on Tuesday, is to challenge bills with multiple subjects.

“The problem is.. the voter can’t tell what item the legislator is for or against,” he said. “That is why we are bringing the case.”

If they lose in circuit court, Schock said, he will appeal to the Missouri Supreme Court.

Missouri judge says new ballot language again fails to mention repeal of abortion rights

By Anna Spoerre
Missouri Independent

Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins must try again to write ballot language for a proposed constitutional amendment that would ban most abortions, a Cole County judge ruled Tuesday.

Circuit Judge Daniel Green, in his second ruling on the ballot description of the measure proposed by lawmakers, said that Hoskins got most of the language right.

But Hoskins’ language on the portion that will be the issue the question turns on — repealing the abortion rights protections approved by voters last year — is “insufficient and unfair” and must be revised, Green ruled.

Hoskins rewrote the ballot language prepared by Republican lawmakers after Green ruled it, also, did not alert voters that it would repeal the voter-approved amendment.

The measure would repeal the citizen-led initiative passed in 2024 that made Missouri the first state to overturn an abortion ban by guaranteeing the constitutional right to abortion up to the point of fetal viability.

On Wednesday, Green ruled that Hoskins also missed the mark by failing to inform voters of the repeal, taking issue with just one bullet point in Hoskins’ summary that reads:

“Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to: Amend Article I, section 36, approved in 2024; allowing abortions for medical emergencies, fetal anomalies, rape, and incest;”

This summary “fails to adequately alert voters that the proposed constitutional amendment would abrogate Article 1, Section 36 of the Missouri Constitution, which voters recently approved,” Green wrote. 

Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway’s Office in briefings submitted Monday said Hoskins’ latest language was sufficient because it stated the new amendment would cause a “modification” of state statute and that repeal language would be inaccurate because the new amendment “does not abolish all the constitutional rights first enshrined in Article I, section 36,” including the right to miscarriage care.

For example, the attorney general wrote, the new amendment “recognizes a right to abortion in some cases, and such a right was unprecedented in the Missouri Constitution before the voters enacted Article I, section 36 in 2024.”

Prior to the passage of the abortion rights amendment, nearly all abortions were illegal in Missouri, with limited exceptions for medical emergencies.

Attorneys with The ACLU of Missouri and Stinson Law in briefings Monday said Hoskins’ new language “at best, pays lip service” to Green’s order but “does not describe the probable effects of the measure.”

Hoskins is obligated, they argued, “to tell voters that they are being asked to repeal, not merely amend, the right to reproductive freedom.”

Jefferson City attorney Chuck Hatfield, in his filing, also took issue with the use of a semi-colon in the statement, saying it contributes to the “grammatical nonsense” of the language sure to leave voters confused.

Green on Tuesday ruled that the remaining bullet points are now acceptable. They read:

“Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to:Guarantee women’s medical care for emergencies, ectopic pregnancies, and miscarriages;
Ensure women’s safety during abortions;
Ensure parental consent for minors;
and Prohibit sex-change procedures for children?”

Under a law passed this year and upheld in a separate case by Green, Hoskins has five days to submit revised ballot language to the court. If after that, Green decides the language still doesn’t follow the law, Hoskins has one more opportunity to rewrite it. If Green still doesn’t find the language satisfactory, the judge will rewrite it himself.

Hoskins was also responsible for writing the fair ballot statement that appears in polling places and on the office’s website that summarize what both a “yes” and “no” vote mean.

Green previously told Hoskins to rewrite the “fair ballot language” summary posted to the secretary of state’s website, calling the old language misleading for also failing to state abortion would be banned in most cases.

In his ruling Tuesday, Green deemed the new summary was sufficient.

This approved summary states that a “yes” vote would guarantee women’s medical care under specific scenarios, including ectopic pregnancies and miscarriages and allow abortions in the first 12 weeks festation in cases of rape or incest. It would also ban gender-affirming health care for minors.

A “no” vote, Hoskins wrote, would “limit abortion” to specific scenarios.

As the one-year anniversary of the abortion rights amendment approaches, access to the procedure in Missouri remains limited as legal battles challenging a series of abortion regulations play out in the courts.

Medication abortions remain halted. Procedural abortions are available on a limited basis at Planned Parenthood clinics in Kansas City, Columbia and St. Louis.

General Mills to close two plants in Joplin

Less than one year after buying the facilities from Whitebridge Pet Brands, General Mills has announced it will close the two Joplin plants.

The plants will close early next summer, according to a report in the Minnesota Star-Tribune.

General Mills closed the deal on Whitebridge Pet Brands in December 2024, paying $1.45 billion.

The company is also closing, a pizza crust plant in St. Charles.

The company announced its plans in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission:

On September 25, 2025, General Mills, Inc. approved a multi-year organizational initiative to increase the competitiveness of our supply chain. 

To consolidate capacity, improve our cost structure, and support this initiative, we approved (i) the closure of our North America Foodservice pizza crust manufacturing facility in St. Charles, Missouri, (ii) the closure of two of our North America Pet manufacturing facilities in Joplin, Missouri that we acquired in the Whitebridge Pet Brands acquisition, and (iii) the consolidation of assets at certain of our other facilities, pursuant to which we expect to incur approximately $82 million of restructuring charges, of which approximately $17 million will be cash. 

These charges are expected to consist of approximately $64 million of asset write-offs and $18 million of other costs, including severance. 

We expect to recognize $43 million of asset write-offs and $6 million of other costs, including severance, in the second quarter of fiscal 2026. We expect these actions to be completed by the end of fiscal 2029. 

The estimate of costs that we expect to record, and the timing thereof, are subject to several assumptions, and actual results may differ from current expectations. We may also record other charges or cash expenditures not currently contemplated due to events that may occur because of, or associated with, this organizational initiative.

Freeman Women's Pavilion in Joplin no longer accredited for mammography

Imaging standards continue to be a problem at Freeman's Wes and Jan Houser Women's Pavilion in Joplin.

The facility, which had to suspend its mammogram services in November 2024 after the American College of Radiology express concerns about substandard images, apparently no longer is accredited to offer mammograms, according to the U. S. Food and Drug Administration website.

Over the weekend, the website listed three facilities, Mercy Carthage, Mercy Joplin and Freeman's Women's Pavilion in Neosho as being accredited in the 648 zip code, with the Women's Pavilion in Joplin listed as "pending."

The Joplin site was not listed when the site was updated Monday.

Freeman officials, in a statement to KOAM indicated they are working on the problem. 

Freeman Health System has temporarily paused mammography services at our Women’s Pavilion location in Joplin following a recent review by our accrediting body due to regulatory requirements, as part of our ongoing corrective actions from last year. We continue to work with the American College of Radiology (ACR) to gain clarification, address the findings, and become fully reinstated.

 The statement indicated Freeman Health is directing its patients to the Women's Pavilion in Neosho.

From December 12, 2024 Turner Report:

https://rturner229.blogspot.com/2024/12/mammogram-services-suspended-at-freeman.html

John Joseph takes plea deal in fatal hit-and-run, sentencing scheduled

 

(Note: This story initially said John Joseph pleaded guilty. He pleaded no contest, which has the same effect as a guilty plea but means he does not admit he committed the crime but that there is enough evidence to convict him. I apologize for the error)

Under the terms of a plea agreement agreed to by the Cherokee County District Attorney's office and Joplin dentist John Joseph, Joseph, whose no contest plea was recorded today in court records, won't be serving much jail time.

Joseph's original charges of leaving the scene of a crash and contributing to a child's misconduct were scrapped and Joseph pleaded no contest to interference with law enforcement, a low-level felony, with a sentencing range of five months to 13 months and/or a $100,000 fine, plus 12 months of post-release supervision.

Joseph was charged for allegedly helping hide the involvement of his son, Rocco Joseph, in the August 19, 2023 hit-and-run that claimed the life of Gary LaTurner, 60, Galena.

What effect the elder Joseph's plea will have on Rocco Joseph's case is unclear.

A status hearing on Rocco Joseph's case was held today, according to court records, with another status hearing scheduled for November 24.

Judge Frederick Maradeth ordered a pre-sentence investigation for John Joseph. Sentencing is scheduled for 1 p.m. November 19.

According to the probable cause statement, surveillance video shows Rocco Joseph's vehicle struck LaTurner at 11:23 p.m. August 19, with Joseph not stopping. Shortly afterward, Joseph called his father and later met with him at the Casey's General Store at 2764 W. 32nd Street in Joplin and after a short time they returned to the scene of the accident.

The probable cause statement indicates the Josephs were captured on surveillance video at the scene of the accident.

The coroner's report estimated LaTurner died eight hours after the Josephs left the scene.

The Turner Report: Probable cause: Surveillance video shows Josephs returning to scene of fatal hit-and-run, leaving again