Mid-Missouri

COLUMBIA − Dozens of people rallied outside of Columbia City Hall to call for immediate action in global climate change. 

The Mid-Missouri Peaceworks organized the rally. This is to address the group’s concerns and frustrations currently coming out of this year’s Conference of Parties (COP) that is being held at Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.

COP is an annual meeting where world leaders gather together to convene, discuss and deliberate goals towards addressing global climate change. 

Mid-Missouri Peaceworks director, Mark Haim, said the group is displeased with the ongoing lack of immediate change to emissions to help alleviate the impacts of global climate change. 

“The conference of the parties is not taking responsibility for taking the kind of action we need to address the climate crisis,” Haim said. “This is a real climate emergency where we are seeing a lot of ‘business as usual’ thinking in a time when we need to be thinking about how are we going to solve this problem, and we are not addressing that in any realistic fashion.” 

Mid-Missouri Peaceworks is calling for climate action that can meet the necessary goals laid out by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), including cutting greenhouse gas emission in half of this decade. The agenda includes: 

• Addressing the Climate Emergency by phasing out fossil fuels as quickly as possible.
• Replacing fossil fuels with clean, green, affordable wind and solar power.
• Not allowing the fossil fuel industry hijack the COP.
• Saying “No!” to false solutions, including biomass, nuclear and carbon-capture.
• Saying “Yes!” to adequately funding the Loss & Damage Fund.
• Saying “Yes!” to serious funding for the transition to renewables in developing nations.

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Mid-Missouri Peaceworks is also unhappy with the lack of leadership coming out of the U.S. President Joe Biden did not attend the summit, but instead Vice President Kamala Harris joined. 

Haim said putting temporary solutions like just lowering fossil fuel emissions and not having a plan to completely eliminate it is just putting a bandage on a wound that requires more serious attention down the line. 

“We owe it to our kids, our grandkids and their kids and grandkids to deal with the problem and not kick the can down the road. We’ve done that too long…We can’t afford to do that, we have to take effective action and timely action now.” 

Haim said taking action starts locally by applying pressure on elected officials to prioritize clean energy solutions. 

This comes after recent controversy made by the head of COP28, Sultan al-Jaber, when he made comments against phasing out fossil fuels and claiming there was no scientific backing against fossil fuels promoting climate change. 

Right now, world leaders are still trying to put together a deal on a plan to possibly phase out fossil fuel emissions. If a plan like this goes through, it would be unprecedented COP history. 

Originally Appeared Here

COLUMBIA − Dozens of people rallied outside of Columbia City Hall to call for immediate action in global climate change. 

The Mid-Missouri Peaceworks organized the rally. This is to address the group’s concerns and frustrations currently coming out of this year’s Conference of Parties (COP) that is being held at Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.

COP is an annual meeting where world leaders gather together to convene, discuss and deliberate goals towards addressing global climate change. 

Mid-Missouri Peaceworks director, Mark Haim, said the group is displeased with the ongoing lack of immediate change to emissions to help alleviate the impacts of global climate change. 

“The conference of the parties is not taking responsibility for taking the kind of action we need to address the climate crisis,” Haim said. “This is a real climate emergency where we are seeing a lot of ‘business as usual’ thinking in a time when we need to be thinking about how are we going to solve this problem, and we are not addressing that in any realistic fashion.” 

Mid-Missouri Peaceworks is calling for climate action that can meet the necessary goals laid out by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), including cutting greenhouse gas emission in half of this decade. The agenda includes: 

• Addressing the Climate Emergency by phasing out fossil fuels as quickly as possible.
• Replacing fossil fuels with clean, green, affordable wind and solar power.
• Not allowing the fossil fuel industry hijack the COP.
• Saying “No!” to false solutions, including biomass, nuclear and carbon-capture.
• Saying “Yes!” to adequately funding the Loss & Damage Fund.
• Saying “Yes!” to serious funding for the transition to renewables in developing nations.

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Mid-Missouri Peaceworks is also unhappy with the lack of leadership coming out of the U.S. President Joe Biden did not attend the summit, but instead Vice President Kamala Harris joined. 

Haim said putting temporary solutions like just lowering fossil fuel emissions and not having a plan to completely eliminate it is just putting a bandage on a wound that requires more serious attention down the line. 

“We owe it to our kids, our grandkids and their kids and grandkids to deal with the problem and not kick the can down the road. We’ve done that too long…We can’t afford to do that, we have to take effective action and timely action now.” 

Haim said taking action starts locally by applying pressure on elected officials to prioritize clean energy solutions. 

This comes after recent controversy made by the head of COP28, Sultan al-Jaber, when he made comments against phasing out fossil fuels and claiming there was no scientific backing against fossil fuels promoting climate change. 

Right now, world leaders are still trying to put together a deal on a plan to possibly phase out fossil fuel emissions. If a plan like this goes through, it would be unprecedented COP history. 

Originally Appeared Here

COLUMBIA − Hickman High School will test a weapons detection system starting Monday until winter break, according to an email Thursday from Superintendent Brian Yearwood.

Yearwood wrote that Hickman is implementing the Evolv system until winter break begins on Dec. 21, so district staff can continue learning about it.

Columbia Public Schools tested the Evolv system in the spring at Hickman due to student requests.

“The selection of Hickman High School for a longer trial period this year is in continued response to this student voice,” Yearwood said.

The system consists of two detection pillars and is not intrusive, according to Yearwood.

“It is free-flow and touchless and does not require stopping or pat downs,” Yearwood wrote. “This system is used by professional sporting venues and is also currently being used by other entities in our community.”

Yearwood says the district has not yet committed to the installation of Evolv, but it is being considered for all CPS high schools. District staff are also discussing how the system would be funded.

Hickman senior Micah Robinson was there when the district tested the Evolv system in the spring. She believes it can make the school safer.

“I feel like it would help our students feel safer and feel more welcome coming into the school without having to hesitate about school shootings happening or students threatening other students with guns inside the school or even around the school,” Robinson said.

Robinson said it did slow students down when they tested the system, and that some were late to class, but she said it will “help protect the students but at the same time I think it will make everybody late.”

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Jeanne Snodgrass, vice president of the Columbia School Board, visited Hickman when they tested the system in the spring. 

She pointed out the wholistic approach to enhancing school security. 

“I think it’s important that we’re investing in a lot of different ways to approach security. We know it’s not going to be a one size fits all,” she said. 

Snodgrass also said feedback is important to her as a board member.

“I’m interested in feedback from students, I’m interested in feedback from the administration, and from our teachers after this longer demo period,” Snodgrass said. 

In the meantime, Yearwood said the district is in the process of selecting a vendor for a visitor management system, as well as implementing an alert system provided by the state. 

The visitor management system will be able to better identify individuals who have trespassed or are banned from school campuses. It will be funded by a grant from the state, Yearwood said.

The alert system aims to streamline emergency response by allowing teachers and school staff to initiate an alert through their cell phone or computer.

The Columbia School Board will also consider an agreement with MU’s Prevention Science Institute at its meeting Monday. The agreement would allow for the “expansion of monitoring of district-issued scholar devices and enhanced training for the district’s existing threat assessment teams,” Yearwood said in the email.

Editor’s Note

This story was updated Friday with information from a student and School Board member.

Originally Appeared Here

COLUMBIA − Love Columbia is kicking off the holiday season with a gift for people who are at risk of eviction.

The Home for the Holidays campaign launched on Sunday and already has more than $7,000 from the community. The Veterans United Foundation donated $50,000 to the campaign, which was then matched by QuesTec Mechanical.

The goal is to raise $150,000 to help families stay in their homes. The monetary goal would give 150 families in the community $1,000 for rent assistance.

The median gross rent in Columbia was $968 in 2022, according to the the U.S. Census Bureau.

Jane Williams, the executive director of Love Columbia, said she has noticed the increase need this year.

“Close to two-thirds of our calls here at Love Columbia are about housing instability, either you need help keeping your housing or finding housing. That’s over 3,000 requests just this year,” she said.

Earlier this year, the State Assistance for Housing Relief (SAFR) program stopped accepting applications for assisting tenants with past due rent balances.

“After 2020 there was more government funding to prevent evictions. That funding has now returned basically to normal levels,” Williams said. “The problem is rent didn’t return to what is the normal levels.”

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The nonprofit is focusing on families for the campaign. A study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that helping parents with stable housing can help reduce the risk of children entering foster care or involvement in the child welfare system.

“One thing we’ve noticed is that families, in particular, are struggling, larger families that need a larger place to rent,” Williams said.

From Jan. 1 to Oct. 31, Love Columbia helped 574 households maintain their housing and avoid eviction.

The Veterans United Foundation has been a Love Columbia partner since 2011. Erika Pryor, manager of the Veterans United Foundation, said it wanted to help support the nonprofit.

“We knew that we wanted that to be something that was even beyond what we, Veterans United Foundation, could support but really rallying and bringing in the greater community to see what kind of positive impact we could make,” she said.

Williams said the foundation has been instrumental in outreach to get other businesses to donate to the cause. American Shoe, Bank of Missouri, Central Bank of Boone County, Columbia Healthy Smiles, Hawthorn Bank, Tammy Willis Iron Gate Real Estate, MFA Foundation, Wilson Fitness and Withrow Electric have all donated. 

“It’s a lot bigger than just our community here, but I think it’s something that definitely we could take some positive strides forward and we’re hopeful that this is one start of that,” Pryor said.

Donations can be made to the campaign on CoMoGives.com or directly to Love Columbia. The goal is to continue to take donations throughout the winter. However, Williams said Love Columbia appreciates help any time of year.

Originally Appeared Here

Tech jobs to be major focus

By ELIZABETH DONALDSON
Illinois Correspondent

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN walks to the podium during an event announcing the regional tech hub selections.
– Jacquelyn Martin/AP photo

Tech jobs will be a major focus of the new tech hub designated at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in coming years.

U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski announced that the U.S. Department of Commerce designated the iFAB Tech Hub in Champaign as one of 31 inaugural “Tech Hubs” nationwide, focusing on increasing domestic biomanufacturing through capacity and equipment as well as training a skilled work force.

In Missouri, the Biden administration announced tech hubs in the state: 

• Critical Minerals and Materials for Advanced Energy (CM2AE) Tech Hub, led by the University of Missouri System, aims to position south-central Missouri as a global leader in critical minerals processing to provide the materials needed to support battery technology.

• Kansas City Inclusive Biologics and Biomanufacturing Tech Hub (MO, KS), led by BioNexus KC, aims to position eastern Kansas and western Missouri as a global leader in biologics and biomanufacturing, increasing domestic production of life-saving vaccines and other preventative technologies.

‘AMERICA’S AG TECH CORRIDOR’
“As we work to drive 21st century agricultural innovation, the University of Illinois is uniquely positioned to make significant technological advances,” Budzinski said. “I couldn’t be more excited to see the Illinois Fermentation and Agriculture Biomanufacturing Hub at my alma mater designated as a Tech Hub. This designation will further establish the Decatur to Champaign region as America’s Ag Tech Corridor and support Illini students and faculty as they create a brighter future for American agriculture.”

The Tech Hubs program is authorized by the CHIPS and Science Act and invests directly in “high-potential” U.S. regions to encourage globally competitive innovation. Tech Hubs could receive as much as $50-75 million in additional investment if successful.

‘TRANSFORMING TECHNOLOGY’
Illinois political leaders lauded the decision.

“Home to world-class institutions and first-rate research centers, Illinois is transforming technology, biomanufacturing, and innovation at every turn,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “I couldn’t be prouder that the Biden Administration has selected The Chicago Quantum Exchange’s the Bloch and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s iFAB Hub as two of just 31 inaugural tech hubs — opening the door for even more investment, advancement, and discovery. There’s no doubt that the rest of the nation have caught on to our great state’s status as an innovation powerhouse — and our future couldn’t be brighter.”

U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) said coordination across all levels of government is key to maximizing these investments, and she worked with Pritzker and U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin to advocate for the two Illinois hub sites.

‘GREATER INNOVATION, INVESTMENT AND JOB CREATION’
“Illinois is already a hub of agriculture, manufacturing, transportation and technology, making our state ideally positioned for these Tech Hub designations and, with them, greater innovation, investment and job creation,” said Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL). “I was proud to help pass the CHIPS and Science Act last year, but today I’m thrilled Illinois is making it clear that we are ready to compete and have the projects and innovation ready to compete for the law’s new investments right here to bring our state, nation and world into the future.”

Durbin said the news was welcome. “As a national leader in both quantum and biomanufacturing, Illinois is well-equipped to look beyond existing technologies to capture the next generation of economic opportunities,” he said. “I look forward to seeing Illinois’ Tech Hubs lead the way in these transformative fields.”

TOTAL OF 31 SITES SELECTED
Champaign and Missouri sites are some of 31 sites selected from 198 applications across the U.S. and Puerto Rico. The program is administered by the Commerce Department’s Economic Development Administration.

“The Tech Hubs Program is designed to drive regional technology- and innovation-centric growth by strengthening a region’s capacity to manufacture, commercialize, and deploy critical technologies while also catalyzing the creation of good jobs for American workers at all skill levels, both equitably and inclusively,” according to the iFab Consortium website.

iFab brings together more than 30 partners in academia, industry and government to focus on fermentation in biomanufacturing. That market is estimated to grow by 40 percent a year and will represent a $30 billion industry by 2030, according to the site. Illinois has the largest soy and second largest corn production in the U.S., which is key to biomanufacturing, they said.

Originally Appeared Here

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Sunday marks national “Roof over your Head Day” which reminds people to be thankful for basic necessities such as a home. It also creates awareness for the current housing crisis in the United States.

ABC 17 News obtained the latest Missouri Point in Time Count for region 5. Region 5 contains most counties in Mid-Missouri including Boone, Callaway, Phelps and Pulaski Counties. The Missouri Point in Time Count gathers data on a night in January every year and collects information on people experiencing homelessness.

Missouri Point in Time Count Map

The numbers show 620 individuals in region 5 are experiencing homelessness. That is up 16% from 533 individuals in 2022.

Of the 620 people experiencing homelessness, the count clarifies 455 of those individuals are sheltered and 165 are unsheltered. A sheltered individual is a person living in a shelter at the time of the count. Unsheltered individuals are people who are living in places not normally used for sleeping, such as a car or a tent.

In region five from 2022 to this year, veteran homelessness increased by 7% and chronic homelessness increased by 105%. In the same time frame, family homelessness decreased by 23%.

Program Director of Love Columbia Conrad Hake said the non-profit had over 4,400 requests for assistance this year.

“About two-thirds of [requests] have been related to housing needs in some shape or form,” Hake said.

Love Columbia is a non-profit which helps anyone in the Columbia Community who is struggling with basic needs such as housing or food.

Deshayda Bradford is a Columbia resident and mother of five young children. Her oldest is seven and she had twins in July. In August, she started receiving help with her rent from Love Columbia.

“They kinda just picked up the slack and I needed that,” Bradford said. “I was on edge. Of course you try not to show those things to my kids, because you know kids can pick up on emotions… but it’s a relief now.”

Bradford said without the help of Love Columbia, she believes her family would not be in their home.

“They’re accepting of you and they give you that sense of hope,” Bradford said.

Habitat for Humanity recommends individuals spend a maximum of 30% of one’s gross income on housing. But with rising costs with inflation, the organization says one in four households spend more than that.

“The pandemic really impacted the housing market. We’ve seen rent prices increase at least 10% each year,” said Randy Cole, CEO of the Columbia Housing Authority.

The National Low Income Housing Coalition says a person in Missouri needs to earn at least $38,553 a year in order to afford a two-bedroom apartment at a fair market rent price. Missouri’s current minimum wage is $12.

The organization says there are over 204,000 extremely low income renter households in Missouri. But there’s only 89,440 affordable and available rental homes for low income renters.

Low Income Renter Households in Missouri Graphic (KMIZ)

“We’ve been seeing a shortage of the availability of affordable housing,” Cole said. “As a community, we really need additional units that we can match our vouchers to participants and participants to housing.”

Cole told ABC 17 News the City of Columbia has about 750 units of affordable housing. But as of late November, said there is a wait list of around 1,200 households.

“It’s a pretty significant wait. Oftentimes people are in less desirable housing situations,” Cole said. “That’s why they’re seeking housing from us, either homeless or couch surfing, living in a hotel or doubled up in a tough place.”

Cole said in the next three to five years, the housing authority is hoping to add about 50 more units.

In the capital city, the Jefferson City Housing Authority has 318 units. Those units include one to four bedroom apartments along with a few houses.

The Salvation Army Center of Hope Director for Jefferson City said the area is still feeling the effects from the 2019 tornado.

“That tornado took over 600 units. A majority of those were affordable housing units [and] the city really hasn’t rebuilt any. We lost a lot of housing units and we haven’t rebuilt them,” said Brian Vogeler with the Salvation Army.

A sign for the Dulle & Hamilton Towers which are a part of the Jefferson City Housing Authority’s low-income housing. (KMIZ)

Vogeler said prior to the tornado, the organization could usually get people placed into housing, but now it is very difficult to place people in Jefferson City.

“A lot of times when we look to place people, we start looking outside of Jeff City because the housing inventory is usually a little bit better in some of those outlining cities,” Vogeler said.

With a rise in prices due to inflation, Cole said there are a few things to keep in mind when searching for housing.

“Always have a budget and know what you can afford but also think through long term maintenance,” Cole said. “Maintenance costs of housing and transportation are big things to consider.”

Originally Appeared Here

COLUMBIA – The District’s Living Windows Festival is one way downtown businesses show off their holiday spirit. Every year on the first Friday of December, these window displays come to life for the holidays.

More than 35 businesses are expected to participate this year with window displays that move, sing and dance. Guests can also visit with Santa at Simmons Bank, ride in a horse-drawn carriage and see a variety of live performances.

Displays will be on view from 6-8 p.m., and free parking is available in downtown garages after 6 p.m.

Many business owners, like Obsessed, Inc owner Charlotte Withrow, feel this event brings life into the downtown community. 

“It just brings a lot of people to the downtown area,” Withrow said. “It’s great for the kids, and there are live people in the windows. It’s really cool and just a really fun event.”

Withrow first attended the Living Windows Festival last year but won’t be able to take part in the festival this year due to travel plans. However, she made sure Obsessed’s windows were decorated for the event.

“I decorated the windows with blue and pink decorations that consist of candy canes, ice cream and cupcake ornaments,” Withrow said. “I wanted to create a fun, child-like decoration Christmas tree.”

Another Columbia business owner has taken part in the Living Windows Festival since it started and she said it’s been going for more than 30 years. Ruth LaHue founded My Secret Garden in 1979 and acquired a storefront in downtown Columbia in 1989. She said her business loves seeing people get excited about the event.

“It’s wonderful and it brings joy to us to see all of the eager faces on the sidewalk looking in the window,” LaHue said.

My Secret Garden’s theme this year is “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” LaHue said this year is extra special because it will be her first time being in the window.

“This will be a new experience for me,” LaHue said. “I am excited.”

LaHue said My Secret Garden doesn’t participate in this event to make a lot of money; it’s about having fun — and maybe getting long-standing customers at the end.

“We do this as a gift to the community so that they have something to acquaint themselves with downtown,” LaHue said. “So, later when they’re getting ready to actually go Christmas shopping — because tonight is just about fun — they will remember the shops that were downtown and all the interesting unique things that we each carry.”

The participating businesses include:

Broadway

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• American Shoe
• Bailey & Blush Boutique
• City Hall
• Commerce Bank / MOSY
• My Secret Garden
• Obsessed, Inc
• Poppy
• RENEW Salon & Spa
• Simmons Bank
• SUI
• Tallulahs
• Tropical Liqueurs

Ninth Street

• Bluestem Missouri Crafts
• Calvary Episcopal Church
• Goldie’s Bagels
• Makes Scents
• Missouri United Methodist Church
• Skylark Bookshop
• Speckled Frog Toys
• The Mud Room
• Yellow Dog Bookshop

Cherry Street

• Hexagon Alley
• The Candy Factory

Locust Street

Hitt Street

• Günter Hans
• First Presbyterian Church

Tenth Street

• Iron Tiger
• Russell Boyt Real Estate Group

Walnut Street

North Village Arts District

• Artlandish
• Dancearts of Columbia
• Designs X Nadine
• Fluid Bodywork
• Orr Street Studios
• Serendipity Salon & Gallery
• Wishflour Bakery

Originally Appeared Here

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Columbia leaders attended the Vacant Property Leadership Institute earlier this month, and the organization hosting that conference said changes will be dependent on the momentum a city can get to work towards its goals.

Justin Godard, associate director of national leadership and education at the Center for Community Progress, said immediately following the conference, cities should be having discussions about how to move forward.

“Everybody needs to be at the table: nonprofits, resident leaders, local elected officials, local department leaders,” Godard said. “Really, it’s a group effort to get at solving vacancy.”

Columbia Neighborhood Services Director Leigh Kottwitz told ABC 17 News earlier this month that mapping out vacant lots and determining their impact on the city would likely be one of the next steps.

Love Columbia Program Director Conrad Hake — who also attended the conference — said he thinks property mapping could be a useful tool to allow more sustainable housing and keep houses from falling into vacancy. He said the maps could help spot properties heading towards vacancy, and determine what support may be needed.

“That’s where our interest is at Love Columbia, is how can we help some of these properties become affordable housing or not fall to the point where they become vacant properties so that we have enough affordable housing for our community,” Hake said.

In other communities who attended the Vacant Property Leadership Institute, Godard said property mapping has sometime taken six-months-to-three-years to implement after leaders return from the conference, depending on how in-depth the map goes.

He encourages cities to look at their capacity for the task, and said oftentimes communities will work with residents looking to better their own neighborhood.

“We have seen communities say, ‘Hey, this is a great opportunity for us to begin building those relationships with our communities or strengthening our community relationships, so we will work with residents to not only hire them, but also provide them training to be able to help us map these out,'” Godard said.

Godard said once completed, maps would need to be maintained, saying cities tend to do surveys or visit the properties to keep the list updated atleast once a year. Hake said this community involvement would not be invasive, but rather be street-level assessments.

“That kind of level of engagement at a community level is a great opportunity for everyone to play a role in helping to improve the quality of the neighborhood that they live in,” Hake said.

Along with property mapping, Hake said other ideas Love Columbia likes includes land banks, code enforcement and solving tangle titles, which is when an heir to an estate isn’t clear. He said the organization has worked with Mid-Missouri Legal Services to try to untangle some titles.

He said he doesn’t see vacant properties as an issue in Columbia, but more so an opportunity for affordable housing.

“The more we bring everybody together, I think that we’re actually going to see some progress,” Hake said.

Hake said it will be up to the city to determine funding priorities, but he’s hopeful the city will want to move forward on some projects to transform vacant lots seeing as it invested in sending staff to the Vacant Property Leadership Institute.

He said a report is going to the Affordable Housing Coalition next week, and to City Council next month.

Godard said transforming vacant lots into affordable housing is a realistic goal. He said potential challenges will be things like repairing properties and ownership issues.

While it’s up to individual communities to determine what works best, he said land banks might be a helpful resource.

“It will take not just city funds, but funds in general in order to move these properties from this state of vacancy to a state of vibrancy,” Godard said. “However, I think it’s important to preface that by saying that if we leave those properties as is, they are still costing a lot of money.”

Originally Appeared Here

The UMary Marauders are off to a fast start in their current campaign, a 4-2 record, but looking for a whole lot more. The Marauders hope to make noise in the Northern Sun, something that hasn’t happened in a while.

After a sweep of two games this weekend in Aberdeen, the Marauders are clicking as one of the teams in the Northern Sun that can contend. However, the conference schedule is underway, with important games to get the right pieces playing well.

“We’ve gotten off to better starts than maybe last year so that part is positive for me,” says head coach Jack Nelson. “We got to keep that going and then you said it. Jumping right into conference games, game four, there’s no time to say we’re still learning, we’re still developing. We are and we will all season.”

One of the familiar faces is Bismarck’s own Gunner Swanson, a player who has worked tremendously hard to crack the starting five.

“Had you told me this two years ago, I would’ve laughed at you,” says Nelson. “But he’s become a really good defender for us. He’s always played hard, but that first year, I don’t know what he weighed but I mean he was very thin and he’s done a good job of working on his body. He’s still a thin guy but he’s really learned to use his length. He’s really learned how to be physical at the right time.”

Swanson’s defensive prowess has him fitting into the style of play for coach Nelson’s team, but he is also using the lessons of leadership learned from former local players like Josh Sipes and Trey Mattern.

“I learned a lot from those other Bismarck guys,” says Gunner Swanson. “Most of it was being vocal. I’ve been a leader with my actions in the past, not so much with my words. Now I’m trying to take after those guys and be more of a vocal leader and with my actions”

Another key cog has been leading scorer Gerald Gittens, a transfer from North Central Missouri College who is surprising himself with his scoring.

“I’m just finding myself in the offense,” says Gerald Gittens. “Just finding gaps and holes where coach trusts me to make a play and I’m just trying to make that play and just trying to be able to stay efficient. Working in the gym so just trying to make sure it’s translating on the court in the games and find my niche and it’s just been working out well for me.”

“Sometimes it’s going to be make the right pass,” says Nelson. “Sometimes it’s going to be score and he’s done a really nice job of blending the two. You know, at heart, I think he’s a true point guard and wants to create for others but he’s also realized that I’m open, it’s going to benefit if I’m scoring the basketball too.”

The Marauders aren’t getting ahead of themselves this season, but they know if they take it one day at a time, it could be a special year.

“As long as we’re doing that and playing our best ball towards the end of the year, I think that’s a success for us,” says Swanson. “Obviously we want to win a lot of games this year. A huge goal for us is to host a playoff game and that hasn’t been done in a long time and we would really love to do that so that’s a big goal for us as well.”

The Marauders will be back in action on the road when they face conference opponent Minnesota Moorhead on Saturday.

Originally Appeared Here

A little sales tax on the buds or gummies you buy at the neighborhood cannabis dispensary is one thing.

But another tax? And another?

Various state and local sales taxes lumped onto your recreational marijuana purchase can add upwards of 20% to the cost of legalized Missouri weed.

The state cannabis trade association, which is backing dispensaries’ legal action over the stacked taxes, calls the compiling marijuana surcharges an “unconstitutional money grab” by city councils and county commissions.

“Today’s lawsuit should eventually put an end to Missouri adult use marijuana customers having to pay stacked local taxes, which violate the Missouri Constitution and the will of the voters,” said Andrew Mullins, the executive director of MoCann Trade, when lawsuits were filed in mid-October. “We are proud to work with our industry partners to stand up for Missouri cannabis customers against this unconstitutional money grab.”

In November 2022, Missourians approved legalizing recreational marijuana. Since then, the state has grappled with regulating a new industry as cities, counties and the state tussle with one another over how much each can get from dispensary sales.

Since recreational sales began in February, Missourians have spent an average of $92 million a month on weed. That means the 6% state sales tax from recreational sales sends about $4 million a month to Jefferson City, less than one-half percent of the state’s total monthly revenue in October.

Cities and counties can pass their own taxes, adding up to an additional 3% in local taxes to a sale of recreational marijuana under terms now enshrined in the state constitution. But as counties and cities pass taxes of their own, exactly how they can be applied remains unclear.

Weed taxes upon weed taxes

So far, 83 of the state’s 114 counties have passed local marijuana sales taxes, according to the Missouri Department of Revenue. Some taxes went into effect Oct. 1, while others will take effect Jan. 1.

Of those counties, 33 don’t currently have any dispensaries, a sign of how eager county officials are to secure a piece of the marijuana pie when dispensaries open.

At least 164 cities across the state have passed local sales taxes for marijuana sales. At least 81 of those cities have no dispensary within their city limits.

The constitutional amendment lays out how counties and cities can work together to tax cannabis sales. But some counties are interpreting the constitution differently than others.

The debate roils around whether local officials have to split the weed tax pie, or just ask for another pie. For now, cities and counties are uncertain whether they can add a combined total of 3% or whether they can stack their sales taxes on top of one another, which would effectively double the local sales tax consumers pay.

Local tax rates don’t apply to sales of medical marijuana, which are fixed at 4%.

But for recreational sales, the taxes mount up. So a pack of edibles that’s listed for $100 in Kansas City goes to $106 with the state tax, then to $109 when the city tax is added and $112 when the county stacks its charge on top. That’s without the typical sales taxes that still apply. With state sales taxes, that brings the total to just over $116, then to nearly $119.50 for Kansas City sales taxes, plus another dollar or two for county sales taxes and other taxing districts like the Kansas City Zoo or the streetcar.

The language in the constitution allows a “local government” to pass a sales tax for recreational sales. Most counties interpret that to mean that county taxes would only apply in unincorporated areas.

“We know that the drafters of the amendment meant for it not to be stackable,” Boone County Presiding Commissioner Kip Kendrick told the Missouri Independent.

But some counties didn’t see it that way.

Lawsuits over marijuana tax stacking

The marijuana taxes come on top of general state and local sales taxes, which can vary across the state. A dispensary in Florissant, in St. Louis County, sued after the county said it would stack its tax. That would mean all state, city and county sales taxes would add up to 14.988%.

The county expects to see around $3 million in revenue if it can stack its tax on top of the city rate.

The dispensary argues in the lawsuit that a stacked tax would cause “irreparable harm” and could result in the loss of customer relationships.

Another dispensary in St. Joseph, in Buchanan County, is suing over the same issue. Guidance from the Department of Revenue, the agency that collects marijuana sales tax revenue each month, hasn’t cleared up much.suing over the same issue.

Initially, the agency told local governments and dispensaries in February that the language did not allow for stacking of city and county sales tax rates, according to lawsuits filed.

Weeks later, the department bowed out of the conversation, saying that the constitution is vague.

“Going forward, the Department will not advise municipalities or counties regarding the possibility of stacking,” the department wrote in guidance included by lawyers in the St. Louis County lawsuit. The constitutional amendment, the department said, “is ambiguous.”

Now, the issue is left up to district courts. Until a decision is made, dispensaries will continue paying both county and city rates, said Jack Cardetti, a spokesman for the trade association.

It’s unclear how reimbursements may work if courts rule that stacking is unconstitutional, since many counties have already started collecting payouts.

“If the lawsuit is successful,” Cardetti said, “it would be our hope that any order would prevent DOR from continuing to collect the unconstitutional tax across Missouri, thus saving Missouri customers approximately $3 million per month.”

This story was originally published by the Kansas City Beacon, a fellow member of the KC Media Collective.

Originally Appeared Here