Graves Opens Process for Service Academy Nominations

Congressman Sam Graves (MO-06) announced that he is currently accepting applications from North Missouri students interested in attending the U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, U.S. Military Academy, or U.S. Naval Academy.

“One of the greatest honors I have as North Missouri’s Congressman is nominating students to serve at our nation’s service academies,” said Graves. “Outstanding young men and women from the district go through the application process each year. The process isn’t easy, but these students continually prove they are up to the challenge. Any student who is interested in attending a service academy should definitely consider applying.”

Individuals interested in applying for a service academy nomination can do so by contacting Congressman Graves’ Kansas City District Office at 816-792-3976 after opening an application with their desired service academy. To be eligible to attend the U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, U.S. Military Academy, or U.S. Naval Academy, you must:

—Be at least 17 years old, but not have passed the 23rd birthday (25 for the Merchant Marine Academy).

—Be a U.S. Citizen, and a permanent resident of Missouri.

—Be unmarried, not pregnant, and have no legal obligation to support children or other dependents.

—Meet the medical, physical, and academic requirements of the Academy.

—Be of good moral character.

—Have a valid Social Security Number. 

The deadline for applications for the nomination process is 5:00 pm, September 30, 2026. 

The U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, U.S. Military Academy, and U.S. Naval Academy all have extremely high admission standards and the nomination process is very competitive. Applicants are evaluated and interviewed by the Academy Nomination Review Board comprised of service academy graduates, veterans and citizens of Missouri’s 6th Congressional District before final recommendations are made to Congressman Graves.

From Plans to Progress -- How Your Opinion Can Shape Safer Roads

By Christy Pearce, Community Planner, NWMO Regional Council of Governments

“Sorry, I didn’t understand what was happening with the road.” My 16-year-old had driven to a place on Main that was completely familiar to me, but foreign to her. The road curves, and if you aren’t
looking for it, you end up in a turn lane when you meant to continue straight.
It’s not the easiest place to navigate the first time through, and thankfully that moment of confusion didn’t result in a crash. But at that moment, neither one of us felt particularly safe. When I shared the story with friends later, I found out they knew exactly the place I was talking about, and they didn’t feel safe there either.

Those shared experiences matter more than we often realize.

Opinions Are Like Potholes – Sharing Them Is Where Solutions Begin

The safest streets we use every day probably don’t feel special at all. We don’t usually notice lane widths, curb placement, signage, or sight distance, but these details are carefully planned with safety at the top of the list. So how does a road go from “something feels off here” to an actual improvement project?

A lot goes into deciding which roads get attention: crash data, traffic volumes, funding opportunities, engineering standards, and long-term planning goals. But one of the most powerful catalysts is public experience.
Moments like the one I shared with confusing intersections, near misses, or uncomfortable crossings are where change begins. When people speak up, patterns emerge. And those patterns help planners and engineers focus limited resources where they can make the biggest difference.

If we don't share our personal stories and experiences, our feedback can’t lead to change, but today you have a chance to do just that.

What’s Your Story? Safe Streets for All Start with YOU

Right now, the Northwest Missouri Regional Council of Governments is working on a Safe Streets for All (SS4A) project focused on reducing crashes, serious injuries and fatalities for everyone who uses our transportation system: drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists, and passengers alike. The best part is that you don’t have to have an engineering degree to help shape this plan, just your lived experience.

· Where do you feel unsafe driving, walking, or biking?

· Are there intersections you avoid?

· Are there places where signage is confusing or crossings feel rushed?

· Fill in your specific observation here. (Or better yet, take that over to our survey!)

Share those insights directly by dropping a pin on our interactive map at our website, https://www.nwmorcog.org/, and telling us what you see, feel, and experience. Your input helps us turn individual stories into data-driven solutions, and ultimately into safer roads for all.

 

Opinion -- 85% of Missourians Support Access to Birth Control

By the Beacon Reproductive Health Network and the Missouri Foundation for Health

A new poll released through Missouri Foundation for Health’s The Right Time initiative shows strong public support for access to birth control while highlighting concerns about future barriers to care—underscoring the need for lawmakers to advance policies that expand access to birth control across the state.

According to the poll, 85.3% of respondents are supportive of Missouri residents 18 and over having access to all methods of birth control, and 77.3% believe elected officials should be supportive of access to birth control.

At the same time, many Missourians are worried about the future of access. More than one-third of respondents (36.5%) believe birth control will become more difficult or impossible to obtain, and 78% say they are concerned about elected officials enacting laws that restrict access to birth control.

The polling also highlights real barriers people currently face when trying to access birth control. Nearly one in four respondents (24.9%) say cost or insurance has made it difficult to obtain the birth control method they wanted, while one-third (33.6%) report concerns about the cost of birth control.

“Missourians are sending a clear message: people want access to birth control, and they want leaders who will support policies that make it easier to get the care they need,” said Michelle Trupiano, Executive Director of Beacon Reproductive Health Network. “When people are already facing barriers like cost, insurance coverage, and clinic access, strengthening Missouri’s reproductive health safety net is more important than ever.”

Advocates say the findings highlight the importance of advancing policies that expand birth control access in Missouri. With the Missouri General Assembly currently considering legislation that could affect access to reproductive health care, measures like Annual Supply of Contraception—which allows patients to receive a year’s supply of birth control at once—and the Compassionate Assistance for Rape Emergencies (CARE) Act—which would ensure survivors are offered emergency contraception in hospital emergency departments—would help reduce barriers and ensure Missourians can access care when they need it.

The poll shows strong support for these approaches, with 73.7% of respondents supporting access to a full year’s supply of birth control and 80.8% supporting access to emergency contraception for survivors of sexual assault in emergency departments.

“Policies like Annual Supply of Contraception and the CARE Act are practical solutions that reflect what Missourians want—reliable access to birth control and the freedom to make decisions about their health and futures,” Trupiano said.

Programs like The Right Time initiative also strengthen Missouri’s reproductive health safety net. Through a network of participating health centers across the state, The Right Time helps patients receive same-day contraceptive care and choose the method that works best for them while reducing cost barriers by offering free or low-cost options.

About the Survey

The results presented here are based on an online survey of 1,000 Missouri residents ages 18-35 conducted in March 2026 by AYTM, an independent research organization. The margin of error is approximately +/- 3.10% at a 95% confidence level.

Worth County Names FBLA Officers

Officers were named Friday for the Worth County FBLA. President is Evalyn Gilland. Vice President for Contests is Krista Monticue. Vice President for Service is Kristen Tracy. Secretary is Jolynn Hawk, Treasurer is Arenna Galanakis, Reporter is Kambree Briner, and Historian is Megan Tracy.

 

Nine Graduate from Gilman City

Nine students graduated from Gilman City Friday in ceremonies held at the school. They were Avery Gregg, Alex Young, Kammie Fehring, Bo Eads, Chiara Davidson, Jace Estrada, Beau Gibson, Camden Griffith, and Ella Terhune.

Jace Estrada is the son of Stephen Estrada and Tanya Johnson. His activities were football, basketball, baseball, track, and FFA. He plans to attend North Central Missouri College and transfer to Northwest to get a PE degree.

Avery Gregg is the daughter of Tony and Charlotte Gregg. Her activities included basketball, softball, track, FFA, and FBLA. She plans to attend Culver-Stockton where she will play basketball and track and major in health science.

Bo Eads is the son of Brandon Eads and Jena Eads. His activities were basketball and FFA. He plans to work on the family farm.

Chiara Davidson is the daughter of Graham Davidson and Samantha Stegner. Her activities were FFA and cheerleading. She plans to attend North Central Missouri College and major in Diagnostic Medical Sonography.

Beau Gibson is the son of Hollie Gibson. His activities were football, basketball, baseball, and track. He plans to attend Grand River Tech and major in electrical technology.

Kammie Fehring is the daughter of Eric and Bobbie Roy and Jessie and Rebecca Fehring. Her activity was cheerleading. She plans to attend Cosmetology School in Chillicothe.

Alex Young is the son of Dawn Adams and Mark Young. His activities were football, basketball, baseball, track, and FFA. He plans to attend North Central Missouri College and major in business.

Ella Terhune is the daughter of Michael and Kim Terhune. Her activities were cheerleading, FFA, and Rodeo. She plans to attend Northwest for Crop and Soil Science.

Camden Griffith is the son of Gene Griffith and Lindsay Hunter. His activities were football, basketball, baseball, track, and FFA. He plans to attend Missouri Western to play football and major in Wildlife Management.

 

Weekly Area Road Work for May 6th, 2026

Daviess County

Route 13 – Resurfacing and ADA improvements project from Berry Street to Van Buren Street in Gallatin through mid-May. Route 13 will be narrowed to one lane with flaggers. (Contractor: Herzog Contracting Corp.).

Route K – CLOSED for a culvert replacement from Route P to Hope Avenue, May 4, 6 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Gentry County

Route EE – Seal coat overlay from Route T to Route P, May 4.

Nodaway County

U.S. Route 71 – Resurfacing project from the Iowa state line to U.S. Route 136 near Burlington Junction through August 2026. The road will be narrowed to one lane, and a 10-foot width restriction will be in place.

Route 148 – Scrub seal project, May 4-5. The road will be narrowed to one lane with a pilot car guiding motorists through the work zone. (Contractor: Vance Brothers Inc.).

Route E – CLOSED for a culvert replacement from Route 246 west to Route 246 east, May 4-7, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

Route A – CLOSED for a culvert replacement from Route TT to Route Y, May 5, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Route 113 – Various bridge rehabilitation projects through May 2026. The bridges may be narrowed to one lane with flaggers. (Contractor: Capital Paving & Construction LLC). 

Worth County

Route 46 – CLOSED at Marlowe Branch Creek for a bridge replacement project through May 2026. (Contractor: Emery Sapp & Sons) https://www.modot.org/projects/missouri-route-46-and-route-w-bridge-replacement-worth-county.

 

Maryville Fails to File Financial Report With State Auditor

On Friday, the Missouri State Auditor's Office released reports on cities and subdivisions which were required to file financial reports by March 31st of this year. By law, all political subdivisions in the state are required to file a financial report with the State Auditor's Office within six months of the end of that entity's fiscal year. Counties and school districts are exempt.

According to a list provided by the Auditor's Office, Maryville had not filed its annual financial report with the Missouri State Auditor's Office. The City of Arkoe was late but filed its annual financial report on March 19th.