U.S. Rep. Mark Alford (R-Raymore) serves on the House Agriculture Committee in Washington. His sprawling west-central Missouri district includes Columbia, Sedalia, Warrensburg and Centralia. He’s inviting farmers and all residents to an August 14th listening session at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia. He wants your input on what you want to see in the upcoming federal farm bill. Congressman Alford is inviting U-S Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to the meeting. He also says House Agriculture Committee chair GT Thompson (R-Pennsylvania) will be attending, as will Missouri Governor Mike Parson, state Department of Agriculture director Chris Chinn and commodity groups like the Missouri Corn Growers Association. Congressman Alford joined us live on 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri”, saying the current drought is hurting farmers in his district who cannot find food for their cows. He also talked about China, telling listeners that China is not America’s friend:
Former federal prosecutor considering run for Missouri attorney general in 2024
A former federal prosecutor who’s considering a run for Missouri attorney general says fentanyl is killing far more people than is being reported.
Will Scharf has launched a candidate committee for statewide office, signaling a run in 2024. Scharf tells listeners that he expects to make a formal announcement in January. He also served as the policy director for former Missouri Governor Eric Greitens. Scharf tells 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” that the United States must close the border.
“I don’t think I saw a single heroin case in my time in the U-S Attorney’s office. It’s all fentanyl. Whatever you think you’re getting, you’re actually just getting fentanyl,” Scharf says.
Scharf says there’s no heroin left in St. Louis.
“One of the real drivers of these overdose deaths is some dealers, if they have a weak batch of cocaine or a weak batch of another drug, they’ll just throw in a little bit of fentanyl so that the people they’re selling to get a kick out of it and think they’re getting better product,” says Scharf.
He’s also calling on the United States to confront China.
Scharf has been visiting with residents and conservative activists across the state. If he runs for Missouri attorney general, he would be challenging Republican Andrew Bailey in the August 2024 GOP primary. Governor Mike Parson (R) appointed Bailey to the post last week. Bailey has been serving as general counsel at the governor’s office.
(AUDIO): Missouri GOP U.S. Senate candidate Eric Schmitt appears on “Wake Up Mid-Missouri”
Missouri GOP U.S. Senate nominee Eric Schmitt, the state’s attorney general, describes the November Senate election between him and Democrat Trudy Busch Valentine as a contrast in backgrounds and beliefs. Attorney General Schmitt appeared on “Wake Up Mid-Missouri”, telling listeners that Busch Valentine will push the Green New Deal. Busch Valentine’s campaign is airing numerous television commercials in mid-Missouri, which say Schmitt voted twice to allow China to buy up about 150-thousand acres of Missouri farmland. Busch Valentine says that’s a major risk to Missouri’s economy and to national security. Schmitt tells 939 the Eagle’s Brian Hauswirth that the ad misrepresents his vote and that no one will be tougher on China than him. Schmitt also tells listeners that he hopes President Joe Biden (D) travels to Missouri to campaign for Busch Valentine. Election day is November 8:
CPD: Fentanyl in Columbia is likely coming from China, via Mexico
Columbia Police are warning that fentanyl-related overdose deaths in the city are on pace to exceed last year’s numbers.
CPD assistant chief Jeremiah Hunter tells 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” that the fentanyl in Columbia is likely coming in from China, via Mexico.
“They’re getting pills and it’s being pressed locally or overseas and it’s coming in in volume. Probably most likely through Mexico, all the way here,” Hunter says.
Hunter tells listeners there were at least 30 overdose deaths in Columbia last year. He says there have been at least 25 overdose deaths in the city in 2022, with most or all of them fentanyl-related.
Assistant chief Hunter encourages parents to talk to their children about the issue. He notes more than 150 people attended an emergency meeting last October at Hickman high school.
“Out of that meeting last year, the Overdose Response Coalition of Boone County kind of grew out of that. And so they’re doing a lot of education, they’re doing a lot of research too,” says Hunter.
Authorities say drugs like cocaine are being made with fentanyl and users don’t know it’s in there. Columbia/Boone County public health officials have described fentanyl as 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine.
Click here to listen to the “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” interview with Columbia assistant police chief Jeremiah Hunter.
(AUDIO): Columbia assistant police chief Hunter discusses overdose deaths on 939 the Eagle
Columbia assistant police chief Jeremiah Hunter says Columbia has had at least 25 overdose deaths this year, and most if not all of them are fentanyl-related. Columbia is on pace to exceed last year’s number of 30 overdose deaths. Mr. Hunter joined us live on 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri”, telling listeners that the fentanyl in Columbia is likely coming from China, via Mexico: