St. Joseph residents react to Governor Kehoe’s special session announcement 

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- Governor Mike Kehoe announced a special session for next week with goals to help families affected by recent severe weather and encourage economic development.

The General Assembly will meet at noon on Monday, June 2 to review Governor Kehoe’s agenda. These plans include expanding access to emergency aid and legislation to help retain major sports teams in Missouri.

"We are asking the General Assembly to consider legislation establishing the income tax deduction for the insurance policy deductible incurred by homeowners and renters," Kehoe said in a Tuesday press conference.

Kehoe said the financial relief would be capped at $5,000 per disaster, per household, each calendar year.

St. Joseph resident Mark Crabill says it's important to have more access to disaster aid. He remembers working as an insurance agent when nearby Elwood, Kansas, flooded in the early 1990s.

"When something like that hits, we definitely need something above and beyond the normal insurance policy," he said. "We need as much assistance as we can (for) something of that magnitude."

In the special session, Kehoe is also requesting the General Assembly take steps to retain the Royals and Chiefs in Missouri.

Jackson County voters rejected the stadium sales tax for the Royals and Chiefs in April 2024, allowing the state of Kansas to develop its own incentives to entice both teams to cross the state line.

"I hope that we retain the Chiefs and we retain the Royals, and hopefully they can expand the stadium—do what they need to do to keep it here in Missouri," St. Joseph resident Sheila Murray said.

Kehoe is asking the General Assembly to consider legislation aimed at providing economic development incentives for each team.

"The Chiefs (and Royals) moving out of Missouri would be disastrous," Murray said. "We all know they are a Missouri team, both of them, and we want them to stay here."