Morning Newscast for June 18, 2026
Showing mention at 1:36 — highlighted below
Transcript
40 segmentsFrom the KBIA Newsroom in Columbia, I'm Yashamika Waichuk. A report given to the Columbia City Council this week shows the city is falling short of its renewable energy goals. KBIA's Jaden Bates-Bland reports future goals hinge on connecting the controversial Greenbelt Express power line. The city utilities department is required to generate or purchase 25% of its power from renewable sources. Currently, it's just over 22%. Columbia had two contracts with renewable energy companies, one meant to create a 64 megawatt solar farm, and the other that would connect Columbia with the multi-state transmission line, the Grain Belt Express. But both of those fell through.
City of Columbia, Utility Services Manager Todd McVickr says that's the reason for those cities' renewable energy deficit. While we may not have met the renewable energy standard this year, we would have met it had our contracts gone through that we had in place. And now with the existing contracts, we're looking at always, you know, looking at adding more. McVickr says that the city hopes to connect to the Greenbelt Express by 2029. As of right now, the power line has not been constructed. I'm Jaden Batesbland. KBIA News. And election officials are preparing themselves for midterm elections that are in less than five months. However, President Donald Trump's executive order restricting voting by mail threatens to upend their preparations.
The Missouri Independent reports that on March 31st, an executive order was put in place and instructed the U.S. Postal Service to refuse to deliver ballots and states that don't provide lists of voters or meet other requirements. It has created a sense of deep uncertainty and concern among election officials as they consider how to comply according to a review of court documents and interviews with election officials and experts on election administration. The executive order is the latest step taken by Trump to assert control over state-run elections, along with the Stalled Save America Act, which require voters to provide documents proving their
citizenship. The FBI says nine drones have been seized in the Kansas City metro area since World Cup festivities, started last week. Sam Zeph has more. Before Fanfest kicked off, the FBI warned drone operators to stay away from Arrowhead in the World War I Museum grounds. White House World Cup executive director Andrew Giuliani in town for the opening match at Arrowhead says the rules are clear. If you're within three miles of Arrowhead Stadium, don't turn your drone on, don't send it up in the air. If you're around the fan festival, don't turn your drone on, don't send it around the air. Across the country, the FBI says at least 15 drones have been seized around World Cup sites. People caught flying drones
in restricted areas could face fines up to $100,000 and a year in federal prison. I'm Sam Zeph. And a bill in the U.S. Senate that would allow year-round sales of E-15 could cause soybean prices to fall. E-15 is a biofuel made by blending gasoline with up to 15% corn-based ethanol. Some experts say the legislation would raise a demand for ethanol, which is cheaper to produce than soy-based biodiesel. The National Corn Growers Association argues corn price gains would outweigh any soybean losses, allowing farmers to plant the more profitable crop. But a University of Missouri analysis found rising corn prices might not offset a drop in soybeans. The bill is still making its way through the Senate. I'm Yashemika-Wichuk. KBIA News, Colombia.