Sales Tax Holiday Helps Shoppers Save

Missouri’s annual back-to-school sales tax holiday begins at 12:01 am on Friday, August 2, and runs through midnight on Sunday, August 4. During this time, certain back-to-school purchases such as school supplies, computers, clothing and other qualifying items as defined by statute are exempt from state sales tax.

During the sales tax holiday, state sales tax will not be charged on the following items:

Clothing that does not have a taxable value of more than $100. Eligible clothing items include any article of apparel intended to be worn on or about the body, including footwear and disposable diapers for infants or adults. Cloth and other material used to make school uniforms or other school clothing are also included. Not included are watches, watchbands, jewelry, handbags, handkerchiefs, umbrellas, scarves, ties, headbands, or belt buckles.

School supplies, not exceeding $50 per purchase, that are used in a standard classroom for educational purposes. School supplies include, but are not limited to, textbooks, notebooks, paper, writing instruments, crayons, art supplies, rulers, book bags, backpacks, chalk, maps, globes, handheld calculators, graphing calculators that do not have a taxable value of more than $150, and computer software that does not have a taxable value of more than $350. Not included are watches, radios, CD players, headphones, sporting equipment, portable or desktop telephones, copiers or other office equipment, furniture, or fixtures; and

Personal computers that do not cost more than $1,500 and computer peripheral devices that do not cost more than $1,500. A personal computer can be a laptop, desktop, or tower computer system which consists of a central processing unit, random access memory, a storage drive, a display monitor, and a keyboard. Peripheral devices include items such as a disk drive, memory module, compact disk drive, daughterboard, digitizer, microphone, modem, motherboard, mouse, multimedia speaker, printer, scanner, single-user hardware, single-user operating system, soundcard, or video card.

Anyone who makes a qualified purchase may participate in the holiday. You do not have to be a Missouri resident or student to participate and save.

KPGZ News - Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Drainage Repair to Close 19th Street Interchange

The Missouri Department of Transportation is conducting drainage repairs on 19th Street in Kearney resulting in a full closure between I-35 east ramps to Watson Drive.

The road closure will begin Monday, July 29 at 6 a.m. and continue to Wednesday, July 31 at 4 p.m. There will be no posted detour. Motorists should use the I-35 and Route 92 interchange as an alternate route. All work is weather permitting.

Motorists are reminded to slow down and pay attention while driving in work zones. Not all work zones look alike. Work zones can be moving operations, such as striping, patching or mowing. They can also be short term, temporary lane closures to make quick repairs or remove debris from the roadway.

For more information about MoDOT news, projects or events, please visit our website at modot.org/kansascity.

Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Local IT Company Addresses CrowdStrike Incident

Lockbaud, a Kansas City-based IT services provider, highlights the importance of proactive cybersecurity measures in response to a recent CrowdStrike update that caused widespread system disruptions and blue screen errors.

Sam Sapp, Lockbaud

Sam Sapp, owner of Lockbaud, emphasized the irony and significance of this incident, given CrowdStrike's role as a prominent cybersecurity provider.

"This situation underscores a critical lesson in IT security: even tools designed to protect us can sometimes be the source of disruption," Sapp stated.

The incident, which began on July 18, 2024, affected numerous organizations worldwide, causing system crashes and operational interruptions. CrowdStrike has confirmed that the issue stemmed from a defect in a single content update for Windows hosts and is not related to a security breach or cyberattack.

Key points highlighted by Sapp include:

- Widespread Impact: The incident affected banks, airports, supermarkets, and mediavcompanies across multiple countries.

- System Vulnerabilities: Even trusted security solutions can introduce vulnerabilities, emphasizing the need for robust backup and recovery processes.

- Rapid Response: CrowdStrike's quick acknowledgment and efforts to resolve the issue demonstrate the importance of transparent communication during IT crises.

Sapp offered the following advice for businesses in light of this incident:

- Implement Staged Updates: Roll out updates to a small subset of systems before full deployment to catch potential issues early.

- Maintain Offline Backups: Keep recent system backups that are not connected to the network to facilitate quick recovery if needed.

-Diversify Security Solutions: Avoid relying solely on one security provider to mitigate risks associated with single points of failure.

- Enhance Incident Response Plans: Regularly update and practice incident response procedures to ensure preparedness for unexpected disruptions.

"While this incident is unfortunate, it serves as a valuable reminder of the complexities in cybersecurity," Sapp added. "It reinforces the need for layered security approaches and robust contingency planning."

Lockbaud remains committed to helping businesses navigate the evolving landscape of cybersecurity challenges. The company continues to monitor the situation and is prepared to assist clients in implementing best practices to prevent and mitigate similar incidents in the future.

Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Food Safety Excellence Award Winners Announced

The Clay County Public Health Center released the winners of the 2023 Food Safety Excellence Awards. This year’s winners represent the top 15% of establishments overseen by Clay County Public Health Center.

This award recognizes food establishments that continue to successfully follow the Clay County Food Code, exhibit outstanding food safety and sanitation practices, and achieve exceptional inspection results during the calendar year. To qualify for the award, they must meet multiple criteria such as having been open and operating for the full year with no repeated violations, no follow-up inspections needed, and no confirmed cases of foodborne illnesses.

Food Safety Excellence Awards were given to the following food service businesses in Kearney: Arby’s, Dogwood Elementary, E. Howard Porter VFW Post #5717, Fair Share Farm, Gino’s Italian Cuisine, Guardian Angels Care Center, Hand in Hand, Hawthorne Elementary, Kearney Early Education Center, Kearney High School, Kearney Junior High School, Kearney Middle School, McDonald’s, Paisley Perk, Pilot Travel Center/Taco Bell, Price Chopper Bakery, Quick Trip, Southview Elementary, Starbucks Coffee, Talented Tots Learning Center, and Westbrook Care Center.

The following businesses were Gold Standard award winners that have won three or more years in a row: Dogwood Elementary, Fair Share Farm, Guardian Angels Care Center, Hand in Hand, Kearney Early Education Center, Kearney High School, Kearney Middle School, Paisley Perk, Price Chopper Bakery, and Southview Elementary School.

KPGZ News - Brian Watts contributed to this story.

BITS Hosts Bull Ride Action

Better in the Saddle Equine Assisted Programs returns with professional bull riding action this summer in Kearney. The event is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, July 26 and 27 at Jesse James Park.

The bull ride is produced by Amped Up Productions, and proceeds will go to help Better in the Saddle to meet the physical and psychological needs of people with disabilities and youth at risk with the aid of specially selected and trained horses.

Better in the Saddle helps individuals from young kids to adults in their 50’s and 60’s to strengthen their bodies and minds by developing physical, mental and emotional capabilities through interaction with certified instructors, coaches, specially trained equine and dedicated volunteers.

“I would offer an invitation to anybody to come watch that process that a horse has with those people. It’s amazing,” reflected program leader Jay Bettis on Kearney Live. “The horse’s heart will heal anything. It’s not only good for the riders, but good for the people who volunteer.”

The evening activities start with mutton bustin’ at 6:30 pm for young kids. Signups for that begin at 6 pm at the announcer’s stand and the cost is $10. For older and braver cowboys there’s mini bull riding and barrel racing. After that the professional bull riders come out to compete at 7:30 pm.

Gates open at 5 pm on Friday and Saturday and tickets to get in are only $10 for adults; kids 6 and under get in free.

Brian Watts contributed to this story.