CON V ERGING CA MPUS & COMMU NIT Y
NORTHWEST MISSOURIAN
THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 2025
MARYVILLE, MISSOURI
Bell of ’48 chimes 25 times; Dean L. Hubbard recognized ANNA BAILEY Asst. News ws Editor | @AmBailey16
On a cold old and rainy spring day, the Bearcat family both mourned and celebrated the life of former Northwest President ubbard. Dean L. Hubbard. The dayy of events began at 10:30 a.m.. April 4 in the Mary itorium of the Ron Linn Auditorium Houston Performing Arts Center, where the public was welcomed to a celebration of life. Following thiss was a private lunch bbard family, of which for the Hubbard nded. To finish the day, many attended. ng ceremony was held a bell ringing m. at the Bell of ’48. at 1:30 p.m. esident of UniversiVice President ement Mike Johnson ty Advancement he celebration of life. officiated the He began the morning by expressing gratitude for the opi i portunity to participate. “It is my sincere honor to be officiating today’s celebration of life here in this place with Dean’s beautiful family, with faithful friends and colleagues all coming here together today in gratitude for countless memories,” Johnson said. Proceeding Johnson’s opening speech, where he shared multiple accomplishments of Hubbard’s life, Northwest President Lance Tatum was welcomed to the stage.
SEE CEREMONY | A4
Mass rallies held across U.S., group leader talks involvement HANNAH CLAYWELL Managing Editor | @Hannah_9504
NWMISSOURINEWS.COM
VOL. 113, NO. 15
@THEMISSOURIAN
FUTURE OF
FUEL Evergy announces plans to build gas plant south of town DAKOTA OSWALT News Editor | @doswalt_NWMSRN
E
vergy — a power provider in Kansas and Missouri — recently announced plans to build a 440 megawatt natural gas plant off U.S. Highway 71 south of Maryville, south of the existing Mullin Creek Substation. Evergy Vice President of Development Jason Humphrey said the plant — which is called Mullin Creek #1 — is a simple-cycle peaking gas plant, meaning it uses natural gas to generate electricity. This project also includes two other plants set to operate in Kansas. All three plants are expected to begin operations in 2029 and 2030, according to Evergy. This project is made possible by Missouri’s recent passage of Senate Bill 4, which repeals certain provisions regarding penalties and violations for federally mandated natural gas safety standards. Humphrey said the bill provides a competitive way for Evergy to cover certain costs. “What Senate Bill 4 allows us to do is kind of help pay for those financing costs along the way,” Humphrey said. “Our shareholders and debt holders still provide the capital, but they start getting a return on those construction costs a little bit earlier in the project, and that helps lower the overall cost of the projects, as we don’t have as much financing cost, which at the end of the day, lowers the
cost of the new facilitie facilities for the retail customers of the utility.” While Humphrey said s he is unable to say what the specific costs for the projects will w be, it must be reasonable and prudent for it to be approved by the Missouri Public Service CommisC sion. He said right now now, the MO PSC is reviewing Evergy Evergy’s application to build the pla plants and ensure it receives a certificate ce of convenience and necessity. nec Humphrey said Evergy anticipates the impact to customer bills to align with the general inflation in the economy. “The rate of inflation in the economy (has) been quite high here the last couple years, but generally we estimate it’s kind of in that two-four percent range,” Humphrey said. “We would say, on an annual basis, that would be about the impact to a customer bill (with) these plants.” Humphrey said many community members have questions about the project, with some people concerned about how it may impact taxes and the economy. He said others worry the power will be sent to other geographical areas. Humphrey said he is happy to say Evergy is planning to build the plants to support its retail customer base, as well as the growth of Missouri’s economy. A virtual public hearing was held at noon April 1, where multiple community members could provide personal testimonies for MO PSC’s record.
SEE EVERGY | A4
Protests and rallies erupted across the U.S. April 5 in disapproval of SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk and President Donald Trump’s actions since Trump started his second term. TikTok is full of videos and livestreams from across the country, including Kansas City, Missouri, capturing these protests. Founder/Group Leader for Indivisible Kansas City Beverly Harvey led and organized the rally in Kansas City, Missouri. “The goal is to save democracy; plain and simple,” Harvey said. The mass protests were promoted by the “Hands Off!” movement — a message to Trump and Musk, telling them to get their hands off the country and government. It was one of the largest single-day protests since Trump started his second term, with more than 1,000 cities involved nationally, as well as cities overseas. Canadian citizens were seen protesting at the American and Canadian border. Indivisible Kansas City started after Harvey went to a rally and said she found there was no central place for locals to receive information about other rallies.
SEE PROTESTS | A4
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