Taxed twice? What to look for on your grocery receipt with new Kansas sales tax

TOPEKA (KSNT) — If you’re seeing two lines on your grocery receipt, it’s not a mistake. Kansas shoppers are navigating changes with the new, reduced sales tax at the grocery store.

The reduced 4% state sales tax rate launched this week and only applies to certain food items. This includes basic grocery items like produce, meat, and eggs. However, non-food items, prepared foods, alcohol, and tobacco do not qualify for the reduction and are still taxed at the state’s 6.5% sales tax rate.

Washburn Economist Paul Byrne told Kansas Capitol Bureau that shoppers with a combination of these items in their cart should expect to see two lines on their receipt.

“The grocery stores are going to have two separate lines, instead of having one line where it shows your tax bill… the sales tax,” Byrne said in an interview Wednesday. “So, they’re going to have one line, which is the sales tax for the items that are not food, and they’re going to be paying the higher sales tax rate… and they’re going to have a separate line for all the food items, where the lower tax rate is going to apply.”

On Monday, some Walmart shoppers expressed concerns that they were being taxed twice by the retail giant.

According to Walmart, there were some customers who were mistakenly charged the higher, outdated rate, along with the new rate after the reduced sales tax went into effect on January 1. However, a spokeswoman for the corporation said that all stores were updated as of Monday morning, January 2.

On Jan. 1, after the reduced state sales tax rate on food items went into effect in Kansas, some customers were mistakenly charged the higher, outdated rate, along with the new rate. The issue has been resolved, and we apologize for any inconvenience.

Customers seeking a refund or with questions should bring their receipt to their local Walmart store and speak to a member of management.

We can confirm all stores were updated by the morning of January 2.

Ashley Nolan, Walmart Corporate Communications

Local sales taxes on food still apply to the new, reduced sales tax rate.

That means customers will see the city and county sales taxes added to each of the tax percentages that appear on their receipts.

For example, one line on a receipt will show the normal combined sales tax rate for items that do not qualify for the reduction.

In the state’s capital Topeka, the normal combined sales tax rate is 9.15%. This includes the normal state sales tax of 6.5%, the city of Topeka tax of 1.5 %, and the Shawnee County sales tax of 1.15%.

Another line of the receipt will show the reduced combined sales tax rate, which is applied to items that do qualify for the reduction.

In Topeka, that comes out to 6.65%. This includes the new, reduced state sales tax of 4%, the city of Topeka tax of 1.5%, and the Shawnee County sales tax of 1.15%

Civil War era was not kind to Missouri's courthouses

McDonald County, Missouri Courthouse

JOPLIN, Mo. — As we turn our calendars to a new year, you’ll find that many historical anniversaries are set to take place in 2023. In Missouri, several of those anniversaries are associated with county courthouses. However, not every anniversary is a celebratory one. For example, 2023 marks the 160th anniversary of the arson fire that destroyed the Vernon County Courthouse (including the entire town of Nevada).

The damage to Missouri courthouses has a tremendous bearing on families in each and every way. Not only are these historic buildings ripped from each of our lifetimes, but also the archives they kept: Marriage, wills, probate, land records, as well as others. Once destroyed, these paper artifacts are permanently lost.

When you look at the dates, most Missouri courthouses that were lost to fire, took place from 1881 to 1885, and it’s not just a coincidence. This was the time of the US Civil War, and when you have a slave state (Missouri) next to a free state (Kansas), small skirmishes and battles were quick to break out in nearly every county in the “Show-Me State.”

Thanks to the historical records website, “Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness” (RAOGK), the dates and information surrounding these courthouse fires have been archived for future generations to access and learn about. The following list from RAOGK reveals which Missouri courthouses went up in flames during the Civil War period of April 1861 to April 1865:

List of Missouri Counties with Burned Courthouses (1861-1865)

  • Barry County Courthouse – Courthouse burned in 1861, some records destroyed.
  • Bates County Courthouse – Courthouse burned in 1861, some records destroyed.
  • Barton County Courthouse – Courthouse burned in November 1862.
  • Chariton County Courthouse – A fire in the clerk’s office, apart from the courthouse, destroyed all county court records on November 11th, 1861, and fires set by Confederates on September 20th, 1864 destroyed the courthouse.
  • Christian County Courthouse – Arsonists destroyed the building and all court records in 1865.
  • Dade County Courthouse – The courthouse was destroyed during the Civil War on October 6th, 1863. Some records were destroyed.
  • Dallas County Courthouse – Confederate troops burned the building on October 18th, 1863.
  • Dent County Courthouse – Courthouse burned in 1864. The next courthouse, built in 1864, also fell victim to fire in May 1866. The fire destroyed county records.
  • Greene County Courthouse – A fire destroyed the courthouse on October 28th, 1861.
  • Holt County Courthouse – Courthouse fire in February 1965. Records saved.
  • Howell County Courthouse – In the fall of 1863, guerrillas burned West Plains and the Courthouse. Most records were destroyed. The county reorganized in 1866.
  • Jasper County Courthouse – Courthouse was destroyed by fire in October 1863. County records were saved by moving them to Neosho, Missouri.
  • McDonald County Courthouse – In 1856 a log courthouse, reportedly built in Rutledge, was demolished by Rioters. Bushwackers burned the courthouse in 1863, destroying most records. Deeds before 1863 were recreated.
  • Newton County Courthouse – Courthouse burned in 1862, destroying many county records.

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  • Oregon County Courthouse – In October 1863 this courthouse was burned in a Civil War incident, destroying many county records.
  • Ozark County Courthouse – Courthouse destroyed by fire in 1858 or 1859, all early records were destroyed. Second courthouse destroyed by fire sometime before February 1864. Some records were lost. Third courthouse destroyed by fire November 28th, 1934.
  • Reynolds County Courthouse – The courthouse has burned twice. The first time was in December, 1863, when the Confederate army burned it. A new courthouse was built in the fall of 1867 on the same foundation as the prior one. This courthouse was burned in late November, 1871. Both times all records were destroyed. Temporary quarters again burned May 27th, 1872, while a new “fireproof” courthouse was being built.
  • Saline County Courthouse – In August 1864 the courthouse burned as a result of Civil War activity.
  • Stoddard County Courthouse – During Price’s raid in September 1864, the courthouse was burned by some stragglers, but fortunately the records had been removed.
  • Shannon County Courthouse – Courthouse was burned by soldiers in 1863 destroying this early courthouse along with all county records.
  • St. Clair County Courthouse – The courthouse apparently was burned in September 1861 by Gen. James Lane. One account claims that Lane’s raid only partially destroyed the courthouse; by some accounts it was rebuilt and used until November 1864, when it was again burned in Civil War activity. Probate Court records were destroyed.
  • Taney County Courthouse – The courthouse was burned in 1863 by Union troops trying to keep the fortress out of the hands of Confederates.
  • Vernon County Courthouse – Both the courthouse and clerk’s office were destroyed when the town was burned in 1863. County Court records are missing from 1861-1865.
  • Webster County Courthouse – Courthouse was accidentally burned by troops in 1863.
  • Wright County Courthouse – Courthouse was partially destroyed in 1862 and then reportedly burned on January 11th, 1863.

Why your New Year's resolution has already failed

KSNF/KODE — “New year, new me” is a mindset many take on as the renewal of the calendar year comes. To leave the past behind and start anew is enough motivation for people to envision the future they want, plan some goals, and establish new habits to get there.

Statista says these are the most common New Year’s resolutions for 2023:

  • To exercise more
  • To eat healthier
  • To lose weight
  • To save more money
  • To spend more time with family/friends
  • To spend less time on social media
  • To reduce stress on the job
  • To reduce spending on living expenses

However, studies also show that only 9% of people that set resolutions will feel they were successful in keeping them. In fact, Strava, a social media network for athletes, conducted a study that analyzed data from users’ uploaded exercise activities and found that users are likely to ditch their goals by the second or third week in January.

“Quitter’s Day” is a term that was coined by the fitness app and falls on the second Friday of January. But this doesn’t have to be your reality!

This is why New Year’s resolutions fail:

  • Goal-oriented instead of process-oriented
  • All or nothing approach
  • Unrealistic and unattainable
  • Lack of accountability

The easiest way to reach your goals this year is to get incredibly specific about them and plan the process so that it fits within your current lifestyle. For example, a resolution to “get out of debt” or “lose weight” is too generalized, with no clear direction on how that is going to happen.

Plan the process and break it down into attainable benchmarks, so you can track your progress, check-in, and hold yourself accountable.

To start, get rid of the all-or-nothing mentality to avoid burnout. Going to the gym every day and only eating spinach when you haven’t been in a gym or eaten anything green (besides gummy bears and sugar cookies) in years is a total upheaval and change in lifestyle that is probably unrealistic. Instead, you can work on a few small habits every day or weekly until they become part of your routines—such as eating two meals of whole foods, going on a walk after dinner, or working out Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Remember: it’s a marathon, not a sprint. Real sustainable change isn’t perfect and takes time. Success is upheld through the longevity of seemingly minor habits. You can do it!

Kansas City Royals to try their luck playing in Las Vegas

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Royals are betting on spring training in Las Vegas.

The organization announced the team will play two games in Las Vegas as part of the 2023 Big League Weekend at Las Vegas Ballpark March 18-19.

On Saturday, March 18, the Royals will field a team in Las Vegas to play the Colorado Rockies. The same day, a second Royals squad will take the field in Surprise, Ariz. to face a second Rockies team.

A similar schedule will take place on Sunday, March 19. The Royals will send a team to Las Vegas to play the Rockies, while another stays in Scottsdale to face the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Times for the games in Las Vegas will be announced at a later date.

Individual tickets to Big League Weekend (Part 2) will go on sale Wednesday, Jan. 11 through www.aviatorslv.com at 2:00 p.m. CT.

The Royals first Spring Training game of the season is scheduled to take place Feb. 24.

IRS new rule delay pushes back extra paperwork requirement

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The new year was supposed to bring a big new tax rule for people and businesses who make money through small businesses or side hobbies.

FOX4 previously told you how the 2021 American Rescue plan dropped the threshold for people and businesses to fill out a 1099-K form from $20,000 to $600.

That would impact sports gamblers who might have big winnings at the end of the year, but also the growing number of small businesses that rely on sites like Etsy to find customers, or other makers and businesses that take payment through apps like PayPal or Venmo.

“I spent a lot of time, a lot of hours, researching tax laws and trying to figure out what we had to do,” said Good Vibes Metal Owner Breck Liston.

She launched her metal fabrication business in 2016, reaching customers at craft shows and online. She’s made enough to need a personal accountant to handle her business taxes at the end of the year, but she works next to plenty of smaller makers who used to exist in a gray area.

Those businesses were making enough money for it to be taxable income, but it might be only a few hundred or few thousand dollars a year, which would be hard for the federal government to notice.

It’s why the 2021 American Rescue Plan included a new rule, making any person or business that makes more than $600 in a year submit a 1099K form. The previous threshold to file that form was $20,000.

“There’s a lot of movement of dollars that the IRS wasn’t able to track,” said Five Star Tax & Business Solutions CEO Marquita Miller Joshua.

She helps people and business sort through tax rules but also the new 1099-K form requirement. The IRS intended for it to be in effect for this upcoming tax season before delaying its implementation for one year, creating a transition period.

“This is a year that they’re going to let you slide and get your processes in place,” Miller Joshua said.

She points out that businesses can slide on filling out the form, but any income over $400 in a year is still taxable and should be reported.

Miller Joshua said the initial rule caught many businesses by surprise, making the delay helpful to give them more time to adjust. But since its implementation was suddenly delayed roughly a month before organizations would have to send out 1099K forms anyway, Miller Joshua says she expects many of her clients to get them anyway even if they aren’t required.

“By the time the change came out, many organizations like that already had to implement software and technology to make sure that they were able to do the reporting,” Miller Joshua said.

Since 2023 has started, Miller Joshua points out that transactions happening right now will have to be on a 1099-K form for businesses that qualify when they do their taxes next year.

New Joplin school officially opens

JOPLIN, Mo. — Joplin’s newest school officially opened today, combining West Central and Columbia Elementaries.

The first day of the spring semester is a big deal on North Main Street.

“I really like it,” said Brynn Walters, Joplin Student.

The new gymnasium and playground and cafeteria make up the brand-new Dover Hill Elementary School.

“I like the lights, designs and I like the library, how big it is,” said Paiten Vincent, Joplin Student.

Everything is new on campus and even figuring out where to go for lunch and make it back to class is a challenge.

“In fact, I talked to my fifth-grade teachers this morning and they said their kids were just almost in Shell Shock this morning. Just coming in the size of the rooms and just the how beautiful the campus looks,” said Bret Ingle, Dover Hill Principal.

The footprint is much bigger, more than 70,000 square feet, which means more elbow room for everything from the cafeteria to classrooms.

“We’re going from trailers at one campus to humongous music rooms and art rooms and having a gym that’s available to us at Columbia. We haven’t had a gym available for the last few years,” said Ingle.

There are now options for collaborative learning, including two spaces called “Learning Parks” where classes can combine.

“So we have a couple of spots where if a couple of teachers want to combine their classes to come out, they can work together. We also have collaborative spaces in the backs of each pod of grades,” said Ingle

School history is also front and center, both in a mural in the media center, and a timeline in the cafeteria hallway.

“It’s kind of a map in the background. It shows shots from West Central to Columbia to Dover Hill and it just shows the timeline of both buildings and how they were built and renovated. And then the timeline for construction,” said Ingle.

All leading to the newest nest for these Joplin Eagles.

Chiefs light Arrowhead Stadium in blue in honor of Damar Hamlin

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The NFL continues its support of Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin and the Kansas City Chiefs follow suit.

On Wednesday night, the Chiefs put Hamlin’s name and number on the videoboards at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in his honor.

Hamlin’s recovery is moving in “a positive direction” two days after the Buffalo Bills safety collapsed and went into cardiac arrest during a game against Cincinnati, the player’s marketing representative said Wednesday.

The Bills said Wednesday that Hamlin remained hospitalized in critical condition but displayed signs of improvement on Tuesday and overnight. They said he was expected to remain in intensive care as his medical team continued to monitor and treat him.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid and players Patrick Mahomes and Juan Thornhill all spoke their support for Hamlin on Wednesday as well.

“There are a lot of things that you take out of that from a humanity standpoint – we’re all pulling for Damar as he goes forward here,” Reid said.

“I think it impacts everybody. I mean obviously my prayers are with Damar and his family, the Buffalo Bills, the Bengals (and) everybody that was in attendance at the game. It sent chills down my body when I was watching it and all I did was just sit there and pray for him because that’s all you can do when you feel like you can’t help,” Mahomes said.

“It’s really scary. Seeing things like that happen on the football field, knowing that we play the same exact sport as him – I mean it’s a contact sport. It’s scary because it can affect us. It can be us that’s in this same exact situation, so all I can do right now is just pray for Damar and hope that he gets better and hope that it doesn’t happen anymore this season,” Thornhill said.

The Chiefs will be a part of the first NFL game to hit the field since the incident when they face the Los Vegas Raiders on Saturday.

Jasper County to open new Courts building

JOPLIN, Mo. — More than two years of construction is officially wrapping up as Jasper County gets ready to launch its new courts building.

Officials will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday for the project at 7th and Pearl.

The public ceremony will be held at 10 a.m., followed by an open house through noon.

The new building houses court operations, along with the Joplin office of several county officials.

Construction began in December 2020, following voter approval of the project in 2019.

Bill designating Butterfield Trail a National Historic Trail headed to President Biden's desk to be signed into law

WASHINGTON (KNWA/KFTA) — A bill designating the Butterfield Overland Trail as a National Historic Trail has passed both houses of Congress and is headed to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law.

The route was used to transport mail and passengers between Memphis, St. Louis and San Francisco from 1858-1861 and spanned over 3,500 miles. An interactive map showing the trail’s route through Arkansas is available here.

Sen. John Boozman supported the legislative efforts and amended the original bill to “specifically preclude any potential effect on energy development, production or transmission as a result of the trail designation,” according to a media release.

This is a long-overdue recognition for the Butterfield Trail. Designating it as a National Historic Trail will preserve the story of westward expansion and Arkansas’s significant role in the growth and development of our country. This is the result of the vision of Arkansans passionate and determined to achieve this designation. I’m proud to champion this initiative and get it across the finish line,

Sen. John Boozman

The National Park Service conducted a study in 2018, determining that the trail met the requirements for recognition. Four segments of the Butterfield Trail in Arkansas have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The bill passed the U.S. Senate by unanimous consent on December 20, 2022 and passed by voice vote in the House on December 22, 2022. It was presented to President Biden on December 28, 2022.

Sen. Boozman was sworn in and began his third term representing Arkansas in the Senate on January 3.

Eric Schmitt sworn in as Missouri's next US Senator

WASHINGTON, DC — Former Missouri General, Eric Schmitt, 47, was sworn in as the state’s next US Senator today. He is taking over Roy Blunt’s seat after winning the election against Trudy Busch Valentine this last November. He will be the 2,000th Senator in United States History.

“I’m truly humbled and honored by the opportunity to continue to serve the people of the great state of Missouri as a United States Senator,” states Senator Eric Schmitt. “I will continue to serve as a champion for all Missourians, to fight for the farmers, the small business owners, and Missouri parents and families, and will continue to push back on government intrusion and overreach at every step. This is a new day, and I’m excited for what comes next.”

Schmitt was born and raised in St. Louis County. He began his political career in 2005 as an alderman in Glendale, Missouri. From there, he was elected as a state senator and then went on to serve as state treasurer and eventually as Missouri’s attorney general.

Blunt announced that he was retiring in May 2021. The Republican primary to replace the senator turned into one of the most watched races in the nation. Former Governor Eric Greitens entered the fray along with, Congressman Billy Long, Mark McCloskey, and several others.

Former President Donald Trump weighed in on the contest, endorsing “Eric.” It was unclear who he was referring to, with Eric Greitens and Eric Schmitt leading the pack.