Latest news with #MelissaSchmidt
Newsweek
2 days ago
- General
- Newsweek
Funeral Home Cremates Woman's Remains, 13 Years Later Gets Unexpected Call
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A funeral director has shared her shock when a woman walked through the funeral home doors, asking to collect cremated remains—thirteen years after the person had died. Melissa Schmidt, from Long Island, has been a licensed funeral director and embalmer for 12 years, and shares her inside view of the profession online under the handle @funeralbabe. But despite over a decade of experience, there are still surprises. "It honestly caught me off guard, but it certainly wasn't the first time and I'm sure not the last," 34-year-old Schmidt told Newsweek. "We always hope families come back, but after more than a decade, you assume the remains may never be claimed." When the woman finally came in for the ashes, she explained that the delay came from a miscommunication within the family—something Schmidt said is common. Pictures of funeral director Melissa Schmidt in the Reel where she revealed the unusual moment. Pictures of funeral director Melissa Schmidt in the Reel where she revealed the unusual moment. @funeralbabe/Instagram "Grief, family dynamics, or even just not being ready can delay someone's ability to pick up cremated remains," she said. "We've held cremated remains for months, years, and in some cases, decades. It's heartbreaking, but also very human." According to the Cremation Association of North America (CANA), cremation is the most popular choice for people after death in the U.S. In 2024, the cremation rate in the U.S. reached 61.8 percent, and CANA predicts this number will rise to 67.9 percent by 2029. Given that the U.S. sees approximately 3 million deaths annually, this percentage means that roughly 1.85 million people were cremated in 2024. Schmidt shares the reality of her job with her thousands of followers online, posting the video of the moment the remains were finally collected on Instagram, where it has since been viewed 1.1 million times. "They said 'I think you have my grandma' and I said 'Ma'am... she's been here longer than I have'," she captioned the video. Read more I'm an autopsy tech, here are 6 things you should never do—trust me I'm an autopsy tech, here are 6 things you should never do—trust me Revealing more about why she posts on social media, Schmidt: "I like pulling back the curtain and giving people a deeper understanding while also bringing some empathy and perspective. I've been overwhelmed, in the best way, by how many people resonated with it or felt seen by it." In the comments, people shared their reactions. "I can't imagine someone waiting all that time to pick up a loved one," wrote viewer Breephoenix. While others could relate to the idea of leaving ashes for a while before picking them up. "One of my colleagues left her dad at the funeral home for 4 years as she thought it would be better to collect him on what would've been his 90th birthday," wrote M_alicexo. While Ginia_bear said: "Happened in my family, I'll say one of the biggest factors was the grief process." "What matters is that they are still there and ready to be reunited with family whether it be for forever or the very last time," wrote For Schmidt, sharing this moment gave others an important look at something many people don't know much about. "I shared it because people often have no idea how this part of funeral service works," she said. "When they finally came in, it was unexpected and quietly emotional. It reminded me that grief doesn't follow a timeline." This isn't the first time a funeral director has shared a behind-the-scenes look at the job. In 2023 one worker shared the unexpected things she finds among cremated remains, while another undertaker revealed the things that people don't know about what happens after death.
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Missouri governor signs bill banning state from seizing foster kids' benefits
Rep. Melissa Schmidt, R-Eldridge, speaks on the House floor in February about her foster benefits bill (Tim Bommel/Missouri House Communications). After Aug. 28, Missouri will end the state's longstanding practice of seizing foster children's Social Security benefits to cover the cost of foster care. Gov. Mike Kehoe on Wednesday signed a bill that would also ban child marriage and stop child sex abusers from using non-disclosure agreements to silence their victims. The bill was sponsored by Republican state Rep. Melissa Schmidt of Eldridge, and handled by Republican state Sen. Jamie Burger of Benton in the upper chamber. Missouri's child welfare agency takes millions of dollars each year in foster children's benefits and uses the money to help pay for foster care. In fiscal year 2024, the Children's Division spent more than $10.6 million recovered from children's benefits. Over 1,200 foster kids were receiving benefits in Missouri of late last year, or just over 10% of all kids in care. As a result, kids who are orphaned or have disabilities are responsible for paying toward the cost of their care in state custody. The bill would ban the state from using those benefits to pay itself back for routine foster care expenses. Instead, the division could use the funds for the child's 'unmet needs' beyond what the division is obligated to pay, such as housing as the child prepares to age out of foster care. The effort to ban the practice won bipartisan support during the 2024 session and was on the verge of passing. But it died when GOP infighting forced the state Senate to adjourn early. The foster benefits ban was the starting point for the bill, with other provisions, including the ban on child marriage added when it reached the state Senate. Other provisions include: Increasing a tax credit for donations to certain youth programs. Stating that the state Children's Division cannot hold itself harmless in contracts with private service providers when there are issues resulting from the state's negligence. Requiring Children's Division caseworkers to present identification of themselves when conducting investigations of child abuse and neglect, and inform parents of their rights. Requiring the Children's Division to take into consideration the religion of the foster child when determining placement, in order to ensure children are in households of a similar religion to their families' when practicable. Under current Missouri law, anyone under 16 is prohibited from getting married. But 16 and 17 year olds can get married with parental consent to anyone under 21. Under the new law, which goes into effect Aug. 28, marriage for anyone under age 18 will be illegal. The bill garnered bipartisan support, but an outspoken group of Republican lawmakers condemned the child marriage ban — saying they knew couples who were married as teens and are still together and warning that more teens would get abortions if they couldn't marry. 'There are legitimate reasons for people 16, 17 to become married,' state Rep. Dean Van Schoiack, a Savannah Republican, said during an April House debate. 'A pregnancy could be a legitimate reason to become married, for one thing.' Last year, the bill stalled due to GOP critics. In 2023 Republican state Sen. Mike Moon's opposition to the child marriage ban garnered national attention when he said: 'Do you know any kids who have been married at age 12? I do. And guess what? They're still married.' The bill also voids nondisclosure agreements in childhood sexual abuse cases and expands access to legal counsel for families in child abuse and neglect cases. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Business Journals
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Business Journals
Missouri House again votes to eliminate income tax on capital gains
Missouri House Speaker Pro Tem Chad Perkins of Bowing Green speaks at a news conference Feb. 13 with state Rep. Melissa Schmidt, a Republican from Eldridge. (Tim Bommel/Missouri House Communications).
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Missouri House again votes to eliminate income tax on capital gains
Missouri House Speaker Pro Tem Chad Perkins of Bowing Green speaks at a news conference Feb. 13 with state Rep. Melissa Schmidt, a Republican from Eldridge (Tim Bommel/Missouri House Communications). Missouri lawmakers are playing tax cut tennis, and on Monday the state House served its latest offering when it narrowed the differences with the state Senate in a bill that helps wealthy taxpayers and some who are at the bottom of the income scale. The proposal is the smallest, in terms of revenue reductions, of several bills intended to cut taxes this year. It exempts long-term capital gains — profits on investments or property held for more than a year — from state income tax. It also boosts the income limits and credit amounts for the refundable tax credit known as the circuit breaker, which helps defer the cost of property taxes for low-income seniors and people with disabilities. Those provisions mirror the language in a bill that has already passed the Senate but has not received a final House vote. One key difference is that the Senate-passed version would adjust the circuit breaker credit amounts for inflation starting in 2027, while the bill approved Monday does not. It also does not include the sales tax exemption for diapers and feminine hygiene products included in the Senate-passed bill. House Speaker Pro Tem Chad Perkins, a Republican from Bowling Green, said the latest plan was intended to send the Senate something it could accept. 'We feel like the Senate will be able to pass our language on this as is,' Perkins said. The bill began as a proposal to allow the Department of Revenue to forgive interest and penalties when it has to prorate tax credits because claims exceed the annual allowance. For the past three years, people claiming Missouri's food pantry tax credit found they didn't get the full value when the state Department of Revenue reviewed their returns. The bill passed by a 92-58 vote, with 11 Republicans voting against it along with all Democrats. The bill needs only a final Senate vote to send it to Gov. Mike Kehoe. During debate, Democrats warned that big tax cuts now are a mistake because of uncertainty, both in future support from federal funding and the possibility of an economic recession due to tariff and other policy shifts under President Donald Trump. 'Wait for another year. Let's see what happens with the U.S. economy before we cut another tax,' said state Rep. Steve Butz, a Democrat fromSt. Louis. 'We need to go slow, because you can't reverse this decision.' The tax limitations in the Missouri Constitution would require a statewide vote if, in a year or two, lawmakers decided they had cut taxes too much. The fiscal note for the bill, which gives the official estimate of whether it will increase or decrease state revenue, states that exempting capital gains would reduce revenue from the individual income tax by about $110 million annually, with another $180 million reduction with the corporate cut kicks in. Outside observers question that estimate, with the left-leaning Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy estimating that the revenue reduction could be $600 million or more. Since 2014, when lawmakers enacted a tax cut over the veto of then-Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon, Missouri's top income tax rate has fallen from 6% to 4.7%. Two future tax cuts, to a 4.5% rate, are already in state law and will take effect if general revenue growth hits targets. The changes in the circuit breaker credit would reduce state revenue by about $75 million annually. People 65 and older and those with a qualifying disability are eligible for a credit against property taxes on their residence. Since 2008 the maximum credit for homeowners has been $1,100, while for people who rent their home the maximum credit is $750. The legislation would increase the credit for homeowners to $1,550 and for renters to $1,055. The proposal would also increase the maximum income for claiming the credit from $27,500 for single taxpayers who rent to $38,200 and for single taxpayers who own their home from $30,000 to $42,200. For married couples, the limit would be $41,000 for renters and $48,000 for homeowners. Most of the debate Monday focused on whether the circuit breaker changes were enough to balance the benefits being provided to wealthy taxpayers. 'This is an amendment that our senior citizens need for us to do, as it truly helps those in the lowest income brackets,' said state Rep. Mark Matthiesen, a Republican from O'Fallon. 'Also those with disabilities need our help.' Democrats said the circuit breaker changes were designed to mask the problems that would be created by additional large income tax cuts. 'It's the arsonist,' said Rep. Mark Boyko, a Democrat from Kirkwood, 'telling us that they'll give us 10 seconds to go rescue the grandfather clock.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Missouri House advances bill to stop state from seizing foster kids' benefits
Rep. Melissa Schmidt, a Republican from Eldridge, presents her foster care bill on Jan. 22, 2025 (Tim Bommel/Missouri House Communications). The Missouri House on Tuesday gave initial approval to legislation that would ban the state from seizing the Social Security benefits of foster children. It was the first bill to come up for a vote in the full House this year and succeeded on a voice vote without opposition. It will need to be approved once more by the House before heading to the Senate. Missouri's child welfare agency takes millions of dollars each year in foster children's benefits and uses the money to help pay for foster care. As a result, kids who are orphaned or have disabilities are responsible for paying toward the cost of their care in state custody. The effort to ban the practice won bipartisan support during last year's session and was on the precipice of passing. But it died when GOP infighting forced the state Senate to adjourn early. House Speaker Jon Patterson pledged last month that this legislation would be the first bill sent to the Senate, highlighting the issue as legislation that 'should have been passed but fell victim to our inaction and politics.' This year's bill, sponsored by state Rep. Melissa Schmidt, a Republican from Eldridge, passed out of committee with no testimony in opposition, on a unanimous vote. 'I share the passion that my predecessor has for Missouri children, and I believe that we have a responsibility to be their voice,' Schmidt said during the House-wide debate Tuesday. Schmidt shared a story of a foster child whose mother, a veteran with benefits, passed away. 'He intended to use [the benefits] for college, safe housing and stable transportation,' Schmidt said. 'However, when he exited care, those dollars had already been spent, and he was left without his hope. I think we can all agree that for Missouri children, we can do better.' There was no opposition Tuesday to the underlying idea of protecting foster children's benefits. 'This is the reason we're in the legislature,' said state Rep. Raychel Proudie, a Democrat from Ferguson. 'These children who have already been traumatized by coming into the state's care should have that money for their care. When they are our children, we become responsible for them.' Debate centered around whether to keep two additional sections in the legislation dealing with foster care. One section would require the Children's Division to take into consideration the religion of the foster child when determining placement, in order to ensure children are in households of a similar religion to their families' when practicable. At last year's hearing, the legislator carrying the bill said that's already common practice but he wanted to codify it into state law. The other provision clarifies that parents allowing children to engage in appropriate independent activities without supervision would not be considered abuse or neglect. Schmidt initially proposed that those sections be removed, so the bill would have a clear single subject and match the version filed in the Senate. After a handful of representatives opposed removing them, the sections were allowed to remain in the bill. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE It's long been a common practice nationally to take foster kids' benefits, but it's come under increased scrutiny over the last few years. Several states, including Arizona, New Mexico and Oregon, have halted the practice. In fiscal year 2024, Children's Division spent over $10.6 million in foster kids' benefits. If the bill passes, the state will need to replace that funding. Around 1,200 children receive benefits. The bill would prohibit the state from using those federal benefits to pay itself back for routine foster care expenses. Instead the division could use the funds for the child's 'unmet needs' beyond what the division is obligated to pay, such as housing as the child prepares to age out of foster care. The state would also be required to ensure the account in which the child's benefits are deposited is set up in a way that doesn't interfere with federal asset limits. The Senate version of the bill this year was filed by state Sen. Jamie Burger, a Republican from Benton, and has been referred to committee but not yet scheduled for a public hearing. It includes only the provisions surrounding foster kids' benefits. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
