City receives grant to improve pedestrian safety

News-Press NOW on September 19, 2025

News-Press NOW

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The City of St. Joseph was awarded $252,000 in federal funding through the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) to improve pedestrian safety across the community.

The project, known as “Safe Crossings St. Joseph”, will install pedestrian safety technology at three high-risk locations across the community.

The total cost of the project equates to $315,000; however, with the $252,000 provided through the federal TAP grant and a $63,000 local match from the City of St. Joseph, the project budget is covered.

One of the locations receiving new technology will be St. Joseph Avenue at Krug Park and Parkway Trail. The technology will include a new Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB) will enhance safety at the busy trail crossing.

The installation will include pedestrian push buttons, dual-sided LED flashers and high-visibility crosswalk markings.

The investment will complete the City’s ongoing $12.8 million revitalization of Krug Park

Hyde Park Avenue near Hyde Park and Benton High School will also get a new RRFB.

An outdated pedestrian signal will be replaced with a Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon (PHB) at Spring Garden Middle School (22nd Street).

Implementing the PHB has been proven to reduce pedestrian crashes by more than 50%.

The City said the Safe Crossings project was developed in direct response to concerns raised by community members during Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee meetings and the Metropolitan Transportation Plan public engagement process.

Parents and staff with the St. Joseph School District also identified the need for safer crossings in a Safe Routes to School survey.

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Danger eases as fall arrives: Forest Service, BLM ending local public use fire restrictions this weekend

KTVZ on September 19, 2025

Barney Lerten

(Update: Adding video)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Fire officials on the Deschutes and Ochoco National Forests, Crooked River National Grassland and Prineville District BLM said Friday they will end public use fire restrictions due to increased moisture, cooler temperatures and decreased daylight hours.

Here’s the full announcement by Central Oregon fire officials:

Effective at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, September 20, public use fire restrictions will be lifted, and the Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) will decrease to IFPL I, which requires a one-hour fire watch after equipment is shut down for the day and onsite water and/or a fire extinguisher and tools to prevent the spread of any fire. The fire danger rating is currently “moderate.”

Campfires are allowed across the Deschutes and Ochoco National Forests and on Prineville District BLM lands not currently under seasonal campfire restrictions.

Seasonal annual river corridor campfire restrictions remain in place for BLM-designated campgrounds along portions of the Crooked, Deschutes, John Day, and White Rivers, as well as on BLM-administered lands along Lake Billy Chinook and Lake Simtustus.

These restrictions prohibit campfires, charcoal fires, or any other type of open flame. This includes a ban on the use of portable propane campfires and wood pellet burning devices. Commercially manufactured lanterns and metal camp stoves used for cooking are allowed, when fueled with bottled propane or liquid fuel and operated in a responsible manner.

Remember to have plenty of water and a shovel on-hand when maintaining a campfire. Make sure your campfire is cold to the touch before you leave it unattended.

Prineville District BLM

Public use fire restrictions will remain in effect in La Pine until October 31st. For more information about Oregon/Washington BLM restrictions and closures, please visit https://www.blm.gov/programs/public-safety-and-fire/fire-and-aviation/regional-info/oregon-washington/fire-restrictions

Possessing, discharging or using any kind of firework or other pyrotechnic device or using an explosive is always prohibited on National Forest System lands in Central Oregon and currently prohibited on BLM-administered lands in Central Oregon.

Information on current restrictions or the current Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) can be obtained by contacting your Central Oregon Fire Use Information Line at 1-800-523-4737.

For current wildfire information, the public can visit centraloregonfire.org or follow fire information on X/Twitter @CentralORfire. Call 9-1-1 to report a wildfire.

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Road work scheduled for several Columbia streets

KMIZ on September 19, 2025

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The City of Columbia announced in a Friday press release that pavement maintenance would begin next week for South Providence Outer Road and other nearby streets.

Affected streets include:

South Providence West Side Outer Road from the Hinkson Creek Bridge and the south end of the street

South Providence East Side Outer Road from Buttonwood Drive (near Buchheit) to the south end of the street

Buttonwood Drive from Green Meadows Road to the Buttonwood Drive roundabout

Madrid Lane from Sieville Avenue to East El Cortez Drive

Sieville Avenue from Monterey Drive to Balboa Lane

Granada Boulevard from Monterey Drive to Bethel Street

Corporate Plaza Drive from the Outer Road to Santana Circle

Santana Circle from North Cedar Lake Drive East to the north end of the street

Carrieridge Drive from North Cedar Lake Drive West to Dorothy Dean Drive

Crews will work from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. each day, and work is expected to be completed by 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 3. “No parking” signs will be posted on the street 24 hours in advance.

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Jobless rate declines slightly in Riverside County

KESQ on September 19, 2025

Cynthia White

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (CNS) – Payroll gains overcame losses last month across the regional economy, pushing Riverside County’s unemployment rate slightly lower, according to figures released Friday by the California Employment Development Department (EDD).

The countywide jobless rate in August, based on preliminary EDD estimates, was 6.3%, compared to 6.5% in July.

According to figures, the August rate was a tenth of a percentage point higher than the year-ago level, when countywide unemployment then stood at 6.2%.

The combined unemployment rate for Riverside and San Bernardino counties – the Inland Empire – was 6.1%, down from 6.4% in July, the EDD stated.

Data showed Cherry Valley had the highest unemployment rate countywide in August at 12.9%, followed by Coachella at 12.5%, Rancho Mirage at 10%, Valle Vista at 9.1% and Palm Desert at 8.9%.

Bi-county data indicated payrolls expanded by the widest margin last month in the public sector, where 4,200 positions were added, mainly in education, as teachers and support staff in area schools returned for the fall term.

The health services, hospitality, manufacturing and professional business services sectors additionally grew by an aggregate 4,000 jobs, according to figures.

Payrolls contracted by the largest level in the agricultural sector, which shed 2,000 positions, while the construction, information technology and transportation sectors declined by a total 1,600 jobs in August.

The EDD said miscellaneous unclassified industries posted a loss of 200, and the financial services and mining sectors were unchanged. The statewide non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in August was 5.8%.

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Prescribed burn planned for Rainbow Gulch area next week

KRDO on September 19, 2025

Celeste Springer

PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) — The United States Forest Service says that crews from the Pikes Peak Ranger District plan to conduct a prescribed burn in the Rainbow Gulch area next week.

The Forest Service says that they plan to treat about 460 acres starting on Sept. 22. According to officials, the area is directly west of Rampart Reservoir and directly west of Forest Service Road 300 in El Paso County. 

Fire managers say their work will include efforts to either burn or cut down grassland.

“Prescribed fires are the managed application of fire to the landscape under specified weather and fuels conditions to improve forest conditions, provide diverse habitats for plants and animals and reduce the risk of destructive wildfire to municipal watersheds and communities in the area,” read a release from the Forest Service.

Residents living nearby can expect to see smoke in the area.

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Storm-damaged Southern Boone goal post replaced

KMIZ on September 19, 2025

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A new goal post in the south end zone at Southern Boone High School’s football field was installed on Friday morning, according to a school district spokesman.

The goal post broke on Monday from high winds after thunderstorms entered the area. Photos from the district showed the uprights and cross bar were detached from the broken goal post.

District spokesman Matt Sharp wrote in an email that the new post will be fully installed before Friday night’s home game against Boonville. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.

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Boone County first quarter wage growth mediocre among largest Missouri counties

KMIZ on September 19, 2025

Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Boone County was middle-of-the-pack among the state’s biggest counties in wage gains over the first quarter of the year, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported this week.

Wages reported to the bureau increased by close to 3% in Boone County in the first quarter, which covers the period of January to March. St. Louis City, St. Charles County and Jackson County had larger gains.

Greene County placed a distant seventh among the seven largest counties.

Boone County’s average weekly wage for the period was $1,186 — the highest in Mid-Missouri. Cole and Callaway counties ranked No. 2 and No. 3, respectively. Ste. Genevieve reported the highest average salary in the state.

Wage levels in all of Missouri’s 108 smallest counties were below the national average.

Boone County had the largest year-over-year employment increase among the state’s seven biggest counties. Employment statewide was up 0.1% in the first quarter compared to last year.

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Andrew County Museum marks Greenwick Cemetery’s 180th Anniversary

News-Press NOW on September 19, 2025

Rebecca Evans

ANDREW COUNTY, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The Andrew County Museum will commemorate the 180th anniversary of Greenwick Cemetery on Saturday with a program highlighting its history and recent restoration.

Local Historian Kurt Jordan will present at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 20 at the museum, sharing details of the cemetery’s preservation and stories of some of the people buried there.

At 11 a.m., visitors are invited to tour Greenwick Cemetery to see the restoration firsthand, hear more about its past residents and enjoy apple cider.

For more information, call 816-262-5178.

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Early morning van fire erupts in Security-Widefield

KRDO on September 19, 2025

Celeste Springer

EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) — The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office confirms there was a van fire around 8 a.m. on Friday morning.

The fire erupted near Widefield Community Park. The sheriff’s office says there is no criminal investigation at this time.

Source: Brenna Daughtery

KRDO13 has reached out to the fire department for more information. Details are limited, but this article may be updated.

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Former Pulaski County substitute teacher pleads guilty to child sex crimes

KMIZ on September 19, 2025

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A former substitute teacher from a Pulaski County school district pleaded guilty on Wednesday to child sex crimes.

Carissa Smith, of Dixon, Missouri, pleaded guilty to first-degree endangering the welfare of a child and two counts of having sexual contact with a student. She was previously charged with 19 felonies, including statutory rape, statutory sodomy, child sex trafficking and paying a child for sex. 

She will be sentenced at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 19.

Previous reporting indicates she previously worked for the Dixon School District, but resigned in August 2024.

Court documents in previous reporting say a victim told law enforcement they were coerced into sex with Smith and that she supplied marijuana, alcohol and money on multiple occasions.

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