Month: November 2025

News-Press NOW

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The United Way of Greater St. Joseph invites the community to join in celebrating the conclusion of its 2025 Campaign.

Attendees will hear kudos and the Campaign total to date from Co-Chairs Michael and Jennifer Holden.

The celebration will take place from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 6, at the Hall of Fame Room at Spratt Stadium at Missouri Western State University.

Attendees are welcome to arrive any time after 5 p.m. and enjoy mingling and light appetizers. The program will begin at 5:45 p.m.

The event is $20 per person and $150 for a group of 8. Those interested in attending can make a campaign reservation through an online form or by contacting Renita Neville at 816-364-2381 or renita.neville@stjosephunitedway.org.

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News-Press NOW

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — After nearly a century in its old location on King Hill Avenue in St. Joseph, Journey Baptist Church now has a new facility.

Since 1935, Journey Baptist, formerly King Hill Baptist, had met in the brick facility at 5708 King Hill Ave; however, after over a year of praying, planning and raising funds, the church met in its newly built facility near Menard’s at the junction of A Highway and I-229, on Sunday, Oct. 26.

Senior Pastor Jacob McMillan said the number of people who came to that opening service made the process worthwhile.

“The building is beautiful, but every opportunity we get to preach the gospel to others – that’s why we did it,” McMillan said. “Being to present what really matters, which is the gospel of Jesus, made it all worthwhile.”

This journey for the church began a few years ago, when it realized its facility did not have adequate parking or facilities to accommodate new families. Also, the amount of work needed on the aging building on King Hill was becoming less cost-effective.

The amount of funds needed to make the transition to a new property and to construct a new facility could have been prohibitive. McMillan said, having a strong vision as a staff and congregation gave the congregation confidence to be supportive through planning and giving.

In addition to more parking, the facility includes a larger fellowship space with comfortable places to gather, a coffee area and an expanded children’s facility.

“We wanted a place for the church to gather before and after service,” McMillan said. “In addition to the preaching of God’s Word and worship, fellowship and encouragement are essential to the Christian faith, and this bigger lobby space gives us an opportunity to hear about each other’s lives, to pray for each other and encourage each other.”

McMillan and the leadership team said that while there are still finishing touches needed on the new place, as with any new project, they are glad to have a strong space for visitors, for children and for the congregation to gather and worship each week. They also said they have a vision for the still unused portions of the property, so others in the surrounding areas can have more ways to connect to the church.

“We feel like the sky is the limit for these 39 acres,” McMillan said. “We don’t know what God’s plans are, but we have plenty of room for whatever God’s plans are for us.”

For more information about the project and worship times, visit www.ourjbc.org.

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Praji Ghosh

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) —  Gun violence is something people in St. Joseph have talked about for years — not just because it affects families and neighborhoods, but because it’s about safety. 

But according to St. Joseph Police Sergeant Richard McGregory, there’s a big difference between the number of shots fired calls the department gets and the actual confirmed cases where evidence is found or someone is hurt. 

The police department didn’t start breaking down those numbers until August 2025. Since then, they’ve been tracking just how often shots are fired across the city. 

From Jan. 1, 2024, to Oct. 20, 2025, police recorded 798 total shooting-related incidents — 462 in 2024 and 336 so far in 2025.  

“Someone calling and saying hey I just heard two shots fired down the street, we don’t log those if the officers check the area and they don’t find any evidence of it,” McGregory said. 

He said the department keeps a close eye on gun-related incidents through data tracking and community reports. And while the numbers can go up and down, their main focus is watching the overall trend.  

McGregory emphasized that it’s not just about the numbers — it’s about making sure the community feels safe and sees a consistent, visible police presence.  

“Not every shot fired call turns out to be a confirmed gunfire. In many cases officers respond that they find no evidence like a shell casing or property damage but we treat every call seriously and respond as if its a real threat,” Gregory said.  

Gregory added that there’s no particular time of year when those numbers spike, but they do tend to rise at night when the department gets more calls.  

He explained that when officers don’t find any damage, injuries, or solid evidence at a scene, they rely heavily on cooperation and information from the community.  

“We encourage residents to call 911 anytime they hear or see something suspicious even if they are not sure but because its the information from the public its vital to solving these crimes and preventing future instances,” Gregory said.  

McGregory said his goal is to keep building trust — through community meetings, social media updates, and programs that make communication between police and residents a two-way street. 

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