Author: News-Press NOW

News-Press NOW

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — St. Joseph law enforcement is taking steps to ensure that stores like Walmart remain safe for the community following recent events. 

So far this year, Walmart Supercenters across St. Joseph have experienced two incidents involving firearms being discharged on the premises, one at the North Belt Walmart in February and, most recently, a negligent discharge at the South Belt location on Tuesday.

While Missouri is an open carry state, police say they’re working closely with Walmart security and increasing patrols to help prevent future incidents and ensure the community feels safe.

“We have officers routinely scheduled at both Walmart’s, South Belt and North Belt,” said Sgt. Richard McGregory with the St. Joseph Police Department. “This particular incident is still under investigation, so I can’t go into much detail, but it does raise questions about gun safety. Missouri is an open carry state, and you can conceal with or even without a permit but as police, we want to make sure our citizens are carrying those weapons properly in secure holsters.”

For citizens who choose to carry, SJPD is reminding the public about the importance of keeping firearms safely stored, ensuring the safety is engaged and keeping guns out of the reach of children, no matter the location. 

Local law enforcement emphasizes that Walmart is not considered a dangerous place and reassures the community that officers will continue patrolling shopping centers across the city. 

“It may seem like there’s an increased presence at Walmart now, but we’ve always had officers scheduled out there daily across different shifts,” McGregory said. “Wherever people are in public, we want them to feel safe, and that starts with maintaining a strong presence of officers out on the streets.”

The Tuesday, July 15 incident remains under investigation, but police believe it was likely accidental and not something that could have been predicted. Still, they are urging the public to practice proper gun safety at all times and to educate children about the seriousness and dangers of firearms. 

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Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Thursday read a doctor’s letter about President Donald Trump that she said was intended to dispel health concerns about the swelling in his ankles and a makeup-covered hand.

President Donald Trump sits with his hands interlocked as he and Bahrain’s Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa speak in the Oval Office of the White House, Wednesday, July 16, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Leavitt said Trump noticed “mild swelling” in his lower legs and was evaluated by the White House medical unit.

The left foot and swollen of President Donald Trump are pictured as he sits with Bahrain’s Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa in the Oval Office of the White House, Wednesday, July 16, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

She said the tests showed “no evidence of deep vein thrombosis or arterial disease,” but that Trump has “chronic venous insufficiency,” a fairly common condition in older adults when little valves inside the veins that normally help move blood against gravity up the legs gradually lose the ability to work properly.

Leavitt said the issue is common in people older than age 70. Trump turned 79 last month.

People often are advised to lose weight, walk for exercise and elevate their legs periodically, and some may be advised to wear compression stockings. Severe cases over time can lead to complications, including lower leg sores called ulcers. Blood clots are one cause, but Leavitt said that was tested for and ruled out.

She also said bruising on Trump’s hand that has been covered up by makeup is “consistent” with irritation from his “frequent handshaking and the use of aspirin.”

Leavitt said, “The president remains in excellent health.”

She promised to make the doctor’s letter public.

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Ryan Eslinger

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — With Training Camp coming up, there are some Kansas City Chiefs rookie players to keep an eye on.

Round 1, No. 32 Overall – Josh Simmons, TACKLE, Ohio State (#71)

The Chiefs used their first-round pick (No. 32) on Simmons, who missed the final 10 games of his college career at Ohio State due to a torn patellar tendon in his left knee. Despite the injury, he was still an All-Big Ten Conference Honorable Mention at left tackle in 2024.

The 6’5”, 317-pound tackle is joining a depleted offensive line after the Chiefs lost Joe Thuney and D.J. Humphries to free agency.

Simmons has experience on both sides of the offensive line, as at San Diego State, he played a majority of his snaps at right tackle. He transferred to Ohio State in 2023, where he only allowed one sack and four quarterback hits in 443 pass block attempts throughout his first season with the Buckeyes.

Simmons is very smooth getting out of his stance and into space, which can help when pass rushers are on an island with him. He also has good hand placement, securing the rusher’s outside shoulder in pass blocking. 

The athletic tackle will start the season in a position battle with newly signed left tackle, Jaylon Moore, as Head Coach Andy Reid said Simmons will be a full participant in this year’s training camp.

Round 2, No. 63 Overall – Omarr Norman-Lott, DT, Tennessee (#55)

The Chiefs elected to help the defensive line with their second overall pick. Norman-Lott is an undersized interior defensive lineman who excels in pass rushing with his high-pressure rate.

Norman-Lott is very scheme-dependent as he was a sub-package rusher for Tennessee in college. He spent his first three years at Arizona State University, where he only started three total games. In 2023, he transferred to Tennessee, where he only started in two games during a two-year period.

Don’t be fooled by the above stats, as throughout his college career, he logged 13.5 sacks and 12.5 TFLs when he was on the field.

According to NFL analyst Lance Zierlein, Norman-Lott was a projected third to fourth rounder in this year’s draft, but the Chiefs took a chance, selecting him in the second round.

Round 3, No. 66 Overall (Via Tennessee) – Ashton Gillotte, DE, Louisville (#97)

Staying with defense in the third round, Gillotte will look to help a defense that was in the bottom half of the league in total sacks last year.

For being a third-round pick, Gillotte was a menace at Louisville. In 2023, he was first-team All-ACC and ranked seventh in the FBS with 11 sacks. In 2024, he received second-team All-ACC honors while leading the team with 10 TFLs and 4.5 sacks.

Gillotte has excellent snap quickness and can collapse the pocket with power while beating the edge with his violent hands.

 With George Karlaftis being the only defensive end with good production as a pass rusher last season, Gillotte is a sneaky candidate to get a lot of playing time as a rookie.

Round 3, No. 85 Overall – Nohl Williams, CB, Cal (#20)

Three straight defensive picks for the Chiefs as they continue to bolster their young defensive back room. Williams was a lockdown corner for the Cal Golden Bears as he led the FBS with 7 INTs and tied for the team lead with 9 pass breakups (PBUs).

He earned second-team Associated Press All-American and first-team All-ACC cornerback honors in his first year in the ACC.

With the Chiefs signing Kristian Fulton in free agency and already having Trent McDuffie in the secondary, Williams will most likely start the season as the third or fourth cornerback as a rookie. 

Round 4, No. 133 Overall – Jalen Royals, WR, Utah State (#11)

After three straight defensive picks, the Chiefs added to the wide receiver room to give Patrick Mahomes another weapon. 

Royals was outstanding for the Utah State Aggies. In 2023, he earned first-team All-Mountain West Conference honors and led the team with 1,080 receiving yards. In the same year, he ranked second in the FBS with a school-record 15 receiving touchdowns.

In 2024, he earned second-team All-Mountain West but missed a majority of the season with a foot injury.

Royals is a very technical wide receiver. He is always aware of where defenders are positioned and knows how to exploit gaps in the secondary. At 6’0”, 199 pounds, he has the ability to fight for jump balls and fight hard for contested throws. 

While he might not have the desired explosiveness, Royals will fit right into this Chiefs offense that is desperate for another weapon.

Round 5, No. 156 Overall – Jeffrey Bassa, LB, Oregon (#31)

Bassa played all four years of his college career for the Ducks, but only became a regular starter in 2023. 

In 2023, he earned second-team All-Pac-12 Conference while recording 72 tackles, three and a half for loss, and one interception that he returned for a touchdown in 14 games started.

Bassa has great tackling technique and tracks run plays with good effort and pursuit speed, while having great pre-snap communication.

Round 7, No. 228 Overall – Brashard Smith, RB, SMU (#30)

The Chiefs’ last pick of the 2025 draft goes to the offense. 

Smith played for three years at the University of Miami before transferring in conference to Southern Methodist University (SMU) and switching positions from wide receiver to running back.

Smith earned third-team Associated Press All-American All-Purpose and first-team All-ACC in 2024. He ranked fourth in the FBS with 1,977 all-purpose yards in 10 starts. 

While being undersized at 5’10”, Smith can provide a lot of versatility for the Chiefs’ offense. He can be a great kick and punt returner, as he showcased those skills at Miami. 

With Isaiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt in the running back room already, Smith will most likely stay on special teams for the time being.

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Kirsten Stokes

ST. JOSEPH, MO (News-Press NOW) — In an effort to bring high-needs students and their peers together, the Mark Twain Early Learning Center is starting a new program.

The Learning center located at 705 S 31st St is starting a new program called “Pals,” which partners children with additional needs and children without in a classroom together.

Developed by Early Childhood Special Education Teacher Melissa York, it provides an opportunity for younger kids to better understand additional needs and encourages them to create safe spaces for everyone.

In a Facebook post made on July 14, York said in an interview, the idea stemmed from the fact that her students were mostly in her room all day and needed some time as an outlet to see other kids in the center.

“We thought up this idea of having some regular education kiddos come in and just play and make friends and have fun and get to know each other,” York said.

So far, York said she has seen some great interactions with the kids as they learn empathy as well as understanding that know child learns the same.

To learn more about the program visit https://elc.sjsd.k12.mo.us/preschool-program/mark-twain

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Patrick Holleron

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The United Way of Greater St. Joseph held a session on Thursday, covering the basics of addiction and tips for working with individuals with a substance use disorder.

Peer Support Specialists reviewed strategies for working with individuals facing substance use disorders.

“It is a struggle, I think the boundaries are the hardest thing,” Family Guidance Substance Abuse Counselor Eric Stone said. ” When I first started working at Family Guidance, I had about 18 months in my own recovery, I knew a lot of the individuals that were coming in to services. Being able to set those boundaries was a struggle for me. What helped me was just taking suggestions and advice.”

Narcan and fentanyl test strips were available on-site at the event; however, those in need of Narcan and substance abuse resources can get them for free at places like Family Guidance, the St. Joseph Health Department, Northwest Health Services and more.

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Associated Press

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — An Idaho judge has lifted a sweeping gag order in Bryan Kohberger’s quadruple murder case.

Kohberger avoided a potential death sentence by pleading guilty earlier this month to the brutal stabbing deaths of four University of Idaho students at a rental home near campus in 2022.

Prosecutors said he spent months carefully planning the attack, and that his studies as a criminal justice graduate student at Washington State University helped him take steps to cover up his tracks.

Kohberger admitted to breaking into the rental home through a sliding door and killing the four friends, who had no connection with him.

A judge in Moscow, Idaho issued a sweeping gag order early in the case, barring prosecutors, defense attorneys and other officials involved in the investigation from talking to reporters or others about anything not already included in public court documents.

A coalition of news organizations, including The Associated Press asked the judge to lift the gag order, but he refused, saying additional publicity could harm Kohberger’s right to a fair trial.

However, the gag order was lifted Thursday.

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Praji Ghosh

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — An ongoing project to improve the intersection at U.S. Route 59 and Alabama Street, located in South St. Joseph, will head to phase two in October.

The project aims to improve tractor-trailer turning movements and increase capacity for vehicles stopped at the Route U train to cross.    

Authorities say they are planning to incorporate more sidewalks along the route.

“So, there are impacts, but they are fairly minimal as people can still use Route 59. As far as I have heard, I think people are excited about having a new intersection,” said Jessica Salyer, the project engineer from the Missouri Department of Transportation.

The project is anticipated to be completed by November 2026. Any information about changes made should be updated on MoDOT’s website at www.modot.org/projects/.

Salyer said accessing Route 752 would be difficult, and recommends taking detours.

Some sidewalks along Route 52 will continue to remain closed as well.

“There are impacts because it’s just stage one and it’s closed, and Route 752 is also closed between Route 59 and Sherman Street, which makes it hard to navigate,” Salyer said.   

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Rebecca Evans

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — For more than two decades, the Soles for Christ program has helped thousands of children in Northwest Missouri start the school year on the right foot.

The program provides a brand-new pair of tennis shoes to students in kindergarten through 12th grade who live in Buchanan, Andrew, Dekalb, and Clinton counties in Missouri, and Doniphan County, Kansas. The goal is simple but powerful:

Boost children’s self-esteem and enthusiasm for the school year ahead.

Provide families with some financial relief during the costly back-to-school season.

Unlike many assistance programs, Soles for Christ services are not based on income. Any child meeting the residency and grade requirements is eligible.

There’s no pre-registration; families simply attend the distribution event in mid-August.

This year, the dates for distribution are: Monday, Aug. 11, and Tuesday, Aug. 12. Both distribution days will run from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The shoe pick-up location will be 515 N 6th St.

To receive shoes: 

Parents must bring all children who need shoes to the distribution

Only one adult will be allowed at the fitting station; other adults can wait by the exit area

One document proving residency:

Utility bill

Rent/Mortgage receipt

Lease/Mortgage contract

One form of ID for each child to verify age:

School ID

Report card

Birth certificates

Other legal documents proving the child’s birth date/age

Preschoolers must have proof of enrollment in a preschool and be at least four years old

“You know this is one of our favorite programs because we have kids who they’re just so excited about getting the shoes,” said Nichi Seckinger, Executive Director of AFL-CIO Community Services, “Their appreciation is all over their face when they get the shoes they really like. And it’s great because their excitement is contagious.”

How to Get Involved

Volunteer registration for Soles for Christ is now online. To sign up, visit: aflciocommunityservices.ivolunteer.com/solesforchrist.

Volunteers are needed for the following dates:

Friday, Aug. 8 – Set-up (1–5 p.m.)

Monday, Aug. 11 – Distribution Day 1 (8:30 a.m.–7 p.m.)

Tuesday, Aug. 12 – Distribution Day 2 (8:30 a.m.–7 p.m.)

Wednesday, Aug. 13 – Tear-down (1–5 p.m.)

Tasks include loading/unloading shoes, organizing tables, registering families, fitting children, and more. Volunteers must be 18 or older for distribution days and are encouraged to sign up for at least two shifts.

If you would like to donate shoes, you can drop them off at AFL-CIO Community Services at 1203 N 6th Street St. Joseph, MO, 64501, or some local churches will be collecting them. The last day to drop off shoes is August 7th.

T-shirts are also available for purchase for $20–$24 with an order deadline of July 21st.

For questions, contact Ashley Luthans at ashley.luthans@helpmenow.org or 816-364-1131.

This program began in August 2003, when a member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church learned of a similar effort at another parish and recognized a need in St. Joseph. That first year, 210 pairs of shoes were distributed. Since then, the program has grown tremendously. To date, 18,832 pairs of shoes have been given to local children, representing more than $481,000 worth of support for families.

What started as a small parish effort has become a community-wide mission of compassion. Each pair of shoes represents more than just footwear, it’s a step toward confidence, dignity, and success in the classroom.

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Patrick Holleron

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — A Dallas judge has officially sentenced Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice to five years’ probation and 30 days of jail time, per a report from ESPN reporter Adam Schefter.

The 30 days of jail time can be served at any time, and it was confirmed that Rice also received deferred adjudication. Meaning, the case will be dismissed if he completes the probation.

The sentence is a result of Rice’s participation in a multi-car collision on May 30, 2024, in Dallas, TX 2024.

ESPN also added that the NFL can expedite the disciplinary process, with the expectation being that Rice will be suspended for multiple games for the upcoming 2025 season.

Rice issued a statement on Thursday, via his attorney, Royce West:

“Last March, I was involved in a high-speed accident in Dallas. There have been a lot of sleepless nights thinking about the damages that my actions caused, and I will continue working within my means to make sure that everyone impacted will be made whole. I urge everyone to mind the speed limit, drive safe and drive smart. Last and certainly not least, I am profoundly sorry for the physical damages to person and property. I fully apologize for the harm I caused to innocent drivers and their families.”

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Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — St. Joseph is strengthening its parking enforcement capabilities with the hiring of two new positions designed to target illegally parked vehicles, efforts that will ramp up beginning next week.

The St. Joseph Police Department announced the hiring of two new civilian parking enforcement officers on Thursday to patrol the city and issue tickets and tow tags for vehicles not following city traffic ordinances.

All vehicles parked on a city street must display valid license plates, have current insurance, be operational and be parked properly following all road signage and in the direction of traffic flow. Vehicles failing to meet these requirements will face a fine and may be towed.

The new civilian officers started enforcement measures over the last few weeks during a recent training period. Their efforts will increase as they begin patrolling streets throughout the city full-time next week. The officers will be driving marked cars that differ from the look of the police department’s patrol vehicles and in a uniform that designates their role.

The new program is part of an effort to improve customer service related to frequent parking concerns.

“This program reflects our continued commitment to keeping St. Joseph’s neighborhoods safe, clean and accessible,” St. Joseph Police Chief Paul Luster said in a statement. “By addressing abandoned and improperly parked vehicles, we’re not only enforcing the law but also responding directly to the concerns of our residents. Our goal is to enhance the quality of life and ensure our streets remain welcoming for everyone.” 

While the officers will be looking for violations and issuing tickets and tow orders accordingly, citizens can also help by reporting illegally parked vehicles on the city’s website at www.stjosephmo.gov.

After clicking the “Report a Concern” button on the home page, residents can enter information about the vehicle and its location for officers to respond. Citizens can also call the police department’s non-emergency number at 816-271-4777 to report a concern.

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