Author: News-Press NOW

Praji Ghosh

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) —  The St. Joseph School District has introduced its first-ever Kagan Cooperative Learning training session, bringing a nationally recognized teaching strategy to local classrooms. 

This initiative aims to enhance instructional practices by promoting student engagement, collaboration and creative thinking. 

The goal is to empower both teachers and students with strategies that go beyond traditional methods—encouraging learners to think more critically. 

“Our goal in the district is to improve the peer-to-peer opportunities that students have to learn from each other and get them away from their devices,” said Tabitha Keyser, director of curriculum, instruction and assessment.  

The Kagan program emphasizes teamwork, structured learning activities and equal participation among students.  

As part of this initiative, some teachers are traveling to Maryville for training, while others are engaging in summer learning sessions locally — all aimed at helping educators bring Kagan strategies directly into their classrooms.   

According to Erin Smith, a reading interventionist at SJSD, the Kagan model provides tools that not only engage students but also ensure every voice is heard.  

“I knew that Kagan training would provide those strategies for me, and they were research-based and I could close the achievement gap for all learners in the classroom,” Smith said. 

One of the key goals of the program is to create a learning environment where students feel confident sharing ideas, building relationships, and learning from each other.  

Sam Ebling, an academic lead lab teacher, believes the impact will go beyond academics.  

“It’s going to really help their communication skills with listening and speaking because everybody has a turn and everyone has a role and they can teach each other, which is powerful,” Ebling said.

Teachers encourage collaboration and shared responsibility through the program, which also aims to boost students’ self-confidence, improve classroom culture and reduce bullying.  

“We learned the importance of making students feel a positive interdependence with each other so they feel a sense of individual accountability, which is a big piece of equal participation,” Smith said.  

District educators hope this cooperative learning structure will not only improve academic outcomes but also make the classroom a more inclusive and fun space for all students. 

Click here to follow the original article.

Rebecca Evans

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — St. Joseph’s landfill is filling up fast, and the clock is ticking, with its projected lifespan being May 2047 according to landfill superintendent Darkota Cloud.

In the last decade, the St. Joseph Landfill has seen an increase in its usage, with the amount of trash received there doubling from almost 105,000 tons in 2015 to more than 215,000 tons in 2024.

According to landfill officials, the dump has received about the same amount of trash this year, compared to last.

The May 2047 deadline gives St. Joseph 22 years to determine where all the city’s trash will be disposed of once the current landfill reaches capacity. The overall goal of city officials is to extend the landfill’s lifespan as long as possible. 

The city just completed the construction of its Cell 8 infrastructure and began using it on Tuesday, July 29.

Now, the city said landfill staff have already begun construction on Cell 9 at the facility.

Opening a new landfill could take more than a decade and has proven politically difficult, as seen in the recent collapse of a proposed landfill in South Kansas City, Missouri.

Overflowing landfills don’t prove to be just a space problem. They produce methane gas, a powerful greenhouse contributor that lowers oxygen in the atmosphere.

“St. Joseph’s landfill produces methane from over three million tons of waste, which our plant converts into enough electricity to power up to 1,000 homes each year,” Evergy’s 2024 sustainability report states. “Landfill gas is a renewable energy source that helps generate base load power.”

With space for trash being slim, officials are turning to solutions like waste management, ultimately leading to more recycling opportunities.

Recycling could significantly reduce how fast the landfill fills up, but participation needs to improve. 

Advantage Metals, one of the few waste management services in St. Joseph, provides a place for residents to bring metal items for recycling and repurposing to get some extra money in their pockets.

Each year, the St. Joseph Recycling Center receives 600 tons of material, in stark contrast to the three million tons that are dumped into the landfill annually.

Materials are brought to the recycling center at no charge and are sorted and gathered, giving what some consider trash a second chance.

“I do think that it is important to change how big our footprint is, and if recycling can get that done, then that would be awesome,” said Darkota Cloud, superintendent of solid waste and recycling, “And it really starts with the people at home.”

What is Accepted at the Recycle Center:

Tin/aluminum- rinsed lid-free food and drink containers

Glass- (brown, green, clear) rinsed lid-free food and drink containers

Corrugated cardboard (ripple board) – Flattened

Magazines- Includes slick coated and ad inserts

Newspaper- separated from office paper and magazines, dry, unbundled

Mixed Paper -Copy paper or junk mail

Free paper shredding of personal documents, limit 5 boxes/ bags please

Plastics – (PET #1 & HDPE #2)- rinsed and separated milk, water, juice bottles, detergent and bleach bottles. Recycle number located on the bottom of the container, screw on containers ONLY.

Oil/ Antifreeze Depository – vegetable, motor, lubricant, etc.

What Is Not Accepted:

No Styrofoam or plastic bags are accepted

No wax-coated cardboard, no chip board accepted (i.e, cereal or soda boxes)

All recyclables SHOULD be:

Rinsed clean

Have no lids

No labels on Cans

No Paper clips, rubber bands, staples, tape, adhesive labels, plastic tabs and plastic or wire spirals

Keeping recyclables clean and in good condition gives them a better chance of being reused.

“It helps divert recyclables from the landfill, and it encourages the lifespan of the landfill. It also promotes community wellbeing and it protects public health in general by keeping trash off the streets and doing the recycling, turning it into new things,” said Andrea Miester, the supervisor at the Recycling Center.

After making a trip to the St. Joseph Recycling Center, most of the recyclables are then transported to the local regional processor, Birch Recycling, where they are densified or compressed.

From there, it is sold to major manufacturers who turn the recyclables into new products.

Glass is crushed and recycled into insulation.

Cardboard is turned into new cardboard.

Newsprint is used to make insulation or egg cartons.

Magazines are also repurposed into insulation.

Mixed paper is recycled into tissue products.

PET plastics, such as soda and water bottles, are transformed into carpet.

Polyethylene containers, like milk jugs and detergent bottles, are made into plastic buckets and pails.

Steel (tin) cans are recycled back into new steel products.

Aluminum cans are reused to make new aluminum cans.

In a statement from Mike Birchmier, manager at Birch Recycling, under 2% of the recyclables brought in are lost in the production process.

A high percentage of the raw materials is repurposed into usable products. This process only works if materials are clean, properly sorted and free from contamination.

Currently, around 70% of plastic waste ends up in landfills or the natural environment.

Plastic can take hundreds or even thousands of years to break down, and glass could last millions of years. Eventually, our landfills will run out of space for both.

The St. Joseph Recycling Center sees 100,000 drive-through cars drop off recyclables annually, but this could still improve, according to the recycling supervisor.

Recycling reduces landfill space and conserves natural resources. 

The recycling center also offers ways for members of the community to support and volunteer to help with recycling efforts. Visit their website here.

Click here to follow the original article.

News-Press NOW

By: Madison Stuerman

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Senator Mike Moon (R-Ash Grove), State Representative Bryant Wolfin (R-Ste. Genevieve) and a Maries County man have filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Senate Bill 3.

The lawsuit, filed in Cole County, is asking a judge to declare Senate Bill 3 unconstitutional, specifically regarding the stadium subsidies for the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals.

The suit claims the bill is unconstitutional because it violates Missouri constitutional provisions of the grant of public money to a private person, special law, multiple subjects, the title is not clear and a change of original purpose.

“The appropriations described in the bill are a direct gift or bribe to the owners of the Chiefs and the Royals to stay in Missouri,” the lawsuit states.

“The stadium subsidies are a bribe paid to sports team owners to meet their extortion demand to stop them from leaving Missouri for Kansas,” W. Bevis Schock said in a news release. “The way the numbers workit appears the legislature and the governor are sticking taxpayers with most of the salary of Chiefs Quarterback Patrick Mahomes.”

The bill passed in the Missouri Senate by a vote of 19-13 during a special session. It was then passed by the Missouri House with a vote of 90-58.

Governor Mike Kehoe signed the bill into law on June 14.

The Show Me Sports Investment Act is aimed at keeping the two sports teams from moving to Kansas after lawmakers failed to pass a plan during their regular, annual session. The proposal would give the state’s professional sports teams access to state funding for stadium projects through new bonds, but only if certain requirements are met.

The project must cost at least $500 million and involve stadiums with more than 30,000 seats. The state could cover up to 50% of the total cost and eligible teams could also access a tax credit worth up to 10% of their investment.

Chiefs owner and CEO Clark Hunt said on Monday a final decision has not been made, but said there is some urgency to make one.

This is a developing story.

Click here to follow the original article.

News-Press NOW

By: Gabrielle Teiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

In less than a month, students across Missouri will be preparing to head back to the classroom for the 2025-2026 school year.

As the new school year approaches in Missouri, state health officials are urging parents and guardians to check their child’s vaccination status, warning that falling immunization rates could lead to outbreaks of preventable diseases.

Immunization rates in both private and public schools continue to fall across Missouri, following a national trend. Data from Johns Hopkins University in June shows that in 78% of counties across the country, vaccination rates for the MMR vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps and rubella, have fallen more than 2% since before the pandemic.

Health officials say that drop, combined with a rise in exemption requests, has weakened herd immunity protection from vaccine-preventable illnesses, a concern highlighted by a recent measles outbreak in Cedar County and Taney County in Southwest Missouri.

“We’ve seen a lot of infectious diseases that previously have been prevented and even thought to be eliminated have started to come back,” said Dr. Laura Morris, who is a chief medical officer for ambulatory care at MU Health Care and serves as an American Academy of Family Physicians liaison to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. “It’s really important to keep students up to date because that’s really what helps to protect our schools and to keep kids safe and healthy.”

A total of seven cases of measles have been confirmed in Missouri in 2025, though measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000, which was achieved through high vaccination rates. As of July 22, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports a total of 1,319 confirmed measles cases across the country, with 29 outbreaks reported, making it the worst measles outbreak in more than 30 years. Those outbreaks resulted in 87% of cases reported.

“We have seen cases of measles pop up in Missouri, and in surrounding states,” Morris said. “In fact, the United States has already had more measles cases this year in only half of the year than in decades.”

Measles is a highly contagious, airborne disease that can spread through coughing, talking, sneezing or touching contaminated surfaces, where it can live for up to two hours. Measles can be very dangerous to babies and immunocompromised people, with one in five people developing pneumonia. In some cases, brain infection, brain swelling or death can occur.

“Measles can make your immune system forget the protection that you have against other infections, so it causes immune system amnesia, is what we’ll call it,” Morris said. And that’s really important because now you’re at a higher risk after recovering from measles for other infections. Measles can have long-term complications for decades after that.”

“When vaccination rates drop, measles is the first one that pops up and pertussis is also on the rise for the same reason; it is the next-most infectious disease, among vaccine-preventable infections,” said Dr. George Turabelidze, who is a pediatrician and state epidemiologist. “If we continue that decline, we will start seeing mumps, we will see chicken pox and all those things.”

According to data from the Department of Health and Senior Services, there is no specific school-required vaccination rate falling. It’s all of them.

“It’s a trend nationwide, so not here alone in Missouri, but there is definitely a trend for families to want to opt out or to exempt their students from the vaccine requirements,” Morris said.

Kindergarten public school vaccination rates for required immunizations:

School Year
DTaP
Hep B
IPV/Polio
MMR
Var

19-20
94.7%
96.1%
95%
94.9%
94.4%

20-21
92.5%
95.5%
93%
92.7%
92.4%

21-22
91.5%
94.2%
92%
91.9%
91.3%

22-23
91.2%
93.9%
91.6%
91.7%
91.1%

23-24
90.7%
93.6%
91.2%
90.9%
90.4%

Data obtained from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

Kindergarten private school vaccination rates for required immunizations:

School Year
DTaP
Hep B
IPV/Polio
MMR
Var

19-20
93.4%
94.4%
93.9%
91.5%
91.1%

20-21
92.9%
93.5%
92.6%
90.8%
88.9%

21-22
90.6%
92.1%
90.9%
88.9%
88.4%

22-23
89.9%
91.4%
90.2%
87%
86.7%

23-24
88.9%
90.7%
89.1%
85.4%
85.1%

Data obtained from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

A key percentage to note is the falling MMR vaccination rates. Turabelidze said while Missouri’s overall protection rate is tolerable for measles, it’s barely above the threshold for herd immunity in most counties. That can be achieved when 95% of a community is fully vaccinated by two doses of the MMR vaccine, according to DHSS. Two doses of MMR provide 97% lifetime protection against measles.

Morris said cases of pertussis — a vaccine-preventable disease also known as whooping cough — are also on the rise. In 2024, there were six times as many cases reported compared to 2023, according to the CDC. In 2025, the number of cases is trending downward, but remains high.

“The 90% range, that’s not enough to provide herd immunity and unfortunately, I think because of that, we will likely see outbreaks in Missouri and potentially, schools are going to be one of those sources,” Morris said.

Health officials say multiple factors are contributing to the decline, which Morris said has been going on since the mid-2010s. Those include more families choosing to exempt their child from immunizations, vaccine hesitancy and the spread of vaccine misinformation.

By law in Missouri, any child attending school, either private or public, must have their vaccinations to attend school; however, the state does allow medical and religious exemptions.

A medical exemption is granted when a child’s physician determines the child is allergic to a component of the immunization, has an immune deficiency or has an illness (such as cancer). A student would need a signed certification from a licensed medical doctor indicating the immunization would seriously endanger the student’s health or life, or the student has documentation of previously having the disease and there is laboratory evidence of immunity.

“In the state of Missouri, we have about a 0.2% rate across kindergarten specifically, of medical exemptions,” said Lynelle Paro, who is the chief of the Missouri Bureau of Immunizations. “Vaccine exemptions in Missouri are calculated by antigen or vaccine, rather than by children.”

Paro said medical exemptions are not as common, and Turabelidze agreed, saying the exemption typically only is for one vaccination, not the whole lot.

Click here to follow the original article.

Rebecca Evans

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Joining the St. Joseph Police Department proves to be both a rewarding and challenging endeavor.

As the SJPD looks to increase recruitment, there are certain requirements applicants have to fulfil to “make the team”.

Every officer begins their career by passing a rigorous recruitment process designed to assess mental sharpness, physical fitness and overall readiness for law enforcement.

From background checks to obstacle courses, this process ensures only the most qualified individuals move forward.

“I’ve always wanted to be a police officer,” said one potential recruit Jessica Wolfenbarger, “I want to break generational curses. I’m just trying to be better, be more for my kids.”

Before any testing begins, all applicants must pass a comprehensive background check. This includes a review of criminal history, employment records, driving records and more. Integrity and personal responsibility are key traits the SJPD looks for from the very start.

The first formal test in the process is the written exam, which evaluates cognitive abilities crucial to policing. This standardized exam includes several categories: reading comprehension, grammar and writing, logical reasoning and judgment, and basic math.

Preparation is essential. Candidates are encouraged to study using law enforcement prep guides, take practice exams and strengthen their detail-oriented reading skills. This is the first filter in the hiring process.

Candidates who pass the written portion are invited to take the physical agility test, which evaluates strength, speed, coordination and endurance.

The current physical test includes a timed quarter-mile run that measures cardiovascular endurance and base-level conditioning. Recruits must then complete a weighted drag, simulating the act of pulling an injured person to safety. The dummy typically weighs between 120 and 180 pounds and challenges grip strength and core stability.

Next is the obstacle course, which tests a recruit’s ability to maneuver through real-world challenges.

Obstacles include carrying and moving a 25-pound object, completing a tire run drill, walking across a balance beam, climbing a 10-foot wall, crawling through tunnels, climbing over a 6-foot wall, climbing through a window and scaling a 4-foot wall. These tasks test upper-body strength, coordination and endurance.

Training ahead of time is vital. A combination of cardio, strength training and practical obstacle course drills can significantly increase a candidate’s chances of success.

Throughout the recruitment process, professionalism, attitude and composure are continuously evaluated. Being punctual, respectful, and prepared leaves a lasting impression on recruiters, qualities that matter as much as performance.

“It’s a good process, it’s a good experience, and we’re looking forward to seeing how everybody’s gonna do today that’s testing with us,” said Sergeant Jeremy Peters with SJPD.

The department offers a competitive salary and benefits, including opportunities to test for promotion and specialized units, paid health, dental and life insurance, paid vacation that increases with time, paid sick leave, twelve paid holidays, a uniform allowance, two deferred compensation plans and enrollment in the LAGERS retirement system.

Click here to follow the original article.

Kyle Schmidt

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Training camp continued Friday, where fans were able to enjoy calmer temperatures.

With the hope of offensive line improvement, fans are especially excited to see rookie left tackle Josh Simmons play.

“I think bringing in the talent at left tackle is going to be huge,” Chiefs fan Joshua Graham said. “Protecting the blindside is a must… It’s a talented rookie draft class.”

The rookie class includes a wide receiver in Jalen Royals who has stood out to fans early on at training camp.

“Jalen Royals was a pretty good player in college and he’s a big steal (in the draft),” Landon Shelton said. “I think he’ll be pretty good.”

A deep wide receiver room filled with talent has young fans like John Aiello thinking about the 2019 receiver corps.

“I miss the wide receiver corps from 2019, wish we had that back,” Aiello said. “We can’t, but I feel like we’re starting to get our wide receivers back together.”

Training camp is the time for rookies to learn and improve ahead of a grueling season. For long-time fan Graham, he said he has patience for the young guys to get up to speed.

“I have a lot of patience in knowing that (Andy) Reid is going to do things proper,” Graham said. “They have phenomenally drafted and bought people in that they know fill spots and slots in their roles.”

Not only is training camp the time for rookies to impress coaches, but it is a place to make memories with fans.

For Susie Boyer, she has her eyes on a rookie who gave her a special moment after practice.

“Number 97, Ashton Gillotte, he’s just a nice person,” Boyer said. “He came over and talked to everybody, and I just felt like that is who I want to watch.”

Click here to follow the original article.

Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — One of Missouri’s top farming groups will now be allowed to sell health plans that supporters hope will boost the number of farmers with affordable health coverage.

Signed into law by Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe in July, Senate Bill 79 creates a framework for the Missouri Farm Bureau to offer health care plans to its 143,000 members.

The organization would be able to offer lower-price coverage options outside of the Affordable Care Act, which supporters say is needed to help farmers and their families who struggle to find options through the ACA marketplace or aren’t eligible.

“Everybody knows that whenever someone doesn’t have a health plan, that creates a lot of hardship,” Buchanan County Farm Bureau President Tim Gach said. “The plan that the Farm Bureau is promoting its planned to be cheaper than an unsubsidized ACA plan.”

Sponsored by Republican state Sen. Kurtis Gregory of Marshal, the new law makes Missouri the 13th state to allow Farm Bureau health plans, a particularly beneficial development for younger farmers faced with higher startup costs and tighter budgets.

“This was a grassroots type of legislation that we needed something for our rural community members to be able to have a health plan that gave them coverage,” Gach said.

Gach said many Missouri farmers find themselves either forced to pay for costly private health plans or be on a spouse’s plan from their employer.

“They are hoping to roll this out in 2026,” he said. “They are tailored plans. Not everybody gets accepted. But, if you are accepted, as long as you maintain your membership, you can’t be denied.”

Farmers are required to pay a 30$ fee to be a member of the Missouri Farm Bureau. He pointed to Tennessee, which has a 98% retention rate for its own Farm Bureau health plan, as an example of a state covering nearly everyone who sought coverage.

State officials estimate that roughly 15,000 Farm Bureau members alone currently have no health insurance at all.

“For years, our members have told us how desperately they needed another option to manage their health care expenses. The existing coverage options were simply out of reach or unavailable for too many hardworking families,” Missouri Farm Bureau President Garrett Hawkins said in a press release.

Click here to follow the original article.

Rebecca Evans

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — As summer winds down, the St. Joseph community has a chance to make a lasting impact by supporting local students through the 17th Annual Stuff the Bus School Supplies Drive.

Presented by Mosaic Life Care and coordinated by United Way of Greater St. Joseph, this event will take place on Friday, Aug. 1, and Saturday, Aug 2, at both the North and South Belt Walmart locations.

The goal is simple but powerful: ensure every student in the area begins the school year with the tools they need to succeed.

“It feels really good. You know, there’s there’s plenty of ways that you can give back. And this is a really easy, low commitment. It’s great to be able to come here and feel good and help out the community, especially the kids,” said Harlan Horst, a volunteer, “Man, it’s crazy. Somebody’s come out wit all these binders and it looks like they bought the full case off the shelf. And that’s that’s really cool to see is the the community’s generosity so you know, come help us stuff the bus!”

Volunteers will be on-site collecting new school supplies, everything from notebooks and pencils to backpacks and crayons.

Donations will be distributed through United Way’s network of partner agencies, including The Salvation Army, to reach students most in need.

Community members are encouraged not only to donate supplies but also to volunteer. Those interested in getting more involved can visit stjosephunitedway.org for more information on how to participate.

Click here to follow the original article.

News-Press NOW

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — As the first day of school inches closer, Missourians are partaking in the state’s annual tax-free weekend.

From Friday, Aug. 1 to Sunday, Aug. 3, all state and local sales tax, as well as use taxes, will be exempt on qualifying items.

Sales tax exemptions are limited to:

Clothing- any article having a taxable value of $100 or less

School supplies- not to exceed $50 per purchase

Computer software- taxable value of $350 or less

Personal computers- not to exceed $1,500

Computer peripheral devices- not to exceed $1,500

Graphing calculators- not to exceed $150

The exemption does not include accessories like sunglasses, scarves or hats.

According to the Missouri Department of Revenue, shoppers can save 8% to 9% on their purchases with the exemptions.

Click here to follow the original article.

NPG Content Share

var cachebuster = Math.round(new Date().getTime() / 1000); var player = new Playerjs({id:”player_kyma”, file:”https://krdo.b-cdn.net/2025/07/Untitled-design-2025-07-30T150421.355.jpg”, poster:”https://krdo.b-cdn.net/2025/07/Untitled-design-2025-07-30T150421.355.jpg”, label:”Recall notice: Celsius cans could be filled with vodka seltzers” , vast_replace:{“[wpcategory]”:”spanish”,”[wprand]”:””+cachebuster+””}});

Celeste Springer

MODESTO, Calif. (KRDO) — The FDA says some beverages in the U.S. are under a recall after cans labeled as Celsius energy drink may actually contain vodka seltzer instead.

According to the FDA, cans of High Noon seltzer may have been mislabeled as CELSIUS® ASTRO VIBE™.

“Consumption of the liquid in these cans will result in unintentional alcohol ingestion,” said the FDA, though no illnesses or “adverse events” have been reported thus far.

The cans, according to the FDA were shipped to Florida, New York, Ohio, South Carolina, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Below are the specifics of the recall:

Product Description
Retail UPC
Lot Codes

High Noon BeachVariety Packs 12-pack12 fluid ounce cansThese productshave silver lids
High Noon UPC:085000040065
L CCC 17JL25 14:00 toL CCC 17JL25 23:59 L CCC 18JL25 00:00 toL CCC 18JL25 03:00  Lot Codes are on theexterior of the 12-pack.(See pictures below)

CELSIUS ASTROVIBE Energy Drink, Sparkling Blue Razz Edition 12 fluid ounce cansThe affectedCELSIUS canswill have a silverlid, instead of ablack lid.
CELSIUS UPC8 89392 00134 1
L CCB02JL25 2:55 to L CCB02JL25 3:11 The lot codes arelasered on thebottom of the can.

People who have purchased these drinks can contact the manufacturer for a refund by emailing consumerrelations@highnoonvodka.com.

Photo: FDA

Photo: FDA

Photo: FDA

Click here to follow the original article.

Click here to follow the original article.