Author: News-Press NOW

News-Press NOW

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — One popular coffee chain is set to open another franchise location along the Belt Highway.

Scooter’s Coffee Drive-Thru is known for its “Blended Turtles” and “Red Bull Infusions” as well as other caffeinated drinks and delights.

A new Scooter’s building will be located at 2503 S Belt Hwy and is already seen with an “Opening Soon” banner.

“Timelines are always subject to change, especially until construction is complete, but this location should be open in August 2025,” said Brandon Bartling, Scooter’s senior manager of communications and public relations, in an email.

The Midwest-based coffee franchise opened its first drive-thru location in St. Joseph in 2019 at 2410 N Belt Hwy.

Click here to follow the original article.

Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Residents will notice an increase in admission fees at two well-known community facilities starting next week. 

Beginning July 1, admission fees at the Remington Nature Center will increase slightly by $1 across the board. Adults will now pay $5, seniors $4 and youth $3. Children ages 3 and under will still be able to enter for free. 

The REC Center will also adjust admission fees in several different areas, the first since it opened back in 2012. 

Full facility passes will jump from $8 to $10, while open gym passes will increase from $5 to $7. 

REC Center fee increases include: 

Corporate Memberships: $25 to $30 monthly, and $275 to $300 annually. 

Individual Memberships: $35 to $40 monthly, and $385 to $440 annually. 

Family Memberships: $50 to $60 monthly and $550 to $660 annually. 

The changes are largely driven by significant increases in Missouri’s minimum wage, which has risen by 80% since 2015. Missouri voters approved a two-phase increase in 2024 that would boost the minimum wage from $12.30 to $15 by 2026.  

“We finally had to react and increase the rates just to be able to keep ahead of the minimum wage,†St. Joseph Parks and Recreation Director Jeff Atkins said.

Click here to follow the original article.

Jacob Meikel

The Kansas City Chiefs are set to return to St. Joseph next month for training camp, and the community is ready for the increased foot traffic that goes with it.

On Monday, the Chiefs and Missouri Western State University agreed to a multi-year extension ahead of the team’s 15th summer visit to Western for training camp in July.

Come July 22 when training camp practices open to the pubic, fans from in and around St. Joseph are expected to flock to campus, creating economic opportunities for local businesses close by whether franchises or small businesses. 

At Il Lazzarone, a local pizza business located at 1628 Frederick Avenue, one employee is looking forward to the increased business during the nearly four-week timespan the Chiefs will be in town, whether that’s tending to fans or potentially a player.

“We’re definitely really excited to have them come back for training camp. I think it’s going to do a lot for the community and we’re just glad to be able to serve them and bring in a lot of good company and have them around,†St. Joseph resident and Il Lazzarone employee Kalya Sansom said.

Weather is certainly going to be a factor in how great attendance will be at camp this summer with peak summer temperatures typically at play in July and August. Enduring high temperatures while attending training camp practices can pose risks for heat-related illness. Emergency medical personnel are on hand every day at training camp, but some locals don’t bother taking the risk.

“Too hot and too many people,†local resident Juel Pierce said. “We’re glad they come to St. Joe and we hope they keep coming, we probably won’t.â€

Another local resident, Rick Meyer, echoed the same sentiment as Pierce, saying the reason he avoids training camp is because of the heat. However, Meyer, who was escaping the heat on Monday afternoon inside of East Hills Mall, acknowledges the Chiefs value to the community.

“It’s a good thing for the community because people come up and watch it and they spend money in our community… and it’s been good for the college because they got upgraded facilities,†Meyer said.

Chiefs training camp practices will take place from July 22 through Aug. 13. The full training camp schedule can be found at newspressnow.com.

Click here to follow the original article.

Abigail McCluskey

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW)–Northwest Missouri has been waterlogged by heavy rainfall over the past 24 hours. Since Monday night, parts of the region have received between 4 to 7 inches of rain.

Several areas in eastern Nodaway County have recorded over 5 inches of rainfall, resulting in localized flooding. To the east, in Worth County, rainfall totals surpassed 7 inches, causing flooding downstream.

In addition, a flood warning has been issued for parts of Buchanan County. The warning takes effect later Tuesday evening and continues into early Friday morning, due to forecasted minor river flooding.

The 102 River in Andrew County overflowed its banks, carrying branches and debris downstream.

The Platte River in Buchanan County showed similar activity, moving swiftly to the south and carrying additional debris as well.

Beyond the rivers, storm debris was also found along local streets and in communities Tuesday afternoon, as strong winds damaged trees and power lines.

During times of flooding, it is crucial to stay safe. Remember: Turn around, don’t drown, and do not enter or play in moving water.

In addition to the heavy rainfall, there are also reports of downed tree limbs and power lines in Buchanan and Andrew counties.

If you have any storm damage or photos, send them to news@newspressnow.com

Click here to follow the original article.

Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — St. Joseph is ready to make the plunge on construction of two new aquatic facilities in the North and South ends, a highly-anticipated boost for the city’s long-term pool landscape.

Parks officials and engineers have been making headway this summer on final designs for a new $2 million Northside Splash Park and $3.7 million Hyde Park shallow activity pool.

The Hyde pool project also includes construction of a new $1.5 million pool house for community members, a multi-use facility that will include concessions, community rooms for gatherings and birthdays, as well as spaces for lifeguards and park staff.

“All three sets of plans and designs are done. Our engineering team has them now. They’re going through the plans just to make sure that everything we needed is there,” St. Joseph Parks Director Jeff Atkins said. “Maybe another month and they’ll be ready to go out for bid.”

Once the bidding process is complete, Atkins said the hope is to begin construction at both sites this fall. The goal is for both facilities to be open around summer of 2026.

While final designs have yet to be released to the public, the Northside Splash Park will feature a nature-based theme that ties with the greenery and stone structures of Krug Park just across the street. Krug Park is in the midst of a historic $11.7 million renovation project as well.

One of the top features of the Northside Splash Park will be a hillside slide, an homage to Krug Park.

The Hyde aquatic project will include a 3-feet-deep activity pool similar to the one at the Aquatic Park. The facility is expected to have a central play structure and deck space both in and out of the water for multi-purpose use.

Once open, the Hyde pool will charge an admission fee unlike the Liberty Oak Splash Park. The city is currently working on a system where families and children can conveniently access both aquatic facilities, whether with some form of wristband or other item.

New aquatic facilities will be a welcome addition for local residents and the city’s aquatic landscape, which has seen a number of facilities shutdown in recent years due to costly upgrades for aging facilities and declines in pool attendance.

St. Joseph currently has the Aquatic Park, Thomas Eagleton Pool at Missouri Western and the Liberty Oak Splash Park open for residents.

Click here to follow the original article.

News-Press NOW

GOWER, Mo. (News-Press NOW)– One lucky Missouri Lottery player won $50,000 at a Gower convenience store in an uneventful trip to get gas for his lawnmower.

A “$250 Million Extravaganza” Scratchers ticket caught the man’s eye at Custom Convenience, 100 S. 1st St. in Gower.

“I was getting gas and just decided to get a ticket,†he said. “It was a new ticket. too, so I thought I’d try it.â€

He scratched off the ticket and said he had to check it several times before it sunk in that he won one of the game’s $50,000 prizes.

“It was my lucky day, I guess,†he said. “I was pretty excited.â€

Players have already won over $9.3 million playing â€œ$250 Million Extravaganza†since it began on May 27. There are currently over $257.8 million remaining in unclaimed prizes, including three top prizes of $5 million, three prizes of $1 million and 47 additional prizes of $50,000.  

In FY24, players in Clinton County won more than $2.8 million in Missouri Lottery prizes, retailers received more than $307,000 in commissions and bonuses, and more than $1.5 million in Lottery proceeds went to education programs in the county.

Click here to follow the original article.

News-Press NOW

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Results from a city survey sent out to the public in the spring are now available, driving the City of St. Joseph to move forward with feedback-based service priorities.

The St. Joseph City Council was presented with an overview of survey findings by ETC Institute in a work session on Monday afternoon.

More than 600 citizens responded to the survey, which was sent out to 4,000 randomly selected households throughout the city.

The survey was also made available online for those who did not receive a mailed copy.

The survey asked questions ranging from satisfaction with city services to residents’ perceptions about their community, economic development interests, housing needs and where they may find “go-to” information about what’s going on in their local government.

Residents cited the city needing more emphasis on improving the quality of police services, the enforcement of city codes and ordinances and the effectiveness of city communication with the public.

Fire and park services were areas where those responding to the survey reported the highest levels of satisfaction.

The availability of housing, particularly affordable options and the overall appearance of the community were concerns where many expressed dissatisfaction.

The need to address homelessness, street repairs and offer more things for people of all ages to do were frequently mentioned throughout the survey.

Additionally, attracting more industry and jobs and improving Downtown amenities were two top areas where those responding to the survey said the city could expand its efforts.

The City said leaders are already discussing initiatives to address residents’ top concerns.

“We plan to be transparent and accountable to our customers as we put plans into action to address the feedback we received,” City Manager Mike Schumacher said in a press release. “Department directors will be reporting monthly on the progress they are making on those things the residents are telling us we should be prioritizing.”

Responses came from citizens spread throughout the city, with nearly equal percentages coming from various age groups, income levels and genders.

More than 70% of those answering the survey own their homes and 72% said they have lived in St. Joseph for more than 20 years.

City Council will meet at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, July 1, for a planning session to set goals and objectives for improvements based on the survey results.

Click here to follow the original article.

Associated Press

By AAMER MADHANI and CHRIS MEGERIAN – Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Monday on social media that Israel and Iran have agreed to a “complete and total ceasefire†to be phased in over 24 hours.

The U.S. president said on Truth Social that the ceasefire would bring an “Official END†to the war, a major change in the hostilities that follows a U.S. strike over the weekend on three Iranian nuclear sites.

“On the assumption that everything works as it should, which it will, I would like to congratulate both Countries, Israel and Iran, on having the Stamina, Courage, and Intelligence to end, what should be called, ‘THE 12 DAY WAR,’†Trump posted.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump thanked Iran for giving the U.S. and allies “early notice†of Monday’s retaliatory missile strike aimed at a major U.S. military installation in the Gulf nation of Qatar.

The president expressed hope that Tehran — with its reprisal for the U.S. bombardment of three key Iranian nuclear facilities — had “gotten it all out of their ‘system’†and that the moment would lead to a de-escalation in the Israel-Iran war.

“I am pleased to report that NO Americans were harmed, and hardly any damage was done,†Trump said on social media. “I want to thank Iran for giving us early notice, which made it possible for no lives to be lost, and nobody to be injured. Perhaps Iran can now proceed to Peace and Harmony in the Region, and I will enthusiastically encourage Israel to do the same.”

The Iranian attack on U.S. forces at Qatar’s Al Udeid Air Base marked Tehran’s first act of direct retaliation against the U.S. since Trump ordered strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities.

Leon Panetta, who served as CIA director and defense secretary under former President Barack Obama, said Iran’s restrained response suggests that “their ability to respond has probably been damaged pretty badly.†He also said it’s a potential signal “they’re not interested in escalating the war, either with Israel or the United States.â€

Trump said Iran launched 14 missiles at the base, a sprawling facility that hosts the forward headquarters of the U.S. military’s Central Command and was a major staging ground during the U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The base houses some 8,000 U.S. troops, down from about 10,000 at the height of those wars.

The president said 13 of the Iranian missiles “were knocked down,†by U.S. air defense systems while one was “’set free’ because it was headed in a nonthreatening direction.â€

Hours before Iran launched its attack on Monday, the U.S. Embassy in Qatar issued an alert on its website urging American citizens in the energy-rich nation to “shelter in place until further notice.†The Qatari government issued an extraordinary order to shut its busy airspace.

The attack came as global markets were trying to ascertain what lays ahead after the U.S. struck key Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend with a barrage of 30,000-pound bunker busting bombs and Tomahawk missiles.

Iran’s parliament has approved cutting off the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow shipping lane in the Persian Gulf that about 20% of global oil and gas passes through. It’s now up to Iran’s national security council to decide whether to move forward with the idea, which could lead to a spike in the cost of goods and services worldwide.

So, far the markets appear to be a responding with a relative measure of calm. By Monday afternoon, oil prices were nearly back to where they were before the fighting began over a week ago.

Trump earlier Monday called on the U.S. and allied oil producing nations to pump more oil and “KEEP OIL PRICES DOWN.â€

Many energy industry analysts are skeptical that Iran would go forward with a full closure of the strait, something that it has threatened to do in the past.

Iran would face the possibility of retaliation against its own shipments and the possibility that the move would upset China, the biggest purchaser of Iranian crude.

The U.S. and allies pressed Russia in the leadup to Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine with threats to its oil industry, and then followed through as many Western oil companies pulled out of the country and the U.S. and Europe imposed sanctions on Russian industry.

But Iran is far less integrated into the global economy than Russia, which was reliant on European markets for its oil and gas exports and still went forward with the invasion despite U.S. warnings.

Colby Connelly, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, cautioned that “if the 2020s have taught us anything so far, it’s that economic ties don’t always prevent conflict.”

As for Iran’s future, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Monday appeared to play down Trump calling into question the future of Iran’s ruling theocracy, seemingly contradicting his administration’s earlier calls on Tehran to resume negotiations and avoid an escalation in fighting.

“It’s not politically correct to use the term, ‘Regime Change,’ but if the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn’t there be a Regime change???†Trump posted on social media. “MIGA!!!â€

Leavitt said Trump’s “posture and our military posture has not changed.â€

“The president was just simply raising a question that I think many people around the world are asking,†Leavitt said.

Associated Press writers Stan Choe in New York, Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and Josh Boak, Matthew Lee and Eric Tucker in Washington contributed reporting.

Click here to follow the original article.

Jenna Wilson

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — One step at a time, the City of St. Joseph is actively working to repair many of its aging pipes. 

SAK Construction, LLC., a pipeline rehabilitation contractor working with the city, spent Monday morning repairing one of many pipeline segments it has addressed citywide so far this year. The goal is to fix deteriorating infrastructure that has caused sinkholes, water leaks and other structural issues, or to prevent such problems before they occur. 

“The City of St. Joe is very advanced compared to other municipalities,” said Cary Shaw, SAK’s business development leader. “They conduct their own inspections and evaluations to determine which pipes need attention. Based on their budget, they decide what we can complete for them within the year.”

St. Joseph has opted for cured-in-place pipelining (CIPP), a more cost-effective alternative to traditional pipe replacement. Major pipelining projects have already been completed this year on heavily traveled roads such as Faraon Street, St. Joseph Avenue and Mitchell Avenue. 

So far in 2025, 22 pipeline segments, totaling nearly 7,400 feet, have been rehabilitated across the city. The final segment under this year’s budget was completed on South 38th Street. In addition, SAK will rehabilitate 14 manholes in town this year. 

News-Press NOW previously reported that the city spends an average of $2 million to $2.5 million annually on CIPP lining for sanitary sewer rehabilitation, with plans to increase this investment, especially as officials address rising sewer rates. 

The CIPP budget for work completed by SAK throughout St. Joseph has averaged between $750,000 and $950,000. 

“The city’s been around since 1840, so there are a lot of different pipes that were installed long before many of today’s buildings,” Shaw said. “The concern with these pipes is determining their age and being proactive about repairs before they fail completely.”

By prioritizing preventative work, officials hope to avoid costlier emergency repairs down the line. 

Click here to follow the original article.

Charles Christian

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The St. Joseph School District Board of Education will met at 5:30 p.m. Monday at the Troester Media Center.

Ongoing discussions of the Long Range Plan for the two high school model included a proposed “intermediate step.” Board members requested a comparison of the costs and logistical information for two high schools that would compare the feasibility of Central and Lafayette as the two schools. They also asked to see the numbers and logistics for a model with Central and Benton, which is a change from their original plans. Discussions about comparing these options centered on moving forward in a timely manner to accommodate both the needs of the students and the need for faculty and staff on the district. The board also discussed a way to ensure the community would be more involved in the process, especially given the results of the district survey concerning the failure of the bond to build two new high schools last spring. Detailed comparisons of these intermediate possibilities will be explored at the next board meeting

Agenda items also included the approval of the 2025-2026 budget, which was unanimously approved and marked the final budget overseen by retiring Assistant Superintendent of Business and Operations, Dr. Robert Sigrist. Sigrist submitted the budget numbers and his report with affirmation from the board for his years of service.

Two proposals that would give students “real world” opportunities to connect with a wide range of businesses in the area was also approve, including an externship program.

The board will meet again at 8:30 a.m., on June 30, 2025, for a work session and board retreat at the Troester Media Center. The next Board of Education meeting will take place on July 28, at 5:30 p.m., at the Troester Media Center.

Click here to follow the original article.