Author: News-Press NOW

Prajukta Ghosh

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) —  Missouri Western State University once again took part in its annual “Giving Tuesday” donation drive — a day dedicated to supporting programs and services across campus. 

This year, MoWest teamed up with the Campus Cupboard, the Military and Veteran Services Center and Athletics.  

“To kind of help them get life learning opportunities to help future and current Griffins…Then, also through our Campus Cupboard is a great partnership to provide food and household goods,” Development Officer Jennifer Vanourney said.

Vanourney said Giving Tuesday is all about encouraging people to give back to their communities.

She added that these donations made to MoWest directly benefit students in the classroom through applied learning programs and scholarships that help them stay on track.

“We set a monetary goal of $27,000. We’ve raised over $32,000. It’s just it’s really to partner together with the community and alumni of Mowest to show our support for the programs here,” Vanourney said.  

Overall, around $28,000 of that total went toward unrestricted funds, while $1,600 of the total funds went toward MoWest’s Campus Cupboard.

Funds will help with student food and supply resources, as well as scholarships.

The university has extended the donation deadline through Friday, Dec. 5. Anyone interested can go to MoWest’s website and choose which program they’d like to support.  

Vanourney said every program is a great option and contributions — whether monetary or donated items — all make a difference. She explained that where the donations go depends on what people give.  

“Campus Cupboard provides food and different household supplies for our students. So that will directly impact them…And then our unrestricted (funds) goes directly into helping students with scholarships and funding different programs on campus,” Vanourney added.  

She hopes all funds raised through these partnerships create a positive and meaningful impact on the lives of students.  

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News-Press NOW

By: Zac Scott

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — St. Joseph has been seen by Axios News as one of the top cities for job opportunities and growth on Indeed.

According to the report, American Cities were surveyed to determine which had the largest number of Indeed opportunities from February 1, 2020, to October 31, 2025.

Once the survey was completed, St. Joseph reported an 81% increase in job postings. The opportunities in St. Joseph were higher than in larger cities such as San Francisco and Washington, D.C. 

“I think people are leaving big cities. There’s a lot of issues nationwide with big cities, taxes, and commutes,” said Director of Communications and Marketing with the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce, Kristi Bailey. “I think a lot of people are finding the value in smaller metros like St Joseph.”

Bailey has been looking into the online job market and said most major employers in St. Joseph have been going online to find the top candidates for their positions.

“I think a lot of our major employers have started using Indeed. I was looking at it this morning, and a lot of the major employers are using it, but also a lot of smaller employers are using it,” said Bailey.

With over 3,000 jobs currently on Indeed for the St. Joseph area, Bailey hopes the city grows into the employment hub aimed to bring Northwest Missourians together.

“I think people kind of tend to forget that a lot about St Joseph is we’re not just St Joseph,” said Bailey. “We’re the hub for Northwest Missouri and northeast Kansas. People come to us for healthcare. They come to us to shop. We’re really that hub of the metro area. So they come to us for jobs too.”

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TaMya Bracy

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — Rogers Pharmacy is hosting its annual coat drive, marking the fourth year for the event.

This year, the drive will focus on providing coats for the homeless. Gloves, hats and scarves can be donated as well.

Rose Hatfield, Rogers Pharmacy lead clerk, said the drive has received quite a bit of donations, but is hoping to see more.

“We are still trying to get more coats, scarves, hats and gloves so we can get that passed out to the homeless and also to the food kitchen,” she said.

Hartfield also expressed that she enjoys being able to provide this resource for the community.

“It gets cold in the wintertime. I just started doing this and I just feel like it’s a good thing,” Hatfield said.

Rogers Pharmacy is accepting all donations, which can be dropped off in the box at the front entrance until Thursday, Dec. 11.

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Leah Rainwater

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — The Missouri Department of Transportation has announced a public meeting to discuss an expedited bridge replacement project on the Gene Field Road Bridge over Interstate 29.

The bridge, built in 1962, was scheduled to be replaced in 2027; however, it closed in early November after being struck by an oversized load, accelerating the start of the project. Evaluations from MoDOT determined the bridge would remain closed until structural improvements could be carried out.

The project is currently scheduled to go out for contractor bids as part of MoDOT’s January 2026 letting.

According to MoDOT, the bridge normally carries around 6,500 vehicles per day. The new bridge will include a decorative form liner and sidewalks on each side, connecting to the existing sidewalk on the west side of the bridge. 

The public is invited to attend an open house meeting between 4 to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 17, at MoDOT’s Northwest District Office, located at 3602 North Belt Highway.

Attendees can speak with project leaders about timelines, processes and share their thoughts and concerns about the project. There will be no formal presentation, according to MoDOT.

MoDOT said if anyone is unable to attend, there will be other opportunities for public comment through the project website or by mailing comments addressed to:

Gene Field Road Bridge Replacement Project, Missouri Department of Transportation at 3602 North Belt Highway, St. Joseph, MO 64506.

All comments will need to postmarked by Wednesday, Dec. 31.

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Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Sixteen of the top academic achievers in the area will be recognized this weekend as finalists for prestigious local scholarships.

The Cotillion for Achievement, now in its 39th year, is set to announce the finalists for the 2026 Cotillion class during a private event on Sunday at the Joyce Raye Patterson Senior Center.

This year, 16 finalists will be represented from nine of the eligible high schools in Andrew and Buchanan County, with each earning $1,000 scholarships, including $2,000 scholarships to the top male and female.

A panel of five community leaders served as judges to review and score the applications to determine the top finalists, eight women and eight men. Applications were scored on scholastic achievement, extracurricular activities, community involvement and a written essay.

The finalists will participate in three Adventure in Achievement seminars during the month of January, offering leadership skills, self-image, communication skills, and community engagement.

They will also sit for an interview with the judges to vie for the top male and top female award of a $2,000 scholarship each, which will be awarded at the annual ball scheduled for Feb. 21, 2026.

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Leah Rainwater

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — The St. Joseph Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) is hosting 12 international tour operators and journalists as they look to explore all the city has to offer.

The visit comes as part of the Travel South USA International Showcase, which is currently being held in Kansas City, Missouri.

Those visiting are representing the United States, France, Germany, Canada, Italy, Brazil, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands.

Tour operators specialize in selling travel experiences to independent travelers and are always seeking new ideas and destinations to offer clients. The visiting journalists are travel writers who specialize in stories to inspire individuals to travel.

The opportunity is part of a familiarization experience aimed at educating the tour operators and journalists on travel and tourism opportunities. Specifically, their visit to the region signals growth in international interest and is an opportunity for communities to leave a strong impression.

“It’s not every day we get to welcome a dozen people whose job is to plan or write about international experiences,” said Christian Mengel, director of communications and marketing at the CVB. “Maybe not all of them have previously heard of St. Joseph, but they have all heard of something related to our story. So, it’s an incredible opportunity for them to spend time in the region exploring St. Joseph and putting names with places for their audiences to visit someday.”

During their time in St. Joseph, guests will explore unique places known to attract a strong amount of international attention, such as the Pony Express Museum, the Patee House and Jesse James Home and the Glore Psychiatric Museum.

Travel South’s International Showcase is the top marketplace event for the South, which is the region international travelers widely recognize Missouri in, according to a news release.

Over 400 tourism professionals gather for three days of intensive meetings with the goal of delivering more visitors, spending more time and more money in the southern region of the United States.

For more information on Travel South USA or the Travel South International Showcase, visit its website.

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Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Families and children are invited to spend an upcoming holiday Sunday with Santa Claus and the men and women in blue as they protect and serve up Christmas cookies this time around.

St. Joseph PD’s Night Shift B is hosting a special holiday gathering at the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 3 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 14.

Families and kids will have the opportunity to join St. Joseph Police and St. Nick for free cookies, coloring and arts/crafts activities.

Free photos will Santa will also be available at the event for interested families. Photos will be provided digitally.

The Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 3 is located at 621 S. 36th Street in St. Joseph.

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News-Press NOW

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) — Lawyers for the family of Riley Strain, a University of Missouri student who died on a trip with his fraternity brothers, and for the Delta Chi fraternity, Barrister Capital Corporation, and 39 of Strain’s former fraternity brothers have until Dec. 10 to provide backing for their claims to Boone County Judge Josh Devine.

The Strain family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the fraternity chapter, Barrister Capital and the 39 others in March. They say the fraternity did not follow safety protocols during a fraternity “formal” event in Nashville that led to Strain’s death. The lawsuit also claimed Strain’s fraternity brothers “abandoned him” by not accompanying him back to the hotel when he was kicked out of a bar, and didn’t check on him until later.

This undated photo provided by Chris Whiteid show Riley Strain on Jan. 2.

Strain went missing on March 8, 2024, after being kicked out of Luke’s Bridge 32 bar at Broadway and Third Avenue just before 10 p.m. Police found his body in the Cumberland River on March 22, 2024. Strain’s death was ruled a drowning, with a toxicology report also finding alcohol and other substances in his system.

The hearing revisited the defense’s request to dismiss the lawsuit. The defense argued that Strain’s fraternity had no legal duty to protect him from harm because they did not have a “special relationship” under Missouri Law. Examples of a special relationship include a bus or train company and its passenger or a school and its student.

Strains lawyers argued that while the brothers may not have had a contractual agreement, the special relationship began when they took their oath to be initiated in the organization. By taking that oath, all the brothers undertook responsibility for one another as members of the institution.

Strains lawyers also claimed procedural errors by the defense, arguing that it was premature to file a motion to dismiss the case because there had not been ample time for discovery on either side.

The defense cited previous court cases to defend their requests for dismissal and said nothing in Missouri law prevents Strain’s lawyers from conducting discovery on their own and refiling their case.

The judge noted a lack of supportive case law to define the relationship between fraternity brothers as a “special relationship.” On Dec. 10, both sides will submit any further amended documents, new motions, and further case law examples to support their claims for the judge to take under advisement.

Devine said in the courtroom on Tuesday that he wants clarity from both parties by Dec. 30 on whether the lawsuit will continue.

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Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — An expert with the Conservation Department will teach outdoor enthusiasts the skills to identify and maintain various species of trees in St. Joseph this month.

The Missouri Department of Conservation is inviting the public to attend a tree care workshop from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 18, at the Northwest Regional Office at 701 James McCarthy Drive in St. Joseph.

Central to biodiversity, oxygen production and the survival of many ecosystems, Missouri has over 180 native and naturalized tree species, including the flowering dogwood, the state tree.

The workshop will featuring forester Timothy Wolfe teaching basic tree pruning practices and how to properly care for the surrounding environment. Pruning is the process of cutting away branches, stems, and other parts of a plant to manage its growth and improve its structure and health.

Participants will also learn to identify species of trees and understand various elements of tree health.

Registration is required to attend this free program. To register, visit mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/213549.

Those with additional questions are encouraged to email timothy.wolfe@mdc.mo.gov before the workshop.

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Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) — Legal sports betting went live in Missouri on Monday, with more than 2 million people attempting to access sportsbook apps on launch day.

Circa Sports, one of the first two companies in Missouri to receive an online betting license, now operates in six states. The first bet placed on Circa was a $15 wager on the St. Louis Blues to beat the Anaheim Ducks in regulation. While the Ducks took down the Blues 4-1, Derek Stevens, Circa’s owner and chief operating officer, described the moment as a relief.

“We had dinner Sunday night at a great place in suburban Saint Louis, and when the dinner was over, we all got back to the hotel, we all immediately were on the phones with our I.T. department and customer service department,” Stevens said. “Our customer service department had been fielding a lot of phone calls and emails throughout the day, and we just kind of waited for the clock to strike 12. And then, that moment when the first bet came in, we all had like a little sigh of relief. Everything worked out perfectly.”

Ryan Butler, senior news analyst at Covers, was in St. Louis for the launch and said he observed strong interest from bettors.

“I talked to multiple sportsbook operators who were impressed. They use terms like ‘they saw a lot of pent-up demand; for bettors who have been wanting to for a long time,” Butler said. “I think part of it might show that they were familiar with it. They would go across state lines. I talked to people who do that every Sunday for NFL games, things like that, and now that they have an opportunity to do it from home, I think we’re seeing those numbers already show results.”

According to Butler, geolocation data showed 2.6 million people logged into a sportsbook or attempted to log in on launch day. About 250,000 accounts were active on Dec. 1, with 188,000 accounts created prior to the launch.

Stevens declined to give an exact number of wagers placed, but said Circa was pleased with the activity.

“We were positively enthused with the number of bets. I was happy with the average size of the bets we took. We took a lot of four-figure bets. So I was real happy with that. Lots of bets over $1,000,” Stevens said. “We had a pretty diversified set of bets. It wasn’t just the Blues game because that was the opening event, effectively. But it kind of covered the gamut from NBA to pro football futures, college basketball,  a good amount of English Premier League soccer. So it was really diverse, I really liked that as well.”

Circa is one of just two companies in the state to receive an untethered license,  which allows operators to take bets without sharing revenue with a casino or sports team.

Circa, DraftKings, and FanDuel had pitched the Missouri Gaming Commission in August for an untethered license. The commission ultimately chose Circa and DraftKings, citing Circa’s business model as a way to attract different types of high-dollar bettors.

Missouri was an attractive state for Circa’s low-hold model. Stevens said that they won’t invest in states with a high tax rate because a low-hold model would not be able to make a return.

“As an example, we really don’t want to get into the state of New York, I know the volume is huge, but we want to be able to overcome those taxes,” Stevens said. “When we saw the regulatory framework that was going to come out in the state of Missouri, we felt that Missouri set themselves up to be really a leader in the sports betting industry for a long time. We thought they did a real good job from a tax perspective as well as the regulatory perspective, so we determined we wanted to get into Missouri.”

Because Circa received an untethered license, it did not have to negotiate a revenue-sharing deal with a sports franchise to operate, unlike other sportsbooks such as FanDuel, which partnered with St. Louis City SC.

“We just went directly to the state initially, and then we never subsequently had to negotiate a skin deal with one of the sports franchises. Of course, we’re going to work with all the sports teams, but more on a marketing relationship type of thing,” Stevens said.

Butler also highlighted the advantage of Missouri’s low tax rates, which make the state attractive to sportsbooks.

“This absolutely helps the business aspect of it. The sportsbooks are very excited. That’s why you saw eight sportsbooks jump in and invest a lot of money in here,” Bulter said. “Illinois has some of the highest tax rates. Now it’s only $0.25 or $0.50, depending on the book, but it’s just annoying that it’s there. So you see that it would definitely encourage me to maybe go over to Missouri or the Missouri side with it. So that absolutely helps with it.”

While the state’s low tax rate is beneficial for operators, it could impact how much revenue Missouri brings in.

“Your downside is the state might be missing out on some tax revenue,” Butler said. “Ten percent of gross gaming revenue is one of the lower rates in the country.”

The Missouri Gaming Commission called Monday’s launch “successful and largely uneventful,” crediting staff for implementing a fair, secure, and responsible sports wagering framework on time.

“Monday marked the successful and largely uneventful first day of legal sports wagering in Missouri—an important milestone made possible by the constitutional amendment narrowly approved by voters in the last general election,” the commission said in a statement. “This smooth launch reflects the tremendous effort and professionalism of our rules-writing staff, who worked tirelessly to meet the constitutional deadline of December 1, 2025. Their dedication ensured that Missouri could implement a fair, secure, and responsible sports wagering framework on time and with confidence.”

The commission said financials and overall wagering statistics will not be released until mid- to late January, but monthly reports will be available on the Gaming Commission’s website, similar to how casino financials are published.

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