Author: News-Press NOW

Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Local tennis players will need to seek a new playing spot for the next month while the Noyes Tennis Courts undergo a large resurfacing and light replacement project.

The city announced Thursday that the Noyes Tennis Courts will be closed starting Monday, June 9, while the project kicks off. The project is estimated to take around a month to complete, weather permitting.

During construction, the restroom building will also be closed. The Noyes football field and track remains closed during an ongoing St. Joseph School District renovation project.

Additionally, the lights at the tennis and horseshoe courts will be upgraded. During this closure, residents are encouraged to use the Northside Complex or Hyde Park courts.

City Council members approved a contract in March with Pro Track and Tennis, Inc. to resurface the tennis courts for $123,900 and an amendment accepting a $23,900 contribution from the St. Joseph School District for the project. Approximately $275,000 in parks sales tax funds will be used to replace the current lights.

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Chris Fortune

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The Missouri Senate passed three bills overnight for disaster aid, economic development and stadium funding projects.

Senate Bill 3, which allows the state to invest in large stadium projects, passed by a vote of 19-13. SB 3 would allow the Chiefs and Royals to use tax revenue generated at their stadiums to pay off construction bonds.

Local Chiefs and Royals fans are feeling encouraged by Missouri’s efforts to retain the teams because of their ties to the community.

“I know the importance to the city and the community to have professional teams, and it would break my heart if they move to Kansas,” Kelly Kennedy said. “I’m just a Missouri guy, always have been, and very proud of my sports teams.”

St. Joseph resident Jaren Padgett grew up watching the Chiefs practice at Missouri Western State University for training camp, and that foundation is another reason he would like the team to stay in the state.

“Just kind of a family-oriented space that they have here in Missouri and in St. Joseph really matters to me,” he said. “And I’ve been to many of the games at the stadium there in Missouri.”

SB 3 does not name the Chiefs or Royals, but the terms of the bill apply to construction or rehabilitation projects that cost at least $500 million and serve professional baseball or football teams. 

The bill allows the state to invest in large stadium projects and cover up to 50% of the cost. It’s a plan that helps Missouri compete with the 70% offer the state of Kansas gave last year.

“I would support (the Chiefs) to renovate the stadium,” Padgett said. “It would bring a lot more fans, probably, so I would support it.”

Regardless of whether the Chiefs and Royals decide to stay or move, they have plenty of fans who will follow them wherever they go. 

“I’m an old-timer and have been associated with the teams for a long time,” Kennedy said. “Would it change my love for them? No. I’m partial to Missouri, and I would just like to see them stay here.”

House approval is still needed on the bill. The Senate will convene again on June 16. 

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Patrick Holleron

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — A recent study conducted by InGame found the Kansas City Chiefs rank second in the risk of fans purchasing counterfeit merchandise.

The study documented roughly half a million conversations from the last 12 months regarding fake NFL and knockoff products being sold.

“At the end of the day, we’re all part of Chiefs Kingdom,” Cheifs fan Colt Skouby said. “We all want to be fans. Not everyone can go afford that $30, $40 or $50 shirt or clothing. They see that mom and pop (stores) are making their t-shirts, they can go get for cheap and still support their fandom.”

Of the 28,442 conversations from Chiefs fans, 15% of them were found to be negative.

The only team with a higher risk based on the study was the Philadelphia Eagles, who had 41,660 conversations and 38% being negative.

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Associated Press

By DAVID A. LIEB
Associated Press

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri senators on Thursday approved a plan to provide over $100 million in aid for tornado-ravaged St. Louis and authorized hundreds of millions of dollars worth of incentives to try to persuade the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals to continue playing in Missouri in new or improved stadiums.

Lawmakers are acting with urgency in a special session because the professional sports teams face an end of June deadline to accept a competing offer from Kansas while residents in St. Louis are struggling to recover from May storms that caused an estimated $1.6 billion of damage.

The aid measures advanced in a series of early morning votes only after Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe struck a deal with some holdouts that included more disaster relief money and the potential for property tax breaks for some homeowners facing rising tax bills. The package also contains funding for building projects around the state, including $50 million for a nuclear research reactor used for cancer treatments at the University of Missouri.

Though House approval is still needed, the Senate vote marked a major hurdle, because the stadium incentives stalled there last month. Tornadoes struck St. Louis and other parts of Missouri on May 16, a day after lawmakers wrapped up work in their regular session.

In addition to the $100 million for St. Louis disaster relief, the package authorizes $25 million for emergency housing assistance and a $5,000 income tax deduction to offset insurance policy deductibles for people in any area included in a request for a presidential disaster declaration.

Kehoe said the plan would “help those in crisis, while also making smart decisions that secure opportunity for the future.â€

The future of the Chiefs and Royals has been up in the air for a while.

The teams currently play professional football and baseball in side-by-side stadiums in eastern Kansas City in Jackson County, Missouri, under leases that run until January 2031.

Jackson County voters last year turned down a sales tax extension that would have helped finance a $2 billion ballpark district for the Royals in downtown Kansas City and an $800 million renovation of the Chiefs’ Arrowhead Stadium.

That prompted Kansas lawmakers last year to authorize bonds for up to 70% of the cost of new stadiums in their state.

Missouri’s counterproposal would authorize bonds for up to 50% of the cost of stadium projects while also providing up to $50 million of tax credits to go with unspecified support from local governments.

While testifying Tuesday to a Senate committee, Chiefs lobbyist Rich AuBuchon described the Missouri offer as “legitimate†and “competitive.†If the Chiefs stay in Missouri, he said they likely would begin a $1.15 billion plan to renovate Arrowhead Stadium and upgrade the team’s practice facilities in either 2027 or 2028. It would take three years to complete.

AuBuchon pointed to other recent publicly financed stadium projects in Baltimore, New Orleans, Nashville and Buffalo, New York.

“Throughout the country states are funding stadiums. They are a big economic development. They are a big business,” AuBuchon said.

However, many economists contend public funding for stadiums isn’t worth it, because sports tend to divert discretionary spending away from other forms of entertainment rather than generate new income.

“What the teams are doing is playing Kansas and Missouri against each other,†said Patrick Tuohey, senior fellow at the Show-Me Institute, a free-market think tank whose St. Louis headquarters got hit by the tornado.

“When cities and states do this, they hollow out their tax base for the benefit of wealthy billionaire team owners … they lose the ability to provide public safety, basic services,†Tuohey said.

Royals lobbyist Jewell Patek said that even with the state incentives, a planned stadium district likely would need voter approval for local tax incentives in either Jackson or Clay counties, which couldn’t happen until later this year.

He made no guarantee the Royals would pick Missouri over Kansas, but Patek added: “We love the community, we love the state … we think this is a step in the right direction for the state of Missouri.â€

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Kendra Simpson

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Whether looking for a performance, a fine art experience or to grab a few beers with friends, St. Joseph has it all at home. News-Press NOW’s Kendra Simpson planned out everyone’s weekend activities in this week’s edition of See St. Joseph.

Kicking off the weekend with plies, grapevines, step ball changes and a tap dance or two with the Dance Arts Center 40 and Fabulous recital.

For four decades, the dance arts center has taught thousands of students the art and joy of dancing. The weekend of dance begins at 6:30 p.m. on Friday with the senior showcase, DAC-PAC competition revue, VIP dance and adult tap performances. The performances will continue starting at 10 a.m. Saturday with beginners and dancers at levels four to seven. There will be performances at 10 a.m., 2 and 6 p.m. on Saturday. To purchase tickets to any of the performances, visit the group’s website at thedanceartscenter.com.

Dozens of breweries, hundreds of different beers, multiple food trucks and good times with friends and family. St. Joseph residents can only find all of this at one place: Ales West 2025.

The 7th annual Ales West promises to be bigger than ever, making it one of the largest beer festivals in the Midwest. Not only do you get to enjoy great beer and delicious food from vendors, but all profits made through the festival support local charities that benefit the St. Joseph community. General admission opens at noon on Saturday in Coleman Hawkins Park. To purchase general or VIP tickets, visit eventbrite.com.

We’ve had a performance, we’ve had a festival, so let’s wrap up the weekend with a fair. The Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art is hosting its annual Art Fair.

Whether you’re an art lover, collector or just looking for a fun day out, the Art Fair is the perfect way to connect with local talent and enjoy the vibrant arts scene of northwest Missouri. Here, visitors will have the opportunity to view original artwork from regional artists, watch live musical performances, eat delicious food and enjoy interactive crafts for all ages. This celebration of creativity goes from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday at the Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art.

Tune in to News-Press NOW every Thursday for more See St. Joseph.

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Jared Shelton

JACKSON COUNTY, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The National Weather Service confirmed two weak tornadoes touched down on the east side of Kansas City in Jackson County as a line of severe thunderstorms passed through the area Tuesday, June 3.

According to a preliminary damage survey released Wednesday afternoon, the first tornado touched down briefly near the Interstate 435 / Interstate 70 interchange with a path of less than half a mile. This tornado has received a preliminary rating of EF-U (unknown) due to limited damage left behind but concrete video confirmed the brief twister.

A second tornado was determined to have touched down further north and east near Independence, Missouri — receiving a preliminary rating of EF-1 with maximum winds of 100 mph and a pathlength of just under 4 miles. Downed trees and patches of minor roof damage were caused by the tornado in the vicinity of Independence.

No significant injuries were reported and a tornado warning was in effect for the area when the twisters touched down. 

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Jenna Wilson

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The Buchanan County EMS paramedic program is helping trainees succeed while also easing emergency service staffing shortages.

Buchanan County EMS is currently in its third year of its paramedic program, which provides comprehensive training and the skills needed to respond to medical emergencies. 

“Chillicothe is the closest paramedic program we had,” said Joe Pike, Buchanan County EMS education coordinator. “There was a dire need for one in the community, and we’ve accomplished it. It’s not an easy process, but so far, we’ve been successful with it.”

With EMS crews nationwide working to address staffing issues, local emergency officials are also aiming to grow their paramedic class each year. 

Over the past three years, the Buchanan County EMS program has averaged about eight applicants each year, all of whom have gone on to become certified paramedics upon completing their training.

The main goal is to enroll around 10 paramedic students each year, which officials hope will help address the ongoing shortage.

“We have nearly a 100% passing rate. Everyone who has attended the course has gone on to get their paramedic license,” said Joe Pike, Buchanan County EMS education coordinator. “There are three students in the 2025 class right now who walked into this building and started in EMT class with no prior medical training whatsoever. Now that they’re in paramedic school, I fully expect them to succeed and become certified paramedics.”

With the 2025 class approaching graduation, BCEMS is currently accepting applications for the 2026 paramedic program, which will remain open until September 1.

The program requires an EMT-Basic license and runs over 11 months, from January to November 2026.

“It’s a pretty lengthy process, and they’ve already gone through quite a bit just to get into the course,” Pike said. “What they’ve faced so far is not even the tip of the iceberg. They still have a lot of work ahead, but they’ve quickly learned what we expect of them to make it through.”

More information about program requirements and costs can be found at www.bc-ems.com/paramedic-program.

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Chris Fortune

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — A man suffered minor injuries in a hit-and-run two-vehicle accident around 12th and Edmond Streets Wednesday.

A white Dodge pickup was heading south on 12th Street when it ran a stop sign and struck a white Ford F-150 that was heading east on Edmond Street.

The driver of the Dodge pickup fled on foot after driving further down the street.

“The white F-150 spun, impacted a KCP&L utility pole, which caused significant damage,” St. Joseph Police Sgt. Brian McClintick said. “Like I said, the Dodge pulled further down the street, and then witnesses said that he left the area with a dog.”

Local law enforcement is investigating this incident.

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Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Painting crews are making headway on a long-awaited exterior makeover for St. Joseph’s premiere Downtown indoor venue, the first in its 45-year history.

Downtown travelers will see the long-held white-colored Civic Arena now dawning new shades of black and grey, a type of gradient paint job that will cover almost the entire structure.

“It’s been a long time coming. This is the first paint job that the arena has seen in its 45 year history,” St. Joseph Civic Facilities Manager Mary Robertson said. “It’s modernizing the look of the building. It gives it an industrial look.”

Exterior painting is scheduled to be complete in approximately three weeks. The $542,000 paint project includes both the exterior and interior, the later of which is largely complete.

The project is funded by a combination of Capital Improvements, American Rescue Plan Act and Parks Tax funds.

“The large panels on each of the sides are done. They’re doing the trim work, the detail work and now that really finishes off the overall look of the building,” Robertson said. “We went with the blacks and whites, give contrast to it that complements the landscape, complements the buildings around the arena.”

The project marks the latest improvement effort for the venue, which has undergone a complete transformation in recent years with close to $12 million in renovations already carried out or planned, from new seating, lighting and scoreboards to restrooms, locker rooms and HVAC.

Civic Arena renovations and efforts from the St. Joseph Sports Commission have allowed the city to attract a large and growing number of high-profile sporting events, a list the city hopes to continue to grow and expand.

“If you look over the history of the Civic Arena, George Strait has performed here. The list of entertainers, the list of events that we’ve had here. we want to bring back that look,” Robertson said.

The project also comes at a special time for the arena and the city, which will host the home opener for St. Joseph’s all-new Arena League Football team the St. Joseph Goats this Saturday at 7 p.m. against the Duluth Harbor Monsters.

It was announced last week that Kansas City sports royalty — brothers Travis and Jason Kelce — had acquired part-ownership of the team through their beer company Garage Beer.

“We do want to bring new, creative and fun entertainment ideas for the community to enjoy, but also for tourists to come in from outside the city to come in and enjoy the amenities here in Saint Joseph,” Robertson said.

A painter uses a roller to cover the south side of the Civic Arena building in May with a specific shade of grey, a type of gradient paintwork. | Cameron Montemayor | News-Press NOW

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News-Press NOW

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The Buchanan County Central Democratic Committee is sponsoring the annual June Northwest Missouri Democrat Days, as it returns after a hiatus due to COVID-19.

The events will take place from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday, June 5 and Friday, June 6, and 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 7 at the Pony Express Museum, located at 914 Penn St.

Blue Missouri’s Jess Piper, veteran journalist Joe McClean and motivational speaker Sherry Prindle will keynote Northwest Missouri Democratic Days.

All events are free. Food will be available for purchase through Adrian’s Taco food truck.

Events will begin at 5 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, with speakers starting at 5:30 p.m. and keynote presentations at 7 p.m. The presentations will be followed by music and a cash bar at 7:30 p.m.

A complete program of the events, roster of speakers and workshops can be found at https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CXbTMK2JHRpIXj8v0hPws0qg_Qy1CXT3/view.

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