Author: News-Press NOW

Carter Ostermiller

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — Thanksgiving is the time of year to be surrounded by family and friends at the dinner table for a feast. A day that isn’t the same without staples like turkey and sides containing produce.

The St. Joseph Second Harvest Community Food Bank is taking the initiative to make sure the community is fed for the holiday.

Thursday marked the 15th Annual Turkey Day that the food bank has hosted, in which registered community members receive a turkey day box containing food for Thanksgiving.

“We’re expecting about 750 people. That’s how many we registered…As you can see by the line of cars, you can just really tell that the need is absolutely there,” said Second Harvest Marketing Manager Mackenzie Bally.

For the past fifteen years, the food bank has been supplying food for families during Thanksgiving.

“You know, I got four kids, so, you know, it helps feed them,” said Richard Swadley, one of Second Harvest’s recipients.

Turkey Day is all about the community coming together to lend a hand to those in need. The Stroud family was eager to once again participate this year.

“It’s to help the community. We have been doing this for, I don’t know, ten years, I would say so. This is just an annual event that our team loves to do, to give back to the community,” said Ashley Stroud, a volunteer.

With all the food being donated, there isn’t any worry about any leftovers going to waste for the holiday. According to Bally, all leftover food will be donated to local schools.

“Every once in a while, there will be a handful of turkeys that don’t get picked up, and those will go to our campus cupboard for them, which are pantries within the middle high school and college campuses,” said Bally.

The holiday season is an overall good reminder about what matters most: being surrounded by family and friends with a meal.

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Patrick Holleron

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The busiest time of year for U.S. shoppers is right around the corner as concerns linger about prices at the checkout line.

From big market metropolitans to smaller cities like St. Joseph, the annual holiday season will once again bring crowds of shoppers in search of the ideal item; however, shoppers are likely to see a new wrinkle added to the holiday shopping equation this year, in the form of tariffs.

Since returning to the Oval Office, the Trump Administration has imposed numerous emergency tariffs on multiple U.S. trading partners. This includes countries such as China, Canada, Mexico and the European Union.

Shopping data from Mastercard shows some of the popular items seeing an uptick in tariff rates and price increases, including video games and consoles, which have risen by 10%, as well as chocolate (5.2%) and clothing (25.4%). Shoppers are also likely to see higher costs for holiday decorations and toys.

While a key part of national conversations has focused on the direct impacts on larger U.S. manufacturers and companies, local businesses are seeing the trickle-down effect, including stores in St. Joseph.  

“It’s bounced around so much that we’re a little numb to all of it. We’ve got products made all over the world,” said Mark Antle, owner of Leibowitz Menswear. “I don’t try to track the percentages of tariffs depending on what country the product originates from. I still have a business to run, I can’t be concerned with dialing back.”

A staple in St. Joseph since 1912, many of the products Leibowitz sells are imported due to materials being sourced from different countries of origin.

Despite the challenges and the unpredictable nature of tariffs, the longtime store has navigated through the situation successfully to this point, focusing on its calling card of offering customers a variety of options.

“In our business, you still have to present a great mix of merchandise and a good selection,” he said.

According to the Tax Foundation, a nonpartisan research firm based in Washington, D.C., the average applied tariff rate on all imports has risen to 17.6% and the average effective tariff rate (the actual burden faced by taxpayers) to 12.5%, the highest since 1941.  

Steven Durlauf, a distinguished service professor at the Harris School of Public Policy, noted that when a tariff is implemented to raise taxes on imports, it negatively impacts the costs of goods and the overall production process.

Durlaf used the recent changes in the steel industry as a prime example of the implications that can occur.    

“In the first Trump Administration, it’s argued (that the tariff) helped steelworkers because it’ll create jobs in the steel industry, which is true,” Durlauf said. “But, what you do by raising the price of steel and generating more domestic steel is you’ve also raised the price of input to the production in the United States. The losses of jobs in steel-intensive industries were 10-to-15 times as large as the improvements in steel.” 

Durlauf explained, while the holidays and now-resolved government shutdown may appear to exacerbate the effects of tariffs, they won’t lead to dramatic price increases immediately. However, increased supply and demand for popular products will eventually pass the cost of the tariff from the producer to the consumer.

“There are debates about what fraction of the tariff … or what fraction of the sales tax is paid by the consumer versus the firm,” Durlauf said. “In terms of tariffs, that’s the same question. I think the best evidence is something on the order of 80% of the tariffs are eventually passed on to consumers. I say eventually because the firms are thinking about customer loyalty, preserving relationships, among other things. They don’t instantaneously pass on the tariffs.”

For all businesses having to wrestle with higher costs on the shelves, the long-term hope is that a form of relief will come at a certain point, whether it be at the end of 2025 or sometime in 2026. 

The lingering question remains for U.S. consumers: are higher tariffs a temporary measure to balance trade markets, or the new normal moving forward?

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Praji Ghosh

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — The St. Joseph School District Board of Education reached a consensus Wednesday night, deciding to move forward with a plan to keep Benton and Central as the district’s two high schools and create a four-middle school model.

Plan 4BR is a combined, updated version of former Plans 7B and 4B. Under this setup, Lafayette High School would shift to a middle school, and Robidoux Middle School would move to an elementary school. 

Several buildings are also likely to be phased out under this plan, including Eugene Field, Pershing and Webster. Ellison won’t close, but it will operate slightly above its ideal capacity, going from 328 students to about 378.  

Superintendent Ashly McGinnis explained how high school capacity has been flexible in recent years, as classroom spaces have been converted into offices and meeting areas to support more counselors and additional services. 

“Capacity in our high school has been adaptive to accommodate classroom space that is being converted to offices and meeting spaces. We have recruited more support services, counselors we have converted those spaces into offices or meeting areas,” McGinnis said.  

District leaders and board members said the two–high school model would be the least disruptive overall, offering a more gradual, phased approach to consolidation.  

When it comes to boundaries, Hosea, Pickett and Hyde elementaries would feed into Spring Garden Middle School, while Parkway and Skaith elementaries would feed into Truman Middle School. Both Spring Garden and Truman would feed students to Benton High School. 

Central High School’s optimal capacity is currently 1,732 students, but would increase to 1,937 under this plan. Benton would grow from 884 students to 999.  

“Based on these projections from savings through staffing under Plan 4BR is $2.155 million, which is the potential savings…The maximum savings on this plan would be $3.974 million, which is estimated to be about a $160,000 difference between Plan 4BR and 2R,” said Mark Korell, SJSD’s director of human resources.

Plan 4BR would displace eight administrators, 170 certified staff and 83 classified staff, according to Korell.  

Assistant Superintendent Stacia Studer emphasized that both the proposed two–high school model plans — 2R and 4BR — would still support all the services students need.  

She said the district had already created pathways to serve students’ academic and post-secondary goals long before facility changes became part of the conversation.  

“In leading the college and the career pathways, we are going to have to rethink where our students receive the experiences and opportunities, and that’s why we center our work around not just Hillyards but also Missouri Western,” Studer said.  

Robert Hedgecorth, SJSD’s assistant superintendent of business and operations, noted that since both Plan 2R and 4BR transition a middle school into an elementary school, each would need a new playground and other small adjustments—about a $150,000 expense.  

Benton and Lafayette, each, had the potential to become middle schools, depending on which plan was chosen, with relatively minor modifications costing around $100,000.   

So far, the district has reviewed 14 different plans. Data shows that under Plan 4BR, roughly 2,316 families and students would be relocated. 

Facilities Impact Analysis 11.19.25Download

For now, the board plans to take an official vote on Plan 4BR on Monday, Nov. 24. If the plan is approved, it would be set into motion across the district.  

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Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The governor of Missouri is scheduled to make his way to St. Joseph next Monday for a tour of a local school.

Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe will travel to St. Joseph on Monday to participate in a campus tour and speak with students at St. Joseph Christian School.

The governor will speak to the secondary student body on topics that may include his personal faith journey, leadership, education and public service. 

A tour of the facility will begin at 9:30 a.m. before an assembly takes place with secondary students at 10:15 a.m. The visit will conclude with a discussion with St. Joseph Christian’s senior class.

The visit comes as the school nears the finish line on a significant $10 million expansion project to add a new 23,000-square foot facility to the existing building.

The new facility is headlined by a new 1,100-seat gymnasium to pair with an existing 650-seat gym. The gym will be supported with new locker rooms, a commons area, concessions and five new classrooms, including a music room.

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Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — More than 70,000 deer were harvested by Missouri hunters in the opening weekend of firearms season, an increase from last year but sharply lower than average totals from the previous five years.

The Missouri Department of Conservation reported Monday that 70,173 deer were harvested during the opening of the November portion of firearms season on Nov. 15 and Nov. 16.

The top harvest counties were Franklin with 1,761 deer, followed by Howell with 1,269 and Wayne with 1,232.

While the number of harvested deer surpassed the 68,057 recorded during the opening weekend of 2024, totals were significantly lower compared with years prior.

The state regularly averaged between 89,000 and 90,000 deer, reaching as high as 99,470 harvested in 2018. Conservation officials told state media outlets that warm temperatures likely factored into the state’s low deer totals this year.

Previous opening weekend deer harvest totals:

2025: 70,173

2024: 68,057

2023: 90,253

2022: 93,355

2021: 89,939

2019: 88,760

2018: 99,470

More harvest data can be found at extra.mdc.mo.gov/widgets/harvest_table/.

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Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — In just two days time, a Savannah man battling Parkinson’s Disease has seen the community rally around him with a flood of more than $7,200 in GoFundMe donations for a critical medical device.

Jay Freerksen, a 59-year-old resident and father from Savannah, Missouri, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease on his 50th birthday and has seen his condition deteriorate faster than anticipated according to a GoFundMe page set up on Nov. 18, to the point now where he has extreme difficulties walking and talking.

Despite two successful brain surgeries within a six-month period in 2023 for the man with six children and four grandchildren — surgeries that reduced his tremors by as much as 90% — the procedures do not stop the progression.

A GoFundMe page set up for Freerksen on Nov. 18 has already raised $7,270 of the $8,424 needed in just two days for a specialized power wheelchair and lift to allow him to move around his home safely and independently. Insurance is expected to cover the remaining 80% of the total $17,500.

“I would be able to go back to church and do other things that would make me more independent,” the GoFundMe page reads. “I am truly thankful for each one of you!”

Thus far, 35 donations have come in for the wheelchair/lift, ranging from $25 and $50 to $100, $500 and even $1000, including a large $1,500 donation from Victory Chevrolet GMC.

“Whatever donations are over the amount requested will go towards a ramp that I will need to get in and out of the house. And if there is still donations left over, then I will put that towards future repairs or upgrades to the chair.”

According to a 2022 study from the Parkinson’s Foundation, close to 90,000 people in the U.S. each year are diagnosed with Parkinson’s, a neurodegenerative brain disorder. More than 1.1 million people in total are affected by the disease each year in the U.S..  

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Leah Rainwater

FAUCETT, Mo. (KQTV) — Five people were arrested Tuesday after being wanted in connection with multiple crimes, which spanned several states across the Midwest.

Members of the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Division assigned to the Northwest Missouri Drug Task Force Interdiction Unit located three vehicles at Pilot Travel Center, located at 1307 SE Grand DD Highway in Faucett, Missouri.

The Northwest Missouri Task Force, consisting of the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office Career Criminal Unit and Drug Strike Force, St. Joseph Police Department Street Crimes Unit and the Missouri State Highway Patrol, took the five subjects- four males and one female- into custody, and seized three vehicles.

The five arrested suspects were found to be citizens of Venezuela, and due to the significance of their alleged criminal activity, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was notified, according to a press release from the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office.

All five subjects were transported to the Buchanan County Jail, where further investigation was conducted. The subjects were then transferred into ICE custody.

The investigation is ongoing with the Sheriff’s Office and Northwest Missouri Drug Task Force, as well as federal agencies.

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Leah Rainwater

DEKALB COUNTY, Mo. (KQTV) — The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office said three people are dead after law enforcement responded to a residential fire early Thursday morning.

Area first responders answered a call for a reported residential fire in Weatherby, Missouri.

While responding, crews found three people dead inside the residence, according to a press release. Information about the victims, including the cause of death, has not been released.

The Maysville R-1 School District’s Superintendent, Chris Hodge, released a statement Thursday on Facebook saying, “The Maysville R-1 School District has been informed that there was a house fire in our community overnight, and an elementary student has passed away. Out of respect for the family’s privacy, we will not be sharing additional details at this time.”

A fund is set up to help with the cost of services at Independent Farmers Bank in Maysville, Missouri. 

Anyone interested in donating to the funds is encouraged to call 816-449-2182.

An investigation is ongoing with the assistance of the Missouri State Fire Marshals and local Fire Departments.

Anyone with information regarding the investigation is encouraged to contact Captain Mike Marvin with the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office at 816-449-5802.

News-Press NOW will provide updates as they become available.

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Leah Rainwater

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — The Mosaic Life Care Foundation recently received a gift for the inspireU Children’s Discovery Center, which provides four free nights for families to visit.

The facility is located in Downtown St. Joseph at 521 Felix St., and is dedicated to fostering physical health, mental wellness and educational enrichment for children.

inspireU features 20 exhibits, a rooftop exploratorium, interactive play areas and educational spaces for children ages birth to 10 years old and their families.

Families can visit for free from 5:30 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 20, this year, or Thursday, Jan. 22, Thursday, March 19 and Thursday, May 21 in 2026.

The foundation extended its thanks to the Leah Spratt Charitable Trust, Committee Members Rhonda Rochambeau, Rick Rochambeau and Rene Rochambeau McCrary for the generous commitment.

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Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The Buchanan County Women’s Democratic Club will meet next week with a special guest in attendance to offer insight into the world of business.

The club announced the next public meeting will take place at noon on Tuesday, Nov. 25, at San Jose Steakhouse, with doors opening at 11 a.m. for food.

Natalie Hawn, President and CEO of the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce, will speak and answer questions about the Chamber’s role in our community. The Chamber has been integral to local economic growth since its inception in 1862.

For those who can’t attend in person, a Zoom option is available beginning at noon as well.

More information on the meeting can be found by contacting club President Michelle Mears by email at bcwdcpresident@gmail.com

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