Author: News-Press NOW

Carter Ostermiller

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — August is the month to recognize black businesses and how they contribute to our community.

St. Joseph salon KD’s Beauty Bar is owned by Dai’Janise Wilbon and Kanei Jackson.

The two owners have exemplified the importance of being black business owners in their community, opening their business in May of 2024.

There has been a misconception among some customers since the salon is a black-owned business.

“We thought you only serviced a certain community. It’s like, ‘No, we’re here for everyone.'” said Wilbon.

Wilbon is right, the salon has a variety of services for all customers, from hair to nails; the salon truly does it all.

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Patrick Holleron

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Summer continues to go on and with it the measles cases in all parts of the country have continued.

This comes as the 2025-26 school year approaches for Missouri and other states. According to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, the kindergarten vaccination rate stood at 90% and nearly 97% in Buchanan county in 2024.

Buchanan County’s exemption rate was roughly 2%.

“With travel they should use masks, proper hand hygiene.” St. Joseph Community Health Nurse Kristi Billings said. “Make sure you’re vaccinated before you travel. It’s very rare that most of the older population haven’t been vaccinated. It’s the younger ones that are traveling in close quarters with somebody. The illness can last in a room for a longer period of time than the person being there.”

For the general population, those who are not vaccinated, as well as pregnant women and low immunity children under the age of 12, have the highest risk of contracting the virus.

 

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News-Press NOW

ST. JOSEPH, MO (News-Press NOW) — After 20 years in business, the St. Joseph Auction and Antique Mart will close its doors on Sept. 3.

The 20,000-square-foot antique mall, located at 3600 S. Leonard Road, has been home to more than 80 vendors, offering unique items to both travelers and community members.

For owners Chip and Julia Littlewood, the decision to close wasn’t easy and ultimately wasn’t theirs to make.

Chip and Julia Littlewood stand with their award.

“Well after 20 years at the same location as the premier antique mall of St. Joe, the building owners decided to sell the building,” Chip said. “Our last day will be Sept. 3.”

The siblings of the late Mike Haskins have decided to sell the building, resulting in the lease being canceled and doors closing.

For many shoppers, the Antique Mart has been more than a place to buy old treasures, it’s been a reminder to slow down, rethink consumerism and enjoy the nostalgia of shared shopping trips across generations. Mother-daughter duo Brandy Bumphrey and Abby Jeffress said they just experienced three generations of their family making memories there.

Antiques are shown on display in the mart

“For myself, it’s generally a fight against consumerism,” Jeffress said. “Considering that usually whatever you want has already been made.”

When they found out the mart was closing, they were disappointed to hear of the news, but not surprised considering most people shop anywhere from fast fashion to major online retailers.

Reflecting on more than a decade running the mart, Chip expressed gratitude for the community’s support, the Readers’ Choice awards and the relationships he’s built through a shared love of antiques.

“We appreciate all of the community,” Chip said. “We have served people all across the United States and different overseas areas and regions. We are grateful.”

Chip Littlewood speaks on the stores success after 20 years.

The silver lining: many valued vendors have teamed up with Black Kat Salvage II Antique Shop located at 902 Edmond St., in Downtown St. Joseph.

In a press release, Chip said they look forward to this new chapter and encourage all of their friends to visit the Black Kat Salvage II Antique Shop.

“We’re devastated by the fact that we’ve lost our lease, but there’s always a silver lining in everything,” Chip said.

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Kyle Schmidt

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — This year’s Chiefs Training Camp has officially come to an end.

The camp wrapped up on Wednesday, Aug. 13, with Military Appreciation Day — a practice dedicated to honoring veterans.

“It means a lot to us,” said United States Air Force Senior Airman Rachel McKinney. “It’s really nice that they invite us out, show us their appreciation, and we’re happy to come out and support the Chiefs as well.”

Many branches set up tents and tables for public viewing and to speak with fans walking by. Navy Chief Thomas Cooper wanted to spread Navy awareness to the region.

“(The) Navy is not really well known in the Kansas City Area,” Cooper said. “It’s kind of hard to float ships up the Missouri River, so it makes things a little difficult to spread the awareness around.”

The NFL through the Salute to Service initiative has shown their appreciation toward service members. Fans could be seen wearing Salute to Service Chiefs jerseys at camp.

“I think (to) actually be able to support, not only people that are currently serving but the veterans in the area is awesome,” Cooper said. “The Salute to Service games are always my favorite, I always buy the Salute to Service swag for the Chiefs when it becomes available.”

One veteran, wearing that style jersey, showed up to camp to support his favorite team and watch the new Chiefs play. Clarence Hall, an Army veteran who retired after a hip and leg injury, now serves in the medical field as an ER nurse.

“I love it, I love to purchase anything that supports the troops,” Hall said. “It is fun to get the new jersey or the new hat that they come out with each year for the teams.”

Military Appreciation Day finished with veterans on the field breaking the final training camp huddle of the year.

“I think all veterans are sensitive to how the Vietnam vets were treated,” Hall said. “Anything that recognizes the sacrifices that even the men and women who haven’t been in combat yet — just acknowledge their service because it is something that should be celebrated.”

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Praji Ghosh

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — With the first day of school right around the corner, the St. Joseph School District gathered for a back-to-school conference. 

The first day of school for the district is Tuesday, Aug. 19. The meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 13, focused on setting the tone for the new academic year — from fresh ideas in the classroom to changes that could shake up old routines. 

One big priority this year is refining how lessons are taught and strengthening the foundation of the curriculum.

Additionally, SJSD is focused on moving away from some of the more traditional approaches and trying new strategies that could better serve students.  

“I want to shout out to the community because they provided STEM resources for our science learning, which made it more relevant and hands-on, and we were able to implement our science core resource at the secondary level,” said Stacia Studer, Assistant Superintendent of Academics and Education Services said.

District leaders admit some changes may face pushback at first, but they believe the updates will ultimately boost student success in the long run. 

Part of that mission is ensuring a safe, supportive learning environment for both students and staff.  

“If we can prove that we are doing everything we can to keep our staff and students safe, then they feel more comfortable about being in the rooms and in the building,” said Shannon Nolte, director of student services.

The conference also touched on practical upgrades — including plans to replace school buses with air-conditioned models. 

Another highlight was the district’s fine arts project, which has expanded from theater improvements to new band equipment, sound systems and projectors. 

“It’s really spectacular what we’ve been able to do with the amount of funds that we’ve had, and the work we accomplished,” Director of Operations Casey Housman said. “Everybody should be proud.”

School leaders also want to boost collaboration and community within the district by hosting more social events and professional development opportunities for staff.  

“It’s no secret that in education we see a lot of individuals either moving to another district or leaving education overall,” Mark Korell, director of human resources, said. “So, we are working hard to create opportunities for them to get to know each other, either outside the school or in the building.” 

Despite the challenges, the district hopes to strengthen recruitment efforts and close any gaps that may stand in the way of providing the best possible education to St. Joseph children. 

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News-Press NOW

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — A bridge closure originally scheduled on Monday, Aug. 18, has been delayed.

The Buchanan County Route AC bridge over U.S. Route 36 in St. Joseph is now scheduled to close on Monday, Sept. 8, and will remain closed around the clock until Thursday, Sept. 11.

Road crews from the Missouri Department of Transportation will be repairing the bridge deck.

Motorists will need to seek an alternate route during the closure.

A project to replace the bridge is currently scheduled for 2027 in the Statewide Transportation Improvement Project (STIP).

More information on the closure can be found by calling 888-ASK-MODOT (275-6636).

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Carter Ostermiller

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) —  The summer is a perfect time to go around and enjoy local parks.

For St. Joseph locals, Kim and Mark Hubbard, this can be a struggle. The Hubbards both have cerebral palsy, which impacts their day-to-day lives.

Both Mark and Kim enjoy visiting their local parks, but have struggled to enjoy the parks to their full extent.

“The parks around town don’t feel like they are very considerate of people who have disabilities,” said Kim Hubbard.

At Patee Park, the couple expressed their frustration with the playground areas having a lack of equipment for disabled children to enjoy.

Kim, who uses a wheelchair, and Mark, who uses a cane, both struggled with parking and crossing the street.

The couple hopes to get in contact with the City of St. Joseph Parks Department to express their concerns.

News-Press NOW also reached out to the city for comment, but did not get a response.

Although a park may meet ADA requirements, it could still lack inclusivity to disabled persons of any age.

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Ryan Eslinger

ST JOSEPH, Mo (News-Press NOW) — Since Patrick Mahomes became the Chiefs’ starting quarterback in 2018, his favorite target has always been Travis Kelce and the tight end group.

With retirement looming for the 13-year veteran, the Chiefs have bolstered the tight end room with a veteran presence in Robert Tonyan and two younger guys in Noah Gray and Jared Wiley.

“The possibilities with the guys in that room seems endless,” said tight end Jared Wiley.

Jared Wiley was drafted in the 2024 NFL draft in the fourth round and missed most of his rookie season due to an ACL injury. Wiley touched on the injury recovery process and how hard it was to watch every game.

“You really feel like you’re missing out, getting to watch these guys play on Sundays while you’re just at the house with you’re feet kicked back,” Wiley said. “It sucked.”

Wiley is listed as tight end four behind newly signed Robert Tonyan.

Tonyan is entering his ninth season after spending the first eight years of his career in the NFC North. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in 2018 and spent six seasons there, then signed a one-year deal with the Chicago Bears in 2023, and spent the 2024 season on the Minnesota Vikings’ practice squad.

Travis Kelce talked about how much it means to have Tonyan in the room and the energy he brings to work every day.

“It’s just a pleasure to have that guy in here, man,” Kelce said. “Always a high-energy guy, always in a good mood, and ready to play some football the right way.”

Tonyan broke out in 2020 with the Packers, where he had 586 yards and 11 touchdowns. He has yet to break 500 yards or double-digit touchdowns since his 2020 season.

Tonyan provides another veteran leader in the tight end room with Jared Wiley and Noah Gray.

Noah Gray was drafted by the Chiefs in the 2021 NFL draft and has been learning behind Travis Kelce ever since. Gray has always been consistent when the Chiefs needed him most. If Kelce were to go down with an injury, Chiefs fans knew Gray would be able to handle the spotlight.

Gray has been slowly improving his stats throughout his four-year career, accumulating more receiving yards and receiving touchdowns as the years progress.

Gray talked about how Chiefs Training Camp can help players pull out energy they thought they might not have had.

“Digging deep, finding that second burst of energy. You have to push past the tiredness and mistakes can happen when you’re tired,” Gray said. “I think it’s a huge benefit that you’re out here with the guys, that you’re pushing past that and you’re trying to focus while you’re tired.”

Noah Gray is the contender to replace Travis Kelce if he were to retire after the 2025 season.

You can not mention tight ends without talking about Travis Kelce. Kelce holds many of the Chiefs’ franchise records for a tight end, including:

Career receiving yards (12,151)

Career receptions (1,004)

Career receiving touchdowns (77)

Most consecutive and most 1,000-yard seasons for a tight end (7)

Travis Kelce has solidified himself as one of the best tight ends in franchise history and is considered one of the greatest tight ends of all time, and his career could be coming to an end very soon.

The speculation on whether Kelce was going to retire or not before the 2025 season was the only thing people could talk about.

But Kelce decided to come back for another season and another training camp in St. Joseph.

When he was asked what his favorite memory of training camp in St. Joseph was, Kelce kept it light-hearted and said, “Ask me that when I retire.”

The tight ends all know it could be Kelce’s last year in the red and gold, so they have their sights set on getting back to the Super Bowl to give Kelce one last ride.

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Charles Christian

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Board of Education President LaTonya Williams has asked the board to consider an outside financial audit. 

With changes in the administration for the new fiscal year, including a new superintendent and a new assistant superintendent of business and finance, Williams said new estimates and adjustments in SJSD’s new fiscal budget have raised questions since its approval in June.

Since the budget approval, the BOE has had difficulty answering any questions.

“For whatever reason, there were issues that arose we were unaware of,” Williams said. “So, the call for an audit is not about accusations or blame, just for clarification.” 

This issue was discussed in the Monday, Aug. 11 Board of Education meeting.

New Assistant Superintendent of Business and Finance, Robert Hedgecorth, used an updated budget tracking system to explain why questions have arisen in the last two months.

The new software takes into consideration more elements, including changes in enrollment and state funding in more detail. Hedgecorth then advised the board they must choose between a full state audit, in addition to the audit already paid for each year by the board, which is set for September through December by an outside firm.  

“A state audit would look beyond finances and at procedures,” Hedgecorth said. “This is more time-consuming and may be more than the board has in mind.”  

After more discussion, the board decided to pursue the option of an outside party that would concentrate on the finances and best practices for budgeting.  

“I told the board I would ask the finance director from the Missouri School Board Association,” Hedgecorth said. “She is a former CFO and has experience in working with boards about finances and planning.”  

Both Hedgecorth and the BOE agreed that this plan would be ideal for focusing on questions and for establishing practices that would save time and make the best use of resources for the future.

Hedgecorth said changes early on and mid-year are not uncommon, because some of the largest factors in regard to income are unknown until after summer. These include final student enrollment numbers and the amount of state funds the district will receive.  

“You are presenting a preliminary budget in June, so there are a lot of things you don’t know,” Hedgecorth said. “So, you are estimating at that time.” 

Hedgecorth emphasized that the best way to address a concern or issue is to name it.

BOE members have brought questions forward about the process and the numbers associated with the budget, even advocating for a third set of eyes to be brought in.

Hedgecorth stated, he hasn’t had confirmation about the availability of an auditor, but would have more answers to present at the next BOE meeting on Monday, Aug. 25.

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Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Increases in rent and medical costs drove Midwest inflation in July compared to the year before, but prices for food and energy fell for the month, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Year-over-year inflation in the Midwest, including Missouri, was up 2.6% in July, the bureau stated in a news release Tuesday. That increase was driven largely by a 5.1% increase in home ownership costs, a 3.6% increase in medical costs and a 5% increase in rent.

Those increases were balanced by falling food and energy prices that pegged inflation at just 0.2% compared to June. Natural gas and gasoline prices decreased, while electricity prices were up in July, according to the release.

Food prices were down 0.2% compared to June. Grocery prices fell 0.5% while food consumed away from home increased 0.3%.

Energy and food prices were all higher compared to last year, with natural gas prices rising 14.6% during that time.

The Midwest numbers were similar to those reported nationally, with prices up 0.2% compared to June and 2.7% compared to the year before.

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