Author: News-Press NOW

News-Press NOW

By: Zac Scott

TRENTON, Mo. (KQTV) — The City of Trenton is working toward reviving its downtown, just in time for the holidays.

The Main Street Trenton Group received a $10,000 Union Pacific grant. The group was able to match half the grant, giving the City a total of $15,000 to use to improve its small businesses.

Main Street Trenton Executive Director Luke Vale said, updating downtown Trenton will take time and effort, but it will be worth it once the work is finished.

“It’s not an overnight solution to bring it back, but it does take some urgency. You really have to act now,” said Vale. “With aesthetics being better with more businesses coming downtown, previous years have seen that same trend.”

The $15,000 will be going to four businesses to improve their exteriors. For more information on the grant system, visit the group’s website at www.mainstreettrentonmo.org.

Click here to follow the original article.

Praji Ghosh

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — A recent post made by a St. Joseph School District Board of Education Member details that the district will revisit long-debated consolidation plans, dive into an in-depth financial audit and ultimately guide some of the most consequential decisions the board has faced this year in terms of finances.

Community members will have an opportunity to speak, as a public hearing will take place at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 19, to discuss Plans 2 (Lafayette/Central model) and 7 (Benton/Hyde and Central model). Both plans being reviewed will have the intent to retain four middle schools. A location for this hearing is still “to be announced”.

A Special Board of Education meeting will immediately follow the hearing at 6:30 p.m., at the Central High School Auditorium, where board members will review and advance a singular plan to vote on at a later meeting.

Also, according to Lanning’s post, the board will hold a Work Session at 5:15 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 24, to review a financial audit proposed by Board President LaTonya Williams and Lanning in August. The audit was performed by the Missouri School Board Association.

Following the audit review, the board will move on to a meeting to review items at 5:45 p.m., which include monthly reports and personnel approvals. The board will then plan to vote on a consolidation plan, per Lanning’s post.

Click here to follow the original article.

Patrick Holleron

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The City of St. Joseph is seeking the input of local youth in an effort to promote civic engagement and explore new ways to problem solve in local government.

Leaders from various city departments and students from more than a dozen local schools took part in a revamped “Student in Government” event on Monday, an opportunity for students to engage with city leaders and those from other schools.

This year’s event took on a new approach, shifting from the previous venue at City Hall to Mosaic Life Care’s emPowerU facility Downtown, where students brainstormed ideas on community needs and offered potential solutions as a cohesive unit.

“We’re learning about how we can make our community better,” Genevieve, a student at St. Joseph Cathedral School, said. “Were seeing by 2040 what we can do to make St. Joseph a better place that people want to go to.”

Genevie was one of nearly 90 students who participated in the event, along with students from all five St. Joseph high schools and all nine middle schools.

Some of the issues highlighted by students included trash on the streets, homelessness, modernizing businesses and using more modern forms of social media.

City Manager Mike Schumacher said utilizing more current forms of social media like Snapchat and Instagram is something that city can improve on.

“The gap (between age groups) can be bridged. As you guys probably know better than I do there are software platforms that will split between all the socials,” Schumacher said. “What I took away from those comments was, ‘OK, we need to do a better job of hitting all the different social media platforms. By doing that we’re getting our message out as far and wide as we possibly can.'”

Schumacher also explained that while some of the ideas proposed may not be able to come to fruition, it is important to have the input and feedback from the younger audience — potentially future city leaders — who can shape the direction of St. Joseph.

“If you don’t listen to these student councils and these kids, I think it translates to you’ve given up,” Schumacher said. “We have not given up. It will take this entire community to address some of the issues put out there, one step at a time. There is no magic bullet to address illegal drug use or the type of violations and issues that certain populations create.”

“That’s a national issue. It’s not just here in St. Joe, every city across America is facing it. That doesn’t mean that we don’t do our best to address locally, but it will take one community working together to make an impact.”

Leaders from the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce like CEO Natalie Hawn were also in attendance to give remarks and insight to students as part of the event.

The hope going forward is to work with school administers to have sessions more frequently, including potentially meeting with students before or after school and at lunch breaks.

Click here to follow the original article.

TaMya Bracy

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — The St. Joseph Police Department recently launched a social media initiative that is gaining positive community interaction.

The planning for the series came in August, but SJPD made its official announcement, where it would begin making posts on Nov. 3

The daily series highlights SJPD officers and staff, and gives the community an inside look at the department.

Sgt. Richard McGregory, SJPD’s public information officer, said the department started its social media series to be intentional and transparent.

“So we wanted to do a better job of telling our own story and letting people know that we are doing these things and showcasing them and then actually getting on video so they know exactly how we are trying to protect the community and how we are policing the community,” he said.

Each day of the week, SJPD has a different theme on its social media. There is the Monday Minute, Tip Tuesday, Watch Wednesday, Transparency Thursday and Feature Friday.

McGregory said the department has seen strong engagement on its posts, especially its feature posts.

“I mean, there’s just positive feedback just on, especially by people that know them (law enforcement) personally or people that may have had interactions with them on the job,” he said.

McGregory said trust grows when people feel connected.

“So when they (community members) call…When you have a call for service, you’re going to know maybe on a more personal level, these officers, when they respond, because you may have seen them on our social media site, you may have seen, you know, different things that they do within our department, different units that they may serve in our department,” he said.

McGregory said the social media series is a learning experience, and he calls for the public’s support.

“We’re going to give you guys some good content, and we’re not trying to take this lightly. This is something that we do want to strive and this is the start of a platform that’s going to be here to stay,” he said. “So we want to make sure we approach it the right way. And we’re going to be very transparent. We want your feedback, that’s going to affect what we put out.”

In January of 2026, SJPD will fully launch its social media across multiple platforms, such as Instagram, TikTok, X and more.

Click here to follow the original article.

Leah Rainwater

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KQTV) — One person is dead and two others suffered minor injuries in a wrong-way crash Tuesday morning, according to Kansas City media outlets.

Kansas City Police said the incident happened around 5:30 a.m. at 1 Kansas City Blvd., at the Kansas City International Airport (KCI).

According to investigators, a dark gray Honda was driving the wrong way on International Circle, just south of KCI’s terminal, when the Honda collided head-on with a dark gray Subaru.

The driver of the Honda was rushed to an area hospital, where they were pronounced dead.

Both the driver and passenger of the Subaru were taken to an area hospital with minor injuries.

KCPD said the crash investigation is ongoing.

Click here to follow the original article.

News-Press NOW

BUCHANAN COUNTY, Mo. (KQTV) — In a Facebook post on Tuesday, St. Joseph School District Board of Education Member Whitney Lanning shared an email from Buchanan County Commissioners regarding their opinion on the district’s looming high school model decision.

The email included signatures from Presiding Commissioner Scott Nelson, Eastern District Commissioner Scott Burnham and Western District Commissioner Ron Hook.

The email, received by Board Members and SJSD Superintendent Ashly McGinnis, at approximately 3:22 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 17, according to Lanning’s post, showcases the Commissioner’s stance on sticking with SJSD’s infamous long-range plan.

“With enrollments falling and birth rates continuing to decline, we can no longer rely on the status quo,” the email reads.

The Commissioners hammered on the fact that many of the district’s buildings are more than six decades old, causing the district to divert funding to maintain the buildings, rather than using funds to improve student learning and teacher support.

The email also mentioned that having a strong school system will attract more families, businesses and qualified educators, “all vital to our city’s economic future”.

Email from the Buchanan County Commissioners. Courtesy of Whitney Lanning via Facebook.

This response echoed St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce President and CEO, Natalie Hawn, who called for the School Board to not stray from the long-range plan during a public comment session on Monday, Nov. 10.

The Board of Education held a work session on Monday, Nov. 17, to review Plan 2R, formerly known as Plan 2B, which would keep Central and Lafayette as the district’s two main high schools.

Another session, with a public comment, will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 19, to discuss Plan 7B, which would turn Benton/Hyde into a high school campus and keep Central High School. It would also feature a four-middle school model.

The self-imposed deadline for the SJSD School Board to make a decision on which plan it will choose is Monday, Nov. 24.

Click here to follow the original article.

Leah Rainwater

CALDWELL COUNTY, Mo. (KQTV) — Three adults are seriously injured from a crash that occurred at 6 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 17, in Caldwell County.

The crash occurred between a 2012 Chrysler Town and Country Van driven by a 74-year-old male with a 67-year-old female passenger and a 2024 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 driven by a 63-year-old male.

The 2012 Chrysler was westbound on U.S. 36, and the Chevrolet was stopped in the crossover on U.S. 36.

The Chevrolet began driving North and entered the westbound lanes of U.S. 36. The Chrysler then struck the right side of the Chevrolet.

After impact, both of the vehicles began skidding and sliding, and eventually began traveling off the North side of U.S. 36, according to a Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report.

The Chrysler then became airborne and struck the ground. The Chevrolet overturned and came to rest on the North side of U.S. 36 on its top, facing South.

The Chrysler came to rest on the North side of U.S. 36, facing North.

The driver of the Chrysler was taken by Life Flight to Truman Medical Center. The passenger of the Chrysler was taken by Life Flight to St. Luke’s Hospital. The driver of the Chevrolet was transported by the Livingston County EMS to Liberty Hospital.

Both drivers and the female occupant were all wearing seatbelts.

Click here to follow the original article.

News-Press NOW

By: Chris Roush, News Director

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — The Noyes Home for Children’s Kindness Saint Joseph initiative has extended the deadline for essays to the end of the week.

The essays will be due at the Noyes Home by Friday, Nov. 21.

Noyes Home Executive Director Chelsea Howlett said the extension allows more students to complete their essays and turn them in.

The Kindness Saint Joseph initiative was created to inspire and celebrate acts of kindness throughout the community.

This year marks the second year for Kindness Saint Joseph, and the initiative has been expanded to St. Joseph and the surrounding communities. 

Local K-12 students are asked to submit essays about the kindest person they know.

In a post on Facebook, Noyes Home officials state that it doesn’t matter if a student is in public, private or homeschool, they want to receive the essays.

If the students’ essay is selected, the student and the kindest person will be honored at a banquet next spring. There will be awards for each grade level.

Scholarships can also go toward students preparing for college.

The initiative is also taking nominations for Kindness Keeper, Kindest School and Kindest Educator. The nominations are due by Sunday, Nov. 30. 

For more information about Kindness Saint Joseph, visit the Noyes Home’s website. 

Click here to follow the original article.

Praji Ghosh

MARYVILLE, Mo. (KQTV) — Mosaic Medical Center celebrated a big milestone as it opened a brand-new women’s health care space in Northwest Missouri. 

The clinic will be set up right inside the hospital—specifically in the administration hallway. Leaders said the project wouldn’t be happening without strong support from the community. 

Once complete, the new space will offer a full range of services, from preventive care to obstetrics, gynecology and wellness support, all designed with a patient-focused environment in mind. 

“So the whole continuum of women help women’s health services are going to be provided here, from preventative care in terms of mammography and breast cancer screening,” said Dana Anderson, the chief operating officer at Mosaic.

She added, the new space will incorporate mental-health services as well as chronic-disease management.  

She explained that this project has been in the works for several years, with support from local women ambassadors who helped privately raise funds.  

“Lucky for us, Nodaway County and the City of Maryville are extremely supportive of the hospital. And so many of our community members have been involved in the development of this project for several years,” Anderson said.  

Anderson said Mosaic looks to improve health outcomes for women across the region and help reach those living in maternity-care deserts.  

“We hope we become a place for them (women) to receive their women’s health services. Both preventative, you know, maternity. We see an increase in deliveries of babies in Maryville and beyond,” Anderson added.

During the ceremony, Mosaic staff and leaders marked the moment by literally breaking down walls with hammers to symbolize the start of construction. 

Anderson said the mid-November weather made the team rethink an outdoor event, so they held the celebration right inside the space where the clinic will eventually take shape.  

“What a better way for our community to see what it’s going to look like than to be in the space, what it looks like today,” Anderson said. 

Guests and community members enjoyed refreshments as they got a look at what’s to come.  

Mosaic hopes the new clinic will become a cornerstone for accessible, high-quality care—meeting the needs of women throughout the region. 

Click here to follow the original article.

News-Press NOW

By: Alexis Kuhnert

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — Attendees at the 2025 St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce’s Chairman’s Breakfast might have been prepared for a meal and a keynote speaker, but were also met with a big announcement.

Jason Klindt, senior director of external affairs for Evergy, spoke on “Planning for Growth & Powering our Communities.” Specifically, about the pros and cons of a data center in the community.

In conjunction with Klindt’s message, the Chamber announced the opening of a Launch Pad located Downtown at 801 Felix St.

The Launch Pad would serve as an innovation center for co-working startups to obtain education and mentorships to start their businesses.

The facility will offer a flexible range of workspaces, including open coworking areas, dedicated desks and private office rentals. It would also feature shared-use technology, conference rooms, business-grade amenities and professional development support.

“Our region is full of builders, dreamers, and creators who simply need access to the right resources,” said Natalie Hawn, the president and CEO of the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce. “The Launch Pad exists to provide an affordable, collaborative environment where ideas can take off and businesses can thrive.”

The funding of the new resource is made possible by a $100,000 grant from the Missouri Technology Group (MTC).

“The grant was a three-year grant to help us with technology solutions and resources for these businesses,” said Hawn.

The Show-Me Network is also helping support The Launch Pad.

“We’re thrilled to partner with the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce as a Regional Connector for the Show-Me Network,” said Rachel Munday, the executive director of efactory at Missouri State University and a part of the Network. “Their leadership, energy, and commitment to entrepreneurs make them an incredible partner in expanding opportunity across Northwest Missouri and the state.”

Hawn said the soft opening will be on Dec. 1 and an official grand opening in January 2026.

Along with flexible coworking and private office rentals, the space will also feature:

High-speed internet and professional meeting rooms

Shared-use equipment for AV, prototyping and technology development

Training and professional services, including legal, accounting and business development support

Networking events, pitch nights and mentorship opportunities designed to strengthen the regional startup ecosystem

The Launch Pad’s mission is to fuel innovation and support first-time founders, freelancers and small business owners across a 35-mile service area surrounding St. Joseph.

The resource’s impact goal includes hosting over 20 community and business events annually, delivering over 100 mentorship hours and supporting the creation or retention of at least 10 local jobs each year, according to a Chamber press release.

The space for The Launch Pad is being leased from Mosaic Life Care and was formerly occupied by CLA.

Entrepreneurs, innovators and community members interested in learning more contact Kristie Arthur at arthur@saintjoseph.com or 816-364-4113.

Interest forms can also be submitted at stjlaunchpad.com.

Click here to follow the original article.