Author: News-Press NOW

Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — A Republican state senator is pushing for the creation of a new state commission and grant program to provide support for vehicle theft prevention efforts from law enforcement.

Legislation filed by Missouri state Sen. Curtis Trent, R-Battlefield, seeks to establish a new Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Commission, a new entity responsible for awarding grants to law enforcement agencies to help improve and support motor vehicle theft prevention programs, or programs for prosecuting motor vehicle theft crimes.

A St. Joseph Police vehicle with flashing lights is shown on Frederick Avenue in 2023.

The bill, which had a first reading Jan. 7, would create a new 12-member governor-appointed board to oversee the commission and approve applications. The Highway Patrol would also provide administration, management, and organization of the Commission’s activities.

Law enforcement agencies or qualified applicants could receive grant awards for up to three years as part of the measure, called Senate Bill 1181. Any grants awarded by the commission would have to be approved by the Director of the Department of Public Safety prior to any such allocation.

Grants being pursued for multi-jurisdictional programs would be given priority under the legislation. The measures also seeks to promote statewide planning and provide support to local prosecutors and multi-jurisdictional task forces.

If approved, the grant program would take effect in August of 2026. Provisions in the program would sunset in 2032 unless reauthorized by the Missouri General Assembly.

A second component of Senate Bill 1181 would also make it a class D felony to manufacture, sell or possess a motor vehicle key programming or emulating device or a relay attack device.

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Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Staff and faculty at Missouri Western State University will receive hands on training this week to strengthen their ability to recognize warning signs of suicide and respond appropriately.

MoWest announced it will host a Military Suicide Prevention Training Day on Wednesday, Jan. 14 in Murphy Hall, room 201.

Training sessions will be tailored to particular groups within the university, including counselors, law enforcement officers and MoWest faculty and staff.

“This training day is focused on strengthening our collective ability to recognize risk, respond appropriately, and connect service members, veterans, and students with the support they deserve,” said Gabbie Faletta, director of the Center for Military and Veterans Services, in a news release.

Training groups and times include:

Counselors: 8:30-11:30 a.m.

Law enforcement officers: 12:45-1:45 p.m.

MoWest faculty and staff: 2-3 p.m.

The event is sponsored by the MoWest Center for Military and Veterans Services, the MoWest Counseling Center, the MoWest Social Work program and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

For more information, email Falletta at gfalletta@missouriwestern.edu, or call 816-271-4111.

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Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — A leading nonprofit is encouraging the community to help connect local students with a reading experience through a variety of upcoming programs.

United Way of Greater St. Joseph announced its longstanding “Reading Adventure” program with local elementary schools this winter, including Carden Park, Coleman, Hosea, Lindbergh, Parkway, Pershing and Pickett.

As part of the program, United Way is calling for volunteers to read with students during the second semester as well as for books to be given to support students through a variety of programs.

Each program is held at a different time, and volunteers are needed in January and February to read with students. Volunteers can choose to read once, several times or take part in a regular schedule.

Books will also be provided to students in the program to encourage reading at home.

More than 700 people have volunteered for United Way’s Reading Adventure since it was launched in 2011, helping students maintain reading skills over the summer months and during the school year.

The program follows a model that has been successfully used by HOPE Outreach Ministries, Inc. for many years.

Individuals and organizations interested in volunteering to read or donating books can contact Jodi Flurry at 816-364-2381 or jodi.flurry@stjosephunitedway.org, or register online at stjosephunitedway.org/pie.

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TaMya Bracy

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — The St. Joseph City Council passed an ordinance to prohibit parking along both Olive and Pacific Streets at its last meeting.

Parking will be prohibited on the north side of Olive Street from Sixth to Eighth streets and on the south side of Pacific Street from 33rd Street to the Belt Highway.

Public Works received a request from a business on Olive Street regarding traffic concerns caused by parking.

Abe Forney, the city’s director of Public Works and Transportation, said the parking restriction was put into place due to safety.

“One of the property owners, they said there was a lot of foot traffic in the area, which was causing a hazard for pedestrians in that area,” said Forney.

Forney said with the new parking restrictions, pedestrians will no longer be crossing the street to get to parked cars.

“It will no longer cause that hazard for the traffic driving through on Olive to have that hazard of people walking across the street as frequently as they were,” he said.

Although some areas for parking are no longer acceptable, Forney said there’s still plenty of parking in the area.

“Not specifically on Olive, but in the surrounding area, parking lots and so on,” he said.

Forney said letters were sent out to residents and businesses in the area, advising them of the proposed ordinance.

“They (had) the opportunity to put their comment in,” Forney said. “Then we run that through the traffic commission, and we give them the opportunity to voice their concerns. Then we ran it through the city council.”

The parking restrictions are now in effect on both Olive and Pacific Streets.

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Leah Rainwater

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KQTV) — The Kansas City Royals will move their outfield fence in by 8 to 10 feet, ESPN and MLB reported.

Work on the project has already begun and will be completed ahead of the Royals’ home opener against the Minnesota Twins on Monday, March 30.

The project, launched in early May 2025, would affect the offensive environment, allowing more home runs to be scored and extra-base hits, while bringing fans closer to the experience.

“We’ve discussed this possibility for years, and after much work by our Research and Development department, believe this will be a positive change for our baseball team,” Royals Executive Vice President and General Manager J.J. Picollo told MLB. “We wanted more consistency throughout the season, while making sure the specifics put us in the best position to succeed.”

Kauffman Stadium has the second-largest playing area in the MLB, compared to Coors Field in Denver, Colorado.

The new wall will come in about 8 to 10 feet, starting near each foul pole. The gaps will go from 387 feet to 379 and taper back toward centerfield, which will remain 410 feet.

The height of the wall will change from 10 feet tall to 8 1/2 feet.

The change also brings the addition of 150 seats in left field and about 80 new drinkrail seats in right field.

According to the team’s research, the changes will take the run value of fly balls at Kauffman from the bottom third of MLB ballparks to the middle, through the extra-base hits.

Fences at The K have been modified in the past. Between 1995 and 2003, they moved in by 10 feet, where the park was ranked “slightly above-average” for a home run park, according to ESPN.

The Royals returned to their former fence dimensions in 2004.

As the Royals explore building a new ballpark following the 2030 season, when their lease at the Truman Sports Complex expires, the effort signals anticipated growth within the organization over the next five years.

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TaMya Bracy

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — The St. Joseph Fire Department responded to a fire Monday night on Edmond Street.

Firefighters responded at 10:47 p.m. to a fire that began in one unit and spread to the other units in a quadplex located at the 1500 block of Edmond Street.

No injuries were reported, but three families were displaced.

SJFD said the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

KQ2 will provide updates as they become available.

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JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) — Gov. Mike Kehoe pushed ahead with his proposal to eliminate Missouri’s income tax during his annual State of the State Address on Tuesday before a joint session of the General Assembly.

Kehoe has talked about income tax elimination since he ran for the office. Now he’s looking to implement those ideas.

“If we are serious about building a foundation for growth, to compete rather than be complacent, then we must begin the work now to phase-out and eliminate Missouri’s individual income tax,” Kehoe said in prepared remarks. “We can do both. We can maintain a balanced budget that supports essential services and pursue a bold tax policy that improves Missouri’s competitiveness.”

Kehoe also stressed the need for responsible state budgeting after the state auditor warned the General Assembly of a quickly dropping reserve fund. Kehoe said his budget reduces $600 million from general revenue spending.

Kehoe’s 2025 State of the State address included priorities such as public safety, economic development, agriculture, education and government efficiency. For 2026, his focus will be continuing to prioritize those areas, according to a press release from the Governor’s office.

Kehoe also signed executive orders on school accountability and to create a government efficiency initiative called Missouri GREAT.

Kehoe talked about his tax plan to gradually eliminate the state’s income tax. However, to do that, the state would have to expand the sales tax base to include services, according to conservative group Americans For Prosperity.

Democratic lawmakers are already planning to counter Kehoe’s proposal with another plan.

House Minority Floor Leader Ashley Aune (D-Kansas City) said either option will hurt Missourians. State Rep. Mark Boyko (D-Kirkwood) said he intends to file an alternative plan next week that he claims would save most citizens more money. Boyko couldn’t give details of the plan.

Kehoe’s plan to eliminate the state income tax will need to be voter-approved and is expected to be on the ballot this year.

One of Kehoe’s top priorities ahead of his address is public safety, which has been a hot topic since a Homecoming weekend shooting in September that led to the death of Stephen’s College student Aiyanna Williams.

In December, University of Missouri System President Mun Choi met with Kehoe and Missouri’s public safety team to discuss efforts to combat crime in Columbia. However, that meeting only included university representatives, not city officials.

Earlier this month, Kehoe met with Columbia Mayor Barbara Buffaloe, City Manager De’Carlon Seewood, and Police Chief Jill Schlude to discuss public safety.

The city official’s meeting with Kehoe came after a violent start to the year in Columbia.

On Jan 3, a 17-year-old was arrested after police claimed he fired shots inside Dick’s Sporting Goods in the Shoppes at Stadium area, then stole a car and fled on Interstate 70. The following night, a shooting at an apartment complex on Clark Lane left 21-year-old Brianna Hawkins, of Fulton, dead and two others injured.

Buffaloe told ABC 17 News that while the meeting was pre-planned before those incidents took place, both of them came up in their conversation with Kehoe.

City Manager De’Carlon Seewod described the meeting as “short” but productive. No other meetings with Kehoe have been scheduled.

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Patrick Holleron

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — United Way of Greater St. Joseph’s annual luncheon meeting is just around the corner.

On Thursday, Feb. 5, United Way is inviting community members to come together for a reflection of the past year and focus on opportunities ahead in 2026. Contributions from thousands of donors and volunteers will be highlighted as part of the event.

Additionally, the meeting will recognize retiring board members, go over the financials for 2025 and the process of electing new board members. Annual award recipients will be honored for their outstanding contributions to the community.

Admission for the event is $30 per person, including tables of eight available for $225. A buffet lunch will be featured for those in attendance.

The luncheon will start at 11:45 a.m. at the Fulkerson Center on MoWest’s campus located at 4525 Downs Dr.

To register, go to the United Way of Greater St. Joseph’s website or call 816-364-2381.

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Patrick Holleron

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The 2026 FIFA World Cup in June is drawing closer and local businesses in St. Joseph are continuing to brainstorm ideas to market the town to international travelers.

A “Marketing for the World Stage” workshop featuring close to 25 businesses took place Monday at the Launch Pad-STJ in Downtown St. Joseph, an opportunity to bring businesses together to prepare for potential impacts related to the World Cup.

Monday’s gathering included discussions about anticipated tourist and visitor counts in Northwest Missouri — with some estimates in the range of 650,000 — as well as branding for local businesses both digitally and physically.

What stood out among of a range of topics Monday was the emphasis on “culture.” Not just the culture of travelers coming in to watch the world’s most popular sporting event — viewed by more than 5 billion people — but the culture of St. Joseph and how it can be shown to others.

“People come here wanting to experience our town and it’s history,” Aspire Business Consulting owner Annette Weeks said. “One thing we’re traditionally known for is the Pony Express. We encourage businesses to embrace telling the story of St. Joseph’s western theme. Show the history and tradition by embedding it into their marketing as we invite visitors from across the globe.”

Monday’s meeting was one of multiple World Cup Readiness Workshops planned between now and March. Two follow-up workshops will take place on Feb. 9 and March 9 at 10 a.m., one for staying financially ready for visitors and another for elevating customer experiences.

In addition to displaying St. Joseph’s history and culture to visitors, a main priority for local businesses is matching the passion and excitement the World Cup generates for the fans traveling throughout the Kansas City and St. Joseph areas.

“It’s important as a community, as well as the small businesses to understand this is a special opportunity unlike any we’ve ever had before. The World Cup is a huge sporting occasion,” Weeks said. “We here in the United States think the Super Bowl is huge, but the World Cup is massive. People from all countries will take 4 to 6 weeks off to come to watch the matches. They base their whole year around attending the World Cup. It’s so exciting to be afforded the opportunity to participate in this tournament.”

Additional preparations could be key in the event local foot traffic or hotel space exceeds expectations for the event. The 2026 FIFA World Cup marks the first time the tournament will be expanded from 32 to 48 teams.

Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City will host four matches in the group stage of the World Cup, including a Round of 32 and Quarterfinal matchup.

Group Stage matchups in Kansas City include:

Argentina vs. Algeria, Friday, June 16 at 8 p.m.

Ecuador vs. Curaçao, Tuesday, June 20 at 7 p.m.

Tunisia vs. Netherlands, Sunday, June 25 at 6 p.m.

Algeria vs. Austria, Tuesday, June 27 at 9 p.m.

Round of 32: July 3 at 8:30 p.m.

Quarterfinal: July 11 at 8 p.m.

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TaMya Bracy

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — Local businesses joined together Monday to discuss marketing for the upcoming FIFA World Cup in Kansas City.

This is the second World Cup readiness session the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce has hosted in efforts to ensure that local businesses are prepared for the influx of travelers coming to St. Joseph.

Susan Campbell of SJC Marketing gave tips and tricks for marketing to international travelers. Annette Weeks with Aspire Business Consulting said the World Cup is bringing a whole new clientele to St. Joseph.

“There’s definitely things that businesses need to know in marketing to the world and internationally,” she said. “What SEO (Search Engine Optimization) words to use, how to get your website prepared, and what’s the digtal marketing is needed?”

Weeks said promoting the culture in St. Joseph is huge.

“When they come here, they want the experience, and one of the things we’re known for is The Pony Express. We’re recommending that they embed that into the marketing for their business,” she said. “We’ll come together as a community and market that experience.”

Due to the popularity of the World Cup, Weeks said it’s important for the community and local businesses to come together.

“In the United States, we think the Super Bowl is huge, but the World Cup is massive,” she said. “Many countries will take four to six weeks off to come to this. They base their whole year around attending the World Cup. It’s so exciting that we get to participate in an opportunity like this.”

An overall takeaway from the workshop was the marketing strategy local businesses should look into during the World Cup.

“St. Joseph has a great story to tell from many aspects, but especially with the Pony Express that we embrace. It’s just a great opportunity to expand who we are and what we are and brag about it, and let others know our history,” Weeks said.

Weeks said being proactive and working together can help St. Joseph be that destination place.

“That’s why we are having these workshops,” she said. The community is already discussing it, there is a committee along with that as we pull in and educate the small business owners and the nonprofits, with all of us coming together with a unified understanding and unified voice whats really important.”

The next meeting will take place at 10 a.m. on Feb. 9 at The Launch Pad. Speakers will share more about how businesses can be financially ready as the World Cup approaches.

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