Author: News-Press NOW

Rebecca Evans

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — As the U.S. Supreme Court prepares to weigh in on the legality of President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs, small business owners and consumers in St. Joseph say they’re already feeling the economic pressure.

One local retailer, who wishes to stay anonymous to protect their business, commented that they are seeing an impact on people’s spending habits, that sales have been slower. They commented that most products are not made in the US, causing costs to increase significantly. On average, 15-20% for imports.

The high court is expected to hear arguments in early November after Trump appealed a federal ruling that declared his “Liberation Day” tariffs unlawful. Two lower courts, the Court of International Trade and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, found the tariffs exceeded presidential authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA.

The tariffs, which imposed broad fees on imports from nearly all foreign countries, have generated billions in revenue but also sparked widespread legal and economic pushback.

For business owners like Amy Heath, who runs The Lucky Tiger, a vintage clothing store in Downtown St. Joseph, the burden is already here.

“I’ve carried good luck socks from Canada for about six years, but now, they’ve had to raise the prices of the socks, and I’ll have to pass it around to the customer.”

The tariffs were originally implemented to reduce the U.S. trade deficit, which occurs when imports outpace exports. In July 2025, the trade deficit reached -$78.31 billion, according to federal data.

“It’s really extremely important to shop local because your money goes straight back into the economy,” said Heath.

The tariffs are not only hitting businesses hard, but also consumers.

“Gas prices are hitting up to the roof and it’s unspeakable right now. I care about my babies, I don’t even eat anymore,” said Monique, a St. Joseph resident.

If the justices rule against the tariffs, businesses could not only avoid future payments but also seek refunds on past duties.

The Supreme Court’s ruling could have long-term implications beyond the current economic climate, setting a precedent for how future presidents use emergency powers in trade policy.

But for now, small business owners across the country are bracing for whatever comes next.

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Patrick Holleron

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — As the government shutdown continues, SNAP benefits may be suspended in the coming weeks.

To help families who could be impacted, the United Way of Greater Joseph will hold Caring Connection volunteer sessions to prep meal kits.

“This is our response to hearing that SNAP benefits may be suspended for households in November,” United Way President Kylie Strough said. “We know many households in our community are struggling because they’ve been going without pay if they’re in a government job. There’s a need for food in our community all the time.”

The sessions will be held from 9-11 a.m. and 1 to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 31. Basic household items will be supplied in the kits, to make meals such as tuna casserole and chicken tacos.

“We have already sourced the food items thanks to the generous donations that people have made to us year-round,” Strough said. “We were able to buy in bulk, and we’re going to pack 600 meal kits over the course of those two days.”

For those interested in volunteering for the sessions next week, United Way has created an application on its Facebook page.

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Carter Ostermiller

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The Creepy Krug’s Dead of Night Tour is back, but not at its normal stomping grounds.

Instead of taking place a Krug Park, Creepy Krug will now run from 5 to 10 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 24, Saturday, Oct. 25, Sunday, Oct.26, and Friday, Oct. 31 at the Muchenberger Bros building, located at 701 Olive St.

The event will take place indoors while Krug Park undergoes construction.

Admission is $10 a ticket and will be available for anyone 13 years of age or older, unless accompanied by a guardian.

For more information, visit the Creepy Krug Facebook account.

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TaMya Bracy

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The Missouri Department of Conservation and the Conservation Federation of Missouri are encouraging deer hunters to donate venison to the Missouri Share the Harvest program.

The program started in 1992 and has provided more than six million pounds of venison to Missourians.

The donated venison will go toward local food banks and food pantries to help feed the state. Missouri’s deer season started on Sept. 15 and will run until Jan. 15. Hunters can donate venison at any time during or after the season.

Tyler Polley, a Buchanan County conservation agent, said along with hunters donating, the MDC also contributes meat to the harvest.

“That’s where a lot of our deer meat comes from, because…us as a Department and as landowners, we do targeted removal to try to combat CWD (Chronic Wasting Disease),” said Polley. “All that meat, once it’s been tested and all that, it gets put into the harvest, which goes out and helps many, many people.”

To donate, hunters must take the harvested deer to an approved meat processor and let the processor know how much venison to donate.

The MDC website shows different processors throughout the state. Polley said some hunters might have to pay a processing fee.

“The harvest does help every processor with $95 per deer, and then the hunter would have to cover the rest with the processing fee,” Polley said.

Second Harvest is an organization that receives some of the meat from the MDC and distributes it to food pantries across the region.

Mackenzie Bally, Second Harvest marketing manager, said the program is really beneficial.

“A lot of the families we serve maybe don’t have a source of protein coming in at all. And deer meat has a really low fat content. And so it’s a really nutritious item that people can be eating,” she said.

In the last couple of years, Second Harvest has received 5,000 to 7,000 pounds of venison from the program. This year, Second Harvest hasn’t received much venison because the peak months for donations are January and February.

Bally said this program is important because Second Harvest relies heavily on donations and fundraising.

“Having partners like local hunters and processors is just a really great way to get involved and help the people that are right in your community,” she said.

To get more information on the Share the Harvest program, visit the MDC website.

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News-Press NOW

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The St. Joseph Police Department is seeking information regarding a hit-and-run incident Tuesday near the City Star on Frederick Avenue.

The crash occurred around 8 a.m. Tuesday as a light-colored SUV was leaving the parking lot at 2130 Frederick Avenue and entered the roadway where traffic was backed up, according to a press release from SJPD.

The SUV drove between cars in the eastbound lane of Frederick Avenue and struck another vehicle in the left turn lane at 22nd Street.

After the collision, the SUV did not stop and continued traveling west on Frederick Avenue, according to police.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call the SJPD Traffic Office at 816-596-8206 and reference case number 2025-062746.

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Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Housed beneath St. Joseph’s newest fire station lies the future home base for emergency coordination in the event of a disaster.

With roughly 3,000 square feet of space and fortified concrete walls nearly a foot thick, city officials are prepping the launch of a new emergency operations center located below Fire Station 8 on Mitchell Avenue.

Whether it’s responding to flooding, a tornado or a public health crisis, the ongoing project is designed to provide a centralized and secure location for deploying resources and coordinating among a wide range of officials in critical situations.

“It’s incredibly helpful to work through, in a time of disaster, flooding or whatever the problem may be. To have everyone in the same place, the ability to make decisions right there,” City Manager Mike Schumacher said. “When they built Fire Station No. 8, they had the foresight to go ahead and build that in anticipation.”

St. Joseph Fire Chief Ivan Klippenstein and St. Joseph Emergency Manager Bill Lamar walk through the early stages of the Emergency Operations Center in October at Fire Station 8 on Mitchell Avenue.

Constructed in 2022 along with St. Joseph’s newest fire station, city leaders have ramped up discussions in recent months as they work to bring the once-dormant space online and operational for the first time.

In addition to the necessary technology for communication and press conferences, the EOC will also have existing equipment transferred over to provide backup dispatch service capabilities.

“Once we get some input and guidance from Council, then we’ll go through the process to select the architect to kind of lay out the floor plan,” Schumacher said. “It’s intended to really consolidate those decision makers in one location to communicate to the public on whatever’s going on live.”

Depending on the type of emergency and the scale of impact, flooding, for example, live-to-the-minute coordination is critical between numerous entities, from public works to the school district, public safety, utility companies and experts in science.

In 2019, thousands of residents in parts of south St. Joseph were forced to evacuate due to flooding on the Missouri River, which crested at a record 32.11 feet, breaking levees and causing damage across a four-state area.

“In these emergencies … Public Works immediately becomes important. Your stormwater teams become important. If you need to offer transportation to citizens to get them out of harm’s way,” Schumacher. “It would be nice to have utility partners right there with you as well. It’s very much a collaborative effort.”

Various equipment is shown in October in one corner of the future Emergency Operations Center below Fire Station 8 on Mitchell Avenue.

While nothing has been finalized, the cost for the project is estimated between $800,000 and $1.2 million, paid for by unencumbered funds remaining from last fiscal year. Schumacher said the goal is to keep costs around $800,000.

One key to the facility is security. Although the EOC is located below the fire station, access is separate from the station itself. Backup generators for Station Eight also provide additional power if needed.

The EOC would not require any level of full-time staffing. Discussions are also currently ongoing with Buchanan County officials about the project as well.

With close to a dozen acres of land adjacent to the fire station and EOC, ongoing plans could be just the start of expansions in the future if funds allow.

“Through that process, there may be an opportunity for a second phase, if you will. So we’ll continue working the project. We want to be very mindful of costs,” Schumacher said.

First and foremost for the city and community partners, though, is solidifying a vision that can be brought to life.

To this point, St. Joseph has gotten by with its current infrastructure in times of emergency coordination, but officials see a prime opportunity to make necessary and beneficial upgrades.

“We’re grateful we have it. And really, the folks that built the station did a great job of making sure that it’s ready to go whenever the time comes to build it out. We’re proposing that time has come,” he said.

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Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Local coffee lovers will see a widely popular coffee chain setting up shop in early 2026.

A spokesperson with Dutch Bros Coffee confirmed to News-Press NOW, the plan is to construct its first St. Joseph location in early 2026 at 516b North Belt Highway, next to Creviston & Son Jewelry and Summers Motors.

Dutch Bros, a popular drive-thru coffee chain, was founded in 1992 in Grants Pass, Oregon, and now operates more than 1,000 locations across the U.S.

The shop serves a wide variety of specialty and handcrafted beverages, including iced coffee, tea, lemonade, soda, smoothies and more.

Demolition work was recently carried out on the Belt Highway in anticipation of construction.

News-Press NOW will continue to follow this story.

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Praji Ghosh

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The St. Joseph Police Department is putting a special focus on keeping impaired drivers off the road through something called the Substance Awareness Traffic Offender Program, or SATOP.  

The program is part of a saturation effort, where officers from different agencies come together to target one issue on a particular night. In this case, it’s drivers under the influence.  

“Officers are out focusing on one topic in that particular night from different agencies and get in one area to patrol cars that violate regulations,” said SJPD Sgt. Patrick Zeamer.

Zeamer said the program has been around since the 1980s. Before officers hit the streets, they receive a briefing and presentation on the night’s enforcement plan.  

The main goal, he said, is education and prevention — helping keep the roads safer by reducing impaired driving.  

“We put them out a couple of times a year. We as a department have money from the state of Missouri through MoDOT that allows us to do enforcement programs throughout the year,” Zeamer said. 

He added, most of these violations tend to happen during bar hours — when alcohol is being served — which is why enforcement ramps up at night.

Nationally, programs like this have helped lower crash numbers over time, but Zeamer said St. Joseph hasn’t seen a clear trend one way or the other.  

Resident Dawn Pickett said she’s noticed safety improvements in her neighborhood, especially with new stop signs being added.  

Pickett said it would make a big difference if drivers just slowed down a bit, and hopes SJPD continues to put more time and effort into programs like this.  

“We have invested a lot of our tax dollars into the police department for these safety features so they definitely need to have their eyes open and pull drivers out if they aren’t following the rules,” Pickett said.

Pickett also said she hopes the department continues investing in safety programs like this and reminds drivers to stay alert, especially in areas known for crashes or hazards. 

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Rebecca Evans

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Music lovers will get a jolt this Halloween season as a third annual Halloween show brings punk and metal bands from St. Joseph and Kansas City, Missouri, to the Good Times Event Center.

Organized by solo artist Tim Leland, the event has become a Halloween tradition for the region’s heavy music fans. Full Metal Z, known for their zombie-themed performances, will return, joined by GrimmStalkeR and Beneath the Skin.

Leland said the difference between seeing a local concert versus a larger concert is incredible.

“A local show, you go to a dive bar and pay five bucks for a beer and get in for five or ten dollars and you’re seeing not just one person, but probably four bands at a time for a minor fraction of the price.”

Courtesy of Tim Leland

The all-ages show will be held Friday, Oct. 24, at the Good Times Event Center, 3414 S. 22nd St. Doors open at 8 p.m., with music starting at 9 p.m. Admission is $10 in advance or $15 at the door.

Josh Bowles with Beneath the Skin said, “It’s all just rock and roll. It all started way back with Chuck Barry, you know, people like that. It’s all the same stuff just a different flavor.”

A costume contest with prizes will also be part of the evening’s festivities.

Mike Riley with Beneath the Skin said, “I would say just give it a chance. People often get intimidated or turned off by the more aggressive stuff but listen to what they’re talking about.”

Leland, who has lived and performed in St. Joseph for nine years, will take the stage with the Tim Leland Band, joined by bassist Juniper and drummer Corbin.

The lineup features Kansas City favorites Beneath the Skin, with Josh Bowles and Mike Riley, as well as GrimmstalkeR, with Brandon “The Grimm One” Holly and guitarist Keegan “Goosifer” Goosey, who have both played in St. Joseph several times in the past.

Member of GrimmstalkR said, “If you wanna understand it, I truly feel like you should come out to a show and experience it first hand. That’s the best way to experience it, looks can be deceiving.”

Full Metal Z is a Kansas City “zombie metal” band with KC Corpse and Dayvid of the Dead. The band formed about 10 years ago, inspired by Dayvid’s time performing at Worlds of Fun’s Zombie High haunted house.

“You know it looks scary, it’s metal, it’s zombies,” said KC Corpse, “But there’s also a lot of serious content as well. Its a creative outlet not only for myself but our whole band.”

They released their debut album, “Made Me a Zombie,” in 2019 and are now working on their next record, set for release in 2026.

Dayvid of the Dead said, “It’s a lot of fun to put on the theatrics and the show and you know get everyone involved. We’re here for you to have fun.”

The band’s elaborate horror looks are created by special effects artist Brian Wells of Wicked Wounds Effects.

With venues closing across the region, events like this help keep the local heavy music community alive.

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Patrick Holleron

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The United Way of Greater St. Joseph focused on employment opportunities during its monthly PACE meeting.

Different strategies and scenarios regarding opening employment opportunities were discussed, with an emphasis on jobs in technical and utility industries.

“For any job make sure your on time, dressed appropriately and be on time to interviews” Express Employment Professionals Owner Vern Patterson said. “Be willing to share what you’re looking for in a job.”

Multiple local organizations were in attendance, including Family Guidance Center, Catholic Charities of Kansas City-St. Joseph and Express Employment Professionals of St. Joseph.

They also provided insight on the challenges of finding job opportunities during the government shutdown, with one of the challenges being the I-9 verification process.  

“If somebody is getting a tentative non confirmation, or a tnt then we have to contact social security to try to get that clarified,” Patterson said. “And sometimes that’s a little bit of a delay. What they’ve got us doing right now is just continuing to let the people work okay. until they get squared away.”

The next United Way Pace session will be held in November. For more information visit United Way’s website.

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