Author: News-Press NOW

Payton Counts

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The federal government has been shut down for more than a week, which means essential workers like TSA agents, National Weather Service employees and air traffic controllers are still on the job, but without pay.

On Tuesday, Oct. 7, multiple reports indicated some air traffic control rooms were forced to close due to staffing issues, leading to flight delays.

CNN reported operations in Nashville were shut down for up to five hours after an increased number of controllers called out sick. The Memphis Regional Air Route Traffic Control Center helped manage the situation.

Sean Northern, a chief private pilot, explained what that can mean for everyday flying and planning.

“Our objective is to go to Austin, Texas, but if we can’t get into Austin, Texas, for whatever reason, we always plan for a backup.”

Delays can occur for a variety of reasons, including weather, low ceilings, computer issues and airplane maintenance. The FAA does maintain an active website showing which airports are experiencing delays and the reasons behind them.

Statewide and regionally, there have been no reports of delays due to air traffic controller staffing.

Mike Parks, the airport manager of Columbia Regional Airport (COU), said on Wednesday, Oct. 8, that operations there remain normal.

“Currently, we have flights out of Columbia that go to Chicago, Dallas and Denver,” Parks said. “At this point in time, we have not seen any impacts, locally for our flights out of Columbia.”

Kansas City International Airport (KMCI) also reports it has not experienced any disruptions.

Kansas City Public Information Officer Jackson Overstreet provided a statement on Tuesday, Oct. 8, regarding operations at KMCI.

“Aviation staff are committed to ensuring the continued safety of any passengers that fly through during the shutdown’s duration. Aviation leadership are in conversation with federal partners over staffing and how that may impact air travel,” Overstreet said in a statement. “So far, the FAA has not expressed concerns with employees not showing up for work, but due to unknown length of the shutdown, MCI is preparing for any possibilities.”

According to the statement, KMCI and the Kansas City Downtown Airport are currently not experiencing any impacts on day-to-day operations. Travelers are encouraged to monitor flight statuses on the airline’s website or www.flykc.com.

Those taking a flight are advised to arrive at the airport at least two hours early for domestic flights and three hours early for international flights.

During the government shutdown, AAA officials recommend arriving even earlier.

“…You may want to extend that out to maybe, you know, three or four hours before domestic flights,” said Nick Chabarria, public affairs senior specialist for AAA.

If the government shutdown continues, there could be growing impacts for both travelers and those who work in the aviation industry.

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Alec Pascuzzi

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The national youth development organization 4-H is celebrating National 4-H Week.

The organization is dedicated to providing youth with mentorship, leadership opportunities and skills to prepare them for successful careers.

National 4-H week is meant to highlight the positive impact that the organization has on youth across the country.

“National 4-H week is so special to us because it’s an opportunity for us to showcase everything that 4-H is meant to be. Anywhere from developing life skills, with youth to developing their leadership and even, giving back to the community as those are our main focus of 4-H,” said Laura Evans, field specialist in 4-H youth development.  

For more information on how to volunteer or get involved with 4-H, visit 4H.missouri.edu.

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Carter Ostermiller

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The Baby & Me Tobacco Free (BMTF) program provided by the St. Joseph Health Department aims to help future and postpartum mothers fight tobacco addiction.

Women must attend four individualized prenatal counseling sessions, each lasting 30 to 45 minutes.

“It’s a conversation between us. We talk about what their triggers might be, where they smoke the most, things like that,” said Kay Smith, a Health Educator at the Health Department. “Then we go through different ways to help them stop that,” said Smith.

By their third visit, patients must quit smoking and stay tobacco-free during their pregnancy.

Women will attend six-monthly postpartum counseling maintenance sessions and must test tobacco-free during their visits.

BMTF will also offer monetary incentives for program dedication, such as gift card awards.

For example, participants will receive a $50 gift card to purchase items in the baby department after completing the third and fourth prenatal visits and all six postpartum visits, provided they test tobacco-free.

Smith urges pregnant women who smoke to consider the program to not only help the baby, but also themselves.

Smoking while pregnant can lead to health defects and even death for the baby.

To sign up for the counseling program, visit the St. Joseph, Missouri website’s Baby and Me Tobacco Free (BMTF) and call or email the St. Joseph Health Department.

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Praji Ghosh

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Herzog opened its doors for a career day event for students in area schools.

The event offered a hands-on opportunity for students to ask questions about the workforce and explore various career paths.

“We have 30 different stations just to introduce them to anything from the office to the field to the shop, which will expose them to what they might not already know about us,” said Heidi Sweeney, a recruiting manager at Herzog.

Sweeney said it’s up to each high school to decide which students to send and what grade levels will take part.  

She also said that students have traveled from as far as Nebraska, Iowa and Kansas to take part in the event.  

“We’ve seen Benton and Lafeyette out here today, in addition to that, we have had educators from about 60 60-mile radius that we work with come in the area,” Sweeney said.  

One student said his biggest takeaway from the event was learning how crews use backhoes to help unload train cars.  

“They’ve got welders and it’s crazy how many job opportunities they offer and I want to go into trades after high school, which is why my counselor wanted me to attend this,” said JJ Higdon, a junior from Maryville High School.

Herzog first launched Career Day in the spring of 2024, and after seeing strong participation that fall, the company decided to keep the event going.  

Sweeney pointed out that Herzog offers a wide range of positions at different levels — giving students plenty of options to explore, no matter where their interests lie.  

Another student said the environment felt welcoming and that attending the career day was definitely the right choice.

“Everybody knows each other and they work together to help each other out and my biggest takeaway from this was to learn the things that they do here,” said Grace Navarro, a sophomore at Lafayette High School.

The goal of the event is to help students explore potential career paths while giving them a better understanding of what Herzog does.

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News-Press NOW

PLATTE COUNTY, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — A Topeka, Kansas man went to the hospital after flipping a semi-truck in Platte County, Missouri Tuesday.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports the crash occurred around 6:30 a.m. on Interstate 29 North, just south of Platte City.

A 62-year-old Topeka man driving a semi-truck traveled off the road and into the median, flipping it.

First responders took him to North Kansas City Hospital for serious injuries.

He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the crash report.

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Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Contractors are officially plowing ahead on the highly anticipated home for future livestock showcases and events in Buchanan County.

Crews with Al J. Mueller Construction are on site carrying out the first steps of development for a $1.6 million Buchanan County Fairgrounds arena in Easton, Missouri, with Tuesday’s work focused on grading and landscaping.

The new fairgrounds will span nearly 20 acres, headlined by the construction of a 160-by-250-foot arena, nearly the same width as an NFL football field.

The venue will be capable of hosting a wide range of 4-H and FFA showcases, as well as larger events like rodeos and car shows, among other year-round possibilities.

County officials told News-Press NOW the hope is to have the arena constructed by late December and ready by spring of 2026.

At the same time, renovations are also moving forward at the former East Buchanan Middle School building nearby. The building was acquired by the Buchanan County Fairgrounds Board and will be paired with the arena as a hub for community and fairgrounds-related activities.

This photo shows the land where the new Buchanan County Fairgrounds Arena will be constructed in Easton, Missouri, next to the former East Buchanan Middle School building on North County Park Road.

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Alec Pascuzzi

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — One new South Side business is providing affordable clothing and child care items for families.

The Kids Kingdom clothing store, located on 6968 King Hill Ave., opened its doors on April 1, 2025.

Owner and St. Joseph native Kaeli Thomas desired to provide something special for her community. As a mom of seven, she wanted to give all mothers and caregivers access to affordable clothes for their kids.

“Stuff is up in prices. And I’m like, ‘What does the community need?’ There are new mothers out there that are struggling every day. And I’m like, we just need to bring affordable wear,” said Thomas.

Thomas said it’s all about giving back to the community she loves.

“Stuff’s expensive nowadays. So we want to be able to give affordable and everything be affordable for mothers, new mothers, expecting mothers, mothers that have kiddos. I mean, it’s just we want to give back to the community,” said Thomas.

The Kid’s Kingdom offers a variety of affordable children’s products such as clothing, shoes, strollers, car seats, toys and so much more.

Thomas’s favorite thing about The Kid’s Kingdom isn’t just the products they sell, it’s the relationships that are made.

“My favorite thing about this place is my customers. I love seeing the faces. I love seeing people come in and give great feedback on everything that they have found or, you know, just good feedback that I’m bringing good to the community. But my customers are what keeps me going and is what I love best about this is my customers,” said Thomas.  

From providing affordable kids’ clothing to meaningful connections, The Kid’s Kingdom is here to serve the community it loves.

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News-Press NOW

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Ramps along Interstate 229 will be closed for a short period of time due to a road resurfacing project.

Herzog Contracting Corp., working with the Missouri Department of Transportation, has scheduled several short-term ramp closures.

The northbound Interstate-29 to northbound I-229 ramp and southbound I-229 to southbound I-29 ramp will be closed on Thursday, Oct. 9 and Tuesday, Oct. 14.

The southbound I-29 to northbound I-229 ramp and the southbound I-229 to northbound I-29 ramp will be closed on Friday, Oct. 10, Monday, Oct. 13 and Wednesday, Oct. 15.

As part of the resurfacing project, the ramps from I-229 to Buchanan County Route A, Missouri Route 752 and 22nd Street in St. Joseph will be closed temporarily as the paving operation moves through the intersection.

MoDOT said all work is weather-permitting and drivers should plan to use an alternate route.

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Carter Ostermiller

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Book lovers will want to mark their calendars, as the Friends of the St. Joseph Public Library will kick off its annual book sale at the Downtown Library.

The sale begins with a Friends Only Preview Sale on Saturday, Oct. 18, from 9 am to 10 am, and then will open to the public soon after 10 am.

The sale will offer over 10,000 items, including Hardcover books for $2, paperbacks, CDs and DVDs for $1.

The sale will continue from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 19 and Monday, Oct. 20.

All items will be half price during the sale from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 21.

“Bag and box day” will take place from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 22. Shoppers can pay $5 for “all you can fit in a bag” and $10 for “all you can fit in a box.”

Nonprofit organizations and teachers can also get books for free during “bag and box day” from 2 to 6 p.m. when they show proof of tax exemption or a school ID. Those who want to participate in the free book giveaway will need to check in at the register when they arrive.

All items on sale at the library will be organized into categories for shopper convenience.

The sale serves as an opportunity for the community to support its local library.

“The money they earn goes back into the library. They support library programming. They support our book clubs. They help pay for our Excel High School seats, and they really help us in funding our summer reading program,” said Jessica Poet, the outreach and marketing services manager.

Proceeds from the sale will help fund the Summer Reading Programs at the four St. Joseph library branches.

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TaMya Bracy

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The Buchanan County Prosecutor’s Office and St. Joseph School District are partnering together to address student absenteeism.

Absenteeism has increased since the pandemic and remains a serious problem in the state, including in St. Joseph.

According to the U.S. Department of Education, Missouri’s chronic absenteeism was at 21% during the 2022-23 school year.

SJSD’s Annual Report Card on the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) also states it saw a 78.2% total proportional attendance rate during the 2023-2024 school year.

Statewide annual school “report cards” through DESE are released for the prior school year at the end of November.

Missouri law requires parents and guardians of children to ensure their children attend school regularly. A conviction for violation of that law can result in a jail sentence of 15 days and/or a fine of upto $750.

Dr. Ashly McGinnis, SJSD superintendent said that the district focus is on supporting studentsand families before legal action becomes necessary.

“We know that when students are in school consistently, they are more likely to succeed academically,”McGinnis said. “This partnership with the Prosecutor’s Office is about accountability, but it’s also aboutsupport. We want to work alongside families to remove barriers, encourage attendance, and give everychild the best chance to succeed,” she said.

News-Press NOW will update this article.

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