Category: knpn-local-news

NewsPressNow

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — According to a story posted yesterday by the Department of the Air Force website, the military branch has selected the Wyoming Air National Guard as the next location to host C-130J airplanes.

The announcement could spell bad news for the local 139th Airlift Wing of the Missouri Air National Guard. The 139th hosts a fleet of C-130H planes at its base at Rosecrans Airport. The release said, “A total of eight C-130J aircraft will be used to recapitalize the aging C-130H fleet, where older C-130H models will be fleet managed out of service and replaced by C-130H models from converting units.”

It’s unclear what impact this move will have on the 139th. Last July, Gov. Mike Kehoe approved $7.5 million to design a new aircraft maintenance hangar and $2 million to relocate the fuel farm facility at Rosecrans.

Both projects were hoped to enhance the 139th’s chances of receiving the newer C-130J models.

In addition, the Air Force announced that 19 “excess” manpower positions “due to this shift will be repurposed through the Air National Guard corporate process.”

The Air Force said the first fleet of eight C-130J aircraft will arrive at the Wyoming Air National Guard base in Cheyenne in early 2028.

Attempts to reach Missouri’s 6th District Congressman Sam Graves and Missouri Senator Eric Schmitt were unsuccessful. Graves is a member of the House’s Arm Services Committee while Schmitt serves on the same committee in the Senate.

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Ashley Luthans

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The community has been invited to celebrate Easter with fun activities at the Wyeth-Tootle Mansion.

From 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 19, Easter at the Mansion included an egg hunt (with a limit of 12 eggs per child), Easter Bunny photo opportunities, crafts, face painting and more.

Hundreds of community members attended the event, bringing families out to have fun and visit the mansion.

This was nine-year-old Azariah Kindred’s first time going to Easter at the Wyeth-Tootle Mansion, and she shared her favorite part of the event.

“Just going around and I painted eggs and got a balloon animal,” Kindred said.

The event is hosted by the Museum Hill Neighborhood Association and the St. Joseph Museums. Sponsors for the event are Altec, First Lutheran Church and Zion United Church of Christ.

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Patrick Holleron

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — To encourage mental health discussions, the Samaritan Counseling Center held it’s “taco ’bout mental health” walk and 5k at the Bode Ice Arena.

“It’s amazing what they do for our community,” 5k runner Matthew Payden said. “Community outreach is such a significant thing for us. But what they do specifically, how they help people, and money not being in the equation is huge. It’s just simply how they can serve our community. And the people that need it the most is what impresses me about what they do. It’s a worthy cause for us to be here today.”

This years run was geared toward providing awareness to substance use recovery. Among counties in Missouri, Buchannan County is in the top ten highest for opioid overdoses.

Speakers were present to provide information on Narcan and ways for people to get involved in helping reduce opioid overdoses.

Tacos were also provided for participants of the walk and 5k.

The event saw 143 people registered to participate, with a 75% turnout. The 5k raised roughly $8,000 in donations.

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Leah Rainwater

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — In a social media announcement on Friday, April 18, the City of St. Joseph announced attorney, Laura Chavez will assume the role of Municipal Court Judge.

Chavez is assuming the position, following the untimely death of Judge Ted Elo.

Chavez is a St. Joseph native, graduating from Bishop LeBlond High School and Missouri Western State University, before earning her law degree at Creighton University.

She has served as the City Prosecutor in Municipal Court for the last ten years and is prepared to hit the ground running.

Chavez’s appointment as Municipal Court Judge will be formally voted on at the April 28th City Council session as an emergency ordinance.

Her appointment will remain effective until the April 2026 general municipal election, at which time she, and any other interested candidates, will need to seek election to the position by popular vote.

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News-Press NOW

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — A golf tournament coming up in May aims to help support kids in need of mentorship.

The Big Swing Golf Tournament to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of St. Joseph is set to take place on Monday, May 12, at Moila Golf Course. A shotgun start is set for 8 a.m.

The event will include food, giveaways and raffle prizes. To sign up, go to bbbsbigswing.org.

Big Brothers Big Sisters aims to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships between young people and adult volunteers.

Leah Rainwater

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Missouri Western State University’s Craig School of Business will hold a financial workshop, featuring an expert panel.

The workshop will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 19 at the Downtown Library located at 927 Felix St.

The workshop will feature discussion on budgeting, saving and investing and offers advice for both students and adults in the St. Joseph community.

The event is free and open to the public.

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Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Customers can once again dine in at a popular and new-look airport eatery, this time in a state-of-art terminal building.

B&B Runway Cafe held its much anticipated reopening Friday morning at the new Rosecrans Memorial Airport terminal building, just next door to the previous location. The cafe temporarily closed on April 12 to allow time for the relocation.

Customers will see a modernized look and expanded dining area to accommodate more people, a new patio for runway viewing and double the amount of kitchen space.

Cafe owner Jillian Parisoff said customers are being asked to park in the original terminal parking lot at this time to allow those with disabilities and limited mobility to use main lot until outdoor construction is complete. 

The cafe unveiled a sleek new menu with additional items to compliment the new location. The diner is also set to expand its hours to include Mondays starting on April 28.

The civilian airport and military base are in the midst of a widespread multi-year modernization project that includes relocating the 139th to the north end. Upgrades include a new runway, air traffic control tower and a new maintenance control complex designed to house the newer C-130J models.

News-Press NOW will update this article.