Category: knpn-local-news

Praji Ghosh

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — With the first day of school just around the corner, the St. Joseph Health Department is reminding families to make sure their students are up to date on immunizations. 

If a child is still in need of a vaccine, the department is urging parents to get it done by the end of this week. 

Shots will be available at the health department clinic, 904 S. 10th St., on the following days: 

Monday, Aug. 11: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. 

Wednesday, Aug. 13–Friday, Aug. 15: 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. 

Monday, Aug. 18: 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. 

There will be no services on Tuesday, Aug. 12, including access to immunization records. 

Any resident can use the immunization clinic, but kids must be accompanied by a parent or guardian 18 years old or older with a valid ID. Adults should bring an insurance card (if they have one) and a copy of the child’s immunization record (if available). 

The clinic will also offer the optional HPV vaccine for anyone 11 or older. 

For more details — including information on exemptions — visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. 

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Abigail McCluskey

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The Perseids meteor shower is one of the brightest and most popular meteor showers of the year.

This annual shower remains active from mid-July through late August, but it will peak between Monday, Aug. 11, and Wednesday, Aug. 13, when stargazers can expect to see up to 60 to 100 meteors per hour, weather permitting.

According to NASA, the Perseids meteor shower is caused by Comet Swift-Tuttle. This comet is the largest object known to repeatedly pass near Earth, with a nucleus approximately 16 miles wide.

When looking up during a meteor shower, viewers are watching tiny bits of debris left behind by comets. As these particles enter Earth’s atmosphere, they heat up and burn brightly, creating streaks of light across the sky which are commonly called “shooting stars.”

These vivid pieces of space debris can travel at speeds of up to 37 miles per second, according to NASA.

The American Meteor Society recommends finding a dark location away from city lights and looking in the opposite direction of the moon for the best visibility. Although the meteors can appear anywhere in the sky, they seem to radiate from the constellation Perseus, located in the northeastern part of the sky.

In St. Joseph, cloud cover may be an issue as rain chances continue through Tuesday. However, the best time for local viewing will likely be late Tuesday night, on Aug. 12, into the early morning hours of Wednesday, Aug. 13, when skies may briefly clear.

To improve your chances of seeing the shower, head to a dark, open area away from city lights.

Allow your eyes to adjust to the dark for at least 20 minutes. Look low on the horizon and scan all quadrants of the sky.

Finally, consider using an app to help locate constellations and track the meteor shower.

Whether you’re an avid stargazer or just looking for a moment of wonder, the Perseids are a great reason to step outside, look up, and make a wish.

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Associated Press

By DAVID KLEPPER – Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Monday he’s placing the Washington, D.C., police department under federal control and deploying the National Guard to make the nation’s capital safer.

Trump has promised new steps to tackle homelessness and crime in Washington, prompting the city’s mayor to voice concerns about the potential use of the National Guard to patrol the streets.

Ahead of a news conference, Trump said Monday on social media that the nation’s capital would be “LIBERATED today!” He said he would end the “days of ruthlessly killing, or hurting, innocent people.”

For Trump, the effort to take over public safety in Washington reflects a next step in his law enforcement agenda after his aggressive push to stop illegal border crossings. But the move involves at least 500 federal law enforcement officials, raising fundamental questions about how an increasingly emboldened federal government will interact with its state and local counterparts.

Combating crime

The president has used his social media and White House megaphones to message that his administration is tough on crime, yet his ability to shape policy might be limited outside of Washington, which has a unique status as a congressionally established federal district. Nor is it clear how his push would address the root causes of homelessness and crime.

About 500 federal law enforcement officers are being tasked with deploying throughout the nation’s capital as part of the Trump administration’s effort to combat crime, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press on Monday.

More than 100 FBI agents and about 40 agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are among federal law enforcement personnel being assigned to patrols in Washington, the person briefed on the plans said. The Drug Enforcement Administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Marshals Service are also contributing officers.

The person was not authorized to publicly discuss personnel matters and spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity. The Justice Department didn’t immediately have a comment Monday morning.

Focusing on homelessness

Trump in a Sunday social media post had emphasized the removal of Washington’s homeless population, though it was unclear where the thousands of people would go.

“The Homeless have to move out, IMMEDIATELY,” Trump wrote Sunday. “We will give you places to stay, but FAR from the Capital. The Criminals, you don’t have to move out. We’re going to put you in jail where you belong.”

Last week, the Republican president directed federal law enforcement agencies to increase their presence in Washington for seven days, with the option “to extend as needed.”

On Friday night, federal agencies including the Secret Service, the FBI and the U.S. Marshals Service assigned more than 120 officers and agents to assist in Washington.

Trump said last week that he was considering ways for the federal government to seize control of Washington, asserting that crime was “ridiculous” and the city was “unsafe,” after the recent assault of a high-profile member of the Department of Government Efficiency.

The National Guard

Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat, questioned the effectiveness of using the Guard to enforce city laws and said the federal government could be far more helpful by funding more prosecutors or filling the 15 vacancies on the D.C. Superior Court, some of which have been open for years.

Bowser cannot activate the National Guard herself, but she can submit a request to the Pentagon.

“I just think that’s not the most efficient use of our Guard,” she said Sunday on MSNBC’s “The Weekend,” acknowledging it is “the president’s call about how to deploy the Guard.”

Bowser was making her first public comments since Trump started posting about crime in Washington last week. She noted that violent crime in Washington has decreased since a rise in 2023. Trump’s weekend posts depicted the district as “one of the most dangerous cities anywhere in the World.”

For Bowser, “Any comparison to a war-torn country is hyperbolic and false.”

Crime statistics

Police statistics show homicides, robberies and burglaries are down this year when compared with this time in 2024. Overall, violent crime is down 26% compared with this time a year ago.

Trump offered no details in Truth Social posts over the weekend about possible new actions to address crime levels he argues are dangerous for citizens, tourists and workers alike. The White House declined to offer additional details about Monday’s announcement.

The police department and the mayor’s office did not respond to questions about what Trump might do next.

The president criticized the district as full of “tents, squalor, filth, and Crime,” and he seems to have been set off by the attack on Edward Coristine, among the most visible figures of the bureaucracy-cutting effort known as DOGE. Police arrested two 15-year-olds in the attempted carjacking and said they were looking for others.

“This has to be the best run place in the country, not the worst run place in the country,” Trump said Wednesday.

He called Bowser “a good person who has tried, but she has been given many chances.”

Trump has repeatedly suggested that the rule of Washington could be returned to federal authorities. Doing so would require a repeal of the Home Rule Act of 1973 in Congress, a step Trump said lawyers are examining. It could face steep pushback.

Bowser acknowledged that the law allows the president to take more control over the city’s police, but only if certain conditions are met.

“None of those conditions exist in our city right now,” she said. “We are not experiencing a spike in crime. In fact, we’re watching our crime numbers go down.”

Associated Press writers Ashraf Khalil, Alanna Durkin Richer and Michelle L. Price contributed to this report.

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News-Press NOW

DAVIESS COUNTY, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — A Jamesport, Missouri man suffered serious injuries in a one-utility terrain vehicle crash in Daviess County Sunday.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports the crash occurred around 4:45 a.m. at the intersection of Topper Avenue and 320th Street, a mile west of Lock Springs, Missouri.

The 22-year-old driver, headed west, lost control around a curve and overcorrected, flipping his UTV.

He was taken to Hedrick Medical Center by private vehicle for serious injuries.

He was not wearing safety gear, according to the crash report.

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News-Press NOW

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The Missouri State Highway Patrol is encouraging parents and students to be safe when heading back to school this August.

MSHP reports that, in 2024, seven people were killed and 345 were injured in traffic crashes involving a school bus.

In Missouri last year, a total of 843 traffic crashes involved a school bus.

When it comes to recommendations for students, MSHP said it’s important to stay alert to surroundings.

If a student is walking to school, cross the street at intersections or marked crosswalks and never between parked cars. Make eye contact with drivers when crossing the street to make sure they’re aware.

Use sidewalks when available, and if it’s necessary to walk on the roadway, stay close to the left edge and step off to the left when traffic approaches. Never run into the street.

If a student is riding a bicycle to school, be sure to wear a helmet and obey all traffic signs and signals. Ride as near to the right side of the roadway as is safe, and use proper hand signals when changing directions, slowing down or stopping.

Never carry passengers when riding a bike and make sure to keep both hands on the handlebars, except when signaling.

If a student is riding the bus, MSHP encourages checking the weather and dressing accordingly. Wait in line for the bus on the shoulder or the sidewalk.

Additionally, students crossing the street need to walk at least 10 feet in front of the bus.

MSHP also said parents are encouraged to talk to their children about safety tips, depending on their mode of transportation.

Motorists are asked to always be vigilant, especially near school zones, playgrounds, bicycle paths and crosswalks, when school is in session.

MSHP said most traffic crashes involving young drivers, under the age of 21, occur between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m., when school typically lets out. The agency also encourages parents to remind young drivers to remember driving is a full-time job, and that using a cell phone, texting or adjusting the radio can be a distraction that leads to a traffic crash.

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Praji Ghosh

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The weather may have started with rain this morning, but summer in Missouri can turn sunny in no time—and it’s never too late to brush up on ways to beat the heat. 

The biggest key to staying safe? Hydration.  

“Drink a lot of water before you go to bed, and then continue to do that in the morning when you get up because they say that when you feel thristy, they you are already dehydrated,” Stephanie Malita, Health educator said.  

Sun safety doesn’t stop with water. Malita says sunscreen is a must before heading outside—along with extras like a wide-brim hat or sunglasses that block both UVA and UVB rays.  

“Make sure its blocking UVA and UVB rays. Reapply it regularly and usually the sunscreen will have that direction on the label like how frequently you should reapply it,” Malita said.  

Don’t forget your lips, either. Whether you’re on the lake or the ski slopes, sunlight can reflect off water or snow and burn skin from underneath. Lip balm with SPF can help prevent that. 

“When you’re at the lake or in winter time if you’re going snow skiing or just playing out in the snow, that reflection off of the brighter surface of the water or the snow can get youu from beneath to. So make sure you’re covering all of your skin with sunscreen protection,” Malita said.  

Your clothing choices matter, too. Lightweight fabrics and light colors can help keep you cool while also reflecting sunlight.  

“As a parent, make sure your kids are following these tips because often time they are not going to think about the importance of applying sunscreen, so make sure to put that on your checklist,” Malita said.  

With just a few simple steps, people can enjoy the summer sun while staying safe from heat and harmful UV rays. 

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Charles Christian

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — For thousands of years, dogs have been considered our “best friend,” and the month of August is set aside to focus on them.

National Dog Month is celebrated in August, and a local veterinarian said a connection with dogs can release a brain chemical for us called oxytocin, which regulates our mood. Conversely, dogs, because they are pack animals, receive a sense of community and connection that keeps them healthier. That connection and growing knowledge of your dog can help develop a plan to care for their health needs, especially in the summer.

“You have to know what kind of breed your dog is,” Dr. Timothy Brosi of All Creatures Pet Hospital said. “For example, breeds with shorter noses should have limits on their walking, because they are not able to breathe as well as other dogs.”

Brosi also said, as we get to know our dogs, it becomes easier to tell when they are having health issues or when they have other needs.

“Dogs are creatures of habits just like humans,” Brosi said. “So, if they’re not wanting to eat like they usually do, if they’re not interested in the toys like they usually are, if you notice excessive coughing or stomach issues, it might not be a bad idea to call your vet.”

Loyalties between dogs and their owners can run deep. Longtime dog owner Roger Martin said he and his wife have owned golden labradoodles for years, and they believe this breed is among the smartest and most loyal.

“They are great with kids and elderly people,” Martin said. “They are also very smart dogs, and my wife and I have two of them, and they make our lives better.”

Brosi warned of relying on too much online advice when it comes to the care of dogs and said that summer provides some healthy opportunities for both dogs and pets. For instance, in favorable weather, both dogs and owners can get more exercise through walking and just playing in the yard.

During this month, paying special attention to your pet through special treats and by making sure their check-ups and medicines are up to date, all provide a way to make sure our furry best friends are around as long as possible.

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Kyle Schmidt

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — In a recent KC Star competition, River Bluff Brewing in Kansas City’s River Market was voted by the people as Kansas City’s favorite brewery.

General manager at the River Market location, Hootie Wales, said this was a competition they did not push for.

“To get that type of accolade without pushing the regulars to do it is kind of a really fun and exciting thing,” Wales said.

In 2018, River Bluff Brewing opened at 1224 Frederick Ave. in Downtown St. Joseph. It didn’t take long for the new business to get recognized.

In 2019, the St. Joseph location won silver with their beer “Sandy Dunes Saison” in the Great American Beer Festival in the Belgian-style pale strong ale category.

“Most brewers go their whole career with maybe never getting one of them,” Co-Founder and Director of Operations Chris Lanman said. “So we were just surprised to get one in our first year of operations here in St. Joseph.”

In 2022, River Bluff Brewing opened a location at 201 Main St., Suite 101, in Kansas City’s River Market. That year, they won “The Pitch” best new brewery in Kansas City. Also, winning silver in the Great American Beer Festival.

2024 was a golden year for the business, winning gold in the Great American Beer Festival with their Yankee Doodle Shandy. This was just the start. River Bluff Brewing won gold in “The Olympics of beer competitions.”

“Going up against over 2,000 worldwide breweries and there were over 9,000 beer entries in that,” Lanman said. “Just extremely humbling to be able to do that.”

Lanman said the wide array of beer styles allows the brewery to have a beer for everybody.

“We have amazing brewers that have always done a good job for us,” Tasting room manager Justin Alvarez said. “Our front of house staff works hard to make sure everything is on point… Every time we get recognized for anything that we do, it makes us extremely happy and we’re very proud of it.”

Both locations have 12 taps, giving a diverse set of beers to visitors. With many accolades achieved in a short time and the newest in the Kansas City location, Lanman said the company will keep “following the river.”

“Our hashtag follows the river, we can keep following the river,” He said. “Wight now we’re happy where we are, but we’re always looking forward to new things, potentially new locations. We really just want to get our beer out there to as many people as we can.”

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Rebecca Evans

For the owners of Tipps Sports Bar, opening a business together was more than a financial venture, it was a way to bring their shared love of games, community and good company under one roof.

Located at 3614 Mitchell Ave., Tipps Sports Bar is run by three couples, Chris and Lindsey Bernard, Janean and Michael Phillippe, and Ira and Ashley Jonas, longtime friends who have now collectively opened eight small businesses in St. Joseph.

“We’re really passionate about community, family, friendship, and business,” said Lindsey Bernard, co-owner, “Tying all those together here will bring something new to Saint Joe that everybody can enjoy. We hope that everybody comes out and sees us… a great atmosphere, great cold drinks, where friendship becomes family.”

Inside, visitors will find 23 large-screen TVs showing a variety of sports and a range of interactive options: four billiards tables, ten dartboards, arcade games, TouchTunes, and even cornhole. They also offer leagues for darts, and pool as well as tournaments.

Tipps Sports Bar has a unique connection to its sister company, Triple Play Accessories, which specializes in gear for darts, cornhole, billiards, and disc golf, making Tipps a one-stop destination for game lovers.

The atmosphere is casual and social, with ice-cold drinks. They offer specialty cocktails and shots. Owners say it’s a spot where both regulars and newcomers can find friendly competition or just unwind. They currently do not offer food.

Tipps Sports Bar is open 7 days a week from noon to 1am. Updates on events, specials and leagues are posted on their Facebook page.

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News-Press NOW

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. News-Press (NOW) — The Noyes Home for Children is holding a fundraising banquet to support its mission.

The banquet, themed “Take a Seat: Light the Way,” is scheduled to take place at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 13 at the Fulkerson Center on MoWest’s Campus.

Guests will enjoy a night of live and silent auctions featuring unique treasures, exciting getaways and one-of-a-kind experiences—all while savoring delicious food and drinks.

Funds raised at the event will help provide a safe, nurturing space where children can grow, learn and heal- while supporting families with the resources they need to rebuild and thrive.

For more information and to purchase tickets visit eventsupporter.onecause.com/event/organizations/sf-001C000001LZZjCIAX/events/vevt:e81586fc-3d48-4d12-88a1-68a7da443f51/home/story.

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