Category: knpn-local-news

Kyle Schmidt

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Wednesday was the final training camp practice open to the public ahead of the Chiefs’ first preseason game.

Despite it being an exhibition game, fans still look for a Chiefs win.

“We got to see what we are made of,” Vicky Ford said. “After that Super Bowl thing last year, we got to make sure we are on our game this year.”

For Chiefs fan Bruce Roberson, he traveled from California to watch his Chiefs in training camp. He said he’s looking forward to watching the new faces on the team play.

“I like to see the new guys, how they jell with the team,” Roberson said. “See who is going to make it or who’s not. From what I see, I like Brashard Smith. I think he is our secret weapon.”

In 2021, the NFL eliminated one preseason game, reducing each team’s exhibition schedule to three games ahead of the regular season.

Roberson agrees with the decision, stating players’ health and safety are important. Other fans seemed to agree as well.

“I think they’re necessary to see how our players are doing,” Lawrence White said. “Three is a good number.”

Like Roberson, White hopes the offensive line will improve this year.

Thursday training camp will be open to only season ticket holders and fans will have to wait to watch their Chiefs on Saturday.

“It’s so fun and exciting to watch the games,” Julie Elliott said. “I get a little distracted, but just watching my husband and how excited the kids get, and we want to win.”

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News-Press NOW

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The inspireU Children’s Discovery Center is holding a Back-to-School Bash, featuring fun activities for kids.

The event will take place from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 9, at inspireU, located at 521 Felix St.

Admission to the Bash must be purchased separately from general admission. InspireU will close at 2 p.m. on Aug. 9, in preparation for the big event.

Tickets will be $20 online and $25 at the door. For members, tickets will be $10 online and $15 at the door. They can be purchased online at www.inspireu.com/program/back-to-school-bash/.

The event will also feature a cookout dinner and activities like: a Mad Science Shaving Cream Lab, Enormous Bubbles on the Rooftop, Club 521 Dance Party and Backpack buttons.

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Praji Ghosh

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — As summer hits its peak, the month of August also brings a timely reminder to focus on personal well-being.

August, recognized as National Wellness Month, encourages individuals to prioritize their physical, mental and spiritual health. 

The month serves as a chance to embrace self-care routines, reduce stress and explore new wellness strategies. 

From healthier eating habits to staying properly hydrated, small lifestyle changes can lead to meaningful improvements in overall health.  

“It’s not always about taking care of your body. It’s also definitely your mental health, and for me, that doing a lot of housework whenever I have the energy, Olivia Stewart said.  

National Wellness Month serves as a reminder to hit pause and focus on yourself — even when life gets busy. For many, especially caregivers, it’s easy to get caught up in daily responsibilities and forget to take a moment to breathe.  

Stephanie Malita shared a few small habits that help her stay grounded. 

“It’s always important to take care of yourself, be it getting the right amount of sleep or drinking enough water or getting up every hour from your desk,” Malita said.  

Wellness could also mean doing what brings joy in stressful times — like connecting with someone you care about.  

Maybe talk with a friend or a family member on the phone and friend or a family member on the phone for 15 mins or write a letter to them,” Malita said.  

The idea of wellness isn’t one-size-fits-all. It’s about what makes you feel good — physically, mentally or emotionally. 

For Suzanne Weipert, that means practicing yoga and staying mindful of screen time. 

“Make sure you get regular eye checkups just like you take care of your teeth while going to a doctor,” Weipert said.  

As August continues, individuals are encouraged to take time for the little things that bring peace — because often, those small acts of self-care become the greatest gift one can give themselves. 

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News-Press NOW

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The Buchanan County Route AC bridge over U.S. Route 36 is scheduled to close on Monday, Aug. 18.

The closure comes as the Missouri Department of Transportation will be repairing the bridge deck.

The bridge will be closed until Thursday, Aug. 21, and motorists will need to seek an alternate route.

A project to replace the bridge is currently scheduled for 2027, within the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP).

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Kirsten Stokes

ST. JOSEPH, MO (News-Press NOW)– One local restaurant is providing assistance for a family who experienced devastation last month.

From 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 6, the St. Joseph Pizza Shoppe will host a dine and donate event for the McClurg family.

At the beginning of July, the McClurg family experienced devastation when their home caught fire. With everything destroyed, they are left picking up the pieces and needing the community’s help with school supplies, finding a new home and rebuilding all the assets they once had.

In an effort to support the family, Paige Mazur, general manager at Pizza Shoppe, said they will hold a dine and donate event to support the family in their time of need.

“They showed me pictures of the devastation and there was nothing left,” Mazur said. “You see people like that and then they’re going through something so tragic, you just instinctively want to help them because you know that they would do the same for you.”

For many years, the Pizza Shoppe in St. Joseph has helped many organizations with donations from school programs to individuals and groups in need.

Mazur said the opportunity to support the McClurg family is important to her, as Steven McClurg is the general manager at Wil Fischer Distributing, and provides as much support to Pizza Shoppe.

“He’s one of my contacts out there,” Mazur said. “And he’s always just so kind and gracious and if I need something in a pinch, him or anybody else out there will do what they gotta do to help keep this (Pizza Shoppe) running.”

While the family declined to speak in an interview for privacy at this time, they are extremely appreciative of the St. Joseph community and the help they have received in the last month.

The family of five needs help with school supplies. Anyone interested in donating can pick up the items on the list below and drop them off at the Pizza Shoppe during its dine and donate event.

Anyone interested in helping the family can still attend the dine and donate event and dine in. A portion of the proceeds with go to the family for other expenses.

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Patrick Holleron

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — As the school year approaches, local organizations are helping stuff backpacks for students of all grades.

The Salvation Army is packing backpacks for students in need of a variety of school supplies. This includes pencils, markers, notebooks and more.

“It’s important that all kids get the opportunity to go back to school with not only the supplies they need, but the supplies they want,” Salvation Army Social Services Director Emily Bravo said. “They get (to choose) the backpacks they want.”

Roughly 600 backpacks have been filled so far, with the goal being to have anywhere between 900 to 1,000 ready to distribute by Thursday.

Dave Eggleston, a longtime volunteer with International Paper, appreciates that anyone can give back and assist kids in the community in an immeasurably valuable way. 

“It’s awesome for us as international paper to go out and help with the kids,” Eggleston said. “We try to do it every year, knowing that kids can’t go to school without the (essential) supplies. We have people from our work bringing their grandkids here to help out. You get (people of) all ages, from youth to the elderly, helping out with this.”

The backpacks will be distributed at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 7, at 602 Messanie St.

Extra backpacks will be made available once the distribution has finished, at the United Way of Greater St. Joseph.

For more information on how to volunteer or questions about the backpacks, call the Salvation Army (816)-232-5824.

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Praji Ghosh

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The Kansas City Chiefs Training Camp is buzzing with excitement — and fans in red are showing up in full force. 

From kids in mini Mahomes jerseys to lifelong fans decked out in full Chiefs gear, the atmosphere is electric. Many came hoping to catch a glimpse of their favorite players, snag an autograph, or snap that perfect selfie.  

“Fans from all over are lining up for a chance to snap a selfie and send some good luck to the Chiefs before the season kicks off.  

“We are a lifetime Chiefs fan. This boy is five years old, so he’s already seen three Super Bowls, and he is big big fan,” Chiefs fan Bailey Casey said.

Casey, who brought her young son along, said it’s already been a special experience.  

“I am excited to see Travis Kelce play and Patrick Mahomes; he is my second favorite player.” Andy Jordan said.  

Fans lined the fence, eyes peeled for stars like Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes. For young Andy Jordan, seeing Kelce was a dream come true.  

While football is what brings them in, for many, it’s also about the connection and community.  

“I have been a Chiefs fan for 3 years, and my hope is to see him today and get a signature after the training is done,” said Xavier Chuck, another Chiefs fan.

AJ Betts, just 9 years old, was all in.  

“I am 9 years old and I have been a Chiefs fan for my whole entire life, and my hope for them is to see them play well for the team,” said Betts.

As camp continues, one thing is clear — Chiefs Kingdom is alive and well in St. Joe, and the fans are ready for another unforgettable season. 

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Rebecca Evans

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The community is invited to Civic Center Park on Tuesday, Aug. 5, for this year’s National Night Out, an annual event promoting police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie.

The event will take place from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. and is free for the community to attend.

“It feels really good bringing the community together,” said Sergeant Jeremy Peters, organizer of the event, “and just slowing things down a little bit and having time to interact with people that we don’t get to do on our day to day jobs, so it’s a great feeling.”

Residents will have the opportunity to interact with officers and representatives from the St. Joseph Police and Fire departments, Buchanan County Sheriff’s Department, Buchanan County EMS, Missouri State Highway Patrol, Missouri Department of Conservation, Andrew County Sheriff’s Office, DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department, Savannah Police Department and the Missouri Western Law Enforcement Academy.

SJPD will showcase drones, SWAT robots, ballistic shields, rams and the Special Response Team’s armored vehicle. Other agencies will also bring emergency vehicles and equipment for the public to explore in a touch-a-truck-style setup.

A highlight of the evening will be two live performances by local teen band Arsonists Band Official, scheduled from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. and again from 7 to 8 p.m. 

Target will provide free hot dogs, chips and drinks. Sack’s Ice Cream Truck will be on site, with the first $500 of ice cream covered by City Star Gas Station. Walmart is sponsoring two bounce houses for children, and Club Fun will provide cornhole boards for visitors to enjoy.

In addition to emergency personnel, several community organizations will participate, including the Youth Alliance, St. Joseph Safety and Health Council, American Red Cross, Missouri American Water, St. Joseph Goats Arena Football and local neighborhood watch groups.

National Night Out is held in communities across the country and is intended to strengthen ties between law enforcement and residents while promoting crime prevention and neighborhood safety.

For more information, contact Sgt. Jeremy Peters at 816-236-1473 or jpeters@stjosephmo.gov.

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News-Press NOW

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The sidewalk outside of the Missouri Theater will be closed for a little over a week to receive repairs.

The sidewalk will be closed beginning on Wednesday, Aug. 6, and is expected to be completed by the end of the day on Friday, Aug. 15.

The sidewalk will be torn out and replaced. The City of St. Joseph advises pedestrians to use an alternate route to pass in front of the building.

The Theater is scheduled to be closed during the project, providing no public access to the building.

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ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The YWCA of St. Joseph, St. Joseph NAACP and Missouri Western State University are calling for nominations for the Kelsy Beshears Racial Justice Award.

Kelsy B. Beshears is recognized as one of the most “influential figures in the Civil Rights Movement” in St. Joseph.

The Kelsy Beshears Racial Justice Award can be presented to an individual, group or organization that embraces Beshears’ commitment to promoting racial justice and eliminating racism.

Nomination forms and a list of past award recipients can be found at ywcasj.org/day-of-commitment.

Submissions must be sent to rfrost@ywcasj.org no later than Thursday, Aug. 14.

The award will be presented at the 29th Annual Day of Commitment to Eliminate Racism Breakfast at 7:30 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 12, in the YWCA Terrace Room, located at 304 N. 8th St.

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