Category: knpn-local-news

Associated Press

By BRUCE SCHREINER
Associated Press

LONDON, Ky. (AP) — More tornadoes plowed through the central U.S. on Monday, ripping apart buildings and knocking out power as people from Texas to Kentucky continued to clean up from days of severe weather that killed more than two dozen people and destroyed thousands of homes and buildings.

At least four tornadoes were confirmed in Oklahoma and Nebraska on Monday evening, according to a preliminary report from the National Weather Service.

Across Oklahoma, at least 10 homes were destroyed and multiple buildings were damaged, including a fire station that was wiped out, according to the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management. A spokesperson for the agency said they have not received any reports of injuries or deaths.

Around 115,000 customers were without power in Oklahoma, Arkansas and Missouri, according to PowerOutage.us.

Parts of several highways were also closed due to flooding or storm damage.

In northwest Arkansas, severe weather caused a Halsey concert to be canceled and a municipal airport had to close temporarily Monday night so crews could remove debris from the field. And in Oklahoma, Tulsa Public Schools canceled all afterschool activities.

Northern Texas saw softball-sized hail measuring 4 1/2 inches (11.4 centimeters) in diameter, according to Scott Kleebauer, a meteorologist with the service’s Weather Prediction Center.

Missouri and Kentucky clean up

Earlier Monday in St. Louis, where officials estimated a Friday tornado damaged 5,000 buildings and may cost well over $1 billion, the mayor warned that federal assistance could take weeks.

Kentucky has been hardest hit by the storms. A devastating tornado late Friday into early Saturday damaged hundreds of homes, tossed vehicles and killed at least 19 people, most of them in southeastern Laurel County.

In London, Kentucky, where the devastation was centered, the small airport became a beehive of cleanup work after it took a direct hit from a tornado. Small aircraft stored there had large dents in them and even wings ripped open. Officials were using it as a base to get water, food, diapers and other supplies out to the community.

“We have 1,001 things going on. But we’re managing it. And we’re going to get it all cleaned up,†said London Mayor Randall Weddle.

Officials in Kansas and Texas also were evaluating damage from late Sunday storms.

The risk of severe storms moves into Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee on Tuesday, the weather service said.

Kentucky hit hard

The Kentucky storms that killed 19 people were part of a weather system that caused seven deaths in Missouri and two in northern Virginia, authorities said.

Lonnie Nantz hid in a hallway with his wife, two daughters and a grandson as the one-story brick home they bought near London in 1977 was destroyed around them. They were trapped in rubble for about 20 minutes in the midnight darkness before they were rescued unharmed.

“I don’t know why this happened. I’ve tried to live a good life all my life. I’ve still got the faith,” said the 77-year-old Nantz, who went to church as always on Sunday.

London city worker Ashley Taylor was back on the job Monday loading doughnuts to take to a hospital and dispatch center even though there was a tarp on her roof. She was lucky — the houses across her street were destroyed late Friday night.

She survived the storm with nine other people and three dogs in the crawl space of a neighbor’s home.

“We prayed like never before — and just thankful for everything God did for us,†Taylor said.

In surrounding Laurel County, first responders mourned one of their own.

Fellow firefighters found the body of Laurel County Fire Major Leslie Leatherman on top of a woman he was shielding from the storm’s fury as he answered calls during the worst of the storm. The woman was yelling for help and they were in a field across from a destroyed subdivision.

The injured woman turned out to be Leatherman’s wife and officials aren’t sure if he knew who he was protecting in the darkness and chaos, the fire department said on social media.

St. Louis waits for FEMA

St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer said five people died, 38 were injured and more than 5,000 homes were affected by an EF3 tornado with winds up to 150 mph (240 kph) that slammed areas north and west of downtown Friday. Spencer has estimated that damages will exceed $1.6 billion.

“Eight miles of pure destruction, at times a mile wide,” Spencer said at a Monday news conference. “We’re talking about thousands of buildings, thousands of families are being displaced.â€

The city is awaiting a disaster declaration from the governor’s office as a first step to getting federal assistance.

U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, a Missouri Republican, expressed frustration over the federal response to a deadly March storm.

“I’m not happy about the fact we’re still waiting from all of that damage two months ago,” Hawley said.

Acting Federal Emergency Management Agency Chief David Richardson said last week he plans to shift responsibility for disaster recovery to states this year as part of an agencywide transformation and that FEMA would coordinate federal assistance “when deemed necessary.â€

Spencer said during a news conference Monday evening that emergency protocols put in place in 2021 were not followed, possibly preventing sirens being activated to warn residents about the tornado.

She said it was not clear whose responsibility it was to let the community know about the emergency but that the fire department will do so moving forward.

In Texas, several tornadoes touched down west of Fort Worth on Sunday, including an EF1 with peak winds of 105 mph (169 kph) that caused damage in and around Gordon, the weather service said Monday.

___

This story has been updated to correct that Wilburton is in Oklahoma, not Texas.

___

See more photos from the severe storms in the South and Midwest here.

___

Associated Press writers Jeffrey Collins in Columbia, South Carolina; Heather Hollingsworth in Mission, Kansas; Sarah Brumfield in Cockeysville, Maryland; Hallie Golden in Seattle and Jamie Stengle in Dallas contributed to this report.

Click here to follow the original article.

Charles Christian

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Hand to Hand Gallery and Studio is more than just an art gallery; it is a place where artists can hone their craft.

David and Teresa Harris, longtime art teachers at Missouri Western State University and elsewhere, opened the studio in August of 2024.

Since then, the store has displayed the work of several local artists, but the main attraction is the class offerings from these two well-known artists and teachers.

Co-owner David Harris said he and his wife want to offer a fun and convenient way for artists to learn and grow.

“We are letting people get a chance to experience making something for the first time,” Harris said. “It’s also a place for people who already have some experience to continue making works of art. I mean, setting up a ceramic studio at home can be kind of daunting.”

The well-equipped studio in the back is a welcome site for several former students of Harris who wish to build upon the foundation they received as students.

Deb Potter, a former student of Harris, said Hand to Hand has allowed her to continue her growth as an artist.

“We’ve been wanting a ceramics place here,” Potter said. “A lot of us took classes with (David) Harris at Missouri Western. . .and it was like, what are you going to do now?”

While David specializes in ceramics, having graduated from Missouri Western and then receiving a master’s degree in fine arts (MFA) from Fort Hays State University in Kansas, his wife Teresa specializes in paper-related works of art and has received numerous awards and accolades for her work and for her teaching, just as David has. They both plan to continue to offer classes through Hand to Hand.

Currently, David offers a ceramics class, while Teresa plans to offer courses in her areas of specialty in the near future, including handmade paper constructions and making books.

For more information or to sign up for classes, visit handtohandstudiostudio.com.

Click here to follow the original article.

Kendra Simpson

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Summer break is almost here for students in St. Joseph schools, but summer break can bring some unsure feelings when it comes to planning activities and keeping the kids busy.

The Remington Nature Center and the St. Joseph Public Library have programs to keep children entertained and engaged in the summer months.

According to a study conducted by Sage Journals, on average, “student achievement declined by an entire month’s worth of learning over summer break.” Parents can help combat this loss by ensuring their kids stay engaged over break rather than scrolling through their phones.

“Kids tend to be bored, especially when there’s nobody at the same age as them,” Tricia Reyes, a local parent, said. “Then they tend to go get their gadgets…It’s important to have this kind of physical activities, like going to the park, just to prevent boredom and the sedentary lifestyle.”

The St. Joseph Public Library is hosting the annual Summer Reading Challenge for young “bookworms in training”. Kids, teens and even babies are rewarded for reading their favorite books every summer.

“There’s been research that shows a summer slide if they don’t keep their skills up,” Program Librarian for the East Hills Library, Elizabeth Murray said. “The teachers really appreciate if we have them reading in the summer so that they don’t have to start two months behind at the beginning of the next school year.”

This year’s prizes include books, toys and bracelets with grand prizes of memberships to inspireU and day passes to Ricky Dean’s.

Kids are encouraged to read at least 12 hours over the summer, or 20 minutes a day for 36 days. Every hour they read over the 12 minimum gets them extra grand prize entries.

For kids who want to experience hands-on fun, the Remington Nature Center will host monthly scavenger hunts, Insect-o-Rama on July 12, Herb-o-Rama Sept. 6 and more.

“Having that engagement of coming out, looking at displays, having a scavenger hunt that they’re looking for something and it’s a goal, it helps with observational skills, maybe a little bit of critical thinking skills,” Remington Nature Center Manager Sarah Elder said. “It gives them a chance to slow down and kind of pay attention.”

To learn more about upcoming events at the St. Joseph Public Library, visit the organization’s website at sjpl.librarymarket.com. For information on the Remington Nature Center’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/RemingtonNatureCenter.

Click here to follow the original article.

Charles Christian

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Whether your recreational vehicle is a lavish $300,000 bus or a smaller livable trailer you tow with your truck, annual maintenance is key to getting the most from your investment.

Brian Frazee of Frazee’s RV dealership in St. Joseph, a business that has been part of his family for over 40 years, said that consistent maintenance saves money in the long-run, since, like houses, all RVs develop issues over time.

“If you stay up on it, a couple of hundred dollars a year will get you pretty well taken care of,” Frazee said. “Mostly general maintenance will help them to last a long time.”

While higher end RVs can cost upward of $200,000, Frazee said he mostly deals in smaller RVs, which can range in price from about $14,000 to about $65,000.

“The smaller ones are just easier to tow,” Frazee said. “Also, there are a lot of camp grounds that don’t allow the really big ones.”

Frazee also said, most of the smaller campers and RVs sleep more people. He said many bigger campers sleep only a few, while smaller campers are built to sleep more people.

The bigger RVs, though, have more amenities, including full showers and bathrooms, and are relatively self-contained.

Charlie Townsend, a retired St. Joseph resident, has owned his RV for just over ten years. He said he and his wife are going full-time this year, on the road

Townsend said they had previously taken the RV out a couple of times per year. Over the years, he said he has learned an important maintenance lesson.

“A lot of people don’t realize, to basically replace tires every three years,” Townsend said. “That sounds expensive, but I change them every three years whether I need to our not.”

He said the last thing you need when you are on the road with a big vehicle, is to have a blowout. However, the maintenance time and expense are worth it, because RVs can be a taste of home wherever you are.

“I like having my own bedroom, because I don’t have to worry about bed bugs,” Townsend said. “I have my own bathroom, too. . . .I just like my own turf, and you know, I don’t get that in a motel.”

Any RV that has a bathroom can be financed like a house, which means 15, 20 or even 30-year loans.

Both Frazee and Townsend said it’s important to do your homework. This includes, making sure your truck can tow the RV you choose, if you choose a vehicle that isn’t self-contained.

Also, they emphasized making sure you learn about common issues with RVs, such as window leaks, roof issues, water leaks and other issues related to a vehicle, that is basically, a small home on wheels.

As Frazee noted, anything that can go wrong in a house can go wrong in an RV. Being prepared is the best way to get the most out of the RV experience.

Click here to follow the original article.

Leah Rainwater

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — One business opening up on the South Side will allow customers to purchase affordable footwear.

$10 Shoes N’ Boots will host its grand opening from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, May 20.

The shop is locally owned and family-operated and is located at 6948 King Hill Ave.

Click here to follow the original article.

Kirsten Stokes

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — St. Joseph residents are bracing for potential changes as Missouri moves towards repealing Proposition A.

The Proposition, a voter-approved initiative, would have gradually increased the minimum wage and paid sick leave statewide.

Passed by 58% of voters in November 2024, Proposition A promised to raise Missouri’s minimum wage to $13.75 in 2025 and $15 in 2026, with future increases tied to inflation.

It also required employers to provide one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked. However, House Bill 567, passed by the Missouri General Assembly on Wednesday, aims to eliminate the sick leave requirement and remove future wage adjustments after 2026.

The bill is now awaiting Governor Mike Kehoe’s signature.

St. Joseph resident, Dakota Allen, said this move from the government doesn’t give him much confidence in the current democracy, and that Missourians should stand up to any party that violates voter rights.

“It’s just kind of one of those things that no matter who’s in power when they’re looking to abuse their power and overturn the will of the people, it’s time for us to step up and make sure that they can never do it again,” Allen said.

Allen said if this repeal is signed by Governor Kehoe, it will be painful for businesses that are looking to attract employees to the state, especially those in higher professions.

“We’re going to see this all across the board, there’s not going to be those guarantees that make our state appealing for employees, and it’s just going to become more and more difficult,” Allen said.

Sen. Mike Bernskoetter, R-Missouri said in an initial repeals conversation to the legislation in April of 2025, that the language in Proposition A was not made clear enough on the ballot.

“When voters saw Prop A on the ballot, they were only given a small summary, but behind the summary was eight pages of statutes,” Bernskoetter said. “It creates a one-size-fits-all for all businesses to follow and businesses should be able to tailor their workplace policies to meet the needs of their customers and employees.”

Opponents argue, combining minimum wage increases with paid sick leave mandates in a single ballot measure violates Missouri’s constitutional requirement that initiatives address only one subject. In addition, claiming misleading ballot language, particularly regarding the fiscal impact and the scope of exemptions.

Sparking backlash from Missourians everywhere, “SAVE OUR SAY” rallies will be held across the state on Saturday, May 17, in St. Joseph, Farmington, Blue Springs, St. Louis and many other cities.

If signed into law, the repeal will go into effect on August 28, 2025. Until then, businesses must comply with the sick leave requirements and wage timeline outlined in Proposition A.

Click here to follow the original article.

NPG Content Share

var cachebuster = Math.round(new Date().getTime() / 1000); var player = new Playerjs({id:”player_kyma”, file:”https://abc17news.b-cdn.net/abc17news.com/2022/09/TF1.jpg”, poster:”https://abc17news.b-cdn.net/abc17news.com/2022/09/TF1.jpg”, label:”Missouri Task Force 1 heading to St. Louis after heavy damage, fatalities reported after storms” , vast_replace:{“[wpcategory]”:”spanish”,”[wprand]”:””+cachebuster+””}});

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)– Missouri Task Force 1 is heading to St. Louis to help with storm damage recovery.

Boone County Fire Protection District Assistant Chief Gale Blomenkamp confirmed through text message that Task Force 1 will soon head out to St. Louis, which saw significant damage from storms.

St. Louis officials had confirmed during a press conference that at least four people were dead.

Task Force 1 is based at the Boone County Fire Protection District Headquarters. The task force had been deployed within the state twice last month after flooding and tornadoes damaged a southeastern Missouri town and Pilot Grove in Cooper County.

Ameren’s outage map shows a significant number of people without power in the St. Louis areas, with St. Louis County seeing 45,342 customers without power; St. Louis City having 40,103 and Jefferson County totaling 11,568.

Check back for updates.

Click here to follow the original article.

Click here to follow the original article.

News-Press NOW

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Clarios’ St. Joseph Distribution Center will pause operations to celebrate its 25th Anniversary with more than 240 employees.

The battery-making company will hold a celebration from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 17, at 2330 SW Lower Lake Rd.

Employees, family members and the St. Joseph community are invited to participate in a day of food, games, entertainment and guided plant tours.

The site has received nearly $200 million in investments over the past decade and has earned top performance awards from leading automotive manufacturers and industry partners.

A brief program will begin at 11 a.m. and will include remarks from Clarios Plant Manager, Jerimie Carson.

Click here to follow the original article.

Leah Rainwater

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — St. Joseph native, Noah Cameron, is set to start for the Kansas City Royals on their home turf at 6:10 p.m. on Saturday, May 17, against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Cameron, who made his MLB debut against the Tampa Bay Rays at the end of April, assisted in the Royals’ sweep of the weekend series.

Cameron is expected to take over for Seth Lugo, who will miss Saturday’s start against the Cardinals due to finger inflammation, according to Joel Goldberg, a Royals Broadcaster.

Royals will skip Seth Lugo tomorrow due to inflammation in his right middle finger. Noah Cameron expected to make the spot start. The hope is no IL.

— Joel Goldberg (@goldbergkc) May 16, 2025

The Royals will kick off a weekend against the St. Louis Cardinals on at 6:40 p.m. Friday, May 16.

Click here to follow the original article.