Category: knpn-local-news

Kendra Simpson

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — This weekend, it’s going to be all fun and games in St. Joseph. News-Press NOW’s Kendra Simpson found the weekend’s top entertainment in this week’s edition of See St. Joseph.

As June comes to a close, Pride celebrations continue to thrive. So come on down for The Pride is Right.

Just like everyone’s favorite game show, contestants will be chosen at random to compete for some fabulous prizes. One ticket will purchase a light supper and a chance to play, but official St. Joe Pride members will receive two chances to compete. Membership for St. Joe Pride can be purchased at the door or on the St. Joe Pride website. All proceeds of the event will go toward supporting St. Joe Pride festivals in September. Doors open at 6 and the game starts at 7 p.m. Friday at First Christian Church located at 927 Faraon St.

Good music, good games and great drinks can only be found at Music Bingo night at the Den this Friday night.

Instead of numbers, they’re dropping beats and playing the tunes we all love. Match songs to the bingo card for a chance to win prizes. Whether a music nerd or just looking for a good time, everyone is welcome to join in on the free-to-play game. Attendees must be 21 years or older. The game begins at 7 p.m. Friday at the Den, located at 519 Felix St.

The Community Market is back for June to continue the fun and bring forth the entrepreneurial spirit.

These markets are always a huge success for those selling and those purchasing. It’s a win-win situation because while St. Joseph’s local vendors get to show off their products, the shoppers may find a handmade treasure or two. Come support local vendors and grab amazing products. The market will open rain or shine from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Center for Joy, located at 100 S 10th St.

Tune in to News-Press NOW every Thursday for more See St. Joseph.

Click here to follow the original article.

Kirsten Stokes

ST. JOSEPH, MO (News-Press NOW) — As tensions escalate in the Middle East, President Donald Trump’s authorization of a bombing campaign in Iran has reignited a national and local debate about the limits of presidential war powers.

News that circulated from last week’s bombing of Iran’s nuclear weapons has made St. Joseph residents question the president’s swift decision to send B-2 bombers to three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan.

“I think it’s pretty scary because we don’t know what’s about to happen. I pray that it stays where it needs to and doesn’t come into town,” said Toni Carroll, a St. Joseph resident.

Under Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution, Congress holds the exclusive power to declare war. However, presidents have historically used their role as Commander-in-Chief to initiate military actions without a formal declaration of war.

Trump’s recent airstrikes on Iranian military targets were justified by the White House as a response to an “imminent threat†and framed under the 2001 and 2002 Authorizations for Use of Military Force. Critics argue that those authorizations, passed in the aftermath of 9/11 and the Iraq War, are outdated and stretched far beyond their original intent.

House Speaker Mike Johnson met with reporters at the White House on Monday, defending the president’s strikes in Iran, stating the War Powers vote in Congress is not ‘appropriate’ at this time while recalling presidents on both sides of party lines making parallel decisions.

A War Powers vote happens when Congress votes on whether to authorize or end a specific military action under the War Powers Resolution of 1973. It may be used to authorize the use of military force, revoke or limit a president’s ongoing military operations, or demand the withdrawal of U.S. forces from a specific conflict.

“For 80 years, presidents of both parties have acted with the same Commander-in-Chief authority under Article II,” Johnson said. “You had President Biden use it three times in Middle East operations. President Obama went on an eight-month campaign of bombing Libya to take down the regime there.”

On Tuesday, the President posted on Truth Social: “THE CEASEFIRE IS NOW IN EFFECT. PLEASE DO NOT VIOLATE IT!†However, just hours later, Israel accused Iran of launching new missiles and vowed to retaliate.

Tehran denied violating the truce, but the ceasefire remains in a precarious position, with Trump lashing out at both countries after his brokered agreement appeared to collapse.

Many Republicans in Congress appeared at ease after Tuesday’s confidential briefings were rescheduled for Thursday, largely due to ongoing ceasefire agreements between Iran and Israel.

“Israel, as soon as we made the deal, they came out and they dropped a load of bombs, the likes of which I’ve never seen before,†Trump said as he departed Washington for a NATO summit in the Netherlands.

Some argue, the president’s inherent powers allow for defensive military action, especially when U.S. personnel are at risk. But, in March, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard testified on Capitol Hill that Iran is not building a nuclear weapon and that the country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had not authorized the nuclear weapons program. Which President Trump subsequently said was “wrong” as it pertained to Gabbard’s intelligence on the situation.

Assistant professor of History at Missouri Western State University, Dominic DeBrincat, said that presidents sidestep the War Powers resolution frequently.

“The War Powers resolution technically only applies to imminent threats to the U.S.,” DeBrincat said. “So with the enrichment of Uranium in Iran, their capabilities of possibly putting weapons together within 8 days was not necessarily an imminent threat, but the way Trump sidestepped the War Powers Resolution was by saying we don’t have an imminent threat, we are helping an ally. And there’s nothing in the Constitution that seems to limit any president from helping an ally. In this case, it’s Israel.”

Trump is not the first president to face criticism over military intervention without congressional approval. In 1986, Ronald Reagan, a Republican, ordered airstrikes in Libya in response to a terrorist bombing. Bill Clinton, a Democrat, launched missile attacks on Sudan and Afghanistan in 1998. More recently, Barack Obama, a Democrat, approved military intervention in Libya in 2011 without congressional backing, citing humanitarian necessity.

Each of these cases reignited conversations about the War Powers Resolution of 1973, a law intended to rein in presidential authority by requiring congressional notification within 48 hours of military action and withdrawal within 60 days unless approved. Compliance, however, has been inconsistent across administrations.

“As history has shown us since 1973, democratic presidents don’t take much of a stance on the validity of the War Powers resolution, but they still sidestep it,” DeBrincat said. “Republicans have been a bit more vocal about challenging elements of it as being too restrictive on their ability to handle the Armed Forces. Since 1973, every president has acted as if this is within their chief purview.”

Spending eight years in the US Navy, Ty Dejoinville said the decision was reckless and agitative.

“As a veteran, I’m (expletive deleted) that this has happened. It should have never happened. They didn’t provoke us; we are the aggressors.

Missouri lawmakers have offered mixed reactions. On June 18, Senator Josh Hawley, a Republican, defended the president’s right to take decisive action in the name of national security. He stated he “didn’t want war” with the Middle East, but sided with the president.

“I think we want to be careful there,” Hawley said. “I mean, it’s one thing to say to our ally Israel that, ‘Hey, we’re going to support your right to self-defense’. We should do that 100%. The president is very strong on that. It’s another to say to Iran ‘Look, we’re not going to bail you out’.”

Governor Kehoe, in an X post on June 21, after U.S. airstrikes, said, “We strongly support the President’s actions against Iranian nuclear facilities.”

As the debate rages in the Capitol, many are demanding answers not just about Iran, but about who gets to decide when the nation goes to war.

“My guess is, in terms of legal measures that are in place…they’re (Congress) not going to limit the president from acting the way he has thus far,” said DeBrincat.

Click here to follow the original article.

Jenna Wilson

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) – New data from the Continuum of Care’s annual Point-in-Time Count shows a decline in the local homeless population, but advocates caution that the numbers may not reflect the full scope of the issue.

The Point-in-Time Count, conducted each January by a coalition of dozens of agencies, is used to identify the number of people experiencing homelessness in a community. This year’s numbers show a decrease compared to 2024.

United Way is one of the agencies that participates in the Continuum of Care and works on continuing to decrease those numbers.

“There can be several factors leading into that,” said Jodi Flurry, United Way director of community investment. “One of them is the weather. In January 2025, it was really cold. I don’t think it topped 20 degrees the day we had to go out and do the street count. And sometimes people just don’t want to be found. They may be living in a vehicle or an abandoned building that we don’t even know about. So, while the numbers are down, which is encouraging from 2024, I don’t know if that’s a completely accurate reflection of what homelessness looks like in our community.”

To conduct the annual count, volunteers affiliated with Continuum of Care visit areas where unhoused individuals are likely to be staying to survey them and assess their access to resources. The goal is to gather data on how many people are living unsheltered, in shelters or in transitional housing across Andrew, Buchanan and DeKalb counties.

According to the data:

In 2023, 175 individuals were identified as homeless, with 134 sheltered and 41 unsheltered.

In 2024, the number rose significantly to 268, with 187 sheltered and 81 unsheltered.

In 2025, the count decreased to 218, with 155 sheltered and 63 unsheltered.

“It’s hard to say, just based on the Point-in-Time Count, whether this is a victory for our community,” said Rachael Bittiker, executive director of Community Missions, who serves as a service provider for the Continuum of Care. “The count is done in the middle of January and only on one day. For people who live on the streets, when it’s that cold, you’re hiding somewhere.”

Both organizations say the focus should remain on the bigger picture. The data is being used to guide services and resources for a population that continues to grow nationwide.

“Over the next few months, we will be evaluating this with our partner ICA so we can dig into the data and look at demographics such as veterans versus seniors or those with severe mental illness,” Flurry said. “We’ll look at that information and decide if we need to have more of a focus on certain areas, whether that’s substance abuse or maybe a trend showing more people in their early 20s are experiencing homelessness.”

With continued resources, the Continuum of Care aims to connect unhoused individuals with support systems and ultimately move them into permanent housing. Officials say this also helps reduce long-term costs to the community.

“Homeless people on the street cost the community a lot of money,” Bittiker said. “When analyzing data from HUD and other sources, some say $35,000, some say $50,000; that’s what it costs for one homeless individual to remain on the street. We want people to be productive members of society. We all have issues, barriers and trauma but it’s how we address it that helps people succeed.”

Community Missions’ 24-hour shelter is set to officially open on July 1, and officials hope it will play a key role in collecting more accurate and consistent data.

“I think as a community, we’ll be able to look at those numbers more effectively and have more than just one day in the freezing cold to try to find people,” Bittiker said. “We’ll have months and months of data to work with.”

Click here to follow the original article.

News-Press NOW

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The community is invited to meet St. Joseph Mustangs players and coaches while supporting one local non-profit.

Players will be signing autographs, snapping pics and bringing smiles from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, June 26 at both North Belt Highway locations, 601 N Belt Hwy and 3504 N Belt Hwy.

Community members are also invited to grab a bite to eat during those hours, where a portion of all sales will support United Way’s 2025 campaign.

Click here to follow the original article.

Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — City leaders are preparing immediate action in the wake of results from a wide-ranging city survey distributed to residents this year, with code enforcement, streets and police services topping the list of priorities to address.

City officials and department leaders are scheduled to meet next Tuesday to lay out objectives for accomplishing short and long-term community priorities, one of which is a new 5-year master plan to improve the process of repairing streets and sidewalks.

The survey, which asked residents to rate their satisfaction with the city’s key services and provide feedback on community needs, found that more than 75% of respondents were dissatisfied with the maintenance of city streets, sidewalks and alleys.

“We owe it to council and the community to have a professionally created plan … and people understand with X amount of dollars, we’re able to pave so many streets,” City Manager Mike Schumacher said. “Which means your street’s going to be hit in two years. Three years, whatever that number is.”

The program was one of several initiatives discussed on Monday as part of a public work session to review the survey, one that roughly 600 citizens participated in this spring.

The survey identified three “very high priority” areas that Schumacher said provide clear guidance for their next moves, including enforcement of city codes and ordinances, improving the quality of police services and the effectiveness of city communication with the public.

The highest level of satisfaction was reported with St. Joseph’s parks and recreation department/facilities (61%) and fire services (88%), with more than 75% of respondents being pleased with the response time and quality of fire department personnel and emergency medical services.

Approximately 50% of survey respondents said they were dissatisfied with the city’s code enforcement, things like local traffic laws, weeds and trash, as well as abandoned and blighted properties.

“The survey was very clear. That is by far the number one priority and concern of our customers. We have to rely upon,” Schumacher said.

Department directors will be meeting every month moving forward to devise plans and coordinate efforts among one another and the community to turn survey feedback into change. 

“It is going to bring change. That action plan and business plan will be based upon the survey and built by professional staff,” Schumacher said. “The directors will come up with their plan and we’ll all work together to make sure we’re coordinated. The conversation is going to move quickly, particularly for government. “

When taking a look at public safety data, more than 55% of survey takers were dissatisfied with drug and criminal enforcement, as well as efforts to prevent crime and address homelessness.

Overall, just 26% of respondents reported being either satisfied or very satisfied with quality of life in the city. Another 25% were neutral while 49% were dissatisfied.

The survey showed a stark contrast in feelings of safety during the day versus at night. More than 80% said they felt either safe or “very safe” in their neighborhood during the day, but that number dropped to 56% at nighttime. A similar trend was found with St. Joseph’s parks as well as Downtown.

The survey, which was developed by Olathe-based research firm ETC Institute, was distributed to 4,000 randomly selected households throughout the city, as well as being made available online.

From young adults to senior citizens, age groups were well represented. Of the survey respondents, 40% came from those in the age range of 18-44, 41% from those ages 45-64 and 21% from residents aged 65 and older. Citizens from almost every area responded.

A key effort for leaders at City Hall is actively working to improve is communication, feedback and interactions with the public, a top priority within the survey. The city has ramped up its social media presence — now the primary medium for consuming news — to keep the community up to date on meetings, roadwork, community news and a host of other developments.

“You’re going to see a dramatic increase in the number of customer-facing actions,” Schumacher said. “We’re going to suggest customer comment cards, QR codes all over City Hall and our other facilities … the customer who files a complaint on whatever issue they may have is then contacted via email every step of the way … so they know that we are working on their issue.”

The availability of housing, particularly affordable options, was a concern that many expressed dissatisfaction with. The city has dramatically heightened its efforts to improve redevelopment and new housing construction, whether for homes or apartments.

Attracting more industry and jobs and improving Downtown amenities were two top areas where those responding to the survey said the city could expand its efforts.

Despite the city’s budget for fiscal year 2026 largely set in stone beginning July 1, the city is staying flexible to allow for budget adjustments to help address areas of need when possible.

News-Press NOW will update this story.

Click here to follow the original article.

Crystal Olney

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Local children interested in participating in a youth tennis summer camp in July can now register.

The age-based sessions will be available for children ages five to 13. The program will take place during the mornings on July 7 through 10 at the Northside Complex, located at 3600 St Joseph Ave. in St. Joseph.

The session times will be established once registration closes and may be based on the number of participants that sign up.

Registration for the tennis camp is $50 per child and is available at the City of St. Joseph Parks, Recreation and Civic Facilities administration office at 1920 Grand Ave.

The deadline to register is 5 p.m. on Wednesday, July 2. For more information, call the office at (816) 271-5501.

Click here to follow the original article.

News-Press NOW

LIBERTY, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — A St. Joseph man charged for allegedly threatening to shoot up William Jewell College’s campus said the college “ruined his life.”

A probable cause statement was filed on Wednesday, after Jacob A. Raczkowski was taken into custody for fleeing from police on Tuesday.

Liberty, Missouri Communications Unit received a call on the Liberty Police Department’s non-emergency phone line on Saturday, June 21, from a 417 area code.

The caller expressed his frustration with getting kicked out of the college and advised that his name was “Paul Sanchez.”

The witness answering the phone noted the caller had said, “You want to put me in prison, you’re going to need (expletive deleted) gunfire.”

He further stated, “I’m going to write a paper, a manifesto…”

When the witness attempted to redirect the collar by asking if there was an emergency, or if he needed police, he said, “Yeah, got to William Jewell, there’s an emergency there right now…opening fire.”

The caller continued to talk about how William Jewell had “ruined his life” and he will do everything possible to get revenge on it, “even if it means shooting up the school when students come back.”

When asked about his date of birth, the caller said “September 11, 2003”.

The probable cause statement noted a computer inquiry of “Paul Sanchez” under the stated date of birth did not come back with a file.

A check of the phone number from which the call originated from was linked to Jacob A. Raczkowski.

The LPD was made aware of Raczkowski’s concerning behavior, which resulted in his expulsion and a no trespass order from William Jewell College on Dec. 16, 2024.

On Saturday, June 21, a voicemail was left on the general line for William Jewell Admissions from the same number that called the Liberty Communications Unit.

The same voice from the initial call can be heard on the voicemail, which said, “I have nothing to live for. I will (expletive deleted) take my AR-15, I will bring it to William Jewell’s uhh freshman, you know, quad walk and I’ll (expletive deleted) shoot everyone that’s (expletive deleted) there…I’m not scared to pull the (expletive deleted) trigger. I will go there with 10 magazines and kill every (expletive deleted) person at the (expletive deleted) quad walk.”

Due to the threats made by the caller and for the safety of the students, William Jewell College administrators decided to cancel summer semester classes on Monday, June 23. They additionally hired off-duty officers to patrol the campus 24 hours a day.

Raczkowski has been charged with Terrorist Threat 1st Degree, where Raczkowski can be sentenced to a maximum term of seven years at the Missouri Department of Corrections, less than a year in the county jail, by a fine less than $10,000 or both imprisonment and a fine.

Click here to follow the original article.

Patrick Holleron

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW). — The Noyes Home for Children has received a generous donation from a local businessman.

St. Joseph businessman Kendall Randolph and Sunshine Electronic Display donated a custom electric sign, which is displayed near the Noyes Home building.

According to Noyes Home Executive Director Chelsea Howlett, the sign will help bring awareness to the organization and provide information to those passing by.

“I think that a lot of people have passed by (the) Noyes Home, not necessarily even knowing what it is or recognizing the location of it,” Howlett said. “So for people who are unfamiliar, having a nice, beautiful sign like this is going to call attention. It will make it easier for people who are seeking out our services to find us.”

For information on how to donate to the Noyes Home visit their website at https://noyeshome.org/

Click here to follow the original article.

Ryan Eslinger

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — After a wet morning at the St Joseph Country Club, the final results are in from the 52nd Annual Highland Classic.

Four pairs shot under par, but it was the duo of Ali Perry and Joy Vandel who took home the glory in Flight A with a score of five under par and a total gross of 67.

Perry and Vandel also won the 50th annual Highland Classic in 2023.

Tracey Wright and Michelle Meierhoffer placed second and Judy Anderson and Donna Sumpter placed third in Flight A of this year’s tournament.

Anderson and Sumpter were last year’s winners with a score of two under par and a total gross of 70.

Click here to follow the original article.

Jenna Wilson

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — June marks Gun Violence Awareness Month and a local gun shop is using this time to promote responsible firearm ownership and safe storage practices.

While gun violence often includes homicides and assaults, it also encompasses unintentional deaths and injuries involving firearms.

Many gun-related injuries and fatalities are preventable through education, secure storage and community interventions, particularly when it comes to protecting youth, according to the CDC.

“It’s very important that kids actually do know about firearms,” said Clay Bricker, owner of Brothers Arms gun shop. “Once they understand what it is, and you try to deter them from it, their curiosity only grows.”

Officials stated that the portrayal of firearms in video games, movies and other media can lead to misunderstandings about the seriousness of guns and how critical they are in matters of life and death.

“That’s why there are rules, and that’s why there are safety concerns with owning a firearm,” Bricker said. “We have a curriculum for kids’ classes when it comes to handling firearms. We even require adults and parents to attend with the kids because it’s the interaction between children and parents that we’re really trying to reinforce.”

Bricker also commented on the recent closure of the Pigeon Hill shooting range due to safety concerns. Brothers Arms would like to see the range reopen, provided that proper safety measures are in place.

“Having rules in place will eliminate a lot of discrepancies, issues and even accidents,” Bricker said. “That’s what we strive for at our range. We want all members and customers to feel completely safe and comfortable. Ultimately, you want to be able to bring a loved one, a child, a spouse or even a beginner to a range and have them feel safe.”

Officials offered a variety of tips to gun owners for ensuring safe handling and accident prevention, such as using gun locks and storing firearms in a secure location.

“They now have fingerprint biometric safes that you can use in your home, next to your bed, in your vehicle, and other places,” Bricker said. “There are a lot of different safety options available now to keep your firearm out of the wrong hands.”

For more information about local firearm training and safety courses, visit www.brothersarms17.com.

Click here to follow the original article.