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Marie Moyer

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

Planned Parenthood Great Plains and Great Rivers is returning to the courthouse against the state Monday to reinstate abortion in Missouri.

Voters approved access to abortion in November 2024 through Amendment 3. In December 2024, Jackson County Judge Jerri Zhang temporarily blocked enforcement of Missouri’s existing abortion restrictions, saying that state regulations on abortion centers were unfair and conflicted with what voters just passed. Abortions were set to resume in February 2025.

The Missouri General Assembly drew up joint resolutions to repeal Amendment 3 and add exceptions to the procedure, approving House Joint Resolution 73 in May 2025. HJR 73 would also add exceptions back to the bill text, only allowing abortions up to 12 weeks in cases of rape, incest and medical emergencies, and when there is a fetal anomaly.

After additional legal battles between the state and abortion rights groups on ballot wording, the resolution was put on the ballot for voters in 2026.

Also in May, the Missouri Supreme Court overruled Zhang, claiming she used the wrong legal standard in her injunction to block abortion restrictions. The ruling again closed access to abortions in the state.

Missouri’s ban was blocked again by Zhang in July, with Zhang ruling that the state’s regulation can cause irreparable harm and “is directly at odds with Amendment 3.”

The move reopened abortion access that same month.

Zhang will oversee Monday’s trial. The trial is set to last two weeks and will start at 9 a.m. in the Jackson County Courthouse.

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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) — A Missouri bill could force Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in the state to identify themselves, if passed. The bill’s introduction follows a deadly shooting in Minneapolis involving an ICE agent and a civilian.

Rep. Ray Reed (D-St. Louis) introduced the bill Wednesday where it received a first reading on the opening day of the 2026 legislative session. If passed, it would require ICE agents to refrain from wearing masks or helmets that could obstruct the person’s identity, according to the bill language.

The bill excludes medical masks, like the ones used during the COVID-19 pandemic or masks that are used to avoid breathing in toxic chemicals.

If an agent violates these rules, that person could be subject to a class A misdemeanor, which is punishable with up to a year in jail and could come with up to $2,000 in fines.

“Across our country, people are now fearful when federal agents operate in plain clothes, without clear identification, and without accountability,” Reed said in a press release.

He also posted on Facebook after the deadly Minnesota shooting.

“In moments like this, we can’t give in to fear or let ourselves be divided. We should demand transparency and accountability while staying peaceful, looking out for one another, and keeping our neighbors safe. That is why I filed legislation to unmask ICE agents working in our state,” Reed wrote.

Protests and vigils were held across the nation Saturday and Sunday for Renee Nicole Reed, the Minneapolis woman killed by an ICE agent, with some in mid-Missouri.

Protesters in Jefferson City called out ICE brutality Saturday, with many people expressing their dislike of the Trump Administration’s crackdown on immigration.

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Leah Rainwater

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — The Missouri State Highway Patrol said driver examination stations across the state will be closed in observance of a holiday.

Exam stations will be closed on Monday, Jan. 19, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Exam stations will be open for normal hours of operation on Tuesday, Jan. 20.

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Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — A central Missouri senator is proposing legislation this session to support children, stepchildren and spouses of disabled veterans and servicemembers killed in active duty through a new college tuition assistance program.

A first reading was held Wednesday for legislation sponsored by Sen. Travis Fitzwater (R-Holts Summit) which seeks to create the “Missouri Disabled Veterans’ Dependents Tuition Waiver” program to provide college tuition waivers for children, stepchildren, and spouses of certain veterans.

Waivers would available for eligible dependents of members of the Armed Forces who died on active duty, died of a service-connected disability, died after discharge from the military as a result of injury or illness, is rated as permanently and totally disabled by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, or is classified as missing in action or a prisoner of war.

Senate Bill No. 1048 covers any state college or university or public community college receiving appropriations from the state for operating expenses, with tuition awards going as high as what the University of Missouri-Columbia charges a Missouri resident, which is $15,548 to $19,516 for 12 to 18 credit hours. The bill does not specifically list coverage for housing and dining fees.

A tuition waiver would be valid for one degree, diploma, or certificate from a community college and one baccalaureate degree from a state college or university. The legislation, which

Children and stepchildren of veterans must be under 26 years old to qualify, unless the dependent serves on active duty with the Armed Forces of the United States, in which case the eligibility period can be extended by five years to the person’s 31st birthday.

The Missouri Veterans Commission would work with the Coordinating Board for Higher Education to implement the provisions of the act, including establishing the application process and certifying future applicants.

The bill does not specify how much in state funding would be appropriated each year for waivers.

Any student who receives a waiver would also be ineligible for any other state-funded veteran-dependent tuition grant, waiver, or scholarship, such as the Wartime Veteran’s Survivors Grant Program or the Survivors of Vietnam Veterans Scholarship Program.

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Carter Ostermiller

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — A monthly celebration in Downtown St. Joseph is helping small businesses kick off their 2026.

Sponsored by local speakeasy The Den, ‘Second Saturdays’ is a downtown Saint Joseph event that helps small businesses bring in traffic with new offers on every second Saturday of the month.

The Black Kat Salvage Antique Store is a 2nd-year participant that is offering discounts on its antiques and a chance to win a $50 gift certificate. 

Manager Jan Ruoff has already noticed the impact of the special day.

“Oh, yeah, it’s been really, really busy today. So I think it does increase the traffic,” said Ruoff.

The popular Seventh Street Cafe downtown is also participating for their second year, offering a free macaron with a $10 purchase. 

Owner Brennon Calvin thinks the event is a great incentive for local shoppers to visit Downtown St. Joseph.

“To drive people downtown to get people out shopping, to come out even when the weather is not the greatest, to give them some incentive, to get down here and you know, really see more than just 1 or 2 businesses,” said Calvin.

The event occurs monthly on every second Saturday and has a full list and more details on the St. Joseph website.

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Patrick Holleron

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — A local Midtown youth academy will take its new workforce readiness program to the next level with the help of a donation from Buchanan County on Friday.

Buchanan County Commissioners approved a $50,000 donation during their regular Friday meeting to help support MidCity Excellence and its new “Kids Biz” youth workforce initiative, a burgeoning program offering hands-on entrepreneurship opportunities to develop kids into career-ready individuals and business people.

With professionals, community mentors and college students working alongside them, kids within the program are able to gain valuable real-world business experience and sharpen their skills in financial planning and marketing — among other areas — using marketing-based principles to train in food and product presentation.

“The youth are learning how to become entrepreneurs, how to market a product, save and manage money into creative wealth projects. They will be able to translate these into business skills into the real world, into real markets and in many different spaces,” said Kimberly Warren, founder and CEO of MidCity Excellence. “Our number one goal is to have a positive and engaging program for teenagers. I think it’s important that kids have an outlet and don’t get bored because that can potentially lead to risky behaviors.”

Along the way, students also learn about the importance of credit, saving, budgeting, investing, and long-term wealth creation.

With the help of a “Kids Biz” food truck operated by MCE, students — many of them teenagers — got the taste of working in a real business setting Friday, helping take orders, prepare food and hone in on critical skills like problem solving, communication, teamwork and conflict resolution.

MCE student Leilani Bell has benefitted greatly from the program by being able to prepare food at different events the truck goes to, learning about responsibility when managing others. She also believes her communication skills have improved, calling it an “outlet” for her and many others.

“I feel like the program has helped me socialize and communicate with others,” she said. “Running the food truck, taking orders, and communicating with my peers as were serving people their food are some of the things I’ve gotten to do. These type of activities keep us connected with each other and lessen our time being online. We feel motivated in the work that we do.”

MidCity Excellence’s next event will be their 12th annual MLK Jr. Solutions Summit, which is set for Monday, Jan. 19, at 11 a.m. inside the Word of Life Church located at 3902 NE Riverside Road.

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Prajukta Ghosh

MARYVILLE, Mo. (KQTV)– Northwest Missouri State University is mourning the loss of one of its students. 

Joe Huber, a senior from St. Joseph majoring in mass media, passed away on Tuesday, Jan. 6, due to an unexpected brief illness. 

“It is always tragic when we lose a member of our Northwest community so suddenly,” said Northwest President Dr. Lance Tatum in an email to the campus community announcing the death. 

University officials say students who may need support during this time are encouraged to contact Wellness Services at 660-562-1348 or reach out to University Police at 660-562-1254. 

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Patrick Holleron

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Additional learning experiences are coming for St. Joseph youth in the near future as part of a six-part program designed to spark an interest in science, technology, engineering and math.

The Mosaic Life Care Foundation and emPowerU’s STEAM will be holding various STEM-based afterschool activity programs on Tuesdays from Feb. 3 to March 10, at the emPowerU facility on 518 S. 6th St. The program will run for a total of six weeks and admission will be $50 for students.

The program will immerse students in a number of different technologies from coding and robotics to virtual reality.

Lego Powered Machines and Mechanisms (grades 3-5): Students will get hands on opportunities to design, build and test machines in real-life scenarios.

Lego SPIKE Prime Robotics (Grades 6-8): Students will build and code robots with Lego building elements.

TYNKER Coding (Grades 3-8): TYNKER coding will code and build video games with their own characters, music, controls and game logic.

Virtual Reality Explorers (Grades 6-8): Students will explore immersive technology as they create three-dimensional art as they explore different environments.

For additional information or questions contact Director of Program Operations Devran Brower at (817)-271-7910.

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News-Press NOW

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — One man suffered non-life-threatening injuries after being shot at the 1000 block of Locust Street just before 3 p.m. Friday.

A KQ2 reporter on scene observed a few different police cars, as well as an emergency services vehicle.

St. Joseph Police Department Sgt. Ken Schroeder said officers received a call about a disturbance between two individuals on the front porch of a residence in the area.

The suspect is not currently in custody, SJPD said they were told the subject took off, heading west, from the location.

The victim is currently receiving treatment at Mosaic Life Care.

Schroeder said the investigation is still ongoing.

KQ2 will update this article as more details become available.

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Carter Ostermiller

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — Construction is in its early stages on the new Marriott TownePlace Suites Hotel on 1401 N. Woodbine Road.

According to City of St. Joseph Plans Review Coordinator Dale Reuter, the four-story, 129-room hotel, proposed in June of 2024, has a market value of $10 million, plus.

Construction officially began sometime in late October 2025.

The building will include a breakfast area, a fitness area, an indoor pool area and an outdoor pool.

“St. Joe is a great place to come and build, and we do need more of the hotels in our area for our interstate people and people traveling through,” said Reuter.

According to Reuter, construction crews have poured the foundations. Now, underground plumbing and electricity are just being put in for the building.

Reuter said early conversations have indicated that the plans for the building to be finished are hopefully by June of this year, as Kansas City prepares for the FIFA World Cup.

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