Category: knpn-local-news

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.

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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/

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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.

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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.

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News-Press NOW

LIBERTY, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — A St. Joseph man and former William Jewell College student is facing Terrorist Threat charges after threatening to shoot up the campus on Saturday, June 21.

On Tuesday, June 24, Liberty Police said the Clay County Prosecutor’s Office charged Raczkowski with Terrorist Threat 1st Degree.

Jacob A. Raczkowski, age 25 of St. Joseph, allegedly stated in a call to Liberty, MO Communications Officers that he was on campus and was planning to “start shooting” at a specific building.

A judge issued a warrant for Raczkowski and set a $100,000 bond. However, Raczkowski remains in custody in another county on unrelated charges.

Court documents say a Missouri State Highway Patrol Trooper recognized Raczkowski’s black Jeep Cherokee on Sunday, June 22, traveling east on I-70 in Lafayette County, MO, going more than 100 miles per hour.

The Jeep came to a stop when one of its tires ruptured, and Raczkowski began to flee on foot.

Raczkowski was later taken into custody before noon on Monday, June 23, and was transported to the Lafayette County Jail in Lexington, MO.

Raczkowski was also a former student and athlete at Bishop LeBlond High School.

News-Press NOW will provide more updates when they become available.

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Associated Press

By MICHELLE L. PRICE and MARY CLARE JALONICK – Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — A new U.S. intelligence report found that Iran’s nuclear program has been set back only a few months after a U.S. strike and was not “completely and fully obliterated†as President Donald Trump has said, according to two people familiar with the early assessment.

The intelligence report issued by the Defense Intelligence Agency on Monday contradicts statements from Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the status of Iran’s nuclear facilities. The people were not authorized to address the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

According to the people, the report found that while the Saturday strikes at the Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan nuclear sites did significant damage, they were not totally destroyed.

The assessment found that at least some of Iran’s highly enriched uranium was moved out of multiple sites before the U.S. strikes and survived, according to the people, and it also found that Iran’s centrifuges are largely intact.

At the deeply buried Fordo uranium enrichment plant, the entrance collapsed and infrastructure was damaged, so that will take time to fix, but the underground infrastructure was not destroyed, according to one of the people. The person also said that previous assessments had warned of this outcome at Fordo.

The White House strongly pushed back on the assessment, calling it “flat-out wrong.â€

“The leaking of this alleged assessment is a clear attempt to demean President Trump, and discredit the brave fighter pilots who conducted a perfectly executed mission to obliterate Iran’s nuclear program,†White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. “Everyone knows what happens when you drop fourteen 30,000 pound bombs perfectly on their targets: total obliteration.â€

Trump has said in comments and posts on social media in recent days, including Tuesday, that the strikes left the sites in Iran “totally destroyed†and that Iran will never rebuild its nuclear facilities.

Netanyahu said in a televised statement on Tuesday that, “For dozens of years I promised you that Iran would not have nuclear weapons and indeed … we brought to ruin Iran’s nuclear program.”

He said the U.S. joining Israel was “historic” and thanked Trump.

The CIA and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence declined to comment on the DIA assessment. ODNI coordinates the work of the nation’s 18 intelligence agencies, including the DIA, which is the intelligence arm of the Defense Department, responsible for producing intelligence on foreign militaries and the capabilities of adversaries.

The intelligence assessment was first reported by CNN on Tuesday.

Associated Press writers Eric Tucker and David Klepper contributed to this report

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News-Press NOW

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — A man convicted of the first-degree murder of a Missouri State Highway Patrol Trooper in 2005 is set to be executed.

A jury found Lance Shockley guilty on March 27, 2009, of killing Sgt. Dewayne Graham outside his home in Carter County in March 2005.

Court records said Sgt. Graham was investigating Shockley for involuntary manslaughter and fleeing the scene of a crash, which caused one fatality on Nov. 26, 2004.

The Missouri Supreme Court has set the execution date and time for 6 p.m. on Oct. 14, 2025.

SC90286 – 2025-06-18 – per curiam order setting execution dateDownload

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News-Press NOW

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — One popular coffee chain is set to open another franchise location along the Belt Highway.

Scooter’s Coffee Drive-Thru is known for its “Blended Turtles” and “Red Bull Infusions” as well as other caffeinated drinks and delights.

A new Scooter’s building will be located at 2503 S Belt Hwy and is already seen with an “Opening Soon” banner.

“Timelines are always subject to change, especially until construction is complete, but this location should be open in August 2025,” said Brandon Bartling, Scooter’s senior manager of communications and public relations, in an email.

The Midwest-based coffee franchise opened its first drive-thru location in St. Joseph in 2019 at 2410 N Belt Hwy.

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Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Residents will notice an increase in admission fees at two well-known community facilities starting next week. 

Beginning July 1, admission fees at the Remington Nature Center will increase slightly by $1 across the board. Adults will now pay $5, seniors $4 and youth $3. Children ages 3 and under will still be able to enter for free. 

The REC Center will also adjust admission fees in several different areas, the first since it opened back in 2012. 

Full facility passes will jump from $8 to $10, while open gym passes will increase from $5 to $7. 

REC Center fee increases include: 

Corporate Memberships: $25 to $30 monthly, and $275 to $300 annually. 

Individual Memberships: $35 to $40 monthly, and $385 to $440 annually. 

Family Memberships: $50 to $60 monthly and $550 to $660 annually. 

The changes are largely driven by significant increases in Missouri’s minimum wage, which has risen by 80% since 2015. Missouri voters approved a two-phase increase in 2024 that would boost the minimum wage from $12.30 to $15 by 2026.  

“We finally had to react and increase the rates just to be able to keep ahead of the minimum wage,†St. Joseph Parks and Recreation Director Jeff Atkins said.

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Jacob Meikel

The Kansas City Chiefs are set to return to St. Joseph next month for training camp, and the community is ready for the increased foot traffic that goes with it.

On Monday, the Chiefs and Missouri Western State University agreed to a multi-year extension ahead of the team’s 15th summer visit to Western for training camp in July.

Come July 22 when training camp practices open to the pubic, fans from in and around St. Joseph are expected to flock to campus, creating economic opportunities for local businesses close by whether franchises or small businesses. 

At Il Lazzarone, a local pizza business located at 1628 Frederick Avenue, one employee is looking forward to the increased business during the nearly four-week timespan the Chiefs will be in town, whether that’s tending to fans or potentially a player.

“We’re definitely really excited to have them come back for training camp. I think it’s going to do a lot for the community and we’re just glad to be able to serve them and bring in a lot of good company and have them around,†St. Joseph resident and Il Lazzarone employee Kalya Sansom said.

Weather is certainly going to be a factor in how great attendance will be at camp this summer with peak summer temperatures typically at play in July and August. Enduring high temperatures while attending training camp practices can pose risks for heat-related illness. Emergency medical personnel are on hand every day at training camp, but some locals don’t bother taking the risk.

“Too hot and too many people,†local resident Juel Pierce said. “We’re glad they come to St. Joe and we hope they keep coming, we probably won’t.â€

Another local resident, Rick Meyer, echoed the same sentiment as Pierce, saying the reason he avoids training camp is because of the heat. However, Meyer, who was escaping the heat on Monday afternoon inside of East Hills Mall, acknowledges the Chiefs value to the community.

“It’s a good thing for the community because people come up and watch it and they spend money in our community… and it’s been good for the college because they got upgraded facilities,†Meyer said.

Chiefs training camp practices will take place from July 22 through Aug. 13. The full training camp schedule can be found at newspressnow.com.

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