Category: knpn-local-news

Jenna Wilson

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The annual Juneteenth parade brought the St. Joseph community together in celebration and unity.

The parade, which began at 10 a.m. and concluded at noon, started at Bode Middle School and ended at the Bartlett Center.

Organizations and groups from across the state, including local law enforcement agencies, participated in the march to show their support for unity and inclusion.

“We had lots of amazing stepper groups, and of course, MidCity Excellence came out with their drumline and really showed out,” said Sara Wilson, Executive Director of the St. Joseph Museums. “We also had the Leavenworth Buffalo Soldiers on their motorcycles; they came out this year. So, it was a really great parade.”

One local group, the Rolling 3 Riders, said it means a lot to see so many diverse groups show up in support of a common purpose.

“It’s a really good feeling,” said Snakeman, president of the Rolling 3 Riders. “It’s been a lovely time supporting this town, and to see so many others backing that makes the feeling even greater.”

Event organizers hope today’s festivities showcased pride, culture, and a unified message.

“It’s the celebration of freedom, of course, but it’s also the coming together of our community to celebrate how important our freedom is,” said Wilson. “Everybody’s freedom, because nobody is free until we are all free. And that’s our message.”

The Juneteenth parade was followed by additional events, including a gala, fashion show, and foam party, all supported by various vendors and food options.

In addition, Big Luke and the Soul Disciples will perform live from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Bartlett Center.

The Juneteenth celebration will conclude on Sunday with a community picnic at Bartlett Park from 1 to 4 p.m. The picnic is free and open to all.

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Ryan Eslinger

The St. Joseph Mustangs are looking for a weekend sweep with the last game of their homestand tonight at 7:00 p.m. against the Carroll Merchants. The Mustangs will be wearing their throwback St. Joseph Cardinals jerseys as a nod to who they were before the Mustangs.

In last night’s game, the Mustangs outlasted the Jefferson City Raiders in a 13-8 victory and are looking to carry that momentum into their game with the merchants.

As a part of their promotional schedule the Mustangs will be giving out 9x MINK League Champion pennants tonight to every fan who attends the game. There will also be fireworks at Phil Welch stadium after the game.

The Mustangs will be back at Phil Welch Stadium on Wednesday, June 25, for their St. Joseph All-Star Game.

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Jenna Wilson

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — St. Joseph police are investigating a stabbing that occurred Saturday afternoon near Woods Mini Mart.

According to Sgt. Casey Guyer with the St. Joseph Police Department, officers were dispatched around 3:45 p.m. after receiving a report of a man walking near Subway with visible neck injuries that appeared to be stab wounds.

Responding officers located the man across the street at Woods Mini Mart. He appeared to have sustained two stab wounds, one being in the armpit, and was transported by ambulance to the emergency room.

Police say the investigation is ongoing. The victim is currently in stable condition at Mosaic Life Care, according to SJPD.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the police department at (816) 238-TIPS.

News-Press NOW will provide updates as more information becomes available.

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Jenna Wilson

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) – Local law enforcement agencies gathered in St. Joseph on Saturday for a Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) event aimed at raising awareness and supporting victims of impaired driving.

The event was held from noon to 3 p.m. at Reed Chevrolet, located at 4200 Commonwealth Court.

“My father was killed by a drunk driver in Osceola, Missouri,” said Buchanan County Deputy Zack Craft. “To this day, I’ve taken that motivation and turned it into what I do now. DWI is a murder looking for a place to happen. Every 45 minutes, one person is killed by an impaired driver. With this event, we’re trying to change that.”

Agencies from across northwest Missouri and the Kansas City area came together to put the brakes on impaired driving through public education on a widespread issue affecting both the state and the nation.

“When you get behind the wheel of a vehicle and you’re in any type of impaired state, that is no longer a vehicle,” said Tabitha Perkins, MADD Missouri state executive director. “You’ve turned it into a deadly weapon. Every impaired driving crash is a choice. The numbers continue to rise in Missouri and nationwide, and as a result, fatal crashes are increasing at an alarming rate.”

Organizers say they’re optimistic about new laws being introduced across Missouri and the continued effort to reduce impaired driving.

“We can enact all the laws we want and we are doing great with those,” Perkins said. “We have a lot more laws coming next year, and we’re hopeful to get some of those passed. But with that, we ask the general public for their support in this effort.”

Community members had the opportunity to test drive vehicles and spend the afternoon learning about the push to end impaired driving.

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Ryan Eslinger

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — St. Joseph native, Noah Cameron, is set to take the mound for the Kansas City Royals in San Diego tonight at 6:15 p.m. to face the San Diego Padres. This is the second game of a three-game weekend series.

Cameron, who has had a hot start to his rookie campaign, has proven to be a key piece in the rotation.

The Royals will look to Cameron to shut down a star-studded Padres lineup to secure the series win in the golden state.

Cameron’s next start is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. on Friday, June 27, against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Kauffman Stadium.

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Charles Christian

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — For those who will hit the road for summer travel out of state, learning a few of the laws from other states might save time and trouble.

While it’s impossible to know all the key laws of every state, Buchanan County Sheriff Bill Puett said knowing a few key laws that are familiar sources of difficulty when traveling can be helpful.

“Laws about hands-free operation of an electronic or cellular device in the state of your destination is important,” Puett said. “Every state is different when it comes to those laws.”

Puett added, for those who choose to carry a gun across state lines, knowing the concealed carry laws for the state of your destination is also important.

“Some states require weapons to be out of reach while driving,” Puett said. “They may also require ammunition to be separated from the gun itself.”

St. Joseph resident Toery Clinton said she often checks gun laws first when she is traveling to another state, to avoid any potential legal issues at her destination.

“I always find out if I need to put the magazine in a different compartment than the gun, or if it needs to be in the trunk or locked away,” Clinton said.

Another St. Joseph resident, Cameron Trombly, said when he travels to other cities and wants to park near a site he is visiting, he has learned the hard way to check out the parking laws.

“You need to check whether they have a kiosk for you to pay,” Twombly said. “Also, check for meters in heavy tourist areas, because forgetting to pay can cost you.”

Sheriff Puett said, even if you get pulled over for any reason in another city or state, common courtesy is the best policy, even if you misunderstood the law or believe that you haven’t broken a law.

“The best thing to do is to comply,” Puett said. “Take the summons, and argue or fight it later, because arguing with an officer roadside is never a good idea, due to safety concerns.”

The U.S. Concealed Carry Association (USCCA) provides legal defense funding and grants if an issue arises regarding concealed carry laws from state to state. Though Puett still recommends sorting those issues out after receiving the summons, as the best approach.

Sheriff Puett said that Buchanan County officers exercise discretion when it comes to out-of-state drivers who are unfamiliar with Missouri laws. However, ignorance of the law is not a valid excuse in court. Therefore, if you receive a summons for an actual violation, it is likely you will have to pay the appropriate fines.

A simple online check can usually answer questions about state laws regarding common issues like hands-free cellular usage, speeding and concealed carry laws.

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News-Press NOW

HAMILTON, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — One man is dead after a two-vehicle crash in Caldwell County Friday afternoon.

Missouri State Highway Patrol reports the crash happened around 2:52 p.m. on Friday, June 20, on US Highway 36, just four miles west of the Hamilton City Reservoir.

A 15-year-old Hamilton, Missouri, juvenile was driving a 2018 Mazda CX5 east in the westbound lanes when the vehicle collided with a 2010 Ford Escape, driven by a 41-year-old Breckenridge, Missouri, man driving west in the westbound lanes.

The 15-year-old juvenile was life-flighted to Children’s Mercy KC, and the 41-year-old man was pronounced dead on the scene by the Caldwell County Coroner and was transported to the Jackson County Medical Examiner.

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Lucas Geisler

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)– An attorney for Ryan Ferguson hopes to get $1 million more in his eight-figure lawsuit against an insurance company.

Attorney Michael Berry asked Cole County Judge Cotton Walker on Friday to add at least $1.3 million to the $43.8 million judgment he awarded on Monday. Berry said Walker did not properly add 129 days’ interest on the award.

A Cole County jury sided with Ferguson and six former Columbia police detectives in November in their lawsuit against Travelers Insurance. They claimed Travelers refused to pay out the remaining $2.9 million of a more than $11 million settlement Ferguson and the detectives inked over his reversed murder conviction for sports editor Kent Heitholt’s death in the Columbia Daily Tribune parking lot and decade-long incarceration. The jury awarded him $2.9 million in compensatory damages and $35 million in punitive damages.

Ferguson attorney Kathleen Zellner said the $43.8 million judgment and the money already collected from the settlement make the case the largest court award for a wrongful conviction in U.S. history.

Ryan Ferguson post judgement briefDownload

Walker determined the amount of annual interest added to the award from Jan. 16, 2008, to Feb. 7, 2025. Berry argued that interest should run through June 16’s final award, adding another 129 days, or $1.3 million more. That would also affect how much money Travelers would be expected to pay in post-judgment interest.

Berry also said he planned to challenge Walker’s cap on the total amount of punitive damages awarded. Walker applied a state law to the award that caps punitive damages in a lawsuit at five times the “net judgment,†or compensatory damages and prejudgment interest on compensatory damages.

Walker put that total at $24.2 million, less than the $35 million the jury called for.

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Patrick Holleron

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW). — Changes are coming to the St. Joseph Goats arena football team’s ownership group.

In a post from the team’s Facebook account, it was announced that St. Joseph natives, Steve Craig and Kendall Randolph, had purchased stakes in the team’s ownership.

Craig will assume a majority ownership stake of the Goats. He’s been a prominent figure in promoting St. Joseph sports, contributing to Missouri Western’s jumbo-tron at Spratt Stadium, which is currently the largest in NCAA Division II history.

Randolph, who is the CEO of Sunshine Electronic Display and the President of Hi-Ho Bar and Grill, will be a part-owner of the team.

In addition to Craig and Randolph joining, current team president Ted Sweeney will now be serving as an Owner and General Partner.

The changes to the team’s ownership come on the heels of Garage Beer, the Ohio-based beer company founded by Kansas City Chiefs tight end, Travis Kelce, and former Philadelphia Eagles center, Jason Kelce, securing part ownership.

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Kirsten Stokes

ST. JOSEPH, MO (News-Press NOW)– Respect Missouri Voters, a non-partisan organization, is pushing back on legislative efforts to impose more restrictions on the state’s initiative petition process.

“It began around the first of 2025,” said Nancy Zeliff, a volunteer. “We currently have over 6,700 volunteers statewide, and we have around 1,900 individuals ready to collect signatures on our citizen-driven petition.”

The organization is currently working on three key initiatives:

Banning the state legislature and politicians in Jefferson City from overturning the will of Missouri voters.

Prohibiting “ballot candy,” a term used for misleading language in ballot initiatives.

Preserving the current initiative petition process

“There’s a law that was passed and signed by our governor in April of this year, and it was SB 22,” Zeliff said. “Its nickname is called ‘Let Politicians Lie’, because what’s important for the Missouri voters is to have accurate ballot language on our ballots when we vote traditionally in a November election, because that’s what the voters read and understand.”

Two issues that have sparked concern for the group include Amendment 3 and Proposition A.

Before the Missouri Supreme Court verified that abortion would appear on the November ballot, campaigns had to collect signatures from 8% of voters in six of Missouri’s eight congressional districts.

In September 2024, in a 4-3 ruling, the Missouri Supreme Court allowed Amendment 3, known as the “Right to Reproductive Freedom” initiative, to remain on the November 2024 ballot.

The majority opinion stated that requiring ballot initiatives to list every statute that might be repealed or affected would be overly burdensome and make constitutional amendments unworkable.

In October 2024, the Court reaffirmed its decision, ruling the abortion amendment met constitutional form requirements. It also determined that petition sponsors were not legally obligated to list every potentially affected law.

Now, SB 22, signed by Governor Mike Kehoe in April 2025, extends the word limit of ballot summaries, expands the Attorney General’s authority and gives the state legislature more control over ballot language.

“If the Attorney General’s office or the legislature are the ones writing the ballot language, and not the initiator of the petition, we fear what we call ‘ballot candy’, misleading language,†Zeliff added.

Zeliff said with the push back on these pieces of legislation, it’s important for Missouri voters to always speak out and pay attention to legislators in office.

“We need 300,000 signatures as amendment three for example is collected,” Zeliff said. ” We hope there’s around 175,000 valid and verified signatures to get it on the ballot for November 2026.”

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