Category: knpn-local-news

Leah Rainwater

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — The St. Joseph School District saw six filings for two open seats on its School Board after the filing period opened Tuesday.

Terms are up in April for board member Whitney Lanning and newly seated member Tom Richmond. Richmond joined the board in May after former member Rick Gehring announced his resignation.

SJSD saw filings for Jacob McMillian, Cynthia Cook and Deborah Schmuck on Tuesday.

Travis Smith was added to the list on Wednesday, Geoffrey Sollars filed on Thursday and Cassandra Veale on Friday.

Only two out of the six candidates who have filed so far have appeared on ballots for the Buchanan County General Municipal Election over the last five years.

Jacob McMillian was listed on the April 2024 ballot and Cassandra Veale was listed on the April 2025 ballot.

Both McMillian and Veale also ran as candidates to be selected to fill Gehring’s open spot earlier this year.

Any person interested and qualified to run for a position on the School Board in the April 7, 2026, election is encouraged to apply.

Qualifications to apply are:

Be citizens of the United States of America

Be voters of the district

Have resided in Missouri for a minimum of one year immediately preceding their election or appointment

Be at least 24 years of age

Not be delinquent in the payment of any state income taxes, personal property taxes, municipal taxes or real property taxes on their place of residence. If an applicant is a past or present corporate officer of any fee office, that office cannot be delinquent in the payment of any taxes owed to the state

Have not been found guilty of, nor pled guilty to, a felony under the federal laws of the United States of America or to a felony under Missouri law or an offense committed in another state that would be considered a felony in Missouri

Have not been convicted of or entered a guilty plea for the offense of assault in the first or second degree, or the offense of harassment in the first or second degree, where such assault or harassment occurred on school district grounds

Not be registered or required to be registered as a sex offender

Have filed, or the treasurer of an existing candidate

Have filed, or the treasurer of an existing committee has filed, all required campaign disclosure reports with the Missouri Ethics Commission, when applicable, for all previous elections in which they were candidates.

Persons interested may file at the St. Joseph School District’s Administrative offices, located at 1415 North 26th St.

Filings will continue during SJSD’s regular business hours, which are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The district said the hours are subject to change.

Filing will not occur on days when SJSD’s offices are closed due to inclement weather or due to an unforeseen event in which the district would need to close.

So far, the district offices will be closed from noon on Tuesday, Dec. 23, through Monday, Dec. 29.

The last day for candidates to file is from 3 to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 30.

Candidates with questions should call 816-671-4003 or email donnabaker@sjsd.k12.mo.us.

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Patrick Holleron

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — A group of devoted community members were officially honored as the next class of up-and-coming leaders in St. Joseph this week, highlighted by the dedication of one late member who long embodied the program’s core values.

United Way of Greater St. Joseph is celebrating the work of 28 local leaders who graduated from its longstanding Leadership St. Joseph program on Thursday, capping off a year-long program designed to boost leadership skills and promote community investment.

Leaders from a wide variety of career fields and professions were featured in this year’s class, including those in K12 and higher education, nonprofit services, government, healthcare, business, banking and more.

As part of this year’s class, the 2025 United Way Leadership St. Joseph Distinguished Leader Award was presented to the late Carole A. Dunn, who unexpectedly passed away on June 10, 2025, at the age of 56. Her daughter, Bridgette Ballinger, was presented the award on her behalf.

Dunn was a member of the 2002 United Way Leadership St. Joseph class and dedicated her life to volunteering and supporting a wide variety of local organizations, including the YWCA Board of Directors, the Women of Excellence Steering Committee and the Leadership St. Joseph Steering Committee.

“Carol is a beautiful example of leading in every room you are in, regardless of what your role is,” United Way President Kylee Strough. “She brought an energy, a spirit, and an inspiration to all she did what she did through her workday at the News-Press with Josephine, and AFL-CIO Community Services. She brought leadership to how she operated within the community as a citizen, championing for Downtown, small businesses, the arts, taking care of our community and making it better. It was our honor last night to recognize Carole with this award.”

Dunn was a vital member of the St. Joseph News-Press for more than three decades, helping lead the company’s marketing and community engagement efforts, Josephine magazine and supporting numerous other areas of the company.

United Way Leadership St. Joseph 2025 graduates include:

Shay Bernard — Progressive Community Services

Tom Brand — St. Joseph Community Alliance

Stephanie Bush — American Family Mutual Insurance Company

Summer Deatherage — City of St. Joseph

Jodi Deering — Hillyard Companies

Jace Drake — Mosaic Life Care

Angi Duty — Community Action Partnership

Stacey Fanning — Missouri American Water Co.

Lanea Furst — Altec Industries

Brooklynn Gill — Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation

Sarah Gockley — St. Joseph Public Library

Pete Hernandez — Nor-Am Cold Storage

Tyler Hoffman — American Family Mutual Insurance Company

Lindsay Hummer — Mosaic Life Care

Jackson Lohman — City of St. Joseph

Brandi Lopez — Altec Industries

Rafael Medeiros de Oliveira Silva — American Angus Association

Bubba Miller — Sponsored by Farmers State Bank, employed by Altec Industries

Kristen Neeley — Missouri Western State University

Kenney Newville — Modern Litho

Michelle Norman — Sponsored by Junior League of St. Joseph

Nikki Olt — Nestle Purina PetCare

Viviana Sanchez — Daily’s Premium Meats

Michelle Schulze — St. Joseph School District

Tammy Smith-Hinchey — St. Joseph School District

Cameron Talbot — Commerce Bank

More than 1,000 individuals have completed United Way’s program since its creation in 1982, equipping individuals with the skills and knowledge to serve as engaged community leaders. The program fosters a strong network of community commitment through service, collaboration and a deeper understanding of community needs.

The United Way Leadership St. Joseph Class of 2025 stands for a group photo.

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NPG Content Share

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) — Gov. Mike Kehoe might be looking to phase out income tax in 2026, but to do that, the state would have to expand the sales tax base to include services, according to conservative group Americans For Prosperity.

The governor hasn’t released a plan to eliminate income tax, but a spokesperson said Thursday that he will unveil his tax and spending plan for fiscal 2027 at the State of the State Address on Jan. 12. That plan will be “comprehensive and responsible,” the governor’s office said.

Americans For Prosperity has been working closely with the governor to craft a plan that will keep more money in Missourians’ paychecks, legislative director Camellia Peterson said. The governor plans to phase out the income tax over five to 10 years, Peterson said.

Income tax accounts for about two-thirds of Missouri’s general revenue, according to the Missouri Budget Project. The state has to make up that loss from somewhere.

The state collected about $3.31 billion since December 2024, according to the state general revenue report for November 2025.

The bottom 20% of Missouri workers pay about 0.5% of their income, the top 20% pay about 3.6% and everyone in between pays somewhere between 1.4% and 3.6%, according to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy.

Peterson said the governor’s plan would include widening the sales tax base to include services while also cutting spending. For example, realtor transaction fees and accounting services would be taxable under this proposed plan, Peterson said. Health care services would be exempt from this tax.

“Broadening the sales tax base really does help people at lower income levels because it also gives you more choice in how much tax you pay when there are budget shortfalls or when things get tight,” Peterson said.

The Missouri Realtors Association did not respond to a request for comment.

Traci Gleason from the Missouri Budget Project said services could include repairs, lawn service and pet grooming.

Missouri voters passed a ballot initiative in 2016 to keep sales and use taxes off services, according to Gleason.

Gleason said this would act like a tax break for the upper class because a larger share of their tax burden comes from income tax.

The other way the governor could make up for the income tax revenue is to increase sales tax, Gleason said.

The Missouri Budget Project estimates that sales tax would have to be about 12% to completely replace income tax, and when that’s combined with other local taxes, that number could jump to 17% to 19%.

Gleason said this projected sales tax could be costly for Missourians.

“We don’t add up the sales taxes that we pay every single day, and so it seems like it’s going to be something that’s going to help people, but when you add up what they’re actually paying, it’s going to hurt most Missourians in the long run,” Gleason said.

Peterson said the governor isn’t planning on an increase in sales tax. However, the governor hasn’t released his official plan.

The plan would also need voter approval because it’s considered a new tax, Peterson said. It would be on the 2026 ballot.

EDITOR’S NOTE: A statistic about income taxes paid by the top 1% of earners has been corrected.

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Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — A historic St. Joseph museum is decking the halls and inviting community members to ring in the holiday spirit with Santa Claus and complimentary Christmas gifts.

The historic Wyeth-Tootle Mansion is set to transform once again into a festive Christmas wonderland as part of its longstanding ‘Santa at the Mansion’ event from noon to 2 p.m. on Dec. 20 at 1100 Charles St.

The event, which is free and open to the public, gives kids the opportunity to meet and take photos with Santa Clausa, all while enjoying the rich history of the 146-year-old Wyeth-Tootle Mansion.

Children will also receive a complimentary gift as part of the experience: A new scavenger-hunt book created by the museum titled ‘Mystery at the Mansion.’

No tickets are required to attend the free event. Reservations are appreciated but not required.

“Santa at the Mansion is one of our favorite traditions. It’s a chance for families to experience the magic of the holidays while connecting with the history and charm of the Wyeth-Tootle Mansion. We are thrilled to offer this event at no cost to the community,” said Kami Jones; communications and group tours manager, in a news release.

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Carter Ostermiller

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — At 6 pm on Saturday, Dec. 13, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) will host their Saturation Patrol Roll Call at the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office.

The event is bringing 30 officers from five different law enforcement agencies for a saturation patrol that focuses on removing impaired drivers in St. Joseph and the surrounding Kansas City metro. Victims of impaired driving crashes will be present to thank law enforcement for their commitment to saving lives. Grab-and-go meals will be provided for participating officers.

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Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — A joint operation this Saturday will see officers from five law enforcement agencies working to remove impaired drivers from roadways in Buchanan County, with the help of Mothers Against Drunk Driving Missouri.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving Missouri and dozens of officers from five different law enforcement agencies will host a dedicated saturation patrol on Saturday, Dec. 13 in Buchanan County.

The saturation patrol will bring 30+ officers together, including the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office, to remove impaired drivers from Missouri roadways in St. Joseph and the surrounding KC Metro area.

As a token of appreciation, MADD will host a Saturation Patrol Roll Call at 6 p.m. at 501 Faraon St. in advance of the operation with grab-and-go meals available for participating officers.

Victims and survivors of impaired driving crashes will be presented to thank law enforcement for their dedication to keeping the roads safe.

“MADD Missouri is honored to support these officers as they work to remove impaired drivers from our roads,” said Anna Riley, MADD Program Manager, in a news release. “Saturation patrols are critical in preventing crashes, saving lives and reinforcing the message that driving under the influence will not be tolerated.”

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News-Press NOW

By: Darren Doyle

SAVANNAH, Mo. (KQTV) — The Savannah Fire Department will host its inaugural Christmas celebration to invite the community to get a look inside its station.

The celebration will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. on Dec. 18 at the Savannah Fire Department’s Station 1, located at 107 US-71 BUS in Savannah.

The department came up with the idea of letting taxpayers come and see how it is making the most of its resources. 

A lot of times, citizens and their families only meet firefighters on dark days in their lives, according to Savannah FD Lt. Jason Boyer. Having positive interactions with the public is at the forefront of this mission to create a fun holiday atmosphere. 

“It’s vital for us just to be seen. I guess most of the time when people see us, they don’t want to see us because we’ve got lights and something bad has happened,” Boyer said. “So it’s nice to be able to interact with the community in a non-emergency status and show you know that, ‘hey, we do care about the community and want to do stuff good for them’.”

This event will feature pictures and letters to Santa, a bounce house, a CPR Demonstration, Hot Cocoa and more.

For updates and additional information, follow the Savannah, Missouri, Fire Department on Facebook. 

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News-Press NOW

By: Darren Doyle

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — The First Lutheran Church in St. Joseph is continuing its unique, annual tradition, bringing Christmas magic to families.

This year, families who pay $15 get to experience “Trip to the North Pole,” featuring Mrs. Claus’s kitchen creation of a gingerbread town after Tinsel the elf opened a special magic gift.

Money for the trip will benefit the Open Door Food Kitchen in St. Joseph. 

The event serves as the ultimate experience to make memories during the holidays, according to Christmas Adventure Co-Director Tami Davis.

“People get so wrapped up with the monetary side of buying gifts and things like that. And to me, it’s making memories with your family,” Davis said. “This is a perfect opportunity for them to come take their kids and make a memory that’ll last way longer than that.”

Trips can be taken between 2 and 6 p.m. The last four dates for this experience are Dec. 13, Dec. 14, Dec. 20 and Dec. 21.

Interested attendees can make reservations online and will have to pay in person. Families are still welcome to walk into the church during Christmas Adventure hours. 

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Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The U.S. House has signed off on a massive defense policy bill with a record $901 billion in military spending, setting the stage for troop raises, significant military upgrades in Missouri and a boost to the 139th Airlift Wing in St. Joseph.

The 2025 National Defense Authorization Act passed in the House 312-112 and now heads to the U.S. Senate for approval, which is expected next week according to national media outlets. Under the bill, U.S. servicemembers will see a 3.5% pay raise, with an additional $1.5 billion authorized for new construction of barracks and family housing.

“We have to ensure our military remains the most lethal, most effective fighting force in the world,” U.S. Rep. Sam Graves, R-Mo, said. “To do that, we have to give our troops the tools they need to fight and win — while supporting them and their families at home and abroad.”

Graves, a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee which devised the bill, said important victories were secured for the country and North Missouri in the process, including fostering development of a Domestic Operations Tactics Training Center for C-130J aircrews at Rosecrans and encouraging the expansion of C-130J simulator training, including training at the 139th Airlift Wing.

Nearly $2.5 billion was authorized for the procurement of B-21 long-range bombers at Whiteman Air Force Base, including $33 million for military construction to support it.

The bill also includes $15.5 million to partner with private sector and academic institutions like UMKC to develop and demonstrate technologies needed for the domestic production of critical materials from domestic mineral sources. The measure falls in line with the U.S.’s goal of strengthening domestic production and reducing its dependency on foreign countries or trading partners for critical materials.

“I’m proud to have worked in the House Armed Services Committee to ensure this year’s defense bill does just that, while also supporting the vital mission of the 139th Airlift Wing in St. Joseph and good-paying skilled jobs at the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant in Independence.”

While no funding was allocated specifically for new C-130J models for the 139th Airlift Wing in St. Joseph, $200 million was authorized for procurement of two C-130Js for the Air National Guard fleet as a whole, aircraft that could potentially go to St. Joseph.

“I hope that those are designated for Saint Joe. I hope they end up in Saint Joe. We did a whole lot of stuff in this bill that’s going to help Saint Joe out in a big way,” Graves told News-Press NOW.

Just as important for the 139th Airlift Wing and its fleet of C-130s are new protections through FY28, including the minimum inventory requirement and the prohibition on reducing Air National Guard C-130 aircraft.

The bill does much to highlight the strategic warfighting training done at the Advanced Airlift Tactics Center at Rosecrans, as well as the 139th Airlift Wing’s expertise in responding to domestic disasters and training crews in advanced airlift tactics.

The bill requires annual reports to be submitted through Fiscal Year 2028 on C-130 inventory, retirements, modernization and recapitalization efforts, and basing plans for fielding C-130Js for the Air National Guard.

Military investments planned for Missouri:

Ensures plan to recapitalize the 442nd Fighter Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base.

$2.5 billion for procurement of B-21 long-range bombers, which will be based at Whiteman Air Force Base.

$407 million to manufacture MQ-25 Stingrays in St. Louis

$576 million to modernize and sustain F/A-18E/Fs and EA-18Gs in St. Louis

$50.6 million to produce the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet in St. Louis

$33 million for military construction at Whiteman Air Force Base to support the B-21 bomber

$132.6 million for the Joint Assault Bridge, made in Bridgeton

Nearly $700 million for small arms ammunition produced or will be produced at Lake City Army Ammunition Plant.

Another $1 billion for small arms facilities modernization, including Lake City Army Ammunition Plant.

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News-Press NOW

By: Darren Doyle

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — An area teen who discovered her talent during the South Side Flood of 2020 reflects on her success on the pool table, which recently led her to a world competition in Spain. 

Jordan Helfery was only eight years old when her family’s home flooded in 2020.

Helfery lost all of her toys and had to find a way to pass the time when her family moved in with her grandparents. 

Helfery found her father’s pool table, which he had purchased when he was younger, while she stayed with her grandparents. She took an interest and soon showed a talent her parents knew they couldn’t pass up. 

“We’d come home from around the house, and she’d be like, Watch this. And she was working on trick shots, and she loved to watch YouTube,” said Sarah Helfery, Jordan’s mother.

The kid, in need of something to do, took her love of YouTube and taught herself how to play pool from videos of accomplished pro player Shane Van Boening.

“I was a kid. I had no idea you could take this professional or anything. Playing on (on my dad’s table), I don’t know, it just… it was really something I was going to remember,” said Jordan. “Because it got me started in pool, and that flood was a blessing.”

Two years later, the up-and-coming pool shark took part in a competitive pool tournament in Springfield, Missouri. She won the tournament in three matches; however, her family received a bump in the road that would be the biggest compliment to her play. 

“There was a guy who really thought he had the tournament, and when he got beat by her, he took to Facebook and made a big post about how we hustled him,” said Sarah, while smiling. “Thankfully, the whole crowd there who saw the truth threw it back the other way.”

She was advised not to play in any more “four and under” tournaments by the tournament head, as they felt she was a more skilled player. Not long after, Jordan would start playing in Junior International Championships, which led to many trophies and championship titles. 

“When I won that tournament in… Blue Springs against those adults, and I felt like I really had an edge, and I was really excited to see what else I could do,” Jordan said.

The now 14-year-old was playing in her first Women’s Professional Billiards Association matches at the age of 12.  She would go on to win her first national championship in Cherokee, North Carolina, in November, along with numerous other accolades. 

However, one competition would give her the opportunity of a lifetime when she played in the Billiards Education Foundation tournament in July of this year. 

This opportunity provided tickets for the top four girls and top four boys to compete in the Predator WPA World Junior Championship in Gandia, Spain. Jordan was one of five girls from the tournament who punched their ticket to one of the biggest competitions of their lives. 

“I started off playing with, you know, kind of amateur players, and as I got more into it, I was playing at higher-skilled events, and winning those, and slowly getting higher in the race than that also builds confidence,” Jordan said. “Being able to go overseas is huge, and it’s just like as you get more experience, it’s a huge part of building that confidence…And going overseas was super exciting.”

Jordan battled her way through the girls’ division to the semifinals and received a bronze medal on one of the biggest stages for teen pool players. 

“You know, she is a perfectionist, and everything she does (is great). She’s a straight-A student, works really hard, so anything she puts her mind to, she could do,” Sarah said. “I would like to see her be a world champion one day. I know she’s got the talent.”

The young pool player stays solid through lessons with Ultimate Pool USA Hall of Famer David Matlock. The two went on to win a mixed pairs championship in February of 2025. 

She plans to continue her pool-playing career and hopes to turn it into a living in adulthood, to win world championships. 

“Keep doing what you love, as long as you have a love for it and you have a drive to want to keep getting better,” said Jordan when asked if she had advice for young people going through a similar journey. “There’s nothing that can stop you, just keep doing what you love.”

Jordan said she is also thankful to her family, friends and career sponsors for helping her get to where she is today. 

She is set to compete in the Ultimate Pool USA Iowa Open in March.

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