Category: knpn-local-news

Crystal Olney

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Reservations are open for the United Way of Greater St. Joseph’s Taste of United Way event coming up on Monday, June 23.

Residents are invited to attend the free event starting with lunch at 11:45 a.m., followed by the program at noon on June 23, according to a United Way of Greater St. Joseph Facebook post.

The topic of the event will be ‘The Power of Mentorship: Investing in our Youth.’

Space for the event is limited. Those interested can register at https://signup.com/client/invitation2/secure/47278904062/false?fbclid=IwY2xjawK0EGRleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFEUkVvdGhaUkdpT3VldDFUAR4mzbWY2U_JPK7mr4DRJoE5actfp3iQPRM6g-huXNWBIMwkMjD7cLxfIhgxNA_aem_owbtBMrjt-Pd0dMNe1FPfQ#/invitation.

The Taste of United Way event series aims to connect community members with the United Way and other partner agencies to discuss important issues in the St. Joseph area.

Click here to follow the original article.

Jenna Wilson

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The Buchanan County Jail has started rolling out tablets to inmates as part of a new initiative to improve communication.

The program is currently in its testing phase, with about half of the jail’s population using the tablets. The devices will eventually serve as the primary method for receiving mail, and will allow inmates to send text messages, emails and conduct video calls.

“A big reason for the tablets was so that the inmates would have more communication with their families,” said Captain Joe Lysaght with the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office. “They have more access to do that with the tablets instead of just the one kiosk in the dayroom.”

Inmates can also access law libraries through the tablets, allowing them to research and track their legal cases. The devices offer added privacy when making calls, which is an improvement over the shared kiosks in common areas.

“I just talked to one of our inmates a little bit ago, asked him how he was enjoying it, and he thinks it’s fantastic because they have much more ability to communicate with their families,” Lysaght said. “It also allows them to have private conversations at their discretion without worrying about other inmates standing over them at the kiosk.”

Families can send photos to the tablets for inmates to view and inmates are able to communicate directly with jail staff to make requests or raise concerns.

“If they’re having issues within the day room with other inmates, they can let us know,” Lysaght said. “Giving them this form of communication is valuable to us because we want to make sure everyone is safe in here.”

Officials said the technology could be especially helpful for families who often feel limited in their ability to stay in touch with loved ones while inside the jail. Inmates will have access to the tablets each day from morning until final lockdown at night.

If the testing phase continues to go well, officials hope to expand the resource to the entire jail population within the next two months.

Click here to follow the original article.

Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The City Council Chamber was largely quiet on Monday as St. Joseph held a public hearing on proposed sewer rate increases that could occur in 2025 and 2026. 

Community members were invited to participate in the public hearing that preceded Monday’s City Council meeting.

St. Joseph resident Steve Jones was the lone person to speak out against the plan, arguing that more increases for residents are not warranted. 

“You’re not going to get another tax increase approved through the voters, so therefore we’re going to get into our residents pockets,†he said. 

The city is considering a gradual two-phase proposal that would increase monthly sewer rates by 3% in both 2025 and 2026, with the first increase taking effect July 1, 2025, and the second by mid-2026.

If approved, the average monthly sewer bill would increase from $65.70 currently to $67.55, and again to $69.50 by mid-2026. A final vote on the new rate structure could occur at the next City Council meeting on June 23 after Monday’s first reading.

The proposal comes after council members were presented with the results of an annual sewer rate study conducted by Burns & McDonnell during a work session in late May.

Residents have seen frequent and at times significant rate increases since 2009 as the city continues the process of meeting the demands of keeping its aging sewer system in compliance with regulations mandated by the EPA and Missouri DNR. Nearly 60% of the city’s combined sewer system was installed before 1920.

Since 2013, the city has spent $250 million on required improvements to its sewer system, including the Blacksnake Creek and Whitehead separation projects.

Estimates are that another $300 million in improvements still need to be made under current regulatory guidelines, costs that continue to rise with inflation. In an effort to control those costs as much as possible, city officials have been able to work with state and federal agencies on a new integrated plan that will spread the necessary improvements over a longer period until 2050, instead of 2035.  

“We would like to be able to prioritize what those projects are instead of letting the DNR and the EPA dictate what it is that we’re going to do. So we’re working closely with them and that’s what this integrated plan does,” Public Works Director Abe Forney said. “The biggest part is so we don’t have to continue to to have massive increase in sewer rates.”

St. Joseph’s current sewer rates are not out of line with those of other older river towns in the Midwest, including Omaha, Nebraska ($60.12) and Kansas City, Missouri ($79.01).

City Council approves Capital Improvements Program for 2027-2031

Monday’s meeting also saw council members OK a resolution laying out the city’s five year capital improvement program for fiscal years 2026/2027 through 2030/2031. 

The upcoming CIP planning period includes projects totaling $115,473,593. Projects have been scheduled in five major categories as follows:

Equipment Acquisition/Upgrade/Replacement: $14,676,001

Vehicle Acquisition/Upgrade/Replacement: $516,760

Public Buildings Repair/Renovation/Construction: $24,497,471

Roads/Bridges/Hike & Bike Trails: $28,767,000

Other Public Infrastructure Improvements: $47,016,36

Council supports bonds for Daily Premium Meats expansion 

Councilmembers signed off on a resolution of intent to issue $60 million in taxable industrial development revenue bonds to finance a significant expansion project for Daily’s Premium Meats, LLC, located on Stockyards Expressway. 

The total cost of the expansion is $95 million and the project will create 115 new jobs. The city has offered an economic development incentive package to ensure the project happens in St. Joseph. 

When all is said and done, St. Joseph, Missouri, will produce 5% of the bacon in the United States.

Part of the incentive package involves utilizing the Chapter 100 program to provide tax abatement on $60 million in new equipment related to the expansion. The Company would receive 100% abatement on all personal property taxes years one and two, 75% years three to five, and 50% abatement years six to 10. 

Approval of this resolution allows the company to move forward with plans for the expansion in St. Joseph and to purchase the related new equipment. Further approval by City Council will be required through an ordinance upon completion of the project to receive approval by City Council to issue bonds associated with the final cost of the project. The City of St Joseph is not responsible or liable for the debt associated with this Bond Issuance.

Other bills approved by City Council

Change order for additional work on the Civic Arena restroom renovations project in the amount of $106,467 with E.L. Crawford Construction Inc.

Amendment to the Special Allocation Fund budget in the amount of $2.8 million and the execution of a work order with Transystems Corporation for the Cook Road improvements project in the amount of $275,975.00. 

An amendment to recognize revenues awarded from the St. Joseph, Missouri and Buchanan County, Missouri, opioid settlement fund and authorizing the purchase of first responder training equipment both in the amount of $5,432.95 for life-saving measures during emergency responses.

Click here to follow the original article.

Crystal Olney

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The Allied Arts Council is set to host its yearlong outdoor sculpture exhibit with new additions in Downtown St. Joseph.

The Sculpture Walk features 14 art pieces created by artists from Missouri and all across North America. One of the new arrivals is ‘Rollin…Rollin…Rollin’ by artist Justin Diester of Louisville, Colorado.

This year’s theme, ‘Whimsical Walk with the Arts,’ was chosen by the Allied Arts Council and the Visual Arts Committee to coordinate with the children’s museum.

“Our yearly Sculpture Walk is a perfect family activity. With inspireU now down the street, having a whimsical sculpture walk allows those families a chance to also tour Downtown before or after they play at inspireU,” the press release said.

Viewers can vote for their favorite sculpture by filling out the ballot in the walking tour brochure and placing it in one of the ballot boxes in Downtown. The ballots can also be dropped off at the Allied Arts Council office, located at 118 S. Eighth St., or the St. Joseph Convention and Visitors Bureau at 911 Frederick Ave.

The first walk is scheduled to take place at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 18. It is free and open to the public.

For more information, visit the Allied Arts Council website or contact Jessica Agnew by calling (816) 233-0231 or by email at jessica.agnew@stjoearts.org.

Click here to follow the original article.

News-Press NOW

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — One annual St. Joseph summer staple is back with free admission and fun for the whole family.

Friends of Krug Park is hosting Park-a-Palooza from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 14, at Krug park, located at 3500 St. Joseph Ave.

The event features a petting zoo, pony rides ($5 each), paper crafts, ducky draw to win prizes, Sports zone games (courtesy of Special Olympics), a balloon artist, sidewalk chalk, food vendors: Vogels and Skool Bus Ice Cream and a special appearance by Rally, the St. Joseph Mustangs mascot.

Click here to follow the original article.

Jenna Wilson

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — A local tattoo shop is warning the public about fraudulent social media accounts after a client was scammed out of money for tattoo services.

Jeff Zuptich, owner of The Tat Shack Tattoo in St. Joseph, recently discovered that someone had been using his tattoo artwork online under the name of another artist.

“I don’t have much of a social media presence,” Zuptich said. “I just post pictures of my tattoos. I don’t have a ton of followers, so I’m not sure why they picked me, but maybe that’s exactly why.”

A Facebook user operating under the name “Ink By Davis,” with multiple accounts using variations of the name in different text fonts, has been targeting potential clients and scamming them out of money by falsely claiming to work out of The Tat Shack’s address. 

Using these fake accounts, the individual has reportedly scammed several people across the metro area and beyond. Dozens of confirmed victims, including some from Topeka, Kansas, have left online reviews describing their experience with the fraudulent service.

“This specific page that targeted my client has also gone after people from Pennsylvania to Joplin.” Zuptich said. “The scam seems to originate from this ‘Ink By Davis’ page in Potosi, Missouri. He even shows a Colorado tattoo license to appear legitimate and convince people to send deposits.”

Zuptich was alerted to the scam by a Platte County officer who had sent a deposit to the scammer and then followed up to confirm whether the individual worked at The Tat Shack.

“This person is telling clients that they’ll either work at my shop or do tattoos at their house, but to my knowledge, no one’s actually received a tattoo from them yet,” Zuptich said.

Feeling frustrated by the lack of recourse, Zuptich reached out to the media to raise awareness, stating that law enforcement options appear limited in cases like this.

“There doesn’t seem to be much law enforcement can do with these types of crimes,” he said. “At least by speaking out to the media, it might do more good. If we can keep people from falling for their tricks, maybe they’ll just stop.”

Digital Payment Apps Add Complexity to Internet Fraud

News-Press NOW spoke with Buchanan County Sheriff Bill Puett about the complexities of prosecuting internet scams. He explained that payment methods such as Venmo and Cash App make it especially difficult to recover funds or catch the perpetrators.

“That’s the problem with things like Venmo, Cash App, and other applications,†Puett said. “It’s really easy for someone to pose as a legitimate business, take payments through those apps, and then disappear. Once the money’s sent, it can be extremely difficult to recover or trace, especially if the person is in another country.”

With scams continuing to evolve, Puett emphasized the importance of vigilance.

“Going forward, we all have to do our due diligence,” he said. “Just because something appears on social media doesn’t mean it’s trustworthy. Do your research before you type in any account numbers or send money.”

How to Protect Yourself from Tattoo Scams

Zuptich advises potential clients to verify the identity of any artist before sending payments, and ideally, to choose tattoo artists through trusted referrals.

“Get referrals from family members, friends, or people who someone has tattooed,” Zuptich said. “Before giving any money, try to schedule an in-person consultation. I personally like to see exactly what arm or leg I’m tattooing. That’s a good sign that you’re working with a legitimate artist.”

Click here to follow the original article.

Jenna Wilson

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — A local tattoo shop is warning the public about fraudulent social media accounts after a client was scammed out of money for tattoo services.

Jeff Zuptich, owner of The Tat Shack Tattoo in St. Joseph, recently discovered that someone had been using his tattoo artwork online under the name of another artist.

“I don’t have much of a social media presence,” Zuptich said. “I just post pictures of my tattoos. I don’t have a ton of followers, so I’m not sure why they picked me, but maybe that’s exactly why.”

A Facebook user operating under the name “Ink By Davis,” with multiple accounts using variations of the name in different text fonts, has been targeting potential clients and scamming them out of money by falsely claiming to work out of The Tat Shack’s address. 

Using these fake accounts, the individual has reportedly scammed several people across the metro area and beyond. Dozens of confirmed victims, including some from Topeka, Kansas, have left online reviews describing their experience with the fraudulent service.

“This specific page that targeted my client has also gone after people from Pennsylvania to Joplin.” Zuptich said. “The scam seems to originate from this ‘Ink By Davis’ page in Potosi, Missouri. He even shows a Colorado tattoo license to appear legitimate and convince people to send deposits.”

Zuptich was alerted to the scam by a Platte County officer who had sent a deposit to the scammer and then followed up to confirm whether the individual worked at The Tat Shack.

“This person is telling clients that they’ll either work at my shop or do tattoos at their house, but to my knowledge, no one’s actually received a tattoo from them yet,” Zuptich said.

Feeling frustrated by the lack of recourse, Zuptich reached out to the media to raise awareness, stating that law enforcement options appear limited in cases like this.

“There doesn’t seem to be much law enforcement can do with these types of crimes,” he said. “At least by speaking out to the media, it might do more good. If we can keep people from falling for their tricks, maybe they’ll just stop.”

Digital Payment Apps Add Complexity to Internet Fraud

News-Press NOW spoke with Buchanan County Sheriff Bill Puett about the complexities of prosecuting internet scams. He explained that payment methods such as Venmo and Cash App make it especially difficult to recover funds or catch the perpetrators.

“That’s the problem with things like Venmo, Cash App, and other applications,†Puett said. “It’s really easy for someone to pose as a legitimate business, take payments through those apps, and then disappear. Once the money’s sent, it can be extremely difficult to recover or trace, especially if the person is in another country.”

With scams continuing to evolve, Puett emphasized the importance of vigilance.

“Going forward, we all have to do our due diligence,” he said. “Just because something appears on social media doesn’t mean it’s trustworthy. Do your research before you type in any account numbers or send money.”

How to Protect Yourself from Tattoo Scams

Zuptich advises potential clients to verify the identity of any artist before sending payments, and ideally, to choose tattoo artists through trusted referrals.

“Get referrals from family members, friends, or people who someone has tattooed,” Zuptich said. “Before giving any money, try to schedule an in-person consultation. I personally like to see exactly what arm or leg I’m tattooing. That’s a good sign that you’re working with a legitimate artist.”

Click here to follow the original article.

News-Press NOW

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — After launching its ‘Spay It Forward’ program, the St. Joseph Friends of the Animal Shelter is seeking survey participation to help determine community need.

The ‘Spay It Forward’ program offered spay and neuter assistance to St. Joseph residents. The survey would allow residents to share thoughts on other initiatives.

The survey is available to St. Joseph residents who live inside city limits and is open on Monday, June 9, through Monday, June 23.

Participants who complete the survey will receive a promotional code for free items and discounts at businesses like Fantastic Fidos, B&J Skate, UPCO Pet Supplies, Taco Bandido and Hazels Coffee Company.

The survey can be accessed by clicking the link below on Monday, June 9.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdM8mLJnWg2HBI_I15HBrE1l1QZARCDYfV9m0iDvasE1M9EaA/closedform

Click here to follow the original article.

Charles Christian

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Local nonprofit leader Demetrius Chance’s new book uses the difficult experiences and lessons in his own journey to encourage mental health.

Chance said the book entitled ‘Scars: Letting the Wounds Heal,’ was 18 years in the making. Given that Chance is only 34, the journey covers much of his life.

The book is a timeline of the struggles he encountered in his teen years that include positive experiences like the beginning of his faith journey to traumatic experiences like the abuse he suffered in his childhood.

“In the beginning, the book was more therapeutic — a way for me to start hashing out the mental battles I was experiencing,” Chance said. “Through the years, I realized these experiences were things I was able to use to help others experiencing similar circumstances.”

Divorce, homelessness and diagnosed mental health issues also became a part of the story.

According to the book, there were times when these could have been the end for him. Instead, Chance said he discovered a strength through the unknown and used his healing and growth as a resource for others.

“One of the hardest things I learned in this process of writing…was that it is hard to live life in isolation,” Chance said.

Chance started Diversed Perspectives, a ministry that networks with mental health and social service organizations to inspire and mentor young adults.

Since its inception, the nonprofit has developed strong connections with youth organizations in the community and has allowed Chance to mentor younger people through speaking and one-on-one accountability. He even went back to college and will finish with his degree in social work in December 2025 at Missouri Western State University.

“Missouri Western’s program has been a big help to me and to the organization I am part of,” Chance said. “The program has allowed me to give a voice not only to my experiences, but to approaches to helping others in the future.”

The book contains over 250 pages and over 40 chapters. Each chapter walks through one phase or key experience of his life and is followed by a direct reflection on lessons learned.

Chance said he hopes the format will make it easier for the book to be more than an autobiography. He wants it to be a discussion starter that helps eliminate the stigmas associated with abuse, mental illness and struggle.

Click here to follow the original article.

Kyle Schmidt

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — In a Saturday press release, Missouri Western State University announced the reinstatement of its men’s and women’s track and field programs.

The press release said, “Overwhelming community support leads to the programs’ return.”

“Given the dedication of our student athletes and their success in competition and in the classroom, it was a difficult decision to make,” Dr. Elizabeth Kennedy, president. “I appreciate the supporters who have stepped up to help us create a plan to support the team in the future.”

This announcement comes 10 days after the university previously announced the discontinuation of the Track & Field programs “due to facility limitations.”

“This is a great day!” said Andy Carter, director of athletics. “I am grateful that people want to ensure we can provide an outstanding student-athlete experience for Griffon Track and Field.”

The release said more details will be announced at a later date.

Click here to follow the original article.