Category: knpn-local-news

Alec Pascuzzi

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Despite National Pasta Day being celebrated on Friday, Oct. 17, a local 5-star restaurant owner said “every day is National Pasta Day”.

EMI Ristorante opened its doors back in May of 2024, with the restaurant only being open a few nights a week. Over one year later, the restaurant has doubled its hours.

“Now we’re open, you know, four nights a week, open to the whole community,” said Erik Borger, the owner of EMI Ristorante, located on Frederick Avenue.

EMI Ristorante has desired to offer St. Joseph a taste of Italy. All of its pasta and pizza is handmade, cooked with fresh ingredients from Italy.

The restaurant is aimed at providing St. Joseph a sense of love and community through its food.

“This was a love letter to St. Joe. So this is the atmosphere that I love, the community that I love to partake in, that I want to pour my life into,” said Borger. “I had to decide, do I want to move to Italy full-time, or do I want to stay here and give back the things that I love, the things that I’ve learned over the years in Italy. And here we are,” said Borger.

EMI Ristorante is open from 5 to 9 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays, as well as from 5 to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

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Alison Patton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

People Not Politicians’ lawyer claims a referendum on the new congressional map passed by the Missouri legislature is protected under state law.

This comes after Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway filed a lawsuit in a federal court on Wednesday to block the referendum from getting on the November 2026 ballot.

The new congressional map is likely to cut out a Missouri Democrat from the U.S. House of Representatives. Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe signed the map into law Sept. 28, labeling it “Missouri First.”

Missouri is one of several red states where President Donald Trump has pushed Republican-friendly redistricting plans to boost the party’s House majority.

Attorney Chuck Hatfield, who is representing the group, said the legal battle hinges on the words “An act of the General Assembly,” which are written in the bill authorising a new congressional map and in the referendum law.

Hanaway argues in the lawsuit that the U.S. Constitution gives the Missouri legislature the sole power to redistrict the state, and the referendum takes away that power.

“The Constitution entrusts congressional redistricting to the people’s elected legislature, not to activist organizations bankrolled by undisclosed donors,” Hanaway wrote in a statement released Wednesday. “If allowed to proceed, this effort would destroy faith in our elections and set a dangerous precedent where outside interests could override constitutional order.”

Secretary of State Denny Hoskins approved People Not Politicians’ petition for circulation this week after initially rejecting the forms submitted last month. Hoskins said in his approval that signatures gathered earlier are no longer valid — something People Not Politicians claims is not correct.

People Not Politicians is asking for an injunction with a hearing by Nov. 15 to stop the state from implementing the new map.

Several lawsuits have been filed to overturn the new congressional district map.

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Patrick Holleron

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The St. Joseph School District Foundation honored nine employees with “surprise patrol” visits.

The nine selected SJSD faculty were presented with Apple Seed Grants recognizing their contributions to innovative education ideas. The total amount of funding given out was over $18,000.

The Following teachers received grants from the SJSD Foundation:

Danyelle Gonzales, Math Teacher, Central High School: Math Connections with Robotics, which uses hands-on robotics to help teach math classes.

Nicole Adams, 5th Grade Teacher, Oak Grove Elementary: Book Buddies book club, pairing reading with physical activities

Madison Michalski, Teacher, Field Elementary: Little Ears, Big Ideas which will have students perform no screen based listening activities.

Rhianna Villanueva, Library Facilitator, Coleman Elementary: 3D Pen Station will see the Coleman library an open-access STEM based makerspace.

Kaitlyn Poage, 6th Grade Teacher, Eugene Field Elementary: Gridiron Geometry 3D has students creating replica models of NFL stadiums.

Elizabeth Hoskins & Becky Carter, Bode Middle School & Central High School: Creative Currents has students learn and practice different art styles.

Tomi Violett, Kindergarten Teacher, Hyde Elementary: STEM Bins will have kindergarteners turn everyday items into different creations.

Lucy Mize, Math Teacher, Lafayette High School: Escape Room Math will see students create their own escape room with algebra, geometry and logic.

Kathleen Adams, Kindergarten Teacher, Hosea Elementary: World Literacy for Little Learners will have kindergarteners explore real-world careers through literacy.

One of the teachers nominated, Kaitlyn Poage, expressed her appreciation for the grant and explained how her class will be using the funding for 3D printers to fabricate the models of NFL stadiums.

“The idea came one of my teaching partners was really big into sports,” Poage said. “When we talked her into coming to teach sixth grade this year, she said on one condition, ‘We do an NFL theme’. I was trying to think where we can go with this idea. And that’s when i came up with the 3D printing NFL stadiums.”

The finished Stadiums will be displayed in a Super Bowl themed expo in February.

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Praji Ghosh

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — As the St. Joseph community comes together to honor survivors of domestic violence in October, local police are also playing a big part in that effort. 

The St. Joseph Police Department has officers specially trained to respond to domestic violence calls. Officers step in to help people in danger and make sure those who need protection get it right away. 

Detective Jullian Cecil said when new recruits go through the police academy, they’re taught the basics of domestic violence response. But once they officially join the department, that’s when they really learn how to handle those cases out in the field.  

“When we arrive on scene, we separate both parties if they are present and try to look at the totality of the case and make any arrests that needs to be made,” Cecil said.  

He emphasized the important role the YWCA plays after a survivor files a report. Once they fill out a short form and answer a few questions, the organization steps in to offer support and connect them with services to help guide them forward.  

He mentioned that over the past few years, the number of domestic-related calls in St. Joseph has remained fairly steady, with no major increase or decrease in cases.  

“This year we are sitting at approximately 700 domestics which has been a trend within the last few years. So if there’s an issue that’s happening in the moment call 911,” Cecil said.  

He said officers completely understand that making a call for help can be difficult — especially if the aggressor is nearby — because it could put the person’s safety at risk.  

Cecil added that there have been several cases where pets were put in danger, with aggressors using the threat of harming the animal as a way to intimidate the other person.  

“We have the services that you can text 911. We would need to know the address and the dispatcher will text but it may be difficult sometimes since we don’t want to make it obvious that you are texting an officer,” Cecil said.  

Cecil emphasized the importance of reaching out for help. Once someone reports a concern, the department can begin investigating the situation from there.  

“You make a call or text a dispatcher and then the dispatcher will send an officer to the scene and they will make contact with whoever made the phone call to understand the scene,” Cecil said.

Cecil also mentioned that if a situation doesn’t warrant an arrest, officers will separate both parties for the night and begin investigating the incident from there. 

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TaMya Bracy

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — A local small business has plans to host a family-friendly Fall Festival.

The Kids Kingdom, located at 6968 King Hill Ave., is hosting the festival from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 18.

The festival will include games, a trunk and treat, crafts, food and more. All the kids are encouraged to wear their costumes to the festival.

Multiple small businesses will come together to help put on the new festival.

Some of the businesses include: Creatures by Theresa, Cajun Cruiser, Brooklyn’s Creations and more. 

Kaeli Thomas, owner of The Kids Kingdom, said she decided to work with small businesses because she knows how hard it can be to get the word out about new businesses.

“I want to be able to help other small businesses get out there, just like I’m getting out there. So it helps them also get their name out there and also enjoy the fun-filled family event,” she said.

Thomas said her fall festival is different because she is trying to give back to the community and bring back South Side energy.

“We want to show that we’re there for people,” Thomas said. We want to show that we’re able to give back. And so I feel like it gives us a little bit of a difference because we’re wanting to give back.”

Thomas expressed excitement about this event, especially since it’s her first one.

“We’re wanting to go above and beyond. I’m most excited about seeing those kiddos and the smiles on their faces,” she said.

Thomas also said they plan on hosting similar events in the near future.

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Praji Ghosh

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The St. Joseph Fire Department responded to a garage fire around 4 p.m. Wednesday in the area of Fern Drive and Ferndale Avenue.

The garage is in close proximity to a residence at 3109 Fern Drive in St. Joseph.

Fire crews worked quickly to contain the fire but there were visible signs of damage to the property.  

The battalion chief on the scene said no injuries were reported. Fire investigators are working to determine the cause of the fire. 

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Erika McGuire

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A school safety package that Gov. Mike Kehoe signed into law this year requires students to participate in active school shooter drills starting in the 2026-2027 school year.

Before Senate Bill 68 took effect in August, school district staff were only required to participate in active shooter drills.

While the new law does not specify the number of drills that must be conducted each year, it does require student participation.

Under Missouri’s ASIRT statute, teachers and school personnel are required by law to participate in simulated active shooter drills. However, broader training components such as identifying threats or responding to intruders are optional.

A report conducted by ProPublica last year found that most U.S. states require schools to conduct active shooter drills. It identified 13 states, including California, Colorado, Connecticut and Pennsylvania, that do not mandate such drills. While Missouri is among the states that require active shooter drills, the mandate applies only to school staff, not students.

Colorado and Connecticut are known to have had the worst mass school shootings in U.S. history.

The Columbine school shooting in Colorado in 1999 left 13 people dead — 12 students and one teacher.

In Connecticut in 2012, the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting took place, leaving 20 people killed.

Senate Bill 68 also requires Missouri schools to develop response plans for armed intruders, natural disasters, and medical emergencies. The law mandates the use of anti-intruder locks and bullet-resistant window film in all new school construction by 2029, if state funding is provided.

Public school districts and charter schools must also report all school safety incidents and credible threats to the Missouri Department of Secondary Education. DESE will be required to maintain a database of reported incidents and threats and share data with the Department of Public Safety.

Under Senate Bill 68, a cellphone ban took effect at the start of the 2025-2026 school year that prohibits students from using their phones during school hours. The policy requires schools to restrict device use during instructional time, with limited exceptions for emergencies and educational purposes.

The law required Columbia Public Schools to expand its policy from last year, when high school students were able to use cell phones outside of class periods.

Last year, the district had a cellphone policy in place that banned phone usage for middle school students all day, including in the bathrooms, hallways and lunch.

To implement the law, during school hours, cellphones must be turned off or on silent mode and stored in their backpacks or lockers.

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Alec Pascuzzi

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The Bear Den Boxing Club is bringing a professional boxing event to St. Joseph.

This marks the first professional boxing event to take place in St. Joseph since 2019.

The Bear Den Boxing Club has put on three amateur events in St. Joseph. However, this will mark the first pro boxing event the club has hosted.

“A lot of people want to be a part of this show. We’re very excited about it. It’s a huge, huge opportunity to put on a professional boxing match. And then also adding your amateur team to it. It’s just amazing,” said Byron Polley, owner of The Bear Den Boxing Club.

When Bear Den Boxing opened its doors back in March of 2022, the gym had just five members. Three years later, they are on the verge of hosting a professional event containing seven pro fights.

Not only will this be the first professional event the Boxing Club has put on, but the co-main event will also feature Bear Den boxing co-owner, Colby Courted.

“It’s definitely awesome that, you know, where we came from to what we are. Now that, you know, we can do this, we’ve put on, I think, four amateur shows and, this being the first pro-am that we’re doing, and then I get to be a part of it is special, and it’s awesome that I get to do it,” said Colby Courted, professional boxer and co-owner of The Bear Den Boxing Club.

The pro-amateur event will be held at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 15, at the East Hills Mall.

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Associated Press

By JANIE HAR – Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A federal judge on Wednesday temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s administration from firing workers during the government shutdown, saying the cuts appeared to be politically motivated and were being carried out without much thought.

U.S. District Judge Susan Illston in San Francisco repeatedly pressed the assistant U.S. attorney to explain the administration’s rationale for the more than 4,100 layoff notices that started going out Friday, even though furloughed workers can not access their work emails and there are no human resources specialists to assist with next steps.

“It’s very much ready, fire, aim on most of these programs, and it has a human cost,” she said. “It’s a human cost that cannot be tolerated.”

She granted a temporary restraining order blocking the job cuts, saying she believed the evidence would ultimately show the cuts were illegal and in excess of authority.

Asked for comment, the White House referred The Associated Press to the Office of Management and Budget. The budget office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The American Federation of Government Employees and other federal labor unions had asked Illston to block the administration from issuing new layoff notices and implementing those that were already sent out. The unions said the firings were an abuse of power designed to punish workers and pressure Congress.

“The president seems to think his government shutdown is distracting people from the harmful and lawlessness actions of his administration, but the American people are holding him accountable, including in the courts,” said Skye Perryman, president and CEO of legal organization Democracy Forward. “Our civil servants do the work of the people, and playing games with their livelihoods is cruel and unlawful and a threat to everyone in our nation.”

Illston’s order came as the shutdown, which started Oct. 1, entered its third week.

Democratic lawmakers are demanding that any deal to reopen the federal government address their health care demands. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson predicted the shutdown may become the longest in history, saying he “won’t negotiate” with Democrats until they hit pause on those demands and reopen.

Democrats have demanded that health care subsidies, first put in place in 2021 and extended a year later, be extended again. They also want any government funding bill to reverse the Medicaid cuts in Trump’s big tax breaks and spending cuts bill passed this summer.

The Trump administration has been paying the military and pursuing its crackdown on immigration while slashing jobs in health and education, including in special education and after-school programs. Trump said programs favored by Democrats are being targeted and “they’re never going to come back, in many cases.”

In a court filing, the administration said it planned to fire more than 4,100 employees across eight agencies.

In a related case, Illston had blocked the administration from carrying out much of its plans to reduce the size of the federal workforce. But the Supreme Court said the administration could continue firing workers while the lawsuit is pending.

The unions say the layoff notices are an illegal attempt at political pressure and retribution and are based on the false premise that a temporary funding lapse eliminates Congress’ authorization of agency programs.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Hedges said in court Wednesday that the district court lacks jurisdiction to hear employment decisions made by federal agencies. Under prodding by the judge, Hedges said she was not prepared to discuss the merits of the case, only reasons why a temporary restraining order should not be issued.

Illston was nominated to the bench by former President Bill Clinton, a Democrat.

Follow the AP’s coverage of the federal government shutdown at https://apnews.com/hub/government-shutdown.

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News-Press NOW

By: Matt Sanders

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

Missouri’s attorney general filed a lawsuit Wednesday to stop a vote on a new congressional map passed by the Republican supermajority during a summer special session.

Attorney General Catherine Hanaway filed the lawsuit on Wednesday in federal court for the Eastern District of Missouri. The lawsuit was filed against People Not Politicians, a group that has raised more than $1.7 million in contributions since forming.

The group’s leadership said in a news release Wednesday that it has collected more than 100,000 signatures on its petition to get a question repealing the new map on a statewide ballot. The group’s first initial petition forms were rejected, but Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins gave them the go-ahead Wednesday to start collecting signatures.

In a release, Hoskins said signatures collected before Wednesday could not be used.

Lawsuit against People Not PoliticiansDownload

In it, Hanaway asserts that the effort to get the map before voters is unconstitutional because the Missouri and U.S. constitutions give the power to redraw districts explicitly to the legislature.

Hanaway says in a statement that the lawsuit “is about protecting Missouri’s constitutional authority from being hijacked by out-of-state dark money groups.” Missouri Republicans have long complained that Missouri’s initiative petition process allows for groups that don’t report their donations to have an outsized impact on the process.

Republican lawmakers passed the new map, which eliminates one of two Democrat-friendly districts in the U.S. House, during a special September session. The map splits up the Kansas City area and the current Fifth District, a seat held by Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver.

Several lawsuits have been filed to challenge the new map, claiming maps can only be redrawn every 10 years after the census.

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