Category: knpn-local-news

Leah Rainwater

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Students across the St. Joseph School District participated in Earth Day activities at Robidoux Middle School.

Although the event happened just before Earth Day, which is Tuesday, April 22, it gives students a chance to participate in promoting environmental stewardship, scientific exploration and community collaboration.

“I think the biggest takeaway that I always get from these students when they walk through or go through these programs is understanding how energy, recycling, renewable is kind of the whole Earth Day theme,” said Peter Hinkle. “Creates good stewardship with them at a young age.”

“These activities are designed to show our students that caring for our planet can be fun,†said Dr. Gabe Edgar, superintendent of St. Joseph School District. “We’re hoping to help them see what a future in different STEM fields could look like.â€

The Earth Day event is not just about celebrating environmentalism, it also shows students how to act on it.

“It’s important to like, save energy and just like, use your resources around you for certain things,” said Baylee, a student at Robidoux.

Esmirna is also a student at Robidoux, who has a few suggestions on how create a sustainable environment.

“We should pick up trash, we should save some energy and turning off lights,” said Esmirna.

Ariona is another student at Robidoux, who says it’s important to take care of the Earth.

“The Earth we live on… we have to, we want to take care of it,” said Ariona. “It’s like taking care of your house, you want to make sure it’s clean so you can live in it.”

Some activities students participated in include building miniature solar homes, pollinator gardening, a local pollution cleanup and a workshop on developing sustainable businesses.

Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — St. Joseph could issue $60 million in revenue bonds to help finance the development of two new boutique hotels and one conference center on Frederick Avenue, proposals show.

On Monday, April 14, St. Joseph City Council members will vote on a resolution supporting the issuance of the bonds and other tax incentives as part of an agreement with STJ Hotel Group and property owner Steven Craig.

The massive development project would include 249 hotel rooms and a host of amenities, including fitness centers, lobby bars, restaurants, pools and roughly 12,640 square feet of conference center and ballroom space. Plans include more than 300 parking spaces to accommodate the facilities.

“We’re working with the property owner right now to finalize plans for that site. The ultimate goal is to be ready for the World Cup, to put St. Joseph in the position to be able to attract visitors to the area, to make sure that we have enough hotel rooms to accommodate that overflow from Kansas City.”

The 2026 World Cup tournament is set to kick off next June, with Kansas City being one of just 16 host cities selected across all of North America for matches.

Christian Mengel, director of marketing and communications with the St. Joseph Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, said boutique hotels are a unique amenity that many businesses and corporations often seek when hosting conferences and meetings.

“Conference and meeting space is another huge aspect, especially when it’s on site at a place that has a hotel. Stoney Creek is currently the only place that has a true meeting space with a hotel attached,” Mengel said. “And the boutique hotel, it absolutely adds to our pitching ability for Saint Joseph.”

If approved by council members, the city will help finance the project from the proceeds of the bonds, which would be repaid from revenue generated from the project. The agreement also includes real and personal property tax breaks and sales tax exemptions for the company.

The facilities would be located on a 7.7-acre site at the southeast corner of Woodbine Road and Frederick Avenue, which previously was occupied by the former Ramada Inn, Americas Value Inn and Applebee’s.

As part of the tax break agreement, STJ Hotel Group would pay real property taxes in full in the form of a PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) for the duration of construction and the first 15 years after the project is complete. The company would then receive a 50% break for about 10 years afterward.

The agreement also includes personal property tax breaks on project equipment, 100% for years one through 15 and 50% for years 16 through 25. Construction material purchases would also be exempt from local and state sales taxes.

TAX ABATEMENT INCENTIVESDownload

The project marks the second large hotel construction project in the works for the area. TownePlace Suites is in the initial phases of developing a new $7.5 million hotel just a few blocks away at 1401 N. Woodbine Road.