Special Reports

By Cameron Montemayor As optimism builds for a potential lowering of interest rates in September, the lingering effects of elevated inflation and building costs continue to present challenges for long-term construction project planning.  While challenges are less extreme than what many witnessed in 2021, 2022 and early 2023, when inflation surged between 8% and 9%,

By Charles Christian Although there is no shortage of nonprofit organizations in St. Joseph, virtually all are struggling to find Spanish interpreters. United Way President Kylee Strough said that most nonprofits are meeting the growing need for Spanish-language interpreters by networking together. “Most of the time, we’re able to get through enough of what we

By Kendra Simpson You see them driving home from work, out on afternoon walks and posted all over social media. St. Joseph’s stray animal population grows every day and shows no sign of slowing down. The St. Joseph Animal Shelter takes in hundreds of cats and dogs every month. Surprisingly, about half of these animals

By Jenna Wilson It only takes a few seconds of checking a text of turning to speak with a backseat passenger while behind the wheel for a tragedy to occur. Distracted driving is something Missouri State Highway Patrol Trooper John Harrison has seen the dangerous results of firsthand. “Unfortunately, I’ve seen several fatalities over the

By Cameron Montemayor Lingering unknowns surrounding a Lake Contrary dredging project and its long-term financial feasibility are sparking concerns among current and former county officials. In recent months, the Buchanan County Commission has taken steps toward a potential dredging project at Lake Contrary, including analyzing soil samples, reviewing lakebed ownership and considering necessary equipment among

By Cameron Montemayor In the heart of Downtown St. Joseph, a vision for a new and diverse city market in the coming years is taking shape. If the dream becomes a reality, Downtown will see a new hub offering residents and families everything from live entertainment to vendors and artisans selling fresh produce, food and

By Cameron Montemayor The question surrounding Lake Contrary’s ownership can at times be traced back to the earliest years of the state of Missouri, with authority over the lake bed being impacted by court rulings, legal opinions and other acts in the time since.  Despite that, gray areas still exist. Now, county officials are working

By Chris Fortune Buchanan County will need to bring in some heavy machinery if they hope to move forward with restoring a community asset. Scott Critchfield owns Critchfield Crane and dredges ponds and small lakes in the Kansas City area. Critchfield’s father introduced him to the profession as a teenager, and he has dredged for

By Chris Fortune As Buchanan County continues to explore the feasibility of dredging Lake Contrary, some nearby residents would like to see more efforts to clean the area before the project begins. Many residents in St. Joseph, especially those who live near Lake Contrary, support a dredging project, but even with water in the lake,

By Cameron Montemayor The long-sought dredging machine was on the doorstep of arriving at Lake Contrary a little more than 55 years ago, so the infamous story goes.  Somewhere during the dredging machine’s move to St. Joseph in the late 1960s, in a twist of fate for reasons unclear, the machine was waylaid to Sugar

By Cameron Montemayor Michelle Clark remembers the emotion she and her three business partners felt when they learned someone would call their first rehabilitated property a home in St. Joseph. What started with an idea and a shared goal over dinner with friends Sarah Weaver, Tara Horn and Ashley Albers on how to improve St.

By Marcus Clem The St. Joseph School District confronts an enormous financial and political challenge in a plan aiming to change the destiny of Benton, Central and Lafayette high schools. The 2024-2029 long-range plan presented earlier this year would spend hundreds of millions of dollars largely funded by a couple of taxpayer-approved bonds to construct

By Jenna Wilson A family felt forced to surrender custody of a 14-year-old boy to the Children’s Division, saying there is little to no support for him and other kids like him dealing with trauma. The juvenile’s parents have pointed to a lack of services, which they said has only made his behavior worse since

By Cameron Montemayor Artificial intelligence is known for enhancing everyday technologies and improving the efficiency of industries, and while it can be used to help, it also can become a tool to harm. As the rapidly growing technology becomes more accessible, some are using AI’s abilities to assist in the creation of highly sophisticated and

By Cameron Montemayor As farmers across Northwest Missouri ramp up work for the start of another season of raising corn, a recent announcement in Washington D.C. will open a long-awaited door for an industry facing projected downturns in income. Eight Midwest states, including Missouri, received the green light to sell 15% ethanol year-round beginning next

By Cameron Montemayor Zachary Fetty will look back on a series of events in September 2023 as a turning point for the rest of his life. The Marine Corps veteran first found himself lying in a hospital bed after realizing he had just undergone lifesaving surgery.  Fetty, a 48-year-old St. Joseph native, has spent the

By Cameron Montemayor It was concerning enough when a debit card or letter didn’t show up, but when his VA medication began arriving late, Austin Goacher knew he couldn’t rely on the mail as a lifeline. “That’s medication that I take weekly that I have to take every week,” the Elwood, Kansas, resident and retired

By Cameron Montemayor It was concerning enough when a debit card or letter didn’t show up, but when his VA medication began arriving late, Austin Goacher knew he couldn’t rely on the mail as a lifeline. “That’s medication that I take weekly that I have to take every week,” the Elwood, Kansas, resident and retired

By Kirsten Stokes It’s easy to dream about starting your own business but the reality of actually doing it is a wake-up call, local entrepreneurs say. While many have worked in their industries already or dabbled in the business as a side gig, committing to go all in as a main source of revenue is

By Marcus Clem With a proposal for a four-day week not making the grade, it’s back to the drawing board for school officials trying to attract and retain teachers in a challenging environment. The first quarter of the year is important for leaders in the St. Joseph School District. Decisions get made on issues like

By Jazmine Knight In the thick of the second semester, spring break is serving as more than just a week off from classes. It can be a mental health reset for struggling students. The “second-semester slump” refers to the drag and lack of motivation many experience at this time in the academic year. Struggles can

By Cameron Montemayor Cold wind swept through the air as a dozen girls soccer players glided along the front lawn at Central High School during a February scrimmage. While still early in the young season, it’s a valuable test for the athletes as they ramp up for the start of the 2024 season in mid-March.

By Charles Christian Combining law enforcement training with specialized knowledge of biology and forestry, conservation agents focus on the protection of people as well as wildlife. While the agents are best known for enforcing hunting and fishing codes in the state, they have extended jurisdiction to enforce other laws. Corporal Jade Wright, who has served

By Jenna Wilson A year after St. Joseph student Caden Embrey lost his life in an incident involving a gun, his family has questions about whether justice is being served in his death. Embrey, 15, was a son, grandson and brother. He was also a student who attended Webster Learning Center and touched the lives

By Cameron Montemayor The $35 fee that many customers pay up to banks when their account dips below zero could see a sizable overhaul in the near future, one of many fees currently in the crosshairs of U.S. regulators. Altogether, banks in the U.S. raked in nearly $8 billion in 2023 from customers’ overdraft fees.

By Chris Fortune In the nearly four years since COVID-19 was declared a pandemic, it brought forth an issue that health care workers are still dealing with today. Concerns about the virus began building in late February 2020, and the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic a few weeks later on March 11. Health

By Kirsten Stokes With more than 12,000 Missouri kids in foster care waiting to be adopted, returned to family or looped in the system, several St. Joseph organizations work to lighten the burden for families and make the transition smoother. “(The number) is coming down,” said Melissa Selsor with the Missouri Department of Social Services.

By Riley Funk The transfer portal for college athletics is not a new entity, but the way it’s being used now compared to years past is presenting pros and cons for coaches and athletes. The transfer portal is an online database that allows college athletes to communicate with other coaches if the athlete has intentions

By Cameron Montemayor Amid an emotional rollercoaster for her family almost nine years ago, St. Joseph native Cristin Rogers remembers searching through countless books to find the perfect one to comfort her 18-month-old daughter Charlotte. After months of eagerly awaiting the arrival of her new baby sister Tilly, Charlotte was confused when her sister wasn’t

By Cameron Montemayor Sitting in the living room of her St. Joseph home, Sarah Clark recalled an unexpected but prophetic piece of advice she received not long after the birth of her daughter.  “The doctor at Children’s Mercy said the biggest advice I can give you is to start lifting weights,” she said. “I didn’t