Public Safety

By Jenna Wilson The St. Joseph Safety and Health Council is noticing a lack of teenagers signed up for its summer driving program for the first time. Many reasons could be behind why there is a decrease in teenagers signing up for courses to obtain a driver’s license, including a growing trend that shows teenagers

By Riley Funk Recent standoff situations have emphasized the importance of specialized officers in keeping community members, other first responders and even suspects safe. The Special Response Team comes in for high-pressure situations to deescalate and resolve the conflict. The unit is a group of 18 officers from both the St. Joseph Police Department and

By Jenna Wilson The Nodaway County Sheriff’s Office and other law enforcement agencies began searching areas in Quitman, Missouri, on Wednesday in connection to the 23-year missing person case for Branson Perry. The Nodaway County Sheriff’s Office put out a press release stating the department received a tip in the search for Perry, who vanished

By Jenna Wilson While recognizing National Police Week, law enforcement and community members came together Wednesday to recognize officers who have been killed in the line of duty. Hosted by the Fraternal Order of Police, the Police Officer’s Memorial has taken place in St. Joseph since 2000, honoring all the St. Joseph law enforcement officers

By NewsPress Now An overnight standoff ended with one person surrendering to police at about 1:30 a.m. Wednesday. A domestic assault and robbery call at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday later led police to the area of 24th and Felix streets with a standoff starting at about midnight, according to the St. Joseph Police Department. When News-Press

By NewsPress Now One person sustained non-life-threatening injuries following a stabbing in the area of 13th and Hickory streets on Wednesday morning. The initial 911 call came in around 1:08 a.m., according to the St. Joseph Police Department. The victim has been identified as 44 year-old Ronnie D. Davis who suffered a stab wound in

By NewsPress Now A man was taken to the hospital with apparent non-life-threatening injuries after being shot Tuesday evening, police told News-Press NOW. Police identified the victim of the shooting on Wednesday as 55-year-old Jeff S. Epps, who was treated at the hospital for a gunshot wound and was released. Law enforcement and EMS initially

By Jazmine Knight While Mylar or foil balloons may look nice at graduation parties and other summer celebrations, they can pose safety concerns for those who aren’t careful. Evergy is warning residents across the country about the dangers of these balloons and sharing alternatives to keep you safe. Dan Hegeman, senior community business manager with

By Riley Funk A barrier along King Hill Avenue has been the site of some recent rocky crashes. Sgt. James Tonn of the St. Joseph Police Department said there have been three crashes recently along the area involving the rock wall. He said the area can be nerve-racking for all drivers, even himself. “The wall

By Jenna Wilson Parents may want to keep an eye on the snacks their kids are bringing home, as law enforcement warned of cannabis-infused candies that look just like the real thing circling in St. Joseph. Buchanan County Drug Strike Force Capt. Shawn Collie displayed a variation of recently seized THC-infused candy that nearly replicated

By NewsPress Now A 73-year-old man was injured after being ejected during a crash Sunday in Nodaway County, 12 miles west of Maryville, Missouri. John J. Donlan, 73, of Waverly, Nebraska, was eastbound on Missouri Route 45 around 1:41 p.m. when he traveled off the south side of the roadway on a 2004 Harley Davidson.

By Riley Funk A body that was found Friday afternoon near Gower, Missouri, has been identified as a man who’s been reported missing by family since April 9, according to the Andrew County Sheriff’s Office. According to a press release from Andrew County Sheriff Grant Gillett, the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office received a call from

By Riley Funk More than $140,000 is officially on the way to various community agencies to help battle the opioid crisis. The City of St. Joseph is contributing $96,335.29 and Buchanan County is contributing $47,706.71, bringing a total of $144,042 to community agencies. Kendra Bundy, the assistant health director of the city, also serves on

By NewsPress Now A 31-year-old man is in critical but stable condition after being shot Wednesday in the area of 13th Street and Frederick Avenue. The 911 call came in at 10:10 p.m. Wednesday after the man was found in the back parking lot near River Bluff Brewing Company by patrons, according to the St.

By Jenna Wilson After months of planning, the St. Joseph Police Department is in the final testing phases before deploying body and dash cameras to officers. The new technology the department will be using requires extensive testing that takes months, but officials say they are in the final phases of that process. “Over the course

By Riley Funk The Buchanan County Drug Strike Force and its law enforcement partners took a woman into custody Monday after seizing nearly 20 pounds of methamphetamine from a vehicle. Sheriff Bill Puett said in a press release that the arrest was made through assistance from the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the St. Joseph

By Kendra Simpson As temperatures warm up for summer, motorcyclists will be out in greater numbers, meaning drivers and bikers alike need to keep a watchful eye. May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, and according to the Missouri Department of Transportation, 175 motorcyclists were killed on Missouri Highways in 2023 alone, a 14% increase from

By NewsPress Now A driver was taken to Mosaic Life Care with injuries after a single-vehicle crash on Tuesday afternooon near King Hill Avenue and Springwood Street  The crash occurred around 4:15 p.m. The red Ford pickup track involved received heavy damage to the front of the vehicle, including losing the tire on the front

By Jenna Wilson The Missouri House of Representatives recently passed a bill that would create stricter penalties for those who traffic fentanyl. Rep. David Casteel, a Republican from High Ridge, Missouri, filed Bill 2576, aiming to combat the opioid issue in Missouri, as drugs continue to enter and be distributed across the state. The bill

By NewsPress Now An autopsy is planned after the body of a 53-year-old woman was found overnight in the 3200 block of North Second Street.  The woman’s name has not been released. The body was found by family members and the death is under investigation, Capt. Jeff Wilson of the St. Joseph Police Department said.

By Jenna Wilson Local crime victims had a chance to share their stories with law enforcement and other community leaders on Thursday as a part of Crime Victims’ Rights Week. Community members gathered at the annual Crime Victims’ Breakfast, hosted by the Buchanan County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, at Missouri Western State University to show their

By Jenna Wilson Human remains discovered Tuesday in Mercer County have been identified as a missing Iowa man, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. At approximately 3:08 p.m. Tuesday, the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office requested the assistance of the Missouri State Highway Patrol Division of Drug and Crime Control with the discovery of human

By NewsPress Now Two men riding in a trash truck were flown to hospitals Wednesday afternoon following a one-vehicle accident in Grundy County. Driver Preston Ramsey, 71, of Trenton, Missouri, and passenger Caleb Hudson, 34, of Spickard, were seriously injured in the accident, which happened at about 2:10 p.m. on Route CC about two miles

By Marcus Clem A man arrested Sunday night on what police said are allegations of kidnapping, resisting arrest and assault appeared in court Wednesday and denied all wrongdoing. Brett C. Matheny, 33, appeared Wednesday morning before Associate Circuit Judge Rebecca L. Spencer of the Buchanan County Circuit Court. The South Side resident is charged with

By Jenna Wilson Local advocates are continuing to shed light on the issue of child abuse and exploitation in Buchanan County as summer approaches. St. Joseph’s Voices of Courage Child Advocacy Center held a 2024 Courage Conference on Tuesday to discuss the prevalence of trafficking, online sexual exploitation and other forms of abuse children are

By NewsPress Now The Missouri State Highway Patrol is investigating after human remains were discovered Tuesday in Mercer County.  According to the highway patrol, a turkey hunter discovered the remains on private property, and the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office then requested assistance from the highway patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control. The remains have

By Marcus Clem Police went after a reported kidnapper on Sunday night, but the man they arrested isn’t charged on any such offense, thus far. Brett C. Matheny, 33, a South Side resident arrested that evening, has now received one misdemeanor charge following events that started with authorities being told there may have been a