But St. Joseph has something – something significant – that most small or mid-sized communities can’t claim. St. Joseph is home to a School of Medicine – unique learning model specifically tailored for the health care needs of rural communities.
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A wise voice once said that the opposite of love isn’t hate. It’s apathy. If that’s true, then perhaps the St. Joseph Board of Education can find something redeeming in a “special” meeting called to discuss a potential change in board leadership. Getting people off the couch is half the battle, even if the 90-minute
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Four decades ago, a 13-year-old boy could stick a quarter in a gumball machine full of those little plastic replica NFL helmets.
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For Missouri landowners, Grain Belt Express appeared to be an unstoppable force.
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It’s about time we ended tax credits for EVs and let automakers figure out a way to make them less expensive.
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ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — In a radio interview, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas threw cold water on the excitement leading up to Chiefs training camp this time of year. “The Chiefs have made it clear they aren’t returning to St. Joseph for training camp,” Lucas told KCMO talk radio. This was an odd
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At the most recent St. Joseph School District Board of Education meeting, another alternative to shaving the district’s high schools down to two was presented.
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These are difficult days for higher education. The Trump administration wages war on elite universities and takes the economically reckless stance of restricting international students. When budgets get tight, state governments fail to support public colleges and universities. As costs rise, families re-evaluate the value of a college degree. Facing a “demographic cliff,” institutions compete
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When asked about dredging Lake Contrary, Buchanan County Presiding Commissioner Scott Nelson made an interesting comment to a News-Press NOW reporter.
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Just days before his retirement, Superintendent Gabe Edgar is scheduled to present a long-range plan to the St. Joseph Board of Education. If approved, this plan would eventually leave the St. Joseph School District with just two high schools. Benton becomes a middle school, while Central and Lafayette remain the city’s two public high schools
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ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — You could see the logic of Gov. Mike Kehoe’s decision to expand the agenda of a special legislative session beyond the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals. Throw in disaster relief for St. Louis tornado victims and $50 million for University of Missouri research and there’s something for the entire
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In the weeks leading up to Memorial Day, U.S. Rep. Sam Graves issued “straight talk” newsletters on his support for law enforcement and his opposition to government waste. He praised the “big, beautiful tax cut bill,” called for a more secure border and requested investigation into cancer cases at a local school. There’s no harm
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ST. JOSEPH, MO. — It seems that few people give speeches these days. The standard fare seems to be to make opening remarks, show a video or PowerPoint presentation, then make closing remarks. Mayor John Josendale followed that format during his State of the City address Wednesday at the InspireU Children’s Discovery Center in Downtown.
Continue Reading The road to government waste is paved with good intentions. No one ever says, ‘let’s build a giant hole and bury $6 million in taxpayer money.” At least not out loud. The waste part only becomes apparent after years of cost overruns and a limited return on investment. It turns out the bridge really does
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Following a thumping at the polls, the St. Joseph School District is all ears. There’s no harm in asking what went wrong after 53% of voters rejected a $157 million bond proposal to build a new high school south of U.S. Highway 36. The district, in a survey posted on social media, seeks feedback on
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As the Air Guard goes, so goes St. Joseph. This isn’t mere hyperbole. The 139th Airlift Wing has grown into a top 5 employer in St. Joseph with a $215 million economic impact in fiscal year 2024. With so much talk of job creation, it’s easy to forget the Wing’s primary mission is delivery of military
Continue Reading ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — One thread connects many of St. Joseph’s problems. Crime, jobs or schools? Those are big issues, but a deeper look reveals something else. Since the bogus Census count of 1900, population loss has been a thorn in the community’s side. It’s not just a matter of pride. Growing communities
Continue Reading The trouble with running a school bond issue comes the day after the election. If voters reject the proposal, then school officials and board members are in the awkward position of walking back all those previous statements about inadequate facilities or education being at a crossroads.
Continue Reading ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Spring’s arrival allows us to break the clutches of winter with long walks, cookouts, baseball and other outdoor activities. It also brings the roar of motorcycles, which was easily noticeable as soon as the mercury cracked 50. Unfortunately, it didn’t take long for St. Joseph to experience its first
Continue Reading ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — No one ever said building one (or two) new high schools would be easy. Not in this city. To win voter approval, supporters of Proposition 2 must navigate voter mistrust, antipathy for property taxes and resistance to change. If only you could heat those old buildings with nostalgia. Less
Continue Reading The somber decorum of the Missouri Senate has little in common with the boisterous, rainbow-flag-waving crowd at City Hall. Both groups, however, share a preoccupation with transgender individuals. The Democratic Party LGBTQ+ Caucus led a demonstration last weekend outside St. Joseph’s City Hall where protesters waved signs that read, “Trans Lives Matter” and “Trans Equality.”
Continue Reading By NewsPress Now St. Joseph enters the new year with new leadership ready to take the helm in local government and public education. Mike Schumacher was hired as city manager and is expected to begin his duties around Jan. 21. Ashly McGinnis was named superintendent of the St. Joseph School District and takes over for
Continue Reading By NewsPress Now The grand opening of the InspireU Children’s Discovery Center gives the community plenty to celebrate. The Mosaic Life Care Foundation led the fundraising effort to renovate the Plymouth Building and develop an interactive experience with exhibits for families with children ages 10 and younger. In terms of fundraising and community support, the
Continue Reading By NewsPress Now On Oct. 1, a press release from Northwest Missouri State University proclaimed that enrollment had surpassed 9,000 for the second straight year. It was a true statement, but a closer reading of the release showed that the total headcount had actually dropped 5.3% from the previous year. Northwest tried to put a
Continue Reading By NewsPress Now Imagine if Mayor John Josendale had a hotline on his desk that allowed him to make one emergency call to a former municipal leader. Josendale might choose David Jones, the mayor who took his share of lumps after proposing a franchised trash service in St. Joseph. The advice from Jones might be,
Continue Reading By NewsPress Now One of St. Joseph’s endearing quirks involves the frenzied response to any new restaurant or fast-food opening. On one occasion, police established traffic control for the crowds at a highly anticipated Belt Highway eatery. St. Joseph loves its fast food. Many in our community also love Donald Trump, so much so that
Continue Reading By NewsPress Now We’ve all heard the promises to “bring manufacturing back.” This kind of talk produces an extra sting in St. Joseph, a city that lost its share of manufacturing jobs two decades ago. After the factory doors closed for good, it didn’t take long for the politicians to insert industrial renewal into the
Continue Reading By NewsPress Now Tony Luetkemeyer voiced confidence and enthusiasm following his election to the second-highest leadership position in the Missouri Senate. Luetkemeyer, a Republican who represents Buchanan and Platte counties, enters the 2025 legislative session with reason for optimism. He will serve as majority floor leader in a GOP leadership team that includes Sen. Cindy
Continue Reading By NewsPress Now As election results came in Tuesday night, one thing became abundantly clear. About half the population will believe the country is doomed following Donald Trump’s victory. A Kamala Harris victory would have prompted the same “sky-is-falling-in” reaction from the other half of the electorate. Maybe that’s the one unifying element in this
Continue Reading By NewsPress Now It would be easier to support Amendment 2 if the gambling industry just said that Missourians deserve to join 38 other states that trust their citizens to place a wager on Sunday’s game. That would be a true statement. Amendment 2, if it passes in Tuesday’s general election, would legalize sports betting
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