Public Safety

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

By NewsPress Now A child is safely back at home and there is no threat to the public following an incident Sunday evening, police said. Police responded to what was initially reported to them as a kidnapping shortly after 10 p.m. Sunday, Capt. Jeff Wilson of the St. Joseph Police Department said. Asked about the

By NewsPress Now A man sustained serious injuries while being towed behind a vehicle while in a parachute Saturday in Worth County. The accident happened at about around 5:15 p.m. three miles northeast of Grant City, Missouri. Jacob W. Dickinson, 37, of Fort Collins, Colorado, was being pulled by about 110 feet of rope attached

By NewsPress Now An early morning crash on Saturday left a teen seriously injured in Andrew County. Blaydan R. Basler, 19, of Savannah, Missouri, was eastbound on Route C in a 2014 GMC Sierra at about 3:20 a.m. when he failed to negotiate a curve, went off the roadway and struck an embankment about one

By Jenna Wilson Local kids will have the chance to learn about stranger danger, staying safe on the roads and more this summer thanks to the return of Safety Town. Safety Town has been an education project of the St. Joseph Safety and Health Council since 1989, designed for children ages 5-7. The program teaches