Business/Consumer

By NewsPress Now Summit Truck Bodies has started constructing a new $50 million facility in Wathena, Kansas. The expansion aims to meet rising demand for service trucks and expand production capabilities, officials with the company said. The new building will be next to the company’s current facility in Wathena and is expected to be completed

By Ashley Luthans While many in St. Joseph are dreading the excessive summer heat, some businesses are actually thriving amid the high temperatures. St. Joseph is full of places to grab a cold sweet treat in order to beat the heat, including chains like Sonic and Dairy Queen or local spots like Kris and Kate’s.

By Cameron Montemayor Emotions ran high at City Hall on Monday as concerned residents voiced their opposition to a proposed Evergy utility rate increase eyed for 2025.  Evergy is requesting an increase to base rates for Evergy Missouri West customers by about 13.42%, which equates to a roughly $17 a month increase, or $204 annually.

By NewsPress Now Interlock Steel Structures has announced an expansion in St. Joseph that will invest $773,000 and create new jobs. The company’s facility will be expanded to “increase productivity while enhancing quality and innovation” according to a press release from the company. The St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce’s Economic Development team, along with the

By Kirsten Stokes In the wake of extended travel disruptions from last week’s CrowdStrike failure, many spent more time inside airports than expected and in some cases were left without luggage due to delays. With situations like these generally coming without warning, it’s key to have certain items on hand to make travel bumps smoother.

By Kendra Simpson Big Lots has announced it will be closing between 35 to 40 of its locations this year, including St. Joseph’s. The St. Joseph Big Lots, located at 1417 N Belt Highway, will be closed by September or when they run out of products. The company claims the closings are due to inflation

By NewsPress Now The Applebee’s restaurant in St. Joseph is currently closed, although it’s unknown for how long. The business’ website says the store, which is located at 4004 Frederick Boulevard, is “temporarily closed.” News-Press NOW has reached out to the manager for comment, and we will follow up as more information becomes available.

By Charles Christian Coffee drinkers have plenty of options in St. Joseph, leaving local shops to set themselves apart by emphasizing quality and community. Because St. Joseph boasts several large national brand coffee establishments, locally owned shops have to rely on more than just name recognition to attract customers. Heather Mitchell, owner of Hazel’s Coffee,

By Cameron Montemayor From St. Joseph to Kansas City and across the globe, widespread disruptions from significant IT outages impacted everything from airlines and public transit to businesses and emergency services. The disruptions were the result of a failed software update from cybersecurity company CrowdStrike and its compatibility with computer systems that use the popular

By Leah Rainwater A longtime café employee is looking forward to the future after recently taking over the reins of 7th Street Café in Downtown, St. Joseph. New owner Brennon Calvin has been working at the café for four years and says owning a restaurant has always been one of his goals. “I’ve always been

By Charles Christian As revitalization efforts continue in St. Joseph, a storefront on the South Side is trying to do its part. Adam Marriott recently purchased the storefront on South 22nd Street across from Dollar General. At first, he leased the space for his Time Out event and activity business. However, he ended up purchasing

By Ashley Luthans In today’s financial climate, the idea of retirement may seem out of reach to many working-class Americans. Many members of Generation X are getting ready to retire, yet they don’t know if they will be able to comfortably support themselves without a job. According to Northwest Mutual’s 2024 Planning and Progress study,

By Leah Rainwater Reed Chevrolet held its official opening ceremony on Monday morning, and the rain didn’t stop the community from celebrating the growth happening in St. Joseph. “If you haven’t had a chance to come out to the new Reed Chevrolet, it’s absolutely beautiful,” said Natalie Hawn, president and CEO of the St. Joseph

By Leah Rainwater Frederick Avenue may look a little emptier without one familiar dealership. Reed Automotive Group relocated its Chevrolet dealership from Frederick Avenue to Commonwealth Court, 4525 Commons Drive, about three weeks ago. One of Reed’s owners, Trevin Reed, said it all has to do with better serving the St. Joseph area. “The building

By Leah Rainwater Employers and job seekers alike had a chance to connect with each other and explore available employment resources on Wednesday. The Missouri Job Center hosted an open house event at its 2202 Frederick Ave. location. Not only did the center cater to those seeking employment opportunities, benefits and resources, but it also

By Leah Rainwater Dick’s Bait and Tackle in St. Joseph has had a rocky year, but its owner is still giving his all to his business even after facing hardships. “Ohhhhh man, it’s … it’s been rough you know, with all of the adversity we’ve been through in the past year and, you know the

By Chris Fortune Fireworks fanatics can rejoice, as retail sales in Missouri are set to begin Thursday. The sale of fireworks at seasonal retailers is permitted from June 20 to July 10 in Missouri, but the job continues year-round for local shop owners. “We have everything ordered here in the next couple of months for

By Charles Christian Although the funeral industry has seen costs rise due to inflation, local experts and residents are recommending ways to reduce costs for final arrangements. Todd Meierhoffer of Meierhoffer Funeral Home and Crematory said that even though the death of a loved one can be emotionally devastating, there are ways to ease the

By Kendra Simpson St. Joseph residents have a new place to visit Downtown when they’re looking to get the royal treatment. KD’s Beauty Bar recently opened at 501 Francis St. and offers community members plenty of ways to pamper themselves. Co-owners Daijanise Stano and Kanei Jackson decided to open KD’s because they noticed the area

By Leah Rainwater As online scams become harder to recognize, financial advisers are reminding St. Joseph residents, specifically older adults, to think twice before giving out information. Nick Gertsema, CEO of Gertsema Wealth Advisors, hosted an informational session on Friday at the Joyce Raye Patterson 50+ Activity Center. “One of the biggest victims of financial

By Leah Rainwater As online scams become harder to recognize, financial advisers are reminding St. Joseph residents, specifically older adults, to think twice before giving out information. Nick Gertsema, CEO of Gertsema Wealth Advisors, hosted an informational session on Friday at the Joyce Raye Patterson 50+ Activity Center. “One of the biggest victims of financial

By Cameron Montemayor New details about the design of St. Joseph’s first QuikTrip have been revealed in anticipation of the popular convenience store’s arrival in 2025. City officials provided News-Press NOW with a detailed site plan for the layout of QuikTrip’s new Frederick Boulevard store on Wednesday. One of the biggest questions asked by the

By Kyle Schmidt While some might be looking forward to the summer heat, rising temperatures can also mean rising electric bills. Courtney Lewis, a spokesperson with Evergy, shared a few tips for saving money. “The first thing they can do is make sure that you are changing your air filter in your furnace once every

By Chris Fortune A St. Joseph native achieved a longtime goal after receiving a head start in the business world. Missouri Western’s Craig School of Business awarded Caleb Keling the ownership of an Auntie Anne’s franchise after presenting his business plan in front of a panel of judges. The moment has been years in the

By Cameron Montemayor Local residents can once again enjoy Mediterranean cuisine in St. Joseph thanks to the addition of a new food truck. Mido’s Halal Mediterranean Grill has firmly planted its flag among eateries after making the official move to St. Joseph from Leavenworth, Kansas. “I’m so happy that we made that move,” owner and

By Jazmine Knight The state of the job market often depends on who you ask. On one side are younger people struggling not only to secure employment but also to find something that supports their basic needs. On the other end of the spectrum, many believe there are jobs out there but no one wants

By Marcus Clem In Italy, a head chef is wholly in command of the high-concept dining experience, in that what is eaten, when and why, are all arranged together like the brush strokes of a painting, at last on display in St. Joseph. After years of planning and construction followed by months of refinement, city

By Jazmine Knight A new distillery is putting on the finishing touches for its grand opening in St. Joseph on Saturday. Parkway Distillery, the first distillery in St. Joseph since the prohibition era, has made some major changes since March. The distillery, located at 415 N. 13th St., is now fully furnished with tables, chairs,

By Chris Fortune Efforts are ramping up to attract additional business near the outskirts of town. The city of St. Joseph is using $3 million from its 2024 Capital Improvements Program tax to install additional infrastructure, like storm drainage, water lines, sidewalks and lighting at Eastowne Business Park. Brad Lau, vice president of economic development