Government

By Leah Rainwater Shoppers may soon notice they’re spending a few more pennies on purchases at some stores in St. Joseph. One year after turning down a bill that would turn the Shoppes at North Village into a community improvement district, the tax initiative has been approved. Interim City Manager, Clint Thompson said the goal

By Chris Fortune The payment deadline for personal property taxes in Buchanan County looms as the holiday shopping crunch enters its final days. Tax bills from Buchanan County are mailed in the first week of November and must be paid or postmarked by the United States Postal Service by December 31. Residents who want to

By Chris Fortune The payment deadline for personal property taxes in Buchanan County looms as the holiday shopping crunch begins. Tax bills from Buchanan County are mailed in the first week of November and must be paid or postmarked by the United States Postal Service by December 31. Residents who want to pay in person

By Cameron Montemayor Over the last 12 years, Mike Schumacher has helped manage a wide spectrum of day-to-day operations from some of the largest to a few of the smallest municipalities in the area. Now, Schumacher will take on a new challenge as St. Joseph’s next city manager. Officials announced Monday night that Schumacher has

By Cameron Montemayor The city is acquiring just over 10 acres of land from a leading local contractor with the intent of developing the property in the future. The 10.3-acre piece of land, which is located behind Time Out Entertainment Center and connects with the Southwest Parkway by South 22nd Street, was donated to the

By Chris Fortune City leaders are investing in business development and infrastructure on the east side of St. Joseph. Eastowne Business Park is set to receive a new pump station at the end of Pickett Road, and another large project will improve Pickett Road from Riverside Road to Craig Parkway after they were approved by

By Cameron Montemayor Residents took the opportunity Tuesday to meet with the finalists vying to lead day-to-day operations as St. Joseph’s next city manager. City officials held a public meet and greet at City Hall with the four men in the running for the job: Jason Gage, Darron Leiker, Mike Schumacher and Bob Cowell Jr.

By Leah Rainwater Monday night’s St. Joseph City Council meeting saw a few different bills up for passage pertaining to the utilization of American Rescue Plan Act Funds. During the Monday, Dec. 9 meeting, council also saw an adoption of a bill regarding the next steps forward in building a new aquatic facility, whether it’s

By Chris Fortune Weed treatment at Lake Contrary is being put on ice until warmer weather arrives. A hard frost toward the end of November nixed plans to handle the growing vegetation at the 320-acre lake. The plan was to deploy the aerial herbicide called Clearcast, but it would not work below certain temperatures or

By Cameron Montemayor Community members can meet with the finalists hoping to become St. Joseph’s next city manager on Tuesday evening at City Hall. City officials have scheduled a meet and greet from 5 to 6 p.m., on Dec. 10, in the lobby of City Hall to allow community members to meet and visit with

By NewsPress Now Students in kindergarten through 12th grade can to help fight littering in Missouri through a trash can decorating contest. The 2025 “Yes You CAN Make Missouri Litter-Free” contest is part of the Missouri Department of Transportation’s annual “No MOre Trash!” statewide litter campaign, which is held in April. Students can decorate a

By Cameron Montemayor City leaders and community members agreed on a new compromise for lower landfill dumping fees following extensive and at times heated discussions Tuesday at City Hall. A near 2½-hour public forum following public backlash to proposed dumping fees ended Tuesday with city leaders dropping a previously-proposed five tier fee structure that would

By NewsPress Now In the wake of President Joe Biden’s Sunday announcement that he had pardoned his son, Hunter, Missouri and Kansas representatives were quick to criticize the move. Hunter Biden was convicted of an illegal purchase of a firearm and tax evasion. He was due to be sentenced on Dec. 22 and could have

By Cameron Montemayor City officials have set a May deadline to decide whether to seek an August 2025 bond issue to develop a large-scale youth sports complex in St. Joseph. Key discussions between city leaders, consultants and Missouri Western State University are expected to intensify in early 2025 on the project, with council members poised

By NewsPress Now Those who wish to take advantage of open burning in St. Joseph are almost out of time. Saturday, Nov. 30, is the last day yard waste can be burned in the city before next April. Burning is allowed from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and must be done in a container of

By NewsPress Now Residents need to be aware of some public facilities that will be closed on Black Friday. St. Joseph City Hall and the REC Center both will be closed on Friday, Nov. 29. The Buchanan County Courthouse also will be closed. All driver’s license testing sites also will be closed on Friday. They

By NewsPress Now The lights will turn on Friday, Nov. 29, at two local parks, marking the opening of a St. Joseph Christmas tradition. Community members can join Mayor John Josendale and the city’s parks department for the annual lighting ceremonies for Krug Park’s Holiday Park and Hyde Park’s South Pole. Krug’s Holiday Park lighting

By Chris Fortune City leaders are hearing from concerned residents about potential fee increases at the St. Joseph Sanitary Landfill and perceived mistreatment of a local waste management company. Numerous residents sent identical emails addressed to Mayor John Josendale and City Council members throughout the day on Tuesday. “Mayor Josendale and City Council: Tell the

By Cameron Montemayor City Council gave the green light on Monday to provide funds for a new fleet of SUVs for the St. Joseph Police Department. Council members authorized a contract with Don Brown Chevrolet of St. Louis to use $1,071,440 in American Rescue Plan Act funds to purchase 20 sterling grey 2025 Chevy Tahoes,

By Leah Rainwater The St. Joseph Health Department could potentially see roof renovations thanks to American Rescue Plan Act ARPA funds. “This building was completed in 1909, so it’s a 115 year old facility,” said Kendra Bundy, the assistant health director at the health department. “Just over time, as things age or as wear and