Government

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

By Cameron Montemayor An approaching cutoff for the use of American Rescue Plan Act funds has city leaders prioritizing final plans for spending the last remaining dollars. Officials are plowing ahead to finish the last ARPA contracts and ordinances with a self-imposed December deadline looming. The city initially received about $38 million in ARPA funding,

By Cameron Montemayor One of St. Joseph’s oldest homes built in the late 1860s is in line to be designated as the next local landmark pending approval by elected officials. Located at 1701 S. 20th St., the two-story home owned by Joseph Pfeiffer holds a unique place in St. Joseph’s history. Members of the St.

By Chris Fortune Weed treatment will begin at Lake Contrary this month if the weather allows. Buchanan County Commissioners met with a contractor for the aerial herbicide over a video call Friday morning to discuss the possibility of spraying this year and other details. Jason Hammock with Hammock Flying Service will deploy the aerial herbicide

By Chris Fortune A Downtown building used for chemical mixing and storage soon will meet the wrecking ball. The St. Joseph City Council has approved a bill to demolish the former HPI Products facility at 408 S. Eighth St. after reaching an agreement with the Environmental Protection Agency. “That helped the city move forward with

By Cameron Montemayor New developments on the rapidly-decreasing capacity at St. Joseph’s Sanitary Landfill are forcing city leaders to pursue a large rate increase or risk having the landfill potentially fill up by July 2025. City leaders and landfill consultants gathered for a work session Tuesday to review recent findings and recommendations on the current

By Chris Fortune Buchanan County officials have at least two tasks to complete before deciding whether to dredge Lake Contrary. The county opened bids to spray the weeds at Lake Contrary Friday morning which include the cost of the liquid and the application. The county will have about 30 to 60 days to decide on

By Cameron Montemayor Two dozen candidates have thrown their hat into the ring for St. Joseph’s open city manager position. A deadline for submitting applications ended on Sunday with 24 being received by Strategic Government Resources, an international consulting firm hired by the city to carry out the search process. “It was very encouraging to

By Cameron Montemayor The St. Joseph License Office will be closed for two days as part of a statewide upgrade to a new ID and driver’s license system. A local representative confirmed the St. Joseph office will be closed on Friday, Nov. 8, and Monday, Nov. 11, to implement a modernized driver’s license system. The