Public Safety

By Jenna Wilson Celebratory gunfire now is prohibited statewide thanks to a new safety law signed by Missouri Gov. Mike Parson Senate Bill 754, also known as Blair’s Law, took effect on Aug. 28 after one Kansas City family fought for years for a legislative change following the death of Blair S. Lane, who was

By Kendra Simpson Last week, an assault on a law enforcement animal was considered property damage. As of Aug. 28, it is punishable by seven years of incarceration and a fine of $10,000 thanks to Max’s Law. On July 9, Gov. Mike Parson approved legislation enacting Max’s Law, strengthening the penalties for harming or killing

By Ashley Luthans August 31 is National Overdose Awareness Day, calling attention to the problems of addiction and overdose. Dr. Robert Corder has worked with addiction patients for the past seven years at the Samaritan Counseling Center.  Corder shared that educating both children and adults is crucial in helping with the addiction and overdose problem. 

By Jazmine Knight Labor Day weekend is a great time to unwind, enjoy the sun and have fun with family and friends, but being mindful of risks is important to ensure everyone stays safe.  Some popular Labor Day traditions include grilling with friends and family, enjoying a relaxing day at the lake or even traveling.

By NewsPress Now A Trenton, Missouri, police officer is being recognized for service to the community. Sgt. Jeb Walker received the 2024 Enoch B. Morelock Award, which is presented annually by the U.S. Attorney’s Office Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee. He received the recognition of outstanding moral character, service to law enforcement and service to the

By Charles Christian While fleeing from police has always come with consequences, a new law that went into effect this week adds harsher penalties for those who choose to lead police on a chase. Valentine’s Law was signed by Gov. Mike Parson earlier this year and officially went into effect on Aug. 28 across the

By Jenna Wilson An Atchison, Kansas, woman faces multiple charges including first-degree murder after fleeing from police and crashing her vehicle, which led to the death of her 17-month-old son. The incident occurred around 5:30 p.m. on Aug. 25 when the Atchison Police Department was notified of a vehicle that crashed into a wall in

By Jenna Wilson The St. Joseph Police Department is investigating a robbery that happened last weekend. According to a press release from the St. Joseph Police Department, officers responded to a home around 4:15 a.m. Saturday at 4505 Wilshire Drive after a resident reported that two unknown individuals approached him as he arrived home then

By NewsPress Now The FBI is asking for help in locating a man who robbed a bank in July in Lawrence, Kansas. The man entered the bank with a black bag and demanded cash from a teller at about 9:20 a.m. on July 2 at the Bank of America located at 900 Ohio St. in

By Chris Fortune The Missouri Attorney General’s office is nearing a decision in the case involving the death of Savannah K-9 officer Horus. News-Press NOW reached out to the attorney general’s office Wednesday, and officials said they still are reviewing the case but should have a decision soon. The Missouri State Highway Patrol completed its

By NewsPress Now A 23-year-old man was hospitalized with serious injuries after a single-vehicle crash 3 miles north of Bethany, Missouri. Nicholas Anders, of Sedalia, Missouri, was southbound on Interstate 35 in a 2017 Mack tractor-trailer just after midnight Wednesday when he traveled off the side of the road and struck a guardrail, according to

By Leah Rainwater A local girl who had been missing since late last year has returned home. Ally S. Scott ran away from her home in December, and the Country Club Police Department has been searching for her since. Last week officials reached out to media in hopes of bringing her home. Country Club Police

By Jenna Wilson The Buchanan County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office is reviewing a case of animal abuse that led to a dog’s death earlier this month. On Aug. 2, a lethargic Great Pyrenees was found near Lake Contrary and immediately taken to Angel’s Vet Express in Andrew County. Veterinary notes from Angel’s Vet stated that the

By NewsPress Now Drivers who use Interstate 229 Downtown will need to look for an alternate for a week next month. A section of the road will be closed beginning at 6:30 a.m. Monday, Sept. 9, for the double-decker bridge on I-229 to have its biannual inspection. The bridge and all ramps between U.S. Route

By NewsPress Now An inmate at the Chillicothe Correctional Center in Chillicothe, Missouri, died early Monday. Connie Sanders-Ford, 74, was pronounced dead at 4:45 a.m. on Aug. 26, according to officials with the Missouri Department of Corrections. She was serving a life sentence for first-degree murder and armed criminal action from McDonald County and had

By Jenna Wilson The Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office is rolling out security upgrades to the county jail, including intercoms and wristbands to monitor inmates and their health. With the help of grant funding, the sheriff’s office has 100 percent video surveillance coverage of all buildings and grounds, intercoms are being added to the cells and

By Jenna Wilson The St. Joseph Police Department has made progress with its recruiting efforts amid a nationwide shortage, but local officers are still hoping to fill remaining vacancies with new hire testing next week. The department has made some strides in its staffing, but it still has 18 vacancies to fill as soon as

By Leah Rainwater Ally S. Scott was last seen on Dec. 20, 2023 in her home and reportedly ran away on Dec. 21, 2023. Since then the search has been on to find the missing 14-year-old. Scott is described as a white female with shoulder-length brown hair and hazel eyes. She is 5 feet, 4 inches

By NewsPress Now The Country Club Police Department is looking for tips in the search for a 14-year-old girl who ran away in December 2023. Ally S. Scott was last seen Dec. 20, 2023, at her home in Country Club Village, Missouri.  She is described as a white female with shoulder-length brown hair and hazel

By NewsPress Now A man has been charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action after a shooting in the parking lot of Walmart off of Barry Road. Surveillance video shows Taquiza V. Johnson allegedly getting into an altercation with another man in the parking lot of the Walmart at 8551 N. Boardwalk Ave. around

By Jenna Wilson Road safety is a two-way street between drivers and pedestrians, but teaching kids some tips can help keep them out of harm’s way as they head to school. Kids are particularly vulnerable because they are small, less visible to drivers and do not always make safe decisions near streets. “When a child

By Jenna Wilson Local law enforcement agencies partnered over the weekend to conduct a saturation patrol and promote safety along the Belt Highway. According to a press release from the St. Joseph Police Department, officers conducted a four-hour saturation patrol on Friday using marked patrol vehicles to enforce hazardous moving violation laws, focusing on violations

By Jenna Wilson St. Joseph police officers are warning drivers to take preventative measures against car theft, especially if they drive vehicles that are more susceptible due to a security flaw. From August 2023 up until last week, the St. Joseph Police Department documented 246 reports of stolen vehicles in the city, with a majority

By Jenna Wilson As students head back to school, officials are taking preventative measures to warn against the dangers of fentanyl and other drugs. The start of a new school year can be stressful for students, leading to them searching for different coping mechanisms. “There’s all kinds of stressors kids deal with when starting school,”

By Chris Fortune A bridge on South 29th Street near Pickett Road is closed to drivers after part of the pavement caved in, causing a large hole in the roadway. Jackson Jones, superintendent of streets and infrastructure, said calls initially came in reporting the hole around 7:30 a.m. Friday morning. The hole is about the

By Jenna Wilson Buses will soon be out in full force in St. Joseph as the first day of the academic year nears, and law enforcement is making student safety a top priority by stepping up patrolling near school zones. Sgt. James Tonn with the St. Joseph Police Department said it can be difficult to

By NewsPress Now A boating safety course will be offered in St. Joseph by the Missouri State Highway Patrol this weekend. The course, offered from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 17, at Troop H Headquarters, 3525 N. Belt Highway, meets the national boating educational standard. Missouri law requires everyone born after Jan.

By Jenna Wilson A recall of marijuana products has been issued after it was improperly tracked. The Missouri Division of Cannabis Regulation announced the recall of more than 2,600 cannabis products sold to statewide dispensaries and other facilities by C&C Manufacturing, LLC. The recalled products included flowers, ground flowers and pre-rolled joints in various packaging