Public Safety

By Jenna Wilson With burglaries on the rise last year, law enforcement officers are encouraging residents to protect their homes and help prevent crimes of opportunity this summer. The 2023 Crime Analysis Report for the city of St. Joseph showed there was a slight increase in burglaries, and the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office warns with

By NewsPress Now The St. Joseph Police Department is investigating after a woman who was arrested on warrants died en route to the hospital. EMS responded to the booking desk after being notified of a potential medical issue. Kirstan R. Canterbury, 29, was conscious at the time of transport, but on the way, her condition

By Leah Rainwater Ever since being announced as St. Joseph’s police chief about a year ago, Paul Luster has made the most of a method to connect with the community, one that starts with a simple cup of coffee. Luster has participated in “Coffee with the Chief” about three times now. On Thursday morning, he

By Cameron Montemayor A multi-vehicle crash on U.S. Highway 36 near South 22nd Street caused significant traffic disruptions for westbound drivers Wednesday afternoon. The crash occurred around noon after a vehicle hit a puddle of water on the s-curve of the highway by South 13th Street, causing the driver to lose control and hit a

By Jenna Wilson Potholes are a problem many are all too familiar with, but some St. Joseph drivers have even had to shell out hundreds of dollars in repairs due to damage from the roadway hazard. According to AAA, pothole damage cost drivers around $26.5 billion in 2021 and the concern of spending a significant

By Jenna Wilson Downtown St. Joseph may permanently see a four-way stop added to the intersection of North Seventh and Francis streets by the end of summer. The intersection initially functioned as a two-way stop but a trial study conducted by St. Joseph Public Works & Transportation over the next 90 days will determine if

By Jazmine Knight Whether the kids are heading for a swim at Krug Pool, the St. Joseph Aquatic Center or even just the backyard pool this summer, it’s important to make water safety a top priority. Frank Till, executive director of the St Joseph Safety and Health Council, said every year, multiple children die from

By NewsPress Now The Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office is warning of a scam that targets registered sex offenders and their employers. The callers represent themselves as a law enforcement officer and threaten the sex offender or employer with arrest if they do not purchase gift cards and provide that information to the scammer, Sheriff Bill

By NewsPress Now A section of North 36th Street will close on Monday, June 17, for water main upgrades. The road will be shut down beginning at 7 a.m. from Frederick Avenue to Beck Road. Drivers can access LeBlond High School from its Frederick Avenue parking lot. All other business and residential access north of

By NewsPress Now A Cameron teen was injured seriously in a one-vehicle accident Wednesday afternoon on U.S. 36 Highway near Osborn, Missouri. Joe Gardner, 18, was heading east on 36 Highway at about 3:15 p.m. when he went off the road and overcorrected, causing his car to overturn and come to a rest on its

By NewsPress Now A 19-year-old suffered serious injuries after a two-vehicle crash on Tuesday. Kaylee Crockett, 19, of St. Joseph, was traveling south on Route A in a Mercury Mariner when Bryan Kellem, 26, of St. Joseph, who was driving a Chevrolet Equinox, failed to yield and attempted to turn on Vera Lane, according to

By Jenna Wilson Recent deadly crashes around St. Joseph, and specifically on the Belt Highway, are furthering concerns about safety for motorists. Law enforcement officers say reckless driving on the Belt Highway has been a problem for a while now. According to Sgt. James Tonn with the St. Joseph Police Department, many motorists are going

By Jenna Wilson A collision that started with a deer on Interstate 29 sent a motorcyclist and other drivers to the hospital Monday afternoon. Matthew Banks, 36, of Oregon, was northbound on I-29 on a motorcycle when he struck a deer and lost control, according to Missouri State Highway Patrol crash reports. He was taken

By Charles Christian Summer break provides a great opportunity for families to have fun together, but it also can provide challenges for working parents of younger children. Frank Till of the St. Joseph Safety and Health Council reminds parents to use discernment and to communicate thoroughly when leaving kids at home during the day. “We

By Chris Fortune A man was seriously injured in a two-vehicle crash Friday afternoon near the Stockyards Expressway involving a Freightliner truck and a Ford F-150. St. Joseph police officers received a call at 12:33 p.m. about the injury traffic crash at South Sixth and Hickory streets. “The semi-truck and trailer were headed east on

By Jenna Wilson The St. Joseph Safety and Health Council and Missouri State Highway Patrol partnered Thursday morning to teach local students about the dangers of driving under the influence. Missouri Western State University students experienced firsthand what it’s like to get behind the wheel while under the influence through a driving simulator and impairment

By NewsPress Now Three interstate ramps in the area will be closed on Friday for emergency repairs to asphalt. The ramps are located along Interstate 29, Interstate 229 and U.S. Route 71 in Andrew County. Contractors from Herzog Contracting Corp., working with the Missouri Department of Transportation, will intermittently close the following ramps beginning at

By Jenna Wilson St. Joseph police are investigating an early morning shooting in the North End that left two people wounded. The shooting occurred around 5:15 a.m. in the 500 block of Shady Avenue where two victims were shot and wounded. According to the St. Joseph Police Department, the victims, who were 35 years old

By Jenna Wilson A local construction company saw a rocky start to its work day after an excavator was stolen from the job site at the Shoppes at North Village late Tuesday night. Scott Gann Construction company has been working on a hotel project expected to be located in the North Shoppes area, but when

By Jenna Wilson The St. Joseph Police Department is underlining the importance mental health services and support for law enforcement professionals following the tragic death of an officer last week. “I’ve given a lot of thought on the best way that we can go about addressing this tragedy today,” said Capt. Jeff Wilson with the

By Jenna Wilson Summer break is underway for St. Joseph kids, and the extra free time could lead to more screen time, and in turn, an increased risk of unsafe interactions. With the lack of structured learning time, homework and extracurricular activities, it can be tempting for kids to spend hours a day on social

By Jenna Wilson The St. Joseph Police Department is gearing up for its annual Cops Care Youth Camp in July, bringing officers and local kids together in a positive environment. Local police officers want to remind the community that officers shouldn’t be feared, despite some having a negative view of them. “Unfortunately, a lot of

By Jenna Wilson The summer months bring an increased possibility for street racing, which is why the St. Joseph Police Department is reminding people of the danger of these events. Street racing and takeovers can lead to many problems, including hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages. But law enforcement wants motorists to be aware

By Jenna Wilson After a newborn infant was found deceased over the weekend near Mozingo Lake in Maryville, officials are pointing to resources and solutions for those who need to surrender a child. Maryville Public Safety is still investigating the cause of death and circumstances, and interim Police Chief Mike Stolte said no further information

By NewsPress Now One person was injured in a crash late Sunday night in Harrison County, five miles south of Bethany, Missouri. A 2010 Ford F-250, driven by Bryson D. Nalle, 18, of Pattonsburg, Missouri, was southbound on U.S. Highway 69 around 10:18 p.m. when he hit a guardrail. Then a 2021 Ram 2500, driven

By NewsPress Now A 23-year-old man was seriously injured in an incident involving a golf cart around 1:15 a.m. Saturday in Gentry County. A golf cart driven by Korbin L. Fletchall, 20, of Stanberry, Missouri, was traveling south on a private drive, about two and a half miles northwest of Stanberry, Missouri, with an occupant

By Jazmine Knight Whether you’re planning a tubing trip to the lake or just a cruise down the waters for Memorial Day, keeping boating safety tips in mind is essential for a safe weekend. Missouri State Highway Patrol Sgt. Kurt Schmutzler said the biggest key is being weather aware. Check the weather before you go

By Jenna Wilson Closed roads can be an inconvenience to drivers, but the Missouri State Highway Patrol is warning that avoiding or moving barricades can result in consequences. “You’ll see these signs a lot of times put in place by the Missouri Department of Transportation,” said Sgt. Shane Hux with the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

By Jenna Wilson It’s all hands-on deck to continue reducing violent crime in St. Joseph, as residents are taking notice of frequent crime activity occurring in their neighborhoods. The City of St. Joseph may have seen a decrease in overall crime during 2023, but some residents in Midtown, like Greg Thompson, found the decline hard