Public Safety

By Jenna Wilson St. Joseph law enforcement is cracking down on temporary tags and expired license plates. Drivers without properly licensed vehicles are riding all over the city, and it’s causing concern for officers and local residents. Resident Marjorie Wright said expired license plates are something she sees in her neighborhood way too often. “I’ve

By NewsPress Now A 56-year-old woman sustained serious injuries in a wreck Sunday afternoon in Harrison County, 10 miles north of Gilman City, Missouri. Lloyd D. Johnson, 73, of Gilman City, was stopped at a stop sign at about 1:45 p.m. in a 1997 GMC Sierra on Route MM when he turned north onto Route

By NewsPress Now An Iowa man was seriously injured following a crash Saturday evening in Gentry County, four miles south of Stanberry, Missouri. David A. Bartholomew, 54, of Des Moines, Iowa, was traveling north on U.S. Highway 169 just before 8 p.m., when he crossed the center line, began to skid and overturned on a

By Jazmine Knight Despite a reported decrease in distracted driving rates since its enactment, a study conducted by AAA shows that 58% of Missourians are unaware of a hands-free law that passed in August 2023. The Siddens Bening Hands Free Law prohibits drivers from using, handling or holding their phones while driving. The goal is

By Jenna Wilson Buchanan County EMS is making sure its equipment is up-to-date and ready for the hundreds of calls its workers respond to each day. EMS recently partnered with Stryker, a leading medical device and equipment manufacturing company, to ensure all Buchanan County EMS ambulances will now be equipped with the latest in medical

By Chris Fortune Federal funds are helping local police officers perform their jobs with updated safety equipment. The city council approved the purchase of bulletproof vests and authorized a partnership grant with the U.S. Bureau of Justice for $11,452 at its meeting last week. It pays for half of the $22,904 the city will spend

By Riley Funk St. Joseph’s 911 system could be about to get a big upgrade. The City Council has approved the filing of an application with the Missouri 911 Service Board to move a project forward that would replace the current 911 system used by emergency dispatchers at the Law Enforcement Center from its traditional

By Jenna Wilson April is Child Abuse Prevention Month and local advocates are raising awareness to ensure children grow up safe and loved. “People need to understand the reality of child abuse and that it happens everywhere,” said Melissa Birdsell, executive director of Voices of Courage Child Advocacy Center. “It’s happening right here in our

By Ashley Luthans Advocates are highlighting solidarity with survivors in April for Sexual Assault Awareness Month. On average, approximately 463,634 people are raped and/or sexually assaulted in the United States every year, according to the 2019 National Crime Victimization Survey from the U.S. Department of Justice. One in six women in the United States has

By Jenna Wilson A recent report showed distracted driving fell in four states, including Missouri, after the implementation of hands-free laws. In a report from the Governors Highway Safety Association, a nonprofit organization representing state highway safety offices, an analysis of cell phone data from Alabama, Michigan, Missouri and Ohio found that hands-free laws made

By Kyle Schmidt Local police are reminding drivers of the dangers of drag racing after a Kansas City Chiefs player was involved in a crash while speeding. Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice has made headlines recently due to his involvement in a six-car crash in Dallas that left four people with minor injuries. St. Joseph

By Jenna Wilson No suspects have been named in connection with the theft of the skater statue near Corby Pond, but law enforcement is still looking for leads. Andrew County prosecuting attorney Monica Morrey said law enforcement agencies were lucky to locate the stolen statue last week when looking for additional stolen property. “On Thursday

By Jenna Wilson St. Joseph police are sounding the alarm about a phone scam involving people posing as officers. Callers identify themselves as various officers within the police department, including the chief. On Thursday, a victim reported being scammed out of more than $1,000 in gift cards from someone fraudulently obtaining “donations” posing as a

By Jenna Wilson Two men have been charged in connection to a shooting Tuesday morning near the 1300 block of West Joseph Street. Jorge G. Lara Ramirez, 23, is charged with unlawful use of a weapon and first-degree assault. Macio Harris, 26, is charged with unlawful use of a weapon. According to probable cause statements,

By NewsPress Now Two people are in custody after a shooting Tuesday morning sent one person to the hospital. According to the St. Joseph Police Department, officers responded to the shooting near the 1300 block of West Joseph Street after receiving reports of a shooting involving multiple people. One suspect was transported to the hospital

By Jenna Wilson The St. Joseph Police Department reported a decrease in both violent and property crimes in 2023 during its annual crime press conference Tuesday. St. Joseph saw an overall decrease in “part one” crimes last year compared to 2022. This includes murder, aggravated assault, robberies, motor vehicle thefts and other serious offenses designated

By NewsPress Now St. Joseph police have arrested a person involved in a domestic situation that led to the stabbing of a 43-year-old man late Sunday. The stabbing happened at about 11:20 p.m. at 1620 Faraon St., according to police Capt. Jeff Wilson. The victim sustained several non-life-threatening puncture wounds, including to the face and

By NewsPress Now A 21-year-old man has serious injuries following a crash early Sunday morning on U.S. Highway 36 four miles east of Hamilton, Missouri. Jacob Latimer, 21, of Polo, Missouri, was westbound on Highway 36 at about 1:45 a.m. when he traveled off the north side of the roadway. The vehicle overturned multiple times

By Jenna Wilson The Buchanan County Jail population isn’t as high as it was during the pandemic, but law enforcement would still like to see the number of inmates entering the facility decrease. Buchanan County Sheriff Bill Puett said the number of inmates housed at the county jail currently sits around 160, which sounds high,

By Jenna Wilson As spring brings out all-terrain vehicles, officials are driving home the importance of safety for those who ride them, especially kids. Early spring weather means drier trails and more opportunities for riders to get out on private and public land across Missouri. Regardless of weather and trail conditions, all ATV/UTV riders should

By Jenna Wilson This year’s solar eclipse may not bring as much traction to the area as it did in 2017, but drivers should still be aware that an influx of visitors will be on Missouri roads next week. The April 8 solar eclipse in Missouri will cover more than 115 miles throughout the south

By Harry Loomis Employees at U.S. Bank’s Downtown branch were greeted by broken glass when they arrived for work Friday morning.  The bank in the Robidoux Center at 415 Francis St. suffered an apparent overnight break-in. Broken glass and smashed windows were found inside the bank. Sgt. Chris Thomas of the St. Joseph Police Department said

By NewsPress Now Drivers will see a detour on one of St. Joseph’s major streets this week. A resurfacing project will close 22nd Street from Messanie to Commercial starting Wednesday, April 3. The project is expected to be completed by Monday, April 8, weather permitting. Detours will be in place to guide motorists.

By Jenna Wilson Troopers from the Missouri State Highway Patrol and maintenance crews spent the week making sure students are safe going to and from school. Each year, from February to April, school districts across Missouri undergo bus inspections to ensure they are in proper working condition before hitting the road. “These buses, they transport

By NewsPress Now A St. Joseph man has serious injuries after being ejected from a motorcycle Wednesday near Winthrop, Missouri. Jeremy R. Thompson, 53, was eastbound on U.S. Highway 59 on a 1982 Harley Davidson at about 6:50 p.m. when he crossed the center line and began to skid. Thompson traveled into the path of

By Harry Loomis While Easter Sunday is not the biggest travel holiday, the Missouri State Highway Patrol is still expecting highways to be busy in the coming days as many head home to celebrate with family. Through nearly three full months in 2024, highway fatalities have been on the rise in Missouri, with speeding continuing

By NewsPress Now A former Missouri Western State University student is still missing after he was last seen nearly two months ago in Kansas City, Missouri. The Kansas City Missouri Police Department posted on social media Wednesday reiterating details about T’Montez Hurt, a 19-year-old who was last seen around 11:40 a.m. on Feb. 1 in