Public Safety

By Jenna Wilson The Missouri House of Representatives recently passed a bill that would create stricter penalties for those who traffic fentanyl. Rep. David Casteel, a Republican from High Ridge, Missouri, filed Bill 2576, aiming to combat the opioid issue in Missouri, as drugs continue to enter and be distributed across the state. The bill

By NewsPress Now An autopsy is planned after the body of a 53-year-old woman was found overnight in the 3200 block of North Second Street.  The woman’s name has not been released. The body was found by family members and the death is under investigation, Capt. Jeff Wilson of the St. Joseph Police Department said.

By Jenna Wilson Local crime victims had a chance to share their stories with law enforcement and other community leaders on Thursday as a part of Crime Victims’ Rights Week. Community members gathered at the annual Crime Victims’ Breakfast, hosted by the Buchanan County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, at Missouri Western State University to show their

By Jenna Wilson Human remains discovered Tuesday in Mercer County have been identified as a missing Iowa man, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. At approximately 3:08 p.m. Tuesday, the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office requested the assistance of the Missouri State Highway Patrol Division of Drug and Crime Control with the discovery of human

By NewsPress Now Two men riding in a trash truck were flown to hospitals Wednesday afternoon following a one-vehicle accident in Grundy County. Driver Preston Ramsey, 71, of Trenton, Missouri, and passenger Caleb Hudson, 34, of Spickard, were seriously injured in the accident, which happened at about 2:10 p.m. on Route CC about two miles

By Marcus Clem A man arrested Sunday night on what police said are allegations of kidnapping, resisting arrest and assault appeared in court Wednesday and denied all wrongdoing. Brett C. Matheny, 33, appeared Wednesday morning before Associate Circuit Judge Rebecca L. Spencer of the Buchanan County Circuit Court. The South Side resident is charged with

By Jenna Wilson Local advocates are continuing to shed light on the issue of child abuse and exploitation in Buchanan County as summer approaches. St. Joseph’s Voices of Courage Child Advocacy Center held a 2024 Courage Conference on Tuesday to discuss the prevalence of trafficking, online sexual exploitation and other forms of abuse children are

By NewsPress Now The Missouri State Highway Patrol is investigating after human remains were discovered Tuesday in Mercer County.  According to the highway patrol, a turkey hunter discovered the remains on private property, and the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office then requested assistance from the highway patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control. The remains have

By Marcus Clem Police went after a reported kidnapper on Sunday night, but the man they arrested isn’t charged on any such offense, thus far. Brett C. Matheny, 33, a South Side resident arrested that evening, has now received one misdemeanor charge following events that started with authorities being told there may have been a

By NewsPress Now A child is safely back at home and there is no threat to the public following an incident Sunday evening, police said. Police responded to what was initially reported to them as a kidnapping shortly after 10 p.m. Sunday, Capt. Jeff Wilson of the St. Joseph Police Department said. Asked about the

By NewsPress Now A man sustained serious injuries while being towed behind a vehicle while in a parachute Saturday in Worth County. The accident happened at about around 5:15 p.m. three miles northeast of Grant City, Missouri. Jacob W. Dickinson, 37, of Fort Collins, Colorado, was being pulled by about 110 feet of rope attached

By NewsPress Now An early morning crash on Saturday left a teen seriously injured in Andrew County. Blaydan R. Basler, 19, of Savannah, Missouri, was eastbound on Route C in a 2014 GMC Sierra at about 3:20 a.m. when he failed to negotiate a curve, went off the roadway and struck an embankment about one

By Jenna Wilson Local kids will have the chance to learn about stranger danger, staying safe on the roads and more this summer thanks to the return of Safety Town. Safety Town has been an education project of the St. Joseph Safety and Health Council since 1989, designed for children ages 5-7. The program teaches

By Jenna Wilson Road crews are stressing the importance of driving with caution near work zones as construction season begins. Troy Slagle, assistant district engineer with the Missouri Department of Transportation, said spring is one of the busiest times of the year for road workers as they aim to work around busy traffic. “It’s that

By Jenna Wilson After a motorcycle crash left one dead Wednesday night, law enforcement and safety officials are reminding drivers and motorcyclists to slow down and stay alert on the roads. According to the St. Joseph Police Department, around 9:45 p.m. 26-year-old Anthony J. Baca was traveling north on his motorcycle on the Belt Highway

By Jazmine Knight After two women shared stories on social media about being followed in St. Joseph grocery stores, local police are encouraging community members to stay alert and trust their gut if they feel unsafe. In a Facebook post, one woman described how she was allegedly followed by a man and woman throughout the

By NewsPress Now One person suffered minor injuries after being hit by a car Tuesday. The crash occurred just after 8 p.m. at South Ninth Street and Mason Road.  The pedestrian suffered minor injuries, according to police, and no one in the vehicle was injured.  Police notified residents shortly after to avoid the area while

By Jenna Wilson An airplane landed safely at Rosecrans Memorial Airport on Monday after an emergency warning signaled the potential of an aircraft fire during the flight. Eleven passengers were on the plane when several warning lights alerted the flight crew that an engine fire had been detected, according to Rosecrans Memorial Airport manager Julius

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