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Johnson County Christmas Cheer is gearing up for its 2026 season. Last year, the Missouri Veterans Home assisted board member Linsey McKee and board president Sarah Smidt in gift wrapping.
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Johnson County Christmas Cheer launches fourth year of holiday assistance

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VIDEO: Students walk into new Knob Noster High School

Rural Kingsville domestic disturbance leads to drug recovery

Two rural Kingsville residents are facing multiple charges related to drugs found during a domestic disturbance call. Kevin Ray Ailshire and Jenni Ann Riley are charged with child endangerment, …
Missouri was among the first states to use the database after President Donald Trump signed an executive order in March 2025 directing the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to establish systems allowing state and local authorities to verify the citizenship status of registered voters.

Missouri can keep using disputed federal database to review voter eligibility

Missouri can continue using a federal database to review voter eligibility after the U.S. Supreme Court temporarily cleared the way for states to use an expanded version of the system to check the …
Former Department of Justice special counsel Jack Smith testifies before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday.

Eric Schmitt bungles accusation against former special counsel Jack Smith in heated hearing

WASHINGTON — Former special counsel Jack Smith on Tuesday defended before a U.S. Senate panel his past investigations of President Donald Trump’s possession of classified documents and alleged …

UCM ranked among top 20 midwest public schools by U.S. News & World Report

U.S. News and World Report has included the University of Central Missouri (UCM) among its top-ranked universities in several categories for 2027.  U.S. News and World Report, a resource …

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Tuesday, September 29, 2026

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Warrensburg City Council member Max Ridenhour speaks during the council's Monday, Sept. 28 meeting.

Warrensburg City Council amends FY26 budget ahead of year-end

The Warrensburg City Council amended the city's Fiscal Year 2026 Budget by $378,551 during its Monday, Sept. 28, meeting. The total included a $180,031 increase in the city’s vehicle and …
Voter turnout is the biggest unknown for the November election. There is only one statewide race, for state auditor, and neither incumbent Republican Scott Fitzpatrick, nor the Democratic nominee, Quentin Wilson, have raised large sums this year

Missouri Republicans scramble to launch late campaigns on two ballot measures

Missouri Republicans are scrambling to organize late campaigns on ballot measures they spent most of the year trying to block from the Nov. 3 election. The party’s State Committee met Saturday …

Warrensburg area crash reports for Sept. 29

Sedalia motorcyclist injured in Johnson County accident A Sedalia  man, 30, suffered moderate injuries at 3:25 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 24, in a Johnson County accident. According to a …
Runners and bikers took turns along the historic 6,800 mile routes to visit small communities and spread the ideals laid out in the Declaration of Independence.

American Discovery 250 Relay brings patriotic bicyclists, runners through region

A group of hikers and bicyclists passed through Sedaliq between Saturday, Sept. 26 and Sunday, Sept. 27,  as part of the American Discovery 250 Relay, a nationwide celebration marking the 250th …
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Warrensburg FBLA, DECA students attend Career Day at The K

The Warrensburg High School FBLA and DECA organizations traveled to Kansas City for the annual Career Day at The K event Thursday. Sept. 24. This event, hosted at Kauffman Stadium, provides …

Rotary Club of Central Missouri to host Wheels in Motion 5K on Saturday

WARRENSBURG — The Rotary Club of Central Missouri is calling on local runners, walkers and cyclists to hit the ground running — or rolling — for a refreshed community tradition. The …

Warrensburg Marching Band opens competition season in Blue Springs

The Warrensburg Tigers Marching Band attended the Golden Regiment Invitational hosted at Blue Springs High School. After an impressive performance of their 2026 show “ Sirocco ,” the band placed …

Warrensburg area police reports for Sept. 29

Montrell L. Love, 49, was arrested Sept. 1 in the 100 block of West Russell Avenue for driving while suspended, failing to register a motor vehicle annually, and failing to maintain financial …

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Fielding errors hinder Warrensburg softball versus Belton

Warrensburg sophomore Katie Evans winds a pitch versus Belton on Wednesday, Sept. 30, at the Warrensburg Activities Complex.
WARRENSBURG — Warrensburg and Belton softball both accumulated a pair of home runs in their Wednesday, Sept. 30, meeting. And if only the runs scored via the homer counted, the Tigers would …

Warrensburg's Glover, Coombs finish runner-up in Bolivar

Warrensburg girls tennis tallied a pair of runner-up finishes in the Bolivar Tournament on Wednesday, Sept. 30, at the Warrensburg Activities Complex.  Senior Reese Glover finished second …

Warrensburg volleyball splits triangular at Lawson

Warrensburg volleyball beat Lawson 26-24, 26-24 as part of a triangular Tuesday, Sept. 29, at Lawson High School. Senior Delaney Fleeman had 23 of Warrensburg's 36 kills. Junior Meghan Trott and …

Knob Noster volleyball sweeps Richmond

Knob Noster volleyball swept Richmond 25-19, 25-7, 25-7 on Monday, Sept. 28 in Richmond. The Panthers  (7-11-2, 4-1 MRVC East) finished the match with 25 kills, led by nine from senior …

Holden softball edges Lexington

Holden softball beat Lexington 10-6 in MRVC East action on Wednesday, Sept. 30, in Lexington. The Eagles (12-12, 5-2 MRVC East) and Minutewomen (5-8, 1-6 MRVC East) were tied 1-1 through two …

Knob Noster softball loses to Carrollton

Knob Noster softball lost to Carrollton 8-1 on Tuesday, Sept. 29, in Carrollton. The Panthers (3-9, 0-7 MRVC East) scored their lone run off an RBI single from R. Sanchez, bringing home H. …

Warrensburg girls golf's Pyle finishes Lady Jay Invitational

Warrensburg girls golf’s Kaelyn Pyle participated in the Lady Jay Invitational on Monday, Sept. 28, at the Meadow Lake Area Country Club. Pyle finished 50th out of 76 golfers with a 121. …

Central Missouri volleyball sweeps Northwest Missouri State

WARRENSBURG — From the first serve, Central Missouri volleyball had the momentum. In a match where it never trailed, the Jennies swept Northwest Missouri State 25-19, 25-21, 25-14 on Tuesday, …

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Business

Warrensburg Star-Journal earns top awards from Missouri Press Association

The Warrensburg Star-Journal claimed two awards in the 2026 Better Newspaper Contest on Saturday, Sept. 26. From left: Missouri Press Association president Bryan Chester and Warrensburg Star-Journal editor Joe Andrews.
The Warrensburg Star-Journal received two first-place awards in the Missouri Press Association's 2026 Better Newspaper Contest for work published in 2025.  The recognitions were presented …

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WMMC joins Show-Me High Value Network to strengthen independent, local healthcare

Western Missouri Medical Center (WMMC) is a founding member of the new Show-Me High Value Network, a network of 23 local, independent community hospitals working together to collaborate on clinical …
Zach Toole, premise technician for AT&T (right) and employees from different AT&T district areas combined their available assistance funds, allowing them to provide the Hayworth family with $2,250 in supplies.

AT&T steps up to help Sedalia family after house fire

SEDALIA — When Michael Hayworth returned home on Aug. 21, he found that everything his family had built their lives around was gone. Hayworth, his wife and their seven children lost their home …
Brown’s Shoe Fit snagged first place in the Warrensburg Chamber of Commerce’s annual Paint the Town Red contest on Saturday, Aug. 29.

Brown’s Shoe Fit takes first place in annual Paint the Town Red contest

WARRENSBURG – Brown’s Shoe Fit snagged first place in the Warrensburg Chamber of Commerce’s annual Paint the Town Red contest.  To honor this year’s “retro rewind” theme, …

WMMC earns Great Place To Work® certification for second consecutive year

Western Missouri Medical Center (WMMC) has been named a Great Place To Work® Certified™ organization for the second consecutive year, recognizing the hospital’s commitment to creating a positive …
As Kane Martin prepares to open his first practice here in town, he said he’s looking forward to bringing compassionate care to the community.

Martin to bring compassionate chiropractic care to Warrensburg

WARRENSBURG – Kane Martin always had a sense that caring for people would be his profession.  Spending years in and out of the hospital battling pneumonia and asthma growing up, Martin …
Police & Crash Reports
A Warrensburg boy, 15, suffered serious injuries at 4:25 p.m. Tuesday , Sept. 22, in a Johnson County accident. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, he entered the roadway of …
Kansas man seriously injured in Johnson County collision  An Overland Park, Kan. man, 30, suffered serious injuries, and an Olathe, Kan. woman, 37, suffered minor injuries at 8:14 p.m. …
Warrensburg girl seriously injured in Johnson County UTV crash A Warrensburg girl, 11, suffered serious injuries at 3:32 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9,  in a Johnson County accident. …
Zachary A. Hastings, 25, was arrested Aug. 17 in the 100 block of West Market Street for harassment and an order of protection violation after a known female subject reported a known male had …

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Education
Brewing Independence: The 94 Brew Crew Student Enterprise: Sheryl Blair and students.

Warrensburg Schools Foundation announces Fall Classroom Impact Grants

The Warrensburg Schools Foundation announced the recipients of its Fall 2026 Classroom Impact Grants at schools across the district on Monday, Sept.14 and Monday, Sept. 21. Foundation board …
Warrensburg Superintendent Steve Ritter presented on the realities of state funding shortfalls during the Tuesday, Sept. 15 Board of Education meeting.

Warrensburg R-VI prepares for budget tightening amid state funding shortfall

WARRENSBURG — The Warrensburg R-VI School District is beginning to tackle the realities of ongoing state funding issues. Superintendent of Schools Steve Ritter presented the issue to the Board …

UCM receives VA grant to memorialize veterans in Higginsville, Fort Scott cemeteries

The Department of Veterans Affairs announced the University of Central Missouri (UCM) has received a $255,451 grant to memorialize veterans interred in VA and VA grant-funded cemeteries as part of …
Students make their way into the new Knob Noster High School for the first time Tuesday, Sept. 8. The cheer team and Panther Pride Marching Band provided school spirit.

New Knob Noster High School opens to students

KNOB NOSTER — First-day jitters were accompanied by all-new routines as the new Knob Noster High School opened its doors to students Tuesday, Sept. 8. The sound of the Panther Pride Marching …

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From the Opinion page
Columnists
Robin Dale

What is the church, really?

Church.  When people say the word, they often mean the building that houses the members.  But the word Ekklesia, or Church, was never about a building of steel or stone.  Ekklesia is …

The hero that we need

We constantly seek out heroes — humans who will save the day. Save our city. Save the nation. Save the world. And even save us from ourselves. Many of those heroes are superhuman, in that no normal …

Local taxpayers kept their promise. Missouri must keep its, too.

For years, I watched young families chase a familiar version of the American dream: land the right job, save enough money for a down payment, and find a home in a community where they could raise …
Gwen Rockwood

Dialing for dinosaurs

A rare thing happened over Labor Day weekend. After a 9-hour drive, all five people in my immediate family went to the same movie at the same time. Once your kids grow up and move away, you realize …
Bennet Bodenstein

Prep your stock now

If you are a red wine aficionado or someone who occasionally enjoys a red wine the time is now to stock up before the cold weather sets in. Unfortunately, the price of wine does vary with the …

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Letters

LETTER: Protect your wallet, majority rule

Dear Editor, I am writing to urge my fellow Missourians to vote NO on Amendments 4 and 5 on the August ballot. Both proposals threaten our rights and financial well-being under the guise of …

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