Students from Benton High School, Lafayette High School and Central High School have created public service announcements to let other students know what to expect during a required ACT test slated for later this month.

Benton High School Assistance Principal Michele Thomason said the thought was that it would be better for students to hear the information from their peers.

“You know the kids hear from us all the time telling them what is important,” Thomason said. “So we thought it would be better if their peers kind of spoke about it and kind of got it across to their classmates that this is an opportunity to take the ACT for free.”

The ACT is a college admissions and placement test taken by more than 1.8 million high school graduates every year.  However, Thomason said it’s the first time in Missouri that every Junior in the state will be required to take the ACT.  The test is scheduled for April 28 for all Juniors in Missouri. Thomason said if a student is sick there is only one make-up day.

“Research has proven that the best time for students to take the ACT would be spring of their Junior year and this is providing a free opportunity for them to take it,” Thomason said.

In order to help other students prepare for the upcoming test, students at all three public high schools in St. Joseph created a spoof video based off of the East Hills Shopping Center Commercial. The videos remind students that the test is free, they will need to bring their student ID, breakfast is included and that phones are not allowed.

“Our kids did the whole thing,” Thomason said. “They filmed it from beginning to end. They put the video pieces together and they decided who was going to do what. They did it in a matter of just a few hours.”

She said students will report to their testing rooms at 7:40 a.m. April 28 and testing starts shortly after.

“Usually students do have to pay for it,” she said. “They’re getting to take a $52 ACT test for free.”

Today  Mostly sunny, with a high near 67. North wind 8 to 13 mph.

Tonight  Mostly clear, with a low around 41. North wind 5 to 7 mph becoming calm after midnight.

Tuesday  Mostly sunny, with a high near 67. Light east wind becoming east southeast 6 to 11 mph in the morning.

Tuesday Night  A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47. East southeast wind around 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Wednesday  A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 64. East southeast wind 8 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Wednesday Night  Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48.

Thursday  A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 70. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Thursday Night  A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Friday  A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 70. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Friday Night  Partly cloudy, with a low around 49.

Saturday  Mostly sunny, with a high near 69.

Saturday Night  A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Sunday  A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 67. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The following is a listing of general highway maintenance and construction work in the Northwest Missouri region for the week of April 13 – 19 from the Missouri Department of Transportation. Weather conditions may cause postponements in planned work schedules. Other construction or maintenance work may occur on other roadways throughout the area. Many projects will include lane closures and delays can be expected.

For more information about a project, please contact MoDOT at 1-888-ASK-MoDOT(888-275-6636) or visit www.modot.org/northwest/. You can also follow MoDOT’s Northwest Missouri District on Twitter @ModotNorthwest and on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/MoDOTNWDistrict.

Andrew County

U.S. Hwy 71 – From Route A to Route 48; brush cutting, April 13 – 14

Interstate 29 – From the bridge over Route DD (mile marker 55) to the bridge over Route T (mile marker 58.6); milling and resurfacing, April 13 – 19. Includes work on the driving lanes, entrance and exit ramps and a 16-foot width restriction.

Atchison County

U.S. Hwy 59 – From the Tarkio city limits to Route 46; shoulder work, April 14 – 17

U.S. Hwy 136 – Sign operations, April 14 – 17

Buchanan County

Loop 29 – Belt Highway from County Line Road to Ashland Avenue; sidewalk project,April 13 – 17. Various lanes will be closed at different times, including lanes on side streets.

I-229 – From just after the St. Joseph Avenue on ramp to just before U.S. Hwy 36; bridge maintenance, April 13 – 17. (10-foot width restriction)

U.S. Hwy 59 – At the Bankers Crossing Bridge; new bridge construction, April 13 – 17

U.S. Hwy 59 – Southbound on St. Joseph Avenue from Middleton to I-229; pavement repair, April 13 – 16. (12-foot width restriction)

U.S. Hwy 36, I-29 and I-229 – Sweeping and flushing bridges, April 13 – 16

U.S. Hwy 59 – From Route 45 to Atchison Street; sealing, April 13 – 17

U.S. Hwy 36 – At the Platte River Bridge; bridge deck replacement, April 13 – 19. Traffic is  head to head in the eastbound lanes with a 14-foot width restriction.

Route DD – From Route E to Route H; brush cutting, April 14 – 17.

Caldwell County

Route 13 – From U.S. Hwy 36 to the Ray County line; brush cutting, April 13 – 17

Carroll County

U.S. Hwy 65 – From Route J to U.S. Hwy 36 (Livingston County); sweeping and flushing bridges, April 13 – 15

Route Z – From County Road 231 to County Road 241; drainage work, April 13 – 16

Routes C, T and Z – County road approach repairs, April 13 – 17

Routes D, JJ and W – Sign operations, April 13 – 17

U.S. Hwys 65, 24 and Route 10 – Litter pickup, April 13 – 17

Chariton County

U.S. Hwy 24 – Drainage work, April 13 – 17

Various routes – Sweeping and flushing bridges, April 13- 17

Clinton County

Route V – CLOSED from Route 33 to I-35; culvert replacement, April 14, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Route W – CLOSED from SE Red Lane to SE 228^th Street; culvert replacement, April 15, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Daviess County

I-35, U.S. Hwy 69 and Routes 6 and 190 – Pothole patching, April 13 – 17

U.S. Hwy 69 and Routes B, E, KK and T – Sweeping and flushing bridges, April 13 – 17

Route E – Chipping brush, April 13 – 17

Route TT – From Route BB to 145^th Street; drainage work, April 15 – 16 (8-foot width restriction)

DeKalb County

U.S. Hwy 36 – The westbound driving lane of the U.S. Hwy 36 bridge over I-35; bridge maintenance, April 13 – 16. The work zone will be left up overnight and includes a 12-foot width restriction.

Routes A, D, E and H – Litter pick up, April 13 – 16

U.S. Hwy 36 – From Route 31 to Route C; pavement repair, April 14 – 16

Route H – CLOSED from Cogdill Road to Ridge Line Road; culvert replacement, April 15, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Gentry County

Route F – Drainage work, April 13 – 14

U.S. Hwy 136 – From the Stanberry city limits to the New Hampton city limits; sweeping and flushing bridges, April 13 – 16

Various routes – Litter pick up, April 13 – 17

Grundy County

Routes BB and J – Pothole patching, April 13 – 17

Routes A, B, C and O – Sweeping and flushing bridges, April 13 – 17

Routes 146 and J – Shoulder work, April 13 – 17

Harrison County

Route F – CLOSED at the Little Creek Bridge; bridge replacement.  Closed through July 2015.

U.S. Hwy 136 – From Route D to the Mount Moriah city limits; sweeping and flushing bridges, April 13 – 17

U.S. Hwy 136 – From the Bethany city limits to the Mercer County line; resurfacing project, April 13 – 17

Route YY – From Route W to the Gentry County line; pothole patching and sealing,April 14 – 17

Route 46 – From the Worth County line to U.S. Hwy 69; pothole patching, April 15 – 17

Holt County

Route 111 – CLOSED at the Kimsey Creek Bridge; bridge deck replacement.  Closed through May 2015.

U.S. Hwy 59 – CLOSED at the Squaw Creek Bridge; bridge deck replacement.  Closed through May 2015.

Route F – CLOSED at the Little Creek Bridge; bridge deck replacement.  Closed through June 2015.

I-29 – From the bridge over Route DD (mile marker 55) to the bridge over Route T (mile marker 58.6); milling and resurfacing, April 13 – 19. Includes work on the driving lanes, entrance and exit ramps and a 16-foot width restriction.

Route P – Pothole patching, April 13 – 14

U.S. Hwy 59 – One mile north of Craig; drainage work, April 15 – 17

Linn County

U.S. Hwy 5 – From Browning to the Laclede city limits, sweeping and flushing bridges,April 13

Routes B, P, M V and 130 – Pothole patching, April 13 – 15

U.S. Hwy 36 – From Route 139 to Route 130, sweeping and flushing bridges, April 13 – 17

Livingston County

U.S. Hwy 65 – From U.S. Hwy 36 to Route J (Carroll County); sweeping and flushing bridges, April 13 – 15

U.S. Hwy 65 – From Route 190 to Route K; brush cutting, April 13 – 17

Route V – From Route K to the Chillicothe city limits; pothole patching, April 13 – 17

U.S. Hwy 65 – From U.S. Hwy 36 to the Grundy County line; sweeping and flushing bridges, April 15 – 17

Mercer County

U.S. Hwy 136 – At the West Muddy Creek Bridge; bridge maintenance, April 13 – 17

U.S. Hwys 65 and 136 – Litter pick up, sweeping and flushing bridges, April 13 – 17

Routes B, P and V – Drainage work, April 13 – 17

Nodaway County

Route FF – From Route JJ to the Iowa state line; brush cutting, April 13 – 14

Route A – In the city limits of Maitland; drainage work, April 13 – 17

Routes 246 and NN – Sweeping and flushing bridges, April 13 – 17

U.S. Hwy 71 – Litter pick up, April 13 – 17

Various routes – Sweeping and flushing bridges, April 13 – 17

Route AD – Brush cutting, April 15 – 17

Putnam County

Route E – CLOSED at the Medicine Creek Bridge; bridge replacement.  Closed through May 2015.

U.S. Hwy 136 – CLOSED at the Shoal Creek Bridge; bridge replacement.  Closed through May 2015.

Route W – Drainage work, April 13 – 17

Routes 5 and 129 – Sign operations, April 13 – 17

Routes 149, FF, V and W – Pothole patching, April 13 – 17

Routes 129, 149, CC, N and W – Sweeping and flushing bridges, April 13 – 17

Sullivan County

Route E – Drainage work, April 13

Routes 129, D, FF, H and N – Pothole patching, sweeping and flushing bridges, April 13 – 17

Route 139 – Drainage work, April 13 – 17

Route C – CLOSED from Route P to Garden Drive; culvert replacement and bridge maintenance, April 14 – 15, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., daily

Route 129 – Driveway entrance repairs, April 16

Route FF – Drainage work, April 16

Route U – CLOSED from Terrace Road to Vickers Road; culvert replacement, April 17, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Worth County

Route YY – From Route W to the Gentry County line; pothole patching and sealing,April 13 – 14

Various routes – Sweeping and flushing bridges, April 13 – 17

MARYVILLE, Mo. – The Student Activities Council at Northwest Missouri State University will welcomes Laverne Cox, star of the Netflix series “Orange is the New Black,” as the final guest of its 2014-2015 SAC Speaks lecture series.

The lecture begins at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 15, at the Ron Houston Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets are free and will be available at Student Services Center, located on the first floor of the Administration Building.

Cox, the first trans-woman of color to have a leading role on a mainstream scripted series, will explore how the intersections of race, class, and gender uniquely affect the lives of trans-women. Cox draws from her own personal narrative to share how she has navigated the world and all its challenges.

From growing up in Mobile, Ala., as the child of a single mother in a Christian family, to attending college in New York City to pursue a career as an actress, to finally finding the courage to step into the womanhood she always knew was her destiny, Cox tells the story of the unique challenges along her journey to womanhood, professional achievement, self-acceptance, and love.

Cox plays the role of Sophia Burset, an African-American transgender woman serving as the prison’s hairdresser, on “Orange is the New Black.” Time magazine named her character the fourth most influential character of 2013, and she is a recipient of the Dorian Rising Star Award.

She also the first trans-woman to produce and star in her own television show, “TRANSForm Me,” appear on the cover of Time magazine and be nominated for an Emmy. Additionally, she has appeared on “Law and Order,” “Law and Order: SVU” and HBO’s “Bored to Death,” among others. She also has roles in the upcoming films “36 Saints” and “Grand Street.”

The mission of the Student Activities Council is to plan and administer activities for Northwest students in order to contribute to a well-rounded social, recreational and cultural life for the campus and community. SAC provides entertaining alternatives to students with late-night activities and events throughout the year including concerts, lectures, movies and comedians.
For more information, contact the Student Activities Council at 660.562.1226 or sacga@nwmissouri.edu.

A citywide scavenger hunt is being held by the St. Joseph Public Library.

The hunt will take place Saturday, April 18 starting at 1 p.m. at the Downtown Library located at 927 Felix Street.

The Library said there are no age or team size limits however teams need to be able to travel in one vehicle.

Each team will drive around St. Joseph following clue provided by the library.   The library said the first team that returns to the Downtown Library with the right answers will will a family prize pack of free passes and treats from area businesses.

This is the second year for the citywide hunt.

Sign-up is required.  For more information or to sign-up call (816) 232-7729

A new consignment store is opening up shop on South Belt highway.

Second Chance Consignment plans to celebrate its grand opening Friday and Saturday 12at the store located at 2915 S. Belt Hwy.

Owners Shane and Elicia Taylor said they wanted to focus on providing a one-stop shop for busy families looking to save money on clothing. “We saw our friends and family spending lots of time to sell their clothing online or driving to other cities to consign,” said Elicia Taylor. “We have young children ourselves and understand families need affordable clothing options .”

The store offers clothing that consigners bring in, ranging from infant clothes to plus-size, as well as scrubs, maternity, formal wear, shoes, jewelry and accessories.

“Our greatest joy has definitely been seeing customers able to get brands they couldn’t typically afford and also make money on the items they are no longer wearing,” Taylor said.

Update 2:22 p.m. ST JOSEPH PD: South Belt Hwy is now open from Pickett Rd to Pear St resume normal traffic.

———

The St. Joseph Police Department is blocking off traffic on S. Belt Highway near Walmart.

In a nixle alert issued drivers are urged to avoid the Belt Highway from Pickett Rd. to Pear St. due to an accident.

There is also a report of several lines down in the area due to the accident.

Police said they expect the highway to be closed down in that area until at least 2 p.m. due to the downed power lines.

An improvement project that had originally been scheduled to start Wednesday in Seneca, Kan. has been pushed back a week.

According to the Kansas Department of Transportation the new timeline for work on U.S. 36 from 1st Street to 11th St. in Seneca is now slated for sometime during the week of April 20-24.

Project work includes the installation of new storm sewer from 4th Street to 11th Street, and all new curb and gutter and driveway access from 1st Street to 11th Street in Seneca. Work will take place daily Monday through Friday during daylight hours throughout the project duration.

Beginning sometime during the week of April 20-24, eastbound and westbound U.S. 36 from 1st Street to 11th Street will be reduced to ONE OPEN LANE each direction throughout the duration of the project. Traffic impacts will also include closures to driveway entrances and side road access along this portion of U.S. 36. Advance separate notification will be sent out for major closures. The project contractor and the City of Seneca will alert businesses and residents along the U.S. 36 corridor with closures specific to their properties. Due to scheduling conflicts, the project start date has been rescheduled for the week of April 20-24. Advanced notification with an exact start date will be sent out under separate cover.

Traffic will be directed via signage and cones through the project work zone. There will be a 25 mph posted speed limit and a 10-foot lane width restriction through the work zone throughout the project duration. Drivers should expect some delays during peak commute times and should allow extra time for their daily commutes.

Lexeco (Leavenworth, KS) is the primary contractor on this improvement project with a total contract cost of $1.317 million. Project work is scheduled to be completed in early September 2015, weather permitting.

This project is funded by T-WORKS, the transportation program passed by the Kansas Legislature in May 2010.

St. Joseph, Mo. —Two presentations on systemic inequalities are featured in the 2015 Galileo’s Legacy Conference at Missouri Western State University on Thursday, April 16 in the Hearnes Center, room 102. The presentations are free and open to the public.

Steven Bryant, director of the Office of Intercultural Affairs in the Intercultural International Center at Northwest Missouri State, will give a talk titled “From #Ferguson to not on OUr campuses, how are you showing up in the world?” at 3 p.m.Dr. Sikivu Hutchinson, an American feminist, atheist and author, will give a talk titled “Mad Science or School-to-Prison?” at 7 p.m.

The Galileo’s Legacy Conference started during the 2005-2006 school year as a joint project of faculty from the Department of Biology and what is now the Department of Philosophy and Religion. The conference brings experts from the

sciences, humanities and other fields to discuss the cultural, ethical and public policy implications of scientific practices. Past conferences have dealt with topics in ecology, evolution and intelligent design, neuroscience and free will, and psychological impacts of art and race.

The Spring 2015 theme, “Intersectionality and the Sciences: the Effect of Kyriarchy on the Natural and Social Sciences,” brings to MWSU two experts whose research interests include improving and assessing the impact that social hierarchies can have in education at multiple levels.

Below are abstracts of the two presentations.

From #Ferguson to not on OUr campuses, how are you showing up in the world?

Racial inequity stems from systemic inequities that exist within our structures, institutions, and between us interpersonally.  We focus on those things happening outside of us that are ultimately symptoms of the larger problem of systemic inequity.  In order to break down these systems, we need to look at ourselves and find out what are our own biases and assumptions.  You must be brave enough to take this journey inward in order to find out how you are showing up in the world.  Welcome to the conversation!

Mad Science or School-to-Prison?

In 2013, African American eleventh grader Kiera Wilmot was expelled and led away from her school in handcuffs after a chemistry experiment she was conducting exploded in a classroom.  Despite her impeccable academic record, Wilmot was not given the benefit of the doubt by administrators, nor was she viewed as a budding Einstein whose inquisitiveness could propel her to a STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) career.  The Wilmot incident is emblematic of the pernicious impact of the school-to-prison pipeline.  Nationwide, African American students have the highest rates of suspension, expulsion and incarceration in American public and private schools.  Conversely, they have some of the lowest rates of enrollment in and graduation from STEM academic programs.  Generations after the 1954 Brown vs. Board of Education decision, segregation of students of color in STEM is not only reinforced by the burgeoning school-to-prison pipeline but by cultural propaganda  in which STEM genius, dynamism and innovation continues to be symbolized by the “universal” “unraced” white male.

Today

Mostly sunny, with a high near 71. South wind 9 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.

Tonight

Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1am. Increasing clouds, with a low around 54. South wind 9 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Sunday

Showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1pm. High near 74. South wind 13 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Sunday Night

Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 1am. Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 48. South wind 6 to 13 mph becoming north after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Monday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 65. North wind 8 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph.

Monday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 42.

Tuesday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 68.

Tuesday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 45.

Wednesday

Partly sunny, with a high near 68.

Wednesday Night

A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 45. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Thursday

A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 67. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Thursday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 45.

Friday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 69.