New overtime rules announced Wednesday by the Obama administration could have a negative impact on local businesses according to the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce.

Under the new rules the annual salary threshold at which companies can deny overtime pay will be doubled from $23,660 to nearly $47,500.

That would make 4.2 million more salaried workers eligible for overtime pay. The rules are meant to decrease the number of workers who can be classified as managers and forced to work long hours at a flat hourly rate. The White House estimates that the rule change will raise pay by $1.2 billion a year over the next decade.

Pat Lilly, President and CEO with the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce said the new rules will impact small business owners most.

“Unfortunately what the implication is, is that employers who are now able to appropriately compensate employers with overtime as long as they are at a certain income level will now find themselves having to potentially increase wages substantially and/or finding another method to compensate their employees; potentially lowering base pay and making up the difference with overtime or perhaps even having to layoff employees,” Lilly said. “The worst part about the rule change in my opinion is that it will most likely have the greatest effect on small businesses and non-profit agencies.”

He said the St. Joseph Chamber has been vocal against these rules for some time.

“We have submitted information to the Department of Labor, we have worked with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to sign letters to the administration as well as Congress,” Lilly said. “We’re going to continue to fight this for as long as we possibly can just because of the unfairness it represents to employers.”

The new rules take effect Dec. 1.  Lilly said the St. Joseph Chamber plans to hold an event sometime during the month of June to talk about the new regulations.

“One of our Lunch & Learns will provide at least some initial opportunity for people to learn more about the rulings,” Lilly said.

He also suggests individuals check out the Department of Labor’s website to learn more.

(AP and POST)

 

The St. Joseph Police Department has confirmed that 18-year-old Skyler Powell was the teen found dead Wednesday morning in a parking lot.

Few details surrounding the investigation into Powell’s death are being released at this point. Commander Eric Protzman said Powell recently graduated from Benton High School.

Officers responded to the  block of 2300 Colhoun on a report of shots fired early Wednesday morning. Officers found Powell in the parking lot in the 2200 block of Frederick with a gunshot wound.

Protzman said the case is still under investigation but that detectives do have a person of interest in the case.  He said more information will be released when available.

Anyone with information is asked to call the tips hotline at (816) 238-TIPS.

As we learn more will will update.

https://www.facebook.com/stjoepost/videos/1030176900396307/

The St. Joseph Fire Department said a trailer that caught on fire and closed  Route U Wednesday afternoon is a complete loss.

Around 2 p.m. firefighters responded to the 2700 block of Southwest State Route U in the Lake Contrary area to a report of a trailer fully engulfed.   No one was injured, however officials with the fire department said the structure was deemed a complete loss.

While crews were on scene State Route U was shut down in both directions in the area for firefighters to access the structure.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

 

(UPDATE) – The body of a man in his late teens found early Wednesday morning in a parking lot is being investigated by police as a suspicious death.

The St. Joseph Police Department responded to the area of 2300 Calhoun on a report of shots fired.  Officers found a man in his late teens on the parking lot in the 2200 block of Frederick.

“Subject was possibly shot and later pronounced deceased,” said Commander Eric Protzman. “Numerous spent shell casings were located.”

Anyone with information is asked to call the police department at the tips hotline at (816) 238-TIPS.

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(7:28 a.m. ) – St. Joseph police have not offered much information on a body found in the Midtown area early Wednesday morning.

The parking lot near 22nd and Frederick was marked off with crime scene tape.

The parking lot was littered with nearly a dozen numbered evidence markers.

Police detectives cleared the scene but were expected to return to continue their investigation during the daylight hours.

Meanwhile, a short stretch of 23rd Street and Calhoun from 22nd to 23rd was blocked, as was the alley between 22nd and 23rd.

As we reported earlier, police said the body of a deceased white male was found around 12:25 Wednesday morning in a parking lot.

St. Joseph Police are investigating a dead body found this morning in the 2200 block of Colhoun.

According to police, the body of a deceased white male was found around 12:25 Wednesday morning in a parking lot. The area of 22nd and 23rd Streets from Frederick to Colhoun is closed until further notice.

As we learn more we will update the situation.

(Update 5:45 p.m.) Authorities have cleared the scene where a man hunt was underway Tuesday in Buchanan County.

After more than three hours searching the area an alert was issued at 5:31 p.m. to let the public know the area of 135th Rd/SE Nuckols Rd. has been cleared.

The Buchanan County Sheriff’s Department said Tuesday afternoon a deputy tried to stop a vehicle for speeding on 36 highway and a chase began.

“It came back as possibly stolen,” said Cpl. Sarah Hardin. “The officer then saw that vehicle go up into a driveway, through several hot-wire fences, and across people’s property.”

Hardin said at this time they believe that the suspect possibly got a ride out of the area.

“We are continuing to follow leads and the investigation continues,” she said.

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(Update 4:22 p.m.) – Buchanan County residents in the area where a man hunt is underway are being urged to stay inside and keep their doors locked.

The Buchanan County Sheriff’s Department said Tuesday afternoon a deputy tried to stop a vehicle for speeding on 36 highway and a chase began.

“It came back as possibly stolen,” said Cpl. Sarah Hardin. “The officer then saw that vehicle go up into a driveway, through several hot-wire fences, and across people’s property.  At this time the suspect has ditched the vehicle and we have that vehicle but the suspect is still on foot.”

An alert was sent out at 2:25 p.m. asking citizens to avoid the area of 135th Rd and SE Nuckols Rd. due to police activity.  At 4:20 p.m. Hardin said the search was still underway.

“We want to caution anybody in this area if they have somebody enter their property that they see to call 911 immediately.  Please lock up their doors and their outbuildings so that we can keep those buildings secure and keep that suspect from getting in,” Hardin said.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol is assisting the county, an airplane from the highway patrol is being used in the search.

“We want people not necessarily to avoid the area but anybody in this area of 135th road, 36 highway, anybody that’s in this area where the suspect was last seen on foot we want them to be cautious of their property and of themselves,” Hardin said.

A suspect description has not yet been compiled.

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(3:30 p.m. ) – The Buchanan County Sheriff’s Department is urging people to avoid an area near Easton due to a manhunt.

Col. Bill Puett said a vehicle fled from deputies and a man got out and fled on foot.  An alert was sent out at 2:25 p.m. asking citizens to avoid the area of 135th Rd and SE Nuckols Rd. due to police activity.  Puett said currently deputies are in the area trying to locate the suspect.

St. Joseph Post’s Sarah Thomack is on scene and reports multiple law enforcement vehicles and an airplane appear to be searching for an individual.  Little information is known at this point however, she said 135th Rd. was blocked to traffic as of 3:30 p.m.

As we learn more we will update.

The Brown County Sheriff’s Office is alerting the public of a possible child in danger ruse.

Sheriff John Merchant said on Friday around 6 p.m. in the area of US 73 and Sunflower a woman reported spotting a car seat alongside of the road with a purple blanket over the top which made it appear the child was still in the seat.

“When the person went to check on the seat, two people in dark blue jeans and ski masks exited the ditch,” Merchant said. “The concerned motorist got back in their vehicle and drove away and notified law enforcement immediately.”

Officers from Atchison and Brown County and Horton Police Department responded to investigate due to the proximity of county lines but no one was found.

Merchant said no other cases have been reported recently. However, he said he has heard of similar ruses being reported dating back to 2009.

“It’s been anything from gang initiations, carjackings to similar type of criminal activity,” Merchant said. “We don’t know if it’s somebody just playing a joke or prank but whatever it is it’s not funny and if those are responsible are caught there will be criminal charges brought against them.”

Anyone seeing anything of a similar nature is asked not to stop and to call 911 immediately.

A person of interest is being sought in connection with a double-shooting Sunday in St. Joseph that sent two men to the hospital.

Owen Lee Roberts Jr., 32 is being sought as a person of interest in the case. The St. Joseph Police Department said Roberts should be considered armed and dangerous.  They are urging the public not to approach him but to call law enforcement officials. Roberts is described as being 5’6”, 160 lbs. brown hair and hazel eyes. He may be driving a 2005 Dodge pickup truck, blue in color, bearing Missouri license 4YP552.

Capt. Jeff Wilson said Sunday around 10:30 a.m. officers responded to 924 Prospect Ave. on a report of a man having been shot.

“Upon their arrival they discovered that two white males’ ages, 43 and 59 had been wounded by gun fire,” Wilson said.

As of Monday afternoon the condition of both victims was unknown.

Anyone with information as to Roberts’s whereabouts is asked to call St. Joseph Missouri Communications Center at (816) 271-4777 or the Tips Hotline (816) 238-TIPS.

Less than a week since its installment a symbolic string of lights has been stolen from a Peace Officer Memorial at Civic Center Park in downtown St. Joseph.

“They had to take a knife and cut, there’s more than a dozen zip ties,” said Mike Hardin President of the Northwest Missouri Fraternal Order of Police. “I don’t have any belief that they just wanted lights. I think they understood the symbolism of what the Blue Line means and what it meant there at that memorial.  I think they wanted to steal that symbolism more than just the lights themselves.”

He said the idea of the “Thin Blue Line” reflects the idea of a line between good and evil.

“As officers we really consider ourselves on the good side obviously and the people out there doing evil things are obviously on the opposite side,” Hardin said.

He said the lights were displayed for the first time Wednesday, during the annual candlelight service to honor the 17 individuals who have lost their lives in the line of duty in the Buchanan County area.  He said the lights had to be stolen sometime between Friday and Sunday. Hardin said he noticed the lights missing Sunday night around 9:30.

“It’s not about the little more than $100 dollars that we spent on the light, it’s more about the idea that someone took down the lights at a memorial that’s there to honor heroes,” Hardin said. “It’s hurtful to not only the officers but the families whose members are honored there.”

An official police report was filed Monday.  There is a live video stream from City Hall that shows the memorial.  However, at this time Hardin said he’s not sure if that footage is recorded.  Anyone with information can call the TIPS Hotline at (816) 238-TIPS.