Month: June 2025

Matthew Sanders

The conflict between Israel and Iran continues, with strikes from both sides to start the week.

Israel hit Iran with a preemptive strike last week, saying it had intelligence that Iran was pursuing nuclear warheads, despite the country’s insistence that its nuclear program is purely for energy purposes.

The strikes took out part of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, along with scientists and military leaders. Iran has responded with multiple rounds of ballistic missile attacks. Most of those missiles have been intercepted by Israel’s Iron Dome system.

Israeli leadership has expressed a desire for regime change in Iran. Do you think the United States should support that effort? Vote in the poll.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Columbia man has been charged with two felonies after he allegedly attacked another person with a four-foot long, metal level on Tuesday.

Eric Shea, 30, was charged on Monday with first-degree domestic assault and armed criminal action. He is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond. An initial court appearance is scheduled for 1 p.m. Tuesday.

The probable cause statement says police were called to a residence in Columbia on Tuesday after the victim was seen with blood covering several parts of their body. The victim allegedly told police that the blood came from a wound on their arm – which was about 2-3 inches long and 1-2 inches wide – the statement says. Medics said in the statement that the cut went through all three layers of skin.

The victim allegedly told police that they got into an argument with Shea and told him to leave, the statement says. Shea then attacked the victim with the level, the statement says. The level did not have protective plastic on the ends, court documents say.

The victim allegedly described a second assault by Shea that involved a broomstick, court documents say.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

No injuries were reported in a house fire Sunday in Mexico, Missouri, according to a Monday press release from the Mexico Department of Public Safety.

The release says that firefighters were called at 12:48 p.m. to the 300 block of Pleasant Street. Firefighters found a fire in the kitchen of the home and extinguished it, the release says.

The release says the kitchen had “significant fire damage” while the rest of the home had “moderate smoke damage.”

“A resident stated he had a pan of grease on the stove, and he left the room for a few minutes.  When he returned he saw the area around the stove on fire,” the release says.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Columbia man was charged with two felonies and a misdemeanor after he allegedly flashed a gun in a video and made threats to kill someone through text message.

Te’Varius Harris, 24, was charged on Monday with unlawful use of a weapon, armed criminal action and misdemeanor second-degree harassment. He is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond. A hearing was scheduled for Monday.

The probable cause statement says that police received a call on Sunday afternoon about a man threatening to shoot up a home. Court documents allege that Harris made a threat to kill the victim in a text message. The message was viewed by police.

Harris then allegedly sent the victim a video of himself holding a gun, the statement says.

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Haley Swaino

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A public hearing has been scheduled for June 30 amid the ongoing contract impasse between University of Missouri Health Care and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Anthem customers using Medicare Advantage plans have been out of MU Health Care’s network since February and other customers since April, after the two parties failed to reach an agreement for a new contract.

Senate President Pro Tem Cindy O’Laughlin (R-Shelbina) said after months of receiving messages and emails from people across the state who can no longer visit their doctors at MU Health Care because they are insured through Anthem, she decided to ask Sen. Sandy Crawford (R-Buffalo) to hold a hearing.

“I have heard from enough people that my thought was, ‘It does not seem to be getting done,'” O’Laughlin said.  “And if there is progress being made, I’m not aware of it. I knew if we scheduled the public hearing, this would put additional incentive into both parties to try and get to an agreement.”

She announced the hearing on social media Friday.

Crawford chairs the Committee on Insurance and Banking, the Senate Interim Committee on Driving Down the Cost of Healthcare and is a member of the Missouri Health Facilities Review Committee. The June 30 meeting will be held by the Committee on Insurance and Banking.

“The committee would like to hear from both sides of the situation, maybe some of the factors involved in their decision making,” O’Laughlin said. “What is creating a situation where we can’t find a compromise and renew the contract so that we have continued care for people who have been going to the doctor at MU and now cannot?”

The expiration of the parties’ previous contract forced the 2.1 million Missourians insured through Anthem to either pay out-of-network rates at MU Health Care clinics and hospitals or seek care elsewhere.

“My biggest concern is for people who are seeing specialty doctors,” O’Laughin said. “And it’s easy to say, ‘Well, you can go and go somewhere else or you can get another doctor,’ but we all know how hard it is to get into a specialist. And if they don’t have your information, there can be months of waiting. And for some people, that’s a life-threatening situation.”

Macon County resident Sharon Baker Pennington said her husband was forced to switch providers to receive necessary care.

“He could not wait for Anthem and the University of Missouri to come to an agreement,” she said. “He needed his pacemaker monitored. Out of network specialists & existing conditions cannot wait for negotiations.”

Many Missouri residents are already struggling to establish and maintain primary care. According to previous reporting, 111 out of 114 counties in the Show-Me State have been designated as a Health Professional Shortage Area.

“Caught in the middle of this is our people who have health conditions that need to be taken care of,” O’Laughiln said. “And it’s distressing to me that we are offering insurance and then all of a sudden we don’t have it and there is no solution. And the idea that you can just transfer somewhere else, that is not even realistic.”

MU Health Care serves patients in all 114 Missouri counties. It is also the only academic health system in Mid-Missouri, including a Level 1 trauma center and a children’s hospital. MU Health Care is one of only two hospitals in the state that provides health care to patients regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay.

About 100,000 patients are insured through Anthem at MU Health Care, a spokesman previously told ABC 17 News. About 7,000 of those patients use the Anthem Medicare Advantage plan.

Negotiations over other Anthem plans, including Affordable Care Act marketplace plans and HealthLink plans, continue with MU Health Care.

An Anthem spokesperson said in an email Monday that MU Health Care has made future meetings with the insurer conditional.

“Despite our repeated efforts to resume good-faith negotiations, MU Health Care has made future meetings conditional on Anthem first meeting their terms— an approach that prevents meaningful dialogue,” the spokesperson said in an email.

A spokesperson previously told ABC 17 News that MU Health Care demanded a price increase of 39% over three years, which was slightly less than their initial proposal.

Anthem told ABC 17 News on Monday that a recently extended proposal to MU Health Care to continue care for more vulnerable patients through Dec. 31, 202,5 was declined.

“Anthem has offered annual rate increases above the Consumer Price Index (CPI), along with the opportunity to earn more through quality-based incentives,” a spokerson said in an email. “MU Health Care has rejected these offers. We want MU Health Care in our network — but not at a rate Missourians can’t afford.”

MU Health Care wrote in a statement that leadership shares O’Laughlin’s concerns.

“While MU Health Care’s negotiating position and expectations have changed over the last 10 months, Anthem’s has not,” the statement says. “A public hearing presents an opportunity for the Senate Committee and the people of Missouri to hear from Anthem directly on why 1-2% increases are all that they have offered in almost a year.”

A MU Health Care spokesman told ABC 17 News in February that it is seeking new rates that cover the increased costs of providing care due to inflation and other market pressures. Anthem’s processing delays and claim denials have also led to increased administrative burdens, the spokesman said.

O’Laughlin said she hopes that through the hearing, the state can facilitate a conversation and possibly offer help to get the parties to reach an agreement.

“Both of them point to cost escalation, and they both say that they are trying to reach an agreement or have given offers,” O’Laughin said. “But their offers have been turned down, so I would just like for both parties to be in the same room at the same time, which has not happened.”

O’Lauglin said she and Crawford hope a resolution is reached before the June 30 hearing.

“I think that both of them would rather continue these negotiations behind closed doors,” O’Laughlin said. “But the problem with that is when we in the Senate hear about it, we hear from one side and then the other side. And sometimes it’s hard to get to the facts, and it’s a little bit easier when you have them both at the same time.”

O’Laughlin said public review could help bring a resolution sooner.

The hearing is scheduled for 1 p.m. June 30 in the Senate lounge. 

Check back for updates.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Four people had to be saved during a water rescue Monday afternoon, according to a press release from Cole County Emergency Services.

Two people suffered minor injuries and were brought to an area hospital, according to the release.

The release says that a caller at 3:48 p.m. told dispatchers that a man was clinging to debris in the Osage River and was calling for help. The caller then learned three more people were unaccounted.

The man was rescued and allegedly told dispatchers that the other were upstream, the release says. First responders found the other three people on shore, the release says. About 50 emergency responders were at the scene and left by 5:30 p.m., the release says.

The release did not say what caused the injuries.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Columbia City Council on Monday night voted 5-1 to keep its mission and vision statements intact.

The council decided to keep its vision statement to read “Columbia is the best place for everyone to live, work, learn and play,” and its mission statement to say “To serve the public equitably through democratic, transparent and efficient government.”

Ward 5 Councilman Don Waterman was the sole “no” vote. The vote also keeps the city’s definition of equity as “We will ensure all residents have fair access to services, opportunities, and resources regardless of their background, neighborhood, income, or identity.”

The council talked about a resolution targeting language surrounding diversity, equity and inclusion – commonly referred to as “DEI” – during a May 5 meeting, but tabled it to Monday. May’s meeting included a two-hour discussion from community members speaking against the proposed change.

DEI has been targeted by conservatives around the country and within the state, with President Donald Trump on Jan. 21 signing an executive order that targets the language used, alleging it promotes discrimination.

A city spokeswoman in May said the city has received $48 million in federal funding since 2020. Last week the city showed a presentation stating the city receives more than $11 million in federal funding for projects. Trump’s order has been interpreted before by the city that it could impact funding to municipalities.

The City Council last month also passed a resolution that aims to shield city staff from lawsuits or claims stemming from their official duties, as long as they act within the scope of their role.

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