Report says pilot error caused Centralia plane crash in July

KMIZ on October 14, 2025

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A report from the National Transportation Safety Board indicates pilot error was the likely reason for a July 22 plane crash in a cornfield near Centralia.

The report says the pilot failed “to maintain clearance from power lines during low-level maneuvering.”

Wren Johannaber, 31, of Huntsville, suffered serious injuries after crashing a crop duster plane into power lines in July. He was in fair condition the next day, according to previous reporting.

Johannaber allegedly told investigators that “there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation,” the report says. The plane’s last inspection was on July 1.

The crash led to more than 1,200 electric customers losing power in Boone County. The report says there was “substantial damage to the wings and fuselage.”

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Montpelier Gas Leak: Evacuations lifted, hazard mitigated

KIFI on October 14, 2025

Seth Ratliff

MONTPELIER, Idaho (KIFI) — Evacuations have been lifted in Bear Lake County, hours after emergency crews rushed to the scene of a gas leak in Montpelier this afternoon.

Bear Lake County Emergency Management confirms the hazard has been mitigated, and residents are now being allowed to return to their homes.

The gas leak was first reported on N 9th Street near Grant and Lincoln Street around 1:30 PM, prompting evacuations in the blocks surrounding 9th and Grant streets and a strict order to avoid the area.

The cause of the leak has not yet been confirmed.

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CPS addresses removing AMI days at board meeting

KMIZ on October 14, 2025

Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) 

Columbia Public Schools will no longer use alternative methods of instruction for inclement weather days following recent changes to state law.

The Columbia Board of Education addressed the recent changes during its meeting on Monday. 

The district announced the change in an email to families on Oct. 10, stating that new state legislative updates were shared after the Columbia Public Schools Board of Education approved the 2026–27 academic calendar on Sept. 8. Because of the timing, the district’s Calendar Committee met on Sept. 29 to review the new requirements and determine next steps.

CPS spokeswoman Michelle Baumstark told ABC 17 News the district was “relieved” by the change in the law, explaining that the original language had led to widespread confusion and misinterpretation among school districts.

“It’s a smoother decision process and certainly we hope that there’s some ease for families to,” Baumstark said. 

Under the new rules, the district no longer needs to use alternative methods of instruction, or AMI, to make up for days missed due to weather. CPS officials said the district already exceeds the state’s minimum requirements of 169 instructional days and 1,044 instructional hours, plus 36 hours for inclement weather — a total of 1,104 hours.

That means no additional makeup days will be required, and students will have traditional snow days instead of AMI learning days. The district will continue to provide optional “choice boards” for families who want learning resources during closures.

“Many families really liked having those activities available to them on winter weather days, and so we’ll continue to do that,” Baumstark said. We should have those available for families who choose to use them next month.” 

Baumstark says even before the new law, CPS has always exceeded the mandatory instructional hours when creating their schedule, but added that getting rid of AMI days makes things easier for staff. 

“This was actually a change in state law that occurred at the end of last school year. It allowed us to make an adjustment to our calendar last year,” Baumstark said. It is also now allowing us to continue that adjustment for the school year calendar as well as next school year calendar.” 

Inclement weather, as defined by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, includes conditions such as snow, ice, extreme cold or heat, flooding and tornadoes.

Because of the updated legislation, CPS will adjust both the 2025–26 and 2026–27 calendars. The only change the district plans to make to this year’s calendar is removing AMI language and snowflake graphics that were previously used to mark inclement weather days.

Last school year, CPS used all of its available AMI days during a stretch of snowstorms that kept students out of class for more than a week.

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Relief, concern in Mid-Missouri after Gaza peace deal

KMIZ on October 14, 2025

Erika McGuire

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

President Donald Trump and other world leaders gathered Monday to sign a Middle East peace deal, bringing relief and hopeful reactions to local groups in Mid-Missouri.

George Smith, with Mid-Missouri for Justice in Palestine, is relieved but also concerned following the recent peace deal.

“It’s a relief to have the actual genocide — as I and many others think it should be referred to as — it’s good to have that genocide stopped,” Smith said. Let us hope that we will not start again because I think that what the agreement has come about now is very is a very short-term agreement,”

According to CNN, at least 67,683 Palestinians were killed in Gaza during the two-year war. CNN reports since a ceasefire took place, 323 deaths have been recorded as bodies have been found underneath rubble.

Rabbi Avraham Lapine, with the Chabad Jewish Center of MU and Mid-Missouri, said the peace deal is a moment of relief and joy for the Jewish community.

“It’s very exciting news for the Jewish community, it’s two years. These hostages were held in captivity in hell, literally, by Hamas. Finally, after two years of being tortured in tunnels, finally free. So it’s really really really very exciting news for the entire Jewish community,” Lapine said.

Humanitarian aid has been a concern, with many aid shipments being halted during the conflict. Smith said there likely could be 600 trucks entering Gaza everyday to bring in aid, but he claims it’s minimal to what the people of Gaza need.

“They will need it but they’re needed at a much higher rate than they have in the past because now something like 90% of the housing stock has been damaged or totally destroyed enough that there’s not nearly enough real housing for the people of Gaza,” Smith said. “They’ll have to have immediate aid, immediate aid to help them live for the time being and also massive scale aid for reconstruction, which is clearly the rubble, I don’t think they even have the machinery for doing that,”

While the deal offers a sense of hope, both Smith and Lapine expressed skepticism about how long the deal will last.

“Israel, especially this government, (is a) pretty right-wing government led by Netanyahu, has been very unwilling to make long-term commitments to peace like this. It’s very unlike them to have, haven’t agreed to as much as they have,” Smith said. “I would be pleased if it carries on in a really significant way. But I would be unsurprised if it doesn’t,”

“I’m concerned that Hamas is not going to really give up their arms and give up control. That the biggest concern that many people have because they’re ready. Just from looking at some articles and things, it looks like they’re not running so fast to give-up control and give up their arms,” Lapine said.

Smith also criticized U.S. involvement in the war.

“I think that it may well be that if Netanyahu’s government openly defies the U.S. government it may even be that the U.S. government will stop shipping arms to them,” Smith said. “Our country is very complicit in this, in this genocide because the genocide is depended on the weapons supplied by the United States,”

As part of the peace deal, Hamas released the remaining 20 living Israeli hostages on Monday and Israel freed nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, according to national reporting.

“They released people who have blood on their hands, the terrorists that literally are responsible for the death, the murder of Israelis, but they were willing to release those prisoners to get back the Israeli hostages that were taken, who are just regular citizens who are not in any way a prisoner of war or anything.” Lapine added.

At least one person who had ties to Mid-Missouri was killed during the war.

Deborah Matias, an American citizen living in Israel who was born in Boone County, died while shielding her son from bullets fired by Hamas gunmen.

Her son, Rotern Matias, was shot in the stomach but survived.

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Standoff ends peacefully: Idaho Falls woman in custody after SWAT response

KIFI on October 14, 2025

Maile Sipraseuth

UPDATE:

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — An Idaho Falls woman is in custody, following a large police presence and standoff at an apartment complex near the corner of Lomax Street and Wabash Avenue.

According to IFPD spokesperson Jessica Clements, police arrived around 3:45 p.m to respond to a welfare check. The armed woman had reportedly barricaded herself inside an apartment after pointing a gun towards an officer. Residents in nearby homes were quickly evacuated, while others were directed to shelter in place.

Officers and the IFPD SWAT team had reportedly tried to communicate with the unnamed woman and force her from the building using tear gas. Clements emphasized that they were working slowly through the situation to bring about a peaceful resolution.

The woman also had multiple warrants out for her arrest for a felony, misdemeanor, along with a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

This is a developing story. Local News 8 will provide more updates as they become available.

ORIGINAL:

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Idaho Falls Police Department (IFPD) is on scene for an active situation near the corner of Lomax Street and Wabash Avenue. Residents in several nearby homes have been evacuated.

Both streets are currently blocked – Lomax Street from N Freeman to Fanning, and Wabash from Gladstone to 1st Street- for the safety of the public and to give officers the space to work. Residents in nearby homes who have not been evacuated are being directed to shelter in place unless told otherwise by officers on scene. IFPD is directing all other members of the Idaho Falls Community to avoid the area.

This is a developing story, and IFPD has stated it will provide additional updates online. Local News 8 has a reporter en route and will provide updates from the scene as they become available.

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Columbia Board of Education advocates for superintendent payout cap

KMIZ on October 14, 2025

Nia Hinson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Columbia Board of Education is advocating to change a state law.

During its Monday night meeting, board members discussed their 2025-26 legislative priorities, one of which had to do with superintendent payouts. CPS is now advocating to change the state law, making it so that superintendents are paid no more than one year’s salary upon separation or termination.

The district had a costly separation agreement last school year with former Superintendent Brian Yearwood. CPS paid Yearwood the remainder of his contract year, which was about $667,000.

“There have been several districts that have separated from their superintendents over the last couple of years and who have had similar impacts as what we experienced here,” CPS spokeswoman Michelle Baumstark said.

The district approved the contract for Superintendent Jeff Klein in March, setting his year salary at $255,000. Under his contract, the maximum payout is capped at one year’s salary, if a separation is deemed necessary.

According to documents, CPS wants to “protect taxpayers from undue burden.”

Documents from the Missouri School Boards’ Association 2025 fall delegate assembly, CPS claimed using taxpayer dollars to give six-figure payouts to “failing superintendents is not fiscally responsible.” CPS also wrote that it included language in its contract for Klein due to its expensive agreement with Yearwood.

“We feel it would be beneficial to smaller districts who may not have the draw of a place like Columbia to have a statutory limit to the fiscal risk,” the document says. “Our board discussed that although we are typically in favor of local control in most situations, we could not think of a time that a local board would prefer to pay more money than less to a superintendent upon separation or termination.”

The document also shows MSBA’s Advocacy Committee recommending to oppose the change presented by the Columbia Board of Education.

“It has not gone through a vote of our entire delegate assembly so there has not been a vote one way or another on that proposal from Columbia,” Senior Director of Advocacy Caitlin Whaley said.

The MSBA could vote on the issue during its meeting next week.

Columbia Board President John Lyman told ABC 17 News the district plans to take it back to the MSBA.

“Next week is our MSBA conference. We’ll have a delegate assembly there where we’ll be able to go. Our four delegates will go and vote on different topics, and the opportunity is there to potentially present that on the floor and get the discussion going,” Lyman said. “We’re going to reach out to MSBA to kind of talk to them about what their initial thoughts were, what the pros and cons and make adjustments.”

State Rep. David Tyson Smith (D-Columbia) also told ABC 17 News in a text message on Monday that he would support the change.

“Since we are dealing with tax payer dollars, I think a year or a year and a half contract is reasonable,” Tyson Smith wrote.

A list of the board’s legislative priorities can be viewed below.

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Located Safe: Missing endangered adult found and reunited with family

KIFI on October 14, 2025

News Team

UPDATE:

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — Ernie McGill Jr. has been located and returned to his family, Pocatello Police announced early Tuesday Morning.

He was reportedly located by the Idaho State Police walking along the interstate in Bingham County. The Pocatello Police Department expressed its gratitude to the Idaho State Police and Bannock County Sheriff Office for assistance in locating Ernie.

ORIGINAL:

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — The Pocatello Police Department is urgently asking the public for help in locating Ernie McGill Jr., an endangered missing man visiting the area.

The 60-year-old Native American male from Washakie, Wyoming, was visiting family in the area. Ernie suffers from a traumatic brain injury and was last seen walking south in the 1300 block of South 5th Avenue.

According to police, Ernie may be attempting to search for the legendary creature Bigfoot. Because of his condition, he is known to walk slowly and may hide in trees or wooded areas. Police warn that he may hide in wooded areas if he feels approached or startled.

Ernie is described as being 5 feet 8 inches tall and having shoulder-length salt-and-pepper hair with a beard. He was last seen wearing a gray vest with orange coloring on it, a dark-colored beanie, a black undershirt, and blue jeans.

If you see Ernie McGill Jr., contact the Pocatello Police Department immediately at 208-234-6100.

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Columbia man accused of arson to be in court for bond hearing

KMIZ on October 14, 2025

Jazsmin Halliburton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Columbia man accused of trying to set a house on fire in Northeast Columbia will make an appearance in front of a judge at the Boone County Courthouse Tuesday morning.

Brandon Butchkoski, 47, will be in front of Judge Benjamin Miller at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday for a bond review hearing.

Butchkoski was arrested in July on charges of possession of a controlled substance and first-degree arson in connection with a fire on June 29. Police said officers responded to the 1500 block of Paris Road to assist firefighters.

Investigators learned Butchkoski allegedly tried to set a single-story house on fire when a backpack with gas in it was thrown on the roof. Minor property damage was reported.

Earlier this month, Butchkoski was charged in another case for first-degree arson and second-degree murder after he was accused of setting another house on fire in June on Paris Road.

He is accused in the death of Donovan Baylis. Baylis was burned in a fire that was set at his home and died about a month later at a St. Louis area hospital.

Police said in a statement that they gathered enough evidence to arrest Butchkoski for the June 29 arson before they had enough evidence to recommend charges for the June 15 fire. Butchkoski, who is homeless, was denied bond, according to court records.

A court date has not yet been set. Butchkoski is currently being held in the Boone County Jail on no bond.

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Idaho Storytellers Summit unites local authors and writers

KIFI on October 14, 2025

Abi Martin

RIGBY, Idaho (KIFI) — For a long time, many writers in East Idaho felt they lacked a local community to connect, learn, and share their work. That all changed last weekend. Saturday, the first-ever Idaho Storytellers Summit brought together writers of all ages at Rigby High School, offering a much-needed venue for connection and creative exchange.

The summit showcased strong ties to the region, featuring two high-profile keynote speakers who call eastern Idaho home.

Cynthia Hand, New York Times bestselling author of the Lady Jane series, currently lives in Boise, but grew up in Idaho Falls.

Hand’s connection to the area is so deep that she set her book, The How and the Why, in Idaho Falls, telling the fictional story of a Bonneville High School student searching for answers about her birth mother.

“I grew up in Idaho Falls so I wanted to write a story that explored that place,” Hand said. “So I had to research how Idaho Falls has changed and it has a lot since I was a teenager, but I really was writing about places that I knew. And I went to Bonneville High School , so I wrote about Bonneville High School and about the theater department there. I knew what that looked like without having to research it again.” 

Hand was joined by Jeff Wheeler, a Wall Street Journal bestselling author of over thirty epic fantasy novels, who lives just up the road in Sugar City.

But they weren’t the only authors channeling love for the Gem State into novels. Bonnie Jo Pierson, a romance writer, has set two of her books—What Happens in Idaho and Extreme Romancing in Idaho—in the Gem State.

 “I actually decided to write the Idaho setting because I moved away to St. Louis and then we were in Florida and Virginia, and I was homesick for Idaho,” Pierson said. “The time I spent in my novel writing it, I would go home.” 

Often attending writing conferences down in Utah, Pierson was thrilled to join in a writing conference closer to home. 

“I’m hoping that we keep doing this because there’s a lot of talent in Idaho,” Pierson said. “There’s a lot of creativity here. It’s a beautiful place with a lot of wonderful people, and I love seeing, especially the creatives of Idaho, gathering in one place and seeing how many of us there actually are.” 

That excitement extended to Brecky Young, one of the many aspiring authors who attended. “It’s fun to come together and see people in my community who are also really interested in this and that there’s people who are successful that are in my community that can come and share, they’re kind of my neighbors,” said Young.

Beyond networking and learning, the summit also served to pave the road ahead for multiple young authors attending.  Attendees could purchase book-themed t-shirts and sweatshirts to help Rigby High School raise money to send students to Story Con, a writing conference in Salt Lake City next February. 

Organizers hope to hold the event again next year to amplify East Idaho’s voice and open the way for more stories based in the region to be heard around the world.

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Man seriously hurt after crash in Montgomery County

KMIZ on October 14, 2025

Jazsmin Halliburton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A 29-year-old Wellsville man was seriously hurt after a crash in Montgomery County just before midnight Monday, according to a crash report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

According to the report, the man was driving a 2002 Saturn LS south on Highway 19 at Harness Dr. when he went off the left side of the road, hit a ditch and flipped the car.

The man was taken by ambulance to University Hospital with serious injuries. The report states he was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash. The Saturn had extensive damage.

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