SJSD targeted big gains in reading and cuts to chronic absenteeism

News-Press NOW on October 28, 2025

Praji Ghosh

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The St. Joseph Board of Education met Monday night, following a public hearing to decide its reorganization plan.

One of the big topics of discussion — the district’s Continuous School Improvement Plan. The board said it’s setting ambitious new goals — aiming to boost reading proficiency from 39% to 85% and cut chronic absenteeism in half, from 20% to 10%. 

“Absenteeism has been a major issue since COVID and just getting into the groove things again has always been a struggle,” Board President LaTonya Williams said. 

She pointed out, it’s been an ongoing challenge — especially for immigrant families — since education rules can be very different from those in the U.S.  

Board members also talked about some facility updates, including removing the cupola from the roof at Lindbergh Elementary while the school gets a new roof. The cupola, which was originally designed to help circulate fresh air through the building, will be retired as part of the project. 

“A lot of times, as the contractors are looking to make a repair as you open up things, you come across other issues, and it was an issue on a roof that needed immediate attention,” Williams said.  

The board approved the item after Williams stressed it was an urgent matter — saying they didn’t want any schools left unprotected.  

Another item on the agenda — written changes to the student dress code policy.

The Missouri School Boards’ Association is recommending that districts either adopt a full dress code or include one directly in their policy manual. 

Williams said most of these policies come from a state committee and are designed to clarify the language and make them more inclusive.  

“What I think is appropriate may not be what you think is important or like another individual, so you need like a baseline standard in which the guidelines are in a table and everyone feels equal,” Williams said.

According to district policy JFCA, the goal is to make sure schools maintain a safe, healthy learning environment — and one that minimizes classroom disruptions.  

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Incumbent Columbia City Council members plan reelection bids in spring races

KMIZ on October 28, 2025

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Tuesday is the first day potential candidates for the Columbia City Council elections can file to run and voters should expect to see some familiar names.

Ward 1 Councilwoman Valerie Carroll announced on her social media that she filed for her reelection bid on Monday. Ward 5 Councilman Don Waterman told ABC 17 News that he plans on filing for reelection, but does not plan to file on Monday.

Petitions and instructions will be available at Columbia City Hall from 8 a.m.-noon and 1-5 p.m. on weekdays, excluding holidays. The deadline to file is 5 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. Election Day is Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

Candidates must obtain at least 50 signatures from residents who reside in the ward and are registered voters, according to a press release released by the city last week.

Potential candidates must be qualified voters and residents of the ward they wish to represent, the release says. They must also not hold “lucrative public office or any lucrative position in the City government during their terms,” the release says.

Check back for updates.

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Man pleads guilty to throwing Molotov cocktail at Boone County Courthouse

KMIZ on October 28, 2025

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A man who was accused of throwing a Molotov cocktail at the entrance of the Boone County Courthouse in January pleaded guilty to two felonies on Tuesday.

Nicholas Walters, 39, of Columbia, pleaded guilty to arson and resisting arrest. He was originally charged with first-degree assault, first-degree arson, armed criminal action, resisting arrest and drug possession. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison and will get credit for time served.

Court documents in previous reporting say Walters was seen on camera walking up to the courthouse with a glass jar that contained gasoline and paper. He threw the Molotov cocktail at the front entrance that caused “an eruption of fire” under the door, the statement says.

Another person exiting the building was almost set on fire and ran away as flames ignited, the statement says. That person stated in court documents that they smelled gasoline.

Walters allegedly admitted to making the incendiary object and asked police to tell the court he was sorry, court documents say. Police also found him with methamphetamine and a pipe.

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Concerns over AI-generated content rise after altered images of former Rock Bridge homecoming queen go viral

KMIZ on October 28, 2025

Olivia Hayes

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Leila Willmore says she was first alerted to AI-generated content of her son at the end of September. Since then, things have only continued to escalate.

“They were seeing Zachary in articles coming to their Facebook, like popping up one after the other,” Willmore said. “When I would try to look up the sources, all of them were fake. Not a single one was was real, but the information was accurate.”

The AI-generated content in question stems from September 2021, when Zachary Willmore was crowned Rock Bridge High Schools first male homecoming queen.

“It also made it sound like it had just happened and said breaking news with all this kind of sensationalized text in red and bold to get your attention,” Leila Willmore said.

Zachary Willmore said he thinks the AI-generated articles started after other posts were made celebrating the anniversary.

“At first it was pretty similar to the story,” Zachary said. “The first couple of articles that were put out about it were still saying that it was four years ago, then it changed to this year.”

Many of the posts have garnered thousands of likes, comments and shares. After she was first made aware, Leila Willmore said the posts stopped for about two weeks. However, they started popping up again, this time a new issue followed.

“This past week, the pictures are not him anymore. Many of them are really feminine versions of him,” she said. “The information in the article may be true and not mean still or anything, but the image is not true and it also didn’t happen just now.”

In 2021, Zachary’s win caused a swirl of controversy when he chose the title of queen instead of King. Following his crowning moment, Zachary Willmore at the time explained a social media poll was behind the decision. Today, Leila Willmore said the resurgence of the her son’s 2021 win has stirred up a new wave of backlash.

“I’ll be honest with you I try to protect myself from it, but I do hear that and see that,” Leila Willmore said. “The people who say those hateful things, they don’t know him. Not a single one of them know him or his heart and how kind he is.”

In an email to ABC 17 News, Columbia Public Schools spokeswoman Michelle Baumstark said the district has received some “disparaging messages and phone calls” on the issue, but none have been direct threats.

“Nearly all of the messages are coming from outside the district and some from even outside of Missouri. A few  have posed as parents, but upon further investigation are found to not be parents in the district,” Baumstark wrote.

Baumstark also said the images being spread are not real and altered by artificial intelligence.

“It seems the intent is to create discontent and to cause harm by sensationalizing the event and misrepresenting what actually happened,” Baumstark said.

Zachary Willmore said it’s not the hateful messages or comments that worry him, it’s the AI content.

“If AI did decide to mass report on a different issue and flood Facebook feeds with different types of stories it could lead to a mass misinformation,” Zachary Willmore said.

He’s also concerned by his high school and hometown being listed on some of the posts that are circulating.

“If someone really crazy saw my article and was that upset, I’m not even at that school anymore,” Zachary said. “Its like a misdirected hatred that is going to put people that’s not even me in danger.”

Leila Willmore said she has contacted the Columbia Police Department about the posts and articles on social media.

“They just said to report it to whatever the platform was to Facebook or whoever it was putting it out,” Leila said.

Zachary said he is considering taking legal action if the posts continue to get worse.

Now, Leila Willmore and her family are left with questions.

“Why is it happening? Why is it happening now? Who’s doing it? Is it a person? Is it just an algorithm?” Leila said. “It is really concerning and it blurs the lines of reality so that none of us now we’re all questioning what is real and what’s not real.”

Baumstark said the ability to recognize the use and abuse of AI technology is important as it continues to advance. She is also calling for accountability from social media platforms.

“It is also incumbent upon the platforms hosting the content to flag and identify such posts as AI-generated if they want to maintain the integrity of the platform or to filter out fake content that presented as truthful,” Baumstark said.

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Camp Hayden to host 6th Annual Special Needs Trunk or Treat, Saturday in Idaho Falls

KIFI on October 28, 2025

Seth Ratliff

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Camp Hayden is set to host its 6th annual Special Needs Trunk or Treat this Saturday, November 1st, offering a completely accessible Halloween experience for families in southeast Idaho.

The free, family-friendly event runs from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM at the Development Workshop of Idaho Falls, at 555 West 25th Street.

A Spooky-Not-Scary, Accessible Halloween

Camp Hayden volunteers are inviting families with children of all ages and abilities to dress up and “trick or treat” for both candy and non-edible items for those with dietary restrictions or allergies at dozens of decorated car trunks set up in the DWI parking lot.

The fun continues inside the DWI building with an Accessible Haunted Sensory Event. Camp Hayden founder Jason Chapa promises this year’s event will be the “best one yet.”

“The accessibility of The DWI building, and our alignment in missions, makes this the perfect location for our event,” said Chapa. “What’s most unique about this event is that it’s the ONLY haunted experience that is catered to folks with special needs, but it’s also the only kid-friendly haunted experience in the area. It’s more spooky than scary, which makes it suitable for all ages.”

The Trunk or Treat is entirely free thanks to the generous support of Camp Hayden donors and community partners, including the Development Workshop of Idaho Falls, which is donating the use of its accessible facility and providing volunteers.

A whole host of local businesses and organizations have stepped up to sponsor the event, including All Access Therapy, The Civitans, Festival of Trees, Frontier Credit Union, Bikers Against Bullies, Ascend Chiropractic, Opal Autism Centers, Achieve Therapy, Eagle Landscaping, Trail Life, and Sensory Getaway. Mars/Wrigley has continued its long-standing tradition by donating the majority of the candy for the fourth year in a row.

“We are grateful to all of our sponsors and supporters who’ve helped us create these events for our community,” says Chapa.

If you’d like to get involved, the group is still looking for event volunteers to help run the event, volunteer “trunks” to bring their cars and candy for the participants to trunk or treat at, and candy/money donations to offset candy and decoration costs.

About Camp Hayden

Since 2018, Camp Hayden has been dedicated to creating accessible adventures for families of children with special needs. Starting with rebuilding the Big Elk Creek YMCA Camp, the organization runs an accessible camp annually, hosts “mobile adventures,” and coordinates inclusive holiday events year-round—from Easter egg hunts to visits from The Grinch.

Camp Hayden is a 501(c)(3) organization. To learn more about Camp Hayden, sign up to volunteer, or make a donation, click HERE.

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Man arrested after breaking into JCPD vehicle, court docs say

KMIZ on October 28, 2025

Ryan Shiner

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

A man was charged with multiple felonies after he allegedly broke into a Jefferson City Police Department vehicle on Monday night.

Andrew Zemke, 29, of Jefferson City, was charged with two counts of second-degree burglary, one count of first-degree property damage and one count of misdemeanor unlawfully entering a motor vehicle. He is being held at the Cole County Jail without bond. A court date has not been scheduled.

The probable cause statement says an officer was called to another cop’s home in the 2100 block of Deer Trail for a reported theft and property damage. The officer saw the JCPD SUV with a broken window, along with a landscape block and shattered glass being behind the driver side door, the statement says.

An AR-15-style gun was locked inside the vehicle and the officer determined someone tried to steal it, but was unable to, the statement says. However, a 28-round magazine was missing, the statement says. Coins were also allegedly stolen from a cup holder.

A neighbor allegedly gave police video that showed Zemke walking toward the vehicle, the statement says. Additional video allegedly showed Zemke entering unlocked vehicle and checking the handles of other car doors, the statement says. Police found Zemke wearing the same clothes he was seen wearing on video, the statement says.

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Deputies say El Paso County woman murdered Uber driver and dumped his body in a field

KRDO on October 28, 2025

Mackenzie Stafford

UPDATE: 10/29/2025 The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office has publicly released the victim’s identity as 38-year-old Jeremy Campbell. His photo is below.

38-year-old Jeremy Campbell was murdered while driving for Uber, deputies say. (Photo provided by Campbell’s family)

EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) – Arrest records are unveiling new details in the homicide investigation of an Uber driver.

EPSO arrested 27-year-old Khayla Dawson after an Uber driver’s body was found in a field near the Woodlake Trailhead. The trailhead is located near Hodgen Road and Eastonville Road.

El Paso County Sheriff’s Office

According to arrest records, the victim was reported missing by his family in the early hours of Monday, Oct. 27. His family told deputies that he drove for Uber, and it was not like him to disappear.

Deputies were able to ping his phone, which led them to a location near Polaris Junction apartments. There, deputies say they found his car abandoned with a significant amount of blood inside. They later located his cell phone in a stairwell of the apartment, records say.

The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office says they were able to obtain information from Uber on his last ride. According to Uber’s data, his last customer was Khayla Dawson. Timestamp data said the trip began just before midnight, but was canceled by Dawson more than three hours later.

According to Dawson’s recounting of events, she “felt cooped up” and “wanted to get out of the house” and ordered an Uber. Deputies say she initially told detectives that she was going to visit a friend, but changed her statement later, saying she actually wasn’t going to visit anyone and just wanted to go for a “joy ride.”

Dawson said the Uber driver picked her up from her apartment at Polaris Junction. Deputies say she claimed she fell asleep in the car, and awoke to the Uber driver reaching back to sexually assault her. She says she stabbed him in self-defense, and the driver also had a knife.

According to arrest records, during the struggle, the driver accelerated through a barbed wire fence, ending up in a field. Deputies allege that she dumped his body in the field and drove his car back to her apartment.

During a medical evaluation, Dawson was found to have a broken knee bone, arrest records say.

Deputies went to search her apartment, and said there was a knife missing from a butcher block in her kitchen. A butcher knife matching this description, as well as a folding knife, were located in the field by the driver’s body, deputies say. Additionally, EPSO says they found the driver’s car key hidden inside a dryer sheet box in her laundry room, and also the driver’s wallet inside a lunchbox.

“We’re deeply saddened by this devastating loss. Our heartfelt condolences go out to the driver’s family during this incredibly difficult time. We have been in contact with law enforcement and are supporting their investigation in any way we can,” a spokesperson for Uber said.

Dawson is charged with 1st Degree Murder, Aggravated Robbery, Motor Vehicle Theft, and Tampering with Physical Evidence.

KRDO13 Investigates learned that Dawson is a former athlete with Olympic Dreams. In 2024, she competed at the USA Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon, in the shot put. According to the Colorado Chapter of the USATF, she placed 22nd overall with a distance of 16.86m. The top three make the Olympic team.

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Rampart High School senior granted permission to paint religious message on parking spot

KRDO on October 28, 2025

Celeste Springer

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — A Rampart High School senior will be able to paint a religious message on her parking spot following a demand letter, according to her legal counsel.

Sophia Shumaker planned to participate in a senior tradition, temporarily painting her spot in the school’s parking lot. Shumaker said her intended design, which included a Bible verse, was denied by the school.

“I was honestly pretty upset. Just because the senior parking spaces are really supposed to resemble and express who we are, and you not being able to show my Christianity or my religious side, which is honestly really upsetting,” Shumaker told KRDO13 on Tuesday, thinking back to the original rejection.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: A Bible verse, a parking spot and a legal fight: D20 senior challenges school decision

First Liberty Institute, the organization representing Shumaker, said Rampart High School denied the request, pointing to a school policy restricting political and religious paintings. However, First Liberty Institute argued that it was inconsistent across Colorado Springs Academy School District 20 (D20) schools, so the law group sent a demand letter to the district.

On Tuesday, First Liberty Institute announced that D20 will allow Shumaker and other students to paint their parking spots with religious imagery, as long as it meets a set of general requirements (no offensive language, pictures, etc).

Shumaker said the design above is what she will now paint on her parking spot.

“1 Corinthians 13:4 is probably one of my favorite Bible verses. My mother used to say it to me all the time.”

“And then the parable of the Shepherd and the sheep. It’s just that there are 99 sheep and the shepherd leaves the 99 to go find the lost one. So that’s really been a near and dear parable,” Shumaker explained that this verse and story helped get her through difficult times.

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Bubba’s 33 in Yuma to honor Veterans with a free meal for Veteran’s Day

KYMA on October 28, 2025

Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Bubba’s 33 will welcome military Veterans to a free lunch on Veteran’s Day.

This is taking place at the Yuma location, 1632 S. Fourth Avenue, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 11.

Courtesy: Bubba’s 33

Courtesy: Bubba’s 33

Courtesy: Bubba’s 33

According to a press release, during the event, all Veterans, including active, retired or former U.S. military, can choose one of the six food items:

Classic Cheeseburger

Bubba’s Bacon Burger

Bacon Chicken Mac-n-Cheese

Grilled Chicken Salad

Chicken Tender Salad

Any 12-inch pizza plus a choice of any Coca-Cola product, sweet tea/ice tea or coffee during lunch

Courtesy: Bubba’s 33

Courtesy: Bubba’s 33

However, if they are unable to attend the event, the restaurant says they will give out raincheck vouchers, which is good through May 31, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to noon that day.

Proof of service, like a military or VA card or discharge papers, is required.

Courtesy: Bubba’s 33

Courtesy: Bubba’s 33

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Bend finishes 67 miles of street improvements as it prepares for winter storm season

KTVZ on October 28, 2025

KTVZ – News Team

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The City of Bend has completed its 2025 Street Preservation Program after improving 67 lane miles of the city’s roughly 930 lane miles of roadway. The projects, costing about $4.85 million, focused on using the right treatment at the right time to maximize cost-effective maintenance.

This year’s street preservation work included several key treatments:

Paving: Crews ground out old asphalt and replaced it on existing roadways.

Slurry seal: Applied as a treatment for low-volume residential streets.

Chip seal: Used an asphalt emulsion and rock coating to extend pavement life.

“This work helps extend the life of our roads that are vital to our community,” said Streets & Operations Project Manager Paul Neiswonger.

As the seasons change, the City’s Transportation & Mobility Department is preparing for winter operations and asking residents to do their part to get ready as well. Information about how to prepare for winter driving and what to expect during storms is available at bendoregon.gov/winter.

The City’s winter resources are set for average conditions, but extreme storms can still pose challenges. Each shift includes 18 snowplow operators and 32 pieces of equipment—ranging from light-duty pickups to medium-duty dump trucks and heavy-duty motor graders equipped with plows.

When snow and ice occur, city crews prioritize plowing and sanding the highest-use streets that serve the most drivers, employment areas, schools, and transit routes. Details can be found on the City’s winter street priority map at bendoregon.gov/snow.

“Priority One” routes include main arterials vital for emergency access, Columbia Basin Hospital, bus routes, employment centers, schools, and government facilities. “Priority Two” routes are main collector streets that connect to arterials and include business centers, medical facilities, safe routes to school, and neighborhood connections.

Residential streets are cleared last and may involve contracted crews for support. With Bend’s total of 165 lane miles of arterials, 82 of collectors, and 687 of residential streets, plows and sanding crews must follow this tiered system to maintain efficiency and safety across the city’s network.

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