MoDOT shares details on Gene Field Road Bridge replacement

News-Press NOW on December 18, 2025

News-Press NOW

By: Darren Doyle

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — The Missouri Department of Transportation held a public meeting to discuss the expedited bridge replacement project for the Gene Field Road ridge over Interstate 29.  

The project was originally slated to begin in August 2026; however, an oversized load struck the girder underneath the bridge, which supports the concrete for the structure. The department decided to escalate the plan.

MoDOT officials said the bridge sees an estimated 6,000 cars per day, and were worried that the pressure of heavy vehicles would have caused more structural issues. 

Along with this being a busy bridge, Transportation Project Designer for MoDOT, Timothy Minor, shared that the bridge closure is causing traffic issues at other intersections near Frederick Avenue and Cook Road. 

The new bridge, once completed, will have decorative liners and feature sidewalks that connect to nearby walking pathways.

Drivers and walkers can also expect the bridge to be wider. The current bridge is 22 feet wide and is expected to be around 26 feet wide once the project is completed.

The project is in the letting process for contractor bidding. Once the project is awarded, construction can begin on Jan. 16.

MoDOT said the new bridge is expected to be completed by July 2026. 

Traffic on I-29 will be closed for a 24-hour-period over a weekend, which is expected to be determined at a later date. MoDOT said drivers should expect rolling closures beneath the bridge while new beams are being set. 

During closures, through traffic will be directed to I-229. 

MoDOT said updated information can be found on the project’s website.

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MoDOT plans to complete Gene Field Road bridge replacement by July 2026

News-Press NOW on December 18, 2025

Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Thousands of St. Joseph drivers could be back on the Gene Field Road bridge by next summer as transportation officials prepare to move on a rapidly-accelerated plan in January to replace the closed bridge.

Construction crews and the Missouri Department of Transportation are now scheduled to begin work on replacing the heavily-trafficked Gene Field Road bridge over Interstate 29 in late January after the bridge was struck by an oversized load on Nov. 10, forcing it to shutdown.

MoDOT Northwest Project Manager Timothy Miner said the initial hope was the bridge could be reopened to one lane of traffic, but a subsequent evaluation showed the collision was significant enough to cause one of its four main support girders to separate from the bridge deck, compromising its structural integrity.

Public officials with the Missouri Department of Transportation, City of St. Joseph and the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission attend a public open house on the Gene Field Road bridge replacement project on Wednesday in St. Joseph.

Traffic data shows roughly 6,500 vehicles use the Gene Field Road bridge every day, a vital east-to-west corridor for residents. The closure has had a considerable impact on traffic volume along routes like Frederick Avenue.

“With the traffic that we’re seeing now on Frederick and how things were flowing and how everything was working, we ended up getting this declared an emergency by the state, which allowed us to move it forward,” Miner said during a public open house Wednesday.

The plan now — weather permitting — is to complete the 63-year-old bridge replacement project by July 1, 2026. The bridge was originally scheduled to be replaced in 2027 before the collision occurred.

“Our plan is to give a completion of July 1 to the contractor,” Miner said. “I think with clear weather this bridge could probably get done in about four months. Weather permitting. However, we are starting in January.”

Miner said the department was fortunate most of the pre-construction work had already been complete, including design work and stakeholder meetings, allowing them to accelerate the project in such a short timeframe outside of the normal construction season.

He also credited property owners for helping negotiate Right-of-Way acquisitions in just two weeks, a process that can sometimes take up to a year to complete.

Two posters show the proposed design and a detour map for the Gene Field Road bridge replacement project during an open house meeting on Wednesday in St. Joseph.

Designs show the new bridge will be expanded slightly from 22 feet to 26 feet wide, including concrete barriers and new 5-foot-wide sidewalks on both sides, a boost for pedestrian safety.

“It’ll be good for people to actually have the ability to cross on a sidewalk. It’s not the lane of traffic,” he said.

MoDOT provides upcoming detour map

The Missouri Department of Transportation held a public open house meeting Wednesday at its district offices to provide information and answer questions from the public.

The meeting included a map of planned detours over the course of the project.

Similar to the 2024 bridge rehabilitation project for Cook Road over Interstate 29, the highway will be shutdown at certain portions of the project, with detour routes planned for Interstate 229 and Route 36.

Demolition of the current bridge is expected to take one day.

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Power being slowly restored throughout Mid-Missouri after high winds cause damage

KMIZ on December 18, 2025

Keriana Gamboa

MEXICO, Mo. (KMIZ)

Power is slowly being restored around Mid-Missouri after strong winds knocked down trees and power lines earlier today, according to officials.

Ameren continues to report outages in Cooper and Camden counties.

Earlier, Mexico, Missouri, officials said multiple power lines on the south side of town were affected by the storms. One power line at the intersection of Lakeview Drive and Osage Road remains under repair.

Crews on scene told ABC 17 News residents should check Ameren’s outage website for the latest updates on restoration efforts. Roughly 866 customers in Audrain County lost power earlier in the day.

Consolidated Electric reports the storm caused brief power outages for some customers, but all services have since been restored.

At least 100 addresses along Route B between Hallsville and Centralia lost power. 

Officials in Centralia said the storm knocked down three utility poles, and caused a tree to fall onto a house. The damaged house was located at the 200 block of West Sims Street in Centralia. Tree removal crews working in the area told ABC 17 News they were working on the storm damage early in the morning. Brett Vandiver said he was going to remove the fallen tree from the house. 

“When we first got into town here this morning, we saw limbs and branches all over the streets. Not any more on houses, but we’ve seen plenty broken out in the yards,” Vandiver said. 

He added this area was one of several locations where they were working in response to storm damage.

“It’s just crazy what all high winds can do. You know, these are big, strong trees…And it really shows the importance of getting your trees trimmed and properly maintaining them to prevent that from happening,” Vandiver said.

The Boone County Office of Emergency Management wrote in a press release that it activated the Emergency Operations Center at Level 3 early this morning due to strong wind gusts and severe weather across central Missouri.

In Kingdom City, Callaway County EMA officials said strong winds caused several electric poles to lean, leading to additional outages. A MoDOT traffic signal was also bent, and MoDOT says crews are working to restore all three affected signals.

Kingdom City officials say some water pumps are currently down, but the city has sufficient water stored in its tower to last until power is fully restored and no long-term issues are expected.

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Ask the Mayor: Redmond’s Ed Fitch discusses traffic cameras, dispensaries, and more

KTVZ on December 18, 2025

Kelsey Merison

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — From adding traffic cameras to curb speeding drivers to the number of dispensaries allowed in town, Mayor Ed Fitch answers viewer-submitted questions for this month’s Ask the Mayor.

Viewers can submit questions for Mayor Fitch at any time as part of our monthly segment – just click here.

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Montgomery County Commission approves framework for Amazon tax incentives

KMIZ on December 18, 2025

Alison Patton

MONTGOMERY CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Montgomery County Commission gave unanimous approval Thursday to a framework that lays out property tax incentives for a new Amazon data center.

The tax break package could amount to $1 billion in incentives if the company fully constructs its 17-building data center campus.

The hearing over Chapter 100 bonds was held in a packed Montgomery County courtroom. Scores of people filled seats, leaving the chamber standing room only. Some spoke in support of the project while others were skeptical or opposed.

Amazon plans to use about 1,000 acres north of Interstate 70 between New Florence and High Hill to build a data center for its web services.

Amazon could see a minimum of about $244 million in personal property tax breaks, and a maximum of $982 million through Chapter 100 bonds.

According to previous reporting, Amazon’s personal property taxes would break down as follows:

A $3 million payment each year from 2028-32

Paying 5% of the personal property taxes on the equipment from 2033-42

Paying 25% of the personal property taxes on the equipment from 2043-52

This proposal doesn’t include tax breaks for real estate. Amazon would also pay $1.5 million in 2026 and 2027 to help the county upgrade its 911 center and any other infrastructure needs the county saw fit to use.

Avery Ridgely is one of many people opposed to the data center. She said her grandparents’ farm is near the proposed construction site.

“I do not think that this trade-off of valuable farm ground to industrial sites is worth it in the slightest because 5000 acres is a lot of productive agricultural soils that have maintained this community for generations,” Ridgely said, referencing another construction build near her hometown of Jonesburg.

Ridgely and her mom both spoke against the data center during public comment. A lot of people were asking the commissioners and Amazon representatives for more information and transparency.

County Commissioner Doug Lensing said the commission is trying to look at all the facts while also keeping the tech companies’ interest.

“It’s a dance trying to keep a potential economic opportunity in place while still getting the answers we need for the public,” Lensing said.

An Amazon representative said Thursday there are opportunities for the company to open a line of communication with the public.

Montgomery County residents at the Dec. 8 meeting expressed concerns over environmental impacts, including water pollution and usage.

ABC 17 News obtained a letter from the County Commission that Amazon sent, noting that one building is expected to use about 2.9 million gallons of water annually for cooling, and the whole 17-building campus would use about 50 million gallons a year. A letter from engineering firm CDM Smith attached to Amazon’s letter said the water source, the Cambria-Orodvician aquifer, recharged water at a great enough rate to handle the project.

Check back for updates.

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From showroom to support: Subaru of Bend helps fuel Central Oregon stroke awareness nonprofit

KTVZ on December 18, 2025

Claire Elmer

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Subaru of Bend is helping support a local nonprofit this holiday season in a way that could save lives.

As part of Subaru’s national Share the Love event, Bend’s family-owned dealership selected Stroke Awareness Oregon (SAO) as one of this year’s local beneficiaries. The annual campaign runs from November through the new year, with Subaru donating money for every new vehicle sold.

Each participating dealership across the country chooses local nonprofits making an impact in their communities. For Subaru of Bend, that means supporting stroke education and awareness programs across Central Oregon.

“We can actually choose who in our community is making the most impact,” said Jake Thomas, general manager at Subaru of Bend. “This Share the Love event, we are doing Stroke Awareness Oregon – SAO. This organization helps educate people on what the signs are and try to help people not have life-changing events.”

Stroke Awareness Oregon teaches people to recognize the signs and symptoms of stroke, while also supporting survivors and caregivers through recovery. Funds raised through the Share the Love event will help expand education, support groups, and outreach programs throughout the region.

“Our mission is so important because if we’re able to get that word out and help others with the knowledge, it can really mitigate a lot of things,” said Taylor Laidlaw, education coordinator for Stroke Awareness Oregon. “The money we’re receiving from this event will go toward the programs we work on — including support groups for stroke warriors and caregivers — and will help us continue that education in the community.”

Organizers say partnerships like this not only provide crucial funding but help spread life-saving awareness across Central Oregon.

Subaru’s Share the Love event runs through January 2nd at the Bend location, with most of the money raised going directly back into local programs.

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Taylorview Middle School closed Thursday due to down heat pumps

KIFI on December 18, 2025

News Team

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – Classes at Taylorview Middle School will not be held Dec. 18 due to heating issues caused by power outages on Wednesday.

District 91 officials say the outages impacted the building’s classroom heat pumps, leaving the school too cold to safely hold classes. D91 Maintenance crews are on site and working to replace the heating pumps, with repairs expected to be completed by the afternoon.

Despite the closure during the school day, the choir concert scheduled for Thursday night at Taylorview will continue as planned. The concert is set to begin at 6:30 p.m.

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Prolific Colorado child predator with victims in nearly every state sentenced to 84 years in prison

CNN Newsource on December 18, 2025

By Celeste Springer

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    WASHINGTON (KRDO) — A prolific child predator from Colorado, who prosecutors say had victims in nearly every state in the country, has been sentenced to prison.

Austin Ryan Lauless, 31, will go to prison for 84 years after pleading guilty to 13 counts of sexual exploitation of a child, five counts of sex trafficking of a minor, two counts of advertising child sexual abuse material, and possession of child sexual abuse material, according to the United States Department of Justice.

Prosecutors say, besides having victims across the United States, he also had victims in at least five foreign countries.

The Department of Justice says that Lauless posed as a teenager, using the fake identity of “Cason Fredrickson.” Meanwhile, he was in his late 20s, unemployed, and living in hotels in Colorado and Texas.

Using his fake teenage identity, prosecutors say he found children on social media, later gaining their trust and coercing them into sending explicit videos of themself. He admitted to having a collection of child sexual abuse material, including prepubescent children, and children subjected to bestiality and sadomasochistic abuse. At least five minors were trafficked and forced to engage in sexual acts with adult men while being videoed.

In order to prolong his abuse, prosecutors say Lauless threatened to release the images of the children if they stopped sending him content or went to a parent or the police for help.

“This case represents one of the most egregious forms of exploitation the FBI investigates,” said Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. O’Malley of FBI Indianapolis Field Office. “This was not an isolated crime – it was a nationwide and international campaign of exploitation that victimized at least 84 people, including children, and involved the trafficking of human beings. The FBI is committed to identifying offenders who use technology to abuse, manipulate, and control others, and to ensuring they are held fully accountable. Today’s sentence delivers justice for the victims and reinforces that these crimes will not go unanswered.”

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

Puka Nacua’s brother accused of stealing BMW in West Hollywood, sheriff’s officials say

CNN Newsource on December 18, 2025

By KABC Staff

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    WEST HOLLYWOOD, LOS ANGELES (KABC) — The brother of Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua was arrested over the weekend for stealing a BMW that reportedly belonged to Lakers forward Adou Thiero.

According to the West Hollywood sheriff’s station, the incident happened Friday, December 12, when deputies were flagged down in the 8400 block of Sunset Boulevard.

They said the victim, who was not identified by the sheriff’s department, told deputies that his newer model BMW had been stolen and that he was able to track it to that location.

Samson Nacua, 27, took the BMW from a location on Wilshire Boulevard, according to the sheriff’s department. Another suspect, identified as 27-year-old Trey Rose, was the one who drove the vehicle to the West Hollywood location, investigators said.

Both Samson Nacua and Rose were arrested for taking a vehicle without the owner’s consent and were released the same day.

Samson Nacua previously played for the New Orleans Saints and the Indianapolis Colts.

No further details were released and the sheriff’s department said the investigation is “active and ongoing.”

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

Remains found in 1988 identified as missing Toppenish woman after 38 years

CNN Newsource on December 18, 2025

By Robert Desaulniers

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    TOPPENISH, Wash. (KAPP) — Yakima County law enforcement officials have identified human remains that had been found in 1988 as those of a Toppenish woman who was reported missing in 1987.

According to Yakima County law enforcement officials, back in February 1988 a body was found by a horseback rider in the area of Parker Bridge Road and Sunnyside Dam. The Yakima County Sheriffs’ Office investigated the case but was not able to identify the body, and it was named “Parker Doe.”

On December 17, 2025, officials announced the body had been identified as Rosa Elia Vargas Jimenez Everts, 31, of Toppenish. She had been reported missing to the Toppenish Police Department in August of 1987.

According to the Toppenish Police Department, Everts was reported missing on August 6, 1987, by a roommate who hadn’t seen her since December 1986. TPD said the roommate believed Everts had returned to family in California until a family member of Everts told her she had not been in contact with them. Toppenish police said multiple officers and detectives worked on solving the disappearance of Everts, with some theorizing “Parker Doe” may have been her, but no conclusive evidence was found.

TPD said that in August 2024, a detective reviewed the case and asked for help from the Washington Attorney General’s Office. An investigator found Everts’s sister and mother in Utah and obtained DNA samples that were then analyzed to be compared with unidentified remains. In September 2025, a Yakima County Sheriff’s office cold case investigator worked with Toppenish officers to compare DNA samples from “Parker Doe” and Everts’s family. In October 2025, results came back showing a strong match between the samples, proving that Parker Doe is, in fact, Rosa Everts.

“Our office takes great pride in the work of the Missing Murdered Indigenous Women and People Cold Case Investigations Unit to help the investigation that led to the DNA results in this case,” said Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown in a written statement. “While the results bring some answers, we understand that the criminal investigation is still ongoing, and our hearts go out to Ms. Everts’ family and loved ones.”

Law enforcement officials said they are working to return Everts’s remains to her family.

YCSO deputies said the identification of Everts had been made possible by an investigation from the YCSO, the Yakima County Coroner, the Toppenish Police Department, the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & People Cold Case Unit of the Washington State Office of Attorney General, the King County Medical Examiner’s Office, Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Bode Technology, the Washington State Patrol Crime Lab, Othram, and the University of North Texas Center for Human Identification.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.