Latham child drowns after being swept off tractor in Moniteau County

KMIZ on May 19, 2026

ABC 17 News Team

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A 12-year-old Latham boy drowned Monday afternoon in Moniteau County, two miles down from the 67000 block of Hazel Dell Road, according to a report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

The report says a 12-year-old Latham boy and a 15-year-old Latham boy were attempting to cross a low-water crossing in a tractor but were swept off by swift water.

The 15-year-old was able to self-rescue, but the 12-year-old was swept downstream and found deceased. The 12-year-old was pronounced dead at 8:10 p.m. by the Moniteau County Coroner.

This is Troop F’s fourth drowning of 2026 and second in May.

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I-70 ramp closures in Columbia postponed to Tuesday night

KMIZ on May 19, 2026

Steven Lambson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

MoDOT delayed closing two ramps on westbound I-70 in Columbia due to rainy weather, according to a news release.

Crews will now close the westbound ramp from Rangeline Street to I-70 and the westbound ramp from I-70 to Providence Road starting Tuesday evening at 8 p.m. The closure, which was originally scheduled for Monday evening, is set to end by 2 a.m. Wednesday.

Drivers will have to use alternate routes during the closure. The work is part of the Improve I-70: Rocheport to Columbia segment of the larger Improve I-70 project.

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Providence Road overpass to close May 29 for replacement

KMIZ on May 19, 2026

Steven Lambson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Providence Road overpass on I-70 will close May 29, with replacement work expected to last into October.

Starting at 9 p.m. on May 29, crews will demolish the existing bridge. That work is expected to finish by 9 a.m. on May 31, and will cause lane narrowing on I-70 for that 36-hour period.

During that time, both directions will narrow to one lane, and there will be no access to or from Providence Road. For part of the duration, drivers will have to drive up and down the ramps to and from Providence Road to keep going on the interstate.

While construction of the new bridge continues for what MoDOT estimates to be about five months, the westbound ramp from I-70 to Providence will be closed; all other ramps on and off Providence will be open to traffic. Drivers will need to find an alternate way to get across the interstate going north or south.

MoDOT said the bridge will allow for the widening of the interstate to three lanes each direction, will include pedestrian crossings on both sides, and will have “beautification elements” like decorative lighting and stone-pattern walls.

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Columbia to resume weekly recycling collection in June

KMIZ on May 19, 2026

Steven Lambson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The city of Columbia will resume weekly collection of recycling starting June 15, the city announced on Monday.

A Facebook post from Columbia Recycle and Trash, the Facebook page for the city’s solid waste utility, said people can start putting recycling on the curb on their regular collection day every week.

Monday’s announcement did not clarify whether the city will begin including glass in recyclables to be collected. At the present time, the city asks residents to put glass in with trash and not with recycling.

The city restricted recycling to every other week after a tornado destroyed the city’s recycling processing facility in April 2025. It also closed recycling collection drop-off sites around the city.

In April 2026, the city said it’s managing to meet its primary recycling objective, which is to keep recyclables out of the landfill. However, Recovery Supervisor Tom Elliot admitted the city isn’t getting much monetary value out of its recycling program.

In December, the city approved $3.5 million for construction of a replacement recycling facility.

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Standoff in Holts Summit ends with arrest

KMIZ on May 19, 2026

Steven Lambson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Holts Summit police arrested a man wanted by the U.S. Marshal’s Service following an hours-long standoff on Monday.

According to a news release from the Holts Summit Police Department, police established a perimeter in the 300 block of South Summit Drive. The suspect was identified as Damien Rotter, wanted for probation violation related to possession of a weapon.

Holts Summit police asked for help from other area agencies, including the Jefferson City Police Department’s Community Action Team, Callaway County Sheriff’s Office and the Callaway County Special Response Team. After several hours, authorities took Rotter into custody without incident.

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Final election countdown: Mickelsen and Golden vying for District 32 Seat A

KIFI on May 19, 2026

David Pace

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – For the second election in a row, Kelly Golden is facing incumbent Stephanie Mickelsen in the contest for Legislative District 32 Seat A.

Polls open Tuesday from 8 A.M. to 8 P.M. across Eastern Idaho.

The two identified their top issues in the race.

Stephanie Mickelsen: “My top three issues would be one – affordability, two is education, and three is probably public safety or water.”

Kelly Golden: “To me, the top three major issues have been an economy that works for Idaho, immigration, and school choice – so educational freedom for parents.”

They also and shared their priorities on funding for education.

Stephanie Mickelsen: “I think we have to look at the funding formula for schools. Right now, we have a differential because they’re paying online, private charter schools the same amount as they’re paying our bricks-and-mortar schools. When bricks-and-mortar schools are having to pay for things like janitors and lunch ladies, and online schools don’t have those same things, we need to have that reflected in the funding formula. We also need to make sure that we restore some of the funding to the colleges. The colleges like [College of] Eastern Idaho, for example, because we’re creating huge backlogs.”

Kelly Golden: “I’m for school choice and educational freedom. I’m a strong backer of House Bill 93. I believe that parents are the best suited to make those educational decisions for their kids. That and it’s hard because to say I’m pro-school choice doesn’t mean that I’m anti-teacher. I think there’s some amazing teachers in all of our school districts, and they are doing everything they can with the resources that they’re given.”

Watch our in-depth interviews below for their contrasting views on illegal immigration enforcement, Medicaid expansion and more.

Stephanie Mickelsen election interview.

Kelly Golden election interview.

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El Paso Zoo works to regain accreditation

KVIA on May 19, 2026

Yvonne Suarez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — The City of El Paso confirmed Monday the El Paso Zoo is taking steps to regain national accreditation.

The zoo is working with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) since a January 2024 accreditation review highlighted facility maintenance, safety protocols, animal care area conditions, and staff training issues.

The zoo is working with an AZA accreditation mentor as part of the AZA’s Pathway Toward Membership program. The program helps the zoo prepare for reaccreditation and identifies areas where the zoo can improve and reviews progress as it attempts to reach AZA standards.

Past reviews identified animal holding and habitat improvements, facility maintenance, emergency protocols, risk management, and proper documentation as areas where the zoo needed to improve before meeting standards.

Laura Cruz-Acosta, a spokeswoman with the City of El Paso, said a third-party consultant was brought in to “support a review of the zoo’s organizational culture, with focus on employee engagement, leadership development and shared values.”

On September 2025, then El Paso Zoo Director, Joe Montisano, was put on “temporary administrative leave” then officially resigned on Nov. 19, 2025.

The director position has remained opened since. The City of El Paso has recruitment efforts underway for a permanent director and they expect the search to conclude later this year, according to Cruz-Acosta.

“The City remains committed to supporting the Zoo, its staff, and the ongoing work to strengthen animal welfare, guest safety, conservation, and education,” she added.

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Operation No Return removes over 100 criminals from Idaho and the U.S.

KIFI on May 19, 2026

Stephanie Lucas

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) – Governor Brad Little’s office says more dangerous illegal alien criminals have been transported out of the country under his Operation No Return, bringing the total number of criminals removed to nearly 100.

“Through Operation No Return, we are making it clear that dangerous criminal illegal aliens who threaten the safety of our communities will not be released back onto Idaho streets. Idaho is tough on crime, and we put the safety of Idaho families first,” Governor Little said.

According to the Governor’s Office press release, Operation No Return operates under the Idaho State Police to take “dangerous, illegal alien criminals out of county jails after the completion of their sentences instead of being released back into Idaho communities. The transports are the first step necessary to remove them from the State of Idaho.”

Mugshots of criminals that have been removed can be found at https://gov.idaho.gov/operation-no-return.

Governor Little’s office, under the Idaho State Police, Operation No Return takes “dangerous, illegal alien criminals out of county jails after the completion of their sentences instead of being released back into Idaho communities. The transports are the first step necessary to remove them from the State of Idaho.”

The transports are part of the state’s agreement with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE) under the 287(g) program.

All of them were in the United States illegally and will be deported to their country of origin rather than being released back into Idaho communities after completing their sentences.

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Blackhawk Helicopter at American Heritage Charter School

KIFI on May 19, 2026

Kaelyn Blessinger

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – It wasn’t a bird, a plane, or even Superman soaring above students at American Heritage Charter School today. It was a Black Hawk military helicopter touching down as part of the school’s America 250 Birthday Celebration.

Military and first responder vehicles, the helicopter, and the people who run them came together to honor Idaho’s military members and first responders, while introducing students to potential careers in public service.

“Today’s event is to help our students to be able to come into contact with the men and women they learn about here at school,” Superintendent Tiffnee Hurst said. “And to be able to see them and talk to them and to find out what it is to serve their country and their community.”

Students toured the service vehicles, including the attack helicopter, to further enhance their understanding of first responders and military careers.

“Our whole mission at the school is for our children to understand what it is to be free and our Constitution and our founding documents and our founding fathers,” Business Manager Angela Lords said. “Also, our servicemen and women who serve to keep us safe, in our community and in other countries. So it takes a lot of us.”

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Sturgeon man dies in Boone County crash on Highway 63

KMIZ on May 19, 2026

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A 35-year-old Sturgeon man died in a Monday morning crash on Highway 63 in Boone County at Highway 124, according to a crash report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

The report says the man tried driving a 1997 Honda Civic westbound across northbound Highway 63 and entered the path of a 2013 Hyundai Sonata driven by a 29-year-old Columbia woman.

The Sturgeon man was pronounced dead at the scene and the Columbia woman was brought to University Hospital with moderate injuries, according to the report. Neither person wore a seatbelt, according to the report.

The Honda was totaled while the Hyundai had extensive damage.

MSHP reports do not name those involved in crashes.

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