Author: KMIZ

Erika McGuire

VANDALIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Missouri is now the 10th state to offer a prison nursery to incarcerated mothers.

The Women’s Eastern Reception, Diagnostic, and Correctional Center in Vandalia has launched a new program and newly renovated wing that provides mothers with resources to bond with their newborns and prepare for life after incarceration.

“Life skills, trauma training, treatment if she needs treatment, parenting classes and having her having her needs met,” said Kim Perkins, the nursery program manager.

The program was made possible after a bill passed in the Missouri Legislature in 2022 required funding from the Department of Corrections to establish the nursery by July 2025 and allow mothers to live in the nursery for up to 18 months.

The wing offers seven rooms for up to 14 babies and mothers, and provides diapers, an infant bathing room, kitchen spaces, cribs and more.

Former State Sen. Jeff Smith, of St. Louis, was one of three lawmakers to put the bill forward. He says the nursery is a win for everyone.

“(It’s a) win for the moms, a win for the babies, a win for taxpayers because when recidivism goes down, then taxpayers don’t have to pay for a revolving door of people coming back to prison.” Smith said.

There are several qualifications to get into the program, including not having commit a violent crime, not committing crimes against children and not committing sex crimes, Smith said.

Right now, 19 incarcerated women are pregnant and Perkins said she anticipates nine being eligible for the program.

Those who do not qualify will give birth and 24 hours later, their newborn will either go to a family member or be taken into foster care.

In 2024, the DOC said it had 25 babies were born to incarcerated women. Inmates who are not pregnant are also allowed to take part in the program as a caregiver, under the same qualifications.

Brianna Johnson, an inmate at the correctional center, said she signed up for the program to do something positive with her time in prison.

“To inspire hope in mothers to be mothers, because I know what its like, I know how hard it is to be in the system, and not having the support I wish I could have had.” Johnson said.

Perkins says the wing expects to welcome its first baby at the end of February.

The DOC accepts donations for things such as, diapers, bottles, clothing, lotion, baby shampoo and more.

Haley Swaino

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Flu activity is up across Missouri, according to the latest numbers released Friday by state officials.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services in its weekly flu update Friday reported flu activity at moderate levels.

Missouri reported 5,414 cases in the week that ended Jan. 25, according to the department. The state noted that most cases were from influenza A.

Health care providers were seeing increased cases of influenza and respiratory viruses last week, according to previous reporting.

Boone Health Emergency Department Manager Nick Woods said the hospital continues to see a rise in cases each month.

“We saw about 40 patients through our emergency department with flu symptoms [in November],” Woods said. “That jumped, almost doubled to about 70, 80. And this month, there were over 100 cases already.”

Woods said this flu season is worse than last years, but not the worst he’s ever seen.

“I think it was 2018 or 2017 when we had that really huge influx,” Woods said. “And years before that we had the swine flu outbreak. That was major as well.”

He said if flu season has not peaked yet, he would assume the amount of cases will crest soon.

“I think we’re getting to that point just from what we’ve seen,” Woods said.

Woods said there are many factors that can contribute to the height of flu season.

“The [flu] season starts around late September, early October time when kids get back to school and college and that sort of thing. And then you have the holidays. So people were confined and around others from out of town, out of state.”

Flu-like symptoms have affected school-aged children in Camden County considerably, causing at least one district to shut its doors.

Increased illness in students caused the Climax Springs School District to use an AMI day Friday.

Superintendent Joshua Griffith said the decision was made because of low attendance.

“Pretty much all week, we’ve hovered around the 70% in attendance mark,” Griffith said. “So Tuesday, Wednesday, we wanted to see what the numbers were going to do. They didn’t get any better.”

He said when he met with his administrative team Thursday, they decided using an AMI day was the best decision.

“So parents didn’t feel pressure that they had to send them,” Griffith said. “We thought it was really in the best interest of everybody to use AMI day number four just to come back with a fresh start and hopefully get our attendance back up in the nineties where it’s normally at.”

Besides low attendance, he said students were coming to school sick.

“We had a lot of kids that were kind of teetering on the low-grade fever,” Griffith said. “Not high enough to send them home, but they weren’t feeling very good. Those numbers were coming in to the nurse pretty much every day.”

This is Griffith’s fourth year in the district and he said student sickness was not this high last year.

Maintenance teams are spending Friday deep cleaning Climax Springs Schools.

“They’re going through each room, wiping down all surfaces, wiping down all doorknobs, anything that would be something that students would touch or be a part of,” Griffith said. “We’re cleaning and sanitizing the floors and the doors, and we’re going to hopefully have everything wiped down today.”

Griffith said he hopes school will be back in session on Tuesday. Climax Springs students go to school four days a week.

Woods said the best way to protect against influenza-like illnesses is through prevention.

“Of course we’re a little late in the game for that,” Woods said. “But getting your annual flu shots is a big help. Then if you’re just not feeling well, please, please don’t go to work sick and spread to your coworkers.”

He also said to wear a mask and wash your hands often when feeling sick, and avoid large settings like grocery stores and sporting games to help prevent spreading illness. He said anyone can get the flu.

“The other day we had a case of an infant, about one month old,” Woods said. “We see it all the way up to elderly folks.”

Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

As the IRS is expecting to receive more than 140 million individual tax returns this season, the Better Business Bureau is telling taxpayers to be aware of potential scammers looking to interfere with filing.

The BBB reports that tax scams are the most common form of fraud reported to the bureau with phone calls, emails, texts and social media messages being the most common ways scammers communicate with people.

The BBB reminds people that the IRS rarely contacts people through email or text. On rare occasions, there may be a phone call, but mail is the most common way of communication. The IRS will also never demand immediate payment, a credit card number or a bank statement over the phone.

When filing, the bureau recommends filing early to reduce the chance of identity theft and to consider getting an IP PIN from the IRS that identifies the taxpayer.

When hiring a tax preparer, the bureau said in a press release to check the prepares credentials, read reviews and avoid preparers who promise to get bigger refunds.

This year, the IRS will also send money to people eligible for the 2021 recovery rebate credit and did not claim it that year.

For fiscal year 2023, the IRS Criminal Investigation initiated more than 2,600 criminal investigations and identified over $37.1 billion from tax and financial crimes.

Columbia’s Daniel Boone Regional Library will have taxpayer assistance appointments available until April 12 with IRS-certified tax counselors.

Haley Swaino

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Football fans across the country will be gathering to watch Super Bowl 59 on Sunday. The 203.4 million adults that plan to watch except to spend $91.58 on average, according to the National Retail Federation.

Hosting a Super Bowl party can be costly. 81 percent of consumers plan to purchase food and drinks for game day, according to the NRF.

“I think collectively we’ll probably spend about $350 to $400 on drinks and food,” Chiefs fan Paul-Scott Wheeler said.

“I mean you’re at least looking at one to two grand once you add in like drinks, food, sides,” Chiefs fan Grant Ralston said.

Food and drinks for a Super Bowl 59 party will cost about the same as last year, according to a Wells Fargo report. Americans will be spending an estimated ten cents less than in 2024.

“We’re gonna be grilling some pork steaks, burgers, brats, buying some chicken wings,” Wheeler said.

The consumer report estimates feeding ten people will cost $139.

“You have to have the alcohol because every time they have a touchdown we get a shot,” Chiefs fan Jody Klein said.

Beer and wine have only seen a two percent increase in price since 2024, according to the report.

But while the cost of most Super Bowl snacks remain the same, fans that plan to snack on veggies and opt for healthier options during the game should expect a more expensive grocery trip.

“Definitely with the fresh veggies and stuff it’s gonna be quite a lot more,” Wheeler said.

Cherry tomato prices have increased by 11.9 percent, avocados by 11.5 percent, peppers by 7.4 percent and carrots by 3.4 percent. The report indicates the slight decline in snack food prices should help offset the rise in vegetable prices.

Wheeler says while spending can get a little out of hand for Super Bowl parties, it is well worth it to him.

“For a blowout party like this it’s kind of like I’ll pay whatever price,” Wheeler said. “The beer’s still gonna be cheaper than going to a sports bar.”