Author: KMIZ

Olivia Hayes

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Service reports a drop in statewide measles MMR vaccination rates, while religious vaccination exemptions rise for the fifth year in a row.

This comes as measles outbreaks have occurred recently in South Carolina and Texas. DHSS requires students to receive two doses total, with the first dose administered anywhere between 12-15 months and final dose between 4-6 years old. 

On Tuesday, DHSS warned travelers who were at St. Louis Lambert International Airport earlier this month to watch out for possible symptoms after someone who was diagnosed with measles traveled through the airport. The department said the infected person was at the airport between 5-7 p.m. Feb. 7 and was at Terminal 2, baggage claim and road a shuttle to the parking area. Those who may have came into contact with the person should be on alert until Feb. 28.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention says measles symptoms begin with a high fever, a runny nose, a cough and red, watery eyes. Two to three days after those start, the CDC says tiny white spots may appear in your mouth. Not long after those symptoms start, a measles rash appears. It usually begins as flat red spots on the face at the hairline. They then spread downward to the neck, arms, legs and feet.

According to the CDC, when the rash appears, a person’s fever may spike to more than 104 degrees.

Dr. Laura Morris, with MU Health Care, explained people may not realize they have been exposed to measles and are experiencing symptoms until it’s too late.

“Because it’s airborne, most of the first symptoms of measles are actually very similar to other types of respiratory infection,” Morris said. “If you’re close enough to touch someone’s rash, you are close enough to be exposed to the droplets from their secretions, from their nose, from the air that they’re breathing out.”

According to DHSS, there was seven confirmed cases of measles in Missouri in 2025. No Missouri residents have reported confirmed cases yet for 2026.

“It’s probably only a matter of time,” said Nathan Koffarnus, an epidemiologist with Missouri DHSS. “Already in 2026, we’ve got over 900 cases [nationwide] in just a month and a half. So we’re going to almost certainly shatter last year’s numbers, which were already quite high.”

From the 2020-21 school year to the 2024-25 school year, the statewide Measles vaccines rate for kindergarteners dropped from 92.6% immunization to 90% immunization. For eighth graders, the rate dropped from 97.9% immunization to 96.1% immunization. Missouri DHSS says the threshold for herd immunit is 95% immunization.

“Herd immunity is this concept of you have to have a certain percentage of the population immune to a disease to keep it from just circulating, on a regular basis in the community,” Koffarnus said.

Morris said the state is at 90%, no longer meeting the threshold.

“If you’re not vaccinated, there’s about a nine-in-10 chance that if you’re exposed you will come down with measles,” Morris said.

The Immunization of School Children law requires Missouri students to get their immunizations to attend school, except those granted religious and medical exemptions. From the 2020-21 school year to the 2024-25 school year, the statewide religious exemption rates for kindergarten students rose from 2.3% to 4.8%.

“If they’re not vaccinated by kindergarten, then they’re probably not going to be,” Koffarnus said.

For eighth grade, the religious exemption rate rose from 1.6% to 3.4%.

“People that are taking advantage of those exemptions,” Koffarnus said. “People just need to think about the potential ramifications. If there is a case in your child’s school, and your child’s unvaccinated, they’re probably going to have to miss quite a bit of school because of that exposure.”

Morris said in states that have taken away the option religious exemption, vaccination rates have seen an increase.

“Most of the time it’s a philosophical or just a preference not to vaccinate their child,” Morris said. “When those philosophical exemptions are eliminated or discouraged, then the rates of vaccination go up and the cases of infections go down.”

Both Morris and Koffarnus say the most-critical risk lies in the communities severely below the recommended immunization threshold.

“Some counties are above 95% still and there are some pockets in areas where we’re in the 60s or 70s and so those are places that are very vulnerable,” Morris said.

“You’ve got these pockets of under protected people and if you do get measles introduced to that group, it’s really primed for not just one case, but many cases,” Koffarnus said.

While the vaccine is 95-97% lifetime effective after both doses, Morris said it’s still not full proof but it is still the best method of prevention.

“If hundreds of people are exposed, even vaccinated people, there can be breakthrough infections because 97% is still not 100%,” Morris said. “Anyone else who is exposed needs to follow the public health recommendations depending on their vaccination status, to potentially limit them from spreading to other people and that might mean isolating, even sometimes for weeks.”

She said staying aware of the world around you is also key to staying safe and healthy.

Countries outside of the United States are also experiencing a resurgence of measles and there are hotspots and outbreaks across the United States right now,” Morris said. “So pay attention to where you’re going, know the status of the people that you’re traveling with and take those standard precautions, but your vaccine will protect you.”

An uninsured child can get free vaccinations through the Vaccines for Children Program, funded by the CDC. Children can receive free immunizations through the program as long as they are Medicaid-eligible, do not have health insurance, are an American Indian or Alaskan Native, or are underinsured.

Click here to follow the original article.

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Columbia man who was charged with a felony and four misdemeanors in an alleged drunken driving crash on Monday allegedly had a blood alcohol content nearly four times the legal limit to drive.

Maurice Robinson, 40, was charged on Tuesday with driving while intoxicated – causing physical injury and four misdemeanors: DWI while having someone younger than 17 years old in a vehicle, driving while revoked, reckless driving and second-degree endangering the welfare of a child.

Robinson is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond. An initial court appearance was scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.

Court documents say police were called to the intersection of Paris Road and Vandiver Drive at 9:48 p.m. Monday for a crash. Robinson was allegedly seen laying on the ground, and claimed his leg was injured, but he refused medical treatment, the probable cause statement says. He allegedly admitted to driving the 2016 Jeep Patriot.

A passenger in Robinson’s vehicle claimed Robinson had caused the crash and that he should not have been driving because he had been drinking, the statement says.

The same witness alleged that Robinson threw out several cans of beer from the Jeep before officers arrived, the statement says. Police found three unopened cans of beer on a sidewalk near the crash and one open can that was almost empty, officers wrote.

Police wrote that Robinson was not able to complete field sobriety tests and a breath sample determined his BAC was at .299, nearly four times the legal limit.

Robinson was brought to University Hospital to get his injuries checked, the statement says. Two children were also in the vehicle at the time of the crash, police wrote.  

Click here to follow the original article.

Ryan Shiner

COLE COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ)

A 21-year-old Kansas City man died from injuries he suffered in a crash on Wednesday on Highway 54 at Monticello Road in Cole County, according to a crash report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

The report says the man drove a 2011 Volkswagen Jetta southbound and was attempting to cross Highway 54. The report claims the man failed to yield to a 2014 Ford Edge – driven by a 79-year-old Crocker, Missouri, woman – and was hit.

The man was brought to Capital Region Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. The woman had serious injuries and was flown to University Hospital in Columbia.

Both drivers wore seatbelts and both vehicles were totaled.

MSHP reports do not name those involved in crashes.

Click here to follow the original article.

Madison Stuerman

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Prosecutors have dropped seven felonies against a man charged with a Jefferson City shooting as part of a guilty plea.

Adonius Boykin, 21, of Jefferson City, pleaded guilty to unlawful use of a weapon on Feb. 10. The judge on Tuesday scheduled his sentencing to be at 9 a.m. Tuesday, April 14. He is currently being held at the Cole County Jail.

Boykin was previously charged with two counts of first-degree assault, three counts of armed criminal action and three counts of unlawful use of a weapon.

According to previous reporting, the victim in the shooting found by police on June 30, 2024, at a residence in the 700 block of Ewing Drive with at least three gunshot wounds. The victim and witnesses allegedly identified Boykin as the shooter.

Police allegedly found evidence that shots were fired from inside the house and found a shell casing near where the victim was standing when he was shot, court documents in previous reporting say.

Online court records state this was an open plea and the full range of punishment is available. The entry said all counts and cases would run at the same time. Cole County Prosecutor Locke Thompson said the state is requesting a 15-year sentence.

Click here to follow the original article.

Alison Patton

COLUMBIA, Mo (KMIZ)

Columbia Parks and Recreation had its first public comment on Wednesday regarding improvements to Field Park, located at 900 Range Line St.

The improvements would include two new pickleball courts, for which Columbia College has reportedly agreed to chip in $40,000, according to the capital improvement project search. That’s along with updates to lighting and landscaping, plus new sidewalks and playground equipment.

The project is budgeted for $100,000, according to the city. The project would be funded through the 2021 park sales tax.

Rebecca Shaw, a Columbia resident, said the city should consider adding permanent bathrooms to the park.

“It’s a place where our unhoused congregate. It’s a small park, there’s a lot of shade in the summertime. Usually, they are left alone. The residents around them don’t bother them. They don’t bother, you know each other,” Shaw said.

Ward 1 Councilwoman Valerie Carroll said public restrooms and water fountains would add to the park.

“We need to be aware of the people who use the park, the people who neighbor the park,” Carroll said. “We can’t design it without being aware of the use.”

Parks and Recreation Director Gabe Huffington said there may not be room in the budget for restrooms, but the park will be renovated so that everyone can enjoy it.

“We’re designing a park to accommodate lots of different folks that may visit there. We know that continuing to have seating in that park is essential for some of the folks that are there now, and so that’s something we’ll continue to have in the park that we’ll show in the plans,” Huffington said.

Huffington said there will be another public comment meeting within the next couple of months, which would be geared toward the people who live near Field Park.

After that hearing, the renovation plan can be submitted to the parks and recreation committee, and then it will go before the City Council for a vote, Huffington said. The earliest people could use the park is the fall.

Click here to follow the original article.

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A large response from firefighters was seen on Wednesday morning after vehicle caught fire near University Hospital.

No injuries were reported and there is no danger to the hospital, though a parking garage was closed, according to a Columbia Fire Department spokesperson.

The fire was put out quickly and the response was large because of its location, the spokesperson said.

Crews were dispatched at 10:29 a.m. and it took around three minutes to find the vehicle in the garage.

Check back for updates.

Click here to follow the original article.

Haley Swaino

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Inflation is easing, but living costs and bills remain high.

The annual rate in the U.S. has hovered around 2.6-2.7% in 2026. That’s down about 0.3 percentage points from 2024’s rate and significantly lower than the 8% peak recorded in 2022.

While inflation has cooled, cumulative inflation – prices over a specific period, rather than year-to-year change – tells a different story. From 2022 to 2026, cumulative inflation indicates that prices are about 10-11% higher, resulting in a reduction in purchasing power.

The value of what’s in your wallet has reduced.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics inflation calculator, $100 in December of 2022 has the same buying power as $109.18 in December 2025. That more than 9% increase can add up over time.

Recent data shows more than a quarter of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck.

I worked to find ways to cut back on recurring bills to help offset high costs.

Through experience, I learned it often requires patience and sitting through elevator music, but the key to lowering bills is to talk to a real person – not a robot.

Though many companies’ customer service numbers will connect you with an automated voice, ask for a human rep. I spent about 30 minutes each on hold with her car insurance and phone company to reach a real person, but the payoff was worth the wait.

I started by calling Verizon. For a single line, you can expect to pay about $70 a month on your phone bill. That’s for the cheapest plan with a hotspot.

I was told $10 could be knocked off by signing up for automatic payments. If I were a first responder, nurse, teacher, student, or military member with a second line, Verizon said I would likely be able to negotiate another $25 off a month.

By simply making a call, I was able to make sure I was getting the lowest rate for my needs in just five minutes. 

But how much could 15 minutes save you? 15% or more?

With that slogan in mind, I gave Geico a call, looking for another way to economize.

The average full-coverage quote for Geico is about $141 a month. After a three-minute wait, I got hold of the first human representative.

After I said I was looking to lower a monthly bill, back to on-hold music for another 12 minutes to get in touch with the appropriate department.

As the slogan goes, if wait times were included, nothing could be saved in 15 minutes.

But be patient, and hang on for a real person. After about 17 minutes, I got through to another human.

And I had some questions prepared from her previous call with Verizon.

I asked if opting for automatic payments could discount bills.

The Geico rep said enrolling for electronic funds transfers could save up to $36 a year.

A quick Google search let me know that providers may offer discounts for having anti-theft devices. So I asked.

Geico said its rates are based on the safety features of your vehicle, and no discounts could be added for extra safety devices.

If you have a different car insurance provider, it’s worth asking.

But with Geico, safe driving cuts back costs. Completing a defensive driving course can save policyholders 10% for three years.

Online courses, like Driver Training Associates, Inc. and All Star Driver Education, cost about $20.

Most range from four to eight hours and can be taken at the student’s pace.

After repeatedly asking for various ways to drive down monthly costs, I was told to take a look at the discounts page on Geico’s website.

There were 23 discounts listed, based on factors like the policyholder’s occupation, driving history and habits. Savings range from 5-25% off.

What I learned from my efforts is that by being straightforward and negotiating, you can be sure you’re getting the best rate. Be upfront about what you need and be sure to talk with a human rep.

With just about half an hour of remaining patience, providers offered to put at least $150 back in my pocket for the year.

Tune in to ABC 17 News at 6 p.m. Wednesday for the special report.

Click here to follow the original article.

Madison Stuerman

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

One person was taken to the hospital after their car flipped after hitting a tree on Wednesday.

A Boone County Joint Communications alert was sent out at 8:42 a.m. about a crash on Smiley Lane at Rangeline St., asking drivers to avoid the area.

Columbia Police Department Sgt. Robert Fox said a woman was driving northbound on Rangeline St. when she went off the road. He said the driver hit a small tree near the top of the hill, causing the car to become airborne and flip onto its top.

The woman was the only person in the car. She was taken to University Hospital.

Police at the scene did not know the severity of her injuries.

Columbia Fire and Police responded to the scene.

The scene was clear at 9:45 a.m.

Click here to follow the original article.

Jazsmin Halliburton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The National Weather Service office in St. Louis is warning of an elevated fire risk until Thusday evening due to breezy winds and dry conditions, leading officials to encourage people to avoid outdoor burning this week.

Cooper County Fire Protection District Chief David Gehm told ABC 17 News operations don’t change with the increased risk however, stations are staying prepared.

“We send notice out to all the stations, make sure all their trucks are filled up and all their equipment is fueled up and working properly,” Gehm said.

According to the Boone County Fire Protection District, Wednesday and Thursday are expected to be especially concerning, with conditions throughout the week not being favorable for outdoor burning.

Boone County Office of Emergency Management is coordinating with the Columbia Fire Department, Centralia Fire Department and the Boone County Fire Protection District to monitor conditions and ensure readiness.

ABC 17 News also spoke with the Cooper County Fire Protection District and Boonville Fire Department who have joined automatic mutual aid to help assist.

“Everybody’s limited on manpower, so with this new agreement, we share a lot of resources in certain areas that butt up to the city, butt to the county, so we try and be prepared in those ways with manpower,” Boonville Fire Chief Tim Cooper said.

Gehm, Cooper and Chief Chris Wilhoit with the Howard County Fire Protection District all also reported having tools like leaf blowers and rakes to help respond, with crews also trained in digging ditches or back burning to get ahead of any brush fires.

“Sometimes you’re limited on water supply, so you have to resort to old school tactics, manual tactics, raking, shoveling, digging lines, using leaf blowers to help get the fire to go in the direction you would like it to go,” Cooper said.

According to the ABC 17 Stormtrack Weather Team, warm, dry air will lead to less moisture, making vegetation, such as dry grass and branches, easy to catch fire. The breezy winds fan the flames, providing oxygen to the fire and carry embers to create new spot fires that can grow.

The Missouri Department of Public Safety says there are many ways people can help reduce the spread of fires.

When grilling, position the grill far away from siding, deck railing, and away from any leaves and overhanging branches. Do not add charcoal or starter fluid when coals or kindling have already been ignited.

Be extra careful with fire pits and campfires. Consider the risks before lighting the fire, and if you do decide to light it, check the wind direction. Keep a fire extinguisher or garden hose nearby.

Any controlled burns should be reported to local fire departments, including details of when, where and how long the burns will be.

“It’s a beautiful day to day. People want to burn their trash and that’s when it can run into problems,” Gehm said. “A lot of times they’ll try and take control of a fire with a garden hose. Something we ask them to call immediately to the fire department, call 911 and get the fire dispatch.”

The NWS advises against open burning leaves, brush or debris. Smokers should be extremely careful in extinguishing cigarette and cigar butts completely before disposal. Do not throw away cigarettes from moving vehicles.

Secure trailer chains to prevent them from dragging and creating sparks that could ignite dry grass. If you’re driving off-road, use caution as sparks from the vehicle or equipment could come in contact with dry grass and start a fire.

According to the Boone County Fire Protection District, fires that start in these conditions can behave unpredictably and move faster than expected.

People are encouraged to call 911 immediately to report smoke or fire.

Click here to follow the original article.

Matthew Sanders

The Missouri Senate Education Committee held a hearing before a packed house Tuesday on a bill that would create a letter-grade report card system for public schools.

Supporters say it will help parents identify the best places for their kids and provide incentives for schools to improve. Critics say it will stigmatize some schools and does nothing to help struggling schools get better.

Do you think it’s a good idea? Let us know by voting in the poll.

Click here to follow the original article.