Author: KMIZ

Haley Swaino

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Two Springfield lawmakers are calling on Gov. Mike Kehoe to reverse a recent decision delaying a child care payment program that was promised in his 2025 State of the State Address.

Kehoe pledged in January that starting in July, providers would receive payments at the beginning of the month based on enrollment, similar to private pay. Fiscal 2026 began July 1, but the administration announced in a Dec 19 email that the rollout would be postponed.

In Dec. 2025, the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Office of Childhood announced more time is needed to make sure the system works and address overpayment concerns. Long-term funding is also needed from the General Assembly, according to DESE’s office.

“We are six months into the fiscal year and changes haven’t occurred and that’s frustrating,” Representative Stephenie Hein said. “But that’s what the department felt like they needed to do to be able to get their ducks in a row, test the system to make the changes so that providers wouldn’t have any lapse in payment.”

Democratic state Reps. Betsy Fogle and Hein say the Kehoe administration’s move to postpone the “pay in advance” and “authorization-based payment” programs breaks a commitment made to Missouri families and providers.

The delay comes as Missouri faces a severe child care shortage. A report from Childcare Aware estimates the state needs more than 19,000 additional child care spots to meet demand.

“Missouri has a child care shortage and the Governor’s decision to break his promise will make this problem worse,” Fogle said in a Tuesday news release. “We encourage the Governor to stop delaying and start delivering on his promises to our children, families, providers and economy.”

Hein echoed those concerns, noting that delayed payments have already forced many child care providers — often small business owners — to close or leave the subsidy program.

She said it is a big difference to receive compensation based on enrollment rather than attendance.

“Because if you think about it, if a kid was sick, you still have to make sure that you are paying your teachers. You have to make sure that you are keeping the lights on for the establishment. Your overhead doesn’t change if a child is sick,” Hein said. “So that’s why having that enrollment based off of attendance is so important for those child care businesses.”

She said the cost can also fall back families.

“When providers are not reimbursed fairly, families pay the price; working parents have fewer options, foster children face disruptions, and private-pay families are left to cover the cost of an underfunded system,” Hein said.

The Missouri Chamber of Commerce has called the situation a “crisis,” citing research that inadequate child care access costs the state’s economy $1.35 billion annually, including $280 million in lost tax revenue.

In 2023, 80% of CEOs surveyed by the chamber said childcare challenges keep many Missourians out of the workforce.

The 2026 legislative session begins Jan 7, and lawmakers say they plan to push for solutions.

Until the pause is lifted, DESE says providers will continue to be paid based on attendance. The Office of Childhood will share updates on its website as they become available.

The governor’s office says Kehoe is committed to “implementing prospective pay based on enrollment for child care providers” in Fiscal 2026.

“A change of this magnitude requires much effort, and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Office of Childhood has been working tirelessly and engaging with stakeholders to ensure that this payment transition is well implemented,” Kehoe’s office said in a statement.

The final rule for the Child Care and Development Fund was published in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) in April 2024, requiring states to pay in advance and on authorized enrollment.

Although Missouri received a waiver from the Administration of Children and Families until 2026 to implement this new payment practice, the Department has continued efforts to initiate these practices.

“Since announcing this priority in January, Governor Kehoe has emphasized the importance of this system working efficiently to deliver timely and accurate payments to providers across the state,” Kehoe’s office said.

2025’s House Bill 2 allocated funds from Missouri’s Child Care Development Fund to align the payment structure for child care providers with private payors.

“This was a decision that we made for this current budget year that we’re already six months into and nothing has been done with those funds to change how the allocation is happening,” Hein told ABC 17 on Dec. 30, 2025.

The update to payment practices will allow payments to be made in advance of services. And payments will reflect the total amount of approved child care, as long as the child attends a minimum of eight hours per month.

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Madison Stuerman

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Court documents filed on Monday, but were not available to the public until Tuesday morning, lay out what led up to police shooting an arson and assault suspect in Columbia on Christmas Day.

Marc Lucas faces seven crimes for a string of incidents across south and east Columbia on Christmas that led to officers Tasing and shooting him at a Break Time convenience store on East Stadium Boulevard.

. Lucas is charged with four felonies, including arson, armed criminal action and two counts of unlawful use of a weapon. He faces another three misdemeanors for trespassing and two counts of fourth-degree assault.

Court documents claim it all started at the Courtyard by Marriott hotel at Grindstone Parkway and Highway 63. Firefighters were called at 9:24 a.m. for a fire in a room rented to Lucas. Police wrote the fire marshal reported a couch was found on fire in the room, and a “torch styled lighter” was found near it. Investigators believe the scorches to the couch were intentionally set. Video surveillance allegedly showed Lucas leaving the hotel shortly before the fire call.

About 30 minutes later, police responded to the Holiday Inn Express, where Lucas allegedly tried to get another hotel room but was denied. Documents state he allegedly got into a fight with employees.

Police said a victim reported Lucas was acting erratically, according to documents.

“[Victim 1] heard Lucas repeating religious comments and speaking in a circular pattern, and did not answer any questions victim 2 asked Lucas,” documents state.

Investigators said this is when Lucas allegedly walked up to the front counter and pulled a black handled pocket knife and threatened the employees.

Court documents state Lucas was seen leaving the hotel and going to the Break Time gas station across the street.

The victim at the Holiday Inn saw police at the gas station, the statement said, and told them Lucas was behind the store. Lucas eventually came inside the store, and he allegedly blamed the victim for calling the police and pulled out the knife again. Police said the victim threw snacks at Lucas before running out of the store while police entered. The victim later told officers he heard a Taser and gunshots as he left the store.

Court documents do not provide additional details about the conversation between Lucas and officers.

Officers found a butane lighter torch outside the gas station, believed to have been left by Lucas, court documents allege.

ABC 17 News found that Lucas has a criminal record in the states of California and Montana.

Lucas is tied to five criminal cases in Sacramento County ranging from February 2024-August 2025. A case filed on July 3 is currently active. Charges for the cases are not provided, however, case records show Lucas has two instances of failing to appear in court and violating parole.

Lucas also has an active case in Helena, Montana. The case was filed on July 7, 2023, for criminal mischief pecuniary loss more than $1,500 at the Lewis and Clark County District Court. Lucas is also featured on City of Helena’s Arrest Warrants list, which was last updated on Dec. 17.

He is in the custody of the Columbia police at the hospital after undergoing surgery following the shooting. No bond was set for Lucas.

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Keriana Gamboa

Editor’s note, 12/30/2025: The story has corrected information on the Jefferson City School District’s candidate filing deadlines.

COLUMBIA, Mo.

Candidates for most local elections in April 2026 must file by 5 p.m. Tuesday, including races for the Columbia Board of Education and city council seats in Jefferson City.

In Columbia, filing is closing for the Board of Education, where three seats are available. Each position carries a three-year term.

Board President John Lyman and Vice President Paul Harper are both seeking reelection. Current board member April Ferrao has also filed to run again. Newcomer, Keary D. Husain, has entered the race and is running for one of the open seats. CPS offices will be open from 3 – 5 p.m. on Tuesday to accept candidate filings.

In Jefferson City, candidates have until Tuesday to file for half of the City Council seats that will be up for election in 2026.

In Ward 1, incumbent Randy W. Hoselton is seeking reelection and will face challenger George Bacon.In Wards 2, 3, and 4, incumbents Mike Lester, Dr. Treaka Young, and Chris Leuckel are all running again and are unopposed. In Ward 5, incumbent Mackenzie Job will be challenged by Rebekah L. Frost.

Jefferson City council members serve staggered two-year terms and are subject to a limit of eight consecutive years in office.

The Jefferson City School Board has several candidates filed to run for three open seats.

The board will continue accepting applications for the vacancy left by Erika Leonard’s resignation until January 7.

The Columbia City Council follows a separate filing schedule, with its filing period closing on January 13.

The municipal general election is scheduled for April 7, 2026.

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Haley Swaino

ELDON, Mo. (KMIZ)

Some Eldon residents are frustrated as a boil water order is entering its second week.

Monday marked 13 days since people were asked to boil water in the city. The city issued the order on instructions from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources after a test revealed high levels of E. coli in the system on Dec. 16, the city said at the time. Positive samples were then isolated to City Hall and the Public Safety Building. Information on the DNR’s website show the ordered went into effect at midnight Dec. 17.

The state said the increased bacteria presented an “acute” health risk.

Seven-year resident Anna Chick said when the order was issued, like many people, she didn’t expect it would affect her holiday celebrations a week later.

“It has been a little tricky with the holidays, trying to rinse my potatoes with bottled water. And just nervous about cooking things, wondering if boiling the potatoes is going to kill the bacteria,” Chick said. “I cooked for the whole family and trying to pour water out of a bottle for my gravy. It just made everything just an extra couple steps.”

She said some people are angry about the continued water issues.

“But what can we do but wait,” Chick said.

Some businesses have been affected and had to reduce their menus because of water issues.

“Following Health Department guidelines, we are now able to offer all menu items except iced tea,” a Sunday social media post from Brew Brothers Coffee says.

High-end equipment likes its espresso machines has to have proper water, management said. A new line was plumbed in to bypass city water in order to serve the community, and Monday was its first day back to mostly-normal operations after five days of business being affected.

“We had to wait until the next week [after the Dec. 16 test] before we could test again,” City Administrator Mandy Asbury said. “We did have a positive total coliform test then, and so we had to to wait again.”

She said DNR labs then closed for the holidays and didn’t open again until Monday.

“We do have samples that have been delivered to the DNR labs today,” Asbury said. “And so we are hoping that within 24 hours we will have negative results. That way, we can go ahead and lift the boil order,” Asbury said.

Utility bills being adjusted for the month of December is a “burning question” in Eldon, she said.

“A lot of people are asking that, and it will be addressed at our next city council meeting in January,” Asbury said. “I think a lot of people who are wondering if those bills are going to be reduced or are thinking that they’re just going to be wiped clean. But that’s just not realistic.”

She said the average bill is about $75-$90 and that includes water, sewer and trash. The average water portion of that bill is about $25-$30.

The city has been giving out cases of water to residents at the Community Center.

Asbury said if the order is not lifted Tuesday, the city will continues to do so and provide updates on the city’s social media.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Missouri was awarded $216,276,818 through the federal Rural Health Transformation Program, according to a Monday press release from the Missouri Primary Care Association.

The award includes a $100 million base allocation, supplemented by additional discretionary funding, the release says. The money will support the state’s Transformation of Rural Community Health Care initiative, which aims to expand access to health care, improve outcomes and strengthen provider sustainability, the release says.

“This significant investment affirms the strength of Missouri’s vision for rural healthcare and the collaborative work already underway across the state,” Missouri Primary Care Association CEO Joe Pierle said in the release. “These resources will help ensure rural Missourians can access high-quality, sustainable care close to home.”

The announcement saw praise on social media from US Reps. Mark Alford and Sam Graves (R-MO).

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Ten people died in traffic crashes on Missouri roads over the Christmas holiday counting period, the Missouri State Highway Patrol announced in a Monday press release.

The release says the “counting period” lasted from 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 24-11:59 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 28.

There were 94 injuries reported in 258 crashes and 93 people arrested for driving while intoxicated, the release says. All of those numbers are up from last year, where four people died and 44 people were injured in 81 crashes and 18 people were arrested for DWI, the release says.

MSHP made a note that the Christmas counting period varies each year, depending on which day of the week the holiday falls. Since the holiday fell on a Thursday, the counting period lasted 4.25 days this year, compared to last year when it fell on a Wednesday and lasted 1.25 days.

There were no drownings, boating crashes or arrests for boating while intoxicated this year, the release says.  

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Mitchell Kaminski

VIENNA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A fire that heavily damaged a Vienna residential care facility in August has been ruled accidental, according to a revised fire investigation report that cites security video showing the Vienna police chief discarding a lit cigarette shortly before the blaze began.

According to state fire marshal records obtained by ABC 17 News, the fire broke out shortly after 1:30 a.m. Aug. 7 at Vienna Pointe Residential Care Center, located at 112 Parkway St. 

When firefighters arrived, they found the single-story building engulfed by fire, with flames venting through the roof and several residents initially unaccounted for. 

No injuries were reported, but strong winds, limited water supply and fire spreading through the attic hampered suppression efforts, according to the Vienna Fire Protection District.

The Missouri Information Analysis Center requested assistance with the investigation, which was led by John Malcolm. Initial findings listed the cause as undetermined due to extensive damage and the inability to identify an ignition source.

However, the investigation was revised on Nov. 5 after insurers provided security video from the night of the fire.

Video footage obtained by ABC 17 News shows Vienna Police Chief Shannon Thompson arriving at the facility just before midnight Aug. 6 in response to an accidental 911 call. The video shows Thompson smoking a cigarette and placing it on a planter near the front entrance before entering the building.

Additional footage shows Thompson returning to the planter a few minutes later, removing the cigarette and appearing to stomp inside the planter before leaving. About an hour and a half later, video shows a small glow developing in the planter, which transitions into open flames and spreads to the building’s entrance.

Investigators concluded the fire was accidental and caused by “the unintended result of an individual placing a burning cigarette near combustible material,” with smoldering material left undiscovered after the cigarette was retrieved.

The Maries County Prosecutors’ Office told ABC 17 News it is still determining whether or not charges will be filed. 

Thompson was later interviewed by investigators and confirmed he had placed the cigarette on the planter and attempted to extinguish the area before leaving. He told investigators it did not occur to him at the time that his actions could have caused the fire. He noted the cigarette brand he smoked, “Exeter Red Kings”, is designed to self-extinguish.

ABC 17 News reached out to Thompson for comment. 

According to the fire report, earlier in the investigation, utilities, including electrical service and propane tanks, were ruled out as possible causes. Investigators also noted the presence of an outdoor cigarette receptacle but said it could not be eliminated as a potential ignition source until the video evidence was reviewed.

Sharon Miller, a staff member who called 911 to report the fire, told investigators she noticed smoke earlier in the night but could not locate its source. She said she later evacuated residents and accounted for everyone, the report says.

The fire was reported at 1:36 a.m., and crews arrived about 15 minutes later to find the structure fully involved. Sprinklers were activated in parts of the building, but were ineffective due to the rapid fire spread in the attic, which lacked fire walls, according to the report.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

An 18-year-old man from Sturgeon was charged on Monday after he allegedly fired two shots at a vehicle on Christmas Eve during an alleged road rage incident.

Alexander Ray was charged with two counts of first-degree assault, two counts of armed criminal action and a single count of unlawful use of a weapon. He is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond and had a court appearance set for Monday.

The probable cause statement says law enforcement was called at 10:03 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 24 for a reported road rage incident with a weapon near Highway 124 and Old Highway 124 in Boone County.

The victims alleged that someone wearing a ski mask in the rear-passenger side of a silver sedan fired two shots at them, court documents say.

The victims turned off of the road to get away from that vehicle and Centralia police eventually stopped a silver sedan about 12 minutes later, the statement says. Two people in the vehicle claimed Ray fired a pair of shots before getting out of the vehicle, court documents say.

A gun that contained eight bullets in a 10-round magazine was found underneath of the passenger seat in the vehicle, along with another bullet in the center console, the statement says.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A man from Bland, Missouri, has been charged with multiple child sex crimes after authorities claim the man had a preyed on a minor.

Chase Branson, 22, was charged last week with second-degree statutory rape, second-degree statutory sodomy, possessing child porn, misdemeanor giving pornographic to a minor and tampering with a victim He is being held at the Callaway County Jail without bond. An initial court appearance was scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Tuesday.

The probable cause statement says someone described as a witness – who was also a minor – came across a tablet and found an inappropriate conversation between Branson and the 16-year-old victim.  Branson allegedly first tried to pursue the witness — who denied him after disclosing her age – before starting the “relationship” with the victim, court documents say.

Branson allegedly had sex with the victim in October and exchanged nude photographs with the victim several times since September, court documents say. Branson also allegedly showed the victim an application for the tablet that could hide photos that were sent and received, the statement says.

Branson allegedly admitted partaking in the assaults to law enforcement, as well as knowing the victim’s age and exchanging photos, court documents say.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A convicted sex offender has been charged with multiple child sex crimes in Callaway County, with one alleged incident dating back to 1989, according to court documents.

Roy Barham, 51, of Fulton, was charged last week in Callaway County with second-degree child molestation, statutory sodomy, first-degree statutory sodomy and first-degree sexual abuse. He is being held at the Callaway County Jail without bond.

A hearing was held on Monday and a counsel status hearing was scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026.

The probable cause statement says a toddler-aged victim was sexually abused by Barham in their sleep on Oct. 10 while they were in Barham’s care. During an interview, the victim allegedly told authorities that they had been repeatedly abused, court documents say.

A deputy wrote in court documents that they reached back out to another victim who had accused Barham of sexual abuse during the summer of 2017 near Auxvasse. Court documents say a 2021 report was made, but charges were not filed because the victim did not participate in a forensic interview, the statement says. The victim gave another statement after law enforcement reached out recently about the abuse, the statement says.

Court documents also state another young victim was abused by Barham between Aug. 1, 2012-June 1, 2013, while they were in Barham’s care. That victim’s 2025 statement was similar to a previous one made eight years ago, the deputy wrote. That instance of abuse had similar details to the previous two victims described in court documents.

Another person described as a victim told law enforcement about assaults that allegedly occurred between July 21-Dec. 31, 1989. The victim was also toddler-aged and described similar instances of abuse as victims previously interviewed by law enforcement, court documents show.

Barham allegedly admitted to having one of his hands in the most-recent victim’s private area, but denied abusing them, the statement says.

The Missouri Sex Offender Registry shows Barham has convictions from 1992 for sodomy and first-degree sexual abuse in Callaway County.

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