Author: KMIZ

Euphenie Andre

Walmart customers will soon notice a change at checkout.

Walmart is rolling out its new tap-to-pay option at select Walmart stores and Sam’s Club locations, giving customers more ways to pay using their phones, smartwatches and other supported devices.

Walmart spokesperson Rob Edie told ABC 17 the rollout in Missouri will continue through September and October.

The new payment option will allow customers to use Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, Garmin Pay and supported payment-enabled smartwatches and wearables.

The change is part of the evolution of how consumers pay, from swiping a magnetic stripe, to inserting a chip card and now simply tapping a card or smartphone.

Walmart customers Jeremiah Correia and Staci Smith said they look forward to the upgrade.

“I’m pretty excited about it,” Correia said. “I mainly use Apple Cash. That’s my main form of payment. So I’m excited to be able to come here and actually not have to pull out my physical card every time.”

Smith said the new payment option could also make things easier for customers who accidentally leave their wallets at home.

A couple of years ago, several Walmart stores nationwide were reportedly compromised after a man placed credit card skimming devices on payment machines.

Walmart told federal investigators at the time that more than 27,000 credit cards and 2,000 EBT cards were stolen during the spree.

As more consumers turn to mobile payments, local banks said digital wallets can offer an additional layer of security compared with using a physical card.

According to Callaway Bank, digital wallets can be more secure than using a physical chip card because the customer’s actual card number is not shared with the merchant during the transaction.

Instead, the digital wallet creates an encrypted, temporary token that is used to process the payment.

That means even if a merchant’s system is compromised, the token is not directly tied to the customer’s bank account or card information.

But that doesn’t mean contactless payments are completely risk-free.

The Bank of Missouri said social media posts have circulated showing alleged scams involving sticker overlays placed over contactless payment terminals.

The overlays are designed to blend in with the terminal and could potentially contain technology intended to capture information from a tapped card. In some cases, the legitimate transaction may still go through, meaning a customer might not immediately realize anything is wrong.

The Bank of Missouri cautions, however, that the actual risk and frequency of this type of fraud have not been fully verified by official sources.

The bank notes there is some concern that partial information gathered from multiple sources could potentially be used in identity-related fraud. However, that type of fraud would generally involve multiple layers of compromise rather than a single contactless transaction.

Smith believes there will always be some safety concerns with any form of payment.

“A person can go past your purse or your pocket with a device and take your information,” she said. “But a lot of places have the tap pay. It’s convenient, especially for the college kids.”

Banks recommend consumers should still remain cautious when using any payment method, and to check the payment terminal for anything that looks unusual or out of place, monitor bank and credit card accounts regularly, and report suspicious activity to your financial institution.

There is not yet an exact date for when all Mid-Missouri Walmart stores will have the new payment option. Local Associates in Columbia told ABC 17 they do not yet have a definitive installation date but expect tap-to-pay to be available in the coming months.

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Alison Patton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

City of Columbia offices will be closed in observance of Labor Day, and some services will be affected as well.

The city council will meet Tuesday instead of Monday, according to a Facebook post from the city.

Curbside trash and recycling won’t be picked up on Monday; pickup will be delayed by a day. The landfill is also closed for the holiday.

Public transportation, including fixed bus routes, Paratransit and MU Tiger Line, won’t be running. However, city parking will be free Monday.

The Columbia/Boone County Health Department will be closed and will reopen normally on Tuesday.

The Activity and Recreation Center will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and the Albert-Oakland Family Aquatic Center will open at noon and close at 5 p.m.

All Daniel Boone Library locations will be closed Sunday and Monday.

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Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

28-year-old Allison Bell of Dixon was arrested Friday on suspicion of a stabbing in Maries County earlier this week.

According to a press release from the Maries County Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff’s Deputies were called to a home on Sept. 1 at around 1:55 p.m. for a stabbing. There, they found a woman with a cut on her upper left arm with heavy bleeding. The victim later identified Bell as the person responsible for the stabbing, reporting that Bell ran from the scene before officials arrived.

Deputies searched the area but could not find Bell, and officials later were granted a warrant for her arrest for first-degree assault.

The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office, Dixon Police Department and the Missouri Relentless Pursuit Task Force assisted with the search.

Dixon Police Department and the Missouri Relentless Pursuit Task Force found Bell Friday and took her into custody without incident. She was later transported to the Maries County Jail and booked on suspicion of first-degree assault.

This is an ongoing investigation.

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Melissa Houston

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

With hot weather expected through Labor Day weekend, the Columbia Fire Department is recommending that community members take steps to stay safe while celebrating.

Columbia Fire Assistant Chief Lester Shewmake said the department typically sees an increase in calls for grilling incidents and heat exhaustion during holiday weekends.

“A lot more people are out. So we do get some accidents on the holiday weekends,” said Shewmake. “Individuals might be outside all day grilling and haven’t been taking the proper amounts of water intake so it can overheat people pretty quick.”

Shewmake said taking precautions and starting hydration early are key to preparing for outdoor holiday activities.

“Usually, what you’re drinking today is going to hydrate you for tomorrow. So if you’re planning on being outside, trying to hydrate early, obviously water is the best,” said Shewmake. “Sports drinks that have electrolytes also help too, because you are sweating so much, you need it.”

In addition to heat safety, Shewmake noted that grilling safety is another risk that can be overlooked during holiday festivities.

“A lot of the times what ends up happening is people are done grilling and they push the grill right up against the house because they’re not thinking about it and it melts,” said Shewmake. “It’s one of those things that you go in the house to start eating and don’t think about the grill being hot up against the house.”

According to the National Fire Protection Association, over 21,000 patients per year go to the emergency room because of injuries involving grills. Gas grills, on average, are involved in over 9,000 home fires per year.

The department recommends a couple key practices for those planning to grill:

Place grills away from the house and structures.

Ensure nothing is leaking or dripping from the grill, especially onto wooden decks.

Allow charcoal to cool completely before disposal.

Keep a fire extinguisher nearby.

With dry weather expected throughout the weekend, the risk for vegetation fires and wildfires is also elevated. Shewmake advised residents to clear debris and shrubs from around their homes to help reduce the risk of fire spread.

During the holiday weekend, the weather will be dry, and there is a higher chance of vegetation fires and wildfires. Shewmake said that folks should make sure to remove any debris or shrubs from around their house to diminish the risk of a fire spreading.

As Columbia residents prepare for the long weekend, Shewmake emphasized that taking basic precautions allows everyone to celebrate safely.

“We want everyone to enjoy the holiday safely and make sure they’re hydrated properly and have a good vacation and have a good holiday,” said Shewmake.

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Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Two men were seriously injured in a car accident late Friday afternoon in Fulton.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the crash happened at around 4:40 p.m. on Route WW near Martin Drive.

The driver, a 56-year-old Fulton man, was driving West in a 2013 Chevy Silverado when he drove off the right side of the road and hit an embankment. The truck then became airborne and flipped, coming to a stop on the road.

The driver had minor injuries, while a passenger, a 55-year-old Fulton man, was seriously injured.

Both men were driven to University Hospital. The truck was totaled. Both men were wearing seatbelts.

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Euphenie Andre

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Jefferson City Police Department is warning residents about an increase in vehicle break-ins and thefts after several vehicles were reportedly entered this week, including one vehicle that was stolen.

The recent incidents have some residents raising questions about crime in the community and whether the city’s Flock cameras are being placed in the areas where they could be most useful.

On Friday, the Jefferson City Police Department shared surveillance video on its social media page showing a man attempting to enter vehicles in the 1700 block of Stadium Boulevard.

Police said they have received several reports of vehicles being entered, including one vehicle stolen from Mesa Avenue.

Chelsea Dyer and her family were among the victims this week. Dyer said she did not capture the intruders on her home surveillance cameras because the cameras had died. She discovered what happened when she was dropping her children off the next day.

“The vehicle was a complete disaster on the inside. Papers were thrown everywhere, and then some cash was missing.”

For residents who live in the area, the recent incidents are unusual.

Donna M. Ellis, a Jefferson City resident, said she has generally felt safe in the neighborhood.

“I would say up until this occurred, we have had no problems whatsoever of feeling anything other than totally safe in the area.”

Dyer said she was disappointed to see someone target other people’s property.

“It is sad to see that people feel the need to be just corrupt and destructive to other people’s properties. But I think ultimately we’re missing a complete focus in society that we really need to be focusing more on our higher power.”

Police are asking residents to check home security cameras, doorbell cameras and other surveillance footage for any suspicious people or activity during the overnight and early morning hours.

That includes the time frame between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m.

The department is also reminding residents to lock their vehicles, remove valuables and avoid leaving keys or other items inside their cars.

Ellis said she follows most of those recommendations, except for locking her vehicle.

“I keep nothing in my car anybody could possibly want.” Ellis said. “Unless, of course, they go to Aldi’s and need a few quarters. I find it easier to not lock it so they can look and see there’s nothing they want.”

The recent break-ins are also raising questions about the city’s network of Flock cameras, including where they are located and whether they are helping in areas where crimes are being reported.

Less than a month ago, the Jefferson City Council renewed its contract with Flock Safety.

Since September 2025, the Jefferson City Police Department has operated 21 Flock automated license plate readers throughout the city. According to previous reporting, the new agreement runs through May 14, 2027, and will cost the city $51,000.

Ellis said she supports the use of Flock cameras.

“I’m all for getting criminals off the street, and that is a tool they can use. They just don’t need to abuse it,”

Dyer said she has mixed feelings about increased surveillance.

“I feel indifferent.” Dyer said. “I think there’s going to be pros and con to more surevillance,”

The DeFlock map shows over 40 cameras in the Jefferson City area, with a high concentration downtown. According to the map, there is no Flock camera installed near Mesa Ave.

Zederic Crawford, a Jefferson City resident, questioned whether the cameras are being placed in the areas where they are needed most.

“Pretty obvious that those are high black crime areas or high black traffic areas and homeless,” Crawford said. “That’s probably why they’re going to put them downtown because of the homeless to keep an eye on them. I don’t think it’s a security tool to fight crime I think it’s more of monitoring.”

Crawford said he believes additional cameras could be useful in other parts of the city.

“There needs to be more in the shopping malls and shopping centers,” he said. “Where there are no cameras at all. At least one Flock camera should be there. It would probably solve the Eric Spencer case.”

Crawford also said residents should have a voice in deciding where the cameras are installed.

According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, the Hyundai Elantra, Honda Accord and Hyundai Sonata were among the vehicles most frequently stolen in the United States last year.

ABC 17 reached out to the Jefferson City Police Department for a year-in-review of its use of Flock cameras, including how often the technology has helped with investigations and whether the department plans to add or relocate cameras.

The department has not yet responded.

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Alison Patton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Missouri Supreme Court decided that a referendum challenging the 2025 “Missouri FIRST” map will go on the November ballot. That decision also means the general election must be held under the old map passed in 2022.

At least two lawsuits have been filed challenging parts of this decision and take it from the state’s highest court to federal court. Attorney General Catherine Hanaway filed an appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court, and she asks Justice Brett Kavanaugh to stay the decision and allow the November election to be held under the 2025 map.

In a separate lawsuit, U.S. Rep. Bob Onder, state Sen. Rick Brattin and two Missouri voters have sued the Secretary of State in the Eastern District of Missouri. This lawsuit seeks to change which map is used in November. Both lawmakers would represent different locations based on the map.

“When you put in all this blood, sweat, tears, the time, all of this campaigning, yeah, it’s really disenfranchising when you’ve done all that, and those people have believed in you and trusted you and cast their vote for you, to then say they’re going to go to the ballot box and be voting in a completely different district,” Brattin said.

Onder is running again for District 3, and Brattin is running for District 5 — which is currently held by Democrat Rep. Emanuel Cleaver. They claim the old map hurts their chances of winning because they campaigned in a different district geographically.

“Under von Glahn, they must now run in the general election in districts which include many voters to whom they did not campaign in the primary,” attorney Marc Ellinger wrote in court documents.

Ellinger argues that the referendum on congressional redistricting violates the U.S. Constitution, the election clause and the 14th Amendment’s equal protection clause.

The voters Pat Thomas and Debra Havens argue they are harmed by using the 2022 map in the November election because they already voted under the old map.

“Thomas and Havens wish to vote in the general election in the Fifth Congressional district as they did in the primary but must now educate themselves about new candidates and issues because they are forced to vote in the general election for the Third Congressional district and for nominees whom they was not given a chance to vote for or against,” Ellinger wrote.

The group is suing Secretary Denny Hoskins because he administers the election process, including the maps.

People Not Politicians, the group backing the referendum, will need to defend the ballot measure at the U.S. Supreme Court, too.

“It won’t take SCOTUS that long to understand that this case is not in their purview, is inappropriate to be there and dismiss it,” executive director Richard von Glahn said.

Justice Kavanaugh has asked People Not Politicians to file a response to the state’s appeal and request to stay the decision by Monday at 11 a.m.

In December, the state filed a lawsuit against the group in federal court with Judge Zachary Bluestone, who dismissed the case because the federal court didn’t have jurisdiction over the lawsuit dealing with state law.

Brattin said he is confident that the state will prevail at the Supreme Court.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway has filed an emergency application to the Supreme Court of the United States over the Missouri high court’s decision to put the highly debated “Missouri First” Congressional map on the November ballot.

Hanaway is looking for a stay, claiming that the Missouri Court’s decision on Thursday violates the U.S. Constitution’s elections clause and claims “hundreds of thousands of Missouri voters” were disenfranchised.

“We have just appealed yesterday’s catastrophic ruling to the Supreme Court of the United States. We look forward to the Court’s prompt review of this critical matter, as our ability to hold timely and lawful congressional elections hangs in the balance,” Hanaway said in a statement.

Hanaway is looking for a ruling on Monday, a federal holiday, as the deadline to get something on the November ballot is Tuesday.

The Missouri court ruled in favor of “People Not Politicians” on Thursday, saying House Bill 1 — which Gov. Mike Kehoe signed last year – was unlawful. The decision also makes the 2022 map as the map used for this upcoming election.  

The appeal has not yet appealed on the SCOTUS’ online docket.

Check back for updates.

Hoskins-v.-von-Glahn-Application-for-Stay-FINALDownload

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Euphenie Andre

MARSHALL, Mo. (KMIZ)

The future of Fitzgibbon Hospital in Marshall is uncertain after a potential buyer backed out of a deal to purchase the hospital, according to federal bankruptcy court documents.

Fitzgibbon Hospital is suing Strawberry Fields and American Medical Administrators, seeking damages for costs, alleged harm and delays the hospital says resulted from the companies not following through with the agreement.

According to court documents, the hospital began receiving offers to purchase its assets in February.

On April 1, the hospital’s board approved Strawberry Fields’ $5.94 million offer to purchase The Living Center. The hospital said the deal would provide additional funding while it continued looking for a buyer for its acute care facility. On April 13, Strawberry Fields submitted an offer of $8 million to purchase the hospital’s assets.

The hospital also received interest from another potential buyer. However, according to court documents, that party had not submitted a formal purchase agreement or demonstrated that it could complete the transaction within a feasible timeline.

Court documents filed Wednesday show the hospital was eventually sold for approximately $10.4 million.

The uncertainty has raised concerns among Marshall residents who rely on Fitzgibbon Hospital for nearby medical care. However, Fitzgibbon Hospital CEO Angy Littrell maintained the hospital would remain open in a statement sent to ABC 17 News on Friday. .

“Fitzgibbon Hospital remains open and continues to provide care to our patients and community. While the situation remains serious and continues to evolve, there is no established date for a hospital closure,” the statement reads.

The closest alternative hospital is about 40 minutes away, while another option is approximately an hour away.

Jessica and Miguel Parada, who live in Marshall, told ABC 17 News they are concerned about what this could mean for residents.

“It’s really sad, especially since a lot of residents here can’t travel that far, and this is the closest hospital in the area,” Jessica Parada said.

Miguel Parada said some residents may have difficulty traveling to another hospital, particularly people with disabilities or those who rely on family members for transportation.

“Some of them are disabled. Some of them can’t drive there by themselves and need family members, and I just feel like it wouldn’t be in the best interest of the people in Marshall,” he said.

Jessica Parada also said she has family members who live and work at the living center and worries about the impact the hospital’s situation could have on local jobs.

Miguel said a closure could also leave people living at the facility without a place to stay and workers with fewer employment options.

“It’s a shame for the people that are currently residing there, that they’re going to lose their homes, and the people who have jobs there. It’s also a shame for them because there’s really not any good opportunities here in Marshall specifically to find a job that’s close and remote,” Parada said.

For now, the hospital remains open and continues to provide care to patients while the bankruptcy case and legal dispute move forward.

Patients in Marshall who may need to seek care elsewhere have several options in the surrounding area. According to travel times provided by mapping services, alternative hospitals and medical services include:

Carroll County Memorial Hospital: About 40 minutes away

Boone Health: About 1 hour away

University of Missouri Hospital: About 1 hour and 3 minutes away

Bothwell Regional Health Center: About 33 minutes away

Lafayette Regional Health Center: About 50 minutes away

Western Missouri Medical Center: About 1 hour away

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Demetra Alarcon

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

On Friday, the Missouri Supreme Court rejected the Attorney General’s attempt to appeal the high court’s decision regarding congressional maps.

The Missouri Supreme Court ruled the People Not Politicians successfully made their arguments and that Missouri voters will decide on the “Missouri First” map in November. The congressional map created in 2022 is in force for the upcoming November election.

The 2025 map, which split Congressional District 5 into three districts, was met with criticism, with claims that it was gerrymandered in favor of Republicans ahead of the midterms.

Dave Roland, Senior Analyst for The Freedom Center of Missouri, said that for this case to be taken to the Supreme Court of the United States, it has to be within its jurisdiction, and the attorney general will have to prove that there is a Constitutional question in the case.

“And so if the Missouri Supreme Court is taken at its word, then there is no US constitutional question to be appealed to the US Supreme Court. Now, that does not necessarily foreclose the court from accepting review of the case, but it certainly raises questions as to what justification the U.S. Supreme Court would rely on to accept a review of the case,” Roland said.

According to Roland, the jurisdiction of the U.S. Supreme Court is provided by federal law, involving federal questions. However, the Missouri Supreme Court ruled that it was only addressing matters of Missouri law.

“And so if the Missouri Supreme Court is taken at its word, then there is no US constitutional question to be appealed to the US Supreme Court,” Roland said.

Roland does not think that the U.S. Supreme Court will get involved.

“It’s possible that the US Supreme Court could do something unexpected and fairly extraordinary. But at least if things are going to progress along the normal lines, I would be very surprised if the US Supreme Court said, ‘Yes, we actually agree that we have jurisdiction to hear this case,'” Roland said.

“So again, federal courts have been very clear that state courts are the ultimate authorities of state law. And unless there are extremely unusual circumstances, federal courts don’t second-guess what state courts say that state law means or requires,” Roland said.

Since the Missouri Supreme Court rejected the Missouri Attorney General’s attempt to appeal its congressional map decision, the Attorney General now claims that the votes from the August election are nullified and violate the U.S. Constitution.

Roland said that he does not think that it is a correct argument to make, and does not think the U.S. Constitution has been violated.

“So because none of those votes have been invalidated or made to go away, they still resulted in the nomination of candidates. I don’t think you can actually say anyone has been disenfranchised,” Roland said.

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