Category: kmiz-local-news

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A man was charged with two felonies after he allegedly attacked a youth on Wednesday in Camden County.

Kenneth Shumate, 36, of Jefferson City, was charged Thursday in Camden County with first-degree domestic assault and child abuse. He is being held at the Camden County Jail without bond. A bond hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. Tuesday.

The heavily redacted probable cause statement says Shumate attacked a youth after they called someone or something a swear word. The victim was brought to an area hospital and required staples.

Law enforcement found blood in the parking lot of the incident, the statement says.

Shumate allegedly admitted to assaulting the victim to law enforcement, court documents say.

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Matthew Sanders

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

A state psychologist testified Friday that a woman charged with murdering a 4-year-old boy in Jefferson City in 2018 is mentally competent to go to trial.

Tiffany Harris, a forensic examiner and senior psychologist for the Missouri Department of Mental Health, testified during a hearing in the Cole County Courthouse that Quatavia Givens’ behavior shows she is competent. She has been diagnosed with PTSD, but that does not affect her ability to stand trial, Harris testified.

Givens was deemed mentally incompetent in 2023 and, since then, has yet to stand trial.

Quatavia Givens, 32, was charged with first-degree murder, child abuse, first-degree endangering the welfare of a child and abandoning a corpse in relation to the death of 4-year-old Darnell Gray in 2018. She is listed on the Cole County Jail online roster, but was admitted to Fulton State Hospital last year.

The state argued Friday before Judge William Hickle that Givens understands the legal process and the charges against her. Medication has improved her psychological symptoms, prosecutors claim.

Givens’ defense claims that its experts believe she has not received proper treatment to render her competent for trial. They say Givens needed individual intervention not group classes like “Court Education” and “Seeking Safety” that she is apart of at FSH. The defense also argued that Givens’ PTSD makes it hard for her to confront the details of the case and participate in her defense.

Court documents say that Givens allegedly struck and smothered Gray, resulting in his death.

Hickle said he will consider the arguments before issuing his ruling. A decision is expected early next week.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The former head cook of the Jefferson City Boys and Girls Club has been charged with a child sex crime in Cole County.

Scott Minor, 45, of Jefferson City was charged on Thursday with child enticement. He is being held at the Cole County Jail without bond. A court date has not been scheduled.

Court documents say Minor tried to entice a 12-year-old, but reference inappropriate conversations he had with other children. Text messages recovered by law enforcement allegedly show Minor admitting to “dating” a 14-year-old. Minor allegedly communicated with children with an app, as well as the website Omegle.

The Pea Ridge, Arkansas, Police Department also allegedly obtained communications between Minor and one of the children.  That information was obtained after the victim’s mother consented to have data from the victim’s cellphone extracted by law enforcement, the statement says.

Court documents say Minor was taken into custody on July 25 for unrelated warrants. Law enforcement asked him about his employment status and he allegedly said he was fired from the Boys and Girls Club on July 20 after they heard about the allegations against him.

The Boys and Girls Club confirmed he is not currently employed with them in an email to ABC 17 News.

“The safety and protection of the young people we serve is—and will always be—our highest priority. We are aware of the arrest of a former staff member involving alleged inappropriate behavior toward a minor. We are deeply disturbed by these reports, as no harm should ever come to any child. While the reports do not involve any Boys & Girls Club members, our thoughts and support are with the victim and their family,” the email says.

A social media post from the Jefferson City Boys and Girls Club indicates he was hired in July 2024.

Court documents say Minor thought he was being interviewed by law enforcement about a separate instance of having inappropriate communications with a youth on Omegle, but claimed he did not know that girl’s age. Omegle is a website where people can video chat with each other.

Minor alleged he did not talk about anything sexual with the 12-year-old, despite law enforcement gathering evidence showing otherwise. He allegedly told law enforcement that by the time the child is 18 years old, he will be older than 50 and “would have probably forgotten about her,” according to the probable cause statement.

Law enforcement gathered more messages from Minor’s electronic devices from May 29-June 25 that show a number of inappropriate conversations between Minor and the youth.

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Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

With the first day of school just weeks away, many families are bracing for rising school supply prices.

On Friday, Unity in the Community and Powerhouse Community Development teamed up to help ease that burden by handing out hundreds of backpacks filled with school supplies to help students get ready for the new school year.

According to the Yale Budget Lab, new tariffs of 10-40% on imports could drive shoe prices up 40% and clothing up 38%. The threat of increased prices has also drawn shoppers to stores quicker for back-to-school supplies. 

The National Retail Federation reports nearly 70% of shoppers started back-to-school shopping as early as July, up from 55% last year.

After serving 1,800 people last year, Powerhouse Community Development and Unity in the Community moved the start time of their annual back-to-school event to noon, responding to long lines that formed well before the 2 p.m. kickoff last year. But the earlier start times still drew large crowds. 

“When we got here at 8 am, they were actually already standing out here before then,” Erika Budford, the executive administrator of Powerhouse Community Development, said. “We started at 12 (p.m.) and by 1:40 we had already given out 1,400 backpacks.” 

By the end of the day, Powerhouse had handed out nearly 2,000 backpacks filled with school supplies. 

“I’m definitely here for the free backpack and school supplies that they’re handing out.” Molly Burrows, a parent with multiple children in Columbia Public Schools, said. “Both my kids are in need of backpacks.” 

The event also featured more than 30 community resource agencies, including free sports physicals, haircuts and dental screenings. 

“I’ve actually learned a lot of different programs around Columbia that I didn’t even know existed that help people for free. So I’m super excited that I was able to make it out here today,” Burrows said.

Powerhouse budgets year-round to buy these supplies and also depends on donations to make it happen. 

“We know that they may just go with a notebook and pencil to high school but we really try to make sure we get them at least 10-to-12 items in their backpacks when they’re starting out,” Buford said. “Prices are going up, and then we just have everyday families that this actually helps them, whether it’s needing new clothing, new shoes.” 

“I love what Powerhouse has been doing. It’s monumental in the community,” said Lorenzo Powell, who is a case manager at Powerhouse. 

Many companies ordered supplies ahead of the tariffs to try to offset rising costs, but retailers like Target and Walmart are already posting signs warning shoppers that higher prices on back-to-school essentials are just weeks away.

Powerhouse will be holding several other back-to-school events ahead of the school year. There will be a back-to-school immunization clinic from 9 .m.-noon Saturday at the Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services building on Worley Street.

Another event will be on Aug. 17 from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Armory in Columbia. Powerhouse will hold an additional event in Marshall, Missouri, from noon-3 p.m. at the CL Stephenson multipurpose building on Aug. 14.

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Matthew Sanders

The Missouri State Fair opened for its 123rd year on Thursday, continuing a Midwestern summer agricultural and cultural tradition in the Show-Me State.

Gov. Mike Kehoe is promoting the fair as the “Great American Fair” and “Show-Me 250” to coincide with the coming 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

The crowds streamed into the fairgrounds in Sedalia to begin the 11-day event Thursday, with people sampling fair food such as funnel cakes and fried Oreos. For many fairgoers, the fare is the best part of the fair.

Are you a fan of fair fare? Let us know by voting in the poll.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The City of Macon on Thursday wrote on its Facebook page that it has let go City Administrator Scott Meszaros.

“After long deliberations among the Council, we believe the best interests of the City would be better served by moving in a different direction,” Mayor Tony Petre is quoted in the release. “We appreciate Mr. Meszaro’s hard work, professionalism, and dedication to our city. We wish him success in his future endeavors.”

The post says additional comments from the city will not be given for a “personnel matter.” The city will soon begin talks on who will serve as the interim administrator, the post says.

A previous Facebook post from the city indicates Meszaros was hired on Jan. 31 and started in the position on March 3.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

No injuries were reported after a house caught fire Thursday afternoon in the 2400 block of Bluebird Drive in Jefferson City, according to a press release from the Jefferson City Fire Department.

JCFD wrote the fire was ruled accidental. Crews were called at 3:26 p.m. and firefighters ended up finding a fire in a basement closet, the release says.

Minor smoke damage was reported on all levels of the home, the release says.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Three people were charged in a child abuse case after children were found living in unsanitary conditions on Tuesday, according to court documents.

Jonathan Cunningham, 23, of Camdenton, was charged on Wednesday with drug possession and three counts of first-degree endangering the welfare of a child. He is being held at the Camden County Jail without bond. A court appearance is scheduled for 1 p.m. Friday at the Camden County Courthouse. An intimal court appearance was held on Thursday, where he pleaded not guilty.

Joshua Cunningham, 49, and Maria Cunningham, 44, both of Camdenton, were charged with drug possession. Both of them bonded out of jail at 4 p.m. Wednesday, according to jail records. Court dates have not been scheduled.

The probable cause statements say law enforcement was doing a drug search at a home and took custody of multiple children after seeing the living conditions at the residence.

Law enforcement allegedly saw urine and feces on a number of walls and nearly two feet of garbage and debris in rooms of the home, the statement says. Some of the trash and debris included rotting food and animal feces, the statement says.

Multiple pipes and baggies containing methamphetamine were also found by law enforcement throughout the home, the statement says.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A traffic shift has been scheduled next week as crews are in the final stages of building a new bridge on Highway 63 just north of Broadway in Columbia and rehabbing an overpass at Interstate 70, a Thursday Missouri Department of Transportation press release says.

On Wednesday, Aug. 13, head-to-head traffic will shift from the southbound lanes to the northbound lanes so crews can work on rehabbing the southbound overpass over I-70, the release says.

“Those who travel this area frequently, particularly northbound motorists, will see little change as entering and exiting the work zone will remain the same. All exit and entrance ramps for U.S. Route 63 are expected to remain open,” the release says.

This latest change is expected to last through September, the release says.

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Erika McGuire

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Jefferson City School District opened its new Early Childhood Center on Thursday.

The new facility, located at 1840 E. McCarty St., doubles the number of students served from 150 to 300 out of the district’s approximately 600 annual early childhood graduates, according to school officials.

Construction was paid for with proceeds from a bond issue that passed with 68% voter approval in April 2024. The district borrowed $85 million in total, with $22.5 million budgeted to pay for the Early Childhood Center’s construction.

District leaders emphasize the long-term benefits of early childhood education, noting that students who attend preschool are more likely to succeed academically, graduate high school, attend college and avoid unemployment.

Several organizations including, the Jefferson City Area Chamber of Commerce Workforce Coalition, C&S Employment Services and other organizations across the community and state are a part of the development of a new pilot program called “Child Care Works.”

The program is designed to help employers cover the cost of child care costs for employees.

Gov. Mike Kehoe has approved $107 million to support timely payments based on enrollment for child care provides, $10 million for child care innovation grants to improve child care supply and $2.5 million to launch the program.

President of C&S Employment Solutions, Paula Benne says Missouri families feel the burden of expensive child care costa and the goal of the program is to make it more affordable.

“If a business puts in 30% of an employees child care expense the state will match up to 40% of that childcare expense,” Benne said.

The program has been in the works for five years, Benne said, after the COVID-19 pandemic hit the child care industry hard.

An analysis done this year by Chile Care Aware found 97% of Missouri counties are infant and toddler child care deserts, and families spend at least 14% of their income on care.

The analysis found one-third of infants and toddlers in Cole County lack access to licensed care and 20% of pre-kindergarten children remain unserved.

The Child Care Works Program aims to change that.

“If you’re  talking an average child care $12,000 a year and you get that families expenses down to $3,600 thats huge,” Benne added.

The pandemic forced child care centers across the country to close, limiting access to care. But Benne says this program could also help the centers themselves.

“It’s going to attract staff for our child care centers, which will open up more rooms and more availability for families,” she said.

Child Care Teacher Melissa Small, has worked in child care for years and says the lack of facilities and employees is something she sees first hand.

“I believe it’s just not many people who want to work in childcare anymore  so we’re losing a lot of child care employees burnout is a thing,” Benne said.

The program, Benne says it also a win for businesses.

“Small business federal tax credit that they can get up to 50% federal tax credit large businesses can get up to 40% federal tax credit so that cuts it in half their contribution to this program,” Benne said.

Benne said about 10 businesses, including child care centers have signed up for the program.

The pilot is texted to launch Oct. 1 or mid October in Cole, Moniteau, Osage and Callaway counties.

Benne says they’ll evaluate its impact early next year, with hopes to expand it statewide.

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