Category: kmiz-local-news

Olivia Hayes

LAKE OZARK, Mo. (KMIZ)

Lake Ozark Board of Aldermen on Wednesday night will determine whether to approve or deny a deal with Osage Casinos.

The new property is part of a new entertainment district in Missouri announced last fall by the Osage Nation. The proposed site is at 3501 Bagnell Damn Blvd. and is expected to be completed in multiple phases, with an estimated $60 million investment in the region.

Osage Casinos said the location will bring new jobs, tourism and revenue for the Lake of the Ozarks community. The planned property includes a casino, hotel, meeting space and event center.

The Osage Nation will pay the city 2.5% of the money it brings it from gambling activities each year in quarterly installments. It will also collect a 1% resort fee on hotel room transactions and pay that to the city as well in quarterly installments annually. This money will go to help fund the local government agencies and departments in Lake Ozark.

Phase 1 of the process includes construction of a casino, sports bar, restaurant and meeting space. Additionally, it also includes a hotel, which will have general hotel rooms, suites, a fitness and exercise facility, a pool, hot tub and a pool bar. Phase 1 construction is expected to start upon approval from the Department of Interior.

Future amenities include more casino space, additional food and beverage options, meeting space and an event center.

According to the proposal documents, the Osage Nation will transfer the land within the corporate limits of the City of Lake Ozark into a Federal Trust. In return the city will service the property with municipal services like water, sewer and policing.

The Lake Ozark Police Department will provide officers to work around the clock seven days a week.

The Osage Nation in return will pay $100,000 annually in quarterly installments. However, the Osage Nation Police Department will retain command and control of the area unless it gives another responding agency approve to takeover.

The City of Lake Ozark will be responsible for any road or traffic improvements to the surrounding streets unless a project is otherwise agreed upon by both parties. However, Osage is responsible for any improvements to infrastructure located within the Osage Property boundaries along with providing its own holding tank for water needed in emergency responses.

The council will vote on the agreement at its meeting at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at city hall.

Click here to follow the original article.

Ryan Shiner

BOONVILLE, Mo. (KMIZ)

The former executive director of Unlimited Opportunities Inc. has been charged with a felony after she was accused embezzling nearly $50,000.

Jennifer Waibel, of Boonville, was charged on Monday in Cooper County with stealing more than $50,000. A warrant was issued for her arrest on Monday and a $10,000 bond was set. She was not listed on the Cooper County Jail’s online roster on Tuesday afternoon.

The probable cause statement says the Cooper County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office received an anonymous complaint in 2024 about an employee being fired from Unlimited Opportunities for embezzlement.

Unlimited Opportunities provides services for those who have disabilities and is partially funded by taxpayer money through the Cooper County Board of Sheltered Services.

The statement says an investigation initially indicated there was “no indication of fraud or corruption,” in the monetary transactions between UOI and CCBSS,” but UIO funds and credit cards were not reviewed at the time.

An employee counseling statement from 2023 allegedly indicated that Waibel was “excessively” spending money on the group’s credit card, the statement says.

Transactions listed in the probable cause statement showed Waibel allegedly spent $49,661.36 on several transactions from June 16-Aug. 31, 2023, which included several multi-thousand-dollar purchases at Walmart locations in Boonville, Columbia and in Madison, Georgia.

According to documents, Waibel was suspended with pay on Sept. 6, 2023 while UOI conducted their investigation. 20 days later on the 26, Waibel was sent a letter, informing her that she had been fired, effective Sept. 29 2023.

Court documents say a mutual settlement agreement signed by Waibel and Unlimited Opportunities on Dec. 5, 2023, stated Waibel had to pay back $50,000 to the group by Jan. 8, 2024. A paragraph in the agreement allegedly stated Waibel’s separation would be considered a “voluntary resignation,” the statement says.

The probable cause statement also claimed that employees were threatened with retaliation if they spoke out about the situation.

Executive Director of Cooper County Board of Sheltered Services Madison Dollens sent a statement to ABC 17 News Tuesday night, stating the board is cooperating with authorities. According to Dollens, a report found no indication of fraud or embezzlement from the CCBSS.

“CCBSS remains committed to transparency, accountability, and the responsible use of public funds for the good of the Cooper County community,” Dollens wrote. “At this time, however, CCBSS will not be providing additional comment while we continue to work with law enforcement and investigators.”

ABC 17 News reached out to OUI, who declined to comment.

Click here to follow the original article.

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A former Benton County official has an arraignment scheduled in his child sex crime case.

Richard Lenno, of Lincoln, Missouri, waived his preliminary hearing on Monday when he appeared in court. He is charged with child enticement of a youth younger than 15 years old and sexual misconduct involving a child younger than 15 years old.

The probable cause statement says Renno used the dating application Grindr in August to speak to a child younger than 15 years old. A witness allegedly gave a screenshot to law enforcement of Renno’s face and a nude photograph he sent through Grindr, court documents say.

A family member was able to identify Renno to law enforcement, the statement says.

Renno resigned from his position as Benton County treasurer in July.

Click here to follow the original article.

Erika McGuire

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

The family of Erik Spencer II, who was shot and killed in the parking lot near the Old Navy on Missouri Boulevard, held a balloon release Tuesday afternoon to honor his life as they continue to call for justice.

Spencer was killed on the evening of Nov. 1, and his family says they are still searching for answers.

The ceremony was held at McClug Park near Lincoln University’s campus. It began at 4:44 p.m. The family said those chose that number for the significance of angel numbers. Dozens of friends and family of Spencer’s attended the ceremony, with dozens of balloons in red, green and yellow. Many were wearing “Justice for Erik” t-shirts.

One family member said the release of the balloons let’s Spencer know his loved ones are still here and love him.

ABC 17 News obtained the incident report from that evening. The report begins with a call to 911 at 7:52 p.m.. The caller told dispatch they witnessed a male assaulting a female in a red car. The caller and operator noted they were able to hear screaming coming from the car. The report then says the caller saw the woman try to leave the car while the screaming continued.

At 7:54 p.m., a gunshot is listed in the report, with the caller yelling “gun.” Seconds later, the caller tells the dispatcher a man had been shot and that the windows of the Old Navy store had also been shot out.

The report says the gunshot victim, later confirmed to be Spencer, was still breathing at 7:57 p.m. and that a licensed nurse was on scene trying to help. At 7:58 p.m., EMS arrived, and law enforcement secured a gun at the scene. At 8:02 p.m., CPR was in progress, and EMS was evaluating life-saving measures. Spencer’s time of death was not listed in the report, but police said he died at the scene.

Spencer’s father, Erik Spencer Sr. came to the ceremony with dozens of red, heart-shaped balloons in a UHaul truck. He started off the ceremony with a brief speech, remembering the legacy of his son.

“He was the best thing that could happen to a father, he was my spitting imagine and my other son is my spitting image Erik wa just cool, calm, collective, kind passionate, I can’t say nothing bad about my son,” Spencer Sr. said. “This is a devastating loss to our family, he lit up a room, loved everyone,”

Another family member spoke at the ceremony, highlighting the affect Spencer had at the Boys and Girls Club.

“All the little boys at the boys and girls club he took under his wing, we have to suspend these kids for the dumbest reasons in the world and Erik tried to save them every single time, life gone too soon but job well done,” the family member said during a speech.

ABC 17 News has confirmed that a state employee was questioned by police regarding the incident and released. That person is currently on administrative leave and has not been detained.

No charges have been filed in the case.

ABC 17 News reached out to Cole County Prosecutor Locke Thompson Tuesday afternoon for any updates regarding the case. Thompson said “I have no updates at this time.”

Spencer will be laid to rest Wednesday.

Click here to follow the original article.

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A man has been arrested and charged after he was accused of robbing someone at knifepoint on June 18 in downtown Columbia.

Jordan Thompson, 28, of Columbia, was charged on Monday with first-degree robbery, armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon. He is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond. A court date has yet to be scheduled.

The probable cause statement says police were called around 2:38 a.m. on June 18 for a reported armed robbery that occurred in the 1000 block of East Walnut Street. The victim allegedly told police that Thompson pulled out a knife and threatened to stab him, if the victim did not give up his phone, the statement says.

The victim then claimed he was hit with a bottle and was told to empty his pockets, the statement says. Thompson allegedly took the victim’s phone and vape devices, court documents say.

Thompson was arrested on Monday for “an unrelated and outstanding warrant” and was asked by police about the incident, the statement says. Thompson allegedly told police that he was angry with the victim and “robbed him of everything he had on him,” the statement says.

Thompson allegedly told police that he pulled out a knife, but hit the victim with a can of Budweiser, the statement says. Thompson told police he sold the phone and no longer had the vape devices, knife or can, court documents say.

Click here to follow the original article.

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Mizzou men’s basketball team is taking questions from media on Tuesday before it hosts Minnesota on Wednesday.

The Tigers are 3-0 to start the season, with their most recent win coming in the form of a 106-68 rout of VMI on Sunday.

Minnesota is 2-0 with wins over Gardner-Webb and Alcorn State.

Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m. Wednesday at Mizzou Arena.

Click here to follow the original article.

Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Missouri Tigers have another home game this week — this time hosting Mississippi State at Faurot Field.

The Tigers are coming off two straight SEC losses that have driven them out of the AP Top 25.

Watch the news conference live here.

Click here to follow the original article.

Haley Swaino

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

Missouri paid tribute to its military members on Tuesday with the dedication of a new memorial obelisk honoring veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The event included the rededication of the 1990 Gulf War memorial obelisk, which now bears the conflict’s end date.

“Today is not just about stone and bronze,” Kehoe said in a speech. “It’s about people. It’s about men and women who stood guard through long nights in faraway places, who carried the weight of a responsibility few can imagine, and who came home to build, lead and serve again in our communities.”

About a dozen veterans were in attendance for the new memorial’s dedication. Among them, was Henry “Hank” Stratman.

Stratman served in the Army for 33 years and retired after 9/11 following his tours in Bosnia.

“9/11 happened and I was deployed immediately as Third Army Central Command’s land component, Deputy Commanding General for Support, where we supported the Special Operations Forces in Afghanistan and their hunt for Osama bin Laden. Our mission was to kill or capture Osama bin Laden,” Stratman said.

He said Tuesday’s dedication was a “culminating moment” in his life and career.

“We [veterans] don’t serve for praise and glory,” Stratman said. “We serve for the nation and for each other and the families we represent.”

Planning for the new obelisk and completion of the Gulf War memorial began in 2022, with collaboration between the Veterans Commission, the Office of Administration and the Missouri State Capitol Commission, a press release states. The project, approved in May 2025, cost $157,000 and was completed earlier this year.

The Missouri Veterans Memorial first broke ground in 1990 and was dedicated on Veterans Day in 1991 as a tribute to all Missouri service members, past, present and future.

The memorial features a reflecting pool inscribed with the motto “Missouri Veterans — Guardians of Liberty,” a scaled reproduction of the Capitol dome columns, and the “Veterans Walk,” which originally included eight obelisks representing major U.S. conflicts since Missouri became a state in 1821.

The addition of the Iraq and Afghanistan obelisk and the updated Gulf War marker ensures the memorial continues to honor those who served in more recent conflicts.

“It shows that we’re equal footing with all of the rest of the veterans, and rightfully so,” Missouri Veterans Commission Executive Director Paul Kirchhoff said. “Missouri’s veterans have sacrificed year over year whether it’s a World War One, World War two. And now we’re giving that same credit to our Iraq and Afghanistan veterans that we give to World War One, World War Two, Korea, Vietnam.”

In coming years, the commission said it plans to have the number of Missourians who gave the ultimate sacrifice listed on each war’s obelisk.

The nine obelisks are along the “Veterans Walk” at the Missouri Veterans Memorial, located on the north side of the State Capitol.

Click here to follow the original article.

ABC 17 News Team

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

U.S. Rep. Mark Alford spoke with CNN on Tuesday morning as House members returned to the Capitol to vote on a deal to end the longest-ever government shutdown.

Alford supports the spending package after Democrats dropped a demand that subsidies for Affordable Care Act insurance plans be extended. Watch Alford talk about the subsidies here.

Click here to follow the original article.

Jazsmin Halliburton

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo (KMIZ)

Several Veterans Day ceremonies will take place across Mid-Missouri Tuesday to honor those who served in the armed forces.

The Missouri Office of Administration and the Missouri Veterans Commission will be unveiling the new memorial obelisk at the Missouri Veterans Memorial at 11 a.m. on the north side of the Capitol. The obelisk is dedicated to veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

At the unveiling, the Gulf War Memorial will also be rededicated, with the date marking the end of the war engraved in stone.

Osage Beach will also unveil a new memorial and host a Veterans Memorial ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11 a.m. outside Osage Beach City Hall.

The U.S. Exercise Tiger Foundation will be holding its annual Veterans Day ceremony at the Boone County War Memorial Plaza in Columbia at 11 a.m. The foundation will place wreaths at Memorial Plaza starting at 11 a.m. and Missouri veterans will be ceremonial guards for 24 hours.

According to the USTF, University of Missouri cadets have been the traditional ceremonial guards for the wreaths, but could not participate this year due to the government shutdown.

Click here to follow the original article.