Category: kmiz-local-news

Erika McGuire

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Hot temperatures have arrived in Mid-Missouri, turning playground equipment into potential burn hazards for children.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, each year more than 200,000 children go to the emergency room with injuries from playground equipment.

Jefferson City Parks and Recreation says a young girl was injured at the Community Park last Wednesday after going down a metal slide. The slides have been closed until further notice.

“The playground and play features are built to industry safety standards; our staff have determined these two slide features will be closed off until further notice. We’ve reached out to the manufacturer for solutions that would allow us to reopen the feature sooner and are keeping an eye on surface temperatures,” JC Parks and Recreation said a statement

ABC 17 News tested a metal and plastic slide with a temperature gun at Cosmo Park in Columbia.

The plastic slide came in at 135 degrees, while the metal slide registered at 110 degrees.

While metal slides typically heat up faster, plastic can actually retain heat longer, especially in direct sunlight, making it just as dangerous.

Placement of equipment can also make a difference. ABC 17 News temperature gaged a tire that sat directly in the sun and one that was in the shade. We found the tire in the shade was 126 degrees while the tired under a tree in the shade came in at 99 degrees.

Both temperature checks were conducted around 12:30 p.m.

The CPSC warns of the risk of thermal burns from playground equipment, as metal and even plastic or rubber equipment can become hot enough to burn a child’s skin.

Mother Erika Tagliaferro was at Cosmo Park with her husband and daughter while on the road to St. Louis and quickly decided some equipment was off limits.

“I walked up and saw the metal slide and immediately it was a no,” Tagliaferro said.

She said when the warmer temperatures come around she keeps safety in mind when she dresses her daughter.

“If possible it is so hot so but tighter pants or tighter shorts even impose to the looser flowwy ones,” Tagliaferro added.

While clothing will help, many playgrounds lack proper shade.

The National Program For Playground Safety found in 2019 that 67% of playgrounds in the U.S. were fully exposed to the sun from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Mother Monica Jackson said more shade would allow her and her son to stay at the park longer.

“They have those sun shades those triangular ones that would make a big difference,” Jackson said.

The agency warns that any child of any age runs the risk of being burned by a hot source, but children 2 years old and younger are the most at risk. A young child’s skin is more susceptible to burning because it is thinner and more delicate.

What to watch out for:

Uncoated metal equipment, or metal equipment where the heat-reducing coating has rubbed off;

Slides, swings or other equipment that a child may sit on;

Dark-colored plastics and rubbers, especially the surfacing under and around the playground equipment;

Asphalt and concrete surfaces near playgrounds.

Safety tips:

Tap equipment first with back of your head for five seconds. If it’s too hot, it’s unsafe

Visit the park before peak sun hours

Wear breathable clothing and longer pants to protect the skin and closed-toe shoes.

Click here to follow the original article.

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A sidewalk closure that is expected to last through the end of August will begin next week in Columbia.

Crews on Monday will begin sidewalk repairs on the south side of the 1300 block of Bass Avenue, near the corner at College Avenue, according to a Wednesday press release from the city. The closure is expected to last through Aug. 25, the release says.

Pedestrian detours signs will be posted.

Click here to follow the original article.

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

An Iberia woman took an Alford plea on Wednesday in her husband’s death.

Amy Murray took a plea in Laclede County court for second-degree murder, second-degree arson and tampering with evidence. She was sentenced to 12 years in prison.

An Alford plea occurs when a defendant maintains their innocence but admits evidence would likely result in a guilty verdict if the case went to trial. Murray was originally charged in 2021 with first-degree murder in Miller County.

Previous reporting indicates that her husband, Joshua, died from antifreeze before Amy allegedly set fire to the bed the victim laid. Court documents in previous reporting say Amy Murray had worked as a nurse at the Jefferson City Correctional Center and had a romantic relationship with an inmate.

Click here to follow the original article.

Nia Hinson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Columbia homicide suspect claims he used lethal force because he feared for his life.

Kimo Spivey, 35, of Columbia is charged with first-degree murder, illegal gun possession, two counts of unlawful use of a weapon and two counts of armed criminal action. He’s accused of killing Melvin Hooker III outside of Plush Lounge in May 2023.

Spivey took the stand during the third day of his trial Wednesday, where he told the jury he shot out of self-defense. Spivey claimed he was working as the manager at Plush Lounge the night of the deadly shooting.

He claimed the bar was closed but was staying open late for an event. He said he sat in his vehicle waiting to decide if he was going to leave for the night, when he was told about a disturbance coming from the back of the parking lot. He claimed that disturbance involved Hooker, who allegedly “jumped on” one of his employees.

Spivey said he went to see what was going on when he saw Hooker reach into his vehicle for a gun, and eventually point the gun toward him. Spivey said he then shot back because he feared for his life, but never set out to kill Hooker.

“it wasn’t uh intentionally like. And I’m about to kill this dude. I fired because I was literally in fear. I didn’t know what he was gonna do, but like I said, he was being very aggressive. He was coming at me for a reason, I don’t even know why.”

Spivey also claimed he was “positive” Hooker is the one who shot him.

The prosecution pushed back and questioned why Spivey was in possession of a gun when he is a felon. He claimed he kept the gun for protection and had never shot it before that night.

Surveillance footage displayed during the trial also revealed the victim and at least one of the suspects charged briefly encountered each other before the deadly shooting.

Prosecutors on Wednesday played surveillance footage from outside the nightclub on the night of the shooting. The video showed Hooker walk up to a red truck registered to Spivey a little before 1 a.m., a Columbia Police Department investigator testified. According to previous reporting, police responded to the scene around 2:15 a.m.

The video shows Hooker appear to talk to someone inside of the truck briefly, before walking away toward the front of the door to the club. The video did not include audio. Spivey claimed the two were talking because Hooker was not allowed into the club that night due to him acting violently in the past.

Footage played in the courtroom also shows a group of people involved in an argument before several people began shooting.

The defense filed a motion for acquittal Wednesday, as well. The judge denied the motion.

Three people were charged in the shooting. Samuel Moss Jr., of Columbia, pleaded guilty in April 2024 to unlawful use of a weapon and was sentenced to 15 years in prison. 

Justin Lamar Simpson, 42, is charged with second-degree murder, unlawful use of a weapon, two counts of armed criminal action and illegal gun possession. His next court date was not listed on Casenet. Assistant Boone County Prosecutor Tony Gonzalez said Simpson was not in custody as of Wednesday.

CPD detective Joe Mueller who worked the case, and Boone County medical examiner Keith N Norton testified as the state’s last two witnesses on Wednesday. Mueller watched through surveillance footage from the nightclub the night of the shooting as part of the investigation.

On Wednesday, he walked jurors through each point in the video, pointing out where he observed shell casings on scene.

The medical examiner said Hooker’s autopsy results revealed there were drugs in his system, but ruled his death a homicide after bleeding to death from a gunshot wound to his chest.

Court will resume Thursday morning at 8:30, when the jury is expected to receive the case.

Click here to follow the original article.

Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The body of a Boonville woman missing since Monday has been found in the Missouri River.

The Boonville Police Department wrote in a social media post Wednesday that the body of Katelynn Nelson, 33, was found in the river near Jefferson City.

Nelson was reported missing early Monday. Police say she was reported as suicidal and her vehicle was found at Harley Park. Police called for help, including a Missouri State Highway Patrol helicopter, but could not find Nelson, police say.

An MSHP drowning report says Nelson went into the water early Monday and did not resurface. She was found 55 miles downstream and pronounced dead at the scene Wednesday, the report says.

You can get help for suicidal thoughts by calling or texting 988 or going to https://missouri988.org/.

Click here to follow the original article.

Matthew Sanders

CALLAWAY COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Callaway County family lost an outbuilding in a fire in Callaway County on Wednesday morning.

The fire at 2805 Route F near Fulton burned up a storage shed, including a Chevrolet Camaro, was called in a little after 9 a.m., said Millerburg Fire Chief Larry Curtis. Curtis said the fire could put off smoke for about two days.

The owner was able to get a few tractors out of the shed before the fire got too big, Curtis said. No one was injured.

Firefighters spent over an hour putting out the blaze.

Click here to follow the original article.

Jazsmin Halliburton

Editor’s note: This story was updated after MoDOT sent an updated press release.

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Traffic on U.S. 63 between Broadway and Vandiver Drive in Columbia will be down to one lane in both directions starting Thursday.

The work was originally set to begin on Wednesday, but the Missouri Department of Transportation announced in a Wednesday morning press release that the work was moved to Thursday

The one lane head-to-head traffic pattern will be ahead of the rehabilitation work on the northbound U.S. 63 bridge over Interstate 70 that is set to begin next week.

Drivers who are familiar with this area going southbound won’t see much of a change when entering and exiting the work zone. Northbound drivers on Highway 63 will need to stay in the left lane between the Broadway overpass and the Conley underpass. The right lane will change to exit only to the Highway 63/I-70 connector.

All exit and entrance ramps for Highway 63 are expected to remain open.

This is part of the first phase of the work to reconstruct the I-70/U.S. Route 63 interchange, which is one portion of the first project within MoDOT’s Statewide Improve I-70 Program.

All work is weather-dependent and subject to change.  

Click here to follow the original article.

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Hallsville woman has been charged with two felonies after she allegedly stole the income of someone with a disability.

Natalia Phillips, 44, was charged with financially exploiting a disabled person and stealing more than $750. She is being held at the Boone County Jail on a $50,000 bond. Court date has not been scheduled.

The probable cause statement says that she was appointed to manage the victim’s Supplemental Security Income benefits. She allegedly took the victim’s money from May 31,2024-Jan. 31, 2025, and used it for herself, court documents say. The statement does not list the final total of money she is accused of taking.

A caseworker found out the victim was not receiving their money and allegedly explained to Phillips multiple times that the money had to go to the victim, court documents say.

The victim’s grandmother allegedly told law enforcement that the victim moved away from Phillips in May 2024, but Phillips would not give the victim their disability income, the statement says.

The statement says authorities looked at bank records of a joint account of Phillips and the victim and money was allegedly spent on CashApp purchases.

Phillips allegedly told the Department of Health and Senior Services that she was no longer the person who managed the income, but she did use the victim’s funds for her own uses, the statement says.

In another case Phillips is charged with selling drugs in a protected location. She is being held on a $25,000 bond in that case. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. Tuesday, July 10.

Click here to follow the original article.

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Columbia Police Department says it has arrested a man who was wanted in an armed robbery that occurred on June 5.

Noah Cooley, 21, of Columbia, was charged on June 13 with first-degree robbery, two counts of armed criminal action and a lone count of unlawful use of a weapon. Police wrote in a Tuesday evening press release that Cooley was arrested at 1:05 p.m. in the 1000 block of Claudell Lane.

He is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond. A court date has not been scheduled.

Court documents say that police were called to Vaper Maven in the 100 block of Business Loop 70 around 12:16 p.m. June 5. The victim had allegedly stated to police that a man robbed her at gunpoint, the probable cause statement says.

The victim was able to identify Cooley to law enforcement in a photo lineup. Cooley at the time allegedly asked the victim about a product and she turned around, the statement says. Cooley then allegedly jumped behind the counter, pointed a gun at her head and told her to put products in a bag, along with money from the cash register, the statement says.

The victim locked the door of the store after Cooley left, the statement says. Cooley allegedly took about $300 in cash and $500 worth of product. Police also reviewed video of the incident which allegedly matched details the victim gave police, the statement says.

The statement says police reviewed video footage from nearby stores, as well, and made a facial recognition request for information through the Missouri Information Analysis Center, which returned a lead for Cooley.

Click here to follow the original article.

Mitchell Kaminski

Editor’s note: Additional financial information about Anthem was added on June 25, 2025, as was information from an updated statement provided by MU Health Care. A paragraph describing the timeframe in which operating gains occurred for MU Health Care has been corrected.

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) 

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield says negotiations with MU Health Care are stalled. 

This comes as MU Health Care posted more than $50 million in operating gains from July 1, 2024-April 30, 2025 which includes a full month of Anthem going out of network. 

According to a filing by Anthem’s parent company Elevance, health benefits – which is made up of individual, employer group risk-based, employer group fee-based, BlueCard, Medicare, Medicaid and Federal Employee Program businesses – resulted in operating gain of $2.2 billion for a three-month period ending on March 31.

The two sides failed to reach an agreement by the March 31 deadline, which took MU Health Care out of network for Anthem customers. In April, MU Health Care told ABC 17 News that the two sides were still engaged in discussions, but added that it began negotiations wanting an increase of 11-13% over the next three years. 

MU Health Care claimed that Anthem only offered a 1-2% increase, which was not enough to cover inflationary costs of supplies, labor, technology and pharmaceuticals. MU Health Care claimed it lowered its rate proposal later in the month.

However, Anthem claimed in April that its proposed rate increases exceeded the Consumer Price Index for each year of a three-year agreement.

“Despite our repeated efforts to resume good-faith negotiations, MU Health Care has made future meetings conditional on Anthem first meeting their terms— an approach that prevents meaningful dialogue,” an Anthem spokesperson told ABC 17 News in an email on Tuesday. “Anthem recently extended a proposal to MU Health Care to continue continuity of care for our most vulnerable members through December 31, 2025. MU Health Care declined that offer. Anthem has offered annual rate increases above the Consumer Price Index (CPI), along with the opportunity to earn more through quality-based incentives. MU Health Care has rejected these offers. We want MU Health Care in our network—but not at a rate Missourians can’t afford.” 

On Tuesday, a MU Healthcare spokesman said that a 1-2% increase is all they have been offered in almost a year.

“MU Health Care sent its initial proposal to Anthem in July of 2024.  While MU Health Care’s negotiating position and expectations have changed over the last 10 months, Anthem’s has not,” MU Health spokesman Eric Maze said in an email.

An updated statement from MU Health Care sent on Wednesday evening reiterated “In communication from Anthem around their most recently restated offer, Anthem leadership indicated that they were disengaging from discussions with MU Health Care unless our position changed.”

The updated statement from MU Health Care also claims that Anthem’s continuity of care extension was “not viable,” and that Anthem “bears the responsibility for continuity of care decisions.” MU Health Care alleges Anthem is “now attempting to shift blame and avoid accountability.”

MU Health Care reported a $53.5 million operating gain from July through April. Numbers shared by MU Health Care to the UM System’s Board of Curators showed its Columbia operation accounted for $50.3 million of that, with Jefferson City Capital Region Hospital bringing in $3.2 million. 

In total, MU Health generated $1.599 billion compared to $1.546 billion in expenses. This exceeded the $33.6 billion forecasted in net operating gains during that period. 

MU Health Care still posted financial gains, despite exceeding its overall budget in several key areas. Salaries and benefits came in about $3.6 million over budget, supplies were $8.7 million higher than expected and hospital drug costs exceeded projections by $21.7 million.

However, the numbers varied across facilities. University Hospital stayed under budget—saving $1.7 million on salaries and benefits, $7.2 million on supplies, and $5.9 million on hospital drugs. Meanwhile, Capital Region Hospital overspent by $5.3 million on salaries and benefits, $1.4 million on supplies, $1.8 million on hospital drugs and $15.1 million on other expenses.

Anthem’s total operating gain is down from the same period of the first three months in 2024, where it posted $2.3 billion. However, the operating revenue during the 2025 period was reported at $41.4 billion, compared to the first quarter of 2024 at $37.3 billion.

1Q2025ELVEarningsRelease (1)Download

Click here to follow the original article.