Category: kmiz-local-news

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A woman was charged with two felonies on Tuesday after authorities claim she fraudulently obtained welfare benefits.

Peggy Worstell, of Columbia, was charged with unlawfully receiving EBT cards and stealing more than $750. A warrant will not be issued.

The probable cause statement alleges Worstell misrepresented her household income by not declaring her husband or his income on applications for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Medicaid benefits from September 2018-August 2024.

Court documents say she received $28,710.94 in public assistance.

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Nia Hinson

COLUMBIA, MO. (KMIZ)

Columbia Ward 2 candidates talked Diversity, Equity and Inclusion practices in the city on Tuesday.

The Columbia NAACP hosted an election forum at Second Baptist Church downtown. Ken Rice and Vera Elwood are both vying for the seat, after former councilwoman Lisa Meyer announced her resignation in May.

The special election for the open seat is Aug. 5. Boone County Clerk Brianna Lennon told ABC 17 News Tuesday morning that roughly 900 people had already cast their ballot in person, while another 800 had returned a mailed absentee ballot.

Lennon said she’s expecting between 8-9% turnout.

Community members were invited to ask questions to each candidate during Tuesday night’s forum. One of those questions was centered around DEI practices in the city. The Columbia City Council voted to keep its mission and vision statements intact during its June 16 meeting.

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey launched an investigation into the City of Columbia’s practices related to DEI. The investigation will focus on “decision-making in city programs, hiring and funding,” according to previous reporting.

Bailey also submitted a request for public records and electronic communication for terms related to DEI.

City spokeswoman Sydney Olsen told ABC 17 News via text Tuesday afternoon that the city is still working to provide those documents.

“We sent an initial cost estimate for the original request. Following that, their office narrowed the scope of their request. We’ve sent an updated cost estimate which has been paid. We’re now working to provide documents responsive to their revised request,” Olsen said.

According to Olsen, the original estimated cost was $964.24. The revised estimate was $131.49.

Vera told residents Tuesday night that she would have voted “yes” to keep the DEI policy as it stood, if she was the ward 2 leader at the time the vote occurred.

“The language that it was utilizing wasn’t just randomly invented here in Colombia. It is the standard DEI language that is used by the National Association of Counties that they were relying upon,” Vera said. “I would absolutely uphold that. I would also hope to do further work to see that policy actually come to action, to see more work, to watch the strategic plan and the indicators that they’re using to see more significant change.”

Rice told ABC 17 News ahead of Tuesday’s forum that he doesn’t believe anything will come out of the investigation.

“We have a statement that’s performative,” Rice said. “It means nothing. We talk about we want to do stuff for DEI, we hired a DEI director but there’s no significant show of outcomes that have made any significant community better because of that statement or the hiring of the DEI person.”

Bailey has also threatened to sue the City of Columbia if found in violation DEI compliance and take it to the White House. Pamela Hardin is the president of the Columbia NAACP and moderated Tuesday night’s forum.

Hardin said she doesn’t believe the investigation is unneccesary.

“I think they’re digging in a place that they don’t need to dig. The city is happy with the way things are going here. We are happy being inclusive. We’re happy with our equity and our diversity,” Hardin said. “I just think it’s a waste of time, funds, money, ability, people and resources for him to launch this investigation to find nothing but to look for something because they’re not happy with the choices that the constituents actually have made in this town.”

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Someone described as a nurse practitioner in court documents has been accused of having child pornography and assaulting someone who confronted him about it.

Michael Lewis, 31, of Ashland, was charged with child porn possession, second-degree domestic assault, third-degree domestic assault, tampering with evidence and tampering with a witness. He is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond, though a mugshot was not available on Tuesday afternoon. A court date has not been scheduled.

The probable cause statement says the victim spoke with police on Monday after they were assaulted by Lewis. The victim allegedly found about 20 videos of child pornography on Lewis’ laptop, the statement says.

After the victim confronted Lewis about the videos, he allegedly assaulted the victim and destroyed the laptop, court documents say. The victim took videos and photos of the laptop before it was destroyed and showed them to law enforcement, the statement says.

The victim also allegedly recorded a conversation where Lewis admitted to keeping and viewing the videos, the statement says.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The next phase of work on Highway 54 over Missouri Boulevard that begins next week will require a traffic shift, according to a press release from the Missouri Department of Transportation.

Crews on Tuesday, Aug. 5 will start working on the driving lane and will shift eastbound and westbound traffic to their respective passing lanes, the release says. The following ramps will be closed:

Westbound Highway 54 off-ramp to Missouri Boulevard. (Which is new during this phase.) 

Eastbound Highway 50 off-ramp to westbound Highway 54. (Closed during Phase 1.) 

Missouri Boulevard on-ramp to eastbound Highway 54. (Closed during Phase 1.) 

During this second phase the 11-foot width restriction and speed reductions will remain in place, the release says.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Barnett, Missouri, man died from injuries he suffered in a single-vehicle crash on Tuesday morning in Morgan County, according to a crash report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

The report says the crash occurred on Route AA, north of Jones Creek Road. The crash occurred as a 2007 Pontiac Torrent – driven by the 32-year-old man – was heading northbound and went off the right side of the road. The driver then overcorrected, causing the vehicle to go off the left side of the road and hit an embankment, the report says.

The vehicle then overturned and ejected the driver, the report says. The man was flown to University Hospital in Columbia, where he was pronounced dead.

The report says he was not wearing a seatbelt. The Pontiac was totaled. MSHP reports do not name those involved in crashes.  

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Gabrielle Teiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

In less than a month, more than a million children across Missouri will be shoving notebooks into their backpacks, sharpening their pencils and walking down the halls of their schools for the new school year.

While having all the right supplies on the first day is important, making sure you have all your immunizations is crucial.

The Immunization of School Children law requires Missouri students to get their immunizations to attend any school, except those granted religious and medical exemptions. Dr. Laura Morris with MU Health Care said the state relies on the recommendations of the advisory committee on immunization practices for vaccine scheduling to the CDC, following the national standard.

The following immunizations are required and listed by the Department of Health and Senior Services for students kindergarten through 12th grade for the 2025-26 school year:

DTaP: Missouri students heading into kindergarten need five doses of DTaP, with the final dose given on or after a child turns 4, according to DHSS. A final dose of pediatric pertussis needs to be administered before the child turns 7 years old.

DTaP is a combination immunization given to children under seven years old and protects children from diphtheria, tetanus (“lockjaw”) and pertussis (whooping cough), according to the nonprofit organization immunize.org. Diphtheria and pertussis can spread from person to person, whereas tetanus enters the body through a cut in the skin.

Missouri schools also accept DTP and DT in place of DTaP. DTP is used in low- and middle-income countries and was phased out of the U.S. when DTaP became the standard. DTa1 does not include the pertussis immunization, and is administered to children who can’t receive the Pertussis vaccine due to a medical reason, according to the CDC.

DTaP trains the immune system by introducing chemically inactive toxins and purified fragments of bacterium found in the infections the immunization fights to the immune system. This mimics the infection without causing the disease, so the body is ready to fight it if exposed to the real disease later, according to research from the CDC.

IPV(Polio): Missouri students need four polio vaccinations with the last dose on or after their 4th birthday and at least six months apart from each shot, according to DHSS. IPV is a series of shots filled with inactive or killed, poliovirus that trains the body to fight the highly contagious disease, according to the CDC. It allows the body to create proteins to fight the live disease if exposed. This will not give you the disease, but you may have mild side effects like fever, pain and swelling where the shot was given.

MMR: A combination immunization that protects against measles, mumps and rubella. DHSS requires students to receive 2 doses total, with the first dose administered anywhere between 12-15 months and final dose between 4-6 years old. Measles, mumps and rubella can cause fever, rash, pneumonia, meningitis, birth defects and more, according to the Cleveland Clinic. According to DHSS, there have been seven confirmed cases of measles in Missouri this year.

Hepatitis B: Missouri students need three hepatitis B immunizations before the start of kindergarten. You must wait at least four weeks between dose one and two, at least eight weeks before two and three, wait at least 16 weeks between one and three and the final dose must be given no sooner than 24 weeks old, according to DHSS. Hepatitis B is a contagious virus that can cause a liver infection, causing short-term and long-term issues like liver failure, cirrhosis and cancer.

Varicella: Following CDC guidelines, Missouri students need two doses of the Varicella immunization, with the first dose being given on or after twelve months old and the final dose being before four years old. Varicella is a highly contagious virus that causes an itchy rash with blisters, fever and fatigue.

Tdap booster: One dose required for incoming eighth graders. According to the CDC, Tdap is only for children seven years old and up, and should receive the shot around 11 and 12 years old.

MCV booster (Meningococcal): One dose for eighth graders or after 11 years old and two doses for 12th graders unless one dose was given at 16 years old, then only one dose is required for 12th graders.

Vaccine
Age needed by
What it protects against
Doses

DTaP
Pre-K
Diphtheria, tetanus (“lockjaw”) and pertussis (whooping cough)
5 last dose given on or after 4th birthday

IPV
Pre-K
Polio
4last dose given on or after 4th birthday

MMR
Pre-K
Measles, mumps and rubella
2last dose given on or after 4th birthday

Hepatitis B
Pre-K
Viral infection that can cause liver inflammation/damage
3last dose given between 6-18 months

Varicella
Pre-K
Chicken pox
2last dose given on or after 4th birthday

Tdap
Eighth grade
Booster shot to continue protection against diphtheria, tetanus (“lockjaw”) and pertussis (whooping cough)
1

MCV
Eighth grade12th grade
Meningococcal disease
2one dose required after 10-years-oldsecond dose required by 12th grade the latest.

Data provided from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

A four-day grace period is allowed before vaccine due dates, according to DHSS. Students can also be considered “in progress” if they have begun the immunization process and have an appointment for the next dose on record. These students must have an immunizations in progress form (Imm.P.14).

Missouri does allow medical and religious exemptions and paperwork is required for both. If a Missouri school were subject to an outbreak of a preventable disease, under Missouri law, those children can be excluded from school.

An uninsured child can get free vaccinations through the Vaccines for Children Program, funded by the CDC. Lynelle Paro, Bureau Chief of the Missouri Bureau of Immunizations, said children can receive free immunizations through the program as long as they are Medicaid-eligible, do not have health insurance, are an American Indian or Alaskan Native, or are underinsured.

While vaccine-preventable diseases have started to spread more nationwide in recent years, misinformation is also spreading. A common misconception DHSS addresses is the idea that immunizations aren’t necessary because the disease is rare now. While yes, certain diseases are rare in the United States, they can be more common to catch in foreign countries or by being exposed to folks from other countries who may not be vaccinated against the disease. Certain diseases are rare in the United States because of vaccines, and if vaccine distribution were stopped, diseases could spread very quickly.

Another misconception is that children can get sick from getting an immunization, but Morris said that is not true. A majority of vaccines given are inactive and incapable of giving you the infection. You may have some mild side effects, like a sore arm at the injection site or a slight fever, which typically go away quickly.

“It is a good sign that your immune system is reacting to the vaccine,” Morris said. “Your immune system has been activated, but you’re not infected and you’re not contagious, so those are important considerations that even if you don’t feel great for a day or two while your immune system reacts to you and creates immunity against that vaccine product, it’s not the same thing as being sick.”

Health officials recommend that any parent or guardian who has questions or concerns about vaccines should contact a health professional, like a pediatrician, pharmacist, nurse, family doctor or other licensed health care provider.

“It’s been our life’s work to make sure we understand this and we want to take care of you and your family, so asking those questions and reaching out right now is a great time,” Morris said.

While these vaccines are mandatory for students to go to school, the latest reports on immunization rates in Missouri show those numbers are falling.

Multiple counties in Mid-Missouri are reporting certain immunization rates falling below the threshold for herd immunity. Herd immunity is reached when 90-95% of a community is fully vaccinated against a vaccine-preventable disease. Without it, the chance for an outbreak rises.

“For dropping school vaccination rates, there’s a certain level and when you drop below that the outbreak becomes more likely and at some point, even inevitable,” said Dr. George Turabelidze, who is an epidemiologist at the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

The threshold is different for different vaccines. Measles, for example, needs 95% of a community to be fully vaccinated against the disease for herd immunity.

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Madison Stuerman

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A 72-year-old West Virginia man was seriously injured in a two-vehicle crash Tuesday on Interstate 70 in Montgomery County, according to a crash report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

The report says the crash occurred as a 2018 Freightliner Cascadia was heading westbound “at a slow rate of speed” in the driving lane. A 2014 Peterbilt 389 – driven by a 48-year-old man from Georgia – tried to pass the Cascadia and hit the back of it, the report says.

Both drivers were brought to University Hospital by ambulance, the report says. The Georgia man had minor injuries, while the West Virginia man had serious injuries, according to the report. The Georgia man was wearing a seatbelt, while it is not known if the West Virginia man was wearing one, the report says.

The westbound lane of Interstate 70 was closed for more than two hours, but cleared by 1:30 p.m.

🚨Crash Blocking WB I-70 @ 166 MM🚨

Troopers are responding to the report of an injury crash involving two tractor trailers on westbound I-70, in Montgomery County.

The roadway is blocked and traffic is backing up. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available. pic.twitter.com/gGdnudEh6E

— MSHP Troop F (@MSHPTrooperF) July 29, 2025

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Madison Stuerman

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A third person has been charged with murder in connection with the death of a Columbia man in 2021 in Benton County.

Cody Garrett, 28, was reported missing on June 21, 2021. Benton County deputies found Garrett’s vehicle and remains off the trails near a bike park outside Warsaw, Missouri. An autopsy showed he had been killed.

Kayley and Michael Birnbaum were charged in May after he confessed to law enforcement, according to court documents.

On Monday, Jack Wagner, of Springfield, was also charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action in the death of Garrett.

Court documents state Benton County deputies interviewed Wagner on July 24 in Springfield and told the deputies he helped the couple plan and research the killing of Wagner.

Deputies said Wagner admitted to telling both Kayley and Michael how to clean up and destroy evidence, burn clothing and plan an alibi.

Wagner told deputies he thought a redacted name was a threat to his grandchildren, according to documents. He also told deputies he helped two people, whose names are redacted, by creating an alibi for one. He also allegedly told deputies the couple “trusted him to help them get away with it.”

During the interview, deputies said Wagner had a phone call with one of the other suspects to confirm “all loose ends were tied up.”

Court documents also state Wagner signed a statement admitting his part in the death of Garrett. Deputies said phone records also indicate his statement.

Both Birnbaums are being held at the Benton County jail after court documents state deputies found multiple weapons inside their home, including a sword that matched Garrett’s injuries. Court documents also say they burned evidence and threw the gun used to shoot Garrett in the Missouri River.

A hearing was held on Monday, where a judge found enough probable cause to issue an arrest warrant for Wagner. His bond is set at two million dollars.

It is unclear if Wagner is in custody as of Tuesday afternoon.

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Jazsmin Halliburton

HOWARD COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Boonville man accused of shooting another man in Howard County last week is expected to face a judge Tuesday morning for an initial arraignment.

Johntelle Millens, 39, was charged on Friday with first-degree assault, armed criminal action, unlawful use of a weapon and illegal gun possession. Millens is being held at the Howard County Jail without bond after the court decided that he was a significant threat to public safety and the victim. Millens will have his arraignment with Judge Mason Gebhardt at 9 a.m. Tuesday.

The shooting happened last Thursday and the victim drove himself to downtown Booneville, where officers were called to the intersection of Main and High streets to find them with multiple gunshot wounds. He was flown to the hospital for treatment.

The victim was then with a friend, who allegedly told police Millens shot the victim, the statement says. The victim’s vehicle had a broken window and a spent shell casing was found.

According to court documents, witnesses told law enforcement they saw two men parked near the Port Authority before one man got out of an SUV with what appeared to be a gun.

Millens was arrested three hours after the shooting, near where the victim was found in Boonville. At the time of Millens’ arrest, he denied being involved in the shooting and refused to give a DNA sample, according to the statement.

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Haley Swaino

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

Lori Smith was mowing her lawn Thursday when she saw a pickup truck coming around the corner of County Road 391.

“There was nothing indicating that this individual that was driving was doing anything wrong at all,” Smith said.

She has lived across the street from the Katy Trail crossing on County Road 391 for six years and said though she often sees vehicles speed around that area, that truck was not.

A 21-year-old woman from Holts Summit was driving the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado and a 23-year-old man from Jefferson City was riding in the truck.

Smith said no sooner had she turned to continue mowing, she heard the impact. A 9-year-old boy was hit.

Smith said she and her husband, both who work in Jefferson City Corrections, raced down the driveway.

“I was trying to take a pulse and was really not getting anything,” Smith said. “My husband immediately went into first aid, CPR techniques.”

She said Monday that Thursday’s accident was not the fault of those involved, but a product of many problems in that location.

“There’s no good signage here neither on the roadway to indicate that the trail is right here nor on the trail.”

County Road 391 has few posted speed signs and ABC 17 News saw no indicators driving down it giving a warning of the Katy Trail ahead. Smith said the path was barely visible to approaching drivers that day due to nearly seven foot high weeds.

On the trail, there is little signage warning of the road ahead and the stop sign bikers and trailgoers must yield to was blocked Thursday, according to Smith.

“The small stop sign that’s here had tree debris. There was a big limb that had fell down and then the debris was hanging over it,” Smith said. “And I’m not one to measure, but I would say it’s probably about eight inches in diameter, give or take. Obviously not something that’s going to flag to somebody, “Hey stop, we’ve got a roadway here or an intersection here.”

Smith said she hopes changes can be made to make the area safer for bikers and trailgoers.

Jefferson City resident Julie Carel agrees. She rides the Katy Trail frequently and is having a hard time processing the death of the boy.

“We (she and her husband) feel so badly for the family,” Carel said.

That’s why she decided to take action Monday morning. 

Carel said she mailed a letter to Missouri Department of Natural Resources Director Kurt Schaefer and sent copies to Gov. Mike Kehoe and Missouri State Parks Director Laura Hendrickson.

“I asked them to specifically install crossing gates at each intersection,” Carel said.

She asked for gates at the intersection of County Road 391 where the boy was hit and at Dogwood Drive, which is the following intersection going west.

“Stagger those gates so that people would be forced to get off their bikes and walk across each intersection,” Carel said. “It would also be helpful to have a larger stop sign for riders. We have never seen anybody come to a complete stop at the intersections. Most everyone, including us, slows down looks for traffic and then goes on through.”

Vegetation is another issue Carel said needs addressed, but one she’s not sure who is in charge of fixing.

“Vegetation needs to be cut, but I think that’s probably the county,“ Carel said.

Smith said vegetation along County Road 391 is one thing that has looked different since the crash. ABC 17 News saw a tractor going up and down the road trimming back overhanging trees and excess vegetation.

“I am assuming it’s the county because the type of equipment,” Smith said. “They were sitting by our mailbox and it’s got the big arm.”

Smith said she has never seen these tractors clearing near her home until after the boy died.

“It is dangerous right now and will continue to be until they put up those gates,” Carel said. “I think it’s important that they [the state] take this seriously and do it quickly to prevent another accident. This is a priority.”

Smith agrees and wonders if this tragedy would have happened had there been more signs and less weeds.

“I don’t know that you will ever 100% prevent things like this, but this could have truly been a lot less likely to have occurred,” Smith said.

Katy Trail State Park is primarily managed and maintained by Missouri State Parks’ staff, according to MSP Deputy Regional Director Daniel Brigman.

“Vegetation management depends on the location,” Brigman said in an email. “Along the right-of-way, vegetation management is based on who manages the Katy Trail right-of-way, which can include MODOT, the respective county, the respective city, etc.”

ABC 17 News has reached out to see who manages the vegetation at the Katy Trail on County Road 391.

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