Category: kmiz-local-news

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Negotiations are still ongoing between MU Health Care and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, but a state senator is alleging they could be close to a deal.

A spokesman with MU Health Care told ABC 17 News in an email that the hospital system talked with Anthem throughout the day on Friday, but an agreement has not been signed. No discussions are planned for the weekend.

“We have been engaged throughout the day with Anthem, but do not yet have a signed agreement. Our goal remains to reach a deal that restores in-network access for Anthem members,” MU Health Care spokesman Eric Maze wrote.

Anthem customers using Medicare Advantage plans have been out of MU Health Care’s network since February. Other customers have been out of network since April after the two sides failed to reach an agreement. Both sides have disputed price points alleged by the other side.

Both sides spoke at a Missouri senate committee hearing last month, where Anthem claimed progress had been made.

Earlier this week, Missouri Senate President Pro Tem Cindy O’Laughlin (R-Shelbina) made a social media posting indicating she wanted a deal to be accepted this week. Laughlin in a post at 11:58 a.m. Friday claimed that the two sides were close to coming to a deal.

“On the healthcare issue to use a football analogy we are on the 1 yard line and it is third down. And I believe we are going to score a win. It could still fall apart but I don’t think it will. President [Mun] Choi and Rich from Anthem are close to an agreement. I will let you know,” she wrote.

Laughlin wrote a second post at 1:33 p.m. thanking both sides, claiming a metaphorical “touchdown” occurred and that details would be available next week.

ABC 17 News reached out to an Anthem spokesperson on Friday evening.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Former Mizzou football coach Gary Pinkel has filed a lawsuit to keep his driver’s license.

Pinkel’s lawyer – Bogdan Susan — on Wednesday filed a petition in Camden County asking the court to not suspend the former coach’s license after he allegedly refused to take a breathalyzer test

A Missouri State Highway Patrol report on Tuesday showed that Pinkel was arrested at 11:46 p.m. Monday in Camden County on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. The report said that he was brought to the Camden County jail and was released. Criminal charges have not yet appeared on Casenet.

The petition alleges that Pinkel was “not legally arrested or stopped” and that the trooper did “not have reasonable grounds to believe that Petitioner was driving a motor vehicle while in an intoxicated” and that Pinkel refused the test under Missouri’s Implied Consent law.

Another motion indicates that Pinkel could lose his license on July 23, if the order for stay is not granted.

A summons was issued for the Department of Revenue on Friday and a hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 25 at the Camden County Courthouse.

Pinkel, 73, served as MU’s head coach from 2001-15. Pinkel previously pleaded guilty to misdemeanor DWI in 2011 in Boone County. He was sentenced to two years of probation and completed the sentence.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Missouri Veterans Commission’s veterans suicide prevention report that was published this week shows 171 veterans in the state died by suicide in 2022.

The report shows that 42.6 of every 100,000 Missouri veterans died by suicide, higher than the national average of 34.7 of every 100,000.

Guns made up roughly three-quarters of veteran deaths in the state, while it made up two-thirds of the state’s overall suicides and 55% of the nationally reported number. Veteran deaths made up 14.5% of the state’s 1,179 reported suicides for that year.

Date from the report shows that the central region of the state reported 22 deaths by suicide for the year. The St. Louis metro area had the most with 52, while the southwestern portion had 39 and the Kansas City metro area had 36.

The prevention program aims to decrease the number of veteran suicides, the report says. The report claims that roadblocks include the ongoing stigma of mental health struggles and help-seeking for veterans. The report also says that access to mental health services is difficult for veterans.

“Barriers such as transportation shortfalls and a lack of awareness of available resources are limiting factors for Veterans seeking mental health support,” the report says.

Those needing immediate attention can call the national suicide hotline at 988.

veterans-suicide-prevention-report-2025Download

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Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

President Donald Trump visited Kerrville, Texas, on Friday to tour damage left behind from flash floods and speak with local officials.

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Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Task Force 1, a search and rescue team based in Columbia at the Boone County Fire District, has been busy helping in the aftermath of the floods that have killed scores in Texas.

However, the group’s spokesman, Boone County Fire Assistant Chief Gale Blomenkamp, has been limited in the information that he can divulge due to state government rules, Blomenkamp and a FEMA spokesperson told ABC 17 News.

Blomenkamp spoke Thursday with anchor Jazsmin Halliburton about the team’s missions in the Kerrville, Texas, area.

Jazsmin Halliburton: Now Chief Gale, I appreciate you for joining us this afternoon, but what are you able to tell us about the team’s mission currently in Kerville, Texas?

Gale Blomenkamp: Yeah, so I can tell you that we were activated on Monday. We left Boone County on Monday evening. We arrived in Texas late Tuesday night. We received our first mission assignment on Wednesday morning and we had crews in the field assisting with the search and rescue efforts in Kerr County on Wednesday afternoon.

They continued that search and rescue missions and recovery issues yesterday and they’re back out there this morning doing what they can to help the citizens of Texas.

Halliburton: We’re very grateful that you guys are going to be able to be out there and to assist however you can. And I know considering the course of information that we learned from FEMA and the amount of information that’s a little bit more limited, does that make your job not only as the public information officer for Task Force 1, does that make other people’s jobs for other task force that’s also helping as well?

Blomenkamp: I think it’s important that we are able to share the good deeds that our citizens from Missouri are doing down there to help the citizens of Texas and you know it’s above my pay grade. So I can’t sit here and second-guess that. I just understand what their wishes are and that’s what we’re gonna do, but, I’m gonna work my hardest to keep the citizens around here up informed and updated what we’re doing and, and again we’re out in the field today. We’re doing our best work. Of course.

Halliburton: Now for this amount of limited information that will be shared, do you know if this is just centered around the state of Texas or will this be for future missions that the task force goes on?

Blomenkamp: I believe it’s very centric to what we’re doing with this mission. It is very difficult for the citizens of Texas. It’s a, it’s a huge loss for that state, and it’s very tragic. And so I just think they’re being very cautious. They don’t want something to get out there that doesn’t need to be out there.

But as far as what our team’s doing, we continue to work for them. We will do whatever is asked of us, and we will continue that mission until we’re sent home.

Halliburton: Is there anything else that you would like to add or for people to know about just keep people in their thoughts and prayers, especially those affected by the storms?

Blomenkamp: Thank you to all the employers to let their people go and their family members for letting them take off for Texas.

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Olivia Hayes

MOBERLY, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Moberly community is remembering the life of Bailey Scott through a number of memorial events on Friday. Scott died Sunday night after being shot in the 900 block of East Logan Street in Moberly.

“She was always the sweetest and she always complimented somebody, like anything about them. She was so fulfilling. Like her, her presence in a room,” said Kylee Brooks, a friend of Bailey.

Scooter’s Coffee in Moberly will donate 20% of its proceeds on Friday to Scott’s memorial fund.

“Bailey was one of our regulars who come through all the time with our son. You know, it was just a morning thing that they did,” said Corbyn Childs, Scooter’s General Manager. “It’s going to go mainly towards her son because they were just such a morning routine here with us that, you know, we just want to try to give back to him as much as we can.”

The Boozy Badger Bar & Grill announced on its social media a balloon release for Scott on Friday as well.

“The donation box is on the table, and then we will empty the money out of that tonight and take it to the bank tomorrow,” said Brooksie Mayville, owner of the Boozy Badger.

The restaurant also said 30% of its Friday sales will go towards Bailey’s funeral costs and the Scott family.

David Kip Heyde, 68, of Moberly, was booked into the Randolph County Jail on Thursday, charged with second-degree murder in Scott’s death. Heyde told troopers with the Missouri State Highway Patrol that Scott was trespassing on his property and acting erratically, even claiming she slapped him in the face, before shooting at her, according to a probable cause statement.

Heyde has since been transferred to Macon County. His first court appearance is set for Monday.

Scott’s memorial service is scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Moberly Seventh-day Adventist Church. A remembrance walk will take place at 7 p.m. Sunday; attendees are asked to wear purple.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Harford Bakery, Inc. is recalling six lots of “Lewis Bake Shop Artisan Style 1/2 Loaf” because the bread may have “undeclared hazelnuts,” according to a press release on the FDA’s website.

The product was sent to Walmart and Kroger stores in Missouri, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Arkansas, Alabama and Mississippi. Gerbes is affiliated with Kroger, the release says.

Affected loaves have an expiration date of July 13 and include lot codes T10 174010206, T10 174010306, T10 174010406, T10 174020206, T10 174020306, T10 174020406 found on the front panel of packaging, the release says. UPC 24126018152 can be found on the bottom of packaging.   

 “While the packaging states ‘May Contain Tree Nuts,’ it does not state that it ‘Contains Hazelnuts,’” the release says.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A man charged with murder in the 2024 death of an Osage Beach police officer is facing more charges.

Christopher Wehmeyer, of Camdenton, is now charged with aggravated fleeing, second-degree felony murder drug possession, unlawful use of a weapon and armed criminal action in the death of Officer Phylicia Carson. 

A motion for a change of venue was filed by the defense on Wednesday and a trial setting was scheduled for 9 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 10.

Carson died after she lost control of her vehicle while chasing Wehmeyer on Aug. 31, 2024. She was pronounced dead at the scene, according to previous reporting.

Wehmeyer allegedly told investigators that he was racing and chose not to stop when he saw police lights. The chase reached more than 100 miles per hours as it went through Camden County.

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Madison Stuerman

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

No one was hurt after an airplane made an emergency landing at the Jefferson City Memorial Airport on Friday morning.

According to the Jefferson City Fire Department, crews were called to the airport at 11:06 a.m. after a report of a plane coming in experiencing mechanical issues.

The aircraft had three people onboard when it landed and slid along the runway with only part of the landing gear deploying, according to JCFD.

All three people were able to exit the plane safely.

Jefferson City deployed one engine company, an Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting truck to the scene. Three fire chiefs, two Cole County EMS units, two EMS command staff and one Callaway County EMS responded.

Crews cleared the scene at 11:59 a.m.

The incident is under investigation.

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