Ryan Shiner
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Northern Lights can be seen throughout a decent portion of the country on Tuesday evening.
Some ABC 17 News viewers took photos showing the views from their homes.
Do you want to share what you see with us? Let us know on our Facebook page or on the share page of our website.
Marie Moyer
COLUMBIA Mo. (KMIZ)
A section of Business Loop 70 between Hathman Place and Eastland Circle will be closed from Nov. 12-26 as construction on a new roundabout begins.
The roundabout is part of the larger Improve I-70 project, with the addition connecting eastbound I-70 traffic to the Business Loop.
“We’re going to really attack this aggressively with a lot of crews and get in here and do the work as quickly as possible, so you’ll see concrete being poured as early as next Monday,” Eric Kopinski, the Central Office Improve I-70 Program Director, said.
Drivers in the area should expect to see detour signs, with the main route taking drivers through Trimble Road and East Broadway.
Kopinski said the Missouri Department of Transportation proposed longer closures over the summer, ultimately settling on the fall plans.
“‘Do we close this for having just one lane going through for three or four months, or do we just close it for a 14-day period?'” Kopinski said. “We determined it was safer, and we could build it to a higher quality to get in here and do it really in a 14 day period.”
Kopinski adds that all businesses on the construction zone will remain accessible. ABC 17 News spoke with Close to Home Adult Day Center, Tyree Parts & Hardware and Big O Tires who all plan to remain open during the construction. On Plumb Supply Company’s website, they ask customers to use the building’s east entrance.
Charlie Alexander, Big O Tires’ Vice President of Operations, voiced concern about the closure, with the fall being a busy season for the company as drivers prepare their cars for the winter. However, he understands MoDOT’s construction process.
“We’re leveraged a little bit there, we have to do what we have to do to be there for our customers, but again, we’re excited to see the project move forward,” Alexander said. “It’s just timing-wise of the closure, it is what it is.”
Alexander adds that customers should continue contacting staff and making appointments.
Construction on the roundabout is expected to be complete on Nov. 26. The roundabout will not be connected to I-70 until late 2027.
Ryan Shiner
HOLTS SUMMIT, Mo. (KMIZ)
No injuries were reported after a house caught fire on Tuesday evening in Holts Summit.
Firefighters responded to a home that caught fire on Callaway County Road 394 at 5:20 p.m. Tuesday, according to Holts Summit Assistant Fire Chief Allen Wehmeyer.
Wehmeyer said the fire started in the back of the home and fire was seen coming through the roof when personnel arrived.
It took firefighters roughly a half hour to put out the fire, according to Wehmeyer.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Ryan Shiner
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Some SNAP recipients are expected to start seeing some benefits return as early as today, according to an email from the Missouri Department of Social Services.
SNAP benefits had not been delivered this month because of political battles surrounding ongoing government shutdown.
“The United State Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Services (USDA-FNS) updated guidance on November 8, 2025, directing states to issue partial November SNAP benefits based on recent developments,” an email from Missouri DSS spokesperson Baylee Watts says. “The Department’s EBT vendor has been notified and confirmed that they are prepared to receive and process Missouri’s SNAP file. Participants will have their partial benefits available starting Tuesday, November 11, and will be able to access and use them at that time.”
A social media post from Feeding Missouri says, “It’s important to note that a new federal formula will determine benefit amounts. As a result, some households will receive ONLY PART of their usual benefit, and some MAY NOT RECEIVE a payment this round.”
Reporting from CNN shows the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday extended a short-term order that allows President Donald Trump’s administration to withhold full Food Stamp payments this month. The U.S. Senate agreed on a bill on Monday evening that would reopen the government, which is going to the House this week.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
