Randolph County loses local radio news coverage after broadcasters lose jobs

Residents in Randolph County and communities in northern Missouri lost a major source for local news, sports and weather radio coverage after all broadcasting staff at KWIX/KRES/KIRK/KTCM radio stations were reportedly let go Tuesday. 

The stations are owned by Alpha Media Group, which operates 207 radio stations across 44 regional markets. 

All Alpha Media stations in Missouri will have the same fate with the cutting of local newsroom staff, according to social media posts from former employees. KOMU 8 reached out to Alpha Media for comment multiple times but has not received a response.

Groups advocate for prevention efforts as fentanyl deaths among Missouri toddlers spikes

As fentanyl deaths rise in Missouri, specifically among kids, groups in Columbia and throughout Missouri are advocating for change. 

This week, the Missouri Department of Social Services released a report detailing a recent surge in fentanyl deaths in babies, toddlers and teens. According to the data, the number of adolescents who died from the drug nearly doubled in 2022, with 43 kids killed. Among these, 20 were under the age of 5, marking a staggering 500% increase.

Research shows fentanyl is one of the most dangerous opioids. It is nearly 50 times more potent than heroin or other substances. 

Forecast: Exiting Wednesday afternoon storms will leave mid-MO with sunshine on Thursday

The First Alert Weather Team will be able to send the all clear for severe weather by this evening at the latest. We will send that out on the First Alert Weather App and on social media.

Once these storm move east, out of the KOMU 8 viewing area, we will look forward to some much calmer weather for the rest of the week and weekend.

Educators fear new education overhaul could have unintended budget consequences

A bill fundamentally changing education in Missouri was signed into law Tuesday, leaving some educators afraid that the state’s overhaul could have unintended consequences. 

Senate Bill 727 is a massive piece of legislature that holds more than 160 pages, dealing with over 20 sections of state statutes on education. 

The bill allows charter schools to operate in Boone County, raises teacher baseline pay from $25,000 to $40,000, and increases the annual funding for Missouri Empowerment Scholarships, among other promises, according to previous KOMU 8 reporting.

New city of Columbia programs aim to help homeless population

Members of the Columbia Police Department (CPD) and city officials held a press conference on Wednesday to discuss the city’s new programs, DIVERT and the Homelessness Outreach Team. 

The city says it started working on the development of these programs before the pandemic, but the DIVERT program launched back in January 2023 and the HOT team has been operating for about two months now.  

However, this is the first time the city has released information about the programs to the public. 

Missouri’s murky and complicated past with puppy mills has resurfaced once again with the release of the Humane Society’s 2024 Horrible Hundred report.

According to the Humane Society, the report is a “list of known, problematic puppy breeding and/or puppy brokering facilities” across the country and it ranks states based on how many of these 100 facilities are in each state.

Missouri has topped the list every year since the report’s inception in 2012 and this year’s report is no different. The Show Me State is at the top of the 2024 list with a reported 23 out of the 100. Ohio came in second with 20 and Iowa was third with 15.

17 of the 23 were listed as repeat offenders, meaning they appeared on at least one of the previous reports. But many have appeared on more than one of the past reports. One of the Missouri breeders appeared in this report for the 9th time.

Although Missouri has topped the list again, some progress has been made since the last report.

At least one of the Missouri breeders that appeared on the 2023 report dropped their state and federal license, effectively closing their doors and not appearing on the 2024 report. According to the 2023 report, the breeder’s offenses go back to 2008, predating the first Horrible Hundred report by years.

Earlier this year in January, almost 100 dogs were reduced from an unlicensed breeder, Sho-Me Labradors, in St. James. Sho-Me Labradors appeared on the 2023 Horrible Hundred, their 5th time appearing on the report. The report also mentioned that the breeder had 80 dogs removed from them a few years before the 2023 report.

“Missouri remains atop the Horrible Hundred list because we lack meaningful penalties to change how offending puppy mills operate. Fines of a couple of hundred dollars simply do not dissuade many of these operations from continuing with unsafe and filthy kennels, withholding proper veterinary care, or ignoring severe medical issues like the puppy who died from an easily avoidable and treatable lice infestation. Without action from the legislature to ramp up enforcement and penalties, we will continue to maintain our place as the state with the most puppy mills in the Horrible Hundred,” said Missouri State Director of the Humane Society Cody Atkinson.

Missouri does have penalties for breeders who mistreat their animals. However, the effectiveness of these penalties has been called into question by activists. The Missouri Department of Agriculture’s Animal Care Program is in charge of inspecting licensed breeders in the state. According to the Humane Society, many owners dodge inspections multiple times. One of the Missouri breeders reportedly dodged five inspections in a row last year. When the kennels are eventually inspected, violations usually result in a warning or a small fine.

The controversy surrounding Missouri’s puppy mills is not new. The debate has spanned over a decade. Back in 2010, voters had an opportunity to vote on the Missouri Dog Breeding Regulation Act or Proposition B. The proposition aimed to install tougher regulations on dog breeders in the state.

Proposition B passed 51.59% to 48.41%. But in the spring of 2011, the proposition was ultimately cut back by the Missouri General Assembly.

During this session, puppy mill-related legislation has appeared once again. Rep. Ben Baker and Sen. Justin Brown both put forward the same legislation (HB 2265 and SB 937) in their respective chambers that would bar local governments from banning or restricting pet stores. Activists claimed this preemptive ban would weaken a local government’s ability to react to pet stores working with puppy mills.

Both bills remain in committee as the 2024 session nears its end.

The full Horrible Hundred 2024 report can be found here.