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News

This is the digital version of all the stories I have written since late 2022. Some of these articles also have supplementary videos of my on-air segments. Please feel free to leave any feedback or to reach out to me to request any additional explanation on my stories!

Glass recycling bins are getting a makeover in Jefferson City

JEFFERSON CITY - Jefferson City has offered Ripple Glass recycling services since around 2010. However, when Dawn Kirchner entered her position as neighborhood specialist in 2021, she said she noticed some serious work needed to be done. "The bins were rusted around the bottom and glass was coming out the bottom," Kirchner said. "I went ahead and decided to get them wrapped so I could preserve them for longer." In Jefferson City, single stream recycling programs allow accepted items to be picked...

New Stephens College president welcomed with ceremony

COLUMBIA — Shannon Lundeen was announced as the new president of Stephens College in late February. Now, community members and stakeholders got their chance to meet Lundeen Tuesday in a welcome ceremony.Lundeen is the successor of current president Dianne Lynch. Lynch has been with Stephens College since 2009.She boasts major accomplishments like securing an annual $2.5 million donation in perpetuity, the establishment of multiple schools within the college's system and the largest enrollment cl...

Residents weigh in at open house for Garth Avenue improvement project

Melody Masters grew up in Parkade Estates, frequenting her grandmother's house with her parents and other family members. She remembers her childhood fondly, especially a beautiful sprawling tree that's been in her lawn since 1960. "When they said they were going to put the sidewalk on our side of the road, I knew that was gonna cut down our front yard and pretty much take down that tree," Masters said. Other residents, like Tyler Wallace,  shared the same sentiment: the construction on Garth Ro...

'Duct tape and zip ties': Local Columbia shelter struggles with poor conditions

In December 2023, the Central Missouri Humane Society made an offer on 17.5 acres of land for a new facility to the tune of $800,000. Construction was supposed to begin in 2024 after CMHS closed on the deal Aug. 30 of that year, but two years the offer, ground hasn't been broken."I don't know how much longer we'll be able to operate here," Michelle Casey, assistant director for CMHS said. "It's really not safe here for staff or the animals with black mold and asbestos." Since 1943, the shelter h...

Fiber cut confirmed along Renz Farm Road In Jefferson City that led to 911 disruption Monday

JEFFERSON CITY -- Brightspeed confirmed Tuesday evening that a fiber cut near Renz Farm Road outside of Jefferson City led to Monday's 911 outage. It is unknown what caused the cut. The Boone County Joint Communications office clarified that safeguards were in place during a 911 disruption overnight in a news release Tuesday. The disruption lasted from approximately 6 p.m. Monday to just after 9:30 a.m. Tuesday. "We understand that concerns may arise, but we want to emphasize that all necessary...

Over 30 Missourians pardoned by Donald Trump for Jan. 6-related offenses

COLUMBIA — Thirty-one Missouri residents have been pardoned by an executive order made by President Donald Trump on Monday.The proclamation also pardoned more than 1,000 people around the country and commuted 14 sentences, including a former Proud Boys leader and the Oath Keepers, for crimes related to riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. All pending cases were dismissed by the Department of Justice, as well.Defendants who were sentenced did not receive expungements for their crimes but do...

Mid-Missouri's first safe haven baby box coming to Jefferson City

JEFFERSON CITY — Mid-Missouri's first baby box will soon be available at the Cole County EMS headquarters in Jefferson City.The Cole County Emergency Medical Services Department announced a partnership with Safe Haven Baby Boxes, an organization that provides specialized boxes for emergency relinquishment. The boxes are climate-controlled, secure and entirely anonymous. Cole County EMS Chief Eric Hoy said he was motivated to implement the box after a task force approached the Jefferson City Publ...

New Center Project coordinator says she's committed to supporting local teens

The Center Project, an LGBTQ community organization, hired its first full-time staff member since its opening 20 years ago.Vera Elwood is the first staff paid staff member in The Center Project's history. She now serves as the organization's Youth Program Coordinator for teens aged 12-18 years old. "We have a ton of groups that use this space, [and] we really do see ourselves as a community center," Elwood said. The Center Project began in 2004 with its mission to provide a safe and affirming sp...

Local health department urges residents to stay up-to-date on vaccines

The Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services Department is encouraging local residents to get vaccinated in the midst of the holiday season. The department offers flu, COVID-19, Tdap and RSV vaccines to adults and children for little to no cost this season.Flu and COVID-19 cases traditionally peak in the winter. Since the week of Nov. 24, 289 people have reported contracting the flu virus in the state of Missouri, according to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services....

Test-optional applications may be in the University of Missouri's future

The UM Board of Curators Academic, Student Affairs and the Research and Economic Development Committee hosted a public session Tuesday to discuss keeping test-optional applications permanently.The Board of Curators previously voted to extend test-optional through fall 2025 in February . Test-optional, otherwise referred to as "holistic review", does not factor in any standardized testing when applying to colleges. Admissions officials look at core GPA, extracurricular involvement, and types of c...

Crystal Quade calls gubernatorial campaign 'personal' after falling to Kehoe

SPRINGFIELD — Missouri Democratic gubernatorial candidate Crystal Quade reflected on her campaign focused on bringing change to the Show-Me State after Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe secured the governor’s seat on Tuesday.Quade, who would have been the first female governor of Missouri, ran on a platform of change, emphasizing her support for Amendment 3 to protect access to abortion and other forms of reproductive health care. Throughout her campaign, Quade championed women’s issues, recounting her trave...

Political signs vandalized and stolen ahead of Election Day

COLUMBIA — Ann Mehr lives on East Campus, a neighborhood that she's adored for many years."I love the mixed-use aspect of it," said Mehr. "I often meet students out on dog walks, and it's lovely."She's also privy to the pranks put on by students who share the same street. Smashed pumpkins litter the roads on Halloween nights. When partying gets intense, they band together to help each other clean up.However, when thieves stole not only her "Yes on Amendment 3" signs, but several signs of neighbo...

Second Callaway County deputy released from hospital after shooting

COLUMBIA — Callaway County Deputy Gardner Pottorff was released from University Hospital on Tuesday after he was shot during a traffic stop on Oct 14. Pottorff spent over two weeks in the hospital recovering from the incident. Pottorff left out of the children's emergency room entrance. He was met with a line of officers from various precincts in Mid-Missouri. They clapped and cheered for him, and also helped him get into a car filled with donations and snacks from the community.A convoy of pol...

Recommendations for affordable Boone County housing presented in summit

The 2024 Columbia Housing Summit proposed new recommendations for Columbia and Boone County residents to combat the issue of affordable housing in the community. This comes a week after the Boone County and Columbia Housing study was released, which is a part of the Boone County Upward Mobility Action Plan. The results of the study were presented by David Boston , owner and founder of Amarach Planning Services. He said he got involved after he saw the call for proposals from Boone County in June...

Residents weigh in on Missouri sex offender law ahead of Halloween

An amendment to a 2008 Missouri law proposed to remove a violation of the First Amendment for sex offenders on Halloween. However, for Tara Bishop, the change felt like a setback for protecting children in the state. "This has been a huge loss for victims and just for the safety of our children," Bishop said. On Oct. 3, 2023, Thomas Sanderson filed a memorandum and order against Attorney General Andrew Bailey and Hazelwood Chief of Police James Hudanick for violating his First Amendment rights w...

UPDATE: Construction to begin on U.S. 63/I-70 connector Wednesday

The Missouri Department of Transportation has pushed back the start of construction and traffic shift at the Interstate 70-U.S. 63 connector to Wednesday.The shift was originally set for Monday.The construction of two new bridges in Columbia near the I-70 and U.S. 63 interchange is the first step in MoDOT's Improve I-70 project and will take roughly 10 months to complete.Traffic between the Broadway overpass and the Conley Road underpass on the northeast end of Columbia will eliminate several la...

Local communities rally several donations in efforts for Hurricane Helene

HUNTSVILLE - Two different cities, both an hour apart, were united in one mission: finding a way to help those affected by Hurricane Helene. The hurricane made landfall two weeks ago, causing billions of dollars in damage and the death toll rising at over 200 with many still missing. When Gary Long and Debbie Rosslan saw the news, they were devastated. Looking for a way to help, both of them posted to Facebook about their respective donations drives hoping to get a response. Neither of them knew...

Columbia Fire Department responds to duplex fire on Mulberry Road

The Columbia Fire Department responded to a residential structure fire in the 2800 block of Mulberry Road at 1:49 a.m. Thursday.According to a release from the department, crews arriving at the scene found a single-story duplex with heavy fire. They were able to extinguish the fire in 15 minutes using "an aggressive fire attack." Eleven Columbia fire units, with 23 firefighters, responded to the incident, according to the fire department.All occupants of both sides of the duplex were able to esc...

Rainbow House to close shelter after missed progress payments on new facility

COLUMBIA — Columbia's children's emergency shelter Rainbow House announced that it will close its long-term shelter services starting Friday due to financial instability. The child abuse and neglect emergency shelter's Child Advocacy Center services will continue due to emergency funding provided by the state, according to a Wednesday news release from Rainbow House.The shelter said it will remain committed to providing services through the Child Advocacy Center to continue supporting the commu...

Cooper's Landing staff hopes new 'no-parking' zone will reduce issues

BOONE COUNTY — After a new "no-parking" zone was established shed along the east side of Smith Hatchery Road near Cooper’s Landing to ensure the road is passable for emergency vehicles, a technician for the event center says these measures are already something the campground enforces."We usually have staff out here keeping people from parking on the wall," said Forrest Wilson, a sound technician and store associate for Cooper's Landing. "It's a pretty skinny road, and we have to make sure it's...

Mizzou Athletics registers its student athletes to vote in November election

COLUMBIA — Mizzou Athletics took time out of student athlete's schedules to help get them registered to vote.Student athletes from Missouri had their voter registration checked, while assistance was provided for out-of-state athletes to request absentee ballots or change their registration to Boone County."We're always just trying to get our student athletes engaged in the community," graduate assistant Mikaela Adolphus said. "We want to make sure they're getting the same level of engagement as...

Curators approve Memorial Stadium improvements Thursday

KANSAS CITY — The UM System Board of Curators met Thursday to discuss Mizzou Athletics as well as resolutions to the upcoming improvements on Memorial Stadium. Curators approved a resolution to start the renovation process in November of last year.The curators unanimously approved the $250 million project during Thursday's board meeting. A groundbreaking is scheduled to occur during the Arkansas football game on Nov. 30.Construction will take place throughout the 2025 season with completion anti...

Governor Parson reveals new steps to combat unregulated cannabis products

JEFFERSON CITY — Governor Parson, along with Attorney General Andrew Bailey, held a conference Tuesday morning to announce additional actions against unregulated psychoactive cannabinoid products in Missouri.Executive Order 24-10 went into effect in Missouri Sept. 1, which prohibits the sale of food or beverage with THC in it."As a parent and grandparent, this is not only concerning but frightening that my grandchildren could so easily and unknowingly consume these products," Parson said during...

'She changed the world': Loved ones remember fallen Osage Beach officer

LAKE OZARK — Hundreds from across Missouri gathered Thursday afternoon to honor an Osage Beach officer who died in the line of duty over the weekend.Phylicia Carson, 33, of Lake Ozark, died Aug. 31 in a high-speed pursuit. According to previous KOMU 8 reporting, Carson was assisting a traffic stop traveling high speeds on U.S. 54 when she veered off the road and struck a tree. She is survived by her husband, Grant, and their six children. Throughout the funeral on Thursday, many honored Carson a...
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My Process

When writing any story, I always make an outline and fill it with any pre-existing information on the story. Whether it be statistics, anecdotal statements, or government reactions, I capture every word and sift through it to see if there is something that hasn't been answered yet. After this, I typically try to focus on the questions that need answers and find a source that will fulfill the angle I want to take on a story. After securing my interviews, I ask as many questions as I can and follow up if something interesting comes up. I also find the appropriate B-roll and alternate between tight and wide shots in increments to maximize my story. After this, I compiled everything I gathered into clear and digestible storytelling for the community I am reporting to. Once everything has aired, I work with the managers on-site to reflect on my performance and see where I can fine-tune my reporting for next time. The biggest thing about reporting is that I will make mistakes; what's most important is how I bounce back from it and ensure my next story is even better.

An Example

This is a story that I, alongside another intern, formatted to pitch to our managers at CNN. Our story centered around the summer-long crackdown on Airbnb and the potential fallout of local and state governments splicing through the short-term rental market during its most profitable season.