Melissa Alexis - KOAM News Now

02/20/2025

Amid the freezing temperatures The Joplin Humane Society is alerting pet owners that exposure to cold can be dangerous, especially for very young, very old, or short-haired pets. They want people to know pets should only be exposed to the freezing temperatures between 15 to 30 minutes at a time. Labette County Sheriff suggests heated water bowls so water doesn't ice over and leave your pets dehydrated.

(KOAM)--As winter weather brings frigid temperature, it’s important to not only bundle up ourselves but also make sure our furry friends are warm.

02/19/2025

Labette County like much of the area, is facing dangerous, snowy road conditions. Labette County Sheriff Darren Eichinger says people should always have an emergency kit in their car with a blanket, water, phone charger, and shovel. He also urges everyone to stay off the roads if possible and in the case of emergency, dial *47 for Highway Patrol or 911.

OSWEGO, Kan.(KOAM-)-Labette County, like much of the surrounding area, is dealing with dangerous, snowy road conditions.

02/18/2025

As extreme cold temps approach, a Miami nonprofit is stepping up to provide shelter to the unhoused. The team is offering shelter, meals, and other essentials to help keep people safe. The organization is in need of donations like boots, gloves, and hats.

MIAMI, Okla. (KOAM) --Last winter, Patricia Millard was living in a tent.“I got so cold, I had ice in my tent, I spent all last winter in a tent, with

02/15/2025

Carthage High School floriculture students are taking their classroom skills beyond school. Inspired by their class in floral design, one floriculture student now works at a local flower shop, helping create arrangements and manage orders. Another student works on floral designs at their family's business.

CARTHAGE, Mo. (KOAM) --At Carthage High School, floriculture students have been learning how to make bouquets.

02/13/2025

Pittsburg Police Department warns residents of a toll fine scam going around in the area. The Chief Deputy advises citizens to avoid responding to fraudulent messages claiming unpaid toll fines. He also encourages people to contact local law enforcement if they suspect they've been a victim of a scam.

PITTSBURG, Kan. (KOAM) -The Pittsburg Police Department is urging residents to be aware of a scam affecting the area.

02/13/2025

Snowy roads caused dangerous driving conditions across the Four States. In Cherokee County, authorities responded to 6 accidents, with one head-on crash on Highway 69 sending 2 people to the hospital. Other areas in Southeast Kansas, including Crawford and Bourbon Counties, also saw multiple accidents.

CHEROKEE COUNTY, Kan. (KOAM) -Snowy roads across the four-state area created hazardous conditions, leading to some dangerous driving situations.

02/11/2025

Bright Futures and volunteers packed snack packs for Joplin students in need today. The nonprofit's aim is to fight food insecurity. Bright futures is kicking off a campaign called "Raise the Bar" to collect granola bars for students. The executive director says they are always looking for donations and volunteers to help out.

JOPLIN, Mo. (KOAM) —Bright Futures, is a Joplin nonprofit dedicated to supporting students in Joplin.

02/10/2025

After two plane crashes at the end of January, some people are having concerns about flying. However, according to the National Safety Council, flying is one of the safest modes of transportation. A Joplin mental health professional says breathing exercises and distractions like music can help, and for more extreme anxiety, professional help can be beneficial.

JOPLIN, Mo. (KOAM) —Flying can evoke feelings of anxiety for some travelers, and recent airplane crashes across the U.S. have left some wondering how safe it is to travel on

02/08/2025

The City of Miami has demolished two buildings on Main Street in revitalization efforts. The mayor described the buildings as "beyond repair" and he hopes the new space will bring opportunity for new businesses and jobs in Miami.

MIAMI, Okla. (KOAM) --The City of Miami has made progress in its beautification efforts, announcing the demolition of two dilapidated buildings on Main Street.

02/07/2025

Anthony Saviello - KOAM News NowMelissa Alexis - KOAM News NowLindsey Gaffney - KOAM News Now Ready to celebrate National to bring awareness to heart disease!

02/07/2025

❤️ Today, we wear red! ❤️
On , we raise awareness about heart disease, which is the leading cause of death for women in the United States.
Samantha Walker - KOAM News NowAnthony Saviello - KOAM News Now
Lindsey Gaffney - KOAM News Now

02/07/2025

Joplin will start construction to widen 20th Street to a 3-lane road at the end of March. The project also includes changing two intersections to roundabouts and adding a shared use path for both bikes and pedestrians. The goal of the project is to increase safety and manage traffic.

JOPLIN, Mo. (KOAM) —The City of Joplin will soon begin road work on 20th Street, aiming to improve traffic flow and safety.

02/05/2025

The Miami Seniors Center is undergoing some big upgrades! They're planning to expand their programs and activities. One of the big projects there working on is constructing a kitchen for the seniors to use. The original board at the center was dissolved, the city has now taken over and plans to make improvements.

MIAMI, Okla. (KOAM) --The Miami Senior Center is undergoing some upgrades to enhance the experience for its members.

02/04/2025

Bird flu cases surge in Newton County, affecting 7 poultry farms, including egg suppliers for the brand Egglands Best and turkey farms for Butterball. About 4 million chickens and 44,000 turkeys will be destroyed.

NEWTON COUNTY, Mo. (KOAM) - In January, Newton County had its first confirmed case of bird flu, and now the virus is spreading across the county.

02/01/2025

A Legislative Review session brought together Carthage leaders and lawmakers, including Senator Jill Carter and Representative Cathy Jo Loy. The session allowed for discussion of important topics like education, childcare, and more.

CARTHAGE, Mo. (KOAM) -A Legislative Review session was held in Carthage at CWEP and was hosted by the Carthage Chamber of Commerce.

01/31/2025

The Arma Fire Chief has addressed concerns about two important programs potentially being discontinued, he confirms that both will continue. These programs help provide quick response times during emergencies, and people in the community say ending them would be a big loss.

ARMA, Kan. (KOAM) A Facebook post saying the Arma Fire Department is halting two programs sparked concern in the Arma community, but the fire chief has confirmed that both programs

01/30/2025

♻️SEK Recycling Center is expanding to better serve the community. They’re planning to collab with the City of Pittsburg to do curbside recycling pickup. To prep for this expansion, they’re clearing out e-waste. Also, they will not be accepting e-waste or donations to their reuse shop during this cleanup process.

PITTSBURG, Kan. (KOAM) -When you toss an empty package into the trash, it’s easy to forget about where it ends up.

01/29/2025

🏈At 105 years old, the oldest resident of Jasper County is gearing up to watch the Chiefs in their third consecutive Super Bowl! Her favorite team is the first in NLF history to reach five super bowls in a six-season span. She'll be watching surrounded by fellow Chiefs fans at St. Lukes Nursing Center.

CARTHAGE, Mo. (KOAM) - The oldest Jasper County resident is looking forward to watching her favorite team in the Superbowl.