Kamy Smelser

FOX 2 / STL 11 St. Louis

Explore a featured selection of my work as a digital report and MMJ community reporter at KTVI/KPLR bringing to light stories across the St. Louis region. 

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Washington University increases tuition by 5%, citing lost federal funding

ST. LOUIS — Washington University announced last week it plans to implement the largest tuition increase in over a decade, citing a cap on federal government funding for the hike.


According to a news release, undergraduate tuition for students who do not receive financial aid will be $68,240 during the 2025-2026 school year, which is $3,740 more than the current rate of $64,500.


The university’s leadership noted the increase as a “necessary move” after confronting the National Institutes...
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Boeing secures contract to develop Air Force’s F-47 fighter jet

ST. LOUIS — On Friday, President Donald Trump awarded Boeing with the contract to build the Air Force’s future fighter jet, the F-47.


According to the Associated Press, the Pentagon says the F-47 will have stealth and penetration abilities that are far more advanced than the Air Force’s current fleet. During a press conference on Friday, Trump said the Air Force decided on Boeing after a “rigorous and tough competition.”


Boeing and Lockheed Martin were both in the running before the decis...
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This historic $1.8 million church is for sale in St. Louis

ST. LOUIS — A piece of St. Louis history built in 1890 by the creators of the Cathedral Basilica is on the market for $1.8 million in the city’s The Gate District.


The former Immaculate Conception Church, a massive 15,750-square-foot property, is stretched on 1.26 acres, including two buildings, the church and a rectory.

The church includes three rose windows, a 60-foot ceiling, and seating for over 1000 people. The property has the potential of turning into an event space, restaurant, or c...
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How a cracked tooth led to one woman’s infected heart valve

ST. LOUIS — Dental hygiene may not be the first thing many think about when they consider what can impact their heart health. For one woman, a cracked tooth led to a deadly infection of one of her heart valves.


Heidi Worfler, remembered feeling very lethargic and even became anemic before doctor’s discovered the root of her problem.


It wasn’t until Worfler visited an emergency room that doctor’s became aware that a recent cracked tooth had led to the infection of her mitral valve.
Even t...
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NASA to launch artificial ‘star’ into space named after Madison County astronomer

MADISON COUNTY, Ill. — The “Landolt NASA Space Mission” will launch a tiny satellite mimicking a star into space named after an astronomer from the Metro East.


According to George Mason University, the $19.5 million project will allow scientists to more accurately measure the brightness of stars nearby and in far-off galaxies.


The mission was named after the late Arlo Landolt, an astronomer from Highland, Illinois, who was known for his work in photometry, or measuring the brightness of...
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Missouri’s ‘Honey War’ with Iowa reflected in new lawmaker proposal

MISSOURI — An Iowa lawmaker wants to extend the state’s borders into nine of Minnesota’s counties, reflecting a similar situation between Missouri and Iowa in the 1800s leading to the famous “Honey War.”


The new proposal from Republican Sen. Maike Bousselot of Ankeny, Iowa, wants the state to purchase nine of Minnesota’s southernmost counties. In 1839, Missouri had a similar, more aggressive pursuit when the governor sent a militia to ambush Iowa’s southeast counties.


The war ignited aft...
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Bob Kuban, St. Louis musician and Rock & Roll Hall of Famer, dead at 84

ST. LOUIS — A beloved St. Louis musician and Rock & Roll Hall of Famer, Bob Kuban, passed away Monday morning from medical complications.


Kuban, 84, of Wildwood, Missouri, died surrounded by his family following complications from a stroke.


Kuban was most notably known for his band Bob Kuban and the In-Men for their chart-topping hits “The Cheater,” “The Teaser,” and “Drive My Car.”
Born August 19, 1940, Kuban described himself as “a North County guy” after living much of his life in St...
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Why doesn’t St. Louis have any Michelin-starred restaurants?

ST. LOUIS — Michelin stars have only been awarded to 260 of the country’s top eateries for their “outstanding” cooking, but despite a diverse culinary scene in St. Louis, a restaurant in the city has yet to receive one.


According to the “Michelin Guide,” critics take into account five areas of criteria, including quality of ingredients, harmony of flavors, mastered techniques, personality of the chef expressed through the cuisine, and consistency across the menu and over time.


Despite St...
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Blues player launches new hat line featuring American Sign Language

ST. LOUIS — Jake Neighbours, a left winger for the St. Louis Blues, launched a new hat line on Thursday that features American Sign Language in two of the designs.


According to the St. Louis Blues website, the hats are sold exclusively at STL Authentics beginning Thursday. Neighbors released five designs in various colors that feature team logos and two designs that include sign language.

One hat spells out the word “Blues” in ASL, and another features Neighbours’ number 63 in sign languag...
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See the car theft ‘hot spots’ St. Louis thieves regularly target

ST. LOUIS – Since the start of 2024, the city of St. Louis has seen over 3,000 cars stolen, and with the colder months arriving, this number is only expected to increase, according to St. Louis Metropolitan Police.


FOX 2 dug through reports on SLMPD’s crime mapping data of motor vehicle theft from December to June of this year and utilized SLMPD’s citywide car theft statistics to find the top neighborhoods and ‘hot spots.’


“Many of these cars were left running and unlocked,” said Evita Cal...
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‘I just like to stay busy,’ Meet the 93-year-old McDonald’s employee in St. Louis County

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – Mary Beck, a 93-year-old employee at a McDonald’s located off Tesson Ferry Road, has been making customers smile for the past 18 years as the restaurant’s “hospitality ambassador.”


As the “hospitality ambassador,” her day consists of greeting customers, keeping the lobby clean, and occasionally taking out orders to drive-thru customers.


“I love people, and I love staying busy,” Beck said.
Typically, her day starts around 8 a.m. preparing fries and hashbrowns for t...
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Will Missouri’s Amendment 3 legalize gender transitions for minors? Legal experts weigh in

ST. LOUIS – It’s an argument that many are making regarding the phrasing Missouri’s Amendment 3 uses of whether “reproductive rights for all persons” may be used as an umbrella term for treatments such as gender-affirming care for minors without parental consent.


FOX 2 reached out to legal experts on both sides of the argument to determine whether the phrasing could be interpreted for the use of legalizing gender transition treatment for minors.


Kelley Gillespie a professor of law and hea...
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Tragedy in Fredericktown: Gina Dawn Brooks' disappearance 35 years ago

FREDERICKTOWN, Mo. – It was the summer of 1989, in a quaint, small town about an hour and half south of St. Louis. Everyone seemed to know everyone; kids could roam the streets without care, and a simple bike ride down the street was a summer nostalgia.


Monday marks 35 years since this simplicity would become a distant memory as a nightmare took hold of the picket fence town of Fredericktown, Missouri.


Gina Dawn Brooks, a girl with green eyes and blonde hair, had come home with her famil...
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St. Charles is home to world’s largest brotherhood of magicians

ST. CHARLES, Mo. – An unmarked, unnoticed office building sits between a Hampton Inn hotel and a used car dealership off of Interstate 70 in St. Charles.


The building acts as headquarters for two volunteers who play a small part in one of the world’s largest magical organizations.


The International Brotherhood of Magicians, also known as I.B.M., calls Missouri its home, with their headquarters located in St. Charles. Its headquarters may be humble but its impact on St. Louis and the worl...
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How to survive the Brentwood Promenade parking lot

BRENTWOOD, Mo. – The Promenade at Brentwood recently went up for sale and, for years, its parking lot has caused an upheaval of customer frustration.


The Riverfront Times even considered it the worst parking lot in America. From congested entry and exit points to avoiding collisions with another vehicle or pedestrian to finding an adequate parking spot, this lot presents many challenges for drivers.


But according to Jalil Kianfar, associate professor of civil engineering at Saint Louis U...
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Over 5,000 children in need receive toys from The Salvation Army

From bikes to big box toys, the Salvation Army of Greater St. Louis passed out joy in St. Ann this week. They gave out donated gifts to thousands of local children and families in need at their Angel Tree distribution center.

“The Salvation Army has the simple mission of saving the world, but we realize that we can’t do that by ourselves, and today’s distribution is a perfect example of that. It’s because of the generosity and the giving spirit of our community that were able to meet these need
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Over 35 Missouri high schools represented at All-Star Football Game

On Saturday, the sun was shining over Missouri Baptist University Spartan Field for the American Cancer Society All-Star Game.

Over 35 Missouri high schools were represented all coming together to raise money for the American Cancer Society and their efforts to support cancer patients and research.

“The money that is brought in from this event is going to help cancer patients not just for looking and finding a cure but also to help them in some of their immediate needs and helping them live lo
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Sparkly shoes and a fairy costume: How one woman celebrates hope at the Walk to End Alzheimer’s

Meet Sara Gottman, a woman who lost her father to Alzheimer’s in 2017 and now walks in his memory at this year’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Gottman will lead the Edward Jones team in purple sparkly shoes and a fairy costume as she aims to spread joy throughout the event.

The Walk to End Alzheimer’s takes place this Saturday, October 28th at the Chesterfield Amphitheater.

FOX 2 and KPLR 11 are proud sponsors of the Walk to End Alzheimer’s.
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Living with ALS: Loren Stuckmeyer’s story

This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.

Loren Stuckmeyer used to spend his days outside boating and traveling with his family, but it May of 2020 his life took a turn when he was told he had ALS or Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

Loren’s family is among hundreds in the area that have been impacted by this incurable disease. But with life changing help from organizations like The Walk to De
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The largest pet festival in the Midwest took over Tower Grove Park

This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.

Bark in the Park returned for their 28th anniversary, but this time in Tower Grove Park.

This fun-filled day on Saturday, May 20th had a variety of activities for owners and their four-legged friends to enjoy.

Bark in the Park raised over $97,000 for the Humane Society of Missouri’s Animal Cruelty Task Force, a team that works 24/7 to help