Matt Woods
Verified
News guy @KMOV in St. Louis covering substance use and the fentanyl epidemic.
Trying to make the significant become relevant
Reach out: matthew.woods@kmov.com
Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Matt Woods
Man charged with threatening deputy who hit teenager in St. Francois County
ST. FRANCOIS COUNTY, Mo. (First Alert 4) -- A Bonne Terre, Missouri, man was charged after officials alleged he threatened the St. Francois County deputy who struck a teenager with his patrol vehicle last week. The St. Francois County Prosecuting Attorney's Office charged Phillip Lee Jaster, 30, with one count each of first-degree harassment and stalking, both felonies.
Ballot measure protects seniors from rising property taxes
As your state senator, I regularly hear from constituents struggling with rising costs, especially seniors living on a fixed retirement income. That is why, together with my Senate Republican colleagues, I have worked to cut your taxes and make life more affordable for Alabamians. Over the last four years, Alabama Republicans have cut taxes by $1.5 billion. We cut the state grocery tax in half and eliminated state sales taxes on diapers, baby formula, and other essential baby supplies.
Man charged with threatening deputy who hit teenager in St. Francois County
ST. FRANCOIS COUNTY, Mo. (First Alert 4) -- A Bonne Terre, Missouri, man was charged after officials alleged he threatened the St. Francois County deputy who struck a teenager with his patrol vehicle last week. The St. Francois County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged Phillip Lee Jaster, 30, with one count each of first-degree harassment and stalking, both felonies.
What the future holds for Fayette Medical Center | OUR TURN
If you have lived in Fayette County for any length of time, you have a story about Fayette Medical Center. A child born there. A parent cared for there. A neighbor who works there. That is what makes the news of the past week land the way it does. DCH Health System and the Fayette County Hospital Board have said that the current operating lease cannot continue in its current form. The lease ends Sept. 30, 2027. We want to be direct with you about what that means, and what it does not.
What the future holds for Fayette Medical Center | OUR TURN
What the future holds for Fayette Medical Center | OUR TURN Bryan Brinyark and Matt Woods Special to The Tuscaloosa News Oct. 8, 2026, 3:45 a.m. CT If you have lived in Fayette County for any length of time, you have a story about Fayette Medical Center. A child born there. A parent cared for there. A neighbor who works there. That is what makes the news of the past week land the way it does.
Others claim St. Louis funeral home disrespected loved ones after First Alert 4 investigation
ST. LOUIS (First Alert 4) -- More people have come forward with accusations that a north St. Louis funeral home mishandled their loved ones’ bodies following a First Alert 4 investigation. Serenity Memorial Funeral and Cremation Services has faced three formal complaints by the Missouri State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors since 2023.
Naloxone is now all over Missouri. Here's how it gets there
ST. LOUIS COUNTY (First Alert 4) -- Don Otis backed up a van to a loading dock at the University of Missouri-St. Louis campus. Another day of deliveries awaited him that afternoon, so he piled several cardboard boxes in the back and hit the road. In the van were doses of the opioid overdose-reversing drug naloxone. It's been one of the major tools to fight an epidemic level of overdose deaths. Today, it's widely available for first responders, organizations, and the public.
Naloxone is now all over Missouri. Here’s how it gets there
ST. LOUIS COUNTY (First Alert 4) -- Don Otis backed up a van to a loading dock at the University of Missouri-St. Louis campus. Another day of deliveries awaited him that afternoon, so he piled several cardboard boxes in the back and hit the road. In the van were doses of the opioid overdose-reversing drug naloxone. It’s been one of the major tools to fight an epidemic level of overdose deaths. Today, it’s widely available for first responders, organizations, and the public.
Officer who mistook gun for taser agrees to license probation, 7 years later
JEFFERSON COUNTY (First Alert 4) -- A local law enforcement officer has been disciplined by the state, more than seven years after mistaking her gun for a taser and shooting someone in the back. The officer has been working for a different department since 2022. Julia Crews was working for the Ladue Police Department in 2019 when she responded to a call for shoplifting at a Schnucks. After speaking with suspect Ashley Fountain for several minutes, Fountain ran away.
Officer who mistook gun for taser agrees to license probation, 7 years later
JEFFERSON COUNTY (First Alert 4) -- A local law enforcement officer has been disciplined by the state, more than seven years after mistaking her gun for a taser and shooting someone in the back. The officer has been working for a different department since 2022. Julia Crews was working for the Ladue Police Department in 2019 when she responded to a call for shoplifting at a Schnucks. After speaking with suspect Ashley Fountain for several minutes, Fountain ran away.
Woman claims funeral home mishandled father’s body: ‘Something like you see in a horror movie’
ST. LOUIS (First Alert 4/Gray News) - A Missouri resident was preparing for her father’s funeral last June when she got a call. The funeral home told her that her father’s body was ready to be seen, she recalled. The funeral service was scheduled for the following morning. Brandy Wren chose Serenity Memorial Funeral and Cremation Services on Union Boulevard in St. Louis for her father’s services.
Show More
loading
Actions
Get in touch with Matt
Contact Matt, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack