Kathy Sweeney
Anchor, KFVS
Cape Girardeau, MO
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Kathy Sweeney anchors Heartland News at 5 and 6. Kathy has been at KFVS12 since June of 1994, when she started as a reporter in our Southern Illinois Newsroom. Since then, she has covered some of the region's biggest stories, winning awards in both Missouri and Illinois for her investigative and legal reporting.
Born and raised in Illinois, Kathy is a proud graduate of Southern Illinois University. During her time with Heartland News, she's had the unique opportunity to live in Illinois, Kentucky, and now Missouri. Back in 2003, Kathy took a few years off the air to serve as Assistant News Director, before returning to the field and anchor desk full time.
Kathy's been honored for her past community service work by the Southeast MO Area Agency on Aging, the Community Caring Council and EPIC (formerly the Southeast Missouri Youth Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition).
When she's not working, Kathy enjoys running, reading, watching her beloved Chicago Bears, and spending time with her husband Barry. In 2010, she completed her first half marathon in St. Louis. She also enjoys watching her daughter, Maddie, compete in Crossfit competitions. In fact, Kathy just recently started weight-lifting herself!
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First responders tell us the drivers around them can cost them precious seconds, even minutes, when answering that 911 call.
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A federal judge ruled Tuesday that Missouri’s controversial Second Amendment Preservation Act is unconstitutional.
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Concerns about the video prompted Cape Girardeau police to release the officer's body cam footage, as well as surveillance video, of the altercation.
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Cape Girardeau police say they’ve issued a dozen citations to one man since summer 2022.
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Missouri’s Amendment 3, in a lot of ways, put marijuana use in the same category as alcohol, but there are differences between the two.
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Missouri’s amendment makes clear, it’s not intended to allow pot users to drive under the influence. However, determining that impairment does not come with a clear set of standards.
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Passage of Amendment 3 means changes to city traffic stops, according to Cape Girardeau Police Chief Wes Blair.
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As Legal Weed Week continues, we focus on your edible rights under Amendment 3.
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Missouri’s Amendment 3 gives adults over 21 the right to have up to 3 ounces of marijuana. We want to show you exactly what that looks like, where people can use pot, and what, if anything, can happen if you have more than that specified amount.
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The legal battle between the Scott County Commission and the County Sheriff ends in an agreement, but it sets up new challenges for Wes Drury.
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The Cape Girardeau city manager withdrew his name from consideration for a city management job in another state.
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Back in March, Portageville council members voted to impeach Mayor Vince Berry for allegedly mismanaging city money.
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A meeting of the Forensic Anthropology Cold Case Team at Southeast Missouri State means another cold case to try and help solve.
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Jim said he saw everyone gathered there as his brother’s extended family.
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More than 40 years after a murder victim’s remains are found in Cape Girardeau County, a family in Texas can finally grieve and say goodbye.
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Because the board voted unanimously for Michael Carneal to serve out the remainder of his sentence, his parole status will not come up for review in the future.
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Three students were killed and five others were injured in the Heath High School shooting on December 1, 1997.
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All victims had the chance to testify virtually or in writing.
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Danny Whiteley spent the last 22 years as Poplar Bluff police chief, but it’s his first career love that defines him just as much as a badge and uniform.
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A Cape Girardeau woman faces domestic assault charges, after authorities say she hit her boyfriend with her car.
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There’s growing concern in downtown Cape Girardeau involving a local community center and the crowds of people it’s bringing to Broadway.
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The Butler County sheriff formally requested a state investigation into an incident that happened inside the jail.
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Late last month, an older man got a ride to a Cape County convenience store right off Interstate 55.
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Detective Danny Hicks said the first step is simple. You should know what’s on your child’s cellphone or laptop.
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While many young people may think creating and sharing nude photos and videos is a private choice, some very public, lifelong consequences can be just a click away.
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One person was seriously injured in a shooting on Tuesday afternoon, April 26.
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A Williamson County man who identified himself as a federal prison guard now faces three federal charges after being accused of trying to solicit a minor online.
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Illinois State police announced charges of official misconduct and battery against Captain Barry Morgan on Thursday, April 14.
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A couple was arrested after police discovered unsafe, unsanitary living conditions inside their home where they were housing five children.
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The Republican in-fighting in Jefferson City has one of our local senators saying enough is enough.
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There’s no way to sugarcoat the numbers Chief McMillen lays out for the first month of 2022.
The lawsuit, filed on Wednesday, February 16, names the state of Missouri, along with Governor Mike Parson and Attorney General Eric Schmitt as individuals.
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That surrender means Reyna can never again serve as an officer in Missouri, and if he ever has the ability to apply in another state, leaders there will be told what happened here.
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Missouri's Republican-controlled transportation and public safety committee voted down Senate Bill 666 on Thursday morning, February 10.
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Under a long-standing city ordinance, all Southeast officers also serve as sworn deputies in Cape Girardeau.
Under Senate Bill 666, all cases of physical or deadly force would be presumed to be self-defense unless proven otherwise.
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The new year finds Missouri’s Second Amendment Preservation Act targeted with new legal action.
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Elizabeth Shelton pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor on December 14.
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A longtime Mississippi County coroner and veteran funeral home director said COVID-19 changed everything.
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A Piedmont Police officer is on unpaid administrative leave after he was charged with sexual abuse and harassment.
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A murder investigation we first told you about in 2016 results in charges filed against the man authorities call the prime suspect since day one.
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Missouri’s governor responds to some law enforcement concerns about the state’s Second Amendment Preservation Act.
A growing number of southeast Missouri law enforcement leaders say the Second Amendment Preservation Act is actually missing the mark, by benefiting the most violent criminals and putting your communities at risk.
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We caught up with Governor Parson as he toured the historic Bollinger Mill in Burfordville.
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Methamphetamine sent special delivery right to your hometown.
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Richard Givens and Joseph Palmar are accused of allowing what’s known as “straw purchases” at Mr. G’s Gun Shop in East Prairie.
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A Cape Girardeau County jury finds a former Scott County sheriff’s deputy guilty of having sexual contact with a minor
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Eric Greitens wanted to talk about his political present and future as he seeks his party’s nomination for Senate in 2022.
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The new case against Robinson comes from Scott County, but he’s currently being held in the Cape Girardeau County Jail.
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Former Missouri Governor Eric Greitens is calling out state leadership for not stopping the violence he says is plaguing the Show-Me State.
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