Rebecca Smith
Health ReporterRebecca Smith is an award-winning reporter and producer for the KBIA Health & Wealth Desk. Born and raised outside of Rolla, Missouri, she has a passion for diving into often overlooked issues that affect the rural populations of her state – especially stories that broaden people’s perception of “rural” life. She created a conversations-based journalism project, Missouri Health Talks, in 2016 that empowers people throughout the state to share their stories of access to healthcare – in their own words.
She has degrees in both Journalism and Chemistry from Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri, and often says health reporting is the perfect marriage of individual’s stories and reporting on science.
You can reach her at smithbecky@missouri.edu or 573-882-4824.
-
Jennifer Maritza McCauley discusses her short story collection 'Neon Steel.' She will talk about the work more at Unbound Book Festival's Warp Speed Ahead: Nerd Culture and Literature panel. -
According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, 71% of pet owning women entering shelters reported that their abuser threatened or harmed family pets. -
You may have noticed lately in movies and shows that more cigarettes are popping up. And it seems that trend may not be limited to the screen. KBIA’s Rebecca Smith took a look at why Gen Z may be reaching more often for a cigarette. -
In 2024, domestic violence shelters across the state served nearly 55,000 people who were seeking emergency shelter, court advocacy, therapy and more. -
In 2025, the Alzheimer’s Association says some 226,000 Missourians provided unpaid care to loved ones with dementia. But many caregivers live in rural areas where resources are scarce and could be in danger of further cuts in the state budget. -
A Missouri bill that would mandate the counting and tracking of an allergy to mammalian products passed the house Thursday by a wide margin. -
The number of fatal opioid overdoses has gone down in the last few years in Missouri, but the emergence of nitazenes — a class of potent, synthetic opioids – has state officials concerned. -
Multiple state agencies put out a warning this week about a concerning new opioid that’s becoming more prevalent in the state. -
Doretta Kidd lost her husband, Johnny, to Alzheimer’s last November. She and her stepdaughter, Ashley Avery — who assisted with his care — spoke about what they learned from their years of caregiving and what they’re doing now to try and continue to make a difference. -
MU Extension recently launched a new set of informational guides for Missourians who have been diagnosed with alpha-gal syndrome.
