COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A South Carolina man has been accused of murdering a woman in Boone County in February 2000. Sentrell Wilson, 45, of Spartanburg County, South Carolina, was charged with first-degree murder in Boone County. He was arrested in South Carolina on Tuesday morning and is being held at the Spartanburg County Jail. Columbia
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Boone County’s top prosecutor wasted no time putting in his name for an associate circuit judge seat on Tuesday, while the term-limited state House member serving Jefferson City filed for Cole County clerk. Boone County Prosecutor Roger Johnson signed his paperwork less than 30 minutes after filing opened at 8 a.m. Tuesday.
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JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) The August Republican primary in Missouri’s Sixth Senate District is a crowded field after just the opening day of filing. Filing for the August primary opened Tuesday, including the seat that represents Cole, Miller, Camden, Morgan and Moniteau counties in the Missouri Senate. The seat will be open after Republican Mike
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Missouri Department of Transportation is seeking the public’s input on its proposal for major improvements to Business Loop 70 and Paris Road. “An at grade intersection where you can make all those different turns, regardless of which direction you’re coming from at that intersection,” said MODOT Improve I-70: Rocheport to Columbia
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Nearly two years after the line-of-duty death of Boone County Fire Protection Assistant Fire Chief Matthew Tobben, the two fire agencies involved in the response say they’re working to implement recommendations from a follow-up report. Tobben, 42, died during a swift-water rescue on July 8, 2024, when his boat lost power and
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Three adults accused of felony murder in the shooting death of Michael Burke were indicted by a Boone County grand jury on Friday. Joseph Crane, Kobe Aust and Alexis Baumann, all 18, are each charged with first-degree robbery, two counts of armed criminal action and solo counts of felony murder. Crane and
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MU Health Care is inviting people to stop by the Columbia Activity and Recreation Center on Saturday morning to check on their heart health.
Attendees will have access to free screenings and information on heart disease prevention.
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The family of a woman who died from a fentanyl overdose in 2023 has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against an extended stay hotel in Columbia. The lawsuit was filed on Thursday in Boone County by Stacy Thomas, the mother of Brianna Surface. Surface, 21, died from an overdose on Aug. 7,
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia Police Department is still on track to relaunch its full-time dedicated downtown unit this summer. Police Chief Jill Schlude told ABC 17 News back in October that once the January 2026 academy graduates completed field training, the department would have staffing levels to support the unit. Lt. Clint Sinclair said
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Boone County judge sentenced a Springfield man to nine years in prison for a December 2024 crash that killed a passenger in his vehicle. Carl D. Simon pleaded guilty Tuesday to causing serious injury while fleeing police and first-degree involuntary manslaughter. Judge Stephanie Morrell sentenced him to nine years for aggravated
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) – A man who admitted to illegally having a gun during a deadly shooting received a decade-long prison sentence. Judge Joshua Devine sentenced Steven S. Jones to 10 years in prison on Thursday morning. Jones pleaded guilty in January to unlawful possession of a gun following a shooting outside Jake’s Bar on
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Service reports a drop in statewide measles MMR vaccination rates, while religious vaccination exemptions rise for the fifth year in a row. This comes as measles outbreaks have occurred recently in South Carolina and Texas. DHSS requires students to receive two doses total, with the first
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The family of a woman who was killed in flooded waters in Boone County in 2024 claims the City of Columbia and Boone County were at fault. The wrongful death lawsuit filed Friday in Boone County alleges the city and county “failed to use ordinary care to either prevent Gillespie Bridge Road
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia City Council is moving forward with its plans for a proposed 1% Public Safety Sales Tax it believes will help close a $156 million funding gap in the Columbia Police and Fire retirement fund. The police pension has a $66 million funding gap with nearly $81 million currently in the
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A 2014 City of Columbia violence prevention report has been updated for the new decade with the summary set to be reviewed by the City Council Monday. The report features guidelines for recommendations from the 2014 Mayor’s Task Force on Community Violence. Monday’s report will feature updated recommendations for the city and
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The City of Columbia is looking to crack down on unregulated gaming machines with a new ordinance set to be presented Monday.
“Gray machines” or “no-chance machines” are similar to randomized slot machines but feature skill elements or sometimes the ability to show the outcome of the next roll. This requires the player to make a decision or skill-based action to play, making the legality of the games murky.
The ordinance was initially requested by the city council in October 2025 to address concerns about gaming machines. According to city documents, more than a dozen businesses operate a gaming machine.
The ordinance would make it illegal to offer the use of an electronic gaming machine, with violations being punishable by up to a $1,000 fine or 30 days jail time.
The ordinance will be on first reading at Monday’s city council meeting. The law requires that an ordinance be read three times for public notice before the Council votes on it, according to the city’s website.
The memo adds that if approved, CPD may need to adjust arrest and processing procedures, and enforcement of the rule may be delayed.
On Feb. 10, 2026, Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway also focused on unregulated gaming enforcement by suing five businesses with gaming machines in Dunklin County.
The Columbia City Council meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday.
Continue Reading COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia Police Department identified the suspect in custody after an armed robbery at a bank in downtown Columbia on Saturday morning. Police arrested 71-year-old Basil Kyles, of Columbia, on charges of first-degree robbery, armed criminal action, unlawful use of a weapon, unlawful possession of a firearm and tampering with evidence in
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A work crew on scene of the former Fear Fest Haunted House tells ABC 17 News that a fire at the former attraction site in the 6300 block of West Highway 40 is a controlled burn. Boone County Fire Spokesman Gale Blomenkamp also confirmed to ABC 17 News that it was a
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The United States Exercise Tiger Foundation is set to break a personal record Saturday at the group’s 5th annual Valentine’s for Veterans event.
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Parents are raising concerns after the United Way’s United Cerebral Palsy Heartland approved a 45% tuition increase at its Columbia Child Development Center over the next two years. According to a letter from UCP Heartland shared to ABC 17 News by a parent, who wishes to stay anonymous to avoid impacts to
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