Civil rights group leaders, City Council members and Columbia residents are planning multiple events to help curb gun violence. Glenn Cobbins, a community activist, said he and others are set to host a block party near Rice Road and McKee Street. Police have investigated multiple shootings in the Northeast Columbia neighborhood in the past two
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Boone Electric Cooperative announced Wednesday it is completely rehabbing its headquarters in Columbia, including new buildings, and renovation of the existing space. The plan is set to cost $25 million, and Boone Electric customers will likely see a rate increase to pay for the new building. “Over the next few months, the board will discuss
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Some school districts are considering expanding random drug testing to include nicotine. Southern Boone School District Superintendent Christopher Felmlee said his school district is in the preliminary stages of discussing adding nicotine to its drug tests. Per the district’s policy, any student who participates in athletics, extra-curricular activities or parks on school grounds are required
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Columbia experienced a string of shootings in the month of September, several of them deadly. That gun violence has continued into October, with police investigating another shooting Tuesday night. Police responded to the 1400 block of Raleigh Drive at about 7:30 p.m. Tuesday after reports of shots fired. Police found several shell casings in the
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Gov. Mike Parson and U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt appeared with other officials at a news conference Wednesday about plans to replace the Interstate 70 bridge over the Missouri River near Rocheport. Playback of streaming video of the news conference will appear in the player below. Sign up for email news alerts by clicking here Copyright
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A woman accused of firing a gun at her romantic partner and prompting a lockdown of several Columbia schools was sentenced to 12 years in prison Monday. Judge Jodie Asel sentenced Brandi Sorm after she withdrew a not guilty plea and pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree domestic assault in connection with the Sept.
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Columbia police are searching for a suspect who stole a car and led authorities on a chase. Police responded to the area of Rangeline Street around 1 a.m. Wednesday. Police said the driver of the stolen car led them on a foot chase near Eugene Field Elementary School. Authorities took a passenger of the car
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Following a deadly month of violence in Columbia, a group of men hope to use their past experience in prison as a means to mentor young people away from a life of crime. “I think that we operate in the capacity of scouts,” Mataka Askari said. “What we’re doing is coming back and saying ‘Hold
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Several state lawmakers heard from students and health experts about the extensive popularity of vaping products among Mid-Missouri minors and adults at a forum Tuesday. Reps. Kip Kendrick, Martha Stevens, Chuck Basye, Cheri Toalsen-Reisch and Sen. Caleb Rowden attended the Youth Community Coalition Legislative Forum at First Presbyterian Church. One Hallsville High School junior, Lydia
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Mizzou Esports is hoping to expand its program with the help of a new partnership. The university announced Tuesday that the program is forming a partnership with MSI, a company that has sponsored more than 20 professional gaming teams. Under the new partnership, the Mizzou Esports program will name its training facility the MSI Esports
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Update as of 7 p.m.: Russell Bucklew was pronounced dead in a prison in Missouri just before 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. Missouri Gov. Mike Parson will not interfere with the scheduled execution of a man convicted of murder. Parson’s office said he has declined to grant clemency to Russell Bucklew, who is scheduled to be executed
Continue ReadingThe head of a southeast Missouri school district where Battle High School players were reportedly subjected to racist treatment said the school can find no evidence of such behavior by its players and fans. Jackson R-2 School District Superintendent John Link said the district has looked at video and spoken with parents, referees and police
Continue ReadingThe Central Missouri Humane Society is hoping to find homes for dozens of cats seized at a Boone County residence in August. The organization said in a news release Tuesday that it will hold an adoption event each day this week from noon to 6 p.m. starting Wednesday. The adoption event continues through Sunday, when
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Tensions were high at a press conference at Columbia City Hall Wednesday where city leaders gave an update on several shootings. Those tensions could also be felt in the community. Vernon Forbes lives in the neighborhood where 18-year-old Nadria Wright was shot and killed on Sept. 14. He said he heard the shots. Police released
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A third man was charged on Tuesday in connection with an alleged assault at a fraternity on the University of Missouri’s campus. Jaret F. Carlsen was the third person, along with Joseph Huber and Jared Huber, who allegedly attacked attacked a man in the parking lot of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity house on Sept.
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Investigators say a witness told them a shooting Sunday in north Columbia could be in retaliation for a September killing, court documents show. Police arrested Daniel D. Ayers, 17, and Le’Andre J. Mitchell, 18, after the shooting on Silver Mill Drive that resulted in no injuries. It’s the latest in a string of shootings, several
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From Jan. 1, 2019, to Sept. 24, 2019 the Columbia Police Department received reports of 213 stolen firearms. City spokesman Steve Sapp says CPD has recovered 93 of those stolen guns. Dale Roberts, executive director of the Columbia Police Officers’ Association said there is a network of people buying and selling stolen guns in Columbia.
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Attorneys for a Columbia death row inmate believe a recent Supreme Court decision should not affect the status of his lawsuit. Lawyers for Ernest L. Johnson said that the 5-4 high court decision upholding Russell Bucklew’s death penalty by lethal injection does not change the trajectory of their case. Johnson’s attorneys asked the Eighth Circuit
Continue ReadingProsecutors charged a man in Boone County in connection with a shooting on Highway VV in March. According to court documents, Richard Johnson fired a gun at the victim from a moving vehicle multiple times March 25. Investigators said they found shell casings at the scene that later matched the gun found in Johnson’s possession.
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Nationwide, the number of homicides is going down but that is not the case for Columbia, according to data kept by law enforcement agencies. FBI crime data show 14,123 people died across the country in homicides — a decrease of 1,072 homicides from 2017 to 2018, or 7.5%. The number of homicides involving firearms nationwide
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