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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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) – A Columbia citizen utility board recommended the city consider building a high-voltage electric transmission line through the southern part of the city. The Water and Light Advisory Board made the decision at its Wednesday meeting. The board wants the Columbia City Council to consider a route across Nifong Boulevard, Vawter School
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The City of Columbia will decide which route it will take for a new high voltage electrical line across south Columbia. Columbia Water and Light has proposed two pathways: One that runs along West Nifong Boulevard, Vawter School Road and Scott Boulevard. The second runs from Grindstone Parkway to the Hinkson Creek
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A woman charged with felony murder is still listed on the Boone County Jail roster on Friday evening, a day after she was given a bond. Alexis Baumann, 18, of Hallsville, saw her bond reduced to $50,000 on Thursday and is eligible for home detention. She is charged with first-degree robbery, two
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Boone Health Food Service Supervisor Marian Zellner-Evers performed the Heimlich maneuver to save a choking man this week. Zellner-Evers said she was in the cafeteria working at the register when she noticed a man sitting at a table gesturing for help. “I just turned around and I’m like are you ok? he’s
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A contractor for the fifth portion of the Improve I-70 Project has been approved, according to a Thursday press release from the Missouri Department of Transportation. Columbia-based Capital Paving and Construction was awarded the contract, the release says. It will cost roughly $104 million to add a third lane in each direction
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Parents of a Virginia man killed in a 2018 online sale meet up turned shooting say they were moved to put up billboards promoting ‘safe online exchanges’ after a Columbia man was killed in a similar way. Michael and Diane Grey tell ABC 17 News that they knew they needed to take
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A small tool now being used by the Columbia Fire Department could be the key to saving lives. CFD began carrying EpiPens in January, a decision that had been about a year in the making. According to CFD Chief Brian Schaeffer, every fire apparatus is stocked with at least one EpiPen and
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