COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Four people had to be saved during a water rescue Monday afternoon, according to a press release from Cole County Emergency Services. Two people suffered minor injuries and were brought to an area hospital, according to the release. The release says that a caller at 3:48 p.m. told dispatchers that a man
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) According to AAA County Retail Prices, Boone and Cole counties are seeing lower prices at the pump than the national average, but one of the highest prices in the state. And with Israel’s attack and Iran and the subsequent retaliation, they could climb even higher. Friday’s report from AAA shows the national
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Gov. Mike Kehoe signed an executive order on Thursday, activating the National Guard ahead of protests scheduled around the state and country this weekend. “We respect, and will defend, the right to peacefully protest, but we will not tolerate violence or lawlessness in our state,” Kehoe said in the release. “While other
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Several counties and cities within Mid-Missouri, including Columbia, Jefferson City and Cole County have received the Missouri Blue Shield Designation from the Missouri Department of Public Safety. However, Boone County did not apply for the designation. The deadline to was June 1. Capt. Brian Leer, with the Boone County Sheriff’s Office told
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Highway 54 in Cole County over the Neighhorn Branch will narrow to one lane in each direction, according to a Tuesday press release from the Missouri Department of Transportation. Crews will begin replacing the eastbound bridge on Monday, June 16 and the traffic shift will be fully in place by the week
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A mother was charged with several felonies after authorities say she tried to kill her children on Sunday night in a Jefferson City hotel room. Lydia Ginger, 36, was charged on Monday with child abuse, four counts of domestic assault and three counts of endangering the welfare of a child. A warrant
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JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Phase two of Highway 54 improvements are underway, as part of The Missouri Department of Transportation’s Bridge Bundle for Jefferson City. The traffic shift was moved to Wednesday after storms rolled through the area on Tuesday. The Bridge Bundle aims to address driving surface issues on bridges in Jefferson City, including deck repairs
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) State Rep. Rudy Veit (R-Wardsville) is intending to run for a state senate seat next year. Veit was elected to represent the 59th district in 2018 and will be at the limit of his terms in the House. He will seek the District 6 seat in the Missouri Senate in the
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A criminal summons has been issued for a Cole County deputy who was listed in a report for a December 2023 crash that left a driver with serious injuries. Mercy Gonzalez, of Jefferson City, was charged with reckless driving and failing to obey a traffic control device, both misdemeanors. The criminal summons
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Jefferson City man is being held at the Cole County Jail without bond after police say he had a stolen gun that was allegedly used in a downtown shooting. Derrick Crumble, 33, was charged with illegal gun possession, armed criminal action and misdemeanor tampering with evidence. A court date has not
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JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) A Missouri Department of Corrections inmate has been charged, after allegedly assaulting at least two Jefferson City Correctional Officers in Jan. 2024. Brian Koch, 28, is charged with two counts of violence against an employee of the Department of Corrections. According to a probable cause statement, Koch allegedly ran from the
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JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) The Jefferson City Police Department will add a second community resource officer to enhance support for the city’s homeless population and bolster mental health outreach efforts. Jefferson City’s current community resource officer focuses on mental health outreach and connecting unhoused individuals with available resources. They also work to balance the needs
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) More than a month after a tornado destroyed Columbia’s recycling facility, nearby cities are grappling with an influx of recyclables. Columbia’s recycling program has been suspended since the April storm that leveled the city’s facility, forcing the closure of curbside collection and all eight drop-off centers. Curbside pickup is still active, but
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Jefferson City man who is currently incarcerated has been charged with several child sex crimes dating back to 2012. Joe Stevens, 39, was charged on Wednesday in Cole County with two counts of first-degree statutory rape, one count of forcible rape, three counts of forcible sodomy, three counts of first-degree child
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(Editor’s note, 5/27: The story and headline have been updated to reflect a Cole County judge’s changes to the amount of money awarded in the case.) COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Western District Court of Appeals upheld a Cole County jury’s decision to punish agriculture giant Monsanto for diseases developed by those using its product. The
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Mid-Missouri is taking steps toward curbing violence through collaborative efforts between local, state and federal agencies. The Violent Crime Abatement Team — which began on Jan. 1 — looks to discuss recent violent crimes and arrests in the area during monthly meetings at the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Discussions include sharing information about
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JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) A groundbreaking was held Thursday for the Jefferson City River Market. The event at the former site of the Missouri State Penitentiary was attended by Mayor Ron Fitzwater and several other city officials. According to previous reporting, the Jefferson City Council approved a contract to build the site last year with
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Jefferson City man on Thursday was charged in Cole County with having child pornography. Austin Russell, 27, is being held at the Cole County Jail without bond. A court date has not been scheduled. The probable cause statement says the Boone County Sheriff’s Office Cyber Crimes Task Force received a tip
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Cole County man was charged with a felony and a misdemeanor after he allegedly followed a teenager at the Jefferson City Target and put a cellphone under their skirt. Christopher Whittle was charged on Wednesday with first-degree stalking and misdemeanor invasion of privacy. A warrant was issued for his arrest and
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A woman who was charged with murder in a fatal shooting at a Holts Summit apartment complex last month was indicted by a grand jury on Monday. Heather Smith, 37, of Holts Summit, was charged with second-degree murder, first-degree child endangerment, armed criminal action and three counts of unlawful use of a weapon. An arraignment is
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