COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Municipal elections in Missouri are April 8, and one of the roles up for grabs is the mayoral seat in Columbia. Incumbent Barbara Buffaloe is running for reelection, while challengers Blair Murphy, Tanya Heath and write-in candidate Lucio Bitoy take a shot at the seat. View an interview ABC 17 News reporter
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A woman was charged on Wednesday after authorities claim she abused a dog at Cosmo Park and a motel on Monday. Renee Rardin, 37, of Columbia, was charged with two counts of drug possession, one count of third-degree assault and one count of misdemeanor animal abuse. She is being held at the
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The Columbia mayor’s race is bringing in big money. The latest campaign finance reports, filed Monday, show challenger Blair Murphy has collected more than $250,000 during the April election cycle. The incumbent mayor, Barbara Buffaloe, has brought in about $70,000 for her campaign. This isn’t the first Columbia mayoral race to draw big money, but
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The issue of stolen guns are a problem many U.S. cities face, including in the City of Columbia, which deals with the issue frequently. “Firearms are one of those things that when they get stolen, a lot of times they pop up at crime scenes and we call them crime guns,” Columbia
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A couple of Columbia’s mayoral candidates have garnered more donations in what has turned out to be a high-dollar election. Challenger Blair Murphy’s campaign eclipsed a quarter-million dollars in contributions, according to his eight-day campaign finance report submitted to the Missouri Ethics Commission. Eight-day reports had a closing date of March 27
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A 17-year-old from Columbia was charged Tuesday with six felonies in connection with a November 2024 shooting. Ja’Mez Thompson-Bey was in the Boone County Jail without bond on two counts of first-degree assault, two counts of armed criminal action and single counts of unlawful use of a weapon and armed robbery. Thompson-Bey
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A person who needed help outside Rock Bridge High School in south Columbia prompted what the district says was a “large emergency response” outside the school Tuesday. Columbia Public Schools alerted families via text message at about noon that an “individual needing assistance outside of RBHS” led to the emergency response. The
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Boone County seniors can apply for real estate tax relief on Tuesday, according to a Monday press release from the Boone County Commission. Applications are available on the Boone County collector’s website and at the Boone County Government Center. The deadline to apply is June 30, the release says. Eligible taxpayers include
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The man who allegedly fired shots early Sunday toward a vehicle in Downtown Columbia did so with a stolen gun, according to police. Steven M. Harris, 45, of Columbia, was charged Monday with four felonies: unlawful use of a weapon, armed criminal action, illegal gun possession and stealing a gun, according to
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield and MU Health Care failed to reach a deal on Monday, according to a Monday news release from MU Health Care. The two sides had been in contentious negotiations for months with the intent to reach an agreement by Monday’s deadline. MU Health Care will no longer
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A man who accidentally shot himself in a north Columbia gas station on Friday was charged with a felony on Monday. Brandon Shelton, 30, of Columbia, was charged with stealing a gun. He is being held at the Boone County Jail on a $15,000 bond. He appeared in court on Monday by
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A trial date has been scheduled for the truck driver charged with manslaughter in an August 2024 crash on Interstate 70 that killed two women. Walter Montejo, 27, of South Gate, California, is charged with two counts of first-degree involuntary manslaughter, one count of second-degree assault, misdemeanor driving while revoked and misdemeanor
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) About 320 people cast their ballots over the weekend during no-excuse absentee voting for April elections in Boone County. Boone County Clerk Brianna Lennon said that since no-excuse absentee voting began Tuesday, more than 1,100 people have voted. For many voters, casting their ballots early provides peace of mind. Lauren Williams, who
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The suspect in a shooting in downtown Columbia Sunday morning has been identified as a 45-year-old Columbia man Steven Harris. According to a press release from the Columbia Police Department, Harris was arrested on charges of stealing, unlawful use of a weapon, unlawful possession of a firearm and armed criminal action. The
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services transferred more than $23 million in funds generated by Missouri’s adult use marijuana program to the Missouri Veterans Commission and DHSS. The funds will be used to support veteran families, strengthen overdose prevention education, and expand access to drug addiction treatment programs, according to
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Missouri State Highway Patrol is still actively investigating after human remains were found at Rocky Forks Conservation Area this week. Human remains were found Saturday at Rocky Fork Lakes Conservation Area in Boone County, according to a Thursday press release from the Missouri State Highway Patrol. However, the exact location where
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Police say a man had “very minor injuries” after a gun in his pocket was discharged on Friday night at a north Columbia gas station. Columbia Police Department Lt. Derek Moore said the man had a gun in his pocket that accidentally went off while he was at the I-70 Eagle Stop
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) An Audrain County man has been charged with a pair of felonies after he allegedly pulled out a gun during a road rage incident on Friday morning while driving through Columbia. Jarrod Whelchel, of Mexico, Missouri, was charged in Boone County with unlawful use of a weapon and armed criminal action. A
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A change could be on the way for locals who are customers of Missouri’s biggest health insurer. MU Health Care is telling patients with Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield plans to be ready to go out-of-network at the end of the month. That’s when the current contract between MU Health and the insurer expires. The
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia Public Schools is approaching one year since installing a weapons detection system to enhance school safety. Now, the district is considering a public service announcement on safe firearm storage, a board resolution and further discussions on educating families about gun safety. CPS purchased 15 weapon detection systems from Communications Technologies Inc.
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