COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Power is being restored in Mid-Missouri Monday morning after storms rolled through. According to the City of Columbia’s outage map, nearly 1,800 customers are without power due to six electrical incidents. This is an improvement from earlier Monday morning, when more than 3,700 customers were without power due to seven power incidents
Continue Reading
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The mayor of a Cooper County town resigned from his position on Tuesday. The City of Bunceton shared on its social media on Wednesday that Mayor Justin Hein resigned after 15 years as mayor. The city did not share why Hein decided to step down. Information from the Cooper County Clerk’s website
Continue Reading
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A 35-year-old truck driver from Independence, Missouri, was treated for injuries after he lost control of his tractor-trailer Wednesday on Interstate 70 in Cooper County. The 2017 Freightliner was traveling east at the 96.2 mile marker when the truck went off the left side of the road at about 9 a.m., according
Continue Reading
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission has picked a contractor for the Improve I-70: Truck Parking project, according to a Wednesday press release from the Missouri Department of Transportation. KCI construction Team was picked for the projects in Concordia, Boonville, Mineola and Wright City, the release says. The truck parking project is
Continue Reading
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The leader of a “cult-like” Amish community who was charged with several felonies, including manslaughter and sex crimes, was indicted by a Cooper County grand jury on Friday. Sam Shetler, 42, of Boonville, is charged with three counts of trafficking for the purpose of slavery, a count of first-degree sodomy, first-degree sex
Continue Reading
PILOT GROVE, Mo. (KMIZ) Cooper County residents held a town hall meeting in Pilot Grove to discuss a proposed solar farm project. More than 100 local residents attended the meeting to express concerns over environmental impacts, tax revenues and the lasting effects of solar panels. The Cooper County commissioners, county assessor, and State Rep. Tim
Continue Reading
UPDATE: This brief was updated after a Tuesday morning press release from MoDOT gave an update. COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Rolling roadblocks are planned this week on Interstate 70 near the Missouri River, according to an updated press release from the Missouri Department of Transportation. “Blasting operations” are scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday as part of
Continue Reading BOONVILLE, Mo. (KMIZ) A Cooper County judge denied bond for the leader of a “cult-like” Amish community after new charges, including manslaughter, were filed against him this week. Sam Shetler, 42, of Boonville, appeared Tuesday in front of Judge Keith Bail after the new charges were added for a previously scheduled bond reduction hearing. Bail
Continue Reading COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The leader of a “cult-like” Amish community who was charged with felonies last month is now charged with manslaughter in the 2025 death of an infant. Sam Shetler, 42, of Boonville, is now charged in Cooper County with three counts of trafficking for forced labor, a count of first-degree sodomy, first-degree sex
Continue Reading
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The two men accused of robbing the Isle of Capri Casino in Boonville last month have each been indicted by a grand jury. Benjamin Michael-Dass Charles, 21, of Columbia has been charged with first-degree robbery, armed criminal action and tampering with evidence. He is being held at the Cooper County Jail on
Continue Reading
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A woman accused of embezzling money from nonprofits in Boonville and Columbia has pleaded guilty in one of her cases. Jennifer Waibel pleaded guilty on Monday in Cooper County to stealing more than $25,000. She will be sentenced at 1:30 p.m. Friday, May 22. She is still charged in Boone County with stealing more than $750
Continue Reading
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The eastbound lanes of Interstate 70 just west of Columbia were closed on Friday during rush hour after a crash. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report, at around 5:45 p.m., a 27-year-old Columbia man was driving a 2021 Ram 3500 east on I-70 when he passed a 38-year-old Fayette
Continue Reading
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ As severe storms approach Mid-Missouri after days of rain, Boone and Cooper County officials are reminding people to “turn around, don’t drown” when they see water on roadways. Cooper County is under a severe thunderstorm watch until 10 p.m. Friday. “We’ll be monitoring the weather all day,” Cooper County Emergency Management Agency
Continue Reading
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A former jailer who was found guilty of manslaughter earlier this year was sentenced on Friday to three years in prison. Robyn Pfeiffer was found guilty on Feb. 3 by a Callaway County jury for first-degree involuntary manslaughter in the death of Brooke Bailey. Bailey, of Jefferson City, died on Oct. 27,
Continue Reading
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Cooper County town was awarded $4.8 million in financial assistance from the Missouri Department of Natural Resource for upgrades to its wastewater treatment system, according to a Wednesday press release from the DNR. It will cost a total of $6.28 million to upgrade Pilot Grove’s system and the city expects the
Continue Reading COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) EDITOR’S NOTE: AI was used in background research of this article. The leader of an Amish community who was accused of sexual abuse and forced labor at a rural retreat asked a Cooper County judge to get in contact with his family during a status hearing on Tuesday. Sam Shetler, 42, faces
Continue Reading
BOONVILLE, Mo. (KMIZ) EDITOR’S NOTE: AI was used in background research for this article One of the men accused of robbing the Isle of Capri Casino in Boonville last week pleaded not guilty at his first court appearance Tuesday. Benjamin Michael-Dass Charles, 21, of Columbia, appeared by video feed from the Cooper County Jail. Charles
Continue Reading
Thousands of Missourians are expected to join millions of protesters nationwide Saturday in over 3,000 “No Kings” protests.
Continue Reading COLUMBIA, Mo. The leader of an Amish community in Cooper County was arrested on Wednesday over claims of sexual abuse and forced labor at a rural retreat. Cooper County Sheriff Chris Class said Sam Shetler, 42, was arrested after a search warrant in the 11000 block of Hidden Valley Court at the Mercy and Truth-Amish
Continue Reading COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Two men have been charged in connection with the armed robbery at the Isle of Capri Casino in Boonville earlier this week. Benjamin Michael-Dass Charles, 21, of Columbia has been charged with first-degree robbery, armed criminal action and tampering with evidence. He is being held at the Cooper County Jail on a
Continue Reading