Local News Archives

Missouri Attorney General’s Office dismisses case against Fear Fest owner, expects to refile as several people still have not received refunds

October 24, 2025 8:36 PM Olivia Hayes

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Missouri Attorney General’s Office told ABC 17 News it had to dismiss its case against Fear Fest owner and operator Bill Schnell after being unable to locate him. Columbia’s Fear Fest Haunted House made an official announcement on Halloween 2024 stating that it would not be opening for the season and that refunds

Extra cash could help The Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri keep shelves stocked as prices rise, federal programs go dry

October 24, 2025 12:15 PM Alison Patton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Boone County commissioners are set to help keep the Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri afloat as low-income locals worry the shutdown will mean no federal food assistance. The commission is amending its contract to provide the food bank with American Rescue Act Funds to pour in an additional $50,000 to

Columbia woman seriously injured in Callaway County crash

October 24, 2025 6:35 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A 65-year-old woman from Columbia was seriously injured in a crash in the 4900 block of Route F in Callaway County on Thursday morning, according to a crash report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol. The report says the 2016 Toyota Camry was heading west when it went off the right side

FEMA assistance approved for 20 Missouri counties

October 24, 2025 6:25 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) FEMA individual assistance was approved for 20 Missouri counties that were damaged in storms that took place from March 30-April 8, according to a Friday press release from SEMA. Assistance is available to residents in Bollinger, Butler, Cape Girardeau, Carter, Cooper, Dunklin, Howell, Iron, Mississippi, New Madrid, Oregon, Ozark, Reynolds, Ripley, Scott,

Man found guilty of child sex crimes in Osage County

October 24, 2025 4:51 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A man was found guilty on Friday of multiple child sex crimes in Osage County, according to a press release from the Missouri Attorney General’s Office. Louis Galvan was found guilty of first-degree statutory sodomy, first-degree child molestation and second-degree child molestation. He was accused of repeatedly sexually abusing a child who

Hallsville sex offender arrested near busy intersection charged with being too close to school, failure to register

October 24, 2025 4:30 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A registered sex offender in Hallsville who was arrested on Thursday was charged with two felonies. Eric Gathings, 51, was charged on Friday with failure to register as a sex offender and residing too close to a school. He is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond. A court date has

Concrete repairs to be made to West Ash Street near ARC parking lot entrance

October 24, 2025 4:16 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Crews next week will make concrete repairs to a portion of West Ash Street in Columbia near the entrance to the parking lot of the Activity and Recreation Center. The ARC is located at 1701 W. Ash St., across the street from Gerbes. Crews will start work at 7 a.m. Monday and

No injuries reported in Fulton building fire

October 24, 2025 3:35 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) No one was injured after a building caught fire Thursday night at 3100 Dogwood Dr. in Fulton, according to a Friday press release from the Fulton Fire Department. The release says crews were called to the address of Monet Desauw at 10:41 p.m. and saw flames going through the roof. The fire

Boone County out $2.2 million from senior property tax freeze

October 24, 2025 3:28 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A senior property tax exemption that went into effect last year will result in Boone County issuing more than $2.2 million in tax credits to seniors. Eligible seniors are able to apply for an exemption by each summer and voters in August approved decided to expand the law to apply to levies.

Columbia man accused of repeatedly raping child in Callaway County

October 24, 2025 3:09 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia man was charged with several sex crimes after he was accused of repeatedly raping and sodomizing a child over the course of several years. Zackary Ray, 27, was charged with two counts of first-degree rape of a child younger than 12 years old, one count of first-degree sodomy of a

Missouri Association of Counties selling hearses, limos, other cars found in old Jefferson City funeral home

October 24, 2025 1:52 PM Matthew Sanders

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) The Missouri Association of Counties is looking for buyers of 10 old cars, including four hearses and two limousines, as it continues to convert the former Buescher Funeral Home into offices. The vehicles were discovered as crews were clearing out junk from the building. The lineup comprises four hearses, a station

Crews encounter heavy fire conditions at Jefferson City home

October 24, 2025 11:55 AM Matthew Sanders

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Jefferson City firefighters encountered “heavy fire conditions” in the front of a house during a call Friday morning. Firefighters were sent to the 100 block of North Polk Street a little before 8 a.m. and found the flames when they arrived, according to a Jefferson City Fire Department news release. Everyone

Jefferson City man hurt in motorcycle crash with semi-truck in Audrain County

October 24, 2025 10:17 AM Jazsmin Halliburton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Jefferson City man suffered serious injuries Thursday after his motorcycle collided with a semi-truck in Audrain County. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report, the 30-year-old Jefferson City man’s motorcycle was hit by a semi-truck that ran a stop sign at Route K and Audrain County Road 565 around

QUESTION OF THE DAY: What do you think of demolishing part of the White House?

October 24, 2025 4:12 AM Matthew Sanders

The country was surprised earlier this week to see images of heavy equipment tearing down the East Wing of the White House. President Donald Trump is clearing the 123-year-old section of the presidential mansion to make way for his 90,000-square-foot ballroom, which will dwarf the chief executive’s residence when completed. The cost of the project

Man accused of trying to hire hitman to kill Columbia police detective

October 23, 2025 4:33 PM Ryan Shiner, Erika McGuire

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A man who was already in law enforcement custody has been accused of trying to hire a hitman to kill a detective from the Columbia Police Department. Nikolaus Harvey, 26, was charged on Thursday with conspiracy to commit a Class A felony. He was moved from the Boone County Jail to the

MU’s 2026 fall semester Stop Day at risk of getting cut for Veterans Day

October 23, 2025 2:58 PM Ryan Shiner, Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A traditional day off for students at the end of the fall semester is at risk of being eliminated next school year. The University of Missouri is at the beginning stages of reviewing its academic calendar for next year to be in compliance with its mandated number of academic hours for classes

Moniteau County man faces 29 child porn charges

October 23, 2025 9:06 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A man from California, Missouri, who is facing felony charges in two counties has now been charged in Moniteau County with 29 counts of possessing child pornography. Ernest Blair Jr., 21, was served a warrant on Thursday, according to court records. He was previously charged in Miller County with first-degree making a

Wanted sex offender’s arrest in Hallsville prompted large law enforcement response

October 23, 2025 7:36 PM Ryan Shiner

HALLSVILLE, Mo. (KMIZ) A number of law enforcement officers were seen in Hallsville on Thursday as they arrested a sex offender who had a warrant for his arrest, according to a social media post from the Boone County Sheriff’s Office. Eric Dwayne Gathings, 51, of Hallsville, is currently being held in the Boone County Jail

Woman and child, two dogs saved from house fire in Mexico

October 23, 2025 12:37 PM Olivia Hayes

MEXICO, Mo. (KMIZ) Mexico’s Public Safety Department says it saved a woman and a child from a house fire Wednesday afternoon. According to a press release from the department, MPSD responded to the 1000 block of Robinhood for a house fire after neighbors reported seeing smoke and flame coming from a home nearby. The neighbors

State senator announces run for Cole County commission

October 23, 2025 7:03 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Missouri state Sen. Mike Bernskoetter (R-Cole County) announced Thursday on his social media that he plans to run for presiding commissioner in Cole County. Bernskoetter has served the sixth district in the Missouri senate since 2019, which is made up of Cole, Camden, Miller, Moniteau and Morgan counties. He will reach the