Local News Archives

Schlude say police have limited options for calls about homelessness; RATI director points at City Council for ‘lack of action’

October 16, 2025 7:24 PM Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Following calls from University of Missouri System President Mun Choi to address homelessness in downtown Columbia, police say their options remain limited. At a September press conference, Choi urged city leaders to consider a loitering ordinance and take steps to “clean up encampments” and tackle homelessness. Columbia Police Chief Jill Schlude said

Man sentenced to probation in 2023 Jefferson City park shooting

October 16, 2025 8:36 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A man who was charged in connection with a 2023 shooting at McClung Park in Jefferson City pleaded guilty this week to a felony. Syvonn Byrd, of Jefferson City, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to unlawful use of a weapon and was sentenced to five years of supervised probation. He was previously charged

Spencer Smith announces bid for Boone County circuit associate judge

October 16, 2025 7:58 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Attorney Spencer Smith in a Thursday press release announced his candidacy for the Division 9 Boone County Circuit associate judge role. The release says Smith graduated from Washburn University School of Law in 2017 and worked as the deputy district attorney in Josephine County in Oregon until he became a public defender

Hallsville schools staff members resign after month on leave for Charlie Kirk posts

October 16, 2025 11:41 AM Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) – Two Hallsville School District staff members have resigned from the district after a month of paid leave over posts they shared about Charlie Kirk’s death. Anthony Plogger and Kayla Lewis were suspended with pay for sharing posts about Kirk from a page called “So Informed.” The post expressed a lack of

Group seeking to overturn new Missouri congressional map responds to AG lawsuit

October 16, 2025 12:06 PM Alison Patton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) People Not Politicians’ lawyer claims a referendum on the new congressional map passed by the Missouri legislature is protected under state law. This comes after Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway filed a lawsuit in a federal court on Wednesday to block the referendum from getting on the November 2026 ballot. The new

Moberly man accused of crashing into car, smashing windshield with piece of metal

October 16, 2025 5:20 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Moberly man was arrested and charged after he allegedly followed a vehicle containing multiple people, ramming into it with his vehicle and hitting it with a piece of metal. Alexander McConnell, 22, was charged with first-degree domestic assault, two counts of first-degree assault and a count of first-degree property damage. He

Dump truck driver argues immunity in wrongful death case involving Moniteau County crash

October 16, 2025 4:12 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Court filings from Thursday show a Moniteau County dump truck driver is arguing he should be given immunity in a wrongful death case involving a crash. The parents of Deborah Kay Coville filed a wrongful death lawsuit against John Kendrick and Moniteau County on Aug. 29 after Coville died from injuries she

Waynesville man sentenced to 10 years after taking manslaughter plea

October 16, 2025 4:03 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Wanyesville man was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Wednesday after he pleaded guilty last month to voluntary manslaughter. Colin Mar was previously charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action after he was accused of shooting someone in a St. Robert home in March. Court documents in previous reporting

Jefferson City man indicted by grand jury in double-murder case

October 16, 2025 3:09 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Jefferson City man accused of shooting and killing two women last week was indicted by a grand jury on Thursday. Michael Davis, 40, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder, three counts of armed criminal action and a single count of unlawful use of a weapon in the deaths of

University of Missouri seeks developers for on-campus entertainment district

October 16, 2025 5:48 AM Jazsmin Halliburton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The University of Missouri Board of Curators is seeking to attract developers for an entertainment and hospitality district on campus to enhance the university’s offerings. The university aims to build on the momentum of the current renovations of Memorial Stadium and continue its goal to enhance the game-day experience for fans. The

Finalized Business Loop 70 safety audit expected by spring 2026

October 15, 2025 7:44 PM Nia Hinson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A full report outlining recommended safety improvements for Business Loop 70 in Columbia is expected to be completed by next spring. The Bicycle and Pedestrian Commission met Wednesday night at City Hall, where leaders provided an update on the audit. The City of Columbia and CBB Transportation Solutions conducted walk-throughs along the

Columbia leaders say city’s spending reflects priority on safety

October 15, 2025 9:42 PM Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia residents had the chance to learn more about the city’s newly approved fiscal year 2026 budget during a “Let’s Talk Local” event on Wednesday night. Mayor Barbara Buffaloe hosted the discussion at Missouri United Methodist Church, where city officials outlined spending priorities and answered questions from the community. Around 35 people

Cleanup from Lake of the Ozarks marina fire should finish within two weeks

October 15, 2025 8:24 PM ABC 17 News Team

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Missouri Department of Natural Resources says it’s almost done cleaning up a portion of the Lake of the Ozarks where a marina caught fire over the summer. Investigators say the Aug. 4 fire was accidental and may have been caused by an electrical issue with a house boat. Several docks and a

Attorney general claims referendum on new Missouri congressional map is illegal

October 15, 2025 3:34 PM Matthew Sanders, Alison Patton

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Missouri’s attorney general filed a lawsuit Wednesday to stop a vote on a new congressional map passed by the Republican supermajority during a summer special session. Attorney General Catherine Hanaway filed the lawsuit on Wednesday in federal court for the Eastern District of Missouri that lists Secretary of State Denny Hoskins

Boone Health continues to hire primary care providers among shortage

October 15, 2025 7:33 PM Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Boone Health is chipping away at Missouri’s primary care shortage, hiring 25 providers in the past 12 months, eight of whom are primary care providers. Four additional primary care providers are expected to join Boone Health by the end of the year, according to a Wednesday press release from Boone Health. The

2 men indicted in separate federal child porn cases

October 15, 2025 6:53 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Two men who were charged in separate child porn cases in Missouri were indicted by a federal grand jury on Tuesday. David Narcato, 41, of Columbia, was indicted in the western district of Missouri on two counts of producing child pornography and one count of child porn possession. He was previously charged

Family of woman who died after falling at nursing home sues for wrongful death

October 15, 2025 6:33 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A family member of a woman who died in 2022 more than a month after she fell at a nursing home in Miller County has sued the facility for wrongful death and negligence. A petition filed Tuesday in Miller County by Brenda James — the daughter of Ursula Hill — alleges the

Boone County launches new Youth Substance Use Prevention Coalition

October 15, 2025 11:35 AM Olivia Hayes

EDITOR’S NOTE: AI contributed to background research for this article. COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Boone County launched a new Youth Substance Use Prevention Coalition on Wednesday afternoon at the Columbia/Boone County Health Department. This meeting marks the start of a collaborative effort to tackle youth substance use and promote community-driven change, organizers say. The coalition aims

2 women accused of lying to police in Ralls County homicide case appear in court

October 15, 2025 5:46 AM Jazsmin Halliburton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Two women made their first appearance in court on Wednesday in connection with a deadly officer-involved shooting in Paris, Missouri, last weekend. Lois Armour, 78, and Patty Armour, 51, both of Paris, Missouri, were charged with hindering a felony prosecution and are currently booked in the Randolph County Jail. They are being

Department of Justice takes case alleging federal fraud by Columbia businessman

October 15, 2025 5:39 PM Lucas Geisler

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Department of Justice will begin handling claims of a Columbia businessman misusing a pandemic-era relief plan — an allegation he denies. Federal attorneys unsealed the case on Oct. 7 against Greg DeLine and three of his companies — GKD Management, Midwest Mortgage Association and Amega Sales. The DOJ is considering whether