Local News Archives

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library cannot accept new enrollees in Missouri amid state budget cuts

June 3, 2026 6:27 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library will not be able to accept new applications for enrollees beginning on July 1 because of state budget cuts, according to an email from a Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education spokesperson. “Due to the proposed 2027 Fiscal Year state budget reduction, beginning July 1, 2026, Dolly Parton Imagination Library will not have the funds to accept

2 seriously injured in Cole County crash with semi-truck

June 3, 2026 6:11 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Two people in their 60s were seriously injured Wednesday in a crash on Route C in Cole County, just south of Spring Ridge Road, according to a crash report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol. The report says the driver of a Honda CR-V – a 67-year-old woman from Meta, Missouri –

Local agencies monitor e-bike use amid safety concerns

June 3, 2026 3:06 PM Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Capable of reaching speeds of up to 20 miles per hour, e-bikes and e-scooters are prompting a reminder from the Ashland Police Department about where and how they can be used. “We continue to receive complaints of dangerous activities by young people on e-bikes and electric motorcycles on the streets of Ashland,”

Missouri congressional delegation lobbies Trump to approve disaster request

June 3, 2026 5:21 PM Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Missouri’s members of Congress on Tuesday wrote to President Donald Trump, urging him to approve a disaster declaration request signed by Gov. Mike Kehoe last month. The letter was signed by each member of Missouri’s delegation, Democrat and Republican. The letter states that officials have documented more than $36 million in damage

Boone County Fire Protection donates two fire tankers to rural fire districts

June 3, 2026 3:41 PM Sutton Parker

COLUBMIA MO. (KMIZ) The Boone County Fire Protection District transferred ownership of two fire tankers to the Van-Far and Northwest Fire Protection District. The districts will each receive one 2000-model Pierce Freightliner that are designed to transport large quantities of water and operate as pumping units for firefighting activities. The two Tanker’s were recently taken

7 Columbia businesses partake in ‘Adopt-A-Team’ program for FIFA World Cup

June 3, 2026 4:28 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia Convention and Visitors Bureau has announced that seven bars and restaurants in the city are partaking in the “Adopt-A-Team” program for the FIFA World Cup. The program enables the business to be an “official home base” for fans of their chosen teams, according to the application webpage. The bars and

Police: Woman detained in Fulton after pulling out gun ‘in a threatening manner’

June 3, 2026 3:16 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Fulton police detained a woman on Wednesday after she allegedly pulled out a gun “in a threatening manner” and entered a home near 12th Street and Amherst Street. The Fulton Police Department told residents in an 11:58 a.m. social media post that they should avoid 12th Street between Bluff Street and Circle

First Allegiant Airlines flight lands at Columbia Regional Airport; afternoon departure set

June 3, 2026 1:47 PM Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The first Allegiant Airlines flight to Columbia Regional Airport landed Wednesday morning. The regional budget carrier started flights to and from two Florida locations — Destin-Fort Walton Beach and Orlando — with the Wednesday morning arrival from Orlando. Another flight was set to depart on Wednesday afternoon. The first departure was scheduled

Columbia woman who allegedly stood naked on Range Line Street is charged with misdemeanor

June 3, 2026 2:20 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A 47-year-old Columbia woman was charged with a misdemeanor after she allegedly stood naked Tuesday night on Range Line Street. Susan Sweeney was charged on Wednesday in Boone County with first-degree sexual misconduct. She appeared on Wednesday’s morning arrest report but was not listed on the Boone County Jail roster in the

Columbia’s Albert-Oakland pool closed for repairs

June 3, 2026 11:52 AM Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia Parks and Recreation said the Albert-Oakland Family Aquatic Center would not open Wednesday, a day after the pool closed early because of water quality. The pool would be closed Wednesday to give staff time to identify “ongoing mechanical issues” and make repairs, Parks and Recreation wrote in a Facebook post. The

Teen seriously injured in Randolph County crash

June 3, 2026 7:50 AM Jazsmin Halliburton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A 17-year-old Cairo teen was seriously hurt during a crash in Randolph County just before 3 p.m. Tuesday. According to a crash report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the teen was driving a 1990 Chevrolet S-10 on County Road 1365, three miles south of Cairo, when he traveled off the left

Allegiant Airlines begins new flights to Orlando from Columbia Regional Airport

June 3, 2026 5:45 AM Jazsmin Halliburton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The first Allegiant Airlines flight is set to land at the Columbia Regional Airport Wednesday morning. Wednesday’s Allegiant Airlines flight will be coming from Orlando, Florida, one of three destinations in The Sunshine State that will fly to and from COU. The first Allegiant flight will leave Orlando Sanford International Airport at

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Should cyclists be allowed to yield at stop signs?

June 3, 2026 3:54 AM Matthew Sanders

Jefferson City’s ruling body is in a battle over bicycle traffic laws. Cyclists there successfully lobbied the city council to approve a version of the “Idaho Law,” which allows people on bicycles to treat stop signs as yield signs — if no other traffic is approaching, there’s no need to stop. Supporters say it makes

Cyclists push for change, but Jefferson City’s Idaho Stop ordinance hits a roadblock

June 2, 2026 8:07 PM Mitchell Kaminski

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) A proposed Idaho Stop ordinance for cyclists was sent back to committee for further review on Monday after Jefferson City Mayor Ron Fitzwater vetoed the idea. The Jefferson City Council passed the ordinance, also known as the “Idaho Law,” in May by a 6-2 vote, allowing cyclists to treat intersections with

Woman accused of stealing truck, crashing tractor in Gasconade County

June 2, 2026 9:45 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Rolla woman was charged with two felonies and three misdemeanors after she allegedly crashed a stolen tractor into a fence and on Thursday and ran off with camouflage boots in Gasconade County. Ashley Walser was charged with second-degree burglary, first-degree tampering with a motor vehicle, second-degree tampering with a motor vehicle

Convicted murderer accused of killing inmate at Jefferson City prison

June 2, 2026 8:37 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A convicted murderer has been accused of killing an inmate at Jefferson City Correctional Center. Zachariah Peterson, 38, was charged with second-degree murder and causing violence to an inmate after a grand jury indictment was filed on Tuesday. A no-bond warrant was issued. Details were scant because of the lack of a

Missouri Board of Education president steps down

June 2, 2026 7:55 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Missouri Board of Education President Mary Schrag resigned from her position on Tuesday, according to a press release from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Schrag was appointed to the state board in 2019 by then-Gov. Mike Parson. Her term officially expired in 2024, but state law allows that person

Cosmo Park softball field renovations expected to cost $750,000

June 2, 2026 7:16 PM Sam Roe

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia Parks and Recreation discussed plans for renovations to the Rainbow Softball Complex at Cosmo Park during an interested parties meeting Tuesday night. The city plans to install LED lighting and concrete backstops to all six fields at the complex. The upgrades are expected to cost $750,000 and are funded by the

Black drivers in Columbia, Jefferson City stopped at higher rates than white drivers, 2025 report shows

June 2, 2026 7:11 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Black drivers in Missouri were once again stopped at higher rates last year than white drivers, according to the annual Vehicle Stops Report. The Attorney General’s Vehicle Stops Report is due on June 1 each year. It provides data related to vehicle stops statewide, including an index that measures the rate at

Opposition forms to Boone County public safety tax

June 2, 2026 12:45 PM Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Local group No New Jail Boone Co. is pushing back against a sales tax increase set to appear on the November ballot. No New Jail Boone Co. includes members who are volunteers at other local groups. This includes COMO Mobile Aid, Room at the Inn, Loaves and Fishes and Boone County Community