Columbia City Government Archives

Murphy’s campaign eclipses quarter-million dollars in Columbia mayoral race; Buffaloe lags behind at $70k

April 1, 2025 3:16 PM Ryan Shiner

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

More than 1,100 Boone County residents cast ballots during no-excuse absentee voting

March 30, 2025 7:54 PM Euphenie Andre

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

Residents organize in opposition to Columbia’s Ash Street Improvement Project

March 26, 2025 11:28 AM Erika McGuire

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Residents along Ash Street in Columbia are organizing in opposition to the city’s Ash Street Improvement Project. According to a Facebook post, a protest is scheduled from 4 to 5 p.m. April 9 to “help keep Ash Street a safe neighborhood street.” Last week, 65 people attended an open house to learn

City of Columbia Utilities requests funds to replace light poles

March 24, 2025 11:46 AM Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia Water and Light is asking the Columbia City Council for a quarter-million dollars to replace street lights in the city. According to city documents, the city would appropriate $250,000 from retained earnings to the electric operating account to replace failing street light poles. Columbia’s Communications and Outreach Supervisor Jason West told

CPD reports murder increased in 2024, while assault, rape, sodomy fell

March 21, 2025 10:06 AM Erika McGuire

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia Police Department released its crime statistics for 2024 on Friday. A news conference was held at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Columbia City Hall to discuss the statistics. Columbia Police Chief Jill Schlude said the 2023-24 use of force audits was one of her priorities as police chief in order to

Sidewalk, parking closure announced for Downtown Columbia street next week

March 19, 2025 4:12 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Sidewalk construction next week in Downtown Columbia will impact street parking, according to a Wednesday press release from the city. A contractor will reconstruct the sidewalk in front of Tiger Barber Shop in the 100 block of South Ninth Street, the release says. A portion of the sidewalk on the east side

Columbia names Office of Violence Prevention administrator

March 18, 2025 12:41 PM Mitchell Kaminski, Madison Stuerman

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The City of Columbia has named its administrator for the Office of Violence Prevention on Tuesday, a new position created in the 2025 fiscal year budget. D’Markus Thomas-Brown will be the first person to hold the position in the new office. According to a Tuesday news release from the city, he will

Columbia community development director to retire in July

March 18, 2025 4:24 PM Lucas Geisler

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) – The head of the Columbia city government’s planning, housing and neighborhood programs will retire in July. Tim Teddy, head of the Columbia Community Development Department, told ABC 17 News via email that he will retire on July 7. Teddy started working for the city in 2005. Teddy oversaw several major changes

Columbia City Council approves $96K contract for pedestrian safety study amid concerns of panhandlers standing in medians

March 17, 2025 7:15 PM Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia City Council on Monday night approved an agreement with a third-party professional engineering service to conduct a street and intersection pedestrian safety study. The $96,550 agreement with George L. Crawford & Associates, Inc. will look into potential changes to ordinances and procedures for the city to align toward Vision Zero,

DNR threatens Columbia stormwater permit over homeless encampments

March 11, 2025 12:13 PM Haley Swaino

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has requested that the city of Columbia create a plan to minimize waste from homeless encampments from getting into public waters.
DNR sent a letter to the city, along with Boone County and the University of Missouri, on Feb. 28, 2025. It said it wants to see the issue addressed before it will renew their “Municipal Separate Storm System (MS4) Operating Permit Renewal.”

Boone County sheriff endorses Blair Murphy in Columbia mayoral race

March 11, 2025 4:56 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Boone County Sheriff Dwayne Carey has made a rare endorsement in the Columbia mayoral race. An email from Blair Murphy’s campaign states that Carey has endorsed him in the April 8 election. This is the second local law enforcement representative to endorse Murphy, who also got approval from the Columbia Police Officers’

Columbia Police Department report says technology is helping, but more is needed

March 10, 2025 11:22 AM Erika McGuire

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia Police Department says surveillance technology is helping it to better police the city. CPD’s 2024 annual surveillance report says technology such as surveillance cameras, license plate readers, data analytics, radios and mobile devices has significantly enhanced the department’s capabilities in identifying suspects. However, the department is looking to improve its

One year of roll carts in Columbia boosts safety and efficiency

March 4, 2025 3:05 PM Haley Swaino

March 4 marks one year since the City of Columbia rolled out roll carts.

Columbia City Council approves traffic calming proposal on Rollins Road

March 3, 2025 4:58 PM Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia City Council unanimously voted to slow down traffic along Rollins Road between Fairview Road and Stadium Boulevard following a public hearing on Monday. The roughly $32,000 project will add three speed bumps near Rollins Road and a crosswalk at the intersection of Martin Drive According to the council memo, Rollins

Columbia City Council reviews study for potential new convention center in Columbia

March 3, 2025 11:47 AM Erika McGuire

The Columbia City Council will review a feasibility study for a convention center at its pre-council meeting Monday.

Murphy nets $182k in donations for Columbia mayoral race; outdraws Buffaloe, Heath by wide margin

February 28, 2025 3:46 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A staggering difference in donations have occurred in Columbia’s mayoral race, according to the reports submitted to the Missouri Ethics Commission on Thursday. Thursday’s filings were the reports campaigns submit 40 days before the election. This year’s municipal elections will be April 8. A committee disclosure report for candidate Blair Murphy’s

Columbia Utilities to resume utility disconnections soon

February 26, 2025 7:02 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Now that the weather is warming up, the City of Columbia Utilities department will soon start utility disconnections, according to a press release from the city. The city does not disconnect utilities for electric customer when the National Weather Service expects temperatures to drop below 32 degrees over a 24-hour period during

Local governments monitor House bill that may eliminate sales tax on food

February 24, 2025 12:24 PM Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) City of Columbia officials estimate the elimination of sales tax on groceries will cost $10 million in its first year. House Bill 432 is making its way through the Missouri Legislature and is now awaiting a committee assignment. If passed, HB 432 will remove sales tax on food. This tax elimination will

Columbia mayoral candidate Blair Murphy nets third five-figure donation

February 21, 2025 8:50 PM Lucas Geisler

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia mayoral candidate this week collected another five-figure check, his third such donation this winter. Blair Murphy’s campaign took a $10,000 donation from Richard Miller, owner of Miller’s Professional Imaging. The picture printing company has a location in east Columbia. Miller is also a prominent University of Missouri athletics booster, having

Water tower will not be built next to Beulah Ralph Elementary School

February 18, 2025 3:01 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Editor’s Note: The lede has been corrected. A proposed water tower will not be built by Beulah Ralph Elementary School in Columbia. According to an email from Columbia Public Schools spokeswoman Michelle Baumstark, the Columbia Board of Education decided not to sell the land near the schools to the City of Columbia.