COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The quarterly report filing for the Missouri Ethics Commission shows a few high-dollar donations being made in Columbia’s Ward 2 race. Campaigns for Vera Elwood and Ken Rice submitted reports for the July 15 quarterly filing. Rice’s was submitted on July 10, while Elwood’s was submitted on July 14. Documents show that
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia Water and Light discussed changing the water rate during a budget meeting on Wednesday. The rate increase would increase revenue 12% — or $3.6 million — in fiscal year 2026 that should also lower prices for near two-thirds of residential water customers. The change would increase the base rate of meters
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia Solid Waste Assistant Utilities Director Tom Ratermann is encouraging the public to listen to new guidelines a day after the city announced it would begin recycling some materials. Columbia’s recycling trucks will collect some materials and bring them to Jefferson City. The effort is part of the city’s first major step
Continue Reading COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia Board of Realtors hosted a forum for the candidates for Columbia’s Second Ward on Wednesday. Candidates Ken Rice and Vera Elwood each took questions. The special election for the vacant Ward 2 seat will be held Aug. 5.
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Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey said Tuesday that he’s looking into the City of Columbia’s policies and practices related to diversity, equity and inclusion. It’s not the first time Bailey has intervened in Columbia’s local issues. In 2023, he wrote a letter to Columbia Public Schools demanding firings or resignations after students attended an event
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A complaint filed against University of Missouri head football coach Eli Drinkwitz has been thrown out due to a lack of commissioners on the Missouri Ethics Commission. The complaint filed by Anthony Willroth, of Hold CoMo Accountable, stemmed from an Oct. 22 appearance on the weekly radio show “Tiger Talk” in which
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Trump administration could declare the City of Columbia in violation of a federal executive order targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, city leaders say. Such a determination could result in the suspension of federal funding, termination of existing contracts and demands for repayment of previously awarded federal funds. Fifth Ward Councilman
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia Board of Realtors will hold a candidate forum next month with the two people running for the open Ward 2 seat on the Columbia City Council. A press release from the board says that the forum will be held at 4 p.m. Wednesday, July 16 at the Board of Realtors
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The City of Columbia is simplifying the time limits on on-street parking meters downtown by making operational changes. Starting the week after July 4, the city will reduce the number of time-limit options from six to four. The goal is to simplify payment, reduce confusion and increase parking turnover. Currently, drivers choose
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia City Council on Monday night voted 5-1 to keep its current mission and vision statements after months of proposed change. President Donald Trump on Jan. 21 signed an executive order that targets the language surrounding diversity, equity and inclusion — commonly referred to as DEI. — alleging it promotes discrimination. There
Continue Reading COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The director of the City of Columbia’s Community Development Department, Tim Teddy, will retire on July 7 after 20 years, according to a Tuesday press release from the city. He joined the city as the planning and development director in June 2005 and became the community development director in October 2011, the
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia leaders are optimistic a new board by the city’s Office of Violence Prevention will help the community crack down on crime. OVP Administrator D’Markus Thomas-Brown said he knew coming into the job that he couldn’t get things done by himself. He’s now taken steps toward creating a violence prevention advisory board
Continue Reading COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia City Council on Monday night voted 5-1 to keep its mission and vision statements intact. The council decided to keep its vision statement to read “Columbia is the best place for everyone to live, work, learn and play,” and its mission statement to say “To serve the public equitably through
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Candidates in the race for Columbia’s Ward 2 on Friday introduced themselves and their platforms to the Columbia Muleskinners Democratic Lunch Group. The city called for a special election on Aug. 5 after former Councilwoman Lisa Meyer announced that she would step down on May 16. Two candidates running for the position include Vera Elwood and
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Juneteenth will be on Thursday, June 19 and city services in Columbia will be impacted, according to a press release from the city. City offices will be closed that day and residential curbside trash will not be collected. Pickup will be delayed one day for the rest of the week. The landfill
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) While Columbia’s police chief believes she needs 51 new sworn officers to become “fully staffed,” she knows it will be a multi-year process to get there. Chief Jill Schlude has asked for 51 new sworn positions in the city’s fiscal year 2026 budget. In an interview with ABC 17 News, the chief
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia City Council spent more than $42,000 on a two-day retreat in May with city staff in Camdenton. Records obtained by ABC 17 News show the final bill is nearly 2.5 times higher than the 2023 retreat to Independence, Missouri, which cost $17,153.94. The total cost of the trip to Camdenton
Continue Reading COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia Mayor Barbara Buffaloe addressed plans to remove diversity equity and inclusion language from the city’s Strategic Plan during office hours the city is hosting in June to respond to concerns over a recent White House order halting federal aid for such programs. Members of the public voiced concerns on Monday over
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(Editor’s note, 6/9: The story now reflects the correct rank of Matt Nichols.) COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Police leaders see a need for more detective units at the Columbia Police Department. Police Chief Jill Schlude said she hopes to create a new unit dedicated to investigating auto thefts and thefts from cars as part of a
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) One of the candidates in Columbia’s Ward 2 race has been endorsed by a former council member. Vera Elwood announced in a Friday evening press release that former Ward 2 Councilwoman Andrea Waner has signed off on her campaign. “I wholeheartedly endorse Vera for Second Ward City Council and can’t wait to
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