COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Plenty of folks want to be on a school board in Cole County. Each board of education race in that county has drawn a number of candidates that at least doubles the number of seats available. Every ballot across Mid-Missouri will feature local races, including municipal governments and school boards. More on
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) This April election will be a busy one for schools, ambulance and fire districts and 911 centers. Ballots in Mid-Missouri are packed with issues that ask voters to raise or extend taxes to keep public safety operations funded. Such taxes are on the ballot in counties that include Callaway, Cooper, Howard, Maries,
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Boone County Sheriff Dwayne Carey argued for his proposed 3/8-cent sales tax increase to be added to the ballot during a Boone County Commission meeting Monday. If approved by the commission, Boone County residents would be able to vote on the measure during the August election. Boone County Auditor Kyle Rieman estimated
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EDITOR’S NOTE: The amount of the proposed tax hasbeen corrected. It’s the season of sales taxes in Missouri, where local governments around the state are facing revenue problems and questions about future funding. Measures are now being considered for the August and November ballots. Boone County is considering a 3/8-cent sales tax to help pay
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) After delaying a vote earlier this month, holding hours of discussion and hearing concerns from several residents, the Columbia City Council unanimously approved placing a proposed 1% sales tax for public safety on the August ballot. Monday marked the City Council’s final opportunity to approve the proposal in time for the August
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JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) There is growing tension between the secretary of state and the Boone County clerk over when to tie voters to a new congressional map that eliminates a safe Democratic district, and now state Sen. Rick Brattin is asking for the clerk to be removed from office. Boone County Clerk Brianna Lennon,
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins issued a response on Thursday to a letter from the Boone County Clerk that claimed she could not redraw congressional district lines within the county in accordance with the ‘Missouri First’ map. Boone County Clerk Brianna Lennon wrote in a letter on Tuesday that she couldn’t
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The mayor of a Cooper County town resigned from his position on Tuesday. The City of Bunceton shared on its social media on Wednesday that Mayor Justin Hein resigned after 15 years as mayor. The city did not share why Hein decided to step down. Information from the Cooper County Clerk’s website
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A right-wing think tank is claiming a revenue guarantee the City of Columbia made for flights at Columbia Regional Airport violates the Missouri Constitution. The Goldwater Institute – named after longtime former Arizona Sen. Barry Goldwater — wrote a letter to city government on Tuesday, claiming its $1.5 million guarantee for American
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A candidate in Columbia’s Fourth Ward race is defending his record following after a former mayor called him out on social media. Former Columbia Utilities Director Dave Sorrell filed paperwork on Tuesday to run for the open Fourth Ward seat on the City Council. Former Mayor Brian Treece left a comment on
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) An Osage Beach alderman has been charged with multiple felonies in Camden County. Ward 1 Alderman John Robert “Bob” O’Steen was charged on Wednesday with delivery of a controlled substance, two counts of drug possession and one count of unlawful use of a weapon. A warrant was requested on Wednesday. The city
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia Planning and Zoning Commission talked standards and regulations for possible data centers at Thursday night’s work session. Commission members will discuss “broader” topic areas that they want to include in a working draft of the regulations and standards that would govern data centers in Columbia. “This is the process of
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JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Both houses of the Missouri General Assembly took up the state budget Wednesday, with contention over whether the legislature would properly fund K-12 education. The budget bills are due on the governor’s desk by Friday. After several days of deliberation in a conference committee, the total operating budget comes to around
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Both the Columbia City Council and Boone County Commission are considering, or soon will, sales taxes on upcoming ballots to help pay for public safety. The City of Columbia’s proposal is already out there — a 1% sales tax for police and fire department staffing, new equipment and new facilities. Boone County Auditor Kyle Rieman
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Boone County Commission is considering adding a sales tax increase to the future ballot, even as county residents might have to vote on tax measures from both the state and the City of Columbia. Boone County Sheriff Dwayne Carey brought the increase to the Boone County Commission to help fund the
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia City Council on Monday will introduce a bill aiming to delay any application for data centers within the city. City documents say the city is looking to delay “the acceptance or processing” of data center applications for a full year. Documents note the council passed an ordinance at its previous
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia Ward 4 City Councilman Nick Foster announced on Thursday that he will resign from his position this summer. Foster – who was reelected to his position during the spring 2025 election – announced on his social media that his last day will by June 12. He was first elected to the
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Non-uniformed employees at the Columbia Police Department are looking to form a union. An item listed in the consent agenda of Monday’s City Council meeting shows that the Columbia Police Civilians Association is seeking to be recognized by the city. Meeting documents say the group filed a petition for certification with the
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The City of Columbia announced Wednesday that its looking for community feedback to update its 2021 Strategic Plan. The city said it wants the plan to reflect the community’s future priorities. Its gathering the feedback through a number of ways including a survey, ideas wall and discussion forum. Three public forums will
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JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Cody Holt was approved by the Jefferson City Council and sworn in as the new Ward 2 member during a Monday work session. Holt was one of three people who expressed interest in the job after Aaron Mealy announced his resignation in March. The council approved Holts with an 8-1 vote,
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