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Jefferson City Council approves 2026 budget; police, fire see increases while capital projects decrease

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Jefferson City Council on Monday night approved its $86,836,166budget for the upcoming fiscal year. Revenue for the city is expected to match expenditures. The total budget decreased by nearly $10 million from the 2025 “actual” budget, though it’s a very similar number to the adopted 2025 budget, according to information from

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Camden County commissioner pleads guilty to misdemeanor in license-plate camera case

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Camden County’s presiding commissioner pleaded guilty Monday to a misdemeanor after being charged with stealing a license plate reader. Todd Isaac “Ike” Skelton pleaded guilty to the Class B misdemeanor of obstructing a government operation, according to online court records. He was originally charged with felony stealing and tampering with a service

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Area lawmakers agree Columbia should form taskforce, disagree on road to solutions

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) State lawmakers are reacting to the outpouring response by local leaders and community organizations following a deadly downtown Columbia shooting over the University of Missouri’s Homecoming weekend. Columbia police responded to a shooting in the 800 block of East Broadway just before 2 a.m. Saturday. Police found three people shot; one woman,

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Court orders University of Missouri to allow Students for Justice in Palestine to participate in homecoming parade

EDITOR’S NOTE: This story has been updated to reflect that homecoming takes place Sept. 27. COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A federal judge on Friday ruled that the University of Missouri must let a student group that opposes Israel’s war in Gaza participate in its homecoming parade, with conditions. Judge Stephen Bough of Missouri’s federal Western District

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University of Missouri warns employees about social media posts as statements about Kirk shooting are scrutinized

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The University of Missouri sent an email to employees on Wednesday warning them about the potential consequences of social media posts related to Charlie Kirk’s death. “Employees do not have unlimited rights to speak as citizens on matters of public concern,” the email signed by UM System President Mun Choi reads. “If

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Former Gov. Jay Nixon condemns political violence during speech at Westminster College in Fulton

FULTON, Mo. (KMIZ) Former Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon delivered a speech Wednesday afternoon at Westminster College as part of the annual Hancock Symposium. His speech focused on pressing national issues including political violence, democracy and misinformation, with a strong emphasis on “justice for all.” The Hancock Symposium is a two-day event held on the Westminster

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Muslim rights group argues against MU student group’s parade denial during hearing in KC

EDITOR’S NOTE: The date of an altercation involving a club member has been corrected. KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) The Council on American-Islamic Relations, representing Mizzou Students for Justice in Palestine, argued against University of Missouri President Mun Choi’s decision to bar the group from the 2025 homecoming parade in federal court in Kansas City on

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Judge accepts NAACP lawsuit against state as advocacy group petitions against redistricting

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Advocacy groups are taking two routes to block potential redistricting, which was approved Friday by Missouri’s general assembly and is awaiting Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe’s signature. The NAACP sued Kehoe, Senate Pro-Tem Cindy O’Laughlin (R-Shelbina) and Speaker of the House Jon Patterson (R-Lees Summit) around the start of the special session

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Two lawsuits, one ‘citizen’s veto’ filed since Gov. Kehoe’s special session on redistricting

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) People Not Politicians, a non-partisan organization, filed a referendum on Friday, aimed at giving voters the chance to approve or deny Gov. Mike Kehoe’s “Missouri First” map. This is the third challenge to the governor’s map. Lawmakers are calling this referendum a ‘citizen’s veto.’ Sen. Doug Beck (D-St. Louis County) said at

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