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Local Politics

Jefferson City Council approves revised police hiring incentive, 911 facility study

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Jefferson City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved modifying a hiring incentive for police officers. The council at its regular meeting upped the lateral transfer incentive from $10,000 to $15,000. Prior to this, the $10,00 lateral transfer was paired with a $5,000 hiring incentive for non-licensed academy recruits, according to meeting documents.

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Local election authorities say a verification tool used in Missouri flagged citizens for removal from voter rolls

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Secretary of State Denny Hoskins is asking local election authorities to verify voters’ citizenship status after a federal program flagged people for potential illegal status. However, many county clerks have spotted citizens on the list. Boone County Clerk Brianna Lennon said Hoskins sent her a list of 74 voters in November whose

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CPS, charter schools ask to pause hearing after charter applications expected to be resubmitted in March

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Both parties in a lawsuit over charter school applications in Boone County asked a judge on Friday to vacate a hearing next week after Saint Louis University rescinded its application for Frontier Schools. Columbia Public Schools filed a lawsuit last month, claiming the establishment of charter schools in Boone County is unconstitutional.

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Kehoe recognizes officers involved in shooting of Ralls County murder suspect

JEFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Gov. Mike Kehoe during his State of the State address on Tuesday recognized the law enforcement officers who exchanged gunfire and killed a Ralls County homicide suspect last year. Kehoe recognized Randolph County Sheriff’s Deputy Lt. Nathan West, Missouri State Highway Patrol Trooper Dustin Harrison and Sgt. Derrick Powell while promoting

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Cole County Commission approves budget with weak revenue projected

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Cole County commissioners approved a 2026 budget burdened by lower-than-expected tax revenue on Thursday. The county ended 2025 with $56.4 million in reserves and is expected to bring in $64.4 million in 2026. However, commissioners anticipate spending $92.9 million throughout the year, which includes $32.8 million in capital projects. Cole County

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Handful of Republicans join Democrats to force Senate check on Trump’s war powers in Venezuela

By Morgan Rimmer, Sarah Ferris, Ted Barrett, CNN (CNN) — A small bloc of Senate Republicans has delivered a notable rebuke of President Donald Trump just days after his operation ousting Venezuela’s leader, voting to advance a resolution that would limit future US military force in the nation without Congress’ approval. Five Republicans on Thursday

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Legal experts question ICE agent’s self-defense claim in deadly Minneapolis shooting

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Legal experts are weighing in on the deadly shooting in Minneapolis involving an ICE agent that left one woman dead on Wednesday. United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were on a residential street as they heighten their immigration crackdown in Minnesota. The Department of Homeland Security claims the ICE agent shot

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Columbia officials meet with Kehoe; discuss crime, state support following violent weekend in city

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Gov. Mike Kehoe met with Columbia officials on Monday to discuss public safety in the city.  Columbia Mayor Barbara Buffaloe, City Manager De’Carlon Seewood, and Police Chief Jill Schlude were among those in attendance for the meeting at the governor’s office in the Capitol.  According to Kehoe’s office, the meeting had been

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