Jefferson City Council to consider funding new fire training tower
Jefferson City leaders are weighing whether to fund new training equipment for firefighters.
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QUESTION OF THE DAY: Are you voting in Tuesday’s municipal elections?
Pretty much everyone across Mid-Missouri will see at least one sales tax on recreational marijuana on their ballot. They’ll also see crowded races for school boards and city councils.
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Rally planned for organization advocating better healthcare for mothers and babies in Missouri
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) On Thursday, March of Dimes, an organization advocating for mothers and babies across America is set to host “March For Change” March for Change is a rally aimed at bettering health care in several areas for mothers and babies in Missouri. The rally comes just a day after hundreds of LGBTQ+
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Columbia mother advocates for hands-free driving laws after husband’s death
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Adrienne Siddens lost her whole world on May 5, 2019, when a distracted driver ran over her husband while he was picking up cones after a marathon. “She was video chatting, she wasn’t texting and she was over 21, so technically under the current law that we have she wasn’t doing
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Library books become part of Missouri budget debate
Libraries, their funding and local control figured heavily into a state House debate Tuesday morning, acting as a preview for what was to come later in the day when lawmakers take up the state budget.
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April candidates give final fundraising update before election
(Editor’s note, 3/28: This story has been updated with Columbia Board of Education candidate James Gordon’s filing.) COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) – Candidates for area City Councils and school boards gave their last update on how much money they’ve raised and spent before the April 4 election. Those running in the April election filed their fundraising
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Marijuana taxes dominate April ballot in Mid-Missouri
Voters around Mid-Missouri have a lot of questions to decide on April 4.
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Columbia man files lawsuit against Secretary of State for allegedly blocking initiative petition
COLE COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia man filed a lawsuit against Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft alleging he illegally blocked an initiative petition. In the Cole County lawsuit, Harry “Chip” Cooper says he submitted two initiative petitions with enough signatures. The lawsuit alleges Ashcroft’s office rejected the petitions after the deadline and did not provide a
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Cities and organizations submit applications as Boone County ARPA funds deadline nears
The deadline to submit applications for the first round of the Boone County ARPA funding is fast approaching and more than 20 organizations and local governments have so far asked for a chunk of the $15 million available.
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Columbia school board candidate interview: Paul Harper
ABC 17 News is interviewing each of the seven candidates running for three open spots on the Columbia Board of Education. At least two of them will be new members — only one incumbent is in the race.
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Columbia City Council approves roll carts at meeting
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) After years of heated debates, Columbia is finally getting roll carts. The Columbia City Council unanimously approved amending Chapter 22 of the City Code as it relates to residential curbside refuse collection. Any changes would not happen until at least March 4, 2024, in order for the city to buy trucks and
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Local city appeals decision in police chief firing case
A Missouri appeals court heard arguments Wednesday in a local city’s appeal of a judgment in favor of its fired police chief.
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Senate Democrats filibuster bills targeting transgender youth treatments
Democratic senators have been holding the floor for hours Wednesday, filibustering a bill that would sharply limit medical care for transgender children.
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Columbia bookstore supports drag storytimes despite pushback from Republican lawmakers
The most recent in a series of bills in the Missouri legislature related to drag shows and transgender people is one that criminalizes drag shows that are open to minors.
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Supreme Court weighs arguments in student loan lawsuit led by Missouri politicians
By Isabella Roberts COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The U.S. Supreme Court is mulling over a decision after hearing oral arguments for several lawsuits against President Joe Biden’s student loan forgiveness program, including one led by Missouri’s Attorney General. More than 26 million people applied for this program when it was launched in October of last year
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As international filmmakers visit Missouri, lawmakers move forward with movie tax credits
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) With the 2023 True/False Film Fest underway, about 55 films will be featured in screenings over the weekend. While most of the documentaries and short films are from out-of-state, a bill recently passed in the Missouri Senate in hopes of attracting more filmmakers to base their projects in Missouri. The main goal
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In Missouri, marijuana legalization is just the beginning of policy work
After recreational marijuana became legal in Missouri some lawmakers saw an opportunity, while others saw problems.
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Columbia Utilities leader lays out reporting plan for new lead, copper drinking water testing
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) – City of Columbia staff plan to set up a new process to report water testing results for lead and copper. A memo from Utilities Director David Sorrell on Monday said the water division’s lab supervisor will now report weekly to the department’s assistant director on water testing. Sorrell said the lab
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Parson signs state worker pay raise bill at Truman office building
Hundreds of workers gathered in the Harry S. Truman Building atrium Monday to witness the governor sign their pay raise into existence.
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Governor to sign emergency spending budget Monday afternoon
By Isabella Roberts JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Gov. Mike Parson is planning on signing the emergency spending budget Monday at 2 p.m. at the Harry S. Truman office building. House Bill 14 is the supplemental budget for the 2022 fiscal year. It has funds for several state programs, including $149 million for the Department of
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