Local Politics Archives

Last day to register for April 5 general municipal election

March 9, 2022 5:17 AM Ben Fein

The last day to register for the April 5 general municipal election is Wednesday, as all voter registration applications must be dropped off or postmarked by Wednesday.

Cannabis Freedom Act aims to decriminalize marijuana in Missouri

March 8, 2022 5:23 PM Hannah Falcon

Crowds gathered Tuesday morning in the Missouri State Capitol to share their opinion on the decriminalization of marijuana with lawmakers.

Lawmakers, activists discuss how to prevent gun violence in schools

March 4, 2022 8:52 PM Hannah Falcon

Friday’s shooting in Olathe, Kansas, was the 12th shooting on a K-12 campus in 2022, according to CNN.

WATCH: Candidate Randy Minchew shares vision for city if elected Columbia mayor

March 2, 2022 5:13 AM Molly Stawinoga

A Columbia businessman running for mayor joined ABC 17 News This Morning on Wednesday to talk about his plans for the city if elected.

WATCH: Barbara Buffaloe talks vision for Columbia if elected as mayor

March 1, 2022 4:02 AM Molly Stawinoga

Watch the full interview here.

U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler at women in agriculture event

Twitter suspends Vicky Hartzler personal Twitter account for tweet

February 28, 2022 9:47 PM Karl Wehmhoener

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Social media company Twitter has suspended Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler’s personal account after a tweet that read “Women’s sports are for women, not men pretending to be women,” and included her television ad. “Twitter believes the bigger threat is a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee saying women’s sports are for

Boone County prosecutor will not seek reelection

February 28, 2022 10:23 AM Matthew Sanders

Boone County’s top prosecutor said he will not seek reelection this year as he considers a run for judge in 2024.

Parson signs supplemental budget; public schools to receive $1.9 billion

February 24, 2022 7:53 PM Hannah Falcon

Gov. Mike Parson signed House Bill 3014, the supplemental budget, Thursday.

Missouri Republican primary for U.S. Senate heats up during filing day

February 22, 2022 6:19 PM Hannah Falcon

Long lines wrapped around the Secretary of State’s office as people from all over Missouri gathered to file for the August primary elections.

August primary candidate filing opens Tuesday as U.S. congressional redistricting map is still undecided

February 22, 2022 6:34 AM Meghan Drakas

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo (KMIZ) Candidates can file paperwork for the August primary election Tuesday morning at the Missouri Secretary of State’s Office in Jefferson City. The candidate filings come as the Missouri Senate works to pick a map for the state’s eight U.S. congressional districts. Missouri is required to redraw the map every 10 years

Jefferson City NAACP and Jefferson City FaithVoices hosting virtual candidate forums on March 21 and 28

February 21, 2022 9:16 PM Karl Wehmhoener

Hear directly from the school board and city council candidates on the April 5th ballot

Columbia City Council to continue discussions on solutions for homelessness

February 20, 2022 5:13 AM Ben Fein

Columbia’s City Council is set to meet Monday and will in part, continue the ongoing homelessness discussion in the city.

Biden says he’s now convinced Putin has decided to invade Ukraine

February 18, 2022 3:31 PM CNN Newsource

President Joe Biden will speak Friday to address the latest developments in the crisis between Russia and Ukraine, as his White House is now blaming Russian intelligence for a massive cyberattack on Ukraine.

Congressional map debate expected to resume Wednesday

February 15, 2022 9:50 PM Leila Mitchell

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Missouri State senators spent the day working on bills but have not touched redistricting since last week. The new congressional map has been hotly debated over the last couple of weeks. Floor leader Senator Caleb Rowden says the senate plans to take up the new congressional map as early as Wednesday. He

Two men file to run for state House seats

February 15, 2022 8:24 PM ABC 17 News Team

Two Columbia men have announced their intention to run for public office at the state level.

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Should first-time drunk driving offenders be required to get an ignition interlock device?

February 15, 2022 2:13 AM ABC 17 News Team

In Missouri, 11,100 potential drunk drivers were stopped by ignition interlock devices in their cars in 2020. Current Missouri law requires a person found guilty of driving while drunk with prior alcohol-related offenses to have an ignition interlock device installed in their car. House Bill 1680, introduced by Rep. Mark Sharp (D-Kansas City), removes the requirement

Missouri House bill hopes to lessen drunk driving

February 14, 2022 4:52 PM Hannah Falcon

11,100 potential drunk drivers were stopped by ignition interlock devices in their cars in 2020.

Missouri Senate wraps up Saturday filibuster on redistricting

February 9, 2022 6:35 PM Hannah Falcon

Missouri State Senators return to the chamber Wednesday at noon merely 12 hours after adjourning from a 31-hour filibuster session to continue discussion on how to draw the new districts for the U.S. House of Representatives.

Missouri Senators set to convene for Saturday session

February 12, 2022 4:55 AM Ben Fein

Missouri Senators are set to gavel back in for a rare Saturday session, as both sides of the isle continue to filibuster talks regarding a new congressional redistricting plan.

Charges won’t be filed in DESE data breach incident

February 11, 2022 6:23 PM ABC 17 News Team

Thompson added the case has been closed and that the issues have been “resolved through non-legal means.”