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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Columbia organizations to host a town hall for city council candidates
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)Multiple Columbia organizations have partnered together to host a community town hall for Columbia City Council candidates running in the April election for Ward 1 and Ward 5. The event is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. Saturday at Wilkes Boulevard United Methodist Church in Columbia. Columbia City Council Candidates Don Waterman and Gregg Bush are
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Parson to sign state worker pay-raise bill Monday
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Missouri state workers are about to get a raise. Gov. Mike Parson will sign HB 14 at 2 p.m. Monday at second floor atrium of the Harry S Truman Building in Jefferson City, giving workers an 8.7% pay bump. The location and time were released in a press release from Parson’s
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Curbside Collection study shows the majority of respondents are in favor of roll carts in Columbia
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The City of Columbia asked the Solid Waste Utility Group to seek public opinion on the future of automated trash collection. Following years of debates and City Council votes regarding Columbia’s trash issue, the results of a survey conducted by the City have been released. This comes after the City Council voted
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Missouri House Democrats introduce pro-abortion rights legislation; Senate Republicans push anti-abortion bills
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Missouri was the first state to ban abortions once Roe v. Wade was overturned, but the feud between Republican and Democratic lawmakers over abortion rights continues in the capital city. On Wednesday morning, a Senate committee heard three anti-abortion bills. Two aimed to defund any clinic that provides abortions. One was
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‘Anti-Red Flag Gun Seizure’ law considered in Missouri Senate
Missouri is known among many for lax gun laws, and one Republican Missouri senator is introducing a law to pre-empt more regulations.
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Pat Fowler announces she is dropping out of Columbia First Ward race
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia Ward 1 Councilwoman Pat Fowler announced on her social media that she will be ending her reelection bid. In a Facebook post, she said family responsibilities was the major contributing factor. “Many of you know that in September 2018 my StepMom moved to Columbia so I could be her decision-maker and
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