Local Politics Archives

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.”

The Columbia Public School board of education

Columbia National Education Association hosts virtual school board candidate forum

February 10, 2022 5:18 PM Karl Wehmhoener

Columbia National Education Association is hosting a virtual School Board Candidate forum.

Missouri Senate ends filibuster over congressional redistricting proposals

February 8, 2022 6:13 AM Zachary Farwell

State senators started talking around 6 p.m. on Monday about the proposals to redraw Missouri’s eight U.S. Congressional districts.

The City of Columbia will look at an agreement for a COVID-19 vaccine education campaign during its meeting Monday night.

City of Columbia host public comment on redrawing the ward map

February 8, 2022 9:14 PM ABC 17 News Team

The city has three maps it’s considering.

Former Columbia teachers’ union head Steinhoff seeks state House seat

February 8, 2022 10:27 AM Matthew Sanders

A retiring Columbia Public Schools teacher and former head of a union representing CPS teachers is running for the Missouri House.

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Are local governments doing enough to help the homeless?

February 8, 2022 1:47 AM ABC 17 News Team

A political fight has broken out in Columbia over services for the homeless.

David Tyson Smith to run for Missouri House of Representatives District 46

February 7, 2022 9:39 PM ABC 17 News Team

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) State representative David Tyson smith announced he will file as a candidate in Missouri house district 46 instead of 45. Smith said in a news release he will be filing as a candidate for house district 46 to maximize the opportunity for other democratic candidates to file in the five newly redistricted areas. Smith was

Missouri Supreme Court hears arguments in Second Amendment Preservation lawsuit

February 7, 2022 8:30 PM Hannah Falcon

The Missouri Supreme Court heard arguments from both sides in the case of St. Louis City, St. Louis County and Jackson County v. State of Missouri, where the counties are suing the state over the Second Amendment Preservation Act.

Rally held against a proposed Congressional district map

February 7, 2022 7:46 PM ABC 17 News Team

Around 100 people gathered at the Missouri capitol building in a rally against a proposed congressional district map.

Columbia woman announces candidacy for Missouri House District 47

February 4, 2022 8:31 PM Karl Wehmhoener

Columbia, Mo. (KMIZ) Chimene Schwach is declaring her candidacy for House District 47. With new districts being approved, Schwach now lives in the brand new House District 47 which includes much of Columbia’s 4th Ward. Schwach had previously declared for House District 46 represented by Martha Stevens. The new 46th District will now be located

Gov. Parson looking to appoint new Boone County Treasurer

February 1, 2022 4:11 PM Karl Wehmhoener

Gov. Mike Parson hopes to appoint a new Boone County treasurer by late-February/early March after the former treasurer resigned in January.

Attorney general seeks restraining orders against CPS, other schools in mask lawsuits

January 31, 2022 4:03 PM Karl Wehmhoener

Missouri Attorney General Office has begun filing motions for temporary restraining orders in lawsuits against Columbia Public Schools and other school districts over mask mandates.