Local Politics Archives

Murphy’s campaign eclipses quarter-million dollars in Columbia mayoral race; Buffaloe lags behind at $70k

April 1, 2025 3:16 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A couple of Columbia’s mayoral candidates have garnered more donations in what has turned out to be a high-dollar election. Challenger Blair Murphy’s campaign eclipsed a quarter-million dollars in contributions, according to his eight-day campaign finance report submitted to the Missouri Ethics Commission. Eight-day reports had a closing date of March 27

Missouri DOGE portal receives over 9,000 pages of feedback

March 31, 2025 6:59 PM Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Missouri’s newly created Department of Government Efficiency has received more than 9,000 pages of responses through its Missouri Accountability Portal. Records obtained by ABC 17 News show that in the first 48 days of the portal’s operation, the department received approximately 9,048 responses, with most coming in the first 24 days. Between

Jefferson City Ward 3 candidates discuss affordable housing ahead of April 8 election

March 31, 2025 7:54 PM Marie Moyer

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Affordable housing has been a recurring topic in Jefferson City politics ahead of the April 8 election. Candidates for Jefferson City’s City Council Ward 3, Erica Choinka and Derek Thomas, similarly have plans for improving infrastructure, if elected. They are running for the seat currently held by Councilman Scott Spencer. A

Interview with Erica Choinka, candidate for Jefferson City Council Ward 3

March 31, 2025 5:16 PM Marie Moyer

JEFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Erica Choinka is a member of the Jefferson City Parks and Recreation Commission and a candidate for Jefferson City Council Ward 3. Choinka’s campaign focuses on improving the city’s parks and recreational programs, supporting economic development, improving public safety and protecting taxpayers from unnecessary spending. Choinka is a communications specialist in

More than 1,100 Boone County residents cast ballots during no-excuse absentee voting

March 30, 2025 7:54 PM Euphenie Andre

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) About 320 people cast their ballots over the weekend during no-excuse absentee voting for April elections in Boone County. Boone County Clerk Brianna Lennon said that since no-excuse absentee voting began Tuesday, more than 1,100 people have voted. For many voters, casting their ballots early provides peace of mind. Lauren Williams, who

Boone County offers weekend opportunities for no-excuse absentee voting

March 29, 2025 4:15 AM Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Boone County Clerk announced that several weekend no-excuse absentee voting opportunities will pop up across Boone County starting Saturday. Columbia’s April election will have races for Mayor, Columbia Ward 4, and Columbia’s Board of Education. Weekend voting will be held on the two weekends leading up to the election. There will

Columbia City Council Fourth Ward candidates: Ron Graves

March 25, 2025 4:43 PM Haley Swaino

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) ABC 17 News is interviewing candidates for key races in the April municipal elections. Today’s interviews feature Columbia Ward 4 candidates Ron Graves and incumbent Nick Foster. The interviews will air on ABC 17 News leading up to the April 8 election and will be posted online as they air. Read the

Columbia City Council Fourth Ward candidates: Councilman Nick Foster

March 25, 2025 4:43 PM Haley Swaino

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) ABC 17 News is interviewing candidates for key races in the April municipal elections. Today’s interviews feature Columbia Ward 4 candidates Ron Graves and incumbent Nick Foster. The interviews will air on ABC 17 News leading up to the April 8 election and will be posted online as they air. Read the

Proposed bill would require Missouri school districts to display the Ten Commandments

March 25, 2025 11:49 AM Erika McGuire

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) A hearing was held Tuesday morning by the Senate Education Committee on a proposed bill that would require Missouri school districts and charter schools to display the Ten Commandments in every building and classroom. Senate Bill 594 is sponsored by Sen. Jamie Burger (R-Benton) and would mandate the Ten Commandments to

Boone County Fire proposes $6 million bond issue on April ballot

March 24, 2025 11:39 AM Haley Swaino

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Boone County voters will decide on a Boone County Fire Protection District bond issue on April 8. The bond will not result in a tax increase for residents. The outcome of the bond election determines whether a $6 million upgrade will be used for infrastructure and equipment needs. “Every community, every fire

Post office workers union to host day of action Sunday

March 23, 2025 5:19 AM Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The National Association of Letter Carriers is asking union members to show up and represent across every state to protest the privatization of the U.S. Postal Service. This follows a day of action hosted by the American Postal Workers Union on Thursday that brought protesters to 150 cities across the country, two

Missouri schools face uncertainty after Trump signs order to dismantle Education Department

March 20, 2025 4:12 PM Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday to begin dismantling the U.S. Department of Education. Completely shutting down the department would require an act of Congress, which established the agency in 1979. Trump officials admit they lack the votes needed to dissolve it through legislation. The White House argues that

Columbia Board of Education candidates discuss teacher retention, charter schools during forum

March 18, 2025 3:49 PM Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Erica Dickson, Ken Rice and current Columbia Board of Education President Suzette Waters responded to questions on Tuesday at a candidate forum hosted by the Boone County Unit of the Missouri Retired Teachers and School Personnel. “Our organization has done this for several years and we have a tradition to do this

Missouri Supreme Court deliberates after Proposition A lawsuit hearing

March 12, 2025 8:43 AM Marie Moyer

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Lawyers for several business groups argued in front of the Missouri Supreme Court in an attempt to overturn Proposition A on Wednesday. Proposition A was passed by voters in November and will raise the state’s minimum wage to $13.75 on Jan. 1 and by another $1.25 in 2026 to reach $15

DNR threatens Columbia stormwater permit over homeless encampments

March 11, 2025 12:13 PM Haley Swaino

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has requested that the city of Columbia create a plan to minimize waste from homeless encampments from getting into public waters.
DNR sent a letter to the city, along with Boone County and the University of Missouri, on Feb. 28, 2025. It said it wants to see the issue addressed before it will renew their “Municipal Separate Storm System (MS4) Operating Permit Renewal.”

Boone County sheriff endorses Blair Murphy in Columbia mayoral race

March 11, 2025 4:56 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Boone County Sheriff Dwayne Carey has made a rare endorsement in the Columbia mayoral race. An email from Blair Murphy’s campaign states that Carey has endorsed him in the April 8 election. This is the second local law enforcement representative to endorse Murphy, who also got approval from the Columbia Police Officers’

WATCH: ABC News Live interviews Sen. Eric Schmitt on tariffs, Ukraine, ag and more

March 4, 2025 5:04 PM ABC 17 News Team

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) U.S. Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) was interviewed by ABC News Live anchor Kyra Phillips on Tuesday. Watch the entire interview, which covers a variety of topics such as tariffs, agriculture and Ukraine.

Missouri senators propose raising the bar for initiative petitions

March 3, 2025 12:12 PM Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Some Missouri Senate Republicans are looking to tighten requirements for initiative petitions — measures that get on the ballot through gathering voter signatures — with Senate Joint Resolution 10, SJR 11, SJR 30 and SJR 47. The bills, sponsored by Senators Mike Moon (R-Ash Grove), Jason Bean (R-Holcomb), Ben Brown (R-Washington) and

Murphy nets $182k in donations for Columbia mayoral race; outdraws Buffaloe, Heath by wide margin

February 28, 2025 3:46 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A staggering difference in donations have occurred in Columbia’s mayoral race, according to the reports submitted to the Missouri Ethics Commission on Thursday. Thursday’s filings were the reports campaigns submit 40 days before the election. This year’s municipal elections will be April 8. A committee disclosure report for candidate Blair Murphy’s

Republicans continue efforts to stop abortion in Missouri as Columbia Planned Parenthood gets ready to offer procedure again

February 26, 2025 6:15 PM Erika McGuire

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Missouri Republicans are continuing their efforts to stop abortions in the state as the Columbia Planned Parenthood location is preparing to start the procedure again. Planned Parenthood will begin offering abortion care at its Columbia clinic on Monday, according to a Planned Parenthood Great Plains spokesperson. The clinic is currently offering appointments.