COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia’s mayor is recommending the City Council table a vote that could ban gaming machines. Previous reporting shows the city was looking at banning unregulated machines known as “gray machines” or “no-chance machines.” The machines have been described as being “skill-based,” which has brought up questions of legality. The Columbia ban would
Continue Reading
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Missouri State Sen. Rick Brattin (R-Cass County) in a Thursday press release announced his intent to run for the newly drawn 5th District for the U.S. House. Brattin was first elected to the Missouri Senate in 2020. Brattin refers to himself as a conservative and looks to support President Donald Trump. “I
Continue Reading
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) As prediction markets continue to gain traction across the United States, major political events like the State of the Union are increasingly becoming opportunities for people to place bets and turn a profit. President Donald Trump’s nearly two-hour State of the Union speech, the longest on record, generated more than $12 million
Continue Reading
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The city clerk of a Callaway County town has resigned. John Joyce put in for his resignation on Feb. 6 and his last day as city clerk was Friday. First Ward Alderwoman Katie Lawrence was named the acting city clerk. The city declined to provide Joyce’s resignation letter. City attorney Nathan Nickolaus
Continue Reading
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) With the U.S. Senate reviewing House amendments in the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, the bill needs Senate approval to be moved to President Donald Trump’s desk. If approved, the SAVE Act would require those registering to vote to have proof of citizenship. Supporters argue the bill strengthens election integrity, while opponents
Continue Reading
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) The state senator who serves Callaway and Montgomery counties said Monday that he will not seek reelection, instead taking a job with a public-private economic development partnership. Sen. Travis Fitzwater (R-Holts Summit), announced on his Facebook page Monday — the day before filing for the August primary begins — that he
Continue Reading
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Missouri Supreme Court Justice knocked down a law last month that would allow the Secretary of State to rewrite unfair ballot summaries, instead of a judge. Lawmakers are taking another go at passing a similar law and making it stick this time. Rep. John Simmons (R-Washington) introduced House Bill 3146 that
Continue Reading
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Secretary of State’s Office backs the claim that the “Missouri First” map is in effect, but the Boone County clerk said Friday she can’t change district lines for voters until after the April election. “Right now in the voter registration system that’s maintained by the Secretary of State’s Office, there’s not
Continue Reading
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) The Missouri Realtors and their legal partners are celebrating a victory after a Cole County judge ruled in their favor on a ballot measure that would change Missouri’s initiative petition process. Judge Daniel Green ruled from the bench Thursday that he would strip language that supporters and critics have called “ballot
Continue Reading
EDITOR’S NOTE: This story has been corrected to remove an incorrect reference to a vote. JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) A bill that would require Lyme disease and Alpha-gal syndrome to be reported to the Department of Health and Senior Services had a public hearing before a House committee hearing on Thursday. The bill would require contracted
Continue Reading
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Former Boone County Clerk Taylor Burks announced his bid for Missouri’s newly drawn Fifth District House seat in a Thursday press release. Burks, a Republican, has ran for congressional seats earlier this decade, including in the Third and Fourth districts. Filing for the Aug.4 primary opens Feb. 24. “Missouri deserves a representative
Continue Reading
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A class action lawsuit was filed on Thursday against one of Columbia’s biggest employers. A complaint was filed in the Western District Court of Missouri against Veterans United Home Loans. The plaintiffs in the class –which includes Christian Payton, Salem Zahn and Ernest Easter – are seeking at least a $5 million
Continue Reading
The Missouri Senate Education Committee held a hearing before a packed house Tuesday on a bill that would create a letter-grade report card system for public schools. Supporters say it will help parents identify the best places for their kids and provide incentives for schools to improve. Critics say it will stigmatize some schools and
Continue Reading
Editor’s Note: AI was used in background research for this article. JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Teachers and parents faced Missouri legislators on Tuesday as two Missouri senators work to write a new grading system for schools into law. Gov. Mike Kehoe signed an executive order creating school report cards in January, before his State of
Continue Reading
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Missouri lawmakers are taking a hard look at regulating artificial intelligence, focusing on images and videos created without consent. The House Emerging Issues Committee held a public hearing on Monday to examine a series of bills that would expand criminal and civil penalties for nonconsensual AI-generated content. Lawmakers emphasized the rapid
Continue Reading
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Secretary of State Denny Hoskins is asking local election authorities to verify voters’ citizenship status after a federal program flagged people for potential illegal status. However, many county clerks have spotted citizens on the list. Boone County Clerk Brianna Lennon said Hoskins sent her a list of 74 voters in November whose
Continue Reading
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) A Cole County judge ruled this week that Gov. Mike Kehoe acted within his legal authority when he called a special session for redistricting. The decision, issued by Judge Christopher Limbaugh, confirms the legality of the session and the resulting House Bill 1, which redraws Missouri’s congressional district. The NAACP challenged
Continue Reading
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Missouri lawmakers are considering two bills that would require summer and day camps to be licensed and create emergency plans for inclement weather. The bill was prompted by a deadly Texas flood that killed 27 girls at Camp Mystic in July 2025. Rep. Cameron Parker (R-Campbell) introduced the legislation in the House,
Continue Reading
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) A bill to strengthen protections for children against grooming and trafficking has cleared a Missouri House committee and is now headed to the Senate. The bill is sponsored by Rep. Ed Lewis (R-Moberly and Macon). The bill passed the full House on Monday with a 148–2 vote. Rep. Lewis described the
Continue Reading
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Gov. Mike Kehoe has promised $7.5 million to pay for students to attend classes outside their school districts, if the state legislature can pass an open enrollment bill. “Again, open enrollment is not about weakening public education, it’s about strengthening it,” Kehoe said in his State of the State Address in January.
Continue Reading