Politics Archives

Democratic presidential candidates honor veterans

November 12, 2019 2:26 PM ABC 17 News Team

A look at Democratic presidential candidates’ Veterans Day campaign events and veterans-oriented policies.

What went wrong for Beto O’Rourke

November 11, 2019 2:12 PM ABC 17 News Team

A look at why former Texas congressman Beto O’Rourke’s campaign for the Democratic nomination failed. Video by Stringr.

What happened to Kamala Harris?

November 8, 2019 2:12 PM ABC 17 News Team

Once hailed as the “female Obama,” California Sen. Kamala Harris’ campaign is now losing momentum in the Democratic presidential race. Video by Stringr.

Trump to pursue higher sales age for e-cigarettes

November 8, 2019 11:12 AM Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) President Donald Trump said Friday his administration will pursue raising the age to purchase electronic cigarettes from 18 to 21 in its upcoming plans to combat youth vaping. Trump told reporters his administration will release its final plans for restricting e-cigarettes next week but provided few other details. “We have to take care

Report: No evidence St. Louis prosecutor was threatened

November 8, 2019 9:01 AM Associated Press

ST. LOUIS (AP) A special prosecutor tasked with determining if attorneys for former Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens threatened St. Louis’ top prosecutor said in a report released Thursday that he found no evidence that the attorneys committed a crime. Boone County Associate Circuit Judge Michael Bradley wrote that although Greitens’ attorneys made aggressive statements to

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

Columbia commission rejects Rice Road name change

November 7, 2019 10:20 PM Katie Greathouse

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia Planning and Zoning Commission rejected a request to rename part of Rice Road at its meeting Thursday night. D&D Investments of Columbia, LLC had proposed renaming a mile of Rice Road to Geyser Boulevard. The company wanted to rename the road from Ballenger Lane to Lake of the Woods Road.

Hotel plan at Columbia Mall approved by city commission

November 7, 2019 8:52 PM Lucas Geisler

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A city commission has approved a request to split the Columbia Mall into two lots to accommodate a new hotel. The commission voted unanimously to create a new lot on the north end of the mall property on Bernadette Drive. Developers plan to build a four-story Hilton hotel there. The commission denied

Missouri House Committee on Gaming hears from industry officials about sports betting industry

November 7, 2019 11:40 AM Madison Fleck

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) A representative for Major League Baseball made an appearance at Thursday’s Missouri House Committee on Gaming hearing. Jeremy Kudon of MLB was in Jefferson City for Thursday’s hearing which began at noon. The MLB is projected to make $1.106 billion from legal sports betting, according to a Nielsen report commissioned by

Klobuchar files in New Hampshire

November 7, 2019 1:05 PM ABC 17 News Team

U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) became the sixth Democratic candidate to file for February’s New Hampshire primary Wednesday. Stringr takes a look at her placement in the race.

Sheriff: proposition approval a “game changer” for Callaway County

November 6, 2019 6:42 PM Jasmine Ramirez

CALLAWAY COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ) Voters in Callaway County approved two half-cent sales tax propositions on Tuesday’s ballot to increase law enforcement pay and fund capital improvements for criminal justice centers. “It’s a game-changer,” said Sheriff Clay Chism. “Not only for community safety but for officer safety.” The approval of Proposition 1 will allow the sheriff’s department

Hallville residents vote to sell city’s sewer system

November 5, 2019 3:04 PM Sydney Olsen

HALLSVILLE, Mo. (KMIZ) Hallsville residents voted Tuesday to sell the city’s sewer system. Voters cast 133 ballots in favor of the sale and 63 against it, according to unofficial election results posted on the Boone County clerk’s website. City Administrator Kenyetta Ridgway-Sample said the city’s current rates are not high enough to keep up with

LIVE UPDATES: Callaway voters OK sales taxes; lake area hikes go down

November 5, 2019 7:29 PM Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) UPDATE 8:50 p.m.: Callaway County voters turned out at about a 15 percent clip Tuesday to approve two sales tax increases to pay for law enforcement. Voters approved Proposition 1, a half-cent increase to pay for sheriff’s department staffing and salary raises, 3,099-1,129, or about 72 percent in favor. They approved Proposition

More than $6.2 million in rebuilding costs reported after Jefferson City tornado

November 5, 2019 11:46 AM Connor Hirsch

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) The cost of the tornado that left hundreds of Jefferson City buildings damaged continues to rise more than five months after the storm. According to the Jefferson City Building Regulations Division, 196 commercial and residential tornado damage permits have been issued, totaling $6,224,015 in project costs. Tornado-Damage-Permits-2019Download Of those permits, 51

Callaway County voters approve law enforcement sales tax propositions

November 5, 2019 2:50 PM Jasmine Ramirez

CALLAWAY COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ) Voters in Callaway County approved two half-cent sales tax propositions on the ballot Tuesday that, if passed, would increase law enforcement pay and fund capital improvements for criminal justice centers. Voter turnout was at 15.26 percent. Proposition 1 passed 3,099-1,129, or about 72 percent in favor and will allow the Callaway County

VIDEO: The importance of fundraising in the Democratic presidential race

November 5, 2019 11:12 AM ABC 17 News Team

A look at why fundraising matters so much to the Democratic candidates seeking their party’s nomination in the presidential race.

City, nonprofits eye $2 million in state tax credits for agriculture park expansion

November 4, 2019 7:35 PM Lucas Geisler

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The city of Columbia and a group of nonprofits want $2 million in state tax credits to help pay for the expansion of a new agriculture park. The Columbia City Council is set to vote on approving the agreement between the groups and the Missouri Development Finance Board at a meeting later

Mid-Missourians take to the polls

November 5, 2019 5:56 AM Molly Stawinoga

Several mid-Missouri counties are holding elections Tuesday. Some of the main items on the ballots include sewage systems, law enforcement funding and raising lodging taxes to fund tourism promotion. Three cities in Boone, Randolph and Monroe counties have sewage or wastewater systems up for a vote. Hallsville is looking to sell its sewage operations. The

Jefferson City considers short term rental changes

November 4, 2019 5:34 PM Jasmine Ramirez

Jefferson City Council members will hear a proposal to change requirements for short term rentals at Monday’s city council meeting. The city’s current policy requires a person to obtain a special exception permit to rent their home on platforms such as Airbnb or HomeAway. A person must apply for the permit through the Planning and

Possible ban on e-cigarette products in Columbia

November 4, 2019 4:15 PM Sydney Olsen

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia City Council reviewed a report Monday from the Columbia/Boone County Board of Health asking the council to temporarily ban the sale of flavored e-cigarette products within city limits. The temporary ban is meant to buy time for city staff to create a more permanent ordinance. The report says flavored e-cigarette

Trail construction begins despite woman protesting in tree

November 4, 2019 7:25 AM Madison Fleck

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia city officials began cutting down trees and bushes below a Columbia woman who was in a tree in protest of the construction of a trail. The Columbia Police Department and Boone County Sheriff’s Office attempted to talk a Columbia woman out of a tree on Monday morning. LIVE PLAYBACK of the