Traffic impacts expected as Columbia hosts Juneteenth parade
The public is invited to line East Broadway Saturday morning for Columbia’s annual Juneteenth parade at 9 a.m
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Community members release balloons in honor of slain teen
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Dozens of people gathered Friday night at Cosmo Park in Columbia to honor a teenager who died in a shooting this past weekend. Zarian Simpson died in a shooting on Sunday, June 15 during an armed robbery. Two juveniles were arrested, along with Steven Paden, 34. Friends and family started gathering
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Missouri leads nation in fireworks spending, but safety remains a concern
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) As Independence Day approaches, Missourians are lighting up the sky — and the nation’s spending charts. Fireworks sales at seasonal retailers began on Friday, marking the start of one of the busiest and most-explosive stretches of the year. According to U.S. trade data from Lending Tree, Missouri imported $85.7 million worth of
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No injuries reported after smoke seen coming from woods in Boone County
BOONE COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ) Smoke was seen Friday evening coming from a wooded area of Boone County that is north and east of Columbia. Boone County firefighters were called near the intersection of Route HH and East O’Rear Road at 6:53 p.m., according to dispatch records. Boone County Fire Protection District Chief Gale Blomenkamp said
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2 juveniles accused in shooting death appear in court
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The two juveniles detained after a Columbia homicide will continue to be held in a juvenile center. The suspects are 15 and 13 years old. They’re accused of being involved in the armed robbery and fatal shooting of 18-year-old Zarian Simpson on Sunday. They were detained along with 34-year-old Steven Paden earlier this week.
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CDC reports rise in unintentional fall deaths in elderly
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this week released a study showing a sharp rise in unintentional fall deaths among older adults. The report found that from 2003 to 2023, death rates from falls increased by more than 79% for adults aged 65 to 74. For those ages 75 to 84,
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Over 50 foster families sign up to take in dogs after CMHS wrote space-based euthanasia was possible
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Central Missouri Humane Society in Columbia wrote that it could kill dogs for space reasons for the first time in more than 10 years. CMHS wrote on its social media that it started Friday with no kennels available “and desperately need dogs to leave in order to avoid making space-based euthanasia
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39 Columbia streets to be treated for two months beginning Monday
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Beginning Monday, June 23, a contractor is scheduled to start treating the first of 39 residential streets, according to a Friday press release from the City of Columbia. Work begins at 7 a.m. Monday and will continue on weekdays through July until all street have been treated with Reclamite, an asphalt rejuvenating
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Ryan Ferguson attorney seeking $1.3 million more in historic lawsuit judgment
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) An attorney for Ryan Ferguson hopes to get $1 million more in his eight-figure lawsuit against an insurance company. Attorney Michael Berry asked Cole County Judge Cotton Walker on Friday to add at least $1.3 million to the $43.8 million judgment he awarded on Monday. Berry said Walker did not properly
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Man charged with statutory rape in Morgan County; woman accused of endangering child
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Two people have been charged with felonies after a man allegedly raped a teenager in Morgan County. Trevaughn Jones, 29, of Independence, was charged with two counts of second-degree statutory rape and one count of second-degree statutory sodomy. He is being held at the Morgan County Jail on a $100,000 bond. Kayla
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Fulton man accused of killing Russellville classmate asks for case to be dismissed
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Fulton man who is accused of killing his classmate in 1991 has asked for his case to be dismissed. William “Chris” Niemet, of Fulton, is accused of killing his classmate, Greg Jones, in April 1991 in Russellville. Jones was 14. Niemet also would have been 14 at the time. Niemet was charged in 2020 with
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Columbia faces risk of government clawbacks because of DEI
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Trump administration could declare the City of Columbia in violation of a federal executive order targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, city leaders say. Such a determination could result in the suspension of federal funding, termination of existing contracts and demands for repayment of previously awarded federal funds. Fifth Ward Councilman
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Jefferson City exploring a use tax as revenue falls short of projections
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Jefferson City officials say a use tax could generate nearly $70 million in additional revenue at a time when traditional sales tax is waning. Jefferson City’s June sales tax report shows the city was short nearly $400,000 of its projected revenue for the fiscal year. The city’s projected 10-year budget showed
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Mexico man seriously hurt in riding lawnmower crash
EDITOR’S NOTE: Reference to a seat belt has been changed for clarity. AUDRAIN COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ) A 66-year-old Mexico, Missouri, man was seriously hurt after crashing a lawnmower around 5:30 p.m. Thursday in Audrain County, according to a crash report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol. The report states the man was on a Craftsman
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Boone County Fire Protection District reminds people of heat-borne illness as temperatures rise
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Boone County Fire Protection District, along with many other first-responder agencies and health officials, are reminding the public to be aware of the risks of heat exhaustion and heat stroke, as a heat advisory has been issued for Boone County through Tuesday evening. According to Mayo Clinic, Heat-borne illness can take
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QUESTION OF THE DAY: Will the United States attack Iran?
The possibility of American military action in Iran has become very real. President Donald Trump has said he will make a decision on whether to strike the Islamic dictatorship sometime in the next two weeks. Meanwhile, Iran and Israel continue to trade missile attacks. Israel opened up the exchange last week with strikes targeting Iran’s
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Suspect in Columbia infant death apparently released from custody
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Fayette woman charged with second-degree murder in the 2021 death of an 8-month-old girl is the subject of an active arrest warrant. But two days after the warrant was issued, court and prison records indicate she still isn’t in custody. Jennifer Johnson was scheduled to appear in court at 9 a.m.
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‘Eyes in the sky’: Task Force 1’s drones prove effectiveness for agencies across the state
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) St. Louis Fire Chief Dennis Jenkerson will never forget May 16, 2025. It was a Friday around 3:15 p.m., meaning major roads in the city were already packed with traffic as rush hour approached. That would lead to even more issues down the road. It was the day an EF-3 tornado struck
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Multiple Juneteenth celebrations held in Columbia
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Multiple family-friendly events took place across Columbia on Thursday to celebrate Juneteenth, which is considered the longest-running African American holiday. “They Were Always There” Tribute to Black Veterans was held at 11 a.m. at the Boone County War Memorial Plaza. This event, hosted by the U.S. Exercise Tiger Foundation, featured a wreath-laying
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Columbia Board of Realtors to host Ward 2 candidate forum next month
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia Board of Realtors will hold a candidate forum next month with the two people running for the open Ward 2 seat on the Columbia City Council. A press release from the board says that the forum will be held at 4 p.m. Wednesday, July 16 at the Board of Realtors
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