Columbia Archives

Columbia Fire Department responds to two house fires amid severe thunderstorms

March 15, 2025 11:25 AM Haley Swaino

The Columbia Fire Department responded to two house fires and 77 emergency calls amid severe thunderstorms on Friday.

North Carolina man gets life in prison for 1984 Columbia rape and assault

March 14, 2025 2:56 PM Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A North Carolina man convicted last month in a Columbia rape and assault from 1984 was sentenced Friday to two consecutive life sentences. A jury convicted Wilson of rape and first-degree assault for raping and repeatedly stabbing a 17-year-old girl in the throat in the 4000 block of Wellington Drive in northeast

Man charged in Dove Drive has plea hearing pushed back for second time

March 14, 2025 10:37 AM Erika McGuire

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) One of the men charged for a deadly shooting on Dove Drive in Columbia had his plea hearing pushed back for a second time. Friday afternoon, Judge Jacobs Hasbrouck said in court Crocket and his attorney Andrew Garnett were scheduled to speak by phone Wednesday about his plea deal but the phones

Homelessness Taskforce discusses expanding temperature threshold to open overnight shelters

March 13, 2025 6:49 PM ABC 17 News Team

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) The Jefferson City Task Force on homelessness discussed plan on Thursday to further resources in Mid-Missouri. The group was updated on what officials in Columbia are doing. One of the main focuses was making changes to Turning Point in Columbia, including a new contract for an overnight center and expanding the temperature

Man charged for spraying two strangers with caustic liquid makes initial court appearance

March 13, 2025 11:44 AM Erika McGuire

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The man charged Wednesday for allegedly spraying two strangers with a caustic liquid near the parking lot at Bear Creek Trail made his initial court appearance Thursday. Maxon Castle, 22, has been charged in Boone County with two counts of second-degree assault in connection with the Tuesday incident in the trail parking

Planned Parenthood pushes back against Missouri AG’s cease-and-desist

March 12, 2025 6:14 PM Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey issued a cease-and-desist order against Planned Parenthood facilities in the state, prohibiting them from performing medication abortions without an approved complication plan from state health officials. However, Planned Parenthood officials contend they are not currently offering medication abortions and have complied with state requirements. Abortion appointments resumed

Family of MU hazing victim continues push for Danny’s Law, as Southern University student’s death leads to more arrests

March 12, 2025 5:39 PM Nia Hinson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Tom Santulli has not forgotten the early morning of Oct. 19 2021. “We lose sleep all the time about what if Danny had 20 more minutes? What if the paramedics had got there 20 minutes, you know 30 minutes before,” Santulli said. Santulli learned then that his son, Danny Santulli, who was

Man accused of spraying 2 strangers with burning liquid near Bear Creek Trail parking lot

March 12, 2025 4:36 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A man was charged in Boone County on Wednesday after he allegedly sprayed two strangers with liquid on Tuesday near the parking lot at Bear Creek Trail. Maxon Castle, 22, was charged with two counts of second-degree assault. A court date has not been set. He is being held at the Boone

Water main break on West Ash Street impacts ARC, 86 Columbia water customers

March 12, 2025 3:39 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A water main break near the Columbia Farmers Market has led to Columbia Water and Light to announce a boil advisory for 86 customers. City Utilities spokesman Matt Nestor wrote in an email that a 12-inch cast iron main broke around 2:45 p.m. and that the outage will last “at least a few

Love Columbia’s transitional housing, Love Forward Homes, set to open in early 2026

March 11, 2025 5:00 PM Meghan Drakas

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Love Columbia’s transitional housing complex, Love Forward Homes, is expected to be complete early 2026. The complex at 1221 E. Ash St. in Downtown Columbia will have six three-bedroom units and four two-bedroom units that can house up to 10 families. Love Columbia says in 2024, it provided 4,144 hotel nights to

Gold Star mother works to revive Columbia’s Memorial Day parade

March 11, 2025 7:32 PM Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) After a six-year hiatus, a Gold Star mother is hoping to resurrect a decades-old tradition of hosting a Memorial Day parade in Columbia. Sherry Wyatt says her heart sank when her son, Sterling, told her he wanted to enlist in the U.S. Army. A Rock Bridge graduate, Sterling was also an Eagle

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’

Columbia man charged with domestic assault, property damage

March 11, 2025 4:28 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia man was charged with two felonies after authorities say he assaulted another person. Michael True, 54, was charged on Tuesday with first-degree domestic assault and first-degree property damage. He is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond. A court date has not been scheduled. According to the probable

Greek Week blood drive continues

March 11, 2025 5:42 AM Jazsmin Halliburton

The University of Missouri and the Red Cross are teaming up for the 34th time to collect life-saving blood donations. The Greek Week blood drive will take place at the University of Missouri recreation center on campus from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will also run during the same time Wednesday.

Charges updated for man accused of setting house on fire with propane torch

March 10, 2025 2:34 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Charges were updated for a man accused of setting a house on fire last month with a propane torch. Robert Merritt, 51, of Columbia, was charged on Friday with first-degree arson and three counts of first-degree domestic assault after a grand jury indictment was filed. He is being held at the Boone

Columbia Board of Education approves new superintendent’s contract

March 10, 2025 4:32 PM Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Editor’s Note: the date of a previous Muleskinners meeting has been corrected. The Columbia Board of Education unanimously approved a three-year contract for its new superintendent, Jeff Klein, during Monday night’s board meeting. The contract sets Klein’s salary at $255,000, which would be paid monthly. His salary can increase by as much

Columbia Police Department report says technology is helping, but more is needed

March 10, 2025 11:22 AM Erika McGuire

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia Police Department says surveillance technology is helping it to better police the city. CPD’s 2024 annual surveillance report says technology such as surveillance cameras, license plate readers, data analytics, radios and mobile devices has significantly enhanced the department’s capabilities in identifying suspects. However, the department is looking to improve its

Sidewalk, parking closures announced near Downtown Columbia intersection

March 10, 2025 5:33 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A portion of a sidewalk and metered parking will be closed off next week in Downtown Columbia as crews install a canopy. According to a Monday press release from the city, the canopy will be put over the sidewalk near the Guitar Building on North Eighth Street. A portion of the sidewalk

Power restored for nearly 1,800 Boone Electric customers who lost electricity

March 10, 2025 1:57 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Nearly 1,800 Boone Electric Cooperative customers were without power on Monday afternoon. According to the co-op’s outage map, 1,759 customers were without power for an outage that occurred on Mexico Gravel Road, just west of Route Z. The power A crew fixed the outage by 2:15 p.m. Boone Electric spokesman Zach Smith