Columbia Archives

Law enforcement warns of package thefts as holiday season ramps up

November 25, 2024 7:12 PM Haley Swaino

With Black Friday and the holiday season come an increase in online shopping and package deliveries.

Woman accused of shooting teenager pleads guilty to 2 felonies, sentenced to probation

November 25, 2024 6:47 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A woman who was accused of shooting a teenager last year was sentenced to probation on Monday. Shyraah Robin Brown, 36, of Columbia, pleaded guilty to unlawful use of a weapon and endangering the welfare of a child. She was sentenced to five years of probation with a four-year suspended sentence. According to

Columbia Public Schools improves in key areas on state report card

November 25, 2024 9:12 AM Gabrielle Teiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia Public Schools made critical gains in key academic measures between 2023 and 2024 in the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Annual Performance Report. CPS received 86.5% of the possible points in this year’s report, which combines performance and improvement scores from the 2023-2024 school year. The district received a score

Former Planet Fitness trainer accused of filming women undress posts bond

November 25, 2024 3:42 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A former trainer at a Columbia Planet Fitness who is accused of filming women undress in tanning booths appeared on the Boone County Jail roster over the weekend and posted bond. Kenneth Gerard Steele was charged with invasion of privacy and third-degree domestic assault. He was in the jail on Saturday and

One southbound lane of Highway 63 in Columbia to close Tuesday for repairs

November 25, 2024 2:43 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A portion of the passing southbound lane of Highway 63 in Columbia will be closed from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to a Monday press release from the Missouri Department of Transportation. Crews will fill a pothole in the work zone near Broadway, the release says. Traffic is currently shifted in the

Columbia Public Schools to learn performance rate in annual report card

November 25, 2024 5:16 AM Jazsmin Halliburton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia Public Schools is set to to learn its performance rate in annual district achievement report card and will be released to the public Monday morning. The report, better known as the APR, is the districts achievement report card from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. The report is based

Three people shot in Northeast Columbia Saturday night

November 23, 2024 9:09 PM Nia Hinson, Euphenie Andre

EDITOR’S NOTE: A witness’s name has been removed to protect her safety. COLUMBIA, Mo.(KMIZ) Three people were shot in Northeast Columbia on Clark Lane Saturday night, according to CPD spokeswoman Jenny Hopper. According to Hopper, police were called to the 4800 block of Clark Ln. at 8:19 for reports of shots fired. When officers arrived,

Juvenile certified as adult in deadly Columbia shooting

November 22, 2024 2:19 PM Madison Stuerman, Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A juvenile was charged as an adult Friday in a deadly shooting in Columbia. According to online court records, Cordero Riley Jr, 17,. is charged with first-degree assault, second-degree murder, unlawful use of a weapon and armed criminal action in connection with the death of Trevon Ashcraft, 18, in May. Riley is

Man charged after allegedly firing gun while hitting man after church league basketball game

November 22, 2024 9:10 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia man has been charged after he allegedly shot a gun while hitting someone in the head after a church league basketball game earlier this month. Marquise Mathis was charged on Friday with two counts of unlawful use of a weapon, two counts of armed criminal action, one count of second-degree

I-70 bridge in Rocheport completely reopens after repairs are made

November 22, 2024 7:16 PM Ryan Shiner

ROCHEPORT, Mo. The Interstate 70 bridge at Exit 116 over Routes O and J are completely open to traffic, the Missouri Department of Transportation wrote in a Friday press release. The bridge was damaged after it was hit by a vehicle earlier this year, previous reporting indicates. Repairs to the bridge began on Oct. 16.

Mid-Missouri homeless resource centers preparing for upcoming winter season

November 22, 2024 7:03 PM Meghan Drakas

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Multiple Mid-Missouri homeless resource centers are preparing for the upcoming winter season. The 2024 Point in Time Count which counts all of the people in the state experiencing homelessness on a single night in January, tallied 7,338 people. In Region 5 — which represents much of Mid-Missouri — the 2024 count stood

Columbia Fire Department demonstrates dangers of deep-frying turkey

November 22, 2024 2:34 PM Haley Swaino

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Nationwide, each year there are more than three times the daily average of home cooking fires around Thanksgiving, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Ahead of the holiday, the Columbia Fire Department gave a demonstration of the fire that can emerge when a turkey is improperly deep-fried. CFD spokeswoman Katherine Rodriguez

Columbia Public Schools superintendent to retire months after announcing cancer diagnosis

November 22, 2024 11:44 AM Matthew Sanders, Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The top administrator in Columbia Public Schools plans to retire. CPS spokesperson Michelle Baumstark wrote in a statement Friday that Brian Yearwood has decided to step down immediately to spend time with family in Texas. The Columbia Board of Education unanimously accepted his retirement request. Former superintendent Chris Belcher has agreed to

Columbia Board of Education creates online form for public to submit names for new elementary school

November 22, 2024 3:47 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia Board of Education voted on Thursday to create a committee of volunteers to consider a name for the new elementary school that is being built in southwest Columbia. A Friday press release from Columbia Public Schools says that potential names from the community can be submitted online through 5 p.m.

Primrose Drive assault victim dies, officials seek murder charges

November 22, 2024 3:05 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A man who suffered serious injuries after an altercation last week has died, a press release from the Columbia Police Department says. Antonio Davis, 56, of Columbia, died Friday, police wrote. The release says that after Davis’ death, officials are looking to charge Felicia L. Hay, 33, and Alexander A. Aklan, 28,

Elevator repairs scheduled next week at Tenth and Cherry Parking Garage in Downtown Columbia

November 22, 2024 2:19 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) An elevator at a Downtown Columbia parking garage will be out of service next week for repairs. According to a Friday press release from the city, the elevator at the parking garage at Tenth and Cherry streets will be out of service on from 8 a.m. Tuesday-6 p.m. Wednesday. The release says

Third murder suspect takes plea deal in Columbia shooting

November 22, 2024 10:09 AM Matthew Sanders

A third man suspected of murder in a deadly June 2023 shooting pleaded guilty Friday.

Columbia man arrested after high-speed chase previously served prison time for manslaughter

November 21, 2024 7:46 PM Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia man allegedly involved in a Boone County shooting was arrested Wednesday evening following a high-speed chase. Javion Lawhorn, 35, was charged on Thursday with aggravated fleeing. He is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond. A court date has not been set. According to court documents, Lawhorn was

Prosecutor says potential victims of Planet Fitness peeping should contact authorities

November 21, 2024 4:01 PM Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Anyone who is worried their privacy might have been violated in the tanning area of a Columbia Planet Fitness should contact authorities, Boone County’s top prosecutor said Thursday. Kenneth G. Steele, a former trainer at the gym, was charged Wednesday with invasion of privacy and third-degree domestic assault. He was not listed

MU Faculty Council approves resolution to change parade float application process

November 21, 2024 5:25 AM Jazsmin Halliburton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The University of Missouri Faculty Council approved a resolution to revise the application procedure for homecoming parade floats Thursday after a student group was blocked from being in this year’s parade. University President Mun Choi removed the Palestinian Student Organization from the homecoming parade last month. According to a correspondence from Vice