COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) More than a month after a tornado destroyed Columbia’s recycling facility, nearby cities are grappling with an influx of recyclables. Columbia’s recycling program has been suspended since the April storm that leveled the city’s facility, forcing the closure of curbside collection and all eight drop-off centers. Curbside pickup is still active, but
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Two people charged with first-degree murder in Benton County in a Columbia man’s death appeared in court on Tuesday and pleaded not guilty. Michael Birnbaum, 28, and Kayley Birnbaum, 35, both of Springfield, Missouri, are charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action. They are being held at the Benton County Jail
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A spokesman for the Boone County Sheriff’s Office confirmed on Tuesday night that one person was shot and killed in a neighborhood north of Clark Lane. Brian Leer, of the Boone County Sheriff’s Office, said an 18-year-old man was shot and killed on North Frideriki Drive. Fire Department dispatch logs showed there
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BENTON CO, Mo. (KMIZ) Two people were arrested in Springfield, Missouri, on Sunday and charged with murder in connection with the 2021 death of a Columbia man. Cody Garrett, 28, was reported missing on June 21, 2021. Benton County deputies found Garrett’s vehicle and remains off the trails near a bike park outside Warsaw, Missouri.
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The trial over the second-degree arson charge of a Columbia restaurant owner is scheduled for February. Crystal Umfress is charged with felonies in two cases in southeast Missouri. In one case, she’s charged with second-degree arson. A pretrial conference is scheduled for Jan. 13, 2026. The trial is set to start Feb.
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia Police say advancements in DNA technology are helping in cold case investigations. Police are investigating 16 cold case homicides dating back to 1985. Three of these cases are over 30 years old. This includes the case of 59-year-old George Showalter, who was found dead inside a Red Roof Inn motel room
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia woman charged in connection with a baby’s death is set to be in court Tuesday morning at the Boone County Courthouse for a pre-trial conference. Sarah D. Brown is charged with first-degree involuntary manslaughter for the death of Ayla Gibson. Prosecutors charged Brown after she allegedly put Gibson in a
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What is usually the unofficial start of the summer vacation season felt more like March or April in Mid-Missouri. Temperatures over Memorial Day weekend didn’t climb past 72 degrees in Columbia on Saturday or Sunday. Monday was cool and cloudy, too. Hundreds of people didn’t let the weather stop them from attending Columbia’s renewed Gold
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Gold Star Memorial Day Parade was front and center on Broadway in Downtown Columbia on Memorial Day after a six-year hiatus. Hundreds gathered along Broadway on Monday morning to honor and remember military heroes and their families. The title “Gold Star” is reserved for families of military members who died in
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COLUMBIA Mo. (KMIZ) As millions of Americans return from their holiday travels, delays are expected in airports across the country. According to AAA, the 2025 Memorial Day weekend is expected to have at least 45.1 million travelers, 1.4 million more than last year and setting a new record. Monday’s trip home also came with harsh
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Louisville Courier Journal filed a complaint on Friday against a Kentucky school board that hired former Columbia Public Schools Superintendent Brian Yearwood. Jefferson County Public Schools said in a social media post on Thursday that the Board of Education voted 5-2 on Thursday to offer a contract, though it did not
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A man accused of firing shots in a south Columbia apartment complex told police that he was drugged at a bar and didn’t remember the events, according to a probable cause statement. Gabino C. Hernandez, 28, whose hometown is listed as Anderson, Missouri, in jail records, remained in the Boone County Jail
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The 98th annual Memorial Day wreath-laying ceremony was held at 9 a.m. Monday at the Boone County Courthouse Plaza, honoring veterans who have died in the line of duty. The General Omar N. Bradley Mid-Missouri chapter of the Military Officers Association of America sponsored the 40-minute ceremony. There were several veteran organizations
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) After a six-year absence, the Gold Star Memorial Parade will return to the City of Columboa on Memorial Day, bringing with it a renewed sense of unity and remembrance. The parade– which honors fallen service members– is set to begin at 10:00 a.m., traveling down Broadway from Hitt Street to Fourth Street.
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JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Those looking to lay out by the pool on Memorial Day Monday in Columbia and Jefferson City may run into some trouble. According to a social media post from Jefferson City Parks and Rec, the city will not open the Memorial Aquatic Center and Ellis-Porter Riverside Pools until Wednesday, May 28,
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With students away on break, the University of Missouri turns its gaze to the many summer renovation and maintenance projects around campus.
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia Public Schools celebrated day two of graduation ceremonies on Saturday, as hundreds of students crossed the stage at Mizzou Arena. The morning began with Rock Bridge High School, followed by Hickman High School in the evening. More than 64% of students from Columbia Public Schools pursue college or postsecondary programs, according
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia’s city manager introduced a new way for the public to give its feedback about city services during the annual State of the City address Friday. De’Carlon Seewood introduced the new “engagement opportunities survey” during his speech. Seewood said the city wants to hear from residents about ways to engage with city
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Christopher Schmitz will be the next principal at Shepherd Boulevard Elementary, according to a Friday press release from Columbia Public Schools. He will replace Jill Edwards, who will become an elementary instructional mentor, the release says. He has 15 years of experience in elementary education and has been the principal at Moreau
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia man has been charged with a felony after he allegedly brought back a seagull from the Gulf of Mexico and amputated its wing with a pair of scissors. Aaron Lacey was charged on Thursday with felony animal abuse, misdemeanor animal abuse and violating an ordinance by the county commission. A
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