COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) News reports from Louisville, Kentucky, and a state lawmaker say a former Columbia Public Schools superintendent who left before his contract expired will be hired to lead Jefferson County Public Schools. The district board of education voted 5-2 on Thursday to offer a contract to one of its two superintendent finalists. Yearwood,
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) As of this week, Missouri leads the nation in the number of tornado warnings issued since Jan. 1, with 140 more warnings than normal. The severe weather season ramped up in March and has been relentless ever since. Missouri typically averages around 50 tornadoes (2000-2024 average), and we have had more than
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Mid-Missouri is taking steps toward curbing violence through collaborative efforts between local, state and federal agencies. The Violent Crime Abatement Team — which began on Jan. 1 — looks to discuss recent violent crimes and arrests in the area during monthly meetings at the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Discussions include sharing information about
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Editor’s note: Information about the flights was updated after a source error was corrected. COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) United Airlines will start flying again out of Columbia in the fall after nearly four years without local flights. City officials in a Thursday news conference announced the resumption of United service on Sept. 25 at Columbia Regional
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia Fire Department will conduct training exercises at the Fifth and Walnut Parking Garage in Downtown Columbia, according to a Thursday press release from the city. Training sessions will occur 8 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Tuesday, May 27; Thursday, May 29; and Thursday, June 5, the release says.
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Erin Keys has been named the City of Columbia’s next director of utilities, according to a Thursday press release from the city. “I look forward to continuing to support our excellent staff in the work they do to provide the various utility services to our customers and to engage with the community
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Another person has filed to run for the open Ward 2 seat on the Columbia City Council. Librarian Vera Elwood announced her candidacy Thursday in a press release. City Clerk Sheela Amin wrote in an email that the city received Elwood’s petition on Thursday and is in the process of reviewing it to
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) More than 1,400 high school seniors in Columbia will graduate this weekend. Graduation ceremonies for Columbia Public Schools will be held Friday and Saturday. There will be 1,422 students receiving their diplomas. A press release from the school district says the class of 2025 collectively earned more than $14.5 million in scholarships
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The University of Missouri Police Department is looking for a man who allegedly exposed himself Wednesday afternoon near Stankowski Field. A press release from MUPD says witnesses saw the man expose himself before leaving. The release says he was last seen driving a white 2024 Volkswagen Jetta with a Minnesota license plate
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia Public Schools will have its last day of classes on Friday. CPS wrote in an email to students’ families that state officials gave the district a waiver allowing classes to be out of session next Tuesday. The district had planned for a shortened day Tuesday — one day after Memorial Day
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A press release from AAA shows that drivers in Columbia are paying more for gas this upcoming holiday weekend than anyone else in the state. The average price of fuel at Columbia gas stations is $2.98 per gallon of regular unleaded fuel, according to AAA. The statewide average is $2.87 per gallon,
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A former University of Missouri basketball prospect accused of sexual assault is set to be in the Boone County Courthouse for a preliminary hearing on Thursday. Keiner Asprilla, 18, was charged with first-degree rape, first-degree sodomy and second-degree kidnapping. A police report states the alleged assault happened in September at the Tiger Hotel in downtown
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Two juveniles were arrested in connection with a May 15 shooting in the 4600 block of Rice Road, according to a Wednesday press release from the Columbia Police Department. The release says a youth was arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of first-degree assault, while another was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of first-degree
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Counties across Mid-Missouri are continuing to take steps to ensure their warning systems work reliably during severe weather. In Boone County, officials are rolling out a new system that aims to make siren use more precise and reduce what they call “siren fatigue” — the overuse of sirens in areas not directly
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A more than $2.1 million collaborative study between the Columbia City Council, The Loop CID and Great Rivers Engineering to revamp Business Loop 70 is on its way to the US Department of Transportation for approval. This comes after the Columbia City Council approved several million-dollar infrastructure projects Monday. The total study
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The City of Columbia is working to restore power to damaged equipment at its recycling facility after an EF-1 tornado destroyed the building. Utilities spokesperson Jason West said demolition is underway and debris removal is going well. “I believe the process is moving forward at a quicker pace than expected,” West said
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Jefferson City woman was charged on Wednesday after she was accused of raping a youth. Estelle Kerns, 35, was charged with first-degree statutory rape of someone younger than 14 years old. She is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond. A hearing was set for Wednesday. The probable cause
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The City of Columbia held its annual labor group presentations Monday night, hosting union representatives from the Columbia Police Officers Association, Columbia Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 1055 and LiUNA Local 955, which represents a large portion of the city’s workforce. All three unions expressed concerns over how the city was handling negotiations.
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Tuesday, May 27 will be the last day of class for students at Columbia Public Schools. The district sent an email to parents on Tuesday reminding them that May 27 will be the final day and an early release. On Feb. 17, Columbia Public Schools used the last of its allotted AMI
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Summer Lunch Program in Columbia will run from June 2-Aug. 7, according to a Tuesday press release from the Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services. Meal sites will be open Monday through Friday for all youth ages 18 and younger, the release says. The program will not run on June
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