JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Black drivers were again pulled over at a rate surpassing white drivers in Missouri in 2024, according to an annual report released Thursday. The Attorney General’s Vehicle Stops Report is due on June 1 each year, but was released early with that date falling on a weekend. The report provides data
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A lawsuit filed by an umpire who was accused of attacking a woman and a deputy in 2023 was moved to federal court on Wednesday. Neal Sidebottom, of Versailles, was charged in 2023 with first-degree assault and misdemeanor resisting arrest. The case was transferred last year from Camden County to Moniteau County. A judge was
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Jackson County Judge Jerri Zhang issued an order vacating her previous rulings that allowed abortions to continue in Missouri. The action withdraws Zhang’s own prior orders and is procedural with the Missouri Supreme Court’s decision on Tuesday that stopped the enforcement of state abortion regulations. The high court ordered Zhang to end
Continue Reading COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Three people were arrested and charged with misdemeanors after refusing to leave an establishment after a bar fight in Morgan County on Sunday. Nicole Patricia Kusgen, 50, of Jefferson City, was charged with first-degree trespassing, resisting arrest and disturbing the peace. She posted a $10,000 bond and was release from the Morgan
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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) The Missouri Supreme Court on Tuesday ended a ruling that stopped the enforcement of state abortion regulations, telling a Jackson County judge to try again. The ruling says that Judge Jerri Zhang applied the wrong legal standard when she approved a preliminary injunction in December 2024 to block the enforcement of state
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Gov. Mike Kehoe is calling lawmakers back to Jefferson City. The primary purpose — a public financing package to help keep the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals in Missouri. Kehoe laid out his plans Tuesday for a special session that will take place next month. The main piece of the session will be legislation to
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JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Gov. Mike Kehoe unveiled plans for a special session to take up legislation to incentivize sports teams to stay in Missouri and fund capital projects like a University of Missouri nuclear reactor during a Capitol news conference Tuesday. Kehoe will bring lawmakers together next month to discuss financial incentives for stadium
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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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(Editor’s note, 5/27: The story and headline have been updated to reflect a Cole County judge’s changes to the amount of money awarded in the case.) COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Western District Court of Appeals upheld a Cole County jury’s decision to punish agriculture giant Monsanto for diseases developed by those using its product. The
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported fewer deaths, crashes, injuries and arrests on Missouri roads over Memorial Day weekend this year compared to 2024. MSHP wrote in a Tuesday release that from 6 p.m. Friday-11:59 p.m. Monday, there were three fatalities, 182 crashes, 83 people injured and 78 arrests for driving while
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) An Auxvasse man was charged this week with two counts of second-degree statutory rape. Taylor Logan Brown, 25, is being held at the Callaway County Jail without bond. An initial court appearance is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Callaway County Courthouse. The probable cause statement says that the youth was
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) An inmate who is serving a life sentence for murder was charged with several felonies on Tuesday after he allegedly assaulted two corrections officers in 2023. James Henderson, 44, was charged in Cole County with first-degree assault, two counts of armed criminal action, two counts of violence toward a Department of Corrections
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Millions of low-income Americans could lose food assistance under House Republicans’ tax and spending cuts package, according to a recent Congressional Budget Office analysis.
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe on Tuesday will announce special session details for the Missouri legislature, according to a Monday news release from his office. Kehoe is expected to make the announcement at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Capitol. The governor had floated the idea at the end of the regular session earlier
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) President Donald Trump has approved two of Missouri’s major disaster declaration requests for severe storms, tornadoes and flooding that occurred March 14-15 and March 30-April 8, according to a Friday press release from the governor’s office. “This is important and very welcome news for the Missouri families and communities hit hard by
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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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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
Continue Reading 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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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The funeral for former Gov. and U.S. Sen. Christopher “Kit” Bond was held Thursday in St. Louis. His celebration of life service was held at Ladue Chapel Presbyterian Church. Funeral honors were given by The Missouri National Guard and State Highway Patrol. It was open to anybody who knew bond.
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