Columbia Archives

Missouri’s energy-assistance program sees no significant increase in applications as state dips into leftover federal funds

November 7, 2025 7:18 PM Euphenie Andre

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) As SNAP benefits during the ongoing government shutdown continue to be debated in court, other assistance programs are still working to stay afloat, including the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program. The program is currently assisting elderly and disabled residents, whose application period opened in October. LIHEAP recently opened its application period to

Mistrial declared in child sex crime case after jury is deadlocked

November 7, 2025 6:41 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A mistrial was declared in a Columbia child sex crime case after the jury was unable to reach a verdict on Thursday. Francisco Rutiaga-Santoyo, 49, is charged with two counts of statutory sodomy of a child younger than 12 years old and one count of first-degree child molestation. He is being held at

Man sentenced 15 years for firing six shots in 2024 Columbia road rage incident

November 7, 2025 5:23 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia man was sentenced to 15 years in prison on Friday after he pleaded guilty in September to firing six shots at another man last year during a fit of road rage. Nathan Griffin, 34, pleaded guilty on Sept. 12 in Boone County court to first-degree assault and two counts of

Man charged after allegedly assaulting victim in downtown Columbia

November 7, 2025 2:35 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia man was charged with first-degree assault after he allegedly attacked a person the morning of Nov. 1 in downtown Columbia. Quashawn Rush, 27, is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond. A court appearance was scheduled for Friday. The probable cause statement says Rush attacked the victim at

Sunday marks 10 years since former UM System President Tim Wolfe resigned

November 7, 2025 11:21 AM Nia Hinson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) In October and November 2015, the University of Missouri’s campus saw protests, hunger strikes, and ultimately, a change in leadership. Students on campus were protesting racial inequalities and what many felt like was a lack of accountability from those in charge — specifically, former University of Missouri System President Tim Wolfe. Many

Flight reductions at 40 airports; including airports to and from Columbia Regional

November 7, 2025 6:11 AM Jazsmin Halliburton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Federal Aviation Administration will be officially cutting thousands of flights a day, starting Friday at 40 major airports across the country, due to the ongoing government shutdown. The affected airports include those with flights to and from Columbia Regional Airport. The maximum reduction of flights will be 10%, but will start

Columbia Public Schools show steady academic growth in latest DESE report

November 6, 2025 7:59 PM Erika McGuire

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia Public Schools made significant strides in key academic measures for the 2024-25 school year, according to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Annual Performance Report. DESE released the report Thursday afternoon, highlighting year-over-year improvements among school districts across the state. CPS continued its upward trend. The district scored in

Locals to continue serving meals even as federal judge orders Trump administration to restart SNAP payments

November 6, 2025 7:30 PM Euphenie Andre

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A federal judge has ordered food stamp benefits to be fully restored this month. This follows after the Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri announced Thursday they have seen a surge of families in need following the longest government shutdown in history, and they’re working overtime to keep up. The organization

Jefferson City man found guilty of first-degree murder

November 6, 2025 5:19 AM Jazsmin Halliburton, Olivia Hayes

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Jefferson City man has been convicted after he stabbed the mother of his child to death. Sergio Sayles was found guilty on all three counts Thursday in a Boone County courtroom. Boone County Judge Brouck Jacobs gave his verdict in the case against a Jefferson City man shortly after hearing the

Friends, family of Columbia man detained by ICE ‘cautiously hopeful’ after court hearing

November 6, 2025 4:15 PM Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia man detained by ICE in September after returning from a trip to Europe had his first court hearing on Thursday. Owen Ramsingh — who has had a green card since the 1980s, according to his family — had a court date set for Thursday, Nov. 6 after being detained at Chicago’s O’Hare

Police: Columbia man who rode motorcycle in Sunday Range Line Street crash dies

November 6, 2025 3:46 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia Police Department has confirmed that a man who was hit in a crash on Range Line Street this past weekend has died. Police wrote that Ethan Cash, 25, of Columbia, has died from his injuries on Thursday. The post says the crash involved multiple vehicles and a vehicle heading south

Judge allows MU Palestine student group lawsuit to move forward

November 6, 2025 11:31 AM Lucas Geisler

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) – A federal judge will allow a lawsuit against the University of Missouri to continue over the exclusion of a Palestinian rights student group from the 2024 Homecoming parade. Judge Stephen Bough ruled against MU on Wednesday in its request to dismiss the case against system president Mun Choi. The school argued

MU student accused of strangling person at residence hall after getting blocked on Snapchat

November 5, 2025 3:34 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A University of Missouri student was charged with several felonies after he allegedly strangled someone at a residence hall who blocked him on Snapchat. Maxwell Warren, 18, of Overland Park, Kansas, was charged on Tuesday with first-degree burglary, second-degree domestic assault, first-degree domestic assault and misdemeanor fourth-degree assault. He is being held

Columbia armed robbery suspect remains at large

November 5, 2025 2:00 PM Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The man who robbed a northeast Columbia business early Wednesday remained at large by afternoon. Police say a man wearing black clothing went into the business in the 1600 block of Towne Drive, put a pink drawstring bag on the counter and demanded money. He displayed a pistol tucked into his waistband

Columbia ordinance on median use set for vote; councilwoman seeks delay

November 4, 2025 3:46 PM Erika McGuire

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) This story was edited to indicate that the ordinance is not directed toward panhandling and to include anyone who is standing on applicable medians. An ordinance proposed by the City of Columbia that would restrict activity on busy medians and intersections could be up for a vote at the council’s next meeting

Columbia prepares for winter with annual snowplow training exercise

November 5, 2025 11:20 AM Haley Swaino

Despite no flurries in Wednesday’s forecast, Columbia residents may notice snowplow trucks traveling across the city.

Columbia’s Public Works Department will hold its annual Dry Snow Run training exercise on Wednesday to prepare for the upcoming winter season.

Eastbound I-70 closes east of Highway 63 connector after crash

November 4, 2025 7:24 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A portion of both eastbound lanes of Interstate 70 closed on Tuesday night after a crash was reported. The crash was reported at 7 p.m. in the eastbound lane, according to a Boone County Joint Communications notification. Joint Communications later reported that both eastbound lanes were closed at mile marker 130. Information

Columbia’s Ash Street improvements awaiting MoDOT plans

November 4, 2025 7:01 PM Haley Swaino

So we’d like to perform a study, but before a study can be performed, we would like ODOT to determine what their plans are. So that that study can be more accurate.

Possible shooting leads to large law enforcement presence near Columbia

November 4, 2025 6:18 PM Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Law enforcement vehicles blocked a street in a residential area just outside the Columbia city limits Tuesday after officers were called for a possible shooting. First responders were called Tuesday afternoon to Mesa Drive and blocked off part of the street. A Boone County Fire Protection District spokesperson said medics performed CPR

City of Columbia sends out community survey for feedback from residents

November 4, 2025 5:36 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The City of Columbia has mailed out its annual community survey “to a random sample of households” to get feedback on issues surrounding the city. Some households received the survey on Monday. The surveys include postage-paid return envelopes. The release says responses will remain confidential. The return address is the ETC Institute,