Columbia Archives

Boone County clerk asks to intervene in Basye-CPS case

January 20, 2023 4:39 PM Ryan Shiner

Boone County’s top election official is asking the court to let her join a former state representative’s lawsuit against Columbia Public Schools.

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Should Chuck Basye’s name be added to the Columbia School Board ballot?

January 20, 2023 12:10 AM ABC 17 News Team

Former state lawmaker Chuck Basye will be in court Monday, when his lawyer will try to convince a judge to force Columbia Public Schools to add his name to the April ballot.

Columbia begins accepting proposals for ARPA funding

January 19, 2023 9:34 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The City of Columbia is accepting initial project proposals applicable for American Rescue Plan Act funding, the city said in a press release on Thursday. Columbia was awarded $25.2 million in ARPA funds. The Columbia City Council previously identified four areas it would like to prioritize with the first half of the

Funeral services scheduled for MU student found dead in fire pit

January 19, 2023 8:44 PM Ryan Shiner

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) A funeral has been announced for the University of Missouri student who was found dead last week in a fire pit behind a house in north Columbia. Samuel Clemons, 21, was identified by police earlier this week. Clemons was a sophomore studying biological sciences, UM System President Mun Choi said in a

Parson prioritizes maternal mortality during address

January 19, 2023 7:34 PM Hannah Falcon

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) After Gov. Mike Parson announced maternal mortality would be a priority for this year, one Missouri mother felt relieved, but still wonders if it’s enough. In his State of the State address on Wednesday, Parson said he’s requesting $4.3 million go towards the Department of Health and Senior Services to develop a

Boone County Commission approves marijuana sales tax question for April ballot

January 19, 2023 6:59 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Boone County Commission on Thursday approved its own sales tax question involving recreational marijuana. Boone County joins other area counties and cities – including the City of Columbia, Jefferson City and Cole County – that will have a sales tax question on the April 4 ballot. Like those other entities, the

Basye asks judge to add name to April Columbia School Board ballot

January 19, 2023 4:23 PM Ryan Shiner

A former state legislator will try to convince a judge that he should force Columbia Public Schools to add Basye’s name to the April election ballot.

Police: Child detained, released after threat at Gentry Middle School

January 19, 2023 5:24 PM Matthew Sanders

Columbia police said Thursday that they detained a child after investigating a threat at Gentry Middle School.

Man accused in Paris Road gas station shooting is in Boone County Jail, has court hearing

January 19, 2023 3:20 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A man who was allegedly involved in a Dec. 19 shooting at a gas station on Paris Road in Columbia is now in the Boone County Jail. Terrance A. Johnson Jr., 27, is charged with first-degree assault, armed-criminal action and shooting a gun at a motor vehicle/person. Johnson was arrested in St. Louis last week.

Pre-trial conference scheduled for man who confessed to killing his wife in 2006

January 19, 2023 5:47 AM Kennedy Miller

BOONE COUNTY Mo. (KMIZ) On Thursday, a pre-trial conference is scheduled for a Columbia man who admitted to killing his wife back in 2006. Comfort first reported his wife as missing after he allegedly killed her in 2006. After 13 years, Comfort finally confessed to killing his wife, Megan Shultz after she allegedly told him she was

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Should the state pay $859 million to expand I-70?

January 19, 2023 12:20 AM ABC 17 News Team

Gov. Mike Parson’s budget, unveiled during his State of the State address Wednesday, includes $859 million for upgrading Interstate 70 to three lanes in some places.

Basye files lawsuit against Columbia Public Schools, Columbia School Board

January 18, 2023 9:08 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Former Missouri State Rep. Chuck Basye is filing a lawsuit against Columbia Public Schools, the Columbia School Board and its members. Verified-Petition-Basye-v.-Columbia-Public-Schools-1.18.23-FINALDownload Basye told ABC 17 News that he filed the petition around 6 p.m. Wednesday. His lawyer, Brent Haden, confirmed on Wednesday evening that he’s filing it. Basye said in December

Swift Prepared Foods postpones hiring until March

January 17, 2023 8:13 PM Ryan Shiner

EDITOR’S NOTE: This story was updated following the announcement on Wednesday. COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Swift Prepared Foods is postponing all hiring until at least March, according to a Wednesday press release. The release states the company still plans on hiring 100 people for its Columbia plant on Paris Road. The company originally said in a

Gov. Parson touts I-70 expansion in State of the State address

January 18, 2023 3:41 PM Lucas Geisler

Parts of Interstate 70 in Mid-Missouri could expand to three lanes under a budget plan put forward by Gov. Mike Parson.

Former Hickman coach sentenced 12 years for child porn charges

January 18, 2023 3:00 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A former Hickman High School assistant soccer and basketball coach who pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography was sentenced on Friday. Benjamin E. Melvin, 26, was sentenced to 12 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections for four counts possessing child pornography. Melvin pleaded guilty to the charges on Nov. 21. He

Columbia middle school principal asks for help in reducing rumor’s spread

January 18, 2023 12:29 PM Matthew Sanders

The leader of a Columbia middle school asked families and students in an email Wednesday to help control the spread of what staff believes is a non-credible social media threat.

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Do you support local taxes on recreational marijuana sales?

January 18, 2023 12:12 AM ABC 17 News Team

Cities and counties in Mid-Missouri are considering whether to put their own sales taxes on recreational marijuana on the ballot.

Columbia City Council votes to add marijuana sales tax question to April ballot

January 17, 2023 9:12 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia City Council unanimously voted at its meeting on Tuesday to add a sales tax question for recreational marijuana to the April 4 ballot. The question will ask voters if there should be an additional 3% sales tax for recreational marijuana sales. This would be in addition to the state’s 6% tax. The council

Boone County Commission opens up applications for ARPA funds

January 17, 2023 7:38 PM ABC 17 News Team

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Boone County Commission has opened up applications for its federal COVID-19 relief money. During the first round of applications, the county has $15 million in American Rescue Plan money it can distribute to qualifying businesses and organizations, according to a press release from the commission. The application is on the Commission’s

Police identify MU student found dead in fire pit at north Columbia home

January 17, 2023 2:37 PM Matthew Sanders

Columbia police have identified the University of Missouri student officers found dead last week in a fire pit behind a house in north Columbia.