Columbia Archives

Train safety awareness week highlights dangerous trends

September 16, 2025 6:37 PM Haley Swaino

Conversations about train safety are happening across the nation for ‘See Tracks? Think Train’ Week from Sept. 15-21. It’s an annual campaign organized by nonprofit Operation Lifesaver Inc. that aims to raise awareness for railroad safety and prevent tragedies.

The week comes as one person was injured Monday after a mail truck was hit by a train in Audrain County, according to previous reporting. The vehicle was totaled after it entered the crossing and was hit by a 1979 GM GP40-3 Canadian Pacific Kansas City Train.

Columbia man accused of stabbing victim, spitting blood on cop

September 16, 2025 4:40 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia man was charged with three felonies and a misdemeanor after he allegedly stabbed someone multiple times and spit blood on a police officer early Monday. Lawrence Johnson, 60, was charged with first-degree domestic assault, armed criminal action, resisting arrest and misdemeanor fourth-degree assault. He is being held at the Boone

Multiple teenagers arrested after vehicle chase throughout Columbia

September 16, 2025 3:50 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A man was charged on Tuesday after he allegedly led law enforcement on a chase throughout Columbia. Kyshawn Harris, 19, of Columbia, was charged with aggravated fleeing. He is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond, though a mugshot was not immediately available. A court date has not been set.

Central Missouri Honor Flight’s last ride held Monday

September 15, 2025 5:00 PM Nia Hinson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia welcomed home 70 area veterans Monday night after a day trip to Washington D.C. Central Missouri Honor Flight’s embarked on its final flight Monday morning, a trip that gave veterans the opportunity to see memorials in Washington D.C. years after their service. 69 Vietnam veterans were on board the flight, as

Fire Station 5 replacement among major changes as Columbia City Council approves fiscal 2026 budget

September 15, 2025 7:48 PM Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia City Council unanimously approved its $608 million budget on Monday evening following months of planning and public hearings. However, some feel that the process of presenting the budget could be improved. A candidate from this past August’s Ward 2 council race, Ken Rice, raised concerns about the “lack of transparency”

Nearly 100 MU football fans assisted for ‘heat-related concerns’ at Saturday’s game

September 15, 2025 10:36 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Nearly 100 football fans were assisted by MU Health Care teams at Faurot Field on Saturday for “various heat-related concerns,” an MU Health Care spokesman wrote in an email on Monday. Spokesman Eric Maze wrote that University Hospital treated 34 patients on Saturday for heat-related illnesses. High temperatures led to the university

Columbia receives $14.3 million settlement in Brightspeed lawsuit

September 15, 2025 9:27 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A years-long court case is over. Internet provider Brightspeed, which was previously CenturyLink, will pay the City of Columbia $14.3 million in a settlement over unpaid license taxes and fees, according to court documents. The settlement – which was obtained by ABC 17 News through a records request on Monday – was

Man accused of armed robbery while taking Rolex in Casey’s parking lot

September 15, 2025 8:56 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia man has been charged with three felonies after he allegedly pulled out a gun and took a Rolex from someone who was selling it in a Casey’s parking lot. Deon Webb, 21, is charged with first-degree robbery, armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon. He is being held

MU fraternity house damaged by ‘possible lightning strike’

September 15, 2025 8:33 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A chimney on a building on the University of Missouri’s campus was damaged “from a possible lightning strike,” Monday evening, according to an email from a Columbia Fire Department spokesperson. CFD spokeswoman Katherine Rodriguez wrote that firefighters were called to an MU fraternity in the 500 block of Kentucky Boulevard, at 6:45

Columbia man accused of exposing himself on women’s porch

September 15, 2025 7:03 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia man has been charged with three felonies and a misdemeanor after authorities say the man pleasured himself on the porch of a residence where multiple women live. Christopher Harrison, 64, was charged with three counts of first-degree harassment and a count of misdemeanor first-degree sexual misconduct. He is being held

Columbia City Council to vote on $21,000 mental health training contract

September 15, 2025 12:08 PM Haley Swaino

The Columbia City Council is set to vote on a $21,000 contract with TMT Consulting on Monday to provide six trauma informed and community mental health trainings across the city.

Judge sentences Columbia man, 18, to prison in deadly shooting

September 15, 2025 4:51 AM Jazsmin Halliburton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) An 18-year-old Columbia man was sentenced to nearly two decades in prison Monday in connection with a deadly shooting in May 2024. Cordero Riley Jr., 18, admitted to unlawful use of a weapon and second-degree assault in a plea deal with prosecutors in July that took a second-degree murder charge off the

Columbia man arrested after late night stabbing

September 15, 2025 11:30 AM Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Police say they arrested a Columbia man early Monday in a domestic stabbing. Lawrence Johnson, 60, was arrested on suspicion of first-degree assault, unlawful use of a weapon, armed criminal action, assaulting a police officer and felony resisting arrest, according to a Columbia Police Department news release. Information related to his case

Central Missouri Honor Flight set to depart final flight Monday

September 14, 2025 7:56 PM Euphenie Andre

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Central Missouri Honor Flight (CMHF) is preparing for its final flight Monday, marking the end of a 16-year tradition of taking Mid-Missouri veterans to Washington, D.C. The organization was founded by Mary Paulsell, her brother Steve and his wife Sharon, along with Sarah Hill, Barbara Brueggeman, and Scott Schaefer. “Central Missouri honor

Three injured in Camden County motorcycle crash Saturday, two seriously

September 14, 2025 10:37 AM Haley Swaino

Three people were injured – two seriously – in a crash on Route MM near Shawnee Four Drive in Camden County Saturday, according to a Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report.

City of Columbia to vote on 2026 fiscal year budget Monday amid revenue concerns

September 14, 2025 5:30 AM Marie Moyer

The City of Columbia’s 2026 fiscal year budget is expected to be finalized and passed on Monday, following months of planning and public hearings.

Despite early kickoff, heat still impacts fans at Mizzou

September 13, 2025 6:01 PM Euphenie Andre

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Mizzou Tigers moved today’s kickoff against Louisiana Lafayette three hours earlier in an effort to spare fans and players from extreme heat. Despite the switch, many in Faurot Field still found themselves battling sweltering conditions. “Yeah, it’s hot out here it’s really hot,” one fan told ABC 17 as temperatures and

Fans allowed disposable water bottle in stadium at Saturday’s Mizzou game amid heat wave

September 13, 2025 4:38 AM Marie Moyer

Thousands of fans are expected to return to Memorial Stadium Saturday as the Mizzou Tigers are set to face the University of Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns at noon.

No charges filed in May McDonald’s shooting after prosecutor says man shot in self-defense

September 12, 2025 4:07 PM Ryan Shiner, Olivia Hayes

Editor’s note: The headline and lead have been clarified. COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Boone County Prosecutor Roger Johnson will not file charges in a fatal shooting that occurred in May at the Nifong Boulevard McDonald’s. No charges will be filed against Ryan Woods. Johnson in a letter to the Columbia Police Department claimed that Woods shot

Love Columbia to start welcoming families to Love Forward Homes Complex in January

September 12, 2025 4:49 PM Meghan Drakas

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Love Columbia says the construction of its new Love Forward Homes apartment complex is going well and it will start welcoming families in January. “We are thankful to the many skilled workers in Columbia who have kept us on track,” Love Columbia spokesperson Caroline Roush wrote in an email. The complex in