Law enforcement warns of package thefts as holiday season ramps up
With Black Friday and the holiday season come an increase in online shopping and package deliveries.
Continue ReadingMissouri
A Missouri judge says a law banning surgery, medications for transgender minors is constitutional
Associated Press COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri court on Monday upheld a new state law that bans some gender-affirming health care for minors, a victory for supporters of the ban as the Supreme Court prepares to hear a case on the issue next week. The state’s Republican Attorney General Andrew Bailey says the Monday
Continue Reading
Father of Benton County child who was killed pleads guilty to second-degree murder
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The father of a 4-year-old girl who died after several weeks of alleged abuse took a plea deal on Monday. James Mast, 32, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, according to 27th Circuit Court media coordinator Gene Hartley. He also pleaded guilty to first-degree assault for abusing his 2-year-old son. A sentencing hearing
Continue Reading
Thanksgiving to impact trash pickup, public transit around Mid-Missouri
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Thanksgiving is already upon us and trash pickup around the area will be impacted. The state and every city office observes the holiday. Gov. Mike Parson signed an executive order on Nov. 7 that will also close state offices on the day after the holiday. Columbia and Jefferson City will also have
Continue Reading
Columbia mayor signs letter asking Kehoe to ban youth from having handguns
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia Mayor Barbara Buffaloe was one of four Missouri mayors to sign a letter that asks Missouri’s next governor to prevent children from possessing handguns. Buffaloe, Springfield Mayor Ken MClure, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas and St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones signed a letter dated Nov. 15 that was addressed to Governor-elect
Continue Reading
Rowden to join lobbying group upon leaving office
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Outgoing Missouri Senate President Pro Tem Caleb Rowden (R-Columbia) will become the director of strategic advocacy at Strategic Capitol Consulting, the lobbying group announced in a Wednesday press release. Rowden was not able to seek reelection for his current position because of term limits and opted to not run for another political
Continue Reading
September deaths in west Columbia neighborhood ruled accidental from carbon monoxide
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The deaths of two people who were found in a home on Sept. 5 in a west Columbia neighborhood were ruled accidental, according to autopsy reports from the Boone County Medical Examiner’s Office. Wang Sik Kim and Chunghee Lee died from carbon monoxide poisoning, the reports say. Both people were 71 years
Continue Reading
Trainer at Columbia Planet Fitness accused of filming women undress in tanning booths
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia man was charged with a pair of felonies after authorities claim he filmed multiple women while they were undressing at a Planet Fitness. Kenneth Gerard Steele was charged with invasion of privacy and third-degree domestic assault. A motion to set bond was filed on Wednesday and he was not listed
Continue Reading
Records allege misconduct by Maries County Sheriff; Heitman calls claims ‘lies’
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Maries County judge ordered the release of criminal investigation records that allege Sheriff Chris Heitman intimidated witnesses, falsified written statements and misappropriated funds for personal use. Heitman maintains that he has done nothing wrong and claims the allegations are a result of “lies and corruption.” On Monday, Judge Brenden Fox issued
Continue Reading
Man accused of calling in threat to Eldon High School after student said they didn’t want to be in class
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A California, Missouri, man was charged with first-degree making a terrorist threat after he allegedly called in a gun threat to Eldon High School upon the request of a student. A warrant was issued on Tuesday for Ernest Blair Jr. and a $25,000 bond was set. He was not listed on the
Continue Reading Former Moberly USPS carrier pleads guilty to stealing mail
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A former mail carrier pleaded guilty on Monday in federal court to stealing rebates from mail intended for Randolph County residents, a Monday press release from the Department of Justice says. Dawn Dowling, 59, pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court in St. Louis to embezzling mail by a Postal Service employee.
Continue Reading
Fewer deer harvested in opening weekend of firearms season than last year
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) More than 68,000 deer have been harvested during the opening weekend of firearms season in Missouri, according to a Monday press release from the Missouri Department of Conservation. Opening weekend for the firearms portion of the season took place this past weekend. Of the 68,312 deer harvested, 42,283 were antlered bucks, 5,105
Continue Reading
Department of Mental Health says more than 500 people had personal info sent in email
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Missouri Department of Mental Health said in a Friday press release that it is working to notify 537 people that their personal information was shared in an email. According to release, the department was notified on Nov. 5 that a consumer list was accidentally sent to a dozen people associated with
Continue Reading
Missouri Farm Bureau voices concerns over USPS consolidation plan
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Missouri Farm Bureau is concerned about how a new plan to consolidate mail delivery will impact rural Americans. The U.S. Postal Service has rolled out a new proposal to consolidate morning and afternoon drop-off and pickup into a single route for ZIP codes that are more than 50 miles away from
Continue Reading Deer bones found during firefighter demonstration for Camdenton school
CAMDENTON, Mo. (KMIZ) Camden County detectives on Wednesday found deer bones in a vehicle that was being used for a fire department extrication demonstration, a Thursday press release says. The release says that detectives responded to the Lake Career Technical Center after Mid-County Fire Protection firefighters found bones in a vehicle they were using for
Continue Reading
The hidden battle: Veterans and the struggle with PTSD
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Earlier this week, millions of Americans celebrated our nation’s veterans. While serving your country can be a tremendous source of pride for some, the unseen battle scars of war can leave long-lasting consequences. Data from the Veterans Administration estimates that in 2016, 8,000 post-9/11 veterans were dealing with some form of post-traumatic
Continue Reading
Ed Hassinger named new MoDOT director
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Ed Hassinger has been named the new director of the Missouri Department of Transportation, a Wednesday press release says. He replaces Patrick McKenna, who announced in August that he would be stepping down from the position in September after nine years. Hassiner holds a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering
Continue Reading
Department of Veterans Affairs eyes Columbia for new research facility
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Department of Veterans Affairs is searching for a building in Columbia for a new research facility. The VA is taking bids to lease a 70,000-square-foot building for research and office space. Bid documents show the government wants to rent a building between 59,709-70,246 square feet and 250 parking spots. The documents
Continue Reading
New child advocacy center to be opened in Mid-Missouri
According to a release from Partner for Better, the Missouri Network Against Child Abuse will contract with the company to open a new child advocacy center after the Rainbow House closed earlier this year.
Continue Reading
Callaway County deputy who was shot now on light duty
FULTON, Mo. (KMIZ) One of the two Callaway County Sheriff’s deputies who were shot on Interstate 70 last month is back to work. Cpl. Justin Bax and Deputy Gardner Pottorff were shot on Oct. 14 during an exchange of gunfire with a Texas man, previous reporting indicates. The sheriff’s office wrote on its Facebook on
Continue Reading