Columbia Archives

Iowa man brought to Boone County to face child sex crime charges

August 22, 2024 2:06 PM Matthew Sanders

Authorities brought a 54-year-old Iowa man to Boone County this week to face allegations that he molested a child over about two years in Iowa and Missouri.

An early look at Columbia’s developing homeless shelter: The Opportunity Campus

August 21, 2024 5:54 PM Meghan Drakas

With the growing homeless population in Boone County, the Voluntary Action Center is building The Opportunity Campus with the hopes of getting people back on their feet.

Southbound lanes of Providence Road at Worley Street reopen after crash

August 21, 2024 10:09 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Providence Road in Columbia was closed at the intersection with Worley Street on Wednesday evening after a crash with multiple vehicles occurred. A notification from Boone County Joint Communications at 9:42 p.m. stated the intersection was closed. The intersection reopened at 10:30 p.m. An ABC 17 News reporter saw a car stopped

Columbia seeking agreement with MoDOT to enhance pedestrian safety in I-70 Connector

August 21, 2024 10:17 PM Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia Bike and Pedestrian Commission is hoping that a handful of requests sent to the Missouri Department of Transportation will be added to the Improve I-70 Project to make the new Highway 63/Interstate 70 connector safer. On Monday, the City Council approved the authorization of an application to MoDOT for a

South Providence Road in Columbia reopens after crash

August 21, 2024 7:58 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A crash caused a section of South Providence Road in Columbia to be closed on Wednesday evening. South Providence was shut down between Green Meadows Road and Carter Lane, according to a Boone County Joint Communications message sent at 7:32 p.m. The road fully reopened at 8:07: p.m. An ABC 17 News

Stephens College sees enrollment increase

August 21, 2024 7:31 PM Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia College and Stephens College are seeing an increase in undergraduate enrollment this year, with Stephens College’s undergraduate enrollment increasing by 60%. According to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, undergraduate enrollment is on the upswing with a 2.5% growth in spring 2024. This marks a second consecutive semester of enrollment growth

Man charged with felony in crash that led to Scott Boulevard lane closure Tuesday night

August 21, 2024 5:01 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Lebanon, Ohio, man was charged on Wednesday with a pair of crimes in relation to a Tuesday evening crash on Scott Boulevard near West Bethany Drive. John Douglas Casey, 27, was charged with leaving the scene of an accident causing physical injury and misdemeanor driving while intoxicated. An initial court appearance

Columbia man acquitted in arson trial files lawsuit against city, police, prosecutor

August 21, 2024 4:03 PM Ryan Shiner

A Columbia man who was acquitted two years ago in an arson case has sued the City of Columbia, Columbia Police Department and the Boone County prosecutor.

Some MU students torn over recent decision to rename barbecue

August 20, 2024 7:59 PM Nia Hinson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Some University of Missouri students say they’e unsure a recent decision made by the university is necessary. The Mizzou Legion of Black Collegians posted on its social media stating its fall barbecue will now have to operate under the name “Welcome Black and Gold BBQ,” as opposed to “Welcome Black BBQ.” The

Lane of Scott Boulevard in southwest Columbia shut down after crash, reopens after 50 minutes

August 20, 2024 9:47 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A portion of the northbound lane of Scott Boulevard in southwest Columbia was shut down on Tuesday evening after a crash. Boone County Joint Communications issued an alert at 9:06 p.m. that a motor vehicle collision occurred at the intersection of Scott Boulevard and West Bethany Drive. First responders reopened the intersection

Stephens College announces largest undergraduate enrollment numbers in a decade

August 20, 2024 9:02 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Stephens College announced in a Tuesday press release that its incoming fall undergraduate enrollment is up 60% from last year. More than 400 undergraduate students begin classes Monday, as well as 175 graduate students, the release says. The release cites new scheduling methods and a scholarship program as reasons for the increase.

Columbia group criticizes council after water rate increase: ‘You can’t spin this ineffectiveness’

August 20, 2024 7:40 PM Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia group is unhappy with the City Council after it unanimously passed a water rate increase at its Monday night meeting. Julie Ryan, of the COMO Safe Water Coalition, feels like the City Council failed to hold public utilities accountable for failing to make progress on several projects that were part

Empty building burns in south Columbia

August 20, 2024 4:38 AM Matthew Sanders

An abandoned building was engulfed in flames early Tuesday in south Columbia.

Two Columbia men plead guilty in bank fraud conspiracy

August 20, 2024 2:53 PM Ryan Shiner

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Two Columbia men pleaded guilty on Tuesday in federal court to their roles in a bank fraud conspiracy, according to a press release from the Department of Justice. Chandelle Eugene Marteen, 39, and Jason Lee Patillo, 50, pleaded guilty in separate appearances to participating in a conspiracy to commit bank fraud,

Columbia man charged with more child sex crimes

August 20, 2024 2:33 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia man who was already charged with several child sex crimes in February has been charged again. Keith Fletcher, 53, was charged on Tuesday with possession of child pornography, second-degree child molestation, second-degree child sex trafficking, second-degree statutory rape, sexual exploitation of a minor and tampering with a witness. Fletcher is

Columbia Police Department sitting on large chest of asset forfeiture cash

August 20, 2024 12:14 PM Marie Moyer

The Columbia Police Department has more than $420,000 in its coffers from sales of seized items.

Bus driver and passengers say Go COMO public transit system is overcrowded, unsafe

August 19, 2024 12:08 PM Morgan Buresh

It’s a hot day on a crammed city bus when a fight breaks out.

Columbia City Council approves water rate increase

August 19, 2024 4:14 PM Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia City Council unanimously passed a water rate increase at its Monday night meeting. The council had discussed the rate increases for the fiscal year 2025 budget this summer and heard public feedback over several weeks. According to the council memo, the water rate increases go as follows: 4% increase in

CPD holds Taser training, details benefits of new stun guns for department

August 19, 2024 6:44 PM Nia Hinson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia Police Department says its new stun guns can improve the safety for police officers and the public. On Monday morning, CPD held a training session at the Molly Bowden Neighborhood Policing Center to train a group of four officers and two volunteers. The training consisted of officers firing off their

Columbia man charged with domestic assault, allegedly hit another person with brick

August 19, 2024 3:06 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia man was charged after he allegedly assaulted another person with a brick on Saturday. Christian Jones, 23, was charged with first-degree domestic assault. An arraignment was held on Monday and he is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond. According to the probable cause statement, Jones called police