Columbia Archives

Experts recommend turning down thermostat, using natural sunlight to keep utility costs down during frigid weather

February 17, 2025 7:09 PM Nia Hinson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Bitter-cold temperatures moving into Mid-Missouri this week may lead to an extra strain on some people’s wallets. The National Energy Assistance Directors Association estimates heating expenses will jump 10.5% this winter and reports for Northeast and Midwest states — an $889-$982 increase. “I think for a lot of people, it’s not just the heating.

City Council asks Parks and Rec to gather more community feedback on Douglass Park basketball court renovations after pushback over name

February 17, 2025 9:06 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia City Council wants the Parks and Recreation Department to come up with a plan for reaching the community on the Douglass Park Improvement Project. The council on Monday unanimously decided to continue with the basketball court renovation project, but wants Parks and Rec staff to deliver a report on a

Columbia Public Schools, Jefferson City School District not in session on Tuesday

February 17, 2025 5:19 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia Public Schools will not be in session on Tuesday. A district spokesperson wrote on social media that Tuesday will be a day for alternative methods of instruction for students. Tuesday is the last AMI day that can be used by the school district before having to make up class hours over

Frostbite risk high in Missouri as temperature drops

February 17, 2025 6:51 PM Haley Swaino

When the wind chill is -15°F or lower, people can get frostbite in 30 minutes or less, according to the Cleveland Clinic. A Cold Weather Advisory has been issued in Mid-Missouri for Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. through Thursday at 12:00 p.m. for wind chills as low as 20 below.

MoDOT continues Improve I-70; work includes proposed Business Loop 70 roundabout

February 17, 2025 11:58 AM Erika McGuire

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Construction crews are 11 months into a multi-year project to expand Interstate 70 across the state. One-of-the-eight project segments spans from Columbia to Kingdom City. A roundabout that enhances access from Business Loop 70 to I-70 and a new collector-distributor road is part of the Missouri Department of Transportation’s $405 million Improve

Vacant home in Columbia had ‘extreme damage’ from Friday fire

February 17, 2025 4:40 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A vacant, unsecured home had “extreme damage” after a fire occurred on Friday morning, the Columbia Fire Department wrote in a Monday press release. Firefighters responded to the fire at 3:51 a.m. Friday in the 1200 block of Lakeview Avenue. The Fire Marshal is investigating the cause of the fire. The release

Columbia officials review snow response after January storms

February 17, 2025 4:12 PM Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Following a pair of winter storms that ripped through Columbia in January, the city is unlikely to change how it responds to winter weather. On Monday, the City Council will listen to a follow-up report on how the city handled two winter storms that hit the area in January. This comes as

2 Columbia house fires within a week caused by lithium-ion batteries

February 17, 2025 4:03 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A pair of house fires in Columbia during the past week were caused by lithium-ion batteries, the Columbia Fire Department wrote in a Monday afternoon press release. The first occurred at 2:10 p.m. Thursday in the 4600 block of Connery Court in southwest Columbia. Crews saw flames coming from the garage and

25 Columbia snow plow drivers to start shift at 7 p.m.

February 17, 2025 3:44 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Crews will be working overnight to treat roads in Columbia for the impending snow. The City of Columbia wrote in a press release that 25 snowplow operators will start its overnight shift at 7 p.m. Another 25-person crew will take over at 7 a.m. Tuesday. Multiple inches of snow are expected throughout

Columbia Fire Department responds to house fire in north Columbia

February 17, 2025 3:04 AM Gabrielle Teiner, Jazsmin Halliburton

The Columbia Fire Department responded to a house fire in the 5400 block of Baseline Place early Monday morning. Fire Marshal Chris Gilstrap said the fire was caused by a lithium-ion battery in the trash. He emphasized the importance of disposing of lithium-ion batteries properly. According to Columbia Fire Department spokeswoman Katherine Rodriguez, responding crews

Missouri Task Force 1 deploys for historic flooding in Kentucky

February 16, 2025 2:55 PM Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA, Mo. Missouri Task Force 1 deployed to Kentucky on Sunday following historic flooding in the region A press release states that the team will deploy 80 members with six boats to help with a focus on water rescues. Four members of Task Force 1 arrived in Frankfurt, Kentucky, earlier Sunday after being activated by

Recycling pickup in Columbia canceled three days this week

February 16, 2025 5:05 PM Nia Hinson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The City of Columbia will not pickup recycling for three days this week due to frigid temperatures expected in the forecast. The ABC 17 Stormtrack Weather Team is tracking snow and dangerous cold with wind chills between -10 and -15 between Tuesday and Thursday mornings. According to a Sunday social media post

Sedalia man injured after pickup truck hits tree in Pettis County Saturday

February 15, 2025 10:00 PM Nia Hinson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Sedalia man was seriously injured in a crash in Pettis County Saturday afternoon. A Missouri State highway patrol crash report states the crash happened at 12:05 p.m. on Morgan Road, half a mile west of Tebo Road. The 31-year-old was driving a 2016 Nissan Frontier when the vehicle went off the

Missouri flu cases double between January and February

February 15, 2025 7:56 PM Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services reported over 14,000 flu cases in CDC Week 6 (Feb. 2 to Feb. 8). That total is more than double the amount of the 5,000 cases recorded in January (Jan. 5 to Jan. 11). According to previous reporting, the flu and respiratory illnesses have

Residents voice concerns over naming of basketball court at Douglass Park in Columbia

February 14, 2025 11:24 AM Erika McGuire

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Some Columbia residents are voicing their concerns over the naming of the basketball courts at Douglass Park as renovations begin. The City of Columbia announced in 2023 the park would be named after former coach Willie Cox. Cox died back in 2019 and was an assistant coach for the University of Missouri’s

Columbia asks Tuesday trash customers to put out roll carts a day early ahead of possible snow

February 14, 2025 5:44 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Residents who have their trash and recycling normally picked up on Tuesday are being asked to have it ready on Monday this week, the City of Columbia Water & Light wrote on its Facebook page. The post says that the Solid Waste Division is asking customers to put out their trash a

Columbia house fire causes ‘severe’ damage

February 14, 2025 4:37 AM Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A fire caused major damage to a Columbia home on Friday morning. Firefighters were sent to the call on Lakeview Avenue a little before 4 a.m. Six fire companies responded, according to a Columbia Fire Department news release. The fire was knocked down in about 5 minutes but caused “severe damage,” the

Text exchange leads to Columbia shooting, court documents say

February 14, 2025 10:39 AM Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A shooting suspect texted insults to the man he is accused of shooting Wednesday before the incident took place, according to court documents. Michael Proctor Jr., 21, insulted his “friend” in the text, prompting the friend to drive to Proctor’s residence, the documents say. Proctor shot the victim while he was in

Police arrest suspect in Central Columbia shooting

February 13, 2025 5:40 PM Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia police arrested a 21-year-old man Thursday on suspicion of shooting another man the night before. Michael Proctor Jr. was arrested by Columbia Police Department officers in connection with the Wednesday night shooting on Madison Street, a CPD news release states. Police arrested Proctor on suspicion of first-degree assault, armed criminal action

Fire burns house in southwest Columbia

February 13, 2025 2:52 PM Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A fire ripped through a Columbia home Thursday afternoon. Seven firetrucks were at the scene on Connery Court near Southampton Drive. Smoke was coming through the roof of the house. Emergency radio traffic indicated flames were showing from the garage when firefighters arrived and had spread to the attic. Two people —