Wentzville man drowns at Lake of the Ozarks
A Wentzville man drowned on Wednesday evening at the Lake of the Ozarks.
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Highway Patrol prepares to start counting period as an increase in holiday travelers is expected
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Missouri State Highway Patrol begins its holiday counting period Thursday night for the Fourth of July weekend. MSHP is calling its safety efforts “Operation C.A.R.E”, a crash awareness and reduction effort. During the 2024 counting period, the highway patrol reported 14 people killed and more than 500 hurt in Missouri in
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QUESTION OF THE DAY: Are you shooting your own fireworks this year?
Fireworks are big business in Missouri. Last year, the state imported nearly $86 million of the stuff — the most per capita of any state. Many of those sales can be chalked up to people traveling through from elsewhere. But as anyone who lives here knows, quite a bit of the spending on fireworks comes
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‘Perfect storm’ of drought, demand sends beef prices soaring ahead of Independence Day
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)  As Missouri families fire up their grills for the Fourth of July, many will notice a sting at the checkout counter. Beef prices have surged to record highs, fueled by a “perfect storm” of drought, inflation and shrinking cattle herds — and Missouri farmers are feeling the squeeze. Ground beef prices reached an
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Missouri ACLU sues secretary of state, claims ballot language on abortion question ‘misleading’
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Missouri ACLU is asking a judge to keep an abortion question off of next year’s ballot, or certify new and fair ballot language. A lawsuit filed on Wednesday against Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins alleges Hoskins approved an “intentionally misleading and inaccurate summary” for a measure that would overturn Amendment
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Jefferson City man accused of throwing 2 teens off hood of SUV
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A 43-year-old Jefferson City man was charged with six felonies after he allegedly drove his SUV erratically to throw two 13-year-olds off of it. Seth Wilson was charged with two counts of second-degree assault, two counts of armed criminal action and two counts of first-degree endangering the welfare of a child. He
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Boone County FPD reminds people of safe firework disposal for Fourth of July weekend
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) From large mortar fireworks to sparklers, the Boone County Fire Protection District is reminding people to stay aware of potential dangers when using fireworks this Fourth of July weekend. The Consumer Product Safety Commission found there were 11 reported fireworks-related deaths and 14,700 injuries in 2024. This marked an increase of about
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Boone County voters to decide on expanding senior tax relief to include debt levies
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Sample ballots were sent out this week, letting Boone County voters know about the option to expand the senior property tax relief during the August special election. In 2024, Boone County voters approved a measure to freeze property taxes for homeowners aged 62 and older. However, county commissioners made two exceptions to
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Severe fire damage leads to health department to suspend permit for McNally’s
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and Human Services has suspended the permit of a well-known bar after it was severely damaged in a fire on Tuesday. A Food Establishment Inspection report says that the permit for McNally’s Irish Pub and Wise Guys Pizza has been suspended because of fire and
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Woman seriously injured in Chariton County crash
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A 21-year-old woman from Brookfield, Missouri, was seriously injured in a single-vehicle crash on Wednesday morning on Highway 11, about a mile east of Mendon, according to a crash report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol. The report says that the woman drove a 2007 Chevrolet Silverado westbound when it went off
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Boone County prosecutor names new top assistant, keeps veteran on as consultant
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) – The Boone County Prosecutor’s Office named a new top assistant, but will keep the person who just left the spot close by. Prosecutor Roger Johnson said Wednesday that he named Melissa Buchanan to serve as the first assistant in the office. Buchanan will replace veteran prosecutor Sue Boresi, who left the
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Five vehicles involved in Callaway County pileup on Interstate 70
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Five vehicles were involved in a crash Wednesday afternoon on Interstate 70 in Callaway County, though only minor injuries were reported. A Missouri State Highway Patrol report says the crash happened when a GMC Acadia SUV ran into a Ford F-250 truck at about 1:50 p.m. on the westbound side at the
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Downed electric line leads to temporary closure of Highway 63 in Columbia
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Highway 63 reopened north of Grindstone Parkway in Columbia after being closed for about an hour after a power line broke Wednesday. The Columbia Fire Department said at about 3:30 p.m. that both sides of the highway — northbound and southbound — would be closed for about an hour. That followed single
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Diddy denied bond despite acquittal on most serious counts
LOS ANGELES (ABC News) A federal judge denied bail after a jury acquitted Sean Diddy Combs of the most serious charges against him Wednesday. Combs was denied bail Wednesday afternoon after prosecutors said he was a danger to society. U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian set Combs’ sentencing for Oct. 3. Jurors reached a verdict Wednesday
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Sunrise Beach police officer fired after being charged with drug possession
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A now-former Sunrise Beach police officer was charged with two felonies after authorities allegedly found him with methamphetamine. Pete Gilbert Ray Fox, 52, of Versailles, was charged on Wednesday in Camden County with two counts of drug possession. A court date has not been set. He is being held at the Camden
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Trial date set for Wayne Sells’ lawsuit against CPS for football field naming rights
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Trial dates have been scheduled for next year in the case over the name of Rock Bridge High School’s football field. Wayne Sells refiled a lawsuit in October 2024 against Columbia Public Schools over the naming rights to the field. Sells previously filed a lawsuit against the school district in 2021, claiming
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Attorney general demands information from Grain Belt Express
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey said Wednesday that he is demanding documents to back up the claims made about the Grain Belt Express wind energy project. The project will cross Missouri to deliver power from western wind fields to Illinois. The route will run through Mid-Missouri and a connection is planned
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Bryan Kohberger admits to Idaho student murders, as victims’ families remain torn over the outcome
CNN, POOL, KING, MONROE CO. CORRECTIONAL FACILITY By Jean Casarez, Elizabeth Wolfe, Rebekah Riess, CNN Boise, Idaho (CNN) — For 30 months, Bryan Kohberger and his defense attorneys insisted on his innocence in the fatal stabbings of four University of Idaho students in their off-campus home. But in a matter of minutes Wednesday, in a
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Officials recommend firework shows instead of personal use ahead of the holiday weekend
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Fireworks sent nearly 15,000 people to the emergency room and killed 11 in 2024, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Fire officials with the National Fire Protection Association say the best and safest way to view fireworks is at a professional show. However, for people who want to take a more
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QUESTION OF THE DAY: Should the City of Columbia be investigated for DEI-related policies?
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey said Tuesday that he’s looking into the City of Columbia’s policies and practices related to diversity, equity and inclusion. It’s not the first time Bailey has intervened in Columbia’s local issues. In 2023, he wrote a letter to Columbia Public Schools demanding firings or resignations after students attended an event
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