Top Stories Archives

Murphy’s campaign eclipses quarter-million dollars in Columbia mayoral race; Buffaloe lags behind at $70k

April 1, 2025 3:16 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A couple of Columbia’s mayoral candidates have garnered more donations in what has turned out to be a high-dollar election. Challenger Blair Murphy’s campaign eclipsed a quarter-million dollars in contributions, according to his eight-day campaign finance report submitted to the Missouri Ethics Commission. Eight-day reports had a closing date of March 27

Columbia minor charged with six felonies for 2024 shooting

April 1, 2025 1:16 PM Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A 17-year-old from Columbia was charged Tuesday with six felonies in connection with a November 2024 shooting. Ja’Mez Thompson-Bey was in the Boone County Jail without bond on two counts of first-degree assault, two counts of armed criminal action and single counts of unlawful use of a weapon and armed robbery. Thompson-Bey

‘Large emergency response’ does not disrupt classes at Rock Bridge High School, district says

April 1, 2025 12:11 PM Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A person who needed help outside Rock Bridge High School in south Columbia prompted what the district says was a “large emergency response” outside the school Tuesday. Columbia Public Schools alerted families via text message at about noon that an “individual needing assistance outside of RBHS” led to the emergency response. The

Weather Alert Day: Severe weather threat coming to an end

March 30, 2025 4:28 PM Jessica Hafner

The storms that prompted the ABC 17 Stormtrack Weather Alert Day have exited and moved east out of Mid-Missouri, but strong winds hang around throughout the afternoon and evening. So far, the main damage reports from the morning have come from the Pilot Grove area, where a radar confirmed tornado went through around 9:00 a.m.

Applications for Boone County senior tax relief opens Tuesday

March 31, 2025 3:47 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Boone County seniors can apply for real estate tax relief on Tuesday, according to a Monday press release from the Boone County Commission. Applications are available on the Boone County collector’s website and at the Boone County Government Center. The deadline to apply is June 30, the release says. Eligible taxpayers include

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Have you had to change your doctor because of insurance?

April 1, 2025 4:13 AM Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Thousands of people with Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance plans will no longer be able to see MU Health Care doctors and be covered. The insurance giant Anthem, which is among the state’s biggest, and the health care network ended their negotiations Monday ahead of a midnight deadline to renew a

Cory Booker crosses 23-hour mark in marathon Senate floor speech protesting Trump agenda

April 1, 2025 5:12 PM CNN

CNN By Morgan Rimmer, Ted Barrett, Manu Raju and Clare Foran, CNN (CNN) — Sen. Cory Booker is holding the Senate floor into Tuesday afternoon, as the New Jersey Democrat continues his marathon speech protesting actions taken by President Donald Trump’s administration. The Democratic senator vowed Monday evening that he would keep going as long

Suspect in weekend Columbia shooting had stolen gun, police say

March 31, 2025 12:10 PM Matthew Sanders, Nia Hinson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The man who allegedly fired shots early Sunday toward a vehicle in Downtown Columbia did so with a stolen gun, according to police. Steven M. Harris, 45, of Columbia, was charged Monday with four felonies: unlawful use of a weapon, armed criminal action, illegal gun possession and stealing a gun, according to

Missouri DOGE portal receives over 9,000 pages of feedback

March 31, 2025 6:59 PM Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Missouri’s newly created Department of Government Efficiency has received more than 9,000 pages of responses through its Missouri Accountability Portal. Records obtained by ABC 17 News show that in the first 48 days of the portal’s operation, the department received approximately 9,048 responses, with most coming in the first 24 days. Between

Child suffers ‘minor injury’ in Fulton garage fire

March 31, 2025 9:58 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A child suffered minor injuries from burns in a residential fire Monday evening in Fulton, according to a press release from the Fulton Fire Department. The fire occurred after 6 p.m. in the 1000 block of Cote Sans Dessein Road. Crews saw black smoke coming from the garage, the release says. The

Murder charge filed in Pulaski County shooting

March 31, 2025 12:34 PM Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A weekend shooting in St. Robert, Missouri, has led to a murder charge for a Dixon, Missouri, man. Colin L. Mar, 21, is charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action in a Saturday evening shooting death. The sheriff’s office found a man who had been shot and two other people inside

Jefferson City Ward 3 candidates discuss affordable housing ahead of April 8 election

March 31, 2025 7:54 PM Marie Moyer

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Affordable housing has been a recurring topic in Jefferson City politics ahead of the April 8 election. Candidates for Jefferson City’s City Council Ward 3, Erica Choinka and Derek Thomas, similarly have plans for improving infrastructure, if elected. They are running for the seat currently held by Councilman Scott Spencer. A

Anthem, MU Health Care fail to reach deal; MU Health will be out-of-network for Anthem customers on Tuesday

March 31, 2025 2:45 PM Ryan Shiner, Erika McGuire

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield and MU Health Care failed to reach a deal on Monday, according to a Monday news release from MU Health Care. The two sides had been in contentious negotiations for months with the intent to reach an agreement by Monday’s deadline. MU Health Care will no longer

Interview with Erica Choinka, candidate for Jefferson City Council Ward 3

March 31, 2025 5:16 PM Marie Moyer

JEFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Erica Choinka is a member of the Jefferson City Parks and Recreation Commission and a candidate for Jefferson City Council Ward 3. Choinka’s campaign focuses on improving the city’s parks and recreational programs, supporting economic development, improving public safety and protecting taxpayers from unnecessary spending. Choinka is a communications specialist in

Interview with Derek Thomas, candidate for Jefferson City Council Ward 3

March 31, 2025 5:16 PM Marie Moyer

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Derek Thomas is a Ward 3 resident running for Jefferson City Council. Thomas’ campaign focuses on respect for local residents and city employees, improving infrastructure and parks and recreation programs, and increasing economic development. Thomas serves on the Jefferson City Airport Advisory Committee. He also serves on the Chamber of Commerce

Versailles woman accused of trying to use rat poison, antifreeze to kill spouse

March 31, 2025 4:36 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A woman from Versailles has been charged with four felonies after she allegedly tried to kill her spouse with rat poison and antifreeze. Barbaray Clinkenbeard was charged on Monday in Morgan County with two counts of first-degree domestic assault and two counts of armed criminal action. A warrant was issued for her

Man charged after shooting himself while pulling up his pants, throwing stolen gun on roof

March 31, 2025 3:28 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A man who accidentally shot himself in a north Columbia gas station on Friday was charged with a felony on Monday. Brandon Shelton, 30, of Columbia, was charged with stealing a gun. He is being held at the Boone County Jail on a $15,000 bond. He appeared in court on Monday by

Trial set for September for truck driver charged in deadly I-70 crash

March 31, 2025 5:49 AM Jazsmin Halliburton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A trial date has been scheduled for the truck driver charged with manslaughter in an August 2024 crash on Interstate 70 that killed two women. Walter Montejo, 27, of South Gate, California, is charged with two counts of first-degree involuntary manslaughter, one count of second-degree assault, misdemeanor driving while revoked and misdemeanor

Expectations high for Kellie Harper leading Mizzou women’s basketball

March 31, 2025 10:25 AM Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Mizzou Athletics ushered in a new era of women’s basketball, with the introduction of former Tennessee head coach Kellie Harper, on Monday morning. You can watch the full introductory press conference in the video player below. Mizzou leaders say they want to make women’s basketball competitive again. They think they’ve found the

Man accused of killing Hermann police sergeant set to be in court Monday

March 31, 2025 5:46 AM Jazsmin Halliburton

FRANKLIN COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ) A man accused of killing a Hermann police sergeant and injuring another officer is set to appear in court Monday in Franklin County. Kenneth Lee Simpson, 35, of Steelville, was charged with first-degree murder, two counts of armed-criminal action, first-degree assault, two counts of unlawful gun possession, unlawful possession of an