Investigation underway after man found dead in Boone County jail cell
Robert Muller-Russo, 59, was found dead in a cell at the Boone County Jail on Wednesday, with the Sheriff’s Office stating that foul play is not suspected.
Continue ReadingColumbia
QUESTION OF THE DAY: Have you been directly impacted by this past weekend’s storms?
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Severe storms this past Sunday resulted in multiple tornado touchdowns in the area, including an EF-1 that was reported in Columbia. A lot of power outages were reported around Mid-Missouri, with some lasting days. Columbia’s recycling facility was destroyed in the storm, prompting the city to pause curbside pickup and close its
Continue Reading
Police: City is ahead of schedule by installing 31% of Flock cameras
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) More than 30% of Flock cameras have been installed throughout the City of Columbia, about six months after city leaders approved them. According to Columbia Police Department Assistant Chief Lance Bolinger, 31% of Flock cameras have been installed in the city, which is ahead of what was anticipated. Bolinger said about 60
Continue Reading
With recycling halted, Columbia weighs costly recovery, future plans
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) City of Columbia officials are still assessing the total damage to its recycling operations after an EF-1 tornado tore through the northeast part of the city Sunday evening, destroying the city’s recycling facility and prompting a disaster declaration. The city announced on Sunday that curbside recycling pickup would be paused and drop-off
Continue Reading
Columbia woman pleads guilty to 2 felonies in May 2024 shooting
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia woman pleaded guilty on Wednesday to a pair of felonies in connection with a fatal May 2024 shooting. Quanina Lakeitha Lambert, 34, pleaded guilty to second-degree assault and first-degree endangering the welfare of a child. She was previously charged with first-degree assault, second-degree felony murder and hindering a felony prosecution.
Continue Reading
One lane of West Worley closed after car lands in ditch after crash
COLUMBIA, Mo. Part of West Worley Street was closed Wednesday morning after a crash. An ABC 17 News reporter saw one car flipped over in a ditch. One person was seen being removed from the car and taken into an MU Health Care ambulance. A Boone County Joint Communication was sent out at 8:24 a.m.
Continue Reading
MU says software glitch is to blame for alert issues; university looks to improve process
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A pair of MU Alerts to students last week did not include a location and an MU spokesperson says a software glitch was to blame. University of Missouri spokesman Christopher Ave wrote in an email on Tuesday that alerts sent on April 12 and 13 failed to include a location of possible
Continue Reading
Columbia officials urge patience as storm recovery slows recycling
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) City crews have been working the past two days to get electricity and fiber up and running at the city landfill, after the recycling facility was destroyed in a storm on Sunday. The City of Columbia declared a disaster on Monday after the National Weather Service confirmed an EF-1 tornado touched down
Continue Reading
No injuries reported after fire starts in attic of Columbia United Church of Christ
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) No injuries were reported on Tuesday after a fire broke out in the attic of Columbia United Church of Christ. Fire officials at the scene told ABC 17 News that a small fire in the attic was reported after 3 p.m. and was brought under control within 10 minutes. Church office manager
Continue Reading Columbia’s storm emergency declaration is the first in more than a decade
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia has issued just its second emergency declaration in the last 15 years. The City of Columbia declared a disaster on Monday after the National Weather Service confirmed an EF-1 tornado touched down Sunday in northeast Columbia. Then-city manager John Glascock signed a disaster declaration on March 20, 2020, at the start
Continue Reading
Man who pleaded guilty to statutory rape in Columbia sentenced to four years in prison
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A man who pleaded guilty last month to a pair of child sex crimes has been sentenced. Jesus Hernandez, 38, pleaded guilty in Boone County on March 25 to second-degree statutory rape and second-degree statutory sodomy. He is being held at the Boone County Jail on an immigration detainer. He was sentenced on
Continue Reading
Another person charged in alleged Columbia gun theft ring
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Another woman has been charged in connection with an alleged gun theft ring in Columbia. Shannon Babich, of Columbia, was charged with stealing a gun and misdemeanor unlawful possession drug paraphernalia. A warrant was ordered and a $20,000 bond was set. She is not listed on the Boone County Jail roster. Babich
Continue Reading
Columbia city leaders approve two projects in council budget meeting
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia city leaders passed two items that would improve the Columbia Regional Airport parking lot, and the I-70/U.S. 63 Connector and St. Charles Road bridges. The $1.5 million project involves demolishing the existing gravel parking lot surface and building a new paved parking lot across Airport Road from the terminal. An additional
Continue Reading
QUESTION OF THE DAY: Should Columbia city leaders consider tax increases amid projected deficits?
Inflation and slow sales tax growth are catching up with Columbia’s city budget. City leaders project that without more revenue, the city will have to draw down $31.1 million from its cash reserves over the next six years. Columbia’s city manager has warned that expenses could outpace revenue as soon as Oct. 1 — the
Continue Reading Columbia city manager signs emergency declaration after Sunday storms
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia City Manager De’Carlon Seewood has signed an emergency declaration for the impacts of severe weather that hit the city on Sunday, according to a Monday press release from the city. “In addition, operation of the bioreactor landfill shall be temporarily suspended along with operation of the Bioenergy Plant until such time
Continue Reading
Tornado determined to have hit Columbia on Easter Sunday
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) An EF-1 hit Columbia on Easter Sunday, the National Weather Service determined. Weather service crews were in Columbia assessing damage Monday. The Boone County Office of Emergency Management said in a news release Monday afternoon that an EF-1 tornado was responsible for the damage, including at the city’s landfill and recycling center.
Continue Reading
Diocese of Jefferson City observes nine-day mourning period for Pope Francis
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Local Catholics began a nine-day mourning period Monday after the death of Pope Francis. Francis died Easter Monday at the age of 88, the Vatican announced. His death comes one day after blessing Catholics who gathered in St. Peter’s Square on Easter Sunday. In his last speech, the pope called for
Continue Reading
Columbia looking to balance 2026 budget amid rising expenses, considering new tax boosts
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The City of Columbia may consider raising its sales tax as it prepares to draw down $31.1 million from its cash reserves over the next six years. The projected spending comes as sales tax revenue falls short of expectations and employee wages and benefits continue to rise. The City of Columbia purchased
Continue Reading
Columbia man sentenced in $1.2 million federal fraud case
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia man who ran a scheme to defraud insurance companies through staged accidents and fraudulently applied for COVID-19 relief funds was sentenced Monday in federal court, according to a press release from the Department of Justice. Lawrence Courtney Lawhorn, 37, was sentenced to 21 years in federal prison without parole and
Continue Reading
Barbara Buffaloe prepares for second term as Columbia mayor
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) On Monday, Mayor Barbara Buffaloe will preside over her first Columbia City Council meeting of her second term. Buffaloe won April 8’s municipal election with more than 14,000 votes in an expensive race for mayor over Blair Murphy and Tanya Heath. Buffaloe won handily, taking precincts around the city. ABC 17 News
Continue Reading