Columbia Archives

MU Health doc warns flu activity still rising, peak not reached

January 15, 2026 12:40 PM Madison Stuerman

Missouri is experiencing a high level of seasonal influenza activity, with 33,681 cases reported so far this season.

Police chase preceded crash on Brickton Road; 2 injured

January 14, 2026 7:23 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A vehicle involved in a crash Wednesday night at a Brickton Road intersection was first involved in a chase with police, according to Columbia Police Department Lt. Anthony Bowne. The intersection of Brickton Road and Conley Road was blocked off on Wednesday night after a vehicle had flipped on its side after

Boone County prosecutor weighs in on Kehoe’s proposal on juvenile crime

January 14, 2026 7:47 PM Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Missouri House and Senate bill are being considered in legislative committees with goals of curbing juvenile crime. This comes after Gov. Mike Kehoe gave his State of the State address Tuesday, which highlighted plans for state income tax, budget and public safety. “Violent crime committed by juveniles has reached a concerning

Route B study indicates new crossroad, signal could help with increased traffic as businesses expect significant growth

January 14, 2026 7:28 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A traffic study provided by the Regional Economic Development Inc. along a portion of Route B indicates a new road could be built to help with expected traffic needs as businesses expect significant growrth. An access study on Route B was conducted in 2025, with a report dated Dec. 10. It specifically

Columbia man charged with felonies after standoff with police

January 14, 2026 10:09 AM Matthew Sanders, Olivia Hayes, Ryan Shiner

UPDATE: The charges in which Peterson is facing have been corrected. COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia man who was arrested on Wednesday after an hours-long standoff has been charged with multiple felonies. Travis Peterson, 44, was charged with first-degree domestic assault, armed criminal action, unlawful use of a weapon, first-degree harassment and resisting arrest. A

Man with out-of-state warrant accused of firing gun in Columbia apartment

January 14, 2026 6:10 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A man with a warrant from North Dakota was charged in Boone County after he allegedly a fired a gun through a wall of a Columbia apartment on Monday. Jah’ree Walker, 24, was charged on Wednesday with two counts of illegal gun possession, one count of armed criminal action and a count

Deputies arrest Columbia man that fled into woods after chase that ended near Veterans United

January 14, 2026 5:24 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Law enforcement arrested a Columbia man who allegedly had a gun following a chase that ended near Veterans United’s southern Columbia campus on Wednesday. The Boone County Sheriff’s Office wrote in a Wednesday evening press release that Devin Taylor, 25, of Columbia, was eventually found and detained. Taylor was brought to an

Columbia woman charged with 29 counts of animal abuse sued by dog owners nationwide, abroad

January 14, 2026 3:34 PM Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia woman who was charged with 29 counts of animal abuse has now been sued by more than a dozen dog owners from across the United States and abroad. The lawsuit, filed on Tuesday in Boone County, names Magnum Opus German Shepherds LLC and its owner, Melissa Sanders, 26, and alleges

MoDOT meets with Columbia leaders to discuss beautifying Interstate 70

January 14, 2026 11:56 AM Alison Patton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Missouri Department of Transportation met with Boone County stakeholders to discuss what local funding can do to improve Interstate 70 as a lane is added to each side of the highway. Improve I-70 Program Director Eric Kopinski said the goal of Wednesday’s meeting with Boone County commissioners, Columbia Chamber of Commerce

Jackson County judge hears opening arguments and testimony in Trial on Missouri abortion access

January 12, 2026 9:30 AM Marie Moyer

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Planned Parenthood Great Plains and Great Rivers returned to the courthouse against the state on Monday to reinstate abortion in Missouri. Planned Parenthood started opening statements and argued that the current state regulations were unreasonable and difficult to achieve, and unique to Missouri abortion clinics only. They also claimed that the

Columbia Board of Education passes updated AI policy

January 12, 2026 8:53 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia Board of Education unanimously passed its new policy on artificial intelligence. The policy focuses on “generative AI,” which creates text, images, videos and other media. The new policy set forth by the Missouri School Boards’ Association says that the district must have an AI coordinator, who will monitor advancements, risks

2 men sentenced to 18 years in prison in 2022 Columbia murder case

January 12, 2026 6:46 PM Erika McGuire

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Two men charged in a deadly 2022 shooting in Columbia were sentenced on Monday to 18 years in prison. Oscar Ashford and Samarion Robins entered guilty pleas last week to second-degree murder and unlawful use of a weapon. The two are charged in the shooting death of 15-year-old Aubrey Doxley on McKee

Car hits home at corner of Worley and Garth in Central Columbia

January 12, 2026 4:19 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A car was seen in the side of a home on Monday afternoon at a Central Columbia intersection. Several first responders were seen at the corner of West Worley Street and North Garth Avenue around 4 p.m. after a car hit a home. Columbia police officers and more than a dozen Columbia

Missouri sees spike in human trafficking cases

January 11, 2026 7:49 PM Euphenie Andre

EDITOR’S NOTE: A photo has been removed from this story because it was not directly related to the subject matter. COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Sunday marked National Human Trafficking Awareness Day, and the Missouri Department of Transportation is using not only Sunday, but the entire month of January to help educate the public about how traffickers

Proposed Missouri bill would require ICE agents to identify themselves if passed

January 11, 2026 5:23 PM Alison Patton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Missouri bill could force Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in the state to identify themselves, if passed. The bill’s introduction follows a deadly shooting in Minneapolis involving an ICE agent and a civilian. Rep. Ray Reed (D-St. Louis) introduced the bill Wednesday where it received a first reading on the opening

Candlelight vigil held at Peace Park for woman shot by ICE agent in Minneapolis

January 9, 2026 6:10 PM Euphenie Andre

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The fallout from the ICE shooting that killed a woman in Minnesota continued Friday, as vigils were held across the country. The FBI has taken over the investigation, and state investigators in Minnesota have been blocked from accessing key evidence connected to the case. A candlelight vigil for Renée Good and all

University of Missouri’s closes bidding for commercial development to ‘enhance game day experience’

January 9, 2026 2:46 PM Olivia Hayes

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) University of Missouri closed its bid portal on Friday for companies looking to shoot their shot at enhancing game day experiences. The university has laid out three zones with eight properties on university land as potential commercial development sites. There will be three development zones: Development Zone No. 1: North Campus/Central Business

Teenager accused in Dick’s shots fired scene, carjacking charged with 3 felonies

January 9, 2026 4:22 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A court official has confirmed that the 17-year-old boy accused of firing shots on Saturday night inside Dick’s Sporting Goods has been charged with three felonies. A Boone County juvenile court officer has not revealed the name of the youth accused in the shooting, but confirmed in an email that he is

Dog breeder charged with 29 counts of animal abuse denied bond, venue change

January 8, 2026 5:21 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia woman who was charged with 29 counts of animal abuse has been denied her requests for a change of venue and a bond. Melissa Sanders, 26, on Dec. 29 had asked a judge to give her a bond and to change the venue of her case. Judge Joshua Devine declined

Two Columbia murder suspects plead guilty; state seeks 18-year sentence

January 8, 2026 9:19 AM Madison Stuerman

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Two men accused of a 2022 murder in Columbia pleaded guilty Wednesday afternoon, just days before going to trial. They’ll likely serve nearly two decades in prison per the terms of the plea agreement. Oscar Ashford and Samarion Robins entered guilty pleas to second-degree murder and unlawful use of a weapon. Boone