COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia Police Department is still on track to relaunch its full-time dedicated downtown unit this summer. Police Chief Jill Schlude told ABC 17 News back in October that once the January 2026 academy graduates completed field training, the department would have staffing levels to support the unit. Lt. Clint Sinclair said
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Applebee’s location near Stadium Boulevard in west Columbia has closed. The corporation confirmed to ABC 17 News in a Thursday email that the location on Interstate 70 Drive Southwest closed for good on Wednesday. “Our Applebee’s restaurant in Columbia, MO (I-70 Drive SW) closed on Wednesday, February 18. We greatly appreciate
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The reconstruction of a sidewalk ramp will require a sidewalk to be closed and a bus stop to be temporarily moved in Columbia, according to a Thursday press release from the city. Contractors are reconstructing the sidewalk ramp at the corner of East Broadway and South Second Street, the release says. Work
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Crime in northeast Columbia isn’t slowing down, according to one resident of Ward 3. Demetria Stephens told the Columbia City Council on Monday night that crime in Columbia’s Ward 3 is urgent, and warned city leaders that if they didn’t take steps to intervene, it’s going to continue to get worse. Stephens
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COLUMBIA, Mo (KMIZ) Columbia Parks and Recreation had its first public comment on Wednesday regarding improvements to Field Park, located at 900 Range Line St. The improvements would include two new pickleball courts, for which Columbia College has reportedly agreed to chip in $40,000, according to the capital improvement project search. That’s along with updates
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Service reports a drop in statewide measles MMR vaccination rates, while religious vaccination exemptions rise for the fifth year in a row. This comes as measles outbreaks have occurred recently in South Carolina and Texas. DHSS requires students to receive two doses total, with the first
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A class action lawsuit was filed on Thursday against one of Columbia’s biggest employers. A complaint was filed in the Western District Court of Missouri against Veterans United Home Loans. The plaintiffs in the class –which includes Christian Payton, Salem Zahn and Ernest Easter – are seeking at least a $5 million
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A woman who owned a Mexican restaurant in south Columbia pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor Tuesday in Butler County. Crystal Umfress pleaded guilty to making a false affidavit, a misdemeanor, according to the deputy clerk in Butler County. She was sentenced to 90 days in jail, but was given credit for time
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia man who was charged with a felony and four misdemeanors in an alleged drunken driving crash on Monday allegedly had a blood alcohol content nearly four times the legal limit to drive. Maurice Robinson, 40, was charged on Tuesday with driving while intoxicated – causing physical injury and four misdemeanors:
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A large response from firefighters was seen on Wednesday morning after vehicle caught fire near University Hospital. No injuries were reported and there is no danger to the hospital, though a parking garage was closed, according to a Columbia Fire Department spokesperson. The fire was put out quickly and the response was
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Inflation is easing, but living costs and bills remain high.
The annual rate in the U.S. has hovered around 2.6-2.7% in 2026. That’s down about 0.3 percentage points from 2024’s rate and significantly lower than the 8% peak recorded in 2022.
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) One person was taken to the hospital after their car flipped after hitting a tree on Wednesday. A Boone County Joint Communications alert was sent out at 8:42 a.m. about a crash on Smiley Lane at Rangeline St., asking drivers to avoid the area. Columbia Police Department Sgt. Robert Fox said a
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The family of a woman who was killed in flooded waters in Boone County in 2024 claims the City of Columbia and Boone County were at fault. The wrongful death lawsuit filed Friday in Boone County alleges the city and county “failed to use ordinary care to either prevent Gillespie Bridge Road
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia City Council is moving forward with its plans for a proposed 1% Public Safety Sales Tax it believes will help close a $156 million funding gap in the Columbia Police and Fire retirement fund. The police pension has a $66 million funding gap with nearly $81 million currently in the
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A septuagenarian has been charged in Boone County after he was accused of robbing a downtown Columbia bank at gunpoint over the weekend. Basil Kyles, 71, of Columbia, was charged on Tuesday with first-degree robbery, unlawful use of a weapon and two counts of armed criminal action. He is being held at
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia man who pleaded guilty to a shooting in downtown Columbia is asking a judge to retract his plea during his sentencing hearing Tuesday. Steven Harris, 46, pleaded guilty in January to unlawful use of a weapon, armed criminal action and stealing a gun for a shooting in downtown Columbia in
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia City leaders unanimously approved a new design to the Douglass Park basketball courts during Monday night’s council meeting. The city had been having discussions about changing the basketball courts since 2023. It was announced in 2023 that the courts would honor Willie Cox, a former assistant coach of the University of
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A 2014 City of Columbia violence prevention report has been updated for the new decade with the summary set to be reviewed by the City Council Monday. The report features guidelines for recommendations from the 2014 Mayor’s Task Force on Community Violence. Monday’s report will feature updated recommendations for the city and
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia City Council on Monday night unanimously approved plans to for a culvert replacement project Old Plank Road. The design and construction will cost $620,000, with the city funding $337,000 of the amount, according to estimates in meeting documents. The memo indicates $282,763.10 will be provided by the Missouri Department of
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The City of Columbia is considering a 1% public safety sales tax to help close the multi-million dollar gap in its police and fire retirement fund and support improvements across both departments. Public safety makes up nearly half of the city’s general fund spending for fiscal 2026, with about $66 million budgeted
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