COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Drug overdoses across the state declined by 25.6% last year, dropping from 1,948 deaths in 2023 to 1,450 in 2024. This marks the second consecutive year of declining fatalities, according to the University of Missouri–St. Louis Addiction Science Team. Each region across the state experienced a decrease in overdose deaths in 2024
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) EDITOR’S NOTE: The street where the fire occurred has been corrected. A home in north Columbia was damaged after reports of it being struck by lightning on Saturday afternoon. According to Fire Marshal Chris Gilstrap, firefighters were called to a home on Smiley Lane for a fire. Several people in the area
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) “No Kings” protests took place across the United States on Saturday in opposition of President Donald Trump, including in Columbia. Chants of “no fear, no hate, no ICE in our state!” were heard in the morning, as hundreds of protesters gathered at the Boone County Courthouse Plaza. This marked the second such
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Patients are asked to put on a loose-fitting short-sleeved shirt and grab their insurance card before heading to MU Health Care’s drive-thru vaccine clinic at the South Providence Medical Park in Columbia on Saturday. The afternoon clinic is MU Health Care’s first drive-thru vaccination event of the season.
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Missouri Department of Transportation and law enforcement officials are urging drivers to slow down and stay alert in work zones along Interstate 70, where construction, traffic congestion, and recent crashes have raised safety concerns in Boone and Callaway counties. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop F crash reports, 39
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia man found guilty of a deadly 2022 shooting was sentenced to life in prison on Friday afternoon. Boone County Judge Jacobs decided in court that Isaac Bryant, 38, will serve life in prison and will have the possibility for parole after 30 years. Bryant was also given 10 years for
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Protesters plan to gather across Mid-Missouri as part of the national “No Kings” protest in opposition to President Donald Trump and his administration. This is the second such protest in Columbia, with the first taking place in June. Mid-Missouri Peaceworks will gather at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Boone County Courthouse. Organizers
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Kurt Doolady — an assistant chief with the Boone County Fire Protection District and Missouri Task Force 1 program manager – stepped down from his position with the department on Thursday after a felony charge was filed against him in Camden County. BCFPD Assistant Chief Gale Blomenkamp told ABC 17 News in
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Rock Bridge Memorial State Park and the Gans Creek Wild Area will close for two days next month for a managed deer hunt, according to a Friday press release from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. The closure will occur Nov. 3-4. Hunters for the event have already been selected and will
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia man was charged with multiple felonies after he allegedly threatened to stab someone after they arrived at a bus stop on Thursday. Eddie Blackshire, 43, was charged with unlawful use of a weapon, armed criminal action and first-degree property damage. He is being held at the Boone County Jail without
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia man who pleaded guilty to forcing his way into a University of Missouri sorority house was released on probation. According to court records, Jeffrey Wheeland Jr. pleaded guilty to amended charges in July. He was sentenced to seven years concurrent, seven for second-degree burglary and four years for exhibiting an
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Despite the growing number of school shootings in the United States, many Missouri school districts and law enforcement agencies lack standardized requirements for active shooter drills. In Missouri, teachers are required to participate in simulated active-shooter drills under the state’s ASIRT statute. However, broader safety training, such as how to identify threats or
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COLUMBI, Mo. (KMIZ) The University of Missouri is looking for developers interested in helping create a new entertainment and hospitality district on campus a project aimed at boosting the local economy and enhancing the gameday experience for fans. The university said its goal is to create an experience similar to the University of Tennessee and
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Following calls from University of Missouri System President Mun Choi to address homelessness in downtown Columbia, police say their options remain limited. At a September press conference, Choi urged city leaders to consider a loitering ordinance and take steps to “clean up encampments” and tackle homelessness. Columbia Police Chief Jill Schlude said
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Attorney Spencer Smith in a Thursday press release announced his candidacy for the Division 9 Boone County Circuit associate judge role. The release says Smith graduated from Washburn University School of Law in 2017 and worked as the deputy district attorney in Josephine County in Oregon until he became a public defender
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A season-high 31 fans were ejected from Memorial Stadium during the Tigers’ game against Alabama this past Saturday. That brings the total number of attendees thrown out of the stadium this year to 94. Of the total from this past week’s game, 26 were alcohol-related. Ejection cards indicate 14 people were tossed
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The University of Missouri Board of Curators is seeking to attract developers for an entertainment and hospitality district on campus to enhance the university’s offerings. The university aims to build on the momentum of the current renovations of Memorial Stadium and continue its goal to enhance the game-day experience for fans. The
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A full report outlining recommended safety improvements for Business Loop 70 in Columbia is expected to be completed by next spring. The Bicycle and Pedestrian Commission met Wednesday night at City Hall, where leaders provided an update on the audit. The City of Columbia and CBB Transportation Solutions conducted walk-throughs along the
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia residents had the chance to learn more about the city’s newly approved fiscal year 2026 budget during a “Let’s Talk Local” event on Wednesday night. Mayor Barbara Buffaloe hosted the discussion at Missouri United Methodist Church, where city officials outlined spending priorities and answered questions from the community. Around 35 people
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Boone Health is chipping away at Missouri’s primary care shortage, hiring 25 providers in the past 12 months, eight of whom are primary care providers. Four additional primary care providers are expected to join Boone Health by the end of the year, according to a Wednesday press release from Boone Health. The
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