Month: June 2026

Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) 

The future of the Shops at Sharp End remains uncertain as Columbia leaders and community members work to determine what comes next for the retail incubator after earlier public feedback exposed concerns about funding, sustainability and whether the project has fulfilled its mission.

During a follow-up community discussion Monday, organizers shifted focus from identifying problems to exploring possible solutions and gathering input on what a future version of the initiative could look like.

The Shops at Sharp End opened in 2024 through a partnership between Regional Economic Development Inc., The District and Central Missouri Community Action. The project was designed to support entrepreneurs while honoring the legacy of Columbia’s historic Sharp End business district, once the economic and cultural center of Columbia’s Black community.

But with federal American Rescue Plan Act funding nearing its end and no long-term funding source secured, organizers said the future of the space remains undecided.

An initial community conversation held June 4 revealed two major concerns surrounding the future of the Shops at Sharp End: Funding is expected to run out in September, and many community members questioned whether the project has been successful in achieving its mission.

Residents voiced concerns the storefront lacks visibility and fails to clearly indicate that multiple businesses operate within the space, limiting customer traffic and awareness.

Anthony Johnson, one of the program’s earliest participants who said he operated in the space for about two years, said the incubator struggled to create conditions for businesses to succeed.

“I think structurally, the marketing and advertising and how the foot traffic was going to come and all that stuff, I just don’t think it was planned out very well,” Johnson told ABC 17 News.

But concerns about business performance were only part of Monday’s discussion. Others questioned whether the project had fulfilled its broader goal of honoring the Sharp End’s history.

From the early 1900s through the 1960s, the Sharp End business district stretched along Walnut Street between Fifth and Sixth streets, was the home to Black-owned businesses, gathering spaces and entrepreneurship before much of the area was displaced through urban renewal efforts.

“It really seemed kind of disrespectful, honestly. I think if it was something led by the community and we’re trying to kind of rebuild what the Sharp End was and what it meant to the community, and put a 2026, 2027 twist on it that would make more sense,” Johnson said. “But managing a space that none of us own, and it’s just a program of an organization and slapping the name Sharp End on it, I didn’t like that at all.”

Those concerns extended beyond Monday’s meeting.

In a June 25 Facebook post, Columbia School Board member Erica Dickson — who was in attendance on Monday — questioned why the investment was not placed in one of the district’s remaining Black-owned commercial properties, whether the effort should have been Black-led and whether a different funding model could better address generations of economic displacement tied to the dismantling of the historic district.

District Executive Director Nickie Davis said hearing those criticisms publicly was a good stepping stone for moving forward. 

“Honestly, I was kind of glad it went the way it was. Those are a lot of thoughts and voices that have been expressed to me over the last couple of years, and I’m glad that they were now public and everyone can start processing them,” Davis said.

Davis said organizers are now trying to determine whether the concept should continue in its current form or evolve into something different.

“I think there was some great intentions, but we need to hear from the public to be able to figure out, if this is the same thing we should be doing, but better, or if we need something entirely different,” she said.

Monday’s discussion centered on next steps, including whether the effort should remain a storefront, become a broader business support program or expand into a larger Sharp End initiative.

The Rev. James Gray suggested connecting the Shops at Sharp End, African American Heritage Trail and Blind Boone House under a broader umbrella designed to better showcase Black history and business in Columbia.

“One of the big things that I’ve always said is when people come into our community, they don’t hear about what we got. They don’t. African-Americans, we do not hear about what we got to offer. Let’s put that out there, put it under one umbrella, and let’s let them know,” he said during Monday’s meeting.

Johnson also added that future investment should focus more on strengthening businesses already operating in the community.

“I think that we just find a better way to invest in the businesses that are already there. I think that if we do that better, maybe even look at some of the businesses that were there currently,” Johnson said. “I left the program just because; it ended up being a money pit for most of us.”

Another idea raised during the discussion was forming a community-led committee to help guide recommendations and oversee the next phase of planning. Johnson said he felt like both meetings were productive and hopes those conversations continue.

“I think this is a good opportunity for people in the community to come and be heard. There’s not a limit on what we’re talking about,” he said. S”o if people have ideas of what we can do to expand majority black businesses in Columbia and help them continue to grow, I would like to see all those people at the table.”

No formal decisions were made Monday, but organizers outlined a short-term timeline for determining what happens next.

Discussions with current participants will begin in July to determine whether existing businesses want to remain in the space. That feedback will help shape immediate priorities for the storefront while a broader long-term plan is developed.

“Everything we’re doing here is to hear those voices, those thoughts and concerns, so that we can take them into whatever this next version looks like,” Davis said. “I expect there to be probably at least one more of these public input meetings, but outside that, I’m not entirely sure what public outreach there might be.”

Click here to follow the original article.

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The California Missouri Police Department requested the help of Immigration and Customs Enforcement after a call was made over the weekend about someone allegedly trying to “self-deport,” an email from Police Chief Scott John.

California police announced in a Sunday social media post “there were a few ICE agents from Kansas City in California for a few hours.”

“The ICE agents were not here to complete random immigration status checks or neighborhood sweeps,” the post went on to say.

John wrote in the email to ABC 17 News that the investigation involved people staying at a motel on Highway 50. John wrote police received information that caused law enforcement “to suspect criminal activity within the group he was with.”

“Since the entire group (18 people) were non-English speaking and we had reservations about what was reported to us, we requested the resources of ICE. Four representatives of ICE responded and arrived here just before midnight on Saturday, staying for a few hours to assist,” John wrote.

Three men were detained on suspicion of fraud, John wrote. ICE told police agents were heading to the jail to pick up the three men on Sunday and an additional man who was detained earlier in the week, the email says.

Click here to follow the original article.

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Camdenton man was charged with several felonies, including arson, on Monday after he allegedly tried to set a garage and tiny home on fire early Friday.

Previn Tauer, 48, was charged in Miller County with two counts of second-degree burglary, two counts of second-degree arson and two counts of first-degree property damage. He is being held at the Miller County Jail on a $100,000 bond. An arraignment was held on Monday. A case review is scheduled for 9 a.m. Monday, July 6.

The probable cause statement says first responders were called at 9:10 a.m. Friday for a fire in a garage and a “tiny home” about 40 feet east of the garage. Tauer’s vehicle was allegedly seen by a tenant at the property and he was seen exiting the garage before driving off, court documents say.

Smoke and flames emerged from the garage minutes later, the statement says. Investigators determined the fire was intentionally started on a tabletop, the statement says.

A second fire was inside the tiny home and it was also determined to be intentionally started, court documents say.

Tauer allegedly made threats against the homeowner the month before, the statement says.

Click here to follow the original article.

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A man charged with felony murder in a 2024 shooting at a Columbia White Castle was charged with an additional felony on Friday.

Antione Lamont Armstrong, 26,  is charged with illegal gun possession, second-degree felony murder, two counts of armed criminal action and a count of delivery of a controlled substance in the death of Louis W. Hart on May 17, 2024. The second armed criminal action charge was added after a superseding indictment was filed on Friday.

Armstrong is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond.

Previous reporting and court documents say Armstrong was also shot during an exchange of gunfire. A witness allegedly told investigators that they saw Hart shoot at Armstrong after Armstrong threw a punch, court documents say. After Armstrong went down to the ground, he allegedly then shot back at Hart a few times.

Jayden McGerald, of Columbia, was charged with tampering with evidence in a felony prosecution in connection with the shooting. McGerald is accused of trying to hide Armstrong’s gun. He has a hearing scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Monday, Aug. 24.

Click here to follow the original article.

Sutton Parker

COLUMBIA MO. (KMIZ)

With high temperatures expected to continue throughout the week, officials are warning that vulnerable populations can be affected.

According to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, there were 35 heat-related deaths in the state in 2025. Out of those, five were in hot vehicles, one was occupational and 21 of the people who died also had documented heart disease.

Columbia Fire Chief Brian Schaeffer says when firefighters respond to heat-related calls, illnesses vary.

“There are varying levels of medical problems that someone can suffer from, from heat exhaustion all the way up to an extreme heat crisis. Heat stroke, once you get to the heat stroke level, it is very hard to turn around clinically,” he said.

Schaeffer said vulnerable populations are the ones who are most susceptible to heat-related illnesses.

“The biggest one that i want people to think about is our vulnerable population; unfortunately, we find a lot of folks that are living out their years at home that have painted windows,” he said.

Schaffer added in addition to the elderly, young children are also most susceptible to the high heat.

“Young children might not have the thermoregulation systems in their bodies developed yet. You definitely want to get those kiddos out of the sun,” he said.

Schaeffer said it takes a community effort to protect those most vulnerable from the heat.

“That’s our civic responsibility, so check on your neighbors, check on your friends, check on your relatives that you know in those situations so that we can help,” he said.

With temperatures climbing this week, one group is asking people to be mindful and take care of those with mental health conditions.

According to the National Association of Mental Illness, people struggling with mental illness and those using medications to treat mental health conditions like schizophrenia, depression and anxiety are particularly vulnerable to extreme heat.

Amye Trefethen, who is the Director of Programs at the NAMI Missouri office, said heat makes peoples bodies not be able to adjust to their medication.

“There are some medications that make it harder for you to regulate your body temperature, and that can be antipsychotic medications. In the heat, your stress hormone levels in the body spike, and then our body tries to elevate our internal body temperature,” she said.

Trefethen recommends that people on these medications stay out of the heat and indoors with the air conditioning on and use extra fans to keep rooms cool.

Additionally, the NAMI adds hotter temperatures also seem to worsen the symptoms of mental illnesses and contribute to heightened negative emotions like anxiety and anger. 

Click here to follow the original article.