Author: KMIZ

Matthew Sanders

The Republican-dominated Missouri General Assembly achieved exactly what they’d hoped to in last week’s special session.

The supermajority passed both a new congressional map and initiative petition reform despite Democratic opposition in each chamber. Senate Republicans even cut off debate early, using their majority to prevent any long filibustering of special session legislation.

The new map, which will certainly be signed by the governor, who has said repeatedly that he backs it, will have only one safe Democratic seat. The current map has two.

Do you like the new map? Let us know by voting in the poll.

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Alison Patton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

People Not Politicians, a non-partisan organization, filed a referendum on Friday, aimed at giving voters the chance to approve or deny Gov. Mike Kehoe’s “Missouri First” map. This is the third challenge to the governor’s map.

Lawmakers are calling this referendum a ‘citizen’s veto.’ Sen. Doug Beck (D-St. Louis County) said at a press conference Friday he would personally go out and collect signatures.

Missouri is still waiting on the governor to sign the redistricting map and initiative petition reform into law, after the Missouri legislature wrapped up its side of things Friday.

Moberly Community College sophomore Keith Gaberielson said he hasn’t seen the new redistricting map, but he thinks the congressional districts over the years have been out of balance.

“Every time they come out with new districts over the past few years for Missouri, I mean, it just looks worse and worse,” Gaberielson said.

The “Missouri First” map stretches the Fifth District, which mostly covers the Democratic pocket of Kansas City, into Mid-Missouri.

Democrats believe this would kick U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO) out of his seat because the district covers a much larger area.

A lawsuit filed Friday argues it is unconstitutional to redistrict in the middle of a census decade, according to court documents. It was filed by three people who would be in a new district next year if the governor signs the map into law and a person who would remain in the same district.

Chuck Hatfield, the plaintiffs’ attorney, previously told ABC 17 News that redistricting without an updated census is unfair to voters.

“They’re going to have new congresspeople if this map goes into effect,” Hatfield said. “Normally, you get to keep the same congressperson for ten years.”

The current congressional districts were approved in 2022.

The NAACP filed a lawsuit against the governor days into the start of the special session, asking a Cole County judge to stop lawmakers from continuing the special session, according to previous reporting. A judge will hear both arguments on Monday.

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Euphenie Andre

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Central Missouri Honor Flight (CMHF) is preparing for its final flight Monday, marking the end of a 16-year tradition of taking Mid-Missouri veterans to Washington, D.C. The organization was founded by Mary Paulsell, her brother Steve and his wife Sharon, along with Sarah Hill, Barbara Brueggeman, and Scott Schaefer.

“Central Missouri honor flight, founded with a bunch of people getting together who had a heart for veterans,” Hill said. “Back in the day, I was a television news reporter. We did a bunch of stories about these veterans who weren’t able to physically travel to see the memorials in Washington D.C and through the magic of honor flight, they’re physically able to be there,”

Steve shared his thoughts on the beginning stages of the organization.

“We thought we’d do one, maybe two flights that year hopefully get enough veterans, enough money to do that and that would be the end. That’s what we thought,” Steve Paulsell said.

The non-profit announced in a news release that after Honor Flight #71 departs, no additional trips will be scheduled.

“We are approaching this flight like we approached every flight. We’re going to give it everything we’ve got. I doubt anything on that flight will be said about it being the last flight,” Paulsell said.

Organizers said the number of veterans applying for the trips has dropped in recent years.

“The applications from especially Vietnam veterans has really slowed down,” Paulsell said.

Jean Butler served three years in the Army, including 13 months in Korea, 11 months in Germany, and 5 months in Pennsylvania. He had planned to make the trip last year but was sidelined by a heart attack. Now feeling much stronger, Butler is finally able to go and even brought along a fellow veteran friend from the Air Force. The two will experience their first Honor Flight together. Butler said it’s disappointing to see Central Missouri Honor Flight come to an end.

“I’m so disappointed that people are not taking advantage of this. It’s absolutely free to veterans that were honorably discharged and often time kind of ignored when we came home,” Butler said.

Organizers said in addition to a lack of applicants, rising costs also played a role in the decision.

“In our first year, first or second year, we’d sit and wait and watch the bank account and say, okay, okay, we’ve got enough money to go for another flight and then we’d go,” Paulsell said. “But after several of that, we started out… you know, the knowledge and understanding of what our flight does increased, and so did the revenue.”

On Monday, 70 Vietnam veterans and one Korean War veteran will travel to Washington, D.C., for a final day of reflection at the nation’s memorials. The group will gather at the Courtyard Marriott Hotel in Columbia on Sunday night before departing at 1:45 a.m. Monday for a charter flight out of St. Louis.

Organizers are inviting the community to join in welcoming the veterans home. They’re asking people to gather at the Courtyard Marriott on Monday at 9:15 p.m. to greet the group’s return.

“Bring your kids. This is something they’ll never get to see again. And it’s actually the homecoming that the Vietnam veterans never got,” Paulsell said.

While this will be the final flight organized by CMHF, Paulsell encourages veterans still interested in traveling on an Honor Flight to reach out. The organization can help connect them with surrounding chapters. For veterans unable to make the trip due to health concerns or other limitations, a virtual Honor Flight experience is available online.

The organization said the people of Central Missouri have been overwhelmingly generous in supporting the non-profit. Paulsell also thanked local law enforcement and first responders who have assisted with the flights over the years. Since launching in 2009, Central Missouri Honor Flight has carried more than 5,500 veterans to the nation’s capital.

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Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

One man was seriously injured in a motorcycle crash in Camden County on Saturday, according to a crash report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol. It happened on Cup Tree Road just south of Cup Tree Drive.

The report says the driver of a 2008 Yamaha Roadliner – a 70-year-old Poplar Bluff man – was headed north around 12:20 p.m. when he drove off the road and was thrown off the motorcycle.

He was flown to University Hospital with serious injuries and was not wearing a helmet, the report says.

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Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Mokane teenager was seriously injured in a crash Sunday in Callaway County on Route C near Julie Street, according to a crash report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

The report says the driver of a 1994 Jeep Wrangler – a 17-year-old Mokane teen – was headed south around 1:40 a.m. when he drove off the right side of the road and overturned.

Another passenger in the car, a 20-year-old Fulton man, was moderately injured in the crash.

Both were taken to University Hospital by ambulance, and neither was wearing a seatbelt, the report says. The car was totaled.

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Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

One man and one woman were seriously injured in a motorcycle crash Saturday in Morgan County on Route W just south of Old Barn Road, according to a crash report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

The report says that the driver of a 2007 Harley Davidson Electra Glide – a 58-year-old Williamsfield, Illinois man – was heading south when he drove off the left side of the road, overturned, and was thrown from the motorcycle around 9:40 a.m.

The passenger, a 62-year-old woman from Williamsfield, Illinois, was also thrown from the bike. The man was flown to University Hospital, and the woman was taken to Lake Regional Hospital by ambulance. Neither was wearing a helmet, the report says.

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Haley Swaino

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Three people were injured – two seriously – in a crash on Route MM near Shawnee Four Drive in Camden County Saturday, according to a Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report.

The report says a 2014 Harley Davidson FLHXS – driven by a 45-year-old Sioux Falls, South Dakota man – was heading west just before 4 p.m. when it crossed the middle of the road at a curve and hit a 2009 Harley Davidson Electra Glide Ultra Classic that was heading east.

The South Dakota man was flown to University Hospital with serious injuries.

The eastbound bike was driven by a 47-year-old Washington, Missouri, man, who suffered moderate injuries. His passenger, a 44-year-old Washington, Missouri woman, was seriously injured in the crash. Both were brought to Lake Regional Hospital by ambulance, the report says.

Neither driver involved in the crash was wearing a helmet, according to the report. The passenger was wearing a helmet.

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Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The City of Columbia’s 2026 fiscal year budget is expected to be finalized and passed on Monday, following months of planning and public hearings.

According to city documents, the total budget sits at around $560 million in total revenue and around $544 million in operations. There are also around $64 million in expected Capital Improvement Projects. According to previous reporting, Capital Improvement projects often fluctuate between budgets due to large one-year purchases.

In the General Fund for daily operations, the costs are in the red, with revenue expected to be around $132 million and expenses expected to be around $135 million. This came after expected tax revenue fell by around 3% last year. City plans also expect the budget to dip into the city’s available cash.

Major changes in the budget include utilities, expected to see around 12% increase in funds, around $200 thousand, and capital seeing an almost 127% increase, around $1 million. Intragovernment costs also saw a decrease of around 20%, around $2 million.

General fund changes by departments stayed relatively similar from 2025. However, supporting activities, which manage community relations and facility management, are expected to have a 9% decrease, approximately $500,000.

Monday’s City Council Meeting is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.

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Euphenie Andre

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Mizzou Tigers moved today’s kickoff against Louisiana Lafayette three hours earlier in an effort to spare fans and players from extreme heat. Despite the switch, many in Faurot Field still found themselves battling sweltering conditions.

“Yeah, it’s hot out here it’s really hot,” one fan told ABC 17 as temperatures and full sun made the afternoon feel relentless. Coach Eli Drinkwitz said the turf reached a blistering 176 degrees.

Fans arrived prepared with water, handheld fans, and sunscreen, but the heat still took a toll. By halftime, nearly half the stadium had emptied.

“It’s just too hot for me,” said Mizzou fan Jennifer McNew. “I got overheated, so I came out to cool off.”

Others were spotted balancing alcohol and water, a combination health officials say increases the risk of heat-related illness. National Weather Service Meteorologist Jon Carney said it is dangerous to drink alcohol in high temperatures.

“I know some people like to consume alcohol during the football games,” Carney said. “Alcohol there’s almost nothing worse you can put in your body in these kinds of hot temperatures.”

Nurse Practitioner Jackie Beshear, who spoke with ABC 17 earlier in the week, stressed the importance of water, light clothing, sunscreen, and hats. She also underscored the risks of heat exhaustion.

“It can be extremely dangerous,” Beshear said. “They can have heat exhaustion. They can pass out, they can have cramping, they can lose consciousness.”

First responders were busy throughout the afternoon. ABC 17 witnessed one mother collapse from heat exhaustion before being treated and stabilized on scene. ABC 17 has reached out to MU Health for the number of patients treated for heat-related illness during the game and is awaiting a response.

Separately, Missouri State Highway Patrol Sergeant Kyle Green confirmed troopers issued 25 ejection cards at last week’s game against Kansas.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A 41-year-old New Franklin man died Friday night in an ATV crash on Route P in Howard County, north of County Road 451, according to a crash report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

The report says the man drove the 2005 Arctic Cat off the road and was ejected from the vehicle after it overturned. The man was pronounced dead at the scene by the Howard County coroner, the report says.

He was not wearing a helmet, according to the report. His body was brought to Howard-Millard Funeral Home, according to the report.

The vehicle had minor damage. MSHP reports do not name those involved in crashes.

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