Author: KMIZ

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A man who was convicted of rape in Cole County nearly 20 years ago has been committed to the Department of Mental Health after he was classified as a sexually violent predator on Nov. 20, according to a Monday press release from the Attorney General’s Office.

Calvin Lamar Miller, 58, of Farmington, was convicted of forcible rape by a Cole County jury on May 14, 1999, according to court filings. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison on June 14, 1999. He is currently being held at Southeast Correctional Center in Charleston, Missouri, according to information from the Department of Corrections.

The press release says Miller was accused of raping a woman who taught at the Department of Corrections in 1998.

A psychologist during the recent trial claimed “Miller has a present diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder, which is a mental abnormality that makes him more likely than not to commit future predatory acts of sexual violence if not confined to a secure facility,” the release says.

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Meghan Drakas

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The City of Columbia has long said it is working to curb violence and gun crimes, especially crimes involving youth, even as stories of young people and guns seem to be a regular occurrence.

Part of that policy push has been the creation of the Office of Violence Prevention, whose onset has seen a drop in youth gun violence.

According to Missouri State Highway Patrol data, as of Dec. 10, Columbia gun crimes involving youth offenders this year have dropped by more than 50% from 2024. The number of youth gun crime victims also dropped by more than 50% as well.

MSHP gun-related crimes

Gun crimes involving youth (10 to 17 years old)

2025: 33

2024: 71

Age group with the most offenders

2025: Age 18-24 with 81 gun crimes

2024: Age 18-24 with 84 gun crimes

Gun crimes by sex

2025: 88% male

2024: 83% male

Youth victims of gun crimes (10 to 17 years old)

2025: 32 victims

2024: 70 victims

In the last year, the City of Columbia created its Office of Violence Prevention. Administrator D’Markus Thomas-Brown is the first person to lead the office and stepped into the role on March 31, 2025.

“My duties in the role are really to coordinate and collaborate with community-based organizations and the place of intervention and prevention,” Thomas-Brown said. “[We’re] educating the public on what that is and what the different lanes of prevention and intervention are.”

He says the office aims to develop community-based organizations that can be run locally. Thomas-Brown says multiple organizations such as Job Point, Flourish Initiative, Columbia Supreme, P.E.A.C.E. and H.O.P.E. Center for Youth, Powerhouse Community Development Corporation and Connections to Success, provide examples.

“There’s a couple of programs or initiatives that are looking to identify this age range and those kids that tend to be most at risk,” Thomas-Brown said.

But he said a big gap in these programs is that parents have to have some involvement and motivate the children. “But we’re missing the shooters,” he said. “We’re missing those who are actually the ones most at risk of being shot or shooting someone.”

He said the group of children who are missing from these programs are “already kind of removed from school,” so getting these intervention measures in front of this missing group is something the office needs to focus on.

Thomas-Brown said the access juveniles have to assault rifles is very surprising.

“It’s just wild seeing juveniles with that access to those weapons. I think that’s been kind of not a norm in years prior.”

This fall and winter have seen multiple shootings involving youth shooters and victims:

December

A Columbia teenager was charged with allegedly threatening a family with an AR-15.

On Dec. 2, a 15-year-old was shot in the face while inside a Boone County home on North Parkview Court. The Boone County Sheriff’s Office said the shots came from outside the home.

November

17-year-old Anthony K. Marine was charged with second-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon. Police say Marine shot and killed a person with the initials Z.N. in May.

Police arrested a 16-year-old boy who allegedly robbed a Phillips 66 on Paris Road. Police say this teen was linked to other robberies in the Columbia area.

October

Police arrested 19-year-old Jordan Hunt and a juvenile for allegedly robbing a person at gunpoint on Talon Road.

Thomas-Brown says he wants to break the barrier of access the younger group and also get parents involved.

On Dec. 9, Thomas-Brown sat down with Columbia’s Youth Advisory Council to explain his work in the Office of Violence Prevention. At the meeting, he said giving kids in the community a voice to tell people what is going on in the area is crucial.

“Starting out in this office, I made it a point that I want CPS to be recipients of what we do at this office,” Thomas-Brown said. “Thanks to Dr. Klein and some of the administrative staff there, we are getting closer partnerships with them, with one of their admin being on the advisory committee for the Office of Violence Prevention.”

Thomas-Brown stressed the importance of kids having a good role model in their lives and how this can create a major difference in the path a child takes in life.

Columbia Police Lt. Matt Gremore said he has seen the same effect.

“One of the most important things you can have is a good role model, whether that be a parent or a guardian,” Gremore said. “That is a full-time, all-day and night job. That’s not just a meeting with someone or a one-time basketball game or something, it’s got to be consistent.”

In the next year, Thomas-Brown said he would love to see a rapid response team to get individuals in front of people who have been shot or shot at. He also said he wants community organizations to collaborate more, so groups can play to their strengths and stretch funding and available resources.

Thomas-Brown says the office has applied to the Department of Justice for a grant that would add at least three full-time employees. He said the DOJ did not provide a date when a decision would be made on the funding, and the office is still waiting to hear back on a decision.

Unsolved youth shooting: Bryant Wilks II

On Oct. 25, 2020, Columbia Police responded to the 300 block of West Brookside Lane at around 1 a.m. for a report of shots heard.

They found 17-year-old Bryant Wilks II had been shot, and he was pronounced dead at the scene. No one else was hurt. Police say there was a party in the area involving teens and young adults.

Bryant Wilks II

CPD is investigating 17 unsolved homicide cases with 19 victims dating back to 1985. ABC 17 News has covered seven cases in our ‘Mid-Missouri’s Cold Case Files’ reporting.

Michael Walker Jr. & Jeffery Jones

Garbrielle Rhodes

George Showalter

Virginia ‘Ginger’ Davis

Edmond ‘Ricky’ Randolph Jr.

Jamar Hicks

Antonio Houston and Danielle Marine

Watch the latest “Mid-Missouri’s Cold Case Files: The Case of Bryant Wilks II” at 10 p.m. Wednesday on ABC 17 News.

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Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Columbia Public Schools filed a lawsuit Monday that claims the establishment of charter schools in Boone County is unconstitutional, with district leaders talking to reporters about the issue in a news conference afterward.

The lawsuit names the state attorney general and the Missouri State Board of Education.

It focuses on one of two groups that want to create a Boone County charter school — Frontier. The Columbia Board of Education has written to the state board opposing Frontier, Columbia board member Suzette Waters said.

“These actions are protecting constitutional principles, ensuring that public education decisions in the county are made by people who are accountable to the voters and the families that live here,” CPS Board President John Lyman said.

CPS argues that the state’s Republican-led legislature purposely targeted Boone County for the expansion of charter schools through Senate Bill 727, which was signed by Gov. Mike Parson in May 2024.

While SB 727 does not call out Boone County by name, a rule in it mentions that charter schools may be operated only in counties “between 150,000 and 200,000 inhabitants.”

According to census data, Boone County is the only county in the state that matches this description.

According to court documents, CPS adds that demographers expect Boone County will exceed 200,000 residents in five years, exceeding the rule.

“The pretextual population bracket lacks elasticity and cannot operate as a general law over time. The application of the classification to population trends throughout the state demonstrates that the population bracket included in the Boone County Provision was crafted to reach Boone County and Boone County alone. That is a violation of the Missouri Constitution,” according to court documents.

Sponsored by Saint Louis University, Frontier’s school would serve pre-K through fifth-grade students. Frontier Schools already operates a 1,595-student school in Kansas City and aims to expand educational choices for families in Boone County. The group’s application was approved by the Missouri Charter Public School Commission in November.

“We respect the legal process and will continue to follow all applicable state laws and guidance from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education as our application proceeds,” Frontier said in a statement. “We believe families in Columbia deserve access to additional high-quality, tuition-free public school options.”

Job Point, another organization, has also expressed intentions to open a charter school in Boone County. Job Point’s proposed school would focus on vocational skills for high school students through its established YouthBuild program.

The Missouri Charter Public School Commission unanimously approved Job Point’s letter of intent on Oct. 9, inviting the group to apply to establish the charter school, which aims to open for the 2027 school year.

Frontier has an application in for its school, while Job Point does not, Waters said.

She said Frontier plans to open a selective school, even though charter schools are supposed to be open to all.

Plaintiffs Verified Petition for Declaratory Judgment and Injunctive ReliefDownload

Waters also said the charter school took no local public input and did not plan to have offices in Boone County, adding that charter schools do not participate in screening students for learning disbilities through Missouri’s MAP-A test.

“Frontier plans to open a selective school funded by your tax dollars for children whose parents are currently paying private school tuition,” Waters said.

CPS leaders said the Columbia Board of Education unanimously approved of the lawsuit.

“We are confident that the points of our litigation are solid and that we have good standing,” Waters said.

The charter school commission sponsors 21 charter schools in the state, primarily in the Kansas City and St. Louis areas. YouthBuild has also partnered with charter schools in other states, including California, where it operates 18 school sites.

DESE declined to comment. ABC 17 News also reached out to the Attorney General’s Office and SLU but did not hear back.

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Haley Swaino

EDITOR’S NOTE: Old data has been removed.

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Food Bank for Central & Northeast Missouri is set to host its 19th annual One for One Holiday Food & Fund Drive on Wednesday. Items gathered will provide food to families in need during the holiday season and beyond.

The Food Bank has more than 145 partner agencies and 200 partner schools that help distribute food in its 32-county service area.

“It’s a very big operation,” Community Engagement Specialist Carlos Byrd said. “Our team down at the warehouse has got a big calendar with all of our partners in it, and every year we do a big round of scheduling everyone’s pickups and deliveries.”

The Food Bank for Central & Northeast Missouri serves 32 (dark purple) of Missouri’s 114 counties. [Courtesy: The Food Bank for Central & Northeast Missouri]

In Boone County, more than 30 agencies partner with The Food Bank, including Aging Best, Hogan House, In2Action, Powerhouse, Tiger Pantry, True North, Turning Point and Welcome Home.

Byrd is the community engagement specialist for Boone County, where he said the need for food is high.

“In our service area of Boone County, in Columbia specifically, is the highest population area and specifically the highest food insecure population. So this is really where we are seeing the most need,” Byrd said.

Columbia’s Hogan House Food Pantry started in the winter of 2020. Do Something Right Now Executive Director Sue Riley, a nonprofit which Hogan House falls under, said The Food Bank helped get the pantry started.

“Our very first donation from was from them [The Food Bank], and it was this beautiful refrigerator,” Riley said. “And we were so excited to get it because it was our first steps.”

Back then, the Hogan House was providing 200 food boxes a month.

Five winters later, and Riley said the pantry serves about 150 families each weekend.

She said items are delivered daily through The Food Bank’s retail rescue program.

“It’s a huge blessing because this week, every time we emptied our shelves, we got a retail recovery and that filled them back up,” Riley said.

Byrd said The Food Bank has many retailer partners from grocery stores to restaurants that donate food nearing its expiration.

He said Columbia’s new Trader Joe’s has been a great donation partner this season.

“On Hogan House’s first pickup from Trader Joe’s, they got an entire van full when they went. It was really lovely,” Byrd said. “Later in the day, the store captain over at Trader Joe’s called the contact at Hogan House and said, ‘Hey, do you want to come get an entire other van full?’ So they got a whole other round of food and donations for that day. And that meant that their donation distribution to neighbors the next couple of days had a lot of really great fresh produce.”

Boone County isn’t the only area in need.

In Cole County, The Food Bank has 11 partner agencies, including Building Community Bridges, Catholic Charities, First Christian Church Food Pantry, Rape & Abuse Crisis Services, Salvation Army and the Samaritan Center.

The Food Bank’s interactive map can help people find partner agencies or schools distributing food near them.

The most needed items at the One for One Holiday Drive are canned meat/protein, canned fruits and vegetables, canned soups/chilis/stews, boxed meal kits, cereal, peanut butter and pasta, according to The Food Bank’s website.

The Food Bank also welcomes monetary donation. $1 helps The Food Bank provide three meals, according to spokeswoman Katie Geisler. That means a $25 donation will provide at least 75 meals.

Food and funds can be donated at two locations from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday — the Columbia Mall and Buchheits in Jefferson City.

Firefighters from Columbia Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 1055 will volunteer during the One for One drive. The 12-hour event will also have fire engines, music and Santa.

People interested in donating can visit sharefoodbringhope.org for more information.

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Jazsmin Halliburton

ASHLAND, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Southern Boone County R-I School District Board of Education will make its decision Monday on a possible four-day school week.

The district has been discussing a potential shift to a four-day school week, starting with the 2026–27 academic year.

Under the proposal, students would attend school 7:50 a.m.-3:25 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, extending each day by 30-40 minutes. The district would eliminate the current early-release Wednesdays, and one Monday each month would be set aside for staff professional development. Remaining Mondays would function as off-days, allowing families to schedule appointments without students missing class.

In a community forum held by the district last month, people raised concerns about how parents would handle childcare for younger students on Mondays. Other concerns raised during the forum included whether students would be overwhelmed by longer school days and how those involved in extracurricular activities would manage homework if practices and sporting events pushed them home later in the evening.

The school board claims the biggest reason for a potential switch would be to help recruit and retain quality teachers as it tries to compete with larger districts like Columbia Public Schools. 

A final proposal will be presented to the board before the formal vote, according to the district’s website. The meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. at the district building, 5275 West Red Tail Drive.

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Euphenie Andre

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A local substance use prevention group is asking the City of Columbia to reject extended alcohol service hours during next year’s FIFA World Cup.

The City’s Substance Use Prevention Advisory Commission warns that nearly 24-hour alcohol sales could strain service industry workers and first responders, while also posing risks to public safety. On August 28, the state approved a temporary extension allowing licensed bars and restaurants to sell alcohol from 6 a.m. until 5 a.m. the following day during the tournament, which runs from June 11 through July 19, 2026.

However, the commission wants the city to opt out of the state’s allowance.

“We understand that bars, restaurants, and other hospitality businesses may stand to benefitcommercially from looser hours during a major global event like the FIFA World Cup. However,in our view, the public health and safety risks outweigh these financial incentives, especiallygiven the temporary nature of the event and the disproportionately large burden borne by publicservices and community welfare,” the group said in its recommendation letter to the city.

Some local bars are also opposed to the extended hours and said they will stick to their regular operating hours during the World Cup games.

“I don’t think that it’s a good idea to have a 23-hour drinking privilege,” said Yoeun Moeun, General Manager at Southside Pizza & Pub. “Once people are intoxicated, they can’t control it.”

Travis Oakley, Co-Owner of 9th Street Public House added, “We won’t participate. We will operate under our current standards that’s what we are doing now. A hard stop helps us out in the long run,” Oakley said.

Oakley expressed concern that extending alcohol service past the usual 1 a.m. closing time could encourage risky behavior. He said people are accustomed to the standard hours, and allowing bars to stay open later during the World Cup might lead some to take advantage of the extra time. To avoid potential problems, his establishment plans to stick with its normal hours.

9th Street Public House’s current hours are Tuesday through Sunday, from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. Southside Pizza & Pub is open Monday and Tuesday for dine-in from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m., with carry-out available until 2 a.m. From Wednesday through Sunday, the restaurant opens at 11 a.m., and on weekends, it remains open until 1 a.m.

Dan Rader, owner of MyHouse Sports Bar & Nightclub, said he doesn’t anticipate much of an impact from the World Cup on Columbia bars, but expects Kansas City’s bar scene to benefit significantly.

The Substance Use Prevention Advisory Commission said extended hours could put extra strain on workers and city services. The group also claims that service-industry employees may face longer shifts, fatigue, and safety concerns, while police and other public safety agencies could see an increase in calls.

“Once you get to a certain point, everybody’s tired,” Oakley said. “I want to get them home safely and not fatigued.”

The group cited research showing the potential dangers of extended alcohol sales. A recent U.S. study found that reducing late-night alcohol hours led to significant drops in violent crime. In one Baltimore neighborhood, cutting bar and tavern sales from 20 hours a day to 13 hours was linked to a 51% decrease in homicides in the first month and a 23% annual reduction in overall violent crime.

Similarly, a systematic review of alcohol policies concluded that increasing sales hours by two or more hours leads to significant rises in alcohol-related harms, including violence and excessive drinking, while reducing hours by the same amount effectively lowers those risks. The commission used these findings to argue that allowing near-24-hour alcohol sales during the World Cup could threaten public safety.

The commission also warns of potential increases in public disorder, noise, and early-morning disruptions, along with a higher risk of drunk driving incidents.

“When you’re intoxicated, it’s harder to, I guess cut them off. And if you allow it, then there’s just you’re going to have a lot of people arrested and a lot if DUI.” Moeun said.

The group argues that near-24-hour alcohol sales would conflict with recent safety initiatives downtown, including efforts by the city and the University of Missouri.

While some bars said they won’t use the extended hours approved by the state, they do plan to offer special promotions during the World Cup.

The City Council will discuss the issue at a meeting scheduled for Monday at 7 p.m.

Communication from SUPACDownload

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Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

As the Food Bank for Central & Northeast Missouri gears up to celebrate its annual One for One Holiday Food and Fund Drive on Wednesday, organizers are reminding mid-Missouri that the season of giving can last beyond the holiday season.

“A lot of the times we see gaps in volunteerism after the holidays, mostly due to school schedules,” Chief communications Officer for the Food Bank for Central & Northeast Missouri Katie Adkins said. “We have a lot of amazing college students that help us get food to the food bank and out the door really quickly so when they’re off, when they’re maybe going home for the holidays, we don’t see as many volunteers.”

Adkins adds that the food bank gets around 10,000 volunteers annually. According to a 2024 annual report, the organization shared over 21 million meals across 32 counties, adding up to around $81.2 million in economic relief.

Volunteer opportunities include sorting and packing food boxes for seniors and veterans in the volunteer room and working at the food bank’s grocery market as a stocker, grocery bagger or greeter.

“Most of our volunteer opportunities are a couple of hours, so really quick,” Adkins said. “Those are all really fun opportunities that give you the chance to connect with some other people in the community or come in as a group.”

Adkins said that working at the food bank’s volunteer room requires no training. People looking to work at the food bank market will be provided with volunteer training.

“We’re incredibly appreciative of that [volunteers], all of that saves us money that we can then put toward food, so we’re able to purchase more food because of the volunteer hours shared,” Adkins said.

Long-time volunteer James Quade told ABC 17 News that volunteer hours are flexible, and that he’s been coming in for group volunteering with his church for several years.

Quade’s group was working in the volunteer room, packing boxes with non-perishable food like cereal, peanut butter and rice. The boxes are loaded up onto palettes in groups of 32 to be sent off to food bank partners across mid-Missouri.

“Someone with a zero skill set, which I had about ten years ago, they’ll put you on the assembly line and you’ll pick it up in about 30 seconds. It is very enjoyable,” Quade said.

Quade adds that volunteering is what makes Columbia a great place to live.

“The needs of Boone County, which has about 25% poverty rate, goes year-round and we all need to do our part, whether you’re receiving or whether you’re giving,” Quade said.

The annual One for One Holiday Food Fund Drive takes place at the Columbia Mall and Buchheit in Jefferson City on Dec. 17 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Donation opportunities can also be found on the Food Bank for Central & Northeast Missouri’s website.

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Olivia Hayes

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The ABC 17 Stormtrack Weather Team has issued a Weather Alert Day for dangerously cold temperatures and wind chills in the negatives between Saturday night and Sunday morning.

This weather can cause symptoms and signs of frostbite to appear in less than 30 minutes. The extra factor of wind can make the process set in even faster.

Ears, nose, fingers and toes are the most at risk for frostbite, according to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

Signs of frostbite include:

Numbness

Pale or gray skin

Skin feels waxy to the touch

Affected areas ache or are painful

Any tingling or stinging sensations

Missouri DHSS reported 38 people died in 2024 from low body temperatures, caused by prolonged exposure to the cold. 

People experiencing frostbite or frostbite symptoms are encouraged to seek medical attention.

According to Missouri DHSS, those who don’t have medical resources immediately available can try to find a dry, warm area, remove any wet or tight-fitting clothes, or place the affected area into warm water no hotter than 105 degrees.

DHSS also warns to not rub the affected area and to not use artificial heating methods, like heating pads. After warming the area, wrap it in sterile gauze.

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Nia Hinson

MILLER COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Brumley and Columbia man were injured in a crash in Miller County Friday night.

According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report, the crash occurred on Airport Road– East of Hollar Road– around 8:20 p.m. An 18-year-old Columbia man was driving a 2000 MAZDA B4000, when the vehicle traveled too fast around a curve.

The vehicle then began to skid and crossed the center of the road. The man then overcorrected– the vehicle crossed back over the road– and traveled off the right side of the road. The truck struck a ditch, fence and tree, the report says.

The driver was taken to Lake Regional Hospital with moderate injuries. A passenger in the vehicle– a 20-year-old Brumley man was seriously injured.

According to the report, both men were wearing seatbelts when the crash occurred.

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Alison Patton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The ABC 17 Stormtrack Weather Team is monitoring dangerously cold temperatures from Saturday into Sunday. The American Red Cross has some tips to keep your home and water pipes safe as the temperatures drop below freezing Saturday.

According to the Red Cross, the pipes most likely to freeze are outside, in unheated areas of the home–like crawl spaces or in cabinets–and inside pipes that are adjacent to outside.

The Red Cross suggests adding insulation to cover pipes in the unheated parts of the home, like in the crawlspace, attic or basement.

For the pipes inside but that are not heated, the Red Cross also recommends getting pipe insulation specific sleeves. Wrapping a quarter inch of newspaper around pipes can also add some protection against the cold.

Leaving cabinet doors in the kitchen or in bathrooms open can also help, according to the Red Cross because it allows warmer to circulate inside the cabinet.

Putting the faucet on a drip could also prevent pipes from freezing because running water doesn’t easily freeze, according to the Red Cross.

People who have holiday travel plans or won’t be home for long periods of time should leave the heat on and set the thermostat to at least 55 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the Red Cross.

If pipes do freeze, the water stream from the faucet likely won’t be strong. The Red Cross suggests leaving the water running while trying to heat the pipe with a heating pad, hair dryer, a space heater or hot towels. The Red Cross also said not to use anything with an open flame, like a blow torch.

People should also check other areas of the home to make sure other pipes aren’t frozen. If a pipe isn’t defrosting, a plumber should be able to get it fixed.

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