Author: KMIZ

Euphenie Andre

AUDRAIN COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ)

With temperatures dropping to dangerous levels, Room at the Inn in Audrain County is extending its hours to make sure no one is left out in the cold. The shelter will now remain open during the day as extremely cold conditions are expected through Sunday.

The shelter is open daily from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. until renovations are expected to begin in February. If freezing temperatures continue throughout the day, the shelter may extend its hours and remain open all day, as it did Saturday.

“Not every time but every time that we can,” Executive Director Ravae Moore said.

The organization has also seen a surge in volunteer support. For the past two years, Room at the Inn had only six volunteers. This year, more than 40 trained volunteers are stepping up to help meet the growing need.

“On Dec. 3, we had a volunteer training and I was out in the hallway dealing with something and when I walked back in, there were like 30 people in the room.” Moore said. “I was speechless to see that many people that are willing and eager to come here and help,”

Catina Blackburn, one of the shelter’s consistent volunteers, said she’s happy to be doing more.

“I’ve done some things in the past like bringing in food or dropping off blankets, but I’ve always had a desire to do more,” Blackburn said.

It’s not just the volunteer base that’s expanding. The shelter itself is preparing for a major transformation.

Moore said Room at the Inn is about 1,500 square feet and has three bedrooms for guests. The shelter includes one room with 10 cots, an overflow room that fits 4 more, and a separate space with a queen size mattress reserved for families or sick guest.

The shelter received 15 mattresses and bed frames from Slumberland, along with a donation from the Mexico Jaycees that provided new sheets for each bed Saturday morning. All of the beds will be used for transitional housing.

The organization received a $350,000 grant from the Department of Economic Development in late 2024, to renovate the shelter. Moore said the project is still in its early stages.

“We haven’t gone out for bids yet, so it’s still really brand new, but we have to have it all done and completed by the end of August,” she said.

The overflow room is planned to be converted into a large bathroom with laundry facilities. Blackburn added that this addition is vital, as the shelter currently relies on the transitional housing utilities, which only a limited number of guests can access. One volunteer comes a few times a week to escort guests to transitional housing for showers and to the laundromat.

Blackburn said the improvements will make it easier for volunteers to meet the needs of guests.

“It’ll be much easier for a lot of people to provide the needs that the guests need when they come in,” Blackburn said.

Moore said that about 75 people in Audrain County are currently experiencing homelessness, but the shelter only has the capacity to serve 16. Moore adds that there is no public transportation available, meaning all guests must walk to the shelter. For those coming from the heart of the city near West Jackson Street, that walk can take about 25 minutes.

“The walk, the distance to the shelter, that’s no joke. That’s serious, and sometimes that can be a serious problem for them,’ Blackburn said.” “By the time they get here, they’re cold, they’re hungry and we’re here to just provide a safe place,”

Organizers said children are less likely to stay at the shelter compared to those in transitional housing, where the organization consistently serves several families with children.

“Some people would be surprised at the difference of ages. Literally, I think transitional right now they have everything from unborn to 70 years old,” Blackburn said.

According to Moore, the organizations helped house over 25 guest from last year.

“We work with them as much as we can. If they’re ready to get their lives stable, we’re ready to help them,” she said.

The shelter does not enforce many strict requirements to participate in the program. Staff said the primary expectations are that guests respect all staff members and refrain from bringing alcohol or drugs into the facility. If a guest does have alcohol or drugs, staff will confiscate the items. There is no co-ed sleeping arrangements, and guests are not required to undergo drug testing in order to stay.

Guests are allowed to arrive at the shelter beginning at 5 p.m. and may leave as they choose, as long as they return by 10 p.m. Staff noted, however, that some individuals work until 11 p.m., so accommodations are made on a case-by-case basis.

Moore hopes the renovations will allow the shelter to help even more people next year.

Summit Transitional Housing is inviting the public to an open house Christmas party on Thursday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Attendees will be able to tour the facility, meet staff, and hear stories from individuals and families who have experienced the program. The shelter is also asking for monetary donations and supplies to support its guests.

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Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

According to a Missouri Hospital Association report, Missouri hospitals saw a 4% drop in vacancies in 2024; however, overall turnover has remained steady.

2025_WF_Report (1)Download

Based on 2024 data, the report found that the overall turnover rate for Missouri hospitals has been above pre-pandemic levels at 22.2%, compared to 21.5% in 2020. Vacancies have dropped to 9.7% from 11.1% in 2020.

“While the turnover rate has slightly declined, it remains relatively high, suggesting ongoing workforce instability,” the report says. “The steady and more significant [vacancy] decline indicates improved staffing or more success in filling open roles.”

The report also found that staff positions with high rates of vacancy and turnover included practical nurses, registered nurses and nursing assistants.

The staff turnover rate for registered nurses in 2025 was 16.1%, down 2% from 2020. The registered nurse vacancy rate was also at 10.1%, below 12% in 2020.

In 2025, the University of Missouri had over 351 completed nursing degrees. Columbia College had more than 20 nursing graduates at its Nurses Pinning Ceremony on Friday.

According to Nursing Solutions Inc., hospital turnover nationally was at 18.3% in 2024.

To increase staffing and retention, the MHA recommends providing more options for students to enter the workforce through financial support and training opportunities. They add that improved equipment, onboarding and employee benefits would help current staff.

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Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) 

 The City of Columbia on Friday held its first legislative priorities session, bringing together local leaders and state lawmakers at City Hall to align ahead of the 2026 legislative session.

Columbia Mayor Barbra Buffaloe said the session was about ensuring Columbia’s priorities are heard in Jefferson City.

“There’s a lot of priorities a lot of institutions have. I’m really thankful for our representatives coming together with us because I believe they carry the voice of Columbia, that is the fourth largest city in the state of Missouri, and so I think that voice should be heard.”

The meeting marked a new process for the city and included Democratic Reps. Adrian Plank, Kathy Steinhoff and Gregg Bush, Republican Rep. John Martin, along with a representative from state Sen. Stephen Webber’s office.

Columbia Mayor Barbara Buffaloe said the idea for the session came after conversations with other Missouri cities.

“The idea first came about in talking to our peers cities. So the city of Springfield did something similar last year when we had a new governor coming in. I met together with the mayors from Springfield, Kansas City, and Saint Louis, and we talked about how we as cities can come together to help advocate with the new governor what our priorities are,” Buffaloe said. “Then I realized, so many other agencies and institutions do this. They advocate for themselves. They come up with what their priorities are. And so I approached the staff with doing that. And so we got together over the summer with city council and put together our priority list.”

Bush said the session helped unify lawmakers across party lines.

“This has been a really great experience tonight, making sure that all of us, irrespective of partisanship, we can all be rowing in the same direction because we don’t represent Columbia for our own sake. We represent Columbia because we love Columbia, just like everybody else that was in this room tonight,” Bush told ABC 17 News.

Bush also emphasized the importance of staying connected to the community.

“I’m in constant contact with folks from the City of Columbia. I’m in constant contact with my family, with my neighbors, with parts of my community. Really fortunate about that. Plus, that proximity means they can come down and talk with us and share certain things that they see that maybe aren’t on our radar,” Bush said. 

However, Bush says that he expects the upcoming legislative session to be challenging.

“We’re expecting probably a little bit of a volatile session this time. We’ve got a lot of challenges ahead of us. There’s going to be some budget issues. There are going to be things with respect to the federal government as well. There’s the whole issue with maps right now as well,” Bush said. “I’m really going to focus on being, again, the only nurse in the statehouse. I’m really going to focus on people’s access to health care and what it’s like to work in a health care setting.”

Martin said the session provided valuable insight into the city’s priorities.

“A good crowd today, a number of the state reps are here. And so, to be able to kind of at least be informed of what the city is looking at and then the things that are involved in the state legislature, whether it be infrastructure. MODOT, economic growth, things like that, things that we can be a part of on the state level to help Columbia be successful,” Martin said. 

City officials outlined both general and specific legislative priorities they hope to advance at the state level.

Priorities listed focus on retaining local control, public safety and fiscal stability.

The city opposes state legislation that would limit municipal authority, including oversight of short-term rentals and local revenue sources. Columbia supports measures to reduce violent crime, expand community mental health services and strengthen emergency response agencies, including reporting requirements for lost or stolen guns. 

Other priorities include expanding affordable housing, protecting municipal taxing authority, investing in transportation and infrastructure,  including I-70 expansion and transit funding, and supporting economic growth, workforce development, and environmental initiatives such as a post-consumer paint recycling program.

However, Buffaloe said public safety remains a top priority. 

“It’s something that we’ve heard from both our law enforcement, but then also local representatives,” Buffaloe told ABC 17 News. 

The city supports amending state law to match federal law regarding handgun possession by minors, requiring lost or stolen firearms to be reported to law enforcement within 72 hours of discovery, and increasing support for state emergency response agencies.

SB 922, filed by Webber, reflects those discussions. Webber’s bill would make it a class A misdemeanor if a minor is caught with a gun. 

Buffaloe was among four Missouri mayors last year to sign a letter that asked Gov. Mike Kehoe for help banning youths from possessing guns.

“Part of it was because of our discussions around minors in possession of guns and not following federal law. We just want that clarification. That’s coming from me, that’s coming from our police department, and so appreciative to Senator Webber. State Representative Kathy Steinhoff also has a similar bill in the House filed,” Buffaloe said. 

While Bush, the only nurse in the state house, says his legislative agenda revolves mostly around health care, he believes that gun safety is something that needs to be addressed. 

“Public safety is going to be an issue as well. I want to make sure that we free up physicians to do the work that they have, particularly around firearms,” Bush said. “I know there’s a physician gag order, so let’s make sure that there’s at every opportunity, there’s an opportunity to educate people about safe firearm storage and handling. I want to make sure that you can do all of those things.”

Martin said community safety and infrastructure remain his key concerns.

“One of the things that’s important to myself as a state legislator, our governor, would be the aspect of community safety,” Martin said. “The University of Missouri, City of Columbia, obviously vital to our state, and so we want to promote and see good safety, public safety for our city and also for the University of Missouri.”

Despite dedicating a significant portion of the city’s 2026 fiscal budget to public safety and forming multiple task forces aimed at addressing violence and crime, many residents still perceive public safety in Columbia negatively, a concern Mayor Barbara Buffaloe addressed.

“I honestly do believe that there are some of those who are writing the narration. They’re writing their own narrative. They’re putting it out there. I think you saw the press release this week from Chief Schlude, which is talking about how an AI-generated sort of like shots-fired system, started creating this chaos for people who thought that there had been a shooting downtown and a homicide with a teen, and that was just not true,” Buffaloe told ABC 17 News. “To me, it’s understanding media literacy, following truth to places I took your information from, rather than relying on social media.”

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Euphenie Andre

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

As winter approaches, the Boone County Fire Protection District’s fire chief is reminding residents to check their safety devices.

Scott Olsen said now is the time to make sure all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are working to give families the early warning they need.

“Fires burn a lot quicker, a lot faster now and are deadlier. You don’t have much time anymore to get out of a structure that’s on fire,” Olsen said.

The U.S Fire Administration warn that today’s house fires move much faster than in the past. Modern furniture and home materials, often made from synthetic products, burn hotter and quicker.

From the start of this month, firefighters have responded to multiple fires across Mid-Missouri, some of them causing significant damage to homes. Officials said these incidents highlight how quickly fires can escalate from a small blaze to a life-threatening situation, leaving very little time to escape.

The U.S. Fire Administration notes the growing number of lithium-ion batteries in homes is another factor contributing to faster fires. These batteries are found in phones, laptops, power tools, e-bikes and other household devices.

“Back when I first started this business, a fire could take 15-to-20 minutes to really get going because of the types of products in our homes,” Olsen said. “Nowadays, it’s less than 5 minutes. You don’t have much time to get out, so you need every warning you can get. We encourage our citizens to take smoke detectors and CO detectors very seriously.”

Lithium-ion batteries can reach thermal runaway in as little as 15 seconds after the first sign of smoke, sometimes causing explosions.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued warnings and recalls for several household items over the past year. EVERCROSS EV5 hoverboards have been flagged for fire risks, and consumers are urged to stop using them and safely remove the lithium-ion battery packs, though the company has not issued a recall or offered a remedy.

Elide brand fire-extinguishing balls may fail to put out fires, creating serious burn and inhalation hazards, and the company has also not issued a recall. Honeywell recalled about 29,000 fire alarms and strobe units due to malfunctioning sounders and strobes that could prevent them from alerting users in a fire.

Additionally, Best Buy has recalled more than 187,400 Insignia air fryers and air fryer ovens, which can overheat, melt handles, or shatter glass, posing fire, burn, and laceration hazards.

You can learn more about product recalls and safety alerts here.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A housing development in Jefferson City has been awarded more than $1.9 million in low-income housing tax credits through the Missouri Housing Development, according to a Friday press release from the city.

The credits were awarded for the Moreau Valley housing development — located at 2135 Schotthill Woods Drive – which is a proposed 48-unit multi-family development consisting of 36 three-bedroom units and 12 two-bedroom units, the release says.

The release says eight units will be set aside for the Rape and Abuse Crisis Service.

“Moreau Valley will leverage Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds, LIHTC, and private investment to make this project possible,” the release says.

Information from the city shows $1,130,000 from federal 9% tax credits, while $791,000 is from state 9% tax credits.

The release says Moreau Valley is expected to replace about one-third of rental units lost from the 2019 Jefferson City tornado.

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Erika McGuire

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

GoCOMO bus riders are sharing their concerns after the City of Columbia removed a bus shelter and trash container at a bus stop at 21 Conley Road.

The Kroenke Group, who owns the Broadway Crossings, sent a letter to the city on Sept. 19 requesting the bus shelter be removed and it was removed the following week, according to the city.

The Kroneke Group cited the bus stop having several issues including, excessive trash, excessive noise, harassment and even violence.

Columbia Police Department dispatch logs show 54 calls were made to the 2700 block of Trimble Road from Jan. 1-Sept. 19. A city of Columbia spokesman last week said the bus stop was technically located on Trimble Road. A bus stop is listed at 2701 Trimble in dispatch logs.

Of those 54 calls, two were related for trespassing, one was for vandalism and one was for harassment and 33 were listed as “check subject.”

Columbia Fire Department dispatch logs during the same period list a bus stop on Trimble Road having five calls, three of which were medical responses and two were listed as “unknown problems.”

Columbia Public Works spokesman John Ogan said the bus stop has roughly 600 riders every month and there have been several service calls at the stop compared to other shelter locations.

“Prior to its removal, the stop had generated more police responses than is typical for a shelter. These factors contributed to the property owners request or decision to withdraw consent and the shelt’er removal does not change the fact that this remains an active bus stop,” Ogan said.

According to the city, majority of bus shelters are placed on private property via an agreement with the property owner. That agreement allows the property owner to request removal of bus shelters.

“Owners have the ability to request removal of amenities, and a shelter is no different. GOCOMO would have preferred for the shelter to stay in place,” Ogan said.

Christian Tabak with the City of Columbia said in an email Monday, GoCOMO has had money in their budget to add bus shelters to existing stops but it can be difficult to find a willing property owner.

GoCOMO Transit has 228 bus stops, 29 of which have shelters, and most of those shelters are located next to private property, according to the city.

Ogan cited the several businesses that are near the stop and a rider could wait

“There are businesses there that one could, wait in if one needed to, and use the app to see how far away the bus is,” Ogan said.

ABC 17 News spoke with two GoCOMO riders who expressed frustration with the decision to remove the shelter, citing the possibility of inclement weather as a cause for concern.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Parking fines in Jefferson City could soon cost residents a lot more money.

The Jefferson City Council will introduce a bill on Monday that could significantly raise the fines associated with parking around the city.

Most notably, a fine for parking at a metered whose time is expired could rise by $19, according to the council packet. The current fine is $6 and it would be $25, if passed. Information from the council packet indicates the change would take effect immediately, if it is passed.

Parking violation fines would be changed to $25 across the board. Other notable increases includes blocking a driveway and parking in a no-parking zone increasing from $17, parking at an expired 10-hour meter results in a fine, first offense of overtime metered parking is raised from $8, while a second offense is raised from $14 and a third offense is decreased from $29.

Failing to pay parking garage fees is raised from $15, while a residential permit parking violation goes up from $18.

The council packet says the city has collected $112,149 in parking fines in 2025 and $88,108.75 in 2024

A full list of fines can be viewed in the graphic below.

A change in parking fines suggested by the Jefferson City Council. [Courtesy Jefferson City]

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Sedalia man has been charged after he was accused of stabbing a man in his stomach on Wednesday.

Samuel Storer, 43 was charged on Thursday in Pettis County with first-degree assault and armed criminal action. He is being held at the Pettis County Jail on a $25,000 bond. A court date has not been scheduled.

A deputy wrote in the probable cause statement that law enforcement was called at 10:49 p.m. that night and found the victim with a stab wound in his stomach. The victim claimed he knocked on the door of a trailer and Storer stabbed him, the statement says.

The victim then punched out a window on the door after Storer closed it, the statement says.

The victim was flown to University Hospital. A witness at the scene allegedly corroborated the victim’s story, the statement says.  

Storer allegedly told deputies that the victim and witness came to the residence multiple times throughout the day and Storer told them to leave multiple times, the statement says. Storer claimed the victim first broke the window of the door and tried to force his way in, which led to Storer punching and stabbing the victim, the statement says.

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Olivia Hayes

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Mid-Missouri homeless organizations are preparing to see an increased need as extreme low temperatures are expected over the weekend.

Maj. Nancy Powers, a Corps Officer with Columbia’s Salvation Army Harbor House, said Friday that the colder weather has already brought people to Harbor House with dangerous weather-related health problems.

“By the time they’re coming to us, they may have black fingertips or black toes,” Powers said. “Oftentimes their skin is red and cracking, that kind of thing.”

Harbor houses typically focus on families facing homelessness, but they will work with other local organizations, like Room at the Inn, on a referral basis to help with any overflow.

“We have cots so we can accommodate what we need to on cots,” Powers said. “We do screen everybody to make sure we don’t have any sexual predators, or anybody that would be dangerous with our kids.”

Powers said Harbor House’s non-resident day shelter opens at 6 a.m. and closes around the time other overnight shelters and organizations in town open up.

“They need to leave here by four o’clock to catch the bus to go there,” Powers said. “We encourage folks, get that bus so you have some place to go.”

However, families and Harbor House residents are able to stay 24 hours. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served daily for residents, but lunch is open to members of the public.

“It’s really good that they’re here and they offer the services that they do,” said Melanie Mooney, a Harbor House resident.

Powers said the shelter needs more winter gear and clothing for its residents and community members in need.

“Boots, hats, gloves, scarves,” Powers said. “Adult coats, especially large sizes of adult coats, are really important.” 

John Trapp, with Columbia’s Room at the Inn, said 110 beds are available for people looking to get out of the cold overnight. Trapp also said Turning Point, located at Columbia’s United Methodist Church on Wilkes Boulevard, will be open overnight as a warming center to assist with any overflow.

Audrain County is expected to be one of the hardest hit areas by the extreme low temperatures. Ra’Vae Edwards-Moore, executive director for Audrain County’s Room at the Inn, said it will be open 24 hours on Saturday and Sunday with capacity for 16 people overnight.

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Alison Patton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The state is working with stakeholders to figure out how to implement restrictions to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the Missouri Department of Social Services said Friday.

The state was approved to adjust the SNAP program to exclude items like sodas, candy, packaged and prepared desserts and juice with less than 50% of vegetable or fruit juice.

Kim Buckman from Feeding Missouri said the organization hopes to be included in conversations with the state as it navigates how and what to restrict.

“We hope to work closely with the state, retailers, and partners to ensure efforts to support healthier outcomes are implemented in ways that protect access to food and strengthen the systems that communities of every size depend on,” Buckman wrote in an email.

She also emphasised the need for clarity with the new restrictions.

“Changes need to be clear, consistent, and practical so they don’t unintentionally reduce access to food or place added strain on local retailers — risking their ability to continue serving their communities,” Buckman said.

The earliest start date for the prohibition is Oct. 1, 2026.

California resident and SNAP recipient Regina Anderson said her five-year-old daughter could have a hard time switching juices.

“It’s not fair if you think about it because most juices are less than 50% juice,” Anderson said. “Unless you’re getting 100% apple juice or 100% orange juice. Not every kid likes apple juice or orange juice. My daughter like drinking the little Kool-Aid juices.”

Anderson also said she uses her SNAP dollars to bring cupcakes or ice cream into her daughter’s class when it’s her birthday to celebrate. She won’t be able to do that under the new restrictions.

Bryan Wolford, another California resident, said he was on a USDA commodities program as a child.

He said that while he sees the importance of the SNAP program, he thinks the program should have limits.

“Taxpayers, which I am and have been since I was 15, we should not be paying for these high sugar, high fat foods that are essentially poisoning our families and our Missouri kids,” Wolford said.

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