Author: KMIZ

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Columbia residents may soon notice Ameren workers upgrading “aging infrastructure” in the East Campus area, a Monday press release from Ameren Missouri says.

The release says 3.6 miles of natural gas infrastructure will be updated.

Phase 1 began Monday between Rockhill Road and Cliff Drive, according to the release. Phase 2 will continue in the summer from College Avenue to Williams Street and Phase 3 will occur in the fall Williams Street to Rockhill Road.

“Our proactive approach is ensuring the safe, reliable delivery of natural gas our customers count on every day, while reinforcing our system to meet the demands of tomorrow,” PamHarrison, senior director of gas operations for Ameren Missouri, was quoted in the release. “Prudent investments to expand and modernize our system like this continue to help us better serve our customers.”

The release says Ameren is working with the Missouri Department of Transportation, the City of Columbia and University of Missouri for traffic control.

“Affected customers in the area have been notified that they may experience a short disruption of natural gas service as the improvements are completed,” the release says.

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Nia Hinson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Some Stephens College students returned to their residence halls Monday morning following a carbon monoxide scare this past Wednesday.

Searcy and Prunty Halls were evacuated last week after a carbon monoxide sensor was activated on Wednesday night. The school then closed the two residence halls and shut down the boiler of both buildings.

The school announced on Monday morning that students were able to safely return to the residence halls after “extensive safety inspections” and equipment upgrades. According to a release, the school worked with the City of Columbia Assistant Fire Marshal and upgraded its carbon monoxide monitoring and detection infrastructure across campus.

There are carbon monoxide sensors on every floor of every residence hall, the release says.

Heating system repairs were completed for both residence halls and new boilers were also installed.

The school also said that residence life staff and campus security are completing training on how to monitor carbon monoxide sensors. Student life leaders are expected to meet with students for a review of emergency procedures.

“The College acknowledges the disruption experienced by students and families over the past week and emphasizes that student safety and well-being remain its highest priorities,” the release says.

Charlie Keefe is a sophomore at Stephens College who said she returned home from her internship on Wednesday and saw a swarm of Columbia Fire Department vehicles. Keefe said she was quickly told by firefighters that the resident halls were being evacuated and said she spent the next few days in a Hampton Inn while the halls remained closed.

Keefe said that she was glad she was able to move into her dorm quickly and said the incident was unexpected, but said she was thankful for how the school handled the situation.

“I’m super happy that they’re installing these new detectors. They put them in all the campus buildings, so it’s not just our dorms that have the upgrade, which is really great piece of mind for sure,” Keefe said. “And then we’ve gotten like a bunch of email communication from different leaders on campus to make sure that like if we need counseling services or reimbursement for travel if we had to stay somewhere outside of the hotel, things like that.”

Keefe also said her resident assistant scheduled a meeting with residents for Monday night to go over how the detectors work.

Columbia Fire Chief Brian Schaeffer said on Monday that firefighters were called to the campus and found several carbon monoxide alarms going off. Schaeffer said firefighters went to the basement and found an old boiler that was being used as the primary heating source for both buildings.

As part of their normal practice, crews turned on their monitor and checked for four conditions; carbon monoxide, oxygen deficiency and upper-and-lower-explosive limits.

Schaeffer said they found about 100 parts per million on the first, second and third floors of the building, which is too high. However, the main area where the boiler is located had about 300 parts per million.

Schaeffer said they’d typically like to see anything fewer than nine.

Firefighters were able to safely monitor the air area using self-contained breathing apparatus, had to change the way they ventilated the building and had to force air inside of it due to it being subterranean. Crews also found a tunnel that connected the basement to Prunty hall, which was found with readings between 45-70 parts per million of carbon monoxide. Firefighters then worked to evacuate the buildings.

According to Schaeffer, several students on scene reported not feeling well and were evaluated by a paramedic but refused further treatment and transportation to a hopsital. Several students were later evaluated at Boone Hospital.

Stephens College said it received official permits to allow students to return to the residence halls after an inspection was completed on Friday night. Schaeffer said inspections typically work by having firefighters go to each floor with a gas detector.

“They monitored floor-to-floor, length of the entire building and all of the areas and all the potential dead spaces to make sure when the furnace is running, that they don’t have any measurable carbon monoxide and then they determine it to be OK to occupy, or safe to occupy,” Schaeffer said.

Schaeffer also commended the help of Ameren in its response and said their help is crucial.

Schaeffer also said that they learned from students who said they heard a beeping noice coming from the carbon monoxide alarms off for a while, but that they were unsure what the sound was. He said the fire department believes there may have been a delay in reporting the incident, although it is still investigating.

“Every incident that we have is an opportunity I think to learn as a community and from a community risk reduction standpoint, education is a big piece for us as well as engineering. So, if there’s a way to tie those carbon monoxide detectors into one so that it’s engineered to respond as a system and then to also educate folks to know what that means,” Schaeffer said.

Schaeffer said he reccomends that people change the batteries to their carbon monoxide detectors every six months and test to make sure the audible speaker works by pressing the button. He also said people should keep the sensor away from anything that could cover it.

It’s also recommended that you have a carbon monoxide monitor on every floor of your home and to make sure it isn’t more than 10 years old. Anyone who hears the alarm going off should immediately leave and call 911.

Stephens College is also reinforcing the use of “pet-in-residence” signs in their residence halls for students with pets to ensure that they are accounted for during emergencies. The college is also working with students who need to be reimbursed while they were temporarily relocated, the release says.

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Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Despite it being over a week since the City of Columbia’s first major snowfall of the season, city sidewalks continue to be packed down with snow and ice.

According to Leigh Kottwitz, Neighborhood Services manager with the city’s Community Development Department, the City has received 107 cases and received fewer than 10 complaints for snow-covered sidewalks since the storm.

Problem areas include areas downtown, the Benton-Stephens neighborhood and the Paris Road Corridor.

“When we receive complaints about this issue, often it touches many properties,” Kottwitz said.

“The variability of the sidewalk clarity downtown is wild,” Columbia resident Elizabeth De Kunffy said. “I’ve slipped a few times, especially in the alleys, I have to walk through an alley to get to my apartment, so that’s been really bad.”

According to section 302.3 of the International Property Maintenance Code and City of Columbia Code of Ordinances 24-12, the city’s ordinance requires sidewalks to be free from “snow, ice and other hazards.” This is the responsibility of people who “own or occupy” a property.

The ordinance is in place for pedestrians and wheelchair users. Kottwitz added there have been reports of pedestrians walking onto the road to avoid snowy areas.

“The ordinance is to have a walkable community and also one where, if people are walking or using wheelchairs, that they have a safe path,” Kottwitz said.

“We also have a few residents in our building who are in mechanical wheelchairs, and I’ve seen some problems with them being able to get over piles of snow and patches of ice,” De Kunffy said.

When the city receives a complaint, it goes to the location to verify if there is a sidewalk violation. If there is a violation, the property owner is contacted. Repeat offenders are given warnings and possibly could be charged with a misdemeanor, which could result in a minimum fine of $750.

Kottwitz said the city has not had a history of prosecuting homeowners; however, they do keep records of homes that violate the ordinance.

“We’ve gotten a good response in many cases, sometimes it’s, just, ‘Hey, I didn’t even think about this, it didn’t dawn on me that I needed to keep the sidewalk clear,'” Kottwitz said. “We really want to raise people’s awareness about this issue, I think there’s a lot of folks that maybe if they don’t use the sidewalk, maybe they don’t realize the importance of following the city ordinance.”

Below-freezing temperatures are expected in the upcoming evenings so it is recommended that homeowners treat the snow during the afternoon hours.

“Just because you’re getting that slush,” ABC 17 Chief Meteorologist Jessica Hafner said. “I would try to get that first layer off because if anything is melted underneath, that’s going to be harder to get down and then you can probably put some salt on that and allow that to melt before the sun goes down.”

De Kunffy added that being in a pedestrian-heavy city, Columbia could do more to address the issue.

“I feel like if the businesses are solely responsible for clearing the sidewalks, we can’t expect them to have the resources to do it as well as the city could,” De Kunffy said. “The fact that only the roads and not the sidewalks are clear really reads to me that the city prioritizes cars over pedestrians, which is really disappointing.”

Complaints can be made to the city through the contact center: (573) 874-3489.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Dark and watery soil that construction crews encountered in Sedalia last month was determined to be nonhazardous, the city wrote in a Monday press release.

The release says possible soil issues were discovered by crews on Jan. 16 near the former Sutherlands property, Memory Lanes Bowling Alley and the new fire station. The city wrote that it had expected to possibly run into issues and had put together a plan to address those situations last year.

The city wrote that testing on the soil was already occurring when “a passerby took photographs showing darker soil and a small pool of liquid. Shortly thereafter, a second party reported their observations and complaints to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.”

“At that time, it was confirmed that no tanks had been identified or confirmed, the soil had already been properly isolated and contained, and the site response was being managed in accordance with the pre-established Soil & Groundwater Management Plan. No additional corrective action was required beyond the procedures already in place,” the release stated.

The soil was eventually determined to be suitable for the landfill.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Nordstrom Rack will open a new location in Columbia later this year, the chain announced in a Monday press release.

The business has four locations in Missouri, according to its website, including two in St. Louis, one in Manchester and one in Des Peres. Nordstrom Rack is the off-price division of Nordstrom, according to the release.

The 25,000 square-foot store Columbia location will be placed at the Shoppes at Stadium near the new Trader Joe’s.

“We look forward to being a part of the Columbia community and serving our customers with an amazing offering of great brands at great prices,” President of Nordstrom Rack Gemma Lionello said in the release. “We’re excited to grow our footprint in the Columbia market and introduce new customers to the Nordstrom experience.”   

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Josie Anglin

Homelessness Report (January 2026)Download

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A report from the city of Columbia shows that homelessness fell in 2025.

The report states that 309 homeless individuals were counted during the annual survey in Boone County in 2025. That’s down from the 323 people recorded the year before.

The count was conducted on one night in January and does not include people who are staying with family or friends or living in hotels. Columbia is looking at how five other Midwest cities address homelessness, and plans to transition from a reactive to a proactive plan aimed at putting unhoused people in permanent homes.

The highest number of homeless people counted in Boone County over the last four years was 326, in 2022. The highest number of unsheltered people was recorded in 2024, at 85.

 

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A group of people sued Hawthorn Bank and Cole County on Friday in order to block the land auction of a piece of land that was intended to become a county park by its former owner.

Gary Scheperle, Mark Knapp, Tony Porter, Steve Brandt, Gary Bemboom, Tony Brenneke and Charles Steck are listed as the plaintiffs in the case.

Nearby landowners have organized to stop the bank’s auction of Lawrence Renn Jr.’s land for several months. Friends of Renn have said the cattle farmer left the 178 acres in Elston to the county for use as a park. The group claims the administrator of Renn’s trust, Hawthorn Bank, was not being honest with the county on how much money the trust had when the commission discussed the issue in 2024.

Mark Knapp and others had asked for a 60-day pause to sort through and verify trust documents, previous reporting shows.

The petition from the group asks the judge to remove Hawthorn Bank as a trustee, to give temporary relief by blocking the Feb. 7 auction and to appoint a successor trustee. It also asks the judge to set aside a consent judgement issued in Hawthorn Bank’s lawsuit against the county in 2024.

Judge Daniel Green recused himself from the case on Monday, according to court filings. Judge Joseph Shetler was assigned to the case on Monday and a civil setting was scheduled for 9 a.m. Friday, the day before the auction is set to take place.

The Cole County Commission last week said it would not sue Hawthorn Bank to stop the land auction, with Commissioner Sam Bushman claiming the county had “no valid ground” to sue.

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Josie Anglin

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Columbia City Council will consider changes to how the city responds to emergencies at Monday night’s meeting.

The proposed changes would make the Columbia Fire Department chief the city’s emergency operations manager. It would also make the Columbia Fire Department the lead agency in responding to disasters.

Every city department would have to designate one person to participate in the City’s emergency plans if this proposed plan goes into effect. Fire Chief Brian Schaeffer said this change clarifies which is the lead agency in emergencies.

Boone County would remain in command of the response to countywide emergencies and oversee countywide training.

The item is listed on the council’s consent agenda and is expected to receive a vote.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A man who was found guilty last month of murdering a Hermann police officer in 2023 will be sentenced in June.

Kenneth Simpson, of Steelville, was found guilty on Jan. 24 of first-degree murder, first-degree assault, two counts of illegal gun possession, one count of illegally possessing a weapon and two counts of armed criminal action. 

A jury on Friday recommended that Simpson should face the death penalty.

Court filings made public on Monday show Simpson will be sentenced at 1 p.m. Friday, June 12 at the Franklin County Courthouse.

Simpson was accused of shooting and killing Sgt. Mason Griffith and wounding Officer Adam Sullentrup in March 2023. The trial started Jan. 20 in Franklin County after it was moved from Gasconade County in 2023, where the shooting happened.

Simpson shot both men within 15 seconds on March 12, 2023, at a Casey’s convenience store in Hermann.

Police caught Simpson following a more than 12-hour standoff. The state of Missouri, on Sept. 14, 2023, filed a notice of intent to seek the death penalty against Simpson.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Gravois Mills man was charged in Morgan County after he allegedly assaulted a man and fired a gun into a home early on Saturday.

Jacob Roberts, 26, was charged with first-degree assault, armed criminal action, first-degree burglary, unlawful use of a weapon and first-degree property damage. He is being held at the Morgan County Jail without bond. An arraignment was scheduled for 9 a.m. Tuesday.

The probable cause statement says deputies were called at 12:45 a.m. after Roberts allegedly broke a television during a fight with the victim. Roberts allegedly started destroying property after an argument started about an ex-girlfriend, the statement says.

Another fight allegedly occurred in the driveway of the home, the victim ran back inside the home and Roberts fired a shot through a fall in the garage, the statement says. Deputies eventually found a bullet in a door in the home along with damage, the statement says.

Deputies tried initially calling out to Roberts in his nearby home and called his phone several times with no answer, the statement says. When he eventually picked up the phone, he was asked by police about firing the gun, to which Roberts allegedly said “that’s a whole separate issue,” court documents say.

Another person who knew Roberts allegedly arrived on scene and informed law enforcement of a phone call they had with Roberts in which he allegedly acknowledged the fight and claimed he would go to jail, the statement says.

Guns were found in Roberts’ home and truck, the deputy wrote.

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