Author: KMIZ

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Another woman has been charged in connection with an alleged gun theft ring in Columbia.

Shannon Babich, of Columbia, was charged with stealing a gun and misdemeanor unlawful possession drug paraphernalia. A warrant was ordered and a $20,000 bond was set. She is not listed on the Boone County Jail roster.

Babich was allegedly at Thomas Abbey Jr.’s residence when Abbey was pulled over during a vehicle stop, the probable cause statement says. A SWAT team served a search warrant at the residence and found a handgun in a backpack along with a loaded syringe, court documents say. Abbey allegedly said the handgun was Babich’s, the statement says.

Babich’s phone was taken by law enforcement and data from it was downloaded for a search warrant, the statement says. Text messages allegedly indicated that Babich took the gun back from someone, court documents say. The gun was reported stolen from Boonville, court documents say.

Abbey is accused of buying a gun from Kayla Dugan, 37, of Columbia, and trading the gun with Ronald McIntire for a truck.

Dugan was indicted on Friday for two counts of unlawful gun possession, one count of stealing a gun and one count of drug possession. An arraignment was set for 8:30 a.m. Friday, May 23.

Dugan was arrested last month and 14 guns were found in her apartment – and several more found at Kiwanis Park – she allegedly described people who bought guns. Several of the guns were reported stolen from Macon.

Justin Shelton, 30, of Columbia, was charged with two counts of illegal gun possession and one count of stealing a gun. He is being held at the Fulton Reception and Diagnostic Center. An initial court appearance in his case is scheduled for 1:10 p.m. Friday, May 2.

Abbey, of Columbia, was charged with illegal gun possession, stealing a gun and drug possession. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. Thursday. He bonded out of jail earlier this month.

Gerald Bell, 44, of Centralia, was indicted by a grand jury on Friday on charges including illegal gun possession and stealing a gun. He is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond. An arraignment is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Monday.

Robert Ruble, 38, of Columbia, was charged with receiving stolen property, drug possession, unlawful use of a weapon and armed criminal action. He is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond. A preliminary hearing is set for 9 a.m. Thursday, May 22.

Tyrone Sabb, 49, of Columbia, was charged with receiving stolen property, four counts of illegal gun possession and two counts of armed criminal action. A hearing is scheduled for Thursday.

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Madison Stuerman

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A 33-year-old man from Belton was seriously hurt after a crash between two semi-trucks on Interstate 70 in Saline County Monday afternoon.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report, the crash happened at 2:20 p.m. on Monday on I-70 westbound mile marker 65.2.

The crash report states that a 2023 Freightliner Cascadia, driven by a 46-year-old man from Michigan, was stopped for traffic congestion.

The 33-year-old truck driver tried to pass the first truck when it hit the towed unit of the Freightliner.

Troopers said the 33-year-old was seriously hurt and taken by helicopter to Centerpoint Medical Center in Independence. The other driver was not hurt.

The 2019 International Truck was totaled while the 2023 Freightliner Cascadia had moderate damage.

Both drivers were reported to be wearing seat belts at the time of the crash, according to the report.

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Matthew Sanders

Inflation and slow sales tax growth are catching up with Columbia’s city budget.

City leaders project that without more revenue, the city will have to draw down $31.1 million from its cash reserves over the next six years. Columbia’s city manager has warned that expenses could outpace revenue as soon as Oct. 1 — the start of the 2026 fiscal year.

Several options for tax increases have been put on the table to address the budget gap.

Do you think the city should consider tax increases to deal with projected budget deficits? Let us know by voting in the poll.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

C&R Market in Fulton is closing its doors, the store announced Monday afternoon on its social media.

Employees of the store – located at 640 Commons Drive – have been offered positions at other store locations, the post says. The chain’s website shows several locations around Mid-Missouri, including Shelbina, Monroe City, California, Boonville, Fayette and Slater.

A final day of operation was not explicitly stated in the post, however the store wrote that a “closeout sale” would begin Wednesday.  

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Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The City of Columbia may consider raising its sales tax as it prepares to draw down $31.1 million from its cash reserves over the next six years.

The projected spending comes as sales tax revenue falls short of expectations and employee wages and benefits continue to rise.

The City of Columbia purchased economic data from Oxford Economics to assist with future financial projections. 

According to Columbia’s Director of Finance Matthew Lue , while sales tax revenue is still growing, it is not expected to increase at the same pace as last year. In fiscal year 2024, Columbia collected approximately $31.8 million in sales tax revenue. That figure is projected to decline to about $30.1 million by the end of fiscal year 2025. However that number is expected to estimated to gradually increase to $34.3 million by 2031. 

Potential tax hikes on the table

Columbia’s current sales tax rate is 7.98%, but the City Council is considering several new taxes to boost revenue.

One proposal would add a tax on tobacco products, including an extra 10 cents per pack of cigarettes and 10 cents per milliliter of nicotine for e-cigarettes. 

The city is also exploring new 1% sales taxes dedicated to economic development or capital improvements for public safety. Both would require voter approval.

Other options include a 0.25% sales tax for capital improvements or a dedicated parks tax.

A separate 1% public safety sales tax is also under consideration, but would require approval from the state legislature. That tax would support public safety operations, large-scale projects and pension obligations.

Revenue PresentationDownload

City looks to balance 2026 budget

The city’s fiscal year 2025 budget included a $23 million deficit, with projected revenue of approximately $540 million compared to $563 million in expected spending.

Last year, city staff told ABC 17 News that the deficit would be something to watch closely. City Manager De’Carlon Seewood warned at the time that expenses could surpass revenues by the start of fiscal 2026, which begins Oct. 1.

Seewood said during Monday’s pre-council meeting that city staff is working to reduce the current budget, with a goal of achieving a balanced budget in fiscal 2026 to avoid deficit spending. Among the strategies being considered include reviewing current expenditures and evaluating whether unfilled, unfunded positions are still necessary.

Reserves projected to shrink

Columbia is now projected to end fiscal 2025 with about $37.6 million in its general fund cash reserve, according to a presentation shown to the City Council on Monday. By fiscal 2031, that number is expected to shrink to just $6.5 million.

Revenue Forecast for the FY26 BudgetDownload

General fund revenue is projected to exceed $127 million by the end of fiscal 2025, up from nearly $124 million in 2024. It is expected to dip slightly to $126 million in 2026, but will gradually increase to just over $135 million by 2031. 

Courtesy of City of Columbia

Spending, however, is forecasted to top $129 million in 2025 and nearly $130 million in 2026, with much of the increase tied to employee salaries and benefits.

A major change in the fiscal 2025 budget was a $10 million increase aimed at improving employee compensation. When the budget was approved, city leaders expected to generate up to $1 million in revenue from a 3% marijuana sales tax approved by voters in April 2024. That tax took effect in October and was factored into the funding for employee pay raises.

Courtesy of City of Columbia

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Lincoln University Board of Curators approved a 5% tuition increase for next school year during its meeting on Thursday in Jefferson City, according to meeting documents.

Mandatory fees will not change from this past school year, which includes activity fees, building maintenance, technology and athletic fees. Mandatory fees for the 2025 summer session decreased by 50%.

The non-academic holiday schedule was approved for the 2025-26 fiscal year, which includes Thursday July 3, for Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving and the day after, Christmas Eve and Christmas, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Lincoln’s Birthday (Friday, Feb. 13, 2026), spring break from March 9-13, 2026, Free Day on April 3, Memorial Day and Juneteenth.

Winter break will occur at the end of business on Friday, Dec. 19, 2025-Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026.

The board also approved non-academic holiday schedule for the 2026-27 fiscal year, which includes Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, the day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas, New Year’s Eve, New Year’s day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Lincoln’s birthday (Feb. 12), spring break (March 8-12, 2027), Free Day (March 26), Memorial Day and Juneteenth.

Winter break will occur from the end of business on Friday, Dec. 18, 2026-Jan. 3, 2027.

2025 04 17 BoC Action ItemsDownload

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