Author: KMIZ

Nia Hinson

MILLER COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Montreal man was seriously injured in a crash in Miller County early Saturday morning.

According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report, the 23-year-old was driving a 2007 Ford F150 south near Forgotten Lane around 2 a.m. The report states the man failed to negotiate a curve– traveled off the right side of the road– overcorrected– and cross the center of the road. The truck then began to skid, the report says.

The truck then slid off the right side of the road and hit a tree.

The man was taken to Lake Regional Hospital with serious injuries. The report states he was not wearing a seatbelt when the crash occurred.

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Euphenie Andre

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Ameren has canceled its alert asking customers to conserve energy as extreme cold drives up electricity demand across the region.

The cancellation comes after the Midcontinent Independent System Operator– which oversees the Midwest power grid– urged energy companies to reduce usage. Ameren said it is still monitoring conditions and warned customers may be asked to conserve again in the coming days.

Some Ameren customers said they are frustrated by the requests to cut back, especially as energy bills continue to rise.

On Friday, Ameren told ABC 17 News that hundreds of crews are ready to respond if outages happen. The company also said trailers with restoration equipment have already been moved to strategic locations to speed up recovery.

At the same time, Ameren activated demand response programs–agreements some customers previously signed up for that require them to reduce energy use during periods of extremely high demand.

But for some customers, those requests hit a nerve.

Belinda Kitchen has been an Ameren customer for 11 years and is enrolled in the company’s budget billing program, which is intended to spread energy costs evenly throughout the year based on past usage.

She said being asked to cut back during a five-hour window doesn’t add up, especially when she’s already paying a steady monthly bill.

“I think it’s kind of crazy because, one, they have got the rates up, and why should we have to do that? Because, one, we’re trying to keep warm and we’re trying to do the best that we can,” Kitchen said.

During the five-hour energy-saving period, Ameren asked customers to lower their thermostats, wear extra layers, unplug or turn off nonessential appliances, cover windows, and reduce water heater temperatures.

Kitchen said her family has been cutting back for months, but their bills haven’t gone down, leaving her wondering where the money is going.

“In November we had Thanksgiving dinner and the thermostat was set on 69 so we cut it,” Kitchen said. “We had it back on 68 for December, and we didn’t use the stove, and our bill doubled for December.”

Kitchen lives in a three-person household and said her most recent bill was $180 on budget billing, only slightly lower than when she first moved in eleven years ago, when it was around $200.

She said rising rates make it especially difficult for families.

“They need to keep the rates down for low-income people, honestly, and think about all the other people and not think about the almighty dollar,” Kitchen said.

Ameren was not the only utility company that asked customers to conserve. Columbia Water and Light also posted on social media Saturday afternoon urging residents to cut back where they can.

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Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Watch live online newscasts with winter storm updates here.

The first one airs at 3 p.m.

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Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The City of Columbia reminded drivers to move their vehicles that are parked along heavily trafficked roads as snow continued to build up on the ground Saturday evening.

Columbia Public Works wrote in a social media post that a 26-person snow-removal crew reported to work at 7 p.m. and will work overnight on priority routes. The city reminded drivers that vehicles must be removed from first- and second-priority routes or be towed once snow accumulation reaches 2 inches.

The Columbia Regional Airport measured 1.2 inches of snowfall at 6 p.m. Saturday, the National Weather Service reported. Snow continued to fall and was expected to keep falling into Sunday.

Most of Mid-Missouri remained under a winter storm warning until 6 p.m. Sunday.

Roads south of Interstate 70 remained mostly covered in snow after sunset Saturday, according to the Missouri Department of Transportation’s traveler information map. The map showed I-70 itself was partially covered.

Interstate 44 reopened after tractor-trailers jackknife

Interstate 44 eastbound reopened in the St. Robert area in Pulaski County at about 4:30 p.m.

The highway closed several hours earlier, with the Missouri State Highway Patrol saying “multiple” tractor-trailers had jackknifed on the snow-covered road.

State highways south of Interstate 70 were listed as covered in snow on the Missouri Department of Transportation’s traveler information map. Most of Mid-Missouri remained under a winter weather warning Saturday afternoon as snow continued to fall. Temperatures were in the single digits around the area, with negative wind chills.

The ABC 17 Stormtrack Weather Team forecasts several more inches of snow to fall before the storm exits the area on Sunday.

Interstate 44 closed in Pulaski County as snowfall continues

The highway patrol closed one side of Interstate 44 in Pulaski County on Saturday afternoon after a pileup involving multiple tractor-trailers.

Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop I posted on social media that eastbound I-44 was closed at mile marker 163 in the St. Robert area after “multiple tractor-trailers jackknifed.” The patrol did not provide other details.

The Missouri Department of Transportation’s traveler information map showed the closure would likely last several hours.

The map lists I-44 in the area of the crash as snow-covered. The map also showed Highway 63 covered from the Lake of the Ozarks area to the northern border of Boone County. Most smaller state highways were also listed as covered.

Interstate 70 was partially covered throughout the state.

A public observer in Rolla reported about an inch of snowfall just before 1 p.m.

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Steven Lambson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A fire destroyed a home in Howard County late Thursday, according to the Glasgow Fire District.

In a post on Facebook, GFD said crews responded to a home near Boonsboro at around 11:20 p.m. The fire had spread to the entire home as crews arrived, the post said.

The fire district reported everyone inside got out without injury but the home is a total loss. The post added that bitter cold and windy conditions created icy and hazardous conditions for responders.

Crews cleared the scene just under four hours after the initial call, at around 3:15 a.m.

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Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Mid-Missouri roads saw snow collecting starting a little before 8 p.m. Saturday, leading to slick roads and lowered visibility.

Two to three inches of snow are expected to be on the ground in Columbia by the afternoon with heavier snow expected to begin overnight and into Sunday morning. Travel is expected to be more difficult on Sunday.

Areas south of Jefferson City are expecting to get over six inches.

Boone County Joint Communications has not reported any crashes since 11 a.m. Saturday however, Champions Drive at Providence Road was reported closed around 10 a.m.

An ABC 17 News reporter found difficulties breaking and turning while on major roads and intersections in Columbia, such as on Providence Road and Stadium Blvd.

An ABC 17 Stormtrack Meteorologist also noticed snow visibility issues when driving behind other cars.

The MoDot Traveler map also reported major roads like Highway 63 and U.S. Route 50 covered at around 11 a.m.

According to the City of Columbia, Columbia Public Works Crews began snowplow duty at around 7 a.m. with crews expected to work in 12-hour shifts throughout the day.

Both the Columbia Police Department and Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop F made posts warning travelers about road conditions, with the CPD warning that the extreme cold may make salt less effective and the MSHP asking drivers to postpone travel if possible.

The Columbia Fire Department also reminded residents to dress warm and cover faces, noses, toes and ears. The Boone County Fire Protection District also asked homeowners to keep fire hydrants clear of snow by about three feet so crews can access them in case of emergencies.

LINK: Closures and delays

Several churches have called off Sunday service times, and Central Methodist University’s campus will be closed Monday.

The weather has also impacted flights into and out of Columbia Regional Airport. According to the airport’s flight status tracker, two early Saturday flights – one to Dallas and one to Chicago – were diverted, a flight to Denver was delayed and an early afternoon flight to Dallas has been canceled. One arriving flight from Chicago was delayed and one from Dallas was canceled.

This is an ongoing story.

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Steven Lambson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Winter weather early Saturday morning prompted a closure of Champions Drive at Providence Road shortly after 10 a.m.

The closure impacts one of the road’s two entry points ahead of a home game at Mizzou Arena between the Mizzou Tigers and Oklahoma Sooners. The game tips off at 1 p.m.

Snowfall has started to increase in pace and amount as the morning has gone on, causing more snow coverage on roads. As of 10:20 a.m. the MoDOT travel map reports major roads in mid-Missouri covered or partly covered.

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Haley Swaino

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Columbia Fire Department reports no current injuries following a house fire on Vandiver Drive in northeast Columbia early Saturday morning.

According to CFD Chief Brian Schaeffer, crews arrived at the 1300 block of Vandiver Drive a little after 1 a.m. to see fire coming out of the building’s basement, up through the first floor and into the attic. A total of 10 CFD units with 20 people responded to the fire.

At the scene, crews tapped into two water lines in the front and back of the building. Firefighters were also seen using ladders to get into the upper floors of the building and cutting through the roof of the building to ventilate the building.

“That smoke is unburned fuel and if we allow it to stay in that box, it becomes not only toxic, but it also becomes a flash hazard. That smoke can combust and cause an instant flashover,” Schaeffer said. “We get above on the roof and we create openings in that roof to allow that toxic smoke to go out.”

The CFD reported issues with frozen ladders and slick spots due to below-freezing temperatures. City crews also stopped by to give firefighters sand and salt to help with treating the ice.

“Your heart rate’s up and the water weighs about eight pounds per gallon, and we have people in there right now walking around, and they look like icicles are covered head to toe in ice just from all of the water that we’ve been using,” Schaeffer said.

Crews also found one man and a dog inside of the building. The building owner confirmed with CFD that the building was unoccupied.

A post by the Columbia Fire Department added that the man later said five other adults were using the home as shelter and escaped before fire crews arrived.

“It appears like there may have been some unhoused folks that may have been trespassing inside there, but we still can’t confirm, right now, we were only able to account for one of those people,” Schaeffer said.

Schaeffer added that the roof of the building was unstable and the fire made several holes in the main floor from the basement.

“It’s unstable, it’s not safe for us to be there,” Schaeffer said. “Until we have daylight, we’re able to get a better idea of the structural stability of this building, we’re probably not going to put firefighters in there until we have those checks marked.”

An ABC 17 News reporter arrived on scene around 2:15 a.m. and saw heavy smoke coming from a home in the 1300 block of Vandiver Drive. At least three Columbia Fire Department engines, four Columbia police cruisers, a Boone Health ambulance and an air truck was seen.

Air trucks are special fire vehicles used at the scene of long-duration emergencies. They can refill firefighters’ breathing apparatus and provide bright lighting.

“There’s only two of them in our system and they go to all of the working fires so that we’re able to replenish our air supply here instead of having to go back to a fire station,” Schaeffer said.”

Another ABC 17 News reporter also saw smoke billowing over Interstate 70 near the area.

Boone County Joint Communications sent an alert around 1:30 that said Vandiver Drive near Parker Street was closed due to a fire incident. Drivers were asked to take a different route.

About 10 minutes later, BCJC said Vandiver Drive was also closed near Range Line Street due to the incident.

BCJC reported the road to be back open at 4:12 a.m.

The cause of the fire is being investigated by the fire marshal.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

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Euphenie Andre

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Missouri residents are being warned about potential power outages this weekend due to an incoming winter storm, according to the Southeastern Electric Reliability Corporation. The organization serves more than 91 million customers across the south-central United States.

Under normal winter conditions, SERC said there is enough power to meet demand. However, if severe cold spreads south as expected Saturday, the system could be stressed.

Extreme cold can cause power plants to fail unexpectedly and drive electricity demand up as people crank up their heat. Generators can provide temporary power, but officials stress they must be used safely.

“Generators are meant to be run outside,” said Gale Blomenkamp, who is an assistant chief for the Boone County Fire Protection District. “They’re not to be run inside garages. They’re not to bee run next to your house or by or near window so that carbon monoxide can come off that generator and actually get into the house.”

Other backup heat sources, such as space heaters, fireplaces, and stoves should also be closely monitored while in use.

With temperatures expected to drop well below freezing, frozen pipes are a major concern. Missouri American Water recommends, knowing the location of your main shut-off valve, wrapping pipes with insulation, and letting water trickle overnight to prevent freezing.

“What we instructed our firefighters to do is open the cabinets underneath their sinks, trickle the water overnight, let the water trickle that keeps it from freezing,” Blomenkamp said.

He added to never use open flames or heating tools like a propane torch or a hair dryer to thaw frozen pipes because they can quickly cause fires. Officials caution response times for emergencies may be longer than usual during the storm.

“The snow is one thing, whether it’s fire, EMS or law enforcement working in the snow. But these bitter cold temperatures are very dangerous for us as well,” Blomenkamp said. “Understand that it’s going to take us longer to get to your emergency, but we will get there,”

MU Health Care warned patients that ambulance services could also experience delays.

As residents prepare to be snowed in this weekend, local grocery stores are feeling the impact. The Walmart on Conley Road had slim pickings of bread and meats on Friday afternoon, with large sections of chips, toilet paper and cleaning supplies empty.

Schnucks on South Providence and Hy-Vee on East Nifong had fewer empty shelves, but most common items were still sold out.

The ABC 17 Stormtrack Weather Team has issued a Weather Alert Day from Friday morning through Monday morning as dangerous cold and heavy snow are expected over the weekend.

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Mitchell Kaminski

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) 

The Missouri Gaming Commission has denied a request from the NCAA to ban wagers on individual student-athlete performance, including player prop bets and first-half wager spreads on college basketball games.

NCAA President Charlie Baker sent a letter to the commission on Jan. 15 urging the state to restrict these bets, citing concerns about harassment, manipulation and the well-being of more than 550,000 student-athletes nationwide. The association noted its enforcement staff has opened investigations into roughly 40 student-athletes across 20 schools over the past year. Eleven student-athletes from seven schools were found to have bet on their own performances, shared insider information with bettors or engaged in game manipulation.

University of Missouri officials were asked about the topic during Thursday’s MU Faculty Council meeting, with MU Athletics Director Laid Veatch and UM System President Mun Choi echoing Baker’s concerns 

“The concern over the influence for our student athletes from a gambling standpoint is a very real, very high-level concern,” Veatch said. “You hear the president, Charlie Baker of the NCAA, that’s a hot button topic for him. And it is very real because we have student athletes that feel a lot of pressure and get a lot of social media harassment.” 

Veatch added that when student-athletes are paid and sports betting is legal, prop bets “make it far easier for them to become involved.” Choi also said the university monitors social media to track whether student-athletes are being harassed.

“When the NCAA decided it would be OK for student-athletes to bet on pro sports, we came out as a conference and said that we think that’s a bad idea. When it comes to gambling, we’re evaluating the situation of what other universities are doing,” Choi said.

The NCAA cited harassment and the solicitation of insider information as major risks associated with player prop bets. Surveys indicated 36% of Division I men’s basketball players reported harassment from someone with a betting interest. The NCAA also highlighted the risks of “spot-fixing,” where a portion of a contest — such as a first-half under spread — could be manipulated.

Ryan Butler, senior editor at Covers, said the NCAA has been focusing on first-half under wagers and individual player props for more than a year. 

“It is hard in a team sport to rig a game. It really is. But it is easy to make you miss that extra free throw, maybe have a turnover,” Butler said. “That’s ultimately the biggest concern.”

The Missouri Gaming Commission received three comments from operators and one from a resident, all opposing the ban. Seven of the eight sportsbooks in Missouri also spoke against the measure. 

“I understand the schools and the NCAA wanting to protect those students. But I don’t feel personally that I have enough information to make an informed decision at this time,” Commissioner Jan Zimmerman said during Thursday’s commission meeting. 

Butler added the sports books opposing the ban had a “legitimate argument,” but that it would not be a make-or-break deal if the Gaming Commission later decided to revisit the issue. 

“The sportsbooks want more betting options. I think in context, though, college prop betting is a small fraction of their overall handle,” Butler said. “The argument, which carries a lot of weight and which is accurate, is that if someone is so corrupt that they’re willing to try to manipulate a college basketball game, they’re probably not even going to use a legal sportsbook. They’re going to go do this through nefarious means. And if they’re honestly dumb enough to try to do this through a legal sportsbook, they’re going to get caught.” 

Only four of the 39 states with legalized sports betting have banned player prop bets. While Missouri’s constitution already prohibits wagers involving college athletes in the state of Missouri, the commission said it may revisit the issue once more information is available.

The NCAA has urged state regulators to allow it a “formal seat at the table” with gaming operators and to implement stricter accountability for bettors who harass student-athletes. In recent years, Louisiana, Maryland, Ohio and Vermont have banned individual college athlete prop bets, and two additional states are considering similar legislation in 2026.

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