Author: KMIZ

Erika McGuire

(Editor’s note, 9/10: The story corrects the day of the week that the state senate will begin taking up legislation in the special session.)

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

Hundreds gathered at the Missouri State Capitol Wednesday afternoon to protest state Republicans taking one step closer to officially redrawing Missouri’s congressional maps.

The rally was held by Missouri democrats in response to the “Missouri First Map” that was drawn after President Donald Trump requested Gov. Mike Kehoe to call a special to redraw the maps — a process that typically occurs only after the census.

Republicans are aiming to protect their narrow majority in the U.S. House with mid-term elections coming up next year.

According to a press release from the Missouri Democrats, this decision came despite bipartisan opposition and ignored the testimony of thousands of Missourians who voiced concern over the maps.

On Tuesday, the House of Representatives approved Gov. Mike Kehoe’s “Missouri First” map Tuesday in a 90 to 65 vote. The approved map would change Congressman Emanuel Cleaver’s fifth district in Kansas City by cutting the city into three districts.

Several groups, including Missouri Jobs with Justice, Indivisible, and the United Auto Workers Union attended the rally that began at noon.

Protesters first gathered on the Capitol steps, then moved inside to the rotunda — where crowds filled all three floors, chanting and holding signs.

The rally then moved to the third floor, where protesters marched around the House Chambers at lawmakers were in session debating redistricting and initiative petition reform.

Protesters claim the redrawing of Missouri’s congressional maps is unfair, illegal, and a blatant power grab.

“It’s against the law. It’s against our state constitution. How can they do this?” said protester Stephanie McCorkle.

“Any other way, they’d lose. If they don’t cheat they lose,” added protester Darryl Stines.

“It’s a blatant power grab to overturn the will of the people, it continues to have a through line with President Trump his agenda and Gov. Kehoe’s agenda and the agenda to continually marginalize individuals that need representation within our government,” Robert Fisher with PROMO Missouri said.

Terrence Wise, with with Missouri Workers Center and Stand Up KC said the moves of the republican party not only in Missouri but in the federal government is something he takes personal.

“They are attacking and showing violence to my family and my community and i know us coming together won’t stop them we have to build a movement with everyone who is in here today and not standing with us today,” Wise said.

Congressional candidate for the 5th district in Missouri, Jordan Herrera, says the tactics being used by republicans is telling.

“They are trying to get this done when people are not paying attention tells me everything, they don’t even believe what they are doing hell even Speaker of the House John Patterson said he’s not gunna vote for this thing,” Herrera said. “The last thing I have for Kehoe is this map even though majority of Missourians do not want it I will be suing against this map immediately so I will see you in court.”

State Rep. David Tyson Smith (D-Columbia) said the redraw of the maps is about Trump trying to keep control of the house.

“The way this is happening is insidious that’s what its about so we’ve gotta fight back, Missouri cannot be Donald Trump’s puppet we can’t be a slave to the White House we’ve gotta stand up for Missouri values and the citizens of Missouri,” Smith said.

Democrats, Smith said, will keep fighting back and do whatever they can to take their power back.

The Missouri House of Representatives also voted Tuesday to send initiative petition reform, along with redistricting bills, to the Senate in a 98 to 58 vote. Joint House Resolution three would require all initiative petitions to get approval from a majority of voters across the state and from each district.

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Matthew Sanders

Economic indicators have been making big headlines lately.

Last week came a sorry report with just 22,000 jobs created in August and unemployment at its highest since 2021.

Then came more bad news on Tuesday — fewer jobs were added in the year that ended in March than experts thought, while income gains were eaten away by inflation during the Biden years.

These numbers can be signs of trouble to come — many experts sounded alarms over the anemic August job tally. The numbers look backward, and not forward, and future trends are sometimes difficult to discern.

How are you feeling about the U.S. economy? Let us know by voting in the poll.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

No injuries were reported after a porch caught fire Tuesday night in the 7400 block of Oakley Drive in Columbia.

A firefighter on the scene said the fire did not reach the main portion of the house. The cause of the fire is under investigation. A Columbia Fire Department spokeswoman wrote in an email that the porch had minor damage.

CFD spokeswoman Katherine Rodriguez wrote in an email to ABC 17 News that firefighters were called to the 7400 block of Pemberton Drive, but found the small fire on the patio of a home in the 7400 block of Oakley Drive. The streets run parallel to each other.

Fire marshals are investigating.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A traffic shift has been scheduled on Interstate 70 at Little Cedar Creek, east of Columbia, according to a Tuesday press release from the Missouri Department of Transportation.

The release says MoDOT crews will begin shifting both lanes onto different pavement on Thursday evening and will be fully shifted Friday night. This will occur around mile marker 135.

Crews will be extending a large culvert at Little Cedar Creek. The adjusted traffic pattern is expected to last through February, the release says.

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Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A motorcyclist suffered serious injuries Tuesday in a crash that shut down part of Highway 54 for more than an hour.

The driver of the 2009 Honda GL1800, a 31-year-old man from Marthasville, Missouri, suffered serious injuries when he rear-ended an SUV on westbound Highway 54 near Fulton, according to a Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report. The man was not wearing a helmet, the report states.

The SUV driver suffered minor injuries. Both drivers were taken by University Hospital by ambulance.

The crash shut down westbound Highway 54 while the road was cleared.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A portion of sidewalk in downtown Columbia will be closed for several weeks, according to a Tuesday press release from the city.

The sidewalk in front of the McKinney Building at 411 East Broadway (between Fourth and Fifth streets) closed on Tuesday evening.

An exact date for the sidewalk to reopen was not listed, but the city wrote it would last several weeks. Repairs are being made to the McKinney Building.  

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Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Columbia police arrested a Fulton man Tuesday after a report of shots fired in a busy commercial area.

Arnold R. Phillips, 77, was arrested on suspicion of first-degree assault, unlawful gun use and armed criminal action.

The Columbia Police Department says in a news release that one vehicle was hit by a bullet but no one was injured.

The incident happened in the 1200 block of Grindstone Parkway, near a shopping center that includes Walmart and Goodwill stores.

Columbia Police Department spokesman Brian McNeill wrote in an email that officers found evidence of shots being fired and property damage, though no injuries have been reported. Another person was detained at the scene, but was let go around 4:15 p.m.

Five CPD cruisers were at the scene and at least two vehicles were pulled over.

This marks the second publicly reported road rage arrest in Columbia this week, after police say, 19-year-old Denver Thai nearly crashed into another driver while pulling into a Columbia parking garage, then allegedly pointed a gun and shouted at the man before he drove away.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, since 2019, an average of 373 drivers have died in road rage incidents each year. Many of these incidents have been the result of gun violence, with road rage resulting in an average of 601 incidents of gun violence per year since 2020. 

The Missouri State Highway Patrol tells ABC 17 News that these types of incidents are uncommon. So far this year, Mid-Missouri has already seen several notable road rage incidents, which include a deadly shooting at a Columbia McDonald’s, where 32-year-old Derek Gonzalez was killed. 

Other incidents of note include: 

March 17 – Columbia: Richard McDonald, 62, was charged in two separate road rage cases where he allegedly brandished a gun while driving aggressively in Columbia and on Interstate 70.

March 19 – Columbia: Jarrod Whelchel of Mexico, was charged after allegedly flashing a gun at another driver on Highway 63 during a road rage altercation.

June 24 – Columbia: Jadon Gooldy, 20, received probation after admitting to firing a gun during a road rage incident in april, one of two felony weapons cases tied to him this year.

Aug. 27 – Saline County: Mason Mayhew, of Boonville, was charged after allegedly firing shots from a Nissan at another vehicle on I-70, causing a crash that injured multiple people.

The Department of Motor Vehicles advises drivers to defuse road rage by keeping plenty of space between vehicles, avoiding obscene gestures and pulling over to a safe location if you feel threatened.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A 33-year-old man from Salisbury, Missouri, was killed early Tuesday in a single-vehicle crash on Route B, about three miles west of Higbee, according to a Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report.

The report says the 2008 Nissan Titan was heading westbound when it went off the right side of the road, hit a fence and utility pole and overturned. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene by the Randolph County coroner, the report says.

The report says the driver was not wearing a seatbelt. His body was brought to Pathway Memorial Funeral Home in Moberly, the report says.

MSHP reports do not name those involved in crashes.

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Ryan Shiner

Editor’s note: The story has been corrected to say Thai almost hit the other vehicle with his vehicle.

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A 19-year-old man was charged with two felonies and a misdemeanor after he allegedly pulled out a gun during a road rage Monday afternoon in downtown Columbia.

Denver Thai, of Columbia, was charged with unlawful use of a weapon, armed criminal action and fourth-degree assault. He is being held at the Boone County Jail on a $10,000 bond. A court date has not been scheduled.

The probable cause statement says Thai nearly crashed his red Nissan into another vehicle while pulling into the parking garage at Tenth and Cherry streets. He allegedly pulled out a gun and yelled at the man in the other vehicle before the victim drove off and called police, the statement says.

Police found the Nissan in the parking garage and Thai allegedly admitted to pulling out the gun, but denied pointing it at the man, court documents say.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Two people in separate vehicles were seriously injured in a crash Tuesday morning on Highway 42 in Miller County at Crestwood Drive, according to a crash report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

The report says the crash occurred after a 2020 Nissan Versa – driven by a 24-year-old woman from Camdenton – was heading southbound and pulled out in front of a 2006 Volkswagen Jetta that was heading east on Highway 42. The Volkswagen was driven by a 32-year-old man from Brumley.

Both drivers were brought to Lake Regional Hospital by ambulance, the report says. The Nissan was totaled while the Volkswagen had moderate damage, the report says.

MSHP reports do not name those involved in crashes.

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