Author: KMIZ

Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Watch a live update on wintry precipitation falling in Mid-Missouri and what’s expected early this evening.

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Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

City of Columbia staff has recommended that the City Council approve Special Events permits for businesses looking to sell alcohol during extended hours for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

On Aug. 28, the state approved a temporary measure allowing licensed bars and restaurants to sell alcohol for 23 hours — from 6 a.m. until 5 a.m. — throughout the tournament. The Cup is June 11 through July 19, 2026. Local cities have the option to opt out of the state’s allowance.

Columbia’s Substance Use Prevention Advisory Commission warned against the extension back in October, arguing it would strain local service industry workers and be a risk for public safety.

City documents report that the Columbia City Council also showed a preference against the extension and instead preferred allowing businesses to apply for a Special Events permit to extend business hours.

If approved, the city manager and the city’s special event committee will review businesses’ applications on a case-by-case basis. Applications will also be considered based on potential public safety risks and the applicant’s history with prior ordinances.

The city recommends the item be read and voted on during Monday’s 7 p.m. council meeting.

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Nia Hinson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Moberly woman was hospitalized following a crash in Monroe county on Saturday.

According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report, the crash occurred on Missouri 154– about two miles south of Paris– around 5:45 p.m. The report says the 53-year-old was driving a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee, when she pulled into the path of a 2008 Nissan Titan.

The woman was flown to University Hospital with serious injuries. The driver of the Nissan– a 44-year-old Stoutsville man was not injured in the crash.

The woman was wearing a seatbelt when the crash occurred, the report says.

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Alison Patton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

President Donald Trump announced the joint U.S. and Israeli attack on Iran early Saturday morning, just a few days before Congress was set to debate and vote on military action in Iran, according to CNN.

Some lawmakers are upset that Trump would engage in what he called “major combat operations” without congressional consent.

Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO) acknowledged that Iran is a bad actor, repressive and a threat to the U.S., in a press release but said Congress has to give the OK.

“However, President Trump has not made the case to Congress or the American people that there is an urgent threat to America and that they have a coherent strategy to achieve their goals. Our founding fathers in Article I of the Constitution gave Congress the sole authority to go to war,” Cleaver wrote.

But declaring war might not be possible.

“I don’t think there’s a snowball’s chance in hell that Congress declares war,” political science professor at the University of Missouri Charles Zug said. “The president doesn’t really have any incentive to ask Congress to declare war because if the president can do basically what he wants without congressional involvement, why invite Congress to be a part of it?”

There is some push from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to limit the president’s power to engage in conflicts without the consent of Congress, according to CNN. But that legislation won’t go up for a vote until later this week.

Rep. Mark Alford (R-MO) has already expressed his support for Trump’s military action.

“I want to be clear about one thing: the United States did not start this fight, but we will finish it,” Alford said in a video. “I’m proud that we finally have a president behind the resolute desk who is holding this terrorist regime accountable.”

Iran installed a new regime in 1979, and it has been “anti-American and anti-Israeli” since, Zug said. Tensions between the U.S. and Iran have also been rising since then, but U.S. foreign policy didn’t stay consistent.

Although, Trump’s recent attack, along with two others–one in 2020 that killed Qasem Soleimani in Iraq and a 2025 attempt to destroy Iran’s nuclear facilities–have been the only conflicts, Zug said.

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Nia Hinson

COLUMBIA, Mo. KMIZ

Columbia firefighters worked a house fire in central Columbia on Saturday afternoon.

According to Columbia Fire Department spokeswoman Skyler Clark, crews were called to the 700 block of Cook Avenue shortly before 3 p.m. Firefighters found heavy smoke and flames showing from a shed and a home, Clark said.

One person was home at the time but was able to safely evacuate before firefighters arrived on scene. No injuries were reported.

An ABC 17 News reporter saw heavy smoke coming from the back side of the home and several CFD firetrucks.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

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Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A 26-year-old Phillipsburg, Missouri woman was seriously injured in a crash in Camden County early Saturday morning, according to a Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report.

The woman was being driven in a 2006 Toyota Corolla by a 28-year-old Columbia man on Route A. Around 12:15 a.m., the man drove off the right side of the highway at Midway Road and hit a stop sign. The car then went down an embankment and hit a tree, causing extensive damage.

The woman was not wearing a seatbelt and was taken to Lake Regional Hospital with serious injuries. The man was wearing a seatbelt and was not hurt.

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Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Holts Summit voters may have the option to approve an $8 millon bond for the Holts Summit Fire Protection District during the April 2026 election.

According to a press release from the district, it initially filed for a bond in 2008, approving $3 million for station upgrades. This included a new fire engine, improvements to station one and the construction of station two.

This year’s bond is a renewal of the current tax rate that was started in 2008, with the station requesting $8 million this time. Funds will be used to replace fire engines, install emergency backup generators and upgrade fire stations and the training facility.

The district adds that since the last bond, costs for improvements have increased. A fire engine costs around $200 thousand in 2006 and costs around $800 thousand today. They add that fire engines typically need to be replaced every 15 years.

“If approved, this would be a renewal of the current bond and would not result in a new tax,” the release says.

The district adds that between the two bond filings, the district has been able to improve its Insurance Service Office Public Protection Classification. The measurement by the office reviews stations’ public fire protection services and their ability to put out fires. Stations are then scored on a scale of one to ten, with one representing superior property fire protection. Insurance companies use the ratings when creating insurance plans.

Holts Summit Fire Protection District was ranked class nine in 2008 and ranked up to class four in 2013, where they currently stand. The district adds that in 2014, they were able to pay off the bond early, saving the community around $150,000.

According to the district, there have been 56 total calls for service in 2026 and 766 total in 2025.

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Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KIMZ)

The city of Columbia could be looking at an additional $5.27 million price tag to make the McKinney Building usable for an event space.

Members of the McKinney Building Task Force on Friday received an update on a feasibility study outlining potential renovation plans for the historic downtown structure, as officials continue evaluating costs, structural concerns, and future uses.

The two-story building at 411 E. Broadway, built in 1917, once served as a hub for Black culture in Columbia. The second-floor McKinney Hall hosted music legends including Dizzy Gillespie, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday, according to the Historical Marker Database.

The city purchased the McKinney Building in August 2023 for roughly $1.7 million after it had sat vacant for roughly two decades. 

“It’s a very important building on a very important piece of land right on Broadway. So it’d be unfortunate to see that building continue to sit vacated, not being used to its fullest potential,” Jen Hendrick, President of SGA Architecture, told ABC 17 News. 

After purchasing the property, the city tapped the mayor’s task force to come up with a report on ideas of how to best utilize the space. The mayor’s task force first presented a report to the City Council in December 2024, before taking it to SOA Architecture to review and conduct a feasibility study. 

The feasibility study examined building compliance, structural conditions, potential programming and cost projections. 

“There have been several iterations of this feasibility study as we talk through what made sense, what didn’t make sense. And so that was really this whole past year in between all of that,” said Amy Schneider, who is the director of the Convention and Visitors Bureau. “There were some structural deficiencies, and so we had to stop for two or three months so we could look at that west wall of the building, make sure we get it shored up, and make sure it’s safe for the community before we can move on and finalize that feasibility report.” 

Proposed uses from the presented study include social gatherings, performances, educational programming and rotating exhibits. Plans show a first-floor multipurpose room with space for concerts and events, along with a lobby, exhibit area, catering kitchen and restrooms. 

The second floor would house the Office of Cultural Affairs, a public classroom, a conference room, storage and a restroom. The cellar would not be used due to structural limitations.

The multipurpose room has four different layouts, depending on the event. In a conference or banquet setup, it can accommodate roughly 42 people, 36 in a classroom layout, 48 for performances and up to 100 in an open-floor configuration.

Hendrick said the building’s long vacancy presented early challenges.

“When buildings are vacant, HVAC systems deteriorate and then we have problems with plumbing fixtures and those types of things. So the building experienced some water damage and then just over time, the building has deteriorated,” Hendrick said. “We were not expecting the structural ramifications that we had associated with really that deterioration. So, I think we’ve got a really good grasp of it. But those are some of the things that right off the bat we were like, ‘Wow, these are very surprising to us.’” 

Hendrick added the mayor’s task force’s vision guided the design process.

“Really, that just guided us on the total vision for the project and how it could be a community investment and a community amenity. And so all of the conversations that we had, we really just kept turning back to that, that document from the mayor’s task force, and that’s what guided us,” Hendrick said.

The estimated project cost totals $5.27 million, including roughly $4 million for construction and $1.2 million in owner’s costs. Hendrick said the feasibility study did not begin with a set budget. 

“Because it was a feasibility study specifically, they came to us and said, ‘Let’s look at the big picture. In an ideal world, how can we really utilize or repurpose this building?’ So they didn’t give us constraints on the budget. What they wanted to understand is if we want to meet the goals of the mayor’s task force, what will it cost to do that as opposed to this is the budget, what can we afford to do?” Hendrick said.

City officials have already addressed some structural concerns. In an email to ABC 17 News, city Public Works spokesman John Ogan said a professional structural engineer identified deterioration in a cast iron column and portions of the foundation and masonry wall in the southwest corner of the original structure.

Temporary structural supports have been installed, and survey targets placed in January 2026 are being monitored for movement. Permanent structural modifications will be required as part of any renovation project, Ogan said. To date, the city has spent about $22,530 on temporary stabilization and monitoring.

When asked about the project’s price tag, Schneider said she believes the investment is worthwhile,  even if the city does not see a direct financial return.

“I think our return on investment is providing something that the community needs. This is something that is in our downtown area. This is something that the community of central Columbia could use for meeting rooms, for performances. So, yes, I think the return on investment is emotionally for the community, even more so than that financially,” Schneider said.

She said additional steps remain before final plans are approved.

“What we’ve shown is the feasibility study, so there is many, many more steps to come before you see a final version of the McKinney Building. But what we will do is once we get past the feasibility study, we start the fundraising, we get some final plans. There will be time for public input from the community, and we will certainly be asking for that,” Schneider said.

The feasibility study is scheduled to be presented to the City Council on April 6. 

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ABC 17 News Team

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The horses who got rescued from a mud hole on Wednesday near Harrisburg are still at the MU Veterinary Clinic.

They are being treated for pneumonia, complications for hypothermia, ulcers–and one of them suffered a foot injury.

The horses got stuck in what was formerly an animal lagoon. It was in the process of being drained–but probably looked dry to the horses. They are expected to be at the vet for the next seven days and are still fighting for their lives.

The horses’ owner is working on setting up a GoFundMe to help with the vet bills.

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Josie Anglin

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Copper Kettle in Ashland will have a follow-up health inspection after it reportedly had nine violations, seven of which are critical.

The inspection report said management was using the same cutting board for raw sausage and for ready-to-eat food.

The health inspector also found expired food in the coolers and improper hand-washing practices from the employees. The report also detailed the dishwasher’s sanitization concentration was at 0 PPM and may not be sanitizing the dishes. The restaurant was told to get the dishwasher fixed before the next inspection. The inspection also noted dented cans, no date labels on food and adulterated food items.

There were two non-critical violations for excessive ice buildup in the freezer, damage ceiling tiles and mold growth. Those were also listed as repeat violations.

The Columbia/Boone County Health Department will go back for a reinspection on Wednesday.

Copper Kettle declined to comment.

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