Author: KMIZ

Matthew Sanders

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

Missouri recipients of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program funds are now getting their full benefits after the end of the federal shutdown, a spokesperson for a state agency said Monday.

Full payments have been processed, and households will receive their benefits per their normal distribution schedule, which is based on last name and birthdate, the spokesperson for the Department of Social Services said.

“DSS continues to oversee timely distribution to support Missourians and encourages recipients to monitor their balance by logging into their online ebtEDGE account or calling the number on the back of their card,” DSS spokesperson Baylee Watts wrote in an emailed statement.

Missouri SNAP recipients only had access to partial benefits before the full payments were processed because of the shutdown that started Oct. 1 and the legal wrangling around it. President Donald Trump signed legislation to fund the government last week, and the state began processing full payments.

More than 320,000 Missouri households use SNAP benefits, according to the Missouri Budget Project.

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Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

EDITOR’S NOTE: AI was used to help research the background for this story.

The City of Columbia could vote Monday to create a Collegiate Advisory Council to engage college students in local policy issues affecting students.

University of Missouri System President Mun Choi proposed the council after the Sept. 27 shooting death of Stephens College student Aiyanna Williams in downtown Columbia.

According to city documents, the advisory council would provide input to the City Council on policy issues affecting student residents, including safety, housing and transportation. It aims to strengthen partnerships between the city and local higher education institutions.

The advisory council would consist of nine student members, three representing the University of Missouri, two for Columbia College, two for Stephens College and two for the Moberly Area Community College Columbia campus. The City would appoint members following an application process.

Missouri Students Association President Logan Kuykendall said that he is excited for the council, adding that it helps give students a more direct line of communication with the city, compared to public comments or ward meetings.

“I think really making sure we have a formal procedure is going to make sure we can ensure it is equitable going forward.”

Kuykendall adds that MSA plans to help the University with picking student representatives. He plans to focus on picking students who may see direct impact from city issues like housing or food insecurity.

“We’re just going to be focusing on the University of Missouri and then trying to appoint representatives of marginalized groups who face these problems here on campus to make sure that we are uplifting as much of the voices that are being impacted by our community,” Kuykendall said.

Columbia College student Gabrielle Nielsen agrees that the need for student-city communication is present in the student body, adding that many students have voiced concern over local rent and downtown safety.

“I would love to see actual, not only active listening and a genuine consideration, but a change made,” Nielsen said. “To actually see changes made of just listening, it’s not just performative posturing type, wanting to make people feel heard and not actually doing anything about it.”

The council would meet monthly during the academic year, with subcommittee meetings as needed. It would have an elected chair and vice chair, and a staff liaison from the City Manager’s Office would provide support.

The initiative builds on the success of the Youth Advisory Council, established in 2015, which involved high school students in civic engagement. The Collegiate Advisory Council aims to extend this model to university and college students.

The item is currently up for a second read and vote on the City Council’s agenda, meaning the council can discuss and also choose not to vote on the item.

The Columbia City Council will meet at 7 p.m. Monday at City Hall.

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Matthew Sanders

EDITOR’S NOTE: The spelling of the suspect’s last name has been corrected.

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Newberg man was charged Monday with first-degree murder and armed criminal action after his brother died in a shooting.

Eric D. Colgrove, 55, was arrested Sunday night after a woman called 911, saying her sons were shooting at each other. The victim was pronounced dead a few hours later from gunshot wounds. The Phelps County Sheriff’s Department identified him Monday afternoon as Keith Colgrove, 48.

The woman told investigators that Colgrove and his brother had been in an argument over fixing her coffee pot, which escalated into the deadly shooting, a probable cause statement says. Colgrove went to his home during the argument and got a gun, followed his brother inside his home, then started shooting, a witness reportedly told deputies.

Deputies found a gun in Colgrove’s truck.

Colgrove was in the Phelps County Jail without bond on Monday.

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Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Mizzou Tigers women’s basketball team is looking to get back into the win column after losing a close game to Kansas on Saturday in Kansas City.

The women now turn their attention to Southern Illinois, which comes to Mizzou Arena for a 6:30 p.m. tipoff on Tuesday. Watch a news conference with coach Kellie Harper in the media player.

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Olivia Hayes

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Boone County dog breeder charged with several counts of animal abuse is asking a judge to let her out of jail without bond.

Melissa Sanders, 26, of Columbia, faced a Boone County judge for the first time Monday. She pleaded not guilty and had a bond hearing set for 1 p.m. Thursday.

If a bond is necessary, her attorney wrote in a court filing, it should be “reasonable.”

Sanders has been charged with three counts of felony animal abuse and 15 counts of misdemeanor animal abuse. She remains at the Boone County Jail without bond. 

Sanders owns Magnum Opus German Shepherds. Animal control, assisted by Boone County sheriff’s deputies, found 17 living but severely malnourished dogs, with two on the brink of death, according to court documents. Five “intact” dead dogs were found in black garbage bags along with about a dozen dog skulls.

Authorities also found four dead dogs outside the building.

Animal Control said it was called to the business after two different dog owners brought their dead dogs to a veterinarian for an autopsy after they died in Sanders care. The autopsy determined one dog died from strangulation and the other from starvation. Both dogs were boarded at the business at the time of its death, according to court documents.

Animal control was previously called to the business for reports of dogs dying in their care. Animal control officers had spoken to Sanders in the past about doing a walkthrough of the residence, but she was hesitant, court documents say.

Head of Boone County Animal Control Kevin Meyers tells ABC 17 News the previous visits were in June and September 2025. During those visits Meyers said the responding officer found no signs of animal abuse.

He said without hard visible evidence their power to act can be limited.

“We can approach the owner, let them know the complaint that we received and ask to see the animals in their living conditions,” Meyers said. “It’s totally up to them if they allow us in to do that, or what they allow us to see. By law, we can’t make them let us in without a warrant to search the property.”

Breeders have to register with the Missouri Department of Agriculture. Sanders was registered with the department as a ‘hobby or show breeder’. A registered property can only be checked if a complaint is filed. MoDAG said it has no history of Sanders property being inspected.

A disposition hearing will be held next Wednesday where Sander’s lawyers will argue why the dogs should be returned to her custody. Animal control will argue to the judge why the animals should be relinquished to the Central Missouri Humane Society for them to work out reconnecting the animals with their owners.

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Gabrielle Teiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A 40-year-old Eldon man was badly hurt in a crash in a Tuscumbia Fire District brush truck in Miller County, according to a Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report.

The report states that the man was driving the truck east on Route A just east of Highway 17 just after 2 p.m. Sunday. The driver made a wide right turn, overcorrected and began to skid. The truck went off the left side of the road and rolled onto its top, the report states.

The 40-year-old Eldon man was flown to University Hospital with serious injuries, according to the report.

The brush truck was totaled. The man was wearing a seatbelt.

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Madison Stuerman

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A trailer home in Holts Summit is considered a total loss after a fire on Sunday afternoon.

The fire happened in the 11000 block of County Road 391 around 3:40 p.m. in Holts Summit.

The Holts Summit Fire Department said in a release that crews found heavy smoke and flames showing from the front of the house.

Neighbors told firefighters a juvenile and multiple animals were inside the home, according to the release.

The juvenile, along with three dogs, safely exited the home, according to the department. One dog died in the fire.

The release states the fire took 45 minutes to bring under control, but crews remained on scene for several hours.

The Missouri State Fire Marshal is investigating the cause of the fire.

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Matthew Sanders

Things are not looking good for the Kansas City Chiefs’ postseason hopes.

The defending AFC West champs fell to 5-5 after a loss to the division-leading Broncos on Sunday in Denver. If the season ended today, the Chiefs would not make the playoffs.

Do you think they can rally to make the postseason this year? Let us know by voting in the poll.

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Alison Patton

COLUMBIA, Mo.

A woman claims that her German Shepherd is among the 16 dogs found alive at a Boone County dog breeders’ property, who was charged with several counts of animal abuse.

Melissa Sanders, 26, of Columbia is charged with a total of 18 counts of animal abuse, including three felonies and 15 misdemeanors.

Boone County Sheriff Deputies and Animal Control received a search warrant for Sanders’ property and business, Magnum Opus German Shepherds. Authorities found several dead dogs in various stages of decomposition and dog skulls in bags.

Wilson said her dog, Eri, was rescued and is now being held at the Central Missouri Humane Society as “evidence.”

“I am thankful that she was spared and that she is alive. She’s not in good condition, but I’m glad she is still here with us,” Wilson said.

Wilson said she and Sanders were best friends, and Sanders had co-ownership of Eri for breeding and boarding purposes. She said a friend told her authorities found several dead dogs on Sanders’ property Thursday, and she reached out to Animal Control to see if they had Eri.

“The animal control officer sighed a big sigh of relief and said she was one of the two German Shepherds found alive,” Wilson said.

Eri was “severely” starved and pregnant, Wilson said, but she was alive.

Wilson lives in the St. Louis area, and was regularly texting Sanders. She said she had no idea what Sanders was doing, and never would have trusted her with Eri had she known.

“I truly think that at one point she did care a lot about her animals. I saw it, I saw that she cared. And I don’t know what happened, if anything happened. I don’t know if she was always like this, but I’m just disgusted that I called her my friend,” Wilson said.

Wilson created a Facebook page to try to get other dog owners connected to the dogs found at Sanders’ property.

She said she also created a Google Form to help people locate their dogs that went missing or were rehomed while in Sanders’ care. Wilson told ABC 17 News she received over 20 people who are looking for their missing dog, and has 10 or fewer submissions for dogs who have been re-homed.

Wilson claims animal control has access to the Google Form as well.

Tiffany Barboud bought her dog, Fenrir, two years ago from Sanders and she said she was shocked to hear the news.

“From my experience with her, definitely would never have made me guess that something like this would happen,” Barboud said.

Barboud said Sanders was knowledgeable about dogs and didn’t suspect anything when she visited Sanders’ home two years ago.

“The house was relatively clean for having that many dogs in the house, all the dogs looked well fed, taken care of,” Barboud said. “Everything pointed towards just a good, ethical breeder. I didn’t see any warning signs.”

ABC 17 News reached out to Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services.

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Nia Hinson

BOONE COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ)

Boone County firefighters battled a fire at a small metal building on Sunday night.

The Boone County Fire Protection District was called to the 1400 block of north Boothe Lane just before 8 p.m. Sunday. Firefighters found fire coming from the inside of a small metal building but were able to bring the fire under control within roughly 15 minutes, according to a BCFPD firefighter on scene.

Assistant Chief Gale Blomenkamp told ABC 17 News in a text message that a truck and tractor inside of the building were saved. No injuries were reported.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

An ABC 17 News reporter on scene saw several Boone County firefighters checking for hotspots in the area around 9 p.m.

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