Author: KMIZ

Madison Stuerman

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Union Pacific train derailed Sunday afternoon east of La Monte in Pettis County.

Missouri State Highway Patrol said troopers were called to the area of US-50 Highway and Buckley Road and found a train had derailed.

Troop A Spokesperson, Cpl. J.D. Howard said in an email that seven Union Pacific Railroad train cars had come off the track.

The train was traveling parallel to the highway, east of La Monte and northwest of Sedalia.

No one was hurt and no hazardous materials were spilled, according to a Union Pacific spokesperson.

Crews were on the ground around 2:30 p.m. Monday to investigate and clean up the scene.

Howard said the only possible damage was to the railroad crossing in the area.

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Maria Schneider

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Missouri Department of Corrections inmate has been charged, after allegedly assaulting at least two Jefferson City Correctional Officers in Jan. 2024.

Brian Koch, 28, is charged with two counts of violence against an employee of the Department of Corrections.

According to a probable cause statement, Koch allegedly ran from the correctional officers while they tried to restrain him.

A witness reported seeing Koch allegedly take a bite out of the bicep of one victim and attempting to break the fingers of a second victim by trying to bend them backwards.

Hospital staff confirmed that the victim was treated for a human bite on the inside part of their upper arm.

Court documents include that Koch allegedly admitted to being under the influence of an unknown substance at the time.

Koch also allegedly admitted during an interview that he was off his medication and experiencing a mental breakdown. Koch also said he wrote a note to the victim apologizing for biting them.

He was serving 10 years at the Department of Corrections for a 2015 robbery in Randolph County.

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Mitchell Kaminski

EDITOR’S NOTE: The Columbia City Council ward representated by Don Waterman has been corrected.

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The City of Columbia council members discussed the future of recycling on Monday, during its pre-council meeting. 

The meeting comes after the city’s Material Recovery Facility was destroyed by an April 20th tornado.

According to a presentation shown to the council, the estimated cost to rebuild a new facility will be between $ 26.47 million to $26.71 million and take 30 months to build a permanent structure. 

The three options discussed Monday include building a new MRF facility on the current site and saving as much of the existing structure as possible. Under this option, the city would save over $500,000 on demolition costs due to the storm, however, not much of the facility can be salvaged. 

The second option involves constructing a new MRF at the current Landfill Operations Center site, while the final option proposes building a new facility on the open gravel lot west of the Administration building. 

Option B would have preserved the existing MRF building for future use, but due to the damage from the tornado, that is no longer possible. It also presents stormwater challenges and would require relocating parking. The final option offers the largest footprint but raises traffic concerns and eliminates laydown and storage areas.

The city is also weighing no longer processing recyclables in Columbia instead of building a new MRF. 

According to city staff, Columbia initially dismissed this option because of  “unacceptable financial and climate impacts” of transferring materials to St. Louis. However, with the MRF destroyed, the city will consider transferring its materials to Jefferson City. 

Another potential option the city is considering is to build a multi-material environmental center that would serve as a “one-stop shop” to handle multiple recycling materials and hazardous waste. The council was shown several examples of centers in Olmstead County, Minnesota, Tampa, Florida, and Charlottesville, Virginia. 

“I’ve made the comment publicly that I think this is an opportunity, if we’re going to continue to recycle and based on the responses I got, there’s certainly a desire for Colombians to continue recycling, that maybe we should look at overhauling the process,” Ward 5 Councilman Don Waterman said. “ The biggest one there would be the automated collection.” 

Even before the tornado, Columbia had been exploring options to update its MRF. 

A recent evaluation of Columbia’s recycling and waste diversion program conducted in September of 2024 revealed critical challenges, including suspended curbside recycling collection, contamination at drop-off centers, and inefficiencies at the MRF. The report, prepared by RRT Design & Construction, emphasized the need to prioritize resuming curbside collection—even on a biweekly basis—to stabilize recycling operations.

“The majority of this report was drafted before the tornado,” Waterman said. “There’s a couple of footnotes to that effect about possibly relocating it within or around the landfill. Now, we’ve got that spot as well, so that we could just start fresh and  go on from there.” 

Key issues include contaminated loads from drop-off centers, aging and underperforming MRF equipment, and safety concerns. The study recommends reallocating resources to curbside collection by consolidating and closing poorly performing drop-off sites and reducing or temporarily halting MRF operations.

“There’s a couple of sites, especially around campus, that there were a lot of issues with contamination because people they weren’t just dropping off recycling, we’ll put it that way,” Waterman said.  

The evaluation also recommended discontinuing curbside glass collection, adopting single-cart recycling collection, optimizing routes with software, and staffing improvements.In an updated report, RRT recommended constructing a new MRF at the current Landfill Operations Center (option B). RRT concluded that the site meets the needs for the new facility, offers safer traffic flow, and fits with planned capital improvements. It also avoids complications with temporary processing and the loss of space for other projects.

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Madison Stuerman

A Fulton woman is behind bars after she was accused of stabbing another person.

Frances White, 61, was charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal action.

Court documents state Fulton police were called to an assault with a knife on Saturday. The victim was found near 12th and Ewing with multiple injuries, including stab wounds to her stomach and leg.

Police said the victim spoke to an officer at the hospital and told them White came to the house and stabbed the victim when they opened the door.

The victim said to police they were stabbed with a butcher knife three or four times.

Police said hospital staff confirmed the victim had three stab wounds, one to the head, abdomen and left thigh.

Officers spoke with two witnesses who police told them they saw the assault and knew white was planning to beat the victim up, but said they did not know about the knife. Police said the witness also said they threw the knife into a backyard and that it was about the length of a ruler.

White allegedly told police that she went to the house and punched the victim multiple times but denied having a knife.

White is currently being held at the Callaway County jail. An initial appearance is set for Tuesday morning at the Callaway County courthouse.

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Madison Stuerman

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Water has been restored in the city of Belle after it was temporarily turned off due to a water main break.

Just before 4 p.m. on Monday, Belle officials confirmed repairs were holding and water was back on.

City officials said crews have had to turn off water across the city after a water main broke on Tellman Avenue.

The city is under a boil advisory for 48 hours.

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KRDO

WASHINGTON (KRDO) — The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed federal charges against Mohammed Sabry Soliman, the 45-year-old man accused of setting people on fire in Boulder on Sunday.

The FBI called it a targeted terror attack, as he allegedly threw Molotov cocktails at people gathered for a demonstration in support of the Israeli hostages. Soliman’s criminal complaint alleges he yelled “Free Palestine” during the attack.

The DOJ is seeking federal hate crime charges, according to court records.

pic.twitter.com/GmmP5VddGr

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 2, 2025

“(Soliman) stated that he wanted to kill all Zionist people and wished they were all dead,” the criminal complaint read. “Soliman stated he would do it (conduct an attack) again.”

According to the complaint, Soliman had allegedly been planning the attack for a year and waited until his daughter graduated to carry it out.

“The Department of Justice has swiftly charged the illegal alien perpetrator of this heinous attack with a federal hate crime and will hold him accountable to the fullest extent of the law. Our prayers are with the victims and our Jewish community across the world,” read a statement from Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “This vile anti-Semitic violence comes just weeks after the horrific murder of two young Jewish Americans in Washington DC. We will never tolerate this kind of hatred. We refuse to accept a world in which Jewish Americans are targeted for who they are and what they believe.” 

He reportedly traveled from his Colorado Springs home, where he lived with his wife and five kids, to Boulder.

Editor’s note: Previous information from the FBI spelled the suspect’s name as “Mohamed.” The criminal complaint spells his name “Mohammed.” Because a criminal complaint is a legal document, KRDO13 is currently reporting that spelling unless other information comes to light.

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Madison Stuerman

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

More than 20 state employees in the Secretary of State’s Office were laid off on Friday.

According to a spokesperson, 17 full-time employees from the Archives and 5 full-time employees from the State Library were let go.

A letter from Secretary of State Denny Hoskins that was shared with employees still employed stated this was due to recent legislative actions and budget cuts to the office.

“After exhausting all currently available alternatives, we have been forced to make the painful decision to reduce staffing in certain divisions,” Hoskins said in the email. “These decisions were not made lightly and do not reflect the value or dedication of those impacted.”

The Missouri Senate and House passed House Bill 12, which includes 25 full-time employee positions cut from the Secretary of State’s Office.

Conference Committee documents show no other elected officials had positions cut from their budget, except one other position from the Lieutenant Governor’s office.

The Secretary of State’s Office now has 194 employees as of Monday.

Hoskins was elected in November after defeating Democratic candidate Barbara Phifer.

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Haley Swaino

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Columbia Mayor Barbara Buffaloe issued a proclamation Monday afternoon recognizing the value of self-directed supports.

The proclamation made the city the first in the state to recognize SDS.

Part of a Medicaid-funded program for Missourians with developmental disabilities, SDS is a service that allows individuals to directly hire their own care staff.

“Rather than putting the decision making in the hands of an agency to send their staff out, they become the employer and can direct their care,” Executive Director of Acumen Fiscal Agent, LLC Laura Brownlee said.

“In Columbia and Boone County, many residents with developmental disabilities rely on Self-Directed Supports to remain in their homes and stay engaged in their communities,” a spokesperson from Acumen said in a press release. “The model puts the individual-not -not an agency-at the center of care decisions.”

Acumen has partnered with the City of Columbia in this effort, the release states.

In 2023, about 3,031 Missourians were using SDS to fund their at-home caregivers, according to the Missouri Department of Mental Health.

People with a developmental disability waiver who live in their own home or with family may choose SDS. It can empower individuals with disabilities, as it gives more choice and control over supports. Without the Medicaid option, some of those individuals would likely require inpatient care.

“Individuals with disabilities, like all Missourians, are entitled to the pursuit of happiness, freedom and self-determination, embodying the spirit of independence and choice,” Buffaloe said.

Brownlee said that by formally acknowledging the impact and importance of self-directed care, Columbia becomes a leader in promoting independence and decision-making for people with disabilities.

“Columbia is a city that’s always led with compassion and inclusivity,” Brownlee said.

The SDS program is overseen by the Missouri Division of Developmental Disabilities.

Acumen and the MDDD told ABC 17 News their hope is that within a year, they will be able to connect with Governor Kehoe and make this a statewide proclamation.

The first-of-its-kind proclamation was delivered inside the Council Chambers of Columbia City Hall at 12:15 p.m. on Monday.

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Olivia Hayes

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

An 18-month process begins on Monday for the Missouri School Funding Modernization Task Force appointed by Gov. Mike Kehoe.

The 16-member task force, established by Executive Order 25-14, is looking to modernize the state’s K-12 foundation formula and recommend updates to the state’s foundational funding structure.

Missouri’s school funding formula was last updated in 2005, following its earlier versions established in the mid-1970s and revised in the early 1990s.

The current formula is designed to reflect what is considered necessary or adequate to provide a quality education. To determine that amount, the state analyzed spending levels in high-performing districts that met state academic expectations.

Gov. Mike Kehoe kicked off the task force’s inaugural meeting with a few words of appreciation. Kehoe asked them to develop a new formula that would be sustainable long-term and consider funding for non-traditional public schools.

“The current model is just not sustainable,” Kehoe said. “You can have the best intentions, but if you don’t produce results, that’s what the world’s all about. I think the kids going through our school systems need to know that.”

The task force includes educators, economists, business leaders, and nonprofit representatives. Over the next 18 months, they are expected to review data, explore best practices from other states, and conduct stakeholder engagement before submitting recommendations.

Karla Eslinger, Commissioner of the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, said during Monday’s meeting that she feels confident that everyone that’s part of the task force has the same end goal.

“I don’t care if it’s a charter. I don’t care if it’s public, I don’t care if it’s ABC School of Wonderful. I don’t care, I just want great schools for all children,” said Eslinger.

A final report is due to the governor by December 1, 2026. The task force will hold its next meeting on June 23.

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Erika McGuire

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Missouri lawmakers reconvened in Jefferson City on Monday for a special legislative session called by Gov. Mike Kehoe.

Kehoe called the special session after lawmakers failed to pass several proposals during the regular session. A total of 17 bills were introduced on day one of the special session.

During a press conference, Kehoe emphasized what initiatives he wants the special session to focus on. One top priority is stadium funding to keep the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals in Missouri.

The Show Me Sports Investment Act would give the state’s professional sports teams access to state funding for stadium projects through new bonds, but only if certain requirements are met.

The project must cost at least $500 million and involve stadiums with more than 30,000 seats. The state could cover up to 50% of the total cost, and eligible teams could also access a tax credit worth up to 10% of their investment.

The state is facing competition from Kansas, which has offered to fund up to 70% of new stadium costs under new tax revenues. The teams have until June 30 to decide whether to extend their leases past 2031 or move to Kansas.

Senator Rick Brattin introduced Senate Bill 10 during the first day of the special session.

The bill would push back on using taxpayer dollars to fund new or renovated stadiums and propose the “no taxation, no donation act.” The proposal would allow Missourians to voluntarily donate toward stadiums, and depending on how much they donate, they would receive perks like free parking.

The measure would also cap food and beer prices at stadiums to avoid price gouging.

Senate President Pro-Tem Cindy O’Laughin said it comes down to the teams’ owners.

“People want to bring the owners into the conversation, but for them it’s a business decision, but for me it boils down to do you want to make an offer that you think is reasonable, do you want to keep the chiefs and royals, then they have to decide,” O’Laughlin said.

Other priorities to be addressed in the special session include assistance for families affected by recent severe storms across the state. Kehoe wants lawmakers to approve a tax deduction for insurance deductibles paid by homeowners repairing damage from this spring’s storms, including a proposed $25 million in emergency housing aid and a $5,000 tax deduction for tornado victims.

Budget appropriations are also a priority during the special session, including funding for the NextGen MURR project — a proposal that failed to pass during the regular legislative session. The original allocation in House Bill 19 included $50 million for the University of Missouri Research Reactor, but Kehoe is now asking for half of that amount.

Stephen Webber (D) Columbia and Minority Floor Leader Doug Beck are both pushing for more funding for MURR.

Webber introduced Senate Bill 12 on Monday, which he said is similar to the house bill that originally called for $500 million in state projects like MURR.

Webber said the bill passed out of the senate with nearly unanimous support from senators in the regular session, and he’s now asking for an increase in funding for MURR.

“I am filing it at $75 million because if there is going to be a $25 million off of deals made in this chamber, I figure we might as well vary it in the other direction,” Webber said.

Other budget appropriations included in House Bill 19 are funding for a mental health facility in Kansas City and livestock barns at the state fairgrounds.

“We’re hoping to get the full amount for the cancer research, we’re hoping to keep the mental health hospital in there, and then we need that relief for the victims. If you’ve been in North City, it’s troublesome we’re not out there with more resources for these folks,’ Beck said.

Governor Kehoe hasn’t given a specific timeline for when he wants lawmakers to wrap things up, but under the law, special sessions can last up to 60 calendar days.

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