Author: KMIZ

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A trio of EF-1 tornadoes have been confirmed to have touched down in Benton County on Monday night, according to the National Weather Service.

The first tornado touched down at 7:24 p.m., wind speeds maxed out at 105 mph, with an unconfirmed width. For the second of the tornadoes it touched down at 7:28 p.m., wind speeds eclipsed 100 miles per hour, while the width was 100 yards. Speeds for the third one at 7:35 p.m. also hit 100 mph, with a width of 300 yards.

Reported damage included uprooted and snapped trees, along with downed power lines and several barns with varying degrees of damage.

There were 4,644 electricity customers in Benton County without power on Monday evening. The Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives map showed on Wednesday afternoon that 1,742 were still without power.

Among the current customers without power, 793 were from Central Missouri Electric Cooperative, 826 from the Osage Valley Electric Cooperative Association and 123 from Sac Osage Electric Cooperative. Hundreds are also still without power in Henry and Saint Clair counties.

Check back for updates.

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Matthew Sanders

President Donald Trump gave an address to House Republicans on Tuesday in which he encouraged them to pass his sweeping legislative agenda, including a budget and massive tax cuts.

However, some in the GOP are holding out because of the implications for the nation’s debt. Trump’s budget, including the tax cuts, is projected to increase the annual deficit.

Lawmakers told reporters Tuesday that Trump’s message was simple — it’s time to get his legislative agenda passed or face the consequences. With a tight majority in the House, Republicans can’t afford defections.

Do you think House Republicans should approve Trump’s agenda? Let us know by voting in the poll.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Two men and two teenaged juveniles were detained after they allegedly broke into the vacant hospital in Mexico, Missouri, on Friday night, according to a Tuesday press release from the Mexico Department of Public Safety.

The release says MPSD has been responding to the property at 620 East Monroe Street several times this month. The caretakers of the building have cameras installed and saw then men and youths on camera around 7:43 p.m. after an alert was sent, the release says.

Police later found Jarren Algiere, 32, of Hallsville, Connor Hardy, Jr., 18 of Columbia, and two more teenagers from Columbia. They were processed at MSPD and released, the release says.

Charges have not appeared on Casenet.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Two men were seriously injured on Tuesday afternoon after they were hit by a 2023 Chevrolet Suburban, according to a crash report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

The crash occurred on Ohana Drive in Camden County near a community pool, the report says. A 48-year-old women from Little Rock, Arkansas, allegedly put the vehicle into drive instead of reverse and hit the men, the report says.

A 45-year-old man from Camdenton was flown to University Hospital and a 49-year-old Ulman man was brought to Lake Regional Hospital by ambulance, the report says.  

The Suburban had minor damage.

MSHP reports do not name those involved in crashes.

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ABC 17 News Team

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Jefferson City Council on Monday approved a plan to rezone a portion of Wildwood Drive for duplexes as well as a new subdivision.

The proposal was brought last month by a Florida-based company, looking to rezone 51.54 acres the 1200 block of Wildwood Drive from commercial zoning to high-density residential.

The plan calls for the development of as many as 70 duplexes in the area, as well as plans for an area called the Wildwood Estates Subdivision. 

The city has been working to increase housing units since a severe storm took out around 150 units in 2019.  

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Tuesday, May 27 will be the last day of class for students at Columbia Public Schools.

The district sent an email to parents on Tuesday reminding them that May 27 will be the final day and an early release.

On Feb. 17, Columbia Public Schools used the last of its allotted AMI days. The following day, the district had to declare a traditional snow day, requiring the addition of an extra school day to the calendar. Friday, May 23 will also be an early release day.

CPS announced the implementation of AMI days in December and adjusted its calendar earlier this school year to be in line with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s incentive program under Senate Bill 727, which defines a school term as 169 days and a minimum of 1,044 instructional hours.

State guidelines also require schools to include at least 36 make-up hours—equivalent to five days—which can be added to the end of the school year, if necessary. 

“The district had been hopeful the passage of Senate Bill 68 would clarify calendar language approved in Senate Bill 727 last year allowing us to remove this day [Tuesday, May 27] from our calendar and still be eligible to receive the teacher salary incentive funds identified in the legislation,” the email to parents says. “However, the initial interpretation of Senate Bill 68 by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) this week does not allow us to drop the day from our calendar. The bill has also not yet been signed by Governor Kehoe. Further, our request for a waiver from the Commissioner, in light of the recent bill passage, has been denied.”

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Summer Lunch Program in Columbia will run from June 2-Aug. 7, according to a Tuesday press release from the Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services.

Meal sites will be open Monday through Friday for all youth ages 18 and younger, the release says. The program will not run on June 19 and July 4. Locations for the program include:

Columbia Housing Authority (CHA) Stewart-Parker: Lunch from noon-12:30 p.m.; snack from 1:30-1:45 p.m.

CHA Bear Creek, 1109 Elleta Blvd.: Lunch from noon-12:30 p.m.; snack from 1:30-1:45 p.m.

Columbia Square, 1715 W. Worley St.: Lunch from 11-11:30 a.m.; snack from 12:30-12:45 p.m.

Indian Hills Park, 5009 Aztec Blvd.: Lunch from 11-11:30 a.m.; snack from 1-1:15 p.m.

Progressive Missionary Baptist Church, 702 Banks Ave.: Lunch from 11-11:30 a.m.; snack from 1:30-1:45 p.m.

PHHS will also serve lunch behind the Armory from noon-1 p.m. June 2-Aug. 1. The release says that those who plan on bringing a large group to the Armory should call the WIC office 573-873-7384 at PHHS at least a day in advance.

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Meghan Drakas

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

On Tuesday, dozens of former and current Missouri lawmakers traveled from around the state to honor former governor and Sen. Christopher “Kit” Bond.

Bond died last week at 86 years old. He was originally from Mexico, Missouri, where his maternal grandfather, A.P. Green, was a well-known businessman.

He was sworn in as Missouri governor in 1973 and again in 1981, then won a U.S. Senate seat in 1986. He would stay in that seat until his retirement following the 2010 election.

“A hundred years ago, we were famous for sending 400,000 mules into World War I and II,” said John D. Ashcroft, who had also served as governor, senator and attorney general of the United States. “Now we’re famous for defending freedom around the world with missiles. He presided over that kind of transition for the state of Missouri, taking it from something  distant past and to be a leader in the future.”

Ashcroft was one of a handful of current and former public officials who took part in the memorial service. Some notable attendees included former Sen. Jack Danforth, Gov. Mike Kehoe, first lady Claudia Kehoe, Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission member Warren Erdman (who previously served as Bond’s chief of staff), Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Kansas City), Missouri Capitol Police Chief Zim Schwartze and former Sen. Roy Blunt (who took over Bond’s senate seat following Bond’s retirement).

Cleaver described Bond, a Republican, as a friend during the memorial service. He touched on how the two were on opposites sides of the political aisle, but respected each other.

“Kit Bond’s shadow strikes all over the state of Missouri,” Cleaver said. “We did work together on project after project after project, and I will be delighted for the rest of my life that I had that opportunity with Kit Bond.”

Lawmakers were not the only ones who attended the ceremony early Tuesday afternoon. Many residents and friends of Bond from his hometown of Mexico, Missouri, recalled fond memories.

“He’d always come to all of the things [in town] whether it would be something to do with the hospital in the community,” Mexico resident Joseph Corrado said. “He was always there and he was very down to earth.”

Corrado recalled how Bond would often visit his Chinese restaurant and touched on his love for Chestnut trees.

“He grew chestnuts from the University of Missouri on his land in Mexico, and he didn’t know what to do with them,” Corrado said. “So what we did was we made a special gold menu and it was the Kit Bond Menu.”

Local historian and former President of the State Historical Society Bob Priddy said Bond accomplished a lot during his decades of years of service for Missourians.

“You can list the things he accomplished, that’s part of his legacy.” Priddy said. “But what you saw was a tribute to kit bond as a person.”

Flowers surrounding Bond’s casket as well as the entrance to the Rotunda where guests signed their names. Former Mizzou football coach Gary Pinkel and his family sent yellow roses and their condolences saying, “To the Great and Honorable Christopher Kit Bond. For his outstanding leadership and love for the citizens of Missouri. For his friendship to our family, and his energy, smile and charisma will live in on in memories.”

Bond’s body will stay in the Capitol for 24 hours. All are welcome to pay their respects.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A mental evaluation was granted on Monday to a man accused of murder and arson.

Steven Strumpf, 32, of Columbia is in the Boone County Jail after he was charged with first-degree murder, armed criminal action, second-degree arson and credit card fraud in David Strumpf’s death. A hearing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Monday, June 16. He is currently being held at the Boone County Jail.

Steven Strumpf’s attorney filed the request for a mental evaluation on May 7.

Court documents in previous reporting say that on Jan. 19, 2024, firefighters discovered a body under debris in a garage on Deerfoot Way. They found the body later when looking for hot spots.

Steven Strumpf was allegedly seen that night moving items out of the house just hours before the fire. Police were also alerted to a fraudulent hotel charge on a Commerce Bank account for a stay that evening and found that Steven Strumpf had rented the room, previous reporting indicates.

He allegedly admitted to stabbing the victim multiple times and setting the body on fire, court documents in previous reporting say.

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Erika McGuire

Editor’s Note: Phrasing in this article has been updated to reflect updated information from the source.

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A City of Columbia lineman suffered from an electrical shock Monday night while working to restore power during an outage in south Columbia.

A second worker was also injured while helping lower the other lineman to safety, according to a Tuesday email from City of Columbia Utilities spokesperson Jason West.

According to West, the two were part of a crew replacing a transformer on a pole when one of them was shocked. The crew was able to use an AED and administered CPR utility EMS arrived on scene, West wrote.

West said the city could not comment on the injuries that were suffered.

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