Author: KMIZ

Alison Patton

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

Missouri Republican senators passed a new congressional map and reformed the way citizens can get constitutional issues on ballots, over Democrats’ objections, during a special session in the Capitol on Friday.

The vote was 21-11 in favor of a new congressional map submitted by Gov. Mike Kehoe and titled the “Missouri First” map. A bill to set a higher standard to pass statewide ballot measures passed the Senate by the same vote.

The day began with Democratic stalling in the Senate. In the end, the Republican majority closed debate against Democrats’ wishes and held their final votes.

The map approved on Friday, which had already passed through the House, would redraw the state’s congressional map, splitting up the Democratic-safe Fifth District.

“Per instructions of the federal government the [legislature] has passed the DC drawn gerrymander exactly as instructed without a single Senator ever having a chance to file a bill or offer an amendment. Complete capitulation to Donald Trump,” Sen. Stephen Webber (D-Columbia) wrote on the social media website X after the vote.

Sen. Doug Beck (D-St. Louis County) said Friday morning he intended to offer an amendment to start the proposed congressional map when the federal government releases the Epstein files. However, he didn’t get the chance to do so.

A Senate committee on Thursday heard testimony on the “Missouri First” map, and no one showed up in support of new congressional districts.

A lawsuit was filed in Cole County court on Friday challenging the new map before its approval. The plaintiffs include a Cole County resident and residents of U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver’s Fifth District. They contend the map is unconstitutional because the Missouri Constitution says districts should be redrawn every 10 years.

“We absolutely have the authority to do this,” Sen. Brad Hudson (R-Cape Fair) said. “Matter of fact, I would say not only do we have the authority, we have the responsibility to update to the congressional districts in Missouri to make sure that it reflects the will of Missourians.”

Hudson said the map will withstand any challenges.

Democrats want to overturn the map through a referendum or, as Beck calls it, a citizen’s veto.

“Everything outside the capital is set to start happening,” Beck said. “I am already going to start cutting up all campaign signs to put petitions online and petitions on there and start going out and collecting signatures.”

The current districts were approved in 2022.

HJR 3, which reforms Missouri’s intiative petition process, would require any constitutional amendment be passed by a majority statewide and in each of the state’s eight congressional districts.

The map bill will become law with Kehoe’s signature. Initiative petition reform will be voted on statewide.

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Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A suspect in the deadly shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk was identified Friday morning as a man from Utah.

Kirk was killed on Wednesday on the campus of Utah Valley University in Orem, where he was kicking off a national speaking tour of college campuses. Investigators say he was shot in the neck with a high-powered rifle.

Utah and federal law enforcement officials said Friday that the suspect is Tyler Robinson, 22, of Utah. President Donald Trump had broken the news of the arrest earlier Friday during a Fox News appearance.

Robinson’s father, who recognized him from photos the FBI distributed Thursday, convinced Robinson to turn himself in, ABC News reported.

Officials said Friday that Robinson had etched “Hey, fascist! Catch!” onto a shell casing.

Kirk was the founder of Turning Point USA, a political organization that sought to bring young adults into Republican politics. The group has chapters on campuses across the country, including the University of Missouri.

A student group was working to bring Kirk’s tour to campus before he died, an MU spokesperson said Thursday.

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Jazsmin Halliburton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Friday is the last day for sports teams and casinos to send in applications to offer on-site betting to Missourians.

After all applications are submitted, the Missouri Gaming Commission will review them and allow for temporary licenses to those it chooses. This would allow suppliers to test their systems before the launch date.

In August, the Missouri Gaming Commission voted to give DraftKings and Circa Hospitality the state’s first two mobile sports betting licenses. However, those two platforms can not get those licenses until all sports teams and casinos that want on-site betting send in their applications by the end of the day Friday.

All licenses are expected to be issued in mid-to-late October, but Missourians will still have to wait until December to legally wager on sports. The state’s new gaming rules won’t take effect until the end of November, so Missourians will not be able to bet on sports until the official launch date on Dec. 1.

The Missouri Gaming Commission had to create pages of rules from scratch to prepare for the application process, coming up with the following criteria for applicants: 

Expertise in online sports betting

Integrity, safety and sustainability of the platform

Past relevant experience

Advertising and promotional plans to increase and sustain revenue

Ability to generate, maximize and sustain revenue for Missouri

Commitment to and plans for promotion of responsible gaming

Capacity to increase the number of bettors on the platform

Missourians voted to have sports betting last November under Amendment 2. On the ballot, it stated that 10% of wagering tax revenue received would go toward public schools across the state. Missouri also must allocate at least $5 million in licensing fees and taxes to problem gambling programs in the state.

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Euphenie Andre

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Mizzou Athletics announced Thursday that Saturday’s football game will be pushed up to noon, instead of the originally scheduled 3 p.m. start.

The school says the change is to avoid the worst of the extreme heat forecast this weekend. After consulting with the National Weather Service, Mizzou decided moving the game earlier would help protect both players and fans.

National Weather Service Meteorologist Jon Carney said temperatures at noon will still be hot but slightly cooler compared to mid-afternoon.

“During that time period, the hourly temperature forecast is 92 at noon, then 95 and 96 versus 97 at 3 p.m., 97 at 4 p.m., and then 96 at 5 p.m. So there is a little difference,” Carney said.

Fans told ABC 17 News they first heard about the change through an email from the university. Others said they were glad about the decision, while some said the change didn’t affect their plans.

“Mizzou was looking out for us and they actually sent out a campus wide reminder. So it’s great,” Ryan Aheran said.

An ABC 17 reporter tested field temperatures with a thermometer, comparing grass to turf similar to the surface the Tigers will play on Saturday. The results showed turf was more than 20 degrees hotter than grass.

Medical experts are warning fans to watch for signs of heat exhaustion.

“Headache would be one of the first signs of dehydration. Also, if you stop sweating, become confused, dizzy, disoriented, or just overall do not feel well,” said Jackie Beshears, who is a nurse practitioner at Boone Convenient Care.

Beshears encouraged fans to prepare ahead of time.

“Some things I would say before the game is making sure that they’re wearing sunscreen, making sure they’re wearing hats, light clothes, hydrating more than they think they need to before the game, and avoiding alcohol,” Beshear said.

Beshears said anyone experiencing those symptoms should seek help right away and get water or ice to cool down. She added that anyone experiencing symptoms of heat exhaustion should seek help immediately and cool down with water or ice.

Carney said while conditions will be hot, the heat index isn’t expected to reach dangerous levels.

“Heat index around 105 (degrees) as being dangerous to do strenuous activity with and defiantly 110 is where we start to really get concerned is where we start issuing excessive heat warning at that level,” Carney said.

The new kickoff time, however, did cause some adjustments for the city bus schedule. Columbia spokesperson John Ogan said the revised Saturday schedule will be available Friday morning between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m., after being finalized with bus supervisors.

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Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) 

The University of Missouri has made changes to its application process for its homecoming parade, following a dustup with Mizzou Students for Justice in Palestine last year. 

On Aug. 27, the group posted on social media that CAIR — the largest Muslim civil rights organization in the country — had filed a lawsuit on behalf of the group for President Mun Choi’s decision to deny their application to participate in the 2024 homecoming parade. 

Records obtained by ABC 17 News show Choi cited what he called “disturbances”  from students at other universities as the reason for denying MSJP’s application.  In his letter to the group, he wrote: 

“A review of SJP events around the country indicated that significant disturbances have occurred. Some of the disturbances were caused by members and/or supporters of SJP. In other cases the disturbances were caused by members of the public or by counter-demonstrators. Ensuring the safety of members of the MSJP and homecoming participants is my paramount concern

“These facts, combined with the concerning actions of some MSJP members at Speakers Circle on Oct 7, led me to my decision. Given our commitment to your right of freedom of expression, we’ll provide you another location on the day of Homecoming Parade to share your perspectives.” 

Letters obtained by ABC 17 News also show the University denied applications to LiUNA and the League of Women Voters, as part of the five denial letters obtained in the records request. However, those denial letters cited the influx of registration, concerns about parade length and priority given to MU student groups as the reason why.  

Choi_MSJP_Email_Redacted (1)Download

MSPJ argues that before denying their application, the university asked the student group to not carry a banner reading “END THE GENOCIDE,” despite allowing fraternities to display “MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN” banners. 

“MSJP’s exclusion from the 2024 Homecoming Parade was a blatant violation of the First Amendment,” Gadeir Abbas, deputy litigation director at CAIR National, said in a statement. “In addition to seeking relief from the court for that constitutional violation, we are also demanding that the University not repeat its mistake by excluding Mizzou Students for Justice in Palestine again in this year’s parade.” 

The University has since updated its homecoming parade policy, with the theme of “Celebrating Black and Gold.” According to the policy, the purposes of the parade are to: 

Celebrate MU’s traditions and accomplishments

Cultivate alumni connections

Honor University-selected achievements of MU students, personnel, and alumni

Rally support and enthusiasm for the Homecoming football game

The policy also reads: 

“It is not an open forum for expression on topics identified by participants, but rather is limited to expression on topics identified by the University for the purposes noted above. The University provides ample other opportunities for participants to express themselves on topics of interest to them.” 

Choi was asked about the decision during Thursday’s MU faculty council meeting. 

“The major difference from last year is that we have a theme, and we ask that all of the parade participants to tailor the displays, tailor their performance if they’re going to perform in the parade, using the theme of Black and Gold and themes of celebrating our alums because it is homecoming,” Choi said. 

A spokesman for the university told ABC 17 News in a statement that the decision to change the rules was not related to SJP. 

“We make changes to the parade rules every year and this year is no exception,” MU spokesperson Christopher Ave wrote in an email. “Adherence to the theme is not limited to any one group, and the rules do apply to all participants.” 

ABC 17 News reached out to MSJP.

Check back for updates.

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Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A former Missouri House speaker who resigned in disgrace a decade ago admitted Thursday to fraudulently getting a COVID-19 pandemic loan.

John J. Diehl Jr., 60, pleaded guilty in St. Louis to one count of wire fraud. Federal prosecutors accused Diehl of using money from a COVID-19 business loan to pay for personal expenses, including cars, a mortgage, country club dues and college tuition.

Diehl is a lawyer with the Diehl Law Group in St. Louis.

He was elected to the Missouri House in 2008 and became speaker in 2015. Diehl resigned from that position after the Kansas City Star published a report detailing sexual text messages exchanged between Diehl and a House intern.

The Missouri Ethics Commission found in 2023 that Diehl held unreported campaign contributions worth up to $52,000 in a personal bank account, violating state ethics rules.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A 71-year-old man from Gravois Mills was seriously injured Wednesday evening in a crash on Route J in Morgan County, according to a crash report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

The report says the man rode a 2013 Harley Davidson Softtail that was heading eastbound when it went off the right side of the road. The man was ejected from the vehicle and landed in a ditch.

The man was not wearing a helmet, the report says. He was flown to University Hospital.

MSHP reports do not name those involved in crashes.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A woman who is charged with first-degree murder in Cole County has been charged in another case.

Rejeane Redmon, 29, was charged in 2023 with first-degree murder, armed criminal action and tampering with evidence in the death of 80-year-old Melvin Callahan.

She was committed to the Department of Mental Health in March, but is currently listed on the Cole County Jail’s online roster. A hearing in that case is scheduled for 9 a.m. Tuesday.

She was charged on Wednesday with misdemeanor fourth-degree assault after she allegedly assaulted a Cole County deputy at the jail on Aug. 16. The deputy was conducting a security check of Redmon’s cell when she hit him several times on his left arm.  

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Olivia Hayes

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The influence of Charlie Kirk, the conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA, reached young people across the country, including at the University of Missouri.

Kirk’s rhetoric drew plenty of criticism, including his stance on gun violence. But for conservatives on college campuses, he was an inspiration, said a leader of MU’s College Republican club.

Kirk was kicking off Turning Point USA’s “American Comeback Tour” at Utah Valley University on Wednesday when he was shot while answering a question related to mass shootings. He was scheduled to appear on 15 college campuses nationwide and was in the final stages of scheduling a 16th appearance on the University of Missouri’s campus for Sept. 29.

Kirk often welcomed criticism and open debates at his events. Some MU students told ABC 17 News that’s what made his message resonate with so many.

“I believe he was the reason Trump won the election. He got the Gen Z votes turned red,” said Paige Schulte, president of MU’s Turning Point USA chapter.

Schulte said Kirk’s messaging was a comfort to her as a conservative college student.

“Mizzou is a more liberal campus, and I think that’s because a lot of students are scared, conservative students are scared to speak up,” Schulte said.

She said Kirk’s death has made more students to come forward looking to join MUTPUSA.

“This is just the beginning. This is the final straw for us. We’re going to be more conservative than ever now, especially on campus. We’re not afraid to speak anymore. We’re done being silent,” Schulte said.

MUTPUSA has paused its meetings for right now, in light of Kirk’s death.

His shooter remained at large on Thursday.

Brenden Poteet, president of the Mizzou College Republicans, said Kirk influenced him to become more open about his politics.

“I think because a lot of young people get trapped in an echo chamber of the majority, and I think that’s something that we need to change to have a civil political discourse. That’s what Charlie Kirk did really well,” Poteet said.

Kirk was an integral part in launching President Donald Trump back into the Oval Office through his social media presence and outreach on college campuses across the country during the 2024 presidential campaign cycle, experts say.

“Having those conversations, he did that, he did it respectfully, he did it in a way that advocated for his beliefs, but listened to what other people had to say,” said Daniel Seitz, chief of staff for Missouri Sen. Brad Hudson.

Seitz described his time working at the Leadership Institute and his experience with Kirk when Kirk was first starting Turning Point USA. He later went on to work for Turning Point USA, raising funds for the organization.

“The first meeting that I had was in a Chili’s. We packed five of us into one booth at Chili’s, and he talked about his grand ideas for Turning Point and turning this nation around,” Seitz said.

Seitz said Kirk’s motivation behind Turning Point USA was educating young voters across the U.S.

“Charlie put a big emphasis on getting back to the roots of the history of our country, the founding of our country, why it mattered to be an American, why the Constitution mattered,” Seitz said. “That way they could have a better foundation and love for our country.”

He said it was TPUSA’s different approach to reaching the youth vote that skyrocketed its popularity.

“It was being unafraid as young people to speak out, when they were conservative,” Seitz said. “A belief that there was still good that could be done if we grasped on to that faith, our love of country and helped move the nation forward.”

Trump said Thursday that he will honor Kirk with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The date of the ceremony has not been announced.

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Matthew Sanders

Editor’s note: The day of the indictment was corrected.

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Callaway County grand jury indicted a woman and her boyfriend on child endangerment charges Tuesday for the crash that killed the woman’s 3-year-old daughter.

Leela M. James, 32, of Holts Summit, and Jessie Knehans, 29, each face a single count of first-degree child endangerment for the Feb. 12 crash. James was booked in the Callaway County Jail and released on her own recognizance on Thursday afternoon. Knehans was booked into the jail at 5:13 p.m. and was released under an hour later.

Callaway County Prosecuting Attorney Sandra Colhour confirmed Knehans’s charged on Thursday afternoon.

One of the indictments state that James put her 3-year-old daughter, Trinity Durham, in a car seat that day but did not properly fasten the restraints. The crash happened in snowy conditions on a Highway 54 exit ramp.

The vehicle slid off the road, hit a tree and overturned.

Trinity’s father, Coby Durham, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against James, Trinity’s grandmother and Jessie Knehans, whom the lawsuit contends was driving at the time of the crash.

The lawsuit accuses Knehans of negligence for not properly restraining the girl, failing to keep a careful lookout and speeding.

The Missouri Department of Social Services is also named in the lawsuit for allegedly failing to respond to earlier reports about unsafe living conditions for Trinity — including concerns about her riding in vehicles with improperly installed car seats and with drivers known to be reckless.

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