Author: KMIZ

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.

Click here to follow the original article.

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.

Click here to follow the original article.

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.

Click here to follow the original article.

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.  

Click here to follow the original article.

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.

Click here to follow the original article.

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.

Click here to follow the original article.

Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The FBI has released photographs of a person of interest in the killing of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk on a Utah college campus.

Kirk was fatally shot in the neck on the campus of Utah Valley University in Orem during a public speaking engagement on Wednesday. The two pictures show a person in a black shirt and jeans wearing a baseball cap and sunglasses.

Kirk’s shooter remained at large on Thursday. But FBI officials said they believe they recovered the gun used in the killing — a bolt-action rifle.

Officials have also collected a footwear impression, a palm print and forearm imprints.

The event on Wednesday was a stop on Kirk’s speaking tour for Turning Point USA — a political organization targeting the college-age population that Kirk founded.

The FBI released additional photos of the man they say is a person of interest on Thursday night.

Click here to follow the original article.

Alison Patton

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Senate committee passed both special session bills, redistricting and initiative petition reform, with a vote of 6-2.

The two Democratic members on the committee offered amendments to the proposed bills. One amendment would have kept U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver’s (D-MO) district contained to Kansas City.

Cleaver testified in opposition to the redistricting map that would vastly change his district on Thursday before a Missouri Senate committee. Some Democrats believe the proposed fifth district would leave Cleaver without a seat.

The “Missouri First” map submitted by Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe would carve up Cleaver’s district into three districts and stretch into Mid-Missouri.

Cleaver testified that he noticed right away that the map cuts through the city along Troost Avenue, a street historically associated with racial segregation.

“This is tearing those communities apart again,” Cleaver said. “I don’t have the words to tell you how damaging that is.”

Cleaver said he’s been working to erase the racial barrier the street represents. 

“How could we possibly be pushed back into the 1950s?” Cleaver said. 

Sen. Sandy Crawford (R-Dallas County) asked Cleaver if he saw any benefits to the proposed map.  Cleaver said the state shouldn’t even be redistricting outside of a census year. Cleaver also said his constituents oppose what state lawmakers are doing. 

The Missouri Local Government, Elections and Pensions committee will also review House Joint Resolution 3 and hear testimony from citizens.

HJR3 would reform the initiative petition process. Republicans want to make it harder to change the Missouri Constitution by requiring a citizen-initiated ballot measure to be approved by a majority of people in each of the eight congressional districts. Currently, ballot measures pass with a simple majority.

The Senate met Wednesday and passed new rules for the special session. The new rules change the order in which business is conducted. When the Senate meets again Friday morning, for what some Republicans believe to be the final vote on the bills, senators will start with House of Representatives communications and review the House bills.

Under the old rules, Senators would go through resolutions before reviewing their own rules.

Click here to follow the original article.

Jazsmin Halliburton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Ceremonies took place through in Mid-Missouri on Thursday to honor the lives that were lost 24 years ago on Sept. 11, 2001.

The Mid-Missouri Patriot Day Ceremony was held at the Boone County War Memorial Plaza in downtown Columbia. This ceremony was hosted by the United States Exercise Tiger Foundation and assisted by the University of Missouri’s Sigma Nu fraternity.

The ceremony highlighted state fire marshals, area fire chiefs and featured speakers from the Navy and Army. State Rep. Kathy Steinhoff (D-Columbia) delivered an official state resolution marking the day,.

More than 250 flags were placed on the Boone County Courthouse lawn to honor the lives that were lost at the Pentagon. Two five-foot wreaths and two three-foot wreaths honored the New York City firefighters who died and a special wreath honored Sterling Wyatt, a soldier from Columbia who died in Afghanistan in 2012. There was also a special wreath to honor KOMU Sports Director Ben Arnet.

Lincoln University in Jefferson City held a Day of Remembrance honoring first responders and service members. Flags were arranged in the shape of the numbers nine and 11, and the Jefferson City Fire Department displayed the U.S. flag.

There was also an event at the University of Missouri’s Columbia campus that featured remarks from Columbia Mayor Barbara Buffaloe and MU President Mun Choi.

Click here to follow the original article.

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Damotech announced in a Wednesday press release that it will add 50 jobs through an expansion to its Moberly location.

The warehouse rack safety solutions provider announced that it is investing more than $2.4 million in the expansion.

“We are proud to see Damotech deepen its commitment to Moberly by investing in new job creation,” Gov. Mike Kehoe said in the release. “Damotech is a strong example of an innovative employer that has chosen Missouri as the ideal place to grow.”

Click here to follow the original article.