Author: KMIZ

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Boone County dispensary caught fire on Thursday night after a vehicle hit the gas meter of the building, according to Boone County Fire Protection District Assistant Chief Gale Blomenkamp.  

Firefighters were called around 8:30 p.m. Thursday for a fire at Greenlight Dispensary in the 4000 block of Ponderosa Drive and stayed on scene until around midnight. A gas leak was also reported and Ameren was called out to shut off the gas.

Blomenkamp said the fire started after a vehicle made a turn into the drive-through area, misjudged space and hit the gas meter. Fire crews were not able to shut off the gas line because it broke below the shutoff valve, Blomenkamp said.

No one was injured in the fire, Blomenkamp said. The building is secure, though the business will not be open on Friday, Blomenkamp said.

Gas was shut off to 37 Ameren customers in a nearby trailer park as crews worked to repair the gas infrastructure, an Ameren spokesman wrote in a Friday email. Some customers were still having their gas restored on Friday afternoon.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The 2025-26 deer-hunting season ended on Jan. 15 and the preliminary total of deer harvested is up nearly 10% from last year, according to a Friday press release from the Missouri Department of Conservation.

MDC reports that 301,954 deer were harvested throughout the state this hunting season, compared to 275,656 during the 2024-25 season.

Previous reporting shows that last year’s numbers were down because the firearms seasons during the 2024-25 season was a week later and there was a plentiful bumper acorn crop, which affects deer migration.

“As expected, deer harvest rebounded nicely from the lower harvest total we had last year, especially across much of southern Missouri,” MDC Cervid Program Supervisor Jason Isabelle said in Friday’s press release.

The total number is still down from the 2023-24 season, when 326,448 deer were harvested.

For this season, the release says, 145,222 of the harvested deer were antlered bucks, while 25,129 were button bucks and 131,603 were does. Top harvest counties were Franklin (6,770), Howell (5,490) and Callaway (5,346), the release says.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Kansas City man on Thursday was sentenced to nearly four years in federal prison for a gun crime, according to a Friday press release from the Department of Justice.

James Tatum, 35, was sentenced to 46 months in prison for being a felon with a gun. The sentence includes three years of probation after he is released, the release says.

The release says Columbia police found Tatum with a gun during a stop on June 8, 2024.

“Tatum was encountered by a Columbia, Mo. Police Department officer on June 8, 2024. Tatum was alone in a vehicle, and while the officer was checking Tatum’s identification, he saw Tatum making what he believed were furtive movements in the front passenger area. During a subsequent search of the car, officers located a Glock 43X firearm under the driver’s seat,” the release says.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A 27-year-old Sedalia woman was seriously injured in a crash Thursday evening on westbound Highway 50 in Pettis County, east of Muddy Creek, according to a Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report.

An MSHP arrest report indicates that Leydi Maldonado, 27, of Sedalia, was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated that caused physical injury, driving on the wrong side of a divided highway, not wearing a seatbelt and not having insurance. Charges were not available on Casenet on Friday afternoon.

The report says the Sedalia woman drove a 2023 Jeep Cherokee eastbound in the westbound lane of Highway 50 and hit a 2013 Chevrolet Suburban head-on. The Suburban was driven by a 69-year-old woman from Alma, Missouri.

The Jeep went off the right side of the road and stopped while facing north, while the Chevrolet stopped in the middle of the highway and was also facing north, the report says.

The Sedalia woman did not wear a seatbelt and was flown to University Hospital with serious injuries, the report says. The Alma woman wore a seatbelt, had minor injuries and was brought to Bothwell Regional Health Center by ambulance, the report says.

MSHP reports do not name those involved in crashes.

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Matthew Sanders

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Jefferson City man accused of stabbing his wife to death this week at their home pleaded not guilty Friday, claiming a mental disease or defect.

Malang J. Akbari, 46, was charged Tuesday with murdering his wife, Manhaz Akbari, by stabbing her to death in their home on East McCarty Street. Court documents say Malang Akbari suspected his wife of cheating. Prosecutors charged him with first-degree murder, child endangerment and armed criminal action.

An Amber Alert was issued for two of Akbari’s children — an infant and a 12-year-old. The infant was later found at Akbari’s brother’s house, according to court documents. The alert was canceled, stating that the children were safe, but the older child’s whereabouts have not been stated publicly.

One of the Akbaris’ adult children found his mother stabbed after getting a call from his father, according to court documents. The couple has 11 children total, the youngest being almost 2-years-old. Ashley Qasem, a family friend to the Akbaris, tells ABC 17 News the three oldest children will take over caregiving duties of the other eight children.

“For the older kids, their biggest focus is making sure that all of them stay together. They’re a very, very close family,” Qasem said.

Malang Akbari’s lawyer, David Moen, said in court Friday that Akbari pleaded not guilty because of a mental disease or defect, claiming Akbari has PTSD from his time serving alongside American armed forces in Afghanistan. Moen said Akbari might also have lead poisoning from pieces of the metal in his body from shootings and grenade shrapnel.

Moen described Akbari as a “war hero” who spent six years in combat against the Taliban. Akbari’s family was relocated to a military base in New Jersey in August 2021 before resettling in Jefferson City that December, Moen said.

Qasem first met Malang and Manhaz Akbari’s family nearly five years ago.

“At the Columbia airport when they were first getting resettled here as refugees, I went there with them to their house and helped them settle in and stuff,” Qasem said.

Their families also attend the same Mosque in Jefferson City.

“They were both always very loving, very warm, very welcoming,” Qazem said.

She said she never would have expected the tragedy that unfolded on Monday.

“This is not what Islam teaches,” Qasem said. “This really, truly was just a horrific act of domestic violence and it never should have happened. This is not something that a muslim man is allowed to do to his wife for any circumstance.”

The Akbari children are in temporary housing arrangements with family members as they work to find their new normal, a fundraiser has been organized to gather donations.

“It’s important that we focus our energy on supporting the children and the family as they navigate this loss,” Qasem said.

A Cole County judge entered a not guilty plea, and he told Moen that he will need to file paperwork for a mental health evaluation.

A preliminary hearing for Akbari was scheduled for Feb. 19.

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Olivia Hayes

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Jefferson City murder suspect will remain in the Cole County Jail without bond after his first court hearing on Friday.

Malcolm M. Mayes, 29, of Jefferson City, appeared via video from the Cole County Jail. The judge noted that Mayes’ application for a public defender was approved, but he had not been assigned a lawyer. Mayes’ bond was denied, and his next hearing was set for Feb. 10.

Mayes is charged with second-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action, one count of unlawful use of a weapon and illegal gun possession. Jefferson City Police say Mayes turned himself in Tuesday afternoon after they had been searching for him.

Jeremy Greer was identified as the shooting victim to ABC 17 News on Tuesday by his sister, Kathleen Greer.

Police were called to the 800 block of Mulberry Street just after 4 p.m. Jan. 9 after receiving reports that a person had been shot. Witnesses on scene told police the victim had been shot during a fight with Mayes, and court documents revealed Greer drove himself to the hospital after the shooting.

Police said Jeremy Greer, 39, was found at the Capital Region Medical Center. He was later flown to University Hospital in Columbia, where he died.

Multiple witnesses described seeing Mayes run to his car with a gun in his hand immediately following the shooting, according to court documents.

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Madison Stuerman

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Moberly man charged in the overdose death of a woman in June 2024 has pleaded guilty to amended charges.

Zachary Muro pleaded guilty to first-degree involuntary manslaughter and two counts of first-degree drug trafficking on Thursday.

Court records show that as part of a plea agreement, prosecutors agreed to drop one count of drug possession and a misdemeanor for driving while revoked.

Muro was originally charged with felony murder for the death of Victoria Chapman, who died from fentanyl toxicity, according to the Boone County Medical Examiner’s office in 2024.

Court documents said deputies found text messages between Chapman and Muro about setting up a meeting.

A judge sentenced him to serve a total of 27 years in the Department of Corrections.

He was ordered to spend 10 years for involuntary manslaughter and one count of first-degree drug trafficking at the same time. He was ordered to serve 17 years concurrent for the second charge of trafficking drugs. He was also given credit for time served.

Online court records show a victim impact statement was received by the court.

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Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Candidates in a race to represent part of Mid-Missouri in the state Senate have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to compete in the August primary.

Four Republicans have formed committees to raise money for their campaigns in the Sixth Senate District, which covers Cole, Callaway, Miller, Morgan and Moniteau counties. The current officeholder, Republican Mike Bernskoetter, is prohibited from running again due to term limits.

Jake Vogel, president of Jefferson City Coca-Cola, has raised nearly $220,000 for his bid. The biggest donors in the current fundraising cycle include WPG PAC, based in Columbia, the Independent Physicians PAC of Mid-Mo, the Missouri Beverage PAC and the Ford Motor Company Civic Action Fund MO.

Jake Vogel’s January finance reportDownload

Former Jefferson City Councilman Derrick Spicer has also raised about $220,000 for his campaign, including more than $24,000 in the latest fundraising cycle. The IUOE Local 513 PAC was among his biggest donors at $1,000. The other donations came from individuals and companies.

Derrick Spicer’s January finance reportDownload

State Rep. Rudy Veit has raised the most of the four candidates, bringing in nearly $325,000 so far this election cycle. He took in about $34,000 during the fourth quarter of 2025. He received $1,000 donations from former congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer, CN-MO PAC and the Missouri Funeral Directors PAC.

Rudy Veit’s January finance reportDownload

State ballot issues

Opponents of the Amendment 3 abortion ban on the November ballot have far outraised the committee formed to support the ban. Stop the Ban has raised more than $1 million for the election, including close to $200,000 in the fourth quarter of 2025.

The Her Health Her Future PAC, which supports the ban, has brought in about $100,000, all during the fourth quarter of 2025.

People Not Politicians, a group created to oppose a new congressional map, has raised more than $6 million for the election, including more than $350,000 in the fourth quarter of 2025. Put Missouri First, a committee formed to oppose People Not Politicians, has raised and spent about $3 million this election cycle.

Her Health Her Future January reportDownload

Stop the Ban January finance reportDownload

People Not Politicians January reportDownload

Put Missouri First January reportDownload

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Matthew Sanders

Democrats have an answer to Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe’s plan to phase out Missouri’s income tax.

Rep. Mark Boyko (D-Kirkwood) has filed a bill that would remake Missouri’s income tax brackets to put less of the burden on lower income brackets and more on the top bracket. Meanwhile, House Speaker Jonathan Patterson has filed legislation to implement Kehoe’s plan.

Whose plan do you think is better for Missouri? Let us know by voting in the poll.

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Euphenie Andre

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Columbia Convention and Visitors Bureau is rolling out a new campaign designed to bring both international and domestic soccer fans to Mid-Missouri ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The initiative, called “Kick It in CoMo,” is meant to boost local businesses and showcase Columbia as a destination for visitors traveling to Kansas City for World Cup matches, according to the press release.

“Kick It in CoMo is our umbrella program to get ready for the FIFA World Cup this summer,” spokeswoman Megan McConachie said. “It covers marketing, promotions, information and collaboration across the Columbia community so we can all get ready together and celebrate together.”

Last month, the bureau said it was considering hosting its own watch parties and festival events. That decision is still undecided, but planning for the World Cup is already underway.

“We’re going to kind of wait and see if there are other entities that are interested in dong that themselves,” said McConachie.

The nonprofit said a shuttle service from Columbia to Kansas City is not currently in demand.

“It’s not something that we have heard any interest in. Typically, an international visitor is going to travel as part of kind of, maybe a larger group,” McConachie said.

Kansas City will host six World Cup matches — including a quarterfinal — inside a stadium that holds 73,000 fans, according to FIFA. That puts Columbia in a position to benefit from the influx of visitors.

“Any time someone visits, they stay in our hotels, dine in our restaurants, shop in our stores, and all of that has a great impact on the local economy and it helps support local jobs,”  McConachie said.

Downtown businesses are already hoping soccer fans make the trip.

“I think they’re all going to want to come down and enjoy our culture that we have going on here in downtown,” said Lisa Bartlett, owner of ArtLandish. “There’s a mall in every town, but here we have unique businesses.”

Bartlett recently moved her business to a downtown Ninth Street location in November after spending 15 years in the North Village Arts District. She said the move was driven by a desire to reach more customers.

“We think that this is the kind of happening place when events are going on. So I think, it’ll generate a lot of folks coming into town,” she said.

To help local businesses take advantage of the World Cup buzz, the Visitors Bureau is launching two new programs: a Kick It in CoMo Toolkit and an Adopt-A-Team program.

“Whether you’re a bar, restaurant, or somewhere that can host a crowd, you can host a watch party and even adopt a team like Argentina or Curaçao,” McConachie said. “Fans know that they can head to these few places and you know, hang out with their fellow fans,”

The bureau said the toolkit and team program should be available on its website next month.

Kansas City is expected to welcome about 650,000 visitors during the World Cup, according to McConachie. Officials said they should have a clearer idea of how many of those fans could be stopping in Mid-Missouri after spring break.

“Our proximity to Kansas City, combined with our engaged community, makes Columbia a great destination for travelers from around the world and across the country to visit during the World Cup,” CVB Director Amy Schneider said in a press release.

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