Author: KMIZ

Ellyse Edwards

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Missouri drivers heading to recreation spots such as the Lake of the Ozarks for Labor Day weekend are paying nearly a dollar more per gallon than they were one year ago.

The statewide average for regular gasoline reached about $3.82 per gallon Friday, according to AAA. That is nearly 93 cents higher than Missouri’s average of about $2.90 at the same time last year.

Drivers leaving from Columbia are paying slightly more than the statewide average. Regular gasoline in Columbia averaged about $3.87 per gallon Friday, compared with about $2.93 one year ago. That is an increase of approximately 94 cents per gallon.

Despite the year-over-year increase, Missouri’s average remains below the national average of about $4.15 per gallon.

AAA says the country is on track for its most expensive Labor Day at the pump. The previous national Labor Day record was $3.82 per gallon, set in 2012.

GasBuddy had projected a national Labor Day average of $4.03 per gallon, 87 cents higher than the holiday average in 2025. The national average has since climbed above that projection, according to AAA.

The higher Missouri prices come as travelers head to the Lake of the Ozarks for the holiday weekend.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol said all available troopers will patrol the state’s roads and waterways during the Labor Day counting period. The period begins at 6 p.m. Friday and ends at 11:59 p.m. Monday.

The Highway Patrol’s preliminary online reports show at least five drownings investigated by the agency at the Lake of the Ozarks since May 27. The incidents were reported May 27, June 10, July 4, July 22 and July 25.

A 22-year-old Columbia resident was also seriously injured in a near-drowning at the lake July 31, according to the Highway Patrol.

During the 2025 Labor Day counting period, Missouri recorded nine boating crashes that resulted in six injuries and no deaths. One person drowned, and troopers arrested nine people on suspicion of boating while intoxicated.

The Highway Patrol is reminding visitors to wear life jackets when they are near, on or in the water. People whose holiday plans include alcohol are encouraged to designate a sober driver for both their vehicle and boat.

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Matthew Sanders

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Supreme Court of Missouri has rejected the Missouri attorney general’s attempt to appeal its decision striking down a new congressional map to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Chief Justice Brent Powell signed the order, which simply states, “Respondent’s motion for a stay of injunction pending emergency appeal and application for stay to the Supreme Court of the United States overruled.”

Attorney General Catherine Hanaway posted on social media Thursday night that she planned to appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court and that asking the Missouri court for a stay of its injunction was the first step.

The Missouri court’s decision struck down a map passed by the Republican-dominated General Assembly last year and forced a November vote on the map. The map pushed by the White House and approved by the General Assembly split up the Democrat-friendly Fifth District, subsuming the Kansas City district into other districts with large rural populations.

Republicans responded to the ruling by emphasizing that Missouri voters cast ballots in the August primary based on the General Assembly’s map, not the map approved in 2022 after the census.

Hanaway had asked the court for a stay pending an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, or an “alternative stay” to allow the high court time to review the case.

With the 2025 congressional map, Boone County was split into the Third and Fifth districts for the August primary election. Now, for the November election, Boone County will be in the Third and Fourth districts.

The big change is in the northern part of the county, where many voters will shift from the Fifth District back into the Fourth, Boone County Clerk Brianna Lennon said.

Party nominees chosen in the August primary election will not change districts, and those party winners will continue to run in their districts, said Lennon. The biggest change is that no one in Boone County would be in the Fifth District with the map reverting to its 2022 version.

Lennon said Friday that she and other clerks warned state officials of this possible outcome.

“That was something that I think that as a clerk and our clerks association had raised that concern in May that this was a possibility that would happen if we waited until Aug. 4, the deadline to certify the referendum petition to the ballot,” said Lennon. “It was certainly a consequence that I think was talked about and discussed amongst us clerks in April and May.”

If the 2022 map stays in effect, Lennon said, moving voters back into their old districts will be an easy task.

“It’ll be about 40% of our voters that have moved to a different district that go back to their old district,” said Lennon.

Check back for updates to this developing story.

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Matthew Sanders

The Missouri Supreme Court made national headlines on Thursday for a decision with far-reaching implications for November.

And it’s a case that could be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Missouri’s court ruled that a congressional map passed by Republicans in the General Assembly last year would not be in effect for the November election, and that a referendum on the new map would be on that election’s ballot.

Things get a bit complicated, though, given that Missourians chose party nominations based on the new map’s districts last month.

Do you agree with the court’s decision? Let us know by voting in the poll.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Firefighters responded to a call for a house fire near the Business Loop in Columbia on Thursday night.

Flames were seen coming from a home in the 1100 block of Pannell Street. Firefighters were using water from a hydrant from the corner of Smith Street.

High flames were seen coming from the second floor of the home and firefighters were heard using chainsaws to get into a portion of the building.

At least five firetrucks were seen on the Smith Street side of the scene.

Assistant Fire Chief Lester Shewmake told ABC 17 News at the scene that firefighters believe no one was in the home at the time of the fire.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. The fire was out by 11:06 p.m.

ABC 17 News is working to learn more information. Please check back for updates.

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Collin Anderson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Tigers picked apart Arkansas-Pine Bluff in the first game of the 2026-27 season 54-14.

You can watch extended highlights of the win in the video player below.

There were plenty of questions heading into the week one for Mizzou. An nearly entirely new cast on both sides of the ball, and a slew of new coaches had fans wondering if head coach Eli Drinkwitz’ vision would come to pass.

Within the first 15 minutes, those questions were answered.

You can watch the full postgame press conference with head coach Eli Drinkwitz, recapping the game, in the video player below.

Transfer quarterback Austin Simmons made his debut in the black and gold, and looked like he had been playing in this system for years. A perfect 7-7 on his first drive that went 60 yards and ended with Sean Terry II getting into the end zone for the first touchdown of the year.

The senior quarterback continued his hot streak on the next possession, finding Donovan Olugbode for a touchdown towards the end of the first quarter.

In the second, Mizzou’s offense was even better. Jamal Roberts broke in for six points at the start of the quarter, before Simmons put two more scores across with a second touchdown to Olugbode, and a 47 yard connection to his former Ole Miss teammate Cayden Lee, which put the Tigers ahead 37-0. A field goal from Blake Craig made it a 40-point game heading into the half as the clock hit zeros.

You can watch the full postgame press conference with Olugbode in the video player below.

Quarters three and four were slower for the Tigers as the starters did not return with their helmets, signifying the end of their night. Mizzou broke in for another two touchdowns, but also allowed the Golden Lions to score twice for themselves, making the final score 54-14.

Simmons finished his day 17-19 with 252 yards and four touchdowns. Olugbode was the top target with eight catches for 116 and a pair of scores.

You can watch the full postgame press conference with Simmons in the video player below.

Defensively, linebacker Jeremiah Beasley paved the way for ‘Death Row Defense,’ leading that unit with seven total tackles and two solo stops.

You can watch the full postgame press conference with linebacker Robert Woodyard Jr., as well as safety Elijah Dotson, as they talk about the defensive performance, in the video players below.

Up Next – Mizzou will head to Lawrence, Kans. for the Boarder War in week two. Kick off is set for 7:00 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 11.

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Olivia Hayes

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Members and supporters of Laborers’ Local 955 marched through the University of Missouri’s campus on Thursday and called for “livable wages” outside of the school’s new $250 million north end zone renovations.

It was the opening game for the Mizzou Tigers’ season, and the first with the new upgrades to Memorial Stadium. It was a project many of the union members helped to build, but those same folks say they are struggling to make ends meet.

“A lot of our members make less than $19 an hour,” LiUNA Local 955 spokesman Andrew Hutchinson said. “Many of them work second jobs or have to commute from outside of Columbia just to have a cheaper rent, cheaper cost of living.”

LiUNA Local 955 has three requests for the university:

A minimum wage of $19 per hour.

Cost-of-living and market adjustments made to employees who make more than $19 per hour.

The reversal of recent benefit changes made at MU Health Care.

The board of curators announced at the end of August that it had approved reducing total paid time off days for healthcare workers by three days, a reduction in retirement pension matching and the elimination of holiday pay, except on Veterans Day.

Hutchinson said the decision was made outside of the union and university’s normal negotiation period.

“I think MU Health Care and MU campus and UMKC have been taking steps to see ‘What is the least amount we can pay?’ and ‘What is the least amount we can provide in benefits?” Hutchinson said.

Jeff Hoffman is a university maintenance worker that attended Thursday’s rally. He said the cuts make him feel forgotten.

“It makes me feel like they’re more concerned about money than they are their employees. And they forget that the employees are what makes the hospital just as much as the building,” Hoffman said.

Some students were also walking alongside the group in support. Alice Carter and Charlie Almandinger expressed the importance university workers.

“Supporting the new workers is very important,” MU senior Charlie Almandinger said. “They are essential, we cannot run without them.”

The changes at MU Health Care would not go into effect until Jan. 1. Hutchinson said LiUNA Local 955 is in negotiations with the university for their requests.

Hutchinson said he wants an agreement by the end of the year, but is not sure when one would be finalized. He said he is confident a deal will be reached.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The University of Missouri is entering a $900,000 contract with a real estate developer.

Documents obtained by ABC 17 News on Thursday show that the university has entered an agreement with Reith Jones Advisors.

“Following a competitive process in January 2026, RJA was engaged by MU to support MU’s evaluation of developer RFI submissions,” the contract states. “Through this prior engagement, RJA has already devoted substantial effort to understanding MU’s objectives, development zones, governance environment, campus master planning framework, athletic development priorities, and guiding principles.”

An MU spokesman confirmed that the university has paid RJA $229,958.26 for services through July and was invoiced $49,654.03 in August.

Rieth Jones Advisors contractDownload

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Central Missouri Humane Society announced in a Thursday press release that it is temporarily halting its dog intake after a case of parvovirus was confirmed at the shelter.

Parvo is a contagious virus that affects dogs, according to the release. Signs of parvo include lethardy, vomiting, diarrhea and loss of appetite. It cannot jump from dogs to humans.

CMHS will suspend the intake of dogs for the next two weeks, the release says.

““Any time we identify a contagious illness in the shelter, our first priority is protecting the animals already in our care and preventing additional exposure,” Executive Director Julie Aber was quoted in the release. “Temporarily suspending dog intake gives our team the opportunity to contain the situation, closely monitor the dogs in our care and take the necessary precautions before bringing additional dogs into the shelter. We know this creates challenges for our community, and we are asking everyone to help us during these next two weeks.”

Community member who find stray dogs are being asked to “make every reasonable effort to reunite them with their families in the field rather than immediately bringing them to the shelter,” the release says.

CMHS will still be available to scan found dogs’ microchips.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

One person was found dead Thursday evening at Stephens Lake Park, according to Columbia police.

Lt. Derek Moore told ABC 17 News at the scene that officers responded to someone being found dead. Moore said they are not sure about the manner of death yet and will not give identifies of the deceased until next-of-kin is notified.  

A portion of Stephens Lake Park in Columbia was taped off by police. Officers took down the tape at 7:05 p.m.

The Columbia Police Department announced on its social media at 6:19 p.m. that officers were investigating “an incident in the northeast area of the lake” and asked the public to avoid the area.

An ABC 17 News reporter saw several law enforcement officers on the scene and noticed the Columbia Fire Department had a boat on scene before they started to leave at 6:44 p.m.

The reporter saw officials load a body in a CSI van at 6:48 p.m

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A 66-year-old Sunrise Beach man died in a crash on Thursday on Highway 135 in Morgan County, according to a crash report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

The report says than man drove a 2022 International HV507 southbound when it went off the left side of the road and hit a tree. The man was pronounced dead at the scene by the Morgan County coroner, according the report.

It is not known if the man was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash. The tractor-trailer was totaled.

MSHP reports do not name those involved in crashes.

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