Author: KMIZ

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

People who need first responders for an emergency in Randolph County can now send a text message to 911, according to a Wednesday press release from Moberly Joint Communications.

“’Call if you can, text if you must’ is the golden rule when contacting emergency services,” 911 Director Shelby Creed was quoted in the release. “We still prefer a voice call as the fastest way to get help because our dispatchers can quickly ask important questions. Remember, Text2911 is strictly for emergency use only.”

The release says those needing assistance just need to type “911” in the recipient field while sending a text message. The message should include “a clear message that includes the exact location and the type of emergency.”

The system used, Text2911, can also translate more than 100 languages.

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Ellyse Edwards

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Columbia drivers could soon pay more to park in downtown garages.

The city is proposing increasing garage rates from 50 cents to $1 per hour and reducing the free parking period from one hour to 30 minutes.

Columbia Public Works spokesman John Ogan said the proposal is meant to make parking more consistent throughout downtown.

“One key goal here is consistency” Ogan said. “We would like the parking system to be as easy to understand as possible.”

On-street parking rates increased to $1 per hour on Jan. 1. The proposed garage rate increase would match those rates.

If approved, the changes would take effect Jan. 1, 2027. Ogan said the proposal is expected to receive a first reading before the Columbia City Council on Monday.

Work session 7-15-26Download

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Lucas Geisler

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The group promoting Gov. Mike Kehoe’s push to eliminate Missouri’s income tax has spent $3 million so far this election.

Filings with the Missouri Ethics Commission show Missouri Promise PAC has spent $3.3 million from April 1-June 30 supporting Amendment 5. Most of its spending has gone toward “media” so far.

Its major donors in the report are two groups – $1.9 million from Missouri Promise Inc. and $1.5 million from Secure Missouri. The latter group’s website said it “was formed to support Governor Mike Kehoe’s vision of a stronger, more competitive Missouri where businesses thrive, families prosper, and communities grow.”

Missouri Promise PACDownload

Since the end of the quarterly reporting period on June 30, Missouri Promise PAC has taken in several donations greater than $5,000, the threshold the state mandates groups disclose within 48 hours. Those reports show more than $6 million through in-kind contributions from Missouri Action, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit that promoted “civic participation.”

Opposing Amendment 5 is the Missouri Association of REALTORS-backed Missourians for Fair Taxation. That group has so far spent $1 million, after receiving $1.9 million from the real estate group on June 2. It has so far spent $807,990 on media opposing the income tax elimination.

Missourians for Fair TaxationDownload

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Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

More than a month after opening its doors, one of Jefferson City’s only accredited sober living homes for men is already full, with six more people waiting for a bed.

Landmark Recovery’s Men’s Sober Living Home opened on June 1 helps men with reentry into the workforce. Residents include men who may have been unhoused, recently incarcerated or are recovering from addiction. The group accepts referrals from state and local agencies, local programs and even self-referrals.

The home fits up to eight men, ages 18 and older. Nine men in total have been served since the start of the sober house program.

 “This house essentially provides a safe home, but it also gives them structure,” Landmark Recovery Director Jerica Bowman said. “They have access to all of the services that Landmark offers, free of charge, we work on addressing the domains of recovery, including social support, family support, employment, mental health, physical health, and practical needs for food or clothing.”

The program also hosts events for residents, including cookouts, outdoor activites and a planned skydiving trip Saturday.

Landmark Recovery is funded primarily by the Department of Mental Health State Opioid Response Funds, with the remainder coming from local and county contracts that use the program as a recovery service provider, such as Callaway County.

According to the Missouri Accountability Portal, the group received around $325,000 by the department in 2026 and $310,000 in 2025. 

“That’s what enables us to be able to provide these services to our residents. We can very easily refer our guys to the services that we already offer here, thanks to our funding from DMH,” Bowman said. “That pays for our staff to be able to provide the peer support that they do and the care coordination as well as transportation.”

Once in the home, residents also pay for their housing, with a weekly fee of $130 per week and $200 worth of smaller fees that can either be paid as an initial deposit or throughout the program.

The home is rented by Landmark Recovery, with the home’s property owner updating the interior with new outlets to accommodate additional fridges for food storage and bedrooms to accommodate two people.

“It’s so hard to find second-chance housing that’s willing to overlook a background ,or overlook credit score, or overlook poor rental history, so there is a dramatic need in our area for housing,” Bowman said.

According to the Missouri Coalition of Recovery Support Providers, there are only two state-funded recovery programs in Jefferson City: The Healing House and New Beginnings, Inc., with five women’s-only homes, and Landmark Recovery.

MCRSP-Accredited-Recovery-Houses-07-01-2026-1Download

There are 12 recovery programs in Mid-Missouri in total, with 64 available homes. 55 of the homes are located in Columbia.

The cities of Macks Creek, Marshall, Hannibal, Warrensburg, Fulton and Sedalia all have at most three recovery homes in each location, totaling to 13 homes.

“Every single month at Landmark Recovery Center, our office here in town, we refer over 40 people to either housing programs or treatment programs around the state,” Bowman said. “It really shows that right here in our county, people are struggling to find accommodating housing, but because there are no options here, we’re having to take them outside of the county.”

Bowman adds that she hopes for the program to grow, including homes for independent living.

“Our discouragement comes from a lack of housing, independent housing for our men that when they leave this program, we have to find somewhere for them to go next to be able to reunify with their children or to be able to gain independence,” Bowman said. “if we dream really big, I would love to open more houses like the one we have now.”

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The July quarterly reports for the Missouri Ethics Commission shows that former Columbia Utilities Director David Sorrell is leading in donations given to campaigns.

Committees needed to submit their reports by 5 p.m. Wednesday.

Sorrell leads funding this cycle with $15,041.70 raised and $4,060.50 on-hand. Attorney and lobbyist Sharon Jones follows Sorrell with $ 6,555.00 raised and $3,288.98 on-hand. Attorney Ryan King raised $1,275 and has $1,025.12 -hand.

Some notable donations to Sorrell’s campaign includes Brian Toohey of the Board of Realtors, which recently endorsed Sorrell, gave $260.73. Plumber Russell Duker gave $2,000. MM II LLC gave $ 1,500; M M III LLC gave $ 1,000; while THM Staffing, Construction and Investments gave $1,000 apiece. Jeanne Locklear, and HR specialist with the city, contributed $ 1,041.98.

Notable names in Jones’ contributions include Former Columbia Mayor Brian Treece, who openly criticized Sorrell when filing opened. Treece gave $200. Former Ward 2 Councilwoman Andrea Waner contributed $50, State Rep. Adrian Plank (D-Columbia) gave $40 and Boone County Recorder of Deeds Robert Nolte gave $100.

Ronald Leone, who is listed on the documents as a lobbyist for the Missouri Petroleum & Convenience Association, contributed $350.

Ryan King’s top donor was himself at $1,000.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

An “Energy Emergency Alert Level 2” was issued for the City of Columbia from 4- 8 p.m. Wednesday by the Midcontinent Independent System Operator, a press release from the city says.

“This means the central and north regions of MISO (including the Columbia area) are currently experiencing large system loads and reserves are tight,” the release says.

All generation sources for the city are “up and running” and the electric grid for the city is “stable,” the release says. “Neighbors and other states within MISO” in the grid are under strain, the release says.

The city is asking residents to reduce electric usage by:

Setting the thermostat as high as possible “while maintaining reasonable levels”

Leave shads down over south and west-facing windows

Turnoff unneeded lights and unplug appliances not in use.

Use the oven, dishwasher or other appliance that produce heat after 8 p.m.

MISO’s coverage area includes Minnesota, Iowa, portions of Missouri, Illinois, Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi. Alerts go up to “Energy Emergency Alert 3,” according to MISO’s website.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Nine cases of cyclosporiasis have been reported in Boone County this week, according to Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services, with health officials investigating whether the cases are connected to a larger national outbreak.

The PHHS initially reported eight confirmed cases earlier in the day, but an additional case was confirmed Tuesday at 4 p.m. to ABC 17 News.

Boone Health spokesperson Christian Basi told ABC 17 News that five people have been hospitalized because of the parasite. Four of those patients are Boone County residents. A University Hospital spokesperson also confirmed the hospital has treated patients in its emergency department.

State health officials said earlier this week that the diarrhea-causing illness – which is contracted by eating contaminated produce or water – reported in Missouri were believed to be connected with travel.

However, Austin Krohn with the PHHS said the cases in Boone County are suspected to have been contracted locally, though officials have not identified a specific source.

“This is a parasite that is fecal to oral. So it has to be ingested. It cannot be passed person-to-person necessarily,” Krohn said. “We suspect produce of some kind. We don’t know if it’s lettuce, berries, I mean what have you at this point  for these cases specifically. I know  there’s some talk about Taco Bell and things pulling things from  their menu, but as of right now, we don’t want to hone in on a source until we get some more concrete evidence.” 

Cyclosporiasis is caused by the Cyclospora parasite and is typically spread by consuming contaminated food or water. Health officials say symptoms usually begin about a week after exposure and can include frequent diarrhea, dehydration from diarrhea, weight loss, bloating, nausea and fatigue. Less common symptoms include vomiting and a low-grade fever.

Krohn said the current cases appear different from earlier cases reported in the state.

“It’s endemic to Mexico and South America, and we’re actually in peak season for it to kind of spread around right now,” Krohn said. “But we are seeing more of a national outbreak in it due to foodborne illnesses and things that are food-based consumption that are not related to travel. That’s the big thing, it’s being acquired at a more local level.”

Earlier this week, PHHS told ABC 17 News there were four cyclosporiasis cases reported in Boone County in 2026. Krohn said those cases were related to travel and were not connected to the current outbreak investigation.

The Boone County Health Department added that “local transmission” does not necessarily mean the source is a Boone County farm or producer.

“When I say ‘local,’ I don’t mean like a local farm or anything like that. It could be food that’s being trucked into a grocery store and being consumed,” Krohn said. “Earlier this year we had a few cases that were travel-related and unrelated to this current national outbreak we’re seeing. But these ones are suspected to be that.” 

The PHHS says it is working with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services to determine whether the increase in cases is connected to the national outbreak. Krohn said health officials had been monitoring increases in other parts of the country before cases appeared in Missouri.

“We were monitoring the situation. We were seeing the uptick in cases kind of a lot in the either northern Midwest and kind of more toward the East Coast,” Krohn said. “We didn’t have any cases in Missouri yet. As of yesterday, we had eight confirmed cases.”

The most cases reported in Boone County in the past five years was 10 in 2023, according to previous reporting.

Health officials say people can reduce their risk of exposure by following food safety practices.

“We recommend following food safety practices so thoroughly washing your food under running water will help. Washing and sanitizing commonly used surfaces such as kitchen countertops, cutting boards, utensils and washing them,” Krohn said. “If you’re using the same utensil between different food items, washing them between food items  to prevent that additional spread, and also cooking your food thoroughly will eliminate the  parasite.” 

PHHS also recommends washing produce before eating it, even if the product is labeled as pre-washed.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Albert-Oakland Pool in Columbia will be closed on Mondays for the rest of the summer, Columbia Parks and Recreation announced in a Wednesday social media post.

The post says renovations will occur after the 2026 pool season. The Monday closures are being done “to keep the pool at a high quality,” the post reads.

“This will allow a ‘day of rest’ for the pool and will allow our staff to ensure that all aspects of the facility are at a high standard,” the post says. “Our maintenance and aquatics staff have a detailed plan in place to meet this goal, including adding a clarifier to the water at the end of business on Sunday and performing both robotic and manual vacuuming of the pool on Monday.

The pool was closed for four days last month after issues arose with its filtration system.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Columbia man has been charged with multiple felonies after authorities claim he stole a gun and possessed more than the legal limit of marijuana.

William Haynes Jr., 33, was charged on Tuesday with delivery of a controlled substance, unlawful use of a weapon, armed criminal action and stealing a gun. He is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond. A court date has not been scheduled.

The probable cause statement says Haynes had called law enforcement on June 24, claiming that a family member was shot at The Greens Apartment Complex. The victim was brought to the hospital on Keene Street before being brought to University Hospital. Eventually, a second person was found shot.

Court documents say the victim in that shooting told police that he was sitting in his Pontiac when someone tried to rob him before shooting him. A second person with a gunshot wound was found at the scene.

Officers found blood in the car and gunshot damage on the vehicle. Blood was seen in the driveway near one of the residences, the statement says. Police wrote that a Glock 27 pistol and blood was found on the floor of the apartment and that blood was also found in the kitchen. A second pistol was found in a closet upstairs, the statement says.

Police spoke with Haynes at a hospital about the guns that were found and he allegedly told police that he owned a .40 caliber pistol, which was in his closet, the statement says. Police asked about the other Glock and Haynes was allegedly not familiar with it, and claimed it could have belonged to another person whose name was redacted in the probable cause statement.

Police allegedly found a third gun – a Taurus PT22 – in the apartment that was reported stolen, the statement says. Officers were able to contact the gun’s original owner who reported it stolen and they claimed they did not known Haynes or give him permission to have the gun, the statement says.

Officers also wrote that 5.59 pounds of weed that was “not inside of licensed dispensary packaging and was not labeled” was found, in addition to baggies, digital scales, at-home drug tests and about $3,000 in cash.

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Sutton Parker

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Columbia’s Downtown Community Improvement District sent a letter requesting the City Council to develop an enforceable “urban camping ordinance.”

CID Executive Director Nickie Davis told ABC 17 News on Tuesday about the letter being sent to the council and the number of businesses that signed in support. She said it is expected to be discussed at the next City Council meeting.

The letter has support from nearly 70 business owners and organizations. It aims to address concerns of public camping, sidewalk obstructions, encampments and sanitation issues.

Davis said the growing unhoused population has struck a heavy blow to local businesses for years.

“It definitely hurts our small businesses when customers walk up and don’t feel comfortable enough to even go into a small business because someone might be sitting or sleeping there,” she said.

The District wrote in the letter the initiative is not intended to criminalize homelessness.

“Currently, existing ordinances appear fragmented, broad, and difficult to locate or interpret. This creates confusion for residents, businesses, law enforcement, outreach providers, and individuals seeking services,” the letter says.

After visiting Columbia, South Carolina, Davis said the city’s specific definition of urban camping – along with its tiered approach – is what put their letter in motion.

“We’re hoping for a kind of a citation, a citation kind of warning. So the first one would be a warning. The second one might be a warning with a citation, and then the third one would be a little bit more,” she said.

The letter urges the city to pair the requested ordinance with compassionate outreach, like shelter referrals and mental health support. Adding that many communities have adopted a tiered enforcement model that prioritizes education and voluntary compliance over immediate penalties.

“So we’re not immediately going to, you know, you’re lying on a sidewalk, you’re arrested or anything like that. We’re hoping for a kind of a citation, a warning. So the first one would be a warning.The second one might be a warning with a citation, and then the third one would be a little bit more,” Davis said.

The district said that with the launch of the new Block by Block Safety Ambassador Program, clear laws are essential in helping them deescalate issues and connect people with services before emergency services need to be called.

Brenda Porter, the director of the Child Advocacy Center of Central Missouri, said her organization signed onto the letter.

Porter said the decision to sign on wasn’t easy, but was ultimately made to protect the vulnerable children and families they serve daily.

She says their building is right by Flat Branch Park, and they have allegedly ran into issues with unhoused individuals in their parking lot after hours.

“We have to be careful that the children don’t arrive to see, used needles in our parking lot. Airplane shots, beer cans, things like that. So, our intentions of signing on to that letter is to help provide some type of control, to to the folks, that tend to frequent our property,” Porter said.

Ward 1 Councilwoman Valerie Carrol said right now she is focusing on the 1% public safety tax.

“At this exact moment, I really think it’s a lot more important for us to be focused on public safety at this time. I really think it’s a lot more important for us to focus on the %1 public safety tax, in the discussion of how to best support our officers and our city ordinances,” Carrol said.

Adding that she would want to review the existing city ordinances before deciding if any changes are needed.

“We have a number of ordinances that are meant to address the issues surrounding potential public nuisances. I would like to review those existing ordinances to determine if and where any revisions are necessary,” she added.

The proposal has been met with criticism online, with some questioning the effectiveness of similar rules around the country.

The full list of downtown businesses who signed in support of the ordinance can be viewed below:

Letter of Support – UC SignaturesDownload

The letter can be found below:

Letter of Support – Camping (2)Download

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