Author: KMIZ

Olivia Hayes

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Columbia Fire Department says a large fire started Friday in the basement of a home in the 4300 block of Langham Drive.

Columbia Fire Chief Brian Schaeffer said firefighters were called to the neighborhood just after 11 a.m. after a neighbor saw smoke coming from the back of the house. Schaeffer said CFD arrived within five minutes of the initial call, and the fire had already spread to the first floor of the home.

An ABC 17 News reporter saw firefighters cutting holes into the roof to create vents.

Schaeffer said the cold temperatures posed a special set of challenges when battling the blaze.

“This is very difficult to navigate fighting fire when it’s 5 degrees outside,” Schaeffer said. “The challenges that can happen when you’re working in this type of environment. One is falls, so we’re trying to keep the water and ice that’s accumulated down to a minimum and then just taking care of each other because it is so cold and they’re covered and wet.”

Schaeffer said no one was inside the home and no one was hurt while fighting the fire, though CFD later wrote in a social media post that a dog, bird and fish died in the fire.

The fire was ruled accidental and started in a clothes dryer, the post says.

“Crews first initiated an offensive attack, fighting the flames from inside the home. Due to the level of toxic smoke and heat in the home, firefighters were evacuated from the structure at 11:43 a.m. to reassess the situation and ensure the safety of the structure before initiating a defensive attack. The fire was under control in approximately 35 minutes,” the post says.

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Alison Patton

OSAGE BEACH, Mo. (KMIZ)

Osage Beach Officer Phylicia Carson died during a police chase in August 2024, and over a year later, the city is holding a bridge dedication ceremony in her honor.

The Officer Phylicia Carson Memorial Bridge on Highway 54 runs over the Grand Glaize Arm of the Lake of the Ozarks. The Missouri General Assembly voted to name the span in her honor.

The dedication ceremony will take place at Osage Beach City Hall at 3:30 p.m. Friday, according to a city press release. Gov. Mike Kehoe is expected to speak alongside Mayor Michael Harmison and state Rep. Jeff Vernetti (R-Camdenton).

Vernetti said a sign has already been posted on either side of the highway letting people know who the bridge is dedicated to.

Carson’s family was at the ceremony on Friday, and they got a replica of the sign and also cut a ribbon. Her husband, Grant Carson, did not want to do an interview.

“This bridge stands as a testament to Officer Carson’s bravery and the profound impact she had on our city,” Harmison says in the release. “We are honored to have Governor Kehoe and Representative Vernetti join us as we ensure her memory is etched into the history of Osage Beach forever.”

Kehoe told ABC 17 News after the ceremony that the state has been trying to help out the Carsons.

“We want to make sure as many of those organizations can help that family out, really honor the mother and help get these kids to a life where they can be productive in our society,” Kehoe said. “It’s what we should do as a state in the country is to help these families out.”

Vernetti said the bridge is a way to always honor Carson.

“I wanted to honor her service or sacrifice,” he said. “It’s always a tragic thing to lose someone in the line of duty but trying to think of the best possible way that we can honor her.”

Carson was chasing a suspect when her patrol car skidded off the road and hit a tree. The car caught on fire, and Carson was later pronounced dead at the scene.

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Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The City of Boonville has declared a “snow emergency” and directed drivers to remove their vehicles from along city streets as a large winter storm approaches.

Cooper County Emergency Management shared the information on social media on Friday morning with the storm expected to hit overnight. Parking restrictions will begin at 7 a.m. Saturday and stay in place until 6 p.m. Sunday.

Cooper County is under a winter storm warning for snow and extreme cold that was moving into Mid-Missouri on Friday morning. Between 5 and 8 inches of snow is expected in the western part of the area, according to the National Weather Service.

Boone County Emergency Management said Friday morning that the county was expected to see 5 to 10 inches of snow starting early Saturday. The snow will make travel difficult, officials say.

The temperature Friday at the Columbia Regional Airport was in the low single digits by noon, with a negative wind chill. Snow is forecast to last into Sunday.

The Stormtrack Weather Team has issued a Weather Alert Day through the weekend because of the combination of snow and extreme cold.

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Alison Patton

OSAGE BEACH, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Osage Beach Public Works is getting snowplows and crews prepared ahead of a weekend snowstorm that is expected to leave the southern part of the state buried.

Osage Beach is expecting snowfall to start between 3 and 6 a.m. Saturday, which could last until Sunday morning, according to the ABC 17 Stormtrack Weather team. A Weather Alert Day is in effect for Friday through Monday with dangerous cold and heavy snowfall is expected.

Osage Beach Public Works Director Jeff Fisher said his team is prepared to handle 6 to 8 inches of snow starting late Friday and continuing into early Saturday, but the cold temperatures could make clearing snow difficult.

Those temperatures are expected to top out in the teens and dip below 0 degrees for lows.

“That’ll be tricky with the cold temperatures; the salt won’t work,” Fisher said. “We’re going to put it down early, get it underneath the snow.”

Fisher also said salt isn’t effective in temperatures below 15 to 20 degrees.

“So, if we spread salt, it’s just going to be a waste of money,” Fisher said.

By Friday afternoon, the temperature was in the teens in the Lake of the Ozarks area, with a wind chill near 0 degrees.

Osage Beach has about 1,500 tons of salt, and Fisher said he expects to use about 100 tons this weekend. He said during usual snow prep, they use about 75 tons.

There is also a chance that plowing the roads too early could make conditions slippery.

“Sometimes just letting the snow sit on the streets is better for traction,” Fisher said. “Once we get into that six to nine inches, we’ll put the plows down.”

Fisher said staying off the roads is best, but if drivers are out, they should slow down.

There will be six to eight snow plows out this weekend, with crews working 12-hour shifts starting at 7 p.m. Friday and going through Sunday.

Snow is expected to be heaviest south of Interstate 70. Counties around the lake are under a winter storm warning.

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Nia Hinson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The City of Columbia has routed $2.1 million in funds awarded during the COVID-19 pandemic to work to cut down on violence.

Columbia was awarded $25.2 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding to address public health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. A large portion of that money was dedicated to cracking down on crime.

In 2023, five organizations were awarded funding in hopes of helping the city achieve those goals.

In2Action

Destiny of H.O.P.E

Columbia Supreme

United Community Builders

Boone County Nature School

In2Action was given $750,000 of the city’s approximately $2.1 million allocated toward community violence. According to the organization’s proposal to the city, the group intends to provide housing and support services to men returning to the Columbia area from prison, helping deter crime. Data from the City of Columbia shows the group used $634,172 from October 2024 to September 2025.

Destiny of H.O.P.E’s agreement with the city — which ends in 2027 — awarded the group $320,000. The group received additional funding from the Columbia City Council in 2024, bringing its total amount of money awarded to $428,333.33, according to Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services spokesman Austin Krohn.

Lonnie Lockhart Bey — Destiny of H.O.P.E. executive director — said the money will help the organization secure a new building.

“It’s a space that will be dedicated to teens ages 13-17 approximately, allowing them to have a space that they can call their own on the weekends, be able to give them the space that hopefully we can get them from downtown,” Lockhart Bey said.

The organization aims to provide community-based mentorship, positive youth development, site-based mentoring, peer support and family therapy services. The group has also been working to provide a Critical Change Gang Prevention program to address core issues of gang affiliation.

The non-profit used $137,868 during fiscal 2025, according to the city’s website.

Columbia ARPA funds spend on community violence preventionInfogram

Destiny of HOPE’s contract is a purchase of service agreement — the organization invoices the city for the number of units of services they provide, Krohn said.

Columbia Supreme — which received $150,000 from the city — said it intended to create a youth mentor program.

United Community Builders received $750,000, while the Boone County Nature School was awarded $200,000, according to documents from the City of Columbia. According to Krohn, Boone County Nature School has spent its total amount of money awarded.

Watch ABC 17 News at 10 on Monday to see more about how organizations are using the funding to fight violence.

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Madison Stuerman

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

More than 1,300 Ameren Missouri customers in Morgan County were without power Friday morning.

The online Ameren power outage map showed 1,332 customers without power as of 9 a.m. on Friday. The map shows the outage started at 5:51 a.m. Power was restored by 10:30 a.m.

An Ameren spokesperson said over email that crews were on the scene of a downed power line near Highway 52 and Beacon Road in Barnett.

The Versailles School District said Friday morning that because of the power outage, classes were moved to remote learning for students and staff.

Morgan County R-I in Stover canceled classes, citing cold buildings and an unknown restoration time.

The spokesperson said power should be back on around 10:30 a.m. Friday.

Morgan County library also delayed its opening due to the outage.

Temperatures in Central Missouri were in the single digits Friday morning, with more bitter cold and several inches of snow expected over the weekend.

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Jazsmin Halliburton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The ABC 17 Stormtrack Weather Team is tracking intense cold beginning on Friday, while snow can accumulate throughout the area. Roughly 8 inches of snow could fall in Columbia on Saturday, with more snow expected south of I-70.

The impending weather led Gov. Mike Kehoe to declare a state of emergency. An ABC 17 Stormtrack Weather Alert Day is in effect through Monday.

Public works departments in Columbia, Jefferson City, Audrain County, and California said they are ready for the snow and frigid conditions.

MoDOT Deputy Director Ed Hassinger said in a press conference Tuesday afternoon that the department started coordinating preparations Wednesday and will have 3,000 MoDOT crews working 12 hour shifts to treat the roads before, during and after the storm.

According to Columbia Utilities spokesperson Matt Nestor, crews will be on standby in case of power outages.

The winter storm warning in Mid-Missouri remains in effect through Monday, and people need to stay safe during this extreme cold.

With the extreme weather across Mid-Missouri, it’s advisable to stay indoors. However, if you must leave, itis essential to dress appropriately for the weather. According to the National Weather Service, when dressing for extreme cold, you need:

Three or more layers, an insulated coat, along with an outer layer that blocks the wind

Two or more pairs of pants

Warm hats

Gloves

Face mask

Waterproof boots

It’s also recommended to be aware of the signs of frostbite, which can set in within minutes. Redness or pain in any skin may be the first sign of frostbite. Other symptoms include:

White or grayish skin area

Unusually waxy or firm skin

Numbness.

If you have any of these symptoms, move to a warm area and use warm water or body heat to warm yourself back up. Do not use hot water or radiant heat, such as a fireplace, due to the affected areas being at a higher risk of burning.

The longer someone is outside and suffering from frostbite, the chance of hypothermia becomes more likely. There are multiple warning signs that you may be suffering from hypothermia, such as:

Shivering

Exhaustion

Confusion

Fumbling hands

Memory loss

Slurred speech

Drowsiness

If someone is experiencing the symptoms, it is crucial to get to a warm place immediately, cover them with extra blankets and seek medical help as soon as possible.

There are several warming centers throughout Mid-Missouri where people can go to get away from the frigid cold temperatures.

Warming centers available in Columbia include:

Columbia Public Library

City Hall

The Salvation Army Harbor House on North Ann Street

Salvation Army on West Ash Street

The Arc

Columbia Boone County Health Department

Jefferson City options include:

The Salvation Army on Jefferson Street

Clark Senior Center

The Missouri Regional Library

Other warming center locations across Missouri can be found here.

This storm is extreme, but even moderate winter storms can knock out electricity, especially when ice or heavy snow is involved. A battery-powered or hand-crank radio can provide weather updates if cell service and internet go down.

Keep phones and power banks charged. Make sure flashlights, radios and extra batteries are easy to find.

Refill prescriptions early. Make sure baby formula, diapers, pet food and medications are stocked. If anyone relies on powered medical equipment, have a backup plan in place before the storm.

Pull out blankets, hats and warm layers now so you’re not scrambling later. Even short-lived storms can disrupt travel and services for days.

If your home loses heating abilities, there’s a risk that water could freeze in the pipes and crack them. Open cabinet doors under sinks, so warmer indoor air can circulate around pipes. This matters most for single-family homes and older buildings, but those who live in apartments should do it too, especially for sinks along exterior walls.

In very cold conditions — overnight lows in the 20s or colder for several hours — let faucets drip slowly. Start the drip before temperatures fall below freezing and keep it going until temperatures climb back above freezing.

For homes with outdoor plumbing, disconnect garden hoses ahead of the cold and, if possible, put an insulated cover on exterior spigots to reduce the risk of frozen or burst pipes.

If you might need to travel after the storm, make sure your gas tank is full and your vehicle has basics like blankets, extra clothing and a phone charger.

Park your vehicle away from trees or power lines that could fall under the weight of ice and snow, and make sure to leave your wipers in the down position. Once conditions deteriorate, driving may not be safe.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

First responders had South Providence Road shut down on Thursday night after a vehicle caught fire.

Boone County Joint Communications sent a notification at 9:31 p.m. indicating a vehicle caught fire near the busy intersection.

First responders were seen hosing down a vehicle at 10 p.m. in the southbound lane.

BCJC sent another update at 10:09 p.m. stating water used to put out the fire froze between Mick Deaver Drive and Green Meadows Road. The notification stated “there’s an extended ETA on salt truck.”

First responders were battling cold conditions on Thursday night. The air temperature was listed at 28 degrees at 10:13 p.m. Temperatures on Friday are expected to dip, with a low at 7 degrees and wind chills reaching below zero.

Traffic started slowly moving around 10:15 p.m.

Check back for updates.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A hearing has been scheduled that could determine if the Columbia teenager accused of firing a gun inside Dick’s Sporting Goods will be certified as an adult.

Court officials confirmed earlier this month that a 17-year-old boy from Columbia was accused of shooting a gun on Jan. 3 inside the store at The Shoppes at Stadium and stealing a vehicle during a carjacking. The name of the teenager was not revealed because he is a juvenile.

He was later arrested by troopers in Pettis County. The juvenile was arrested after crashing the vehicle on Route V near Bahner Road, previous reporting shows.

He is charged with unlawful use of a weapon, carjacking and armed criminal action. A hearing was held on Tuesday for the youth. His next court appearance is scheduled for 9 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24. A hearing that could determine if he is certified as an adult is scheduled for March 11.

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Olivia Hayes

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Columbia Planning and Zoning Commission struck up a conversation around data centers Thursday night.

On the commission’s agenda was defining data centers, where they should be and under what conditions. Adding the definition to amend the zoning code could take three to five months.

Defining the standards, such as where the facilities can be built and the conditions, could take eight-to-12 months.

“We understand there’s a lot of uncertainty about what could be constructed in industrial zoning districts,” Columbia Senior Planner David Kunz said. “We need more zoning lots ready to go for the purpose of commercial development. But concerns about what could be constructed have got in the way there.”

The commission agreed on a definition for what proposed data centers in Columbia would look entail. Commission leaders say more in-depth conversations are to come regarding the standards, but a public hearing regarding the definition could happen at the end of Feb.

No official date has been decided yet.

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