Author: KMIZ

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Missouri Department of Social Service Family Support Division announced in a Monday email that verification requirements for SNAP will change on Oct. 1.

No immediate change will occur until then. Beginning on Oct. 1, the release says documented proof will be required for shelter costs, childcare expenses and countable resources (such as money in a bank account).

“Ensuring the accuracy and integrity of the SNAP program is essential to supporting Missouri families who rely on these benefits,” FSD Director Mandi Adams was quoted in the release. “These updated verification guidelines help us make consistent, well‑documented eligibility decisions while safeguarding resources for households who truly need them. The goal of the Family Support Division is to strengthen the program in a way that is fair, clear, and supportive for participants across the state.”

Empower Missouri referred to the changes as “barriers” in a press release of its own.

“Missouri is asking families to produce more paperwork at exactly the same time the Department of Social Services is preparing for another enormous administrative undertaking,” Christine Woody, Food Security Policy Manager at Empower Missouri, was quoted in a release. “We should be asking whether Missouri has the capacity to get these decisions right—not simply whether we have created more paperwork. When an eligible person loses benefits because a document was missing, a deadline was missed, or paperwork was processed incorrectly, that is not program integrity. That is an administrative failure.”

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Crews restored power Monday evening to hundreds of Columbia Water and Light customers left without electricity on a scorching late-summer afternoon.

At one point around 5 p.m., the city’s outage map showed more than 2,800 electric customers in the southwest part of the city didn’t have power. By 5:40 p.m., that number was down to about 300.

The outage affected more than 900 customers in one neighborhood west of Scott Boulevard at the height of the incident, while multiple outages were reported along Fairview Avenue.

At the intersection of West Broadway and Fairview Road the traffic light was out completely. Cars lined West Broadway all the way to Stadium Boulevard. By 6 p.m. the light had been temporarily fixed to flash red so cars could yield.

Columbia Water and Light wrote on its social media that the problem was with a transformer at the Perche Creek substation.

Magda Mello, an impacted resident, said her power was out for about an hour.

“They said when that got resolved they will call me back and they did right away. Within an hour after I first experienced, the power got restored,” Mello said.

As of Aug. 5th, $2.6 million worth of Perche Creek Substation replacements and upgrades were waiting for delivery. ABC 17 News reached out to the city to see if possible installation of the upgrades had anything to due with the power outage.

A years-long conversation has also surrounded a $35 million transmission line project that would connect the Perche Creek Substation to the Grindstone Substation. It was originally approved in 2015 and expected to take eight to 10 years.

Pushback over the path the line would take has stalled any movement forward. The Water and Light Advisory Board wants the Columbia City Council to consider a route across Nifong Boulevard, Vawter School Road and up Scott Boulevard.

The electrical strain continues to layer on thicker. City council members will vote at the Sept. 8th meeting to approve an additional $6 million dollars for the city’s purchase power account.

City documents said the money would ensure the city’s utility can meet ongoing power obligations by MISO, which oversees the Midcontinent Electric Power Grid.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A man has been charged with multiple felonies after he allegedly robbed someone on Saturday night on Clark Lane while holding a gun.

Keith Marks Jr., 25, of Columbia, was charged on Monday in Boone County with first-degree robbery, illegal gun possession and armed criminal action. He is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond. A hearing was held on Monday.

He is also charged in another case from April with third-degree domestic assault, misdemeanor fourth-degree assault and second-degree property damage. A $50,000 bond was set in that case.

The probable cause statement in his recent case says police responded to an armed robbery call to the 4800 block of Clark Lane. The victim told police he met with a man – who was later identified as Marks – to sell a dirt bike, the statement says.

Marks allegedly walked out of a home while holding a gun with a purple laser, took the dirt bike and demanded the victim hand over a chain, which included a $3,500 silver chain and $500 silver bracelet, court documents say. The dirt bike allegedly cost $500.

The victim gave police the phone number Marks used and police identified it from their records management system, the statement says. Officers then went over to Marks’ residence down the road and saw him wearing the chain and having the dirt bike in his apartment when he answered the door, officers wrote.

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Collin Anderson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

All-SEC forward Mark Mitchell has decommitted from Kentucky and will return to play for the Mizzou Tigers in 2026-27, according to multiple reports. PowerMizzou was the first to report the move on social media, claiming Mitchell would come back to Columbia, pending a fifth year of eligibility.

While the team has not made any official comments, a source has confirmed that head coach Dennis Gates would not need to cut a player to make room for him.

Mitchell’s brother and agent confirmed on Instagram on Aug. 22 that the two-time All-SEC selection would join the Kentucky Wildcats. The forward went to the G League this summer and had an Exhibit 10 deal with the Denver Nuggets. A Kentucky judge granted the Kansas City native a temporary restraining order, meaning he could be eligible for the upcoming college basketball season and, crucially, enter the transfer portal.

However, with the recent turmoil around the Southeastern Conference bringing back athletes who had left to pursue a professional career, that decision to head to Lexington was put in jeopardy. Just days after the announcement was made, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey stated that the conference would still hold up its intraconference transfer rules that state an athlete needs to sit out for a year if he swaps from one SEC school to another.

Should the forward return to CoMo, the Tigers would get back their leader in scoring, rebounds and assists from the 2025-26 season.

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Lucas Geisler

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) –

A former daycare operator pleaded guilty to four felonies Monday ahead of her bench trial on child abuse charges in Randolph County.

Naomi Hess pleaded guilty on Monday to four counts of first-degree child endangerment. The class D felonies carry a maximum seven-year prison sentence. Hess will be sentenced on November 4.

Hess was set to go to a bench trial on Monday on four counts of child abuse. Police arrested her in 2024 after a witness reported that she had slapped a child’s back. Law enforcement also claimed videos showed Hess, who ran the Play N’ Learn daycare, lying over a child, forcefully handling children to sit or lie down.

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education told ABC 17 News that Hess had voluntarily handed over her facility’s child care license while it was being investigated.

Hess’s attorney, Andrew Popplewell, said she entered an open guilty plea. That means Judge Mason Gebhardt will have the full range of punishment to consider at sentencing, rather than being bound by an agreement.

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Demetra Alarcon

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A 35-year-old man was charged Monday on accusations that he tried to pay one or more teenagers for sex at Rock Bridge Memorial State Park.

Boone County prosecutors charged Colton Cranford on Monday with a single count of patronizing prostitution with a person between the ages of 15 and 18.

In a probable cause statement, Missouri Department of Natural Resources state park rangers wrote that they were notified of a man texting a reporting party about taking videos of children performing sex acts and soliciting sex from a minor for money.

Court records state that Cranford has an address in Columbia that is not known. Jail records state that he is from Bowling Green, Kentucky.

The report states that Cranford said he would “pay 2K each,” referring to the children.

Cranford was denied bond. The state argued that he should stay in jail because he is a danger to the community.

Cranford’s initial court appearance is scheduled for 1 p.m. Monday, where Cranford will appear on video.

According to a motion to set bond, Cranford appears to have no Missouri criminal history.

A new law that went into effect on Friday made patronizing prostitution of a person younger than 18 years old but older than 15 a Class D felony. Before, it was a Class E felony.

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Ellyse Edwards

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Nearly 20 adoption applications were submitted within the first 30 minutes of applications opening for more than 70 farm animals found abandoned at a Boone County property, according to the Central Missouri Humane Society.

Columbia/Boone County Animal Control Supervisor Kevin Meyers said his department received a call July 29 about livestock believed to have been abandoned at a property on North Dozier Station Road, east of Columbia.

Meyers said the people who lived at the property had been evicted. An animal control officer found an eviction notice posted at the property, along with sheep, goats, lambs and kids that appeared to have been left without food or water.

Some animals were found dead at the property. Meyers said many of the surviving animals were underweight and dirty.

Animal Control obtained a search-and-seizure warrant to remove the animals. The group included 24 sheep, goats and lambs, 45 chickens and two turkeys.

The sheep, goats and young livestock were temporarily housed at the former Boone County Fairgrounds. Meyers said Animal Control officers cared for them three times a day with help from the Columbia Parks and Recreation Department and the Boone County Fair Board.

The chickens and turkeys were placed in foster care.

Meyers said the animals were held for 30 days before a disposition hearing. The owner had the opportunity to pay a bond of more than $19,000 to retain custody of the animals but did not have the means to pay it.

A judge ruled that the animals would be turned over to the Central Missouri Humane Society. Meyers said the former owner was issued citations and that it is now up to the Boone County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office to determine what happens next.

The Humane Society is now working to find homes for the animals. The shelter began accepting applications Monday and plans to hold meet-and-greets throughout the week.

The Humane Society has operated from its current building since 1976 and does not routinely house livestock. Shelter staff used a large fenced-in field behind the building to give the animals space to graze.

“We have obviously outgrown the space,” a Humane Society representative said. “So every day is kind of an improvise, adapt, overcome when it comes to situations like this.”

All of the animals have received care from a livestock veterinarian.

People interested in adopting must make sure they are legally allowed to keep the species on their property and have appropriate housing, fencing, space and resources. Adopters will also be responsible for transporting the animals and providing their future food, supplies and veterinary care.

People who plan to keep livestock within Columbia city limits must follow the city’s livestock ordinances. Columbia generally requires an enclosure, outbuilding or pasture to have at least one-half acre for each livestock animal.

The outside boundary of the enclosure must also be at least 100 feet from another person’s home, a church, school or business unless written consent is provided.

Columbia residents may keep up to six chickens, but only hens are allowed. Roosters are prohibited within city limits.

Those interested in adopting can complete the Humane Society’s Barnyard Adoption Interest Survey. Shelter employees will contact applicants to schedule a meet-and-greet.

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Madison Stuerman

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Patients and visitors to University Hospital in Columbia are being encouraged to allow extra time due to construction at the main entrance.

MU Health Care shared on Facebook that the main entrance and circle drive will be closed until the end of September for construction starting Monday. This includes both vehicle and pedestrian traffic.

The post states patients and visitors to the main hospital and Ellis Fischel Cancer Center will need to use the entrance at the Children’s Hospital.

Anyone using the Patient and Visitor Garage will still have access from the structure.

Staff and signs will be posted to assist as needed, according to the post.

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Jazsmin Halliburton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A man charged in a deadly 2020 Columbia shooting will not have his bond revoked after arguments in Monday morning’s pre-trial hearing.

Curtis Allen Lewis is charged with first-degree involuntary manslaughter, second-degree assault, and two counts of armed criminal action in connection with a shooting that killed Tershawn Kitchen. Kitchen was a security guard at Vibez nightclub at the time of the shooting in Feb. 2020 in downtown Columbia, according to previous reporting.

Prosecutors looked to revoke Lewis’ bond Monday ahead of his trial due to an alleged domestic assault incident involving Lewis. Judge Devine denied the prosecution’s request due to inconsistencies.

There is a warrant out for Lewis’ arrest for new charges filed due to the domestic assault and the bond is set for $5,000.

On the night of the shooting, Lewis told officers he was the shooter and handed them a loaded handgun, according to the PC statement. He also allegedly told officers he was punched right before the shooting. A woman was also shot in the face, but she survived.

According to court documents, the Columbia Police Department sent Lewis’ gun to the FBI for ballistics testing while Lewis was in custody. Due to staffing shortages, the FBI never completed the tests, according to the motion to set bond.  Court documents claim the FBI still gave expected completion dates.

The case was dismissed because the FBI did not complete the ballistics test and was in possession of the gun, according to the motion to set bond in 2023.

“The FBI has returned all evidentiary items to the Columbia Police Department and this case can now proceed to trial,” the motion to set bond says.

In a letter Lewis sent to the judge, he states his concerns about his case, his ability to communicate with his lawyer, and his constitutional right to a fair and timely trial.

Lewis’ four-day jury trial is set to begin Sept. 29 with another pre-trial scheduled for Sept 18 at 3:30 p.m.

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Melissa Houston

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ).

The Columbia Public Schools Policy Committee will continue its discussions around changes to the district’s bullying policy, with new revisions giving employees a more hands-on role.

The policy would give school employees a more active role in prevention methods when it comes to bullying. Not only are they required to report it, but the policy would expect teachers to intervene when bullying is witnessed.

“School employees, substitutes, educational contractors that work directly with students, and or volunteers are expected to intervene to prevent bullying, appropriately address the situation as allowed in their capacity in the district, assist the victim and report the incident to the building principal or designee for further investigation and action,” stated in the proposed policy.

Under the proposed policy, principals will designate at least two other teachers or administrators to receive and investigate bullying reports during the principal’s absence or at their discretion.

There is also adjustments being proposed to the timeline for handling reports. Principals or their designated employees would be required to start an investigation into the bullying incident within two school days of receiving a report. Investigations would need to be completed within 10 school days unless there is a cause for an extension.

Parents or guardians of the victim and accused student would need to be notified of a reported incident as soon as possible, and no later than two school days after a report is received; exceptions to this are outlined in the policy.

The proposal also outlines more supportive meausres for students who report bullying. Those measures listed as “no-contact agreements, extensions on deadlines, changes in schedules and accessto counseling,” as stated in the policy.

The policy also states that “appropriate district staff will educate students who are victims of bullying about how to overcome the negative effects of bullying,” as stated in the policy.

Reports of bullying will also not be subjected to just during the school year, “Online Bullying Report Forms may be submitted year-round,” according to the policy documents.

The draft also asks for bullying reports and final determinations to be documented and included in reports to the Board of Education.

The meeting will be held in the Aslin Administration Building starting at 4:45 p.m. on Monday.

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