Category: kmiz-local-news

Matthew Sanders

The United States this week has found itself suffering from two violent encounters between civilians and federal agents.

In the first, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent shot dead a 37-year-old woman (with ties to Kansas City) in Minneapolis on Wednesday. Then, on Thursday, two people were shot in Portland, Oregon, by Customs and Border Protection agents.

In both cases, federal authorities and the Trump administration are at odds with local and state officials — governors and mayors have said they don’t trust what they’re hearing from Washington, D.C.

Some blame the violence on the left interfering with law enforcement. Others say the violence is caused by the invasion of local communities by federal agents, who are meant more to intimidate than to protect.

Either way, do you think more violence involving federal agents is coming? Let us know by voting in the poll.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Montgomery County Commission has approved tax breaks for the upcoming Amazon data center.

Presiding Commissioner Ryan Poston said on Thursday that the breaks were unanimously approved last week by the commission.  

“As this process continues, we’re encouraged by the meaningful benefits this project could deliver, including new construction and long-term technology jobs, expanded opportunities for local contractors and small businesses, and sustainable tax revenue that supports schools, public safety, and essential community services,” an Amazon spokesman wrote in a Thursday statement.

A pair of data centers have been proposed in the county have seen strong pushback from residents, who have gathered at multiple public meetings to voice concerns on the environmental affects and more. Most questions during a Dec. 8 town hall were left unanswered.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Two people have been injured in a shooting in Portland, Oregon, that involved Customs and Border Patrol agents, the FBI’s Portland office announced in a Thursday evening social media post.

The FBI office wrote that its agency is investigating an agent who was involved in the shooting near the 10000 block of Main Street in Portland. The shooting occurred at 2:15 p.m. local time, or 4:15 p.m. central time. The FBI has since deleted the tweet.

ABC News reported that two people were shot “by federal agents.” Public media in Portland reported that a City Council session was interrupted for a security concern. The meeting’s interruption can be found on the city’s YouTube page.

A City Councilman in Portland wrote on Blue Sky that “Everyone is okay at City Hall right now. More will be shared asap.”

The City of Portland shared on its social media that a man and a woman were found with gunshot wounds and that their conditions are currently unknown. Local police were not involved in the shooting and officers used a tourniquet. Both people were brought to a hospital.

The city says the patients were found about eight miles from the site of the shooting.

“Officers have determined the two people were injured in the shooting involving federal agents,” the post says.

The shooting comes a day after an ICE agent shot and killed a woman in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Protests have occurred throughout the country since Wednesday’s shooting.

“We are still in the early stages of this incident,” Portland Police Chief Bob Day was quoted in the city’s release. “We understand the heightened emotion and tension many are feeling in the wake of the shooting in Minneapolis, but I am asking the community to remain calm as we work to learn more.”

The Department of Homeland Security alleged in a social media post that the victims in the shooting are undocumented immigrants from Venezuela and accused them of being affiliated with a gang. DHS claims the driver of the vehicle tried to hit the agents with their vehicle and agents fired in self-defense, a similar claim DHS made in the Minnesota shooting, which has been disputed by legal experts.

“I’m familiar with the statement [made by DHS]. I cannot say if that is the case,” Day said at a Thursday evening press conference. “I don’t have any information that would link that [ a Venezuelan gang operating in the city] at this time.”

A spokesman for the Portland Police Bureau said during a press conference that it is not known if the shooting was “an immigration-related event.” The FBI is leading the investigation.

“Portland is not a training ground for militarized agents.” Portland Mayor Keith Wilson said. “There was a time we could take them [the federal government] at their word,” but he claimed “that is no longer the case.”

Wilson called on ICE to leave the city, a sentiment shared by Minneapolis’ mayor a day before. Wilson then called on ICE agents to be “fully investigated.”

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek said the shooting was “instigated by the Trump administration” and claimed agents at the DHS are “shattering trust.”

Kotek said no one died and that no one else was injured in the shooting.

“The priority right now is a full, completed investigation, not more detentions,” Kotek said.

At 2:19 PST, US Border Patrol agents were conducting a targeted vehicle stop in Portland, Oregon. The passenger of the vehicle and target is a Venezuelan illegal alien affiliated with the transnational Tren de Aragua prostitution ring and involved in a recent shooting in…

— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) January 9, 2026

Check back for updates.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Columbia woman who was charged with 29 counts of animal abuse has been denied her requests for a change of venue and a bond.

Melissa Sanders, 26, on Dec. 29 had asked a judge to give her a bond and to change the venue of her case. Judge Joshua Devine declined both requests on Wednesday. Sanders has a hearing scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 20. She is being held at the Phelps County Jail.

Sanders ran Magnum Opus German Shepherds and a number of dead dogs, including a dozen dog skulls, were found at the property of the business when law enforcement served a search warrant, according to court documents in previous reporting. Several malnourished dogs were also found at the property.

Court documents say at least two living dogs that were found were on the brink of death.

The living dogs were turned over to the Central Missouri Humane Society after Sanders was arrested. A number of the dogs have been returned to their owners, while others are being fostered.

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Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The U.S. House of Representatives passed an extension of expired Affordable Care Act subsidies Thursday — the same subsidies that led to the longest-ever government shutdown last year.

The House passed the legislation 230-196, with many Republican members defecting to join Democrats to approve the bill. Not among them was Rep. Mark Alford (R-Raytown), who represents parts of Mid-Missouri, including areas of Columbia and Boone County.

“Extending this broken system without reforms would cost taxpayers more than $90 billion while hiding the true cost of Obamacare at a time when the U.S. government already spends more per capita on health care than any other developed nation,” Alford wrote in a statement posted on social media. “Instead of continuing to enrich insurance companies at the expense of patient care, we should fix what’s broken and lowering care costs instead of expanding wasteful government spending.”

The issue was forced to the floor after members signed a petition to force House Speaker Mike Johnson to put the bill to a vote. It now goes to the Senate.

The Congressional Budget Office estimated the bill would increase the country’s deficit by about $80 billion over a decade, but would provide insurance coverage for millions of people.

None of Missouri’s six Republican House members voted for the bill.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

An Eldon man was charged on Wednesday in Miller County after he allegedly sent revenge porn to his ex-wife.

Brad Hulsey, 51, was charged with nonconsensual dissemination of private sexual images. He was arrested on Wednesday and bonded out of jail at 7:15 a.m. Thursday, according to Miller County Jail records. An arraignment is scheduled for 9 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 11.

The probable cause statement says the woman went to the Eldon Police Department on Monday and claimed Hulsey was sending her pornographic images from a new phone. Court documents claim Hulsey had threatened to send the images of the woman to members or her family.

The next day, the woman dropped off a thumb drive that had several messages from Hulsey that were allegedly related to him sending the photos, the statement says.

Hulsey was interviewed by police on Wednesday and allegedly claimed that he sent the images because he was mad that he could not see his child, the statement says. Police wrote they had to restrain Hulsey at some point during the interview.

Police then wrote that they have responded to “multiple calls for service in reference” to Hulsey having a dispute with the victim.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Columbia man was charged with a felony on Thursday after he led authorities on a chase Wednesday between Columbia and Hallsville, court documents say.

Anthony Orourke, 52, was charged with aggravated fleeing. He is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond and a court date has not been scheduled.

He was sentenced to five years of probation in 2023 after he pleaded guilty to three counts of felony stealing. A probation violation was reported in December and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

The probable cause statement says a Flock camera had detected Orourke’s vehicle near Ballenger Lane and Clark Lane. Orourke stopped at a Casey’s location on Clark Lane and while Orourke went back to his vehicle, police told him to stop, the statement says. Orourke allegedly told the cop he had a gun and the officer tried to pull open the driver’s side door of the vehicle while Orourke was in the driver’s seat, the statement says.

The officer then wrote that he pulled out a gun and pointed it at Orourke while he gave commands, but Orourke drove away, the statement says.

The chase went up to Hallsville and back toward Columbia before Orourke drove into a field, court documents say. The statement says a K-9 bit Orourke before Orourke was taken into custody.

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Euphenie Andre

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

Carlos Graham is the newest member of the Jefferson City Board of Education.

Graham was unanimously picked by the board to take the open seat left by former board President Erika Leonard. The board made its decision by a public vote during its Thursday night meeting.

Graham was sworn in immediately following the vote and wasted no time stepping into his new role. Moments after taking the oath, he took his seat at the board table, officially beginning his service.

“I just really want to work with the current board members and see what issues are out there, if any,” Graham said. “And make sure that our students are prepared to go to the next level.”

Leonard retired in December, saying she wanted to dedicate more time to her family and career. Following her resignation, the board opened the application process to fill the vacant seat from Dec. 11 through Jan. 7. Two candidates applied during that period: Graham and Ryan Towner.

Towner congratulated Graham following the decision.

“I’ve worked with Carlos on a couple other city commissions. He’s great. He’ll do a great job, and I congratulate him for winning,” Towner said.

Towner is also running for a seat in the April election.

“I think it is important that Jefferson City is distinguished from other schools. I think it’s important that everybody that grows up here returns and continues to give back, especially those that live here,” Towner said.

Graham has two daughters who graduated from Jefferson City High School. He has worked at Lincoln University in roles that include residential life director and interim chief of staff.

“I think our role is to make sure that our school district is promoting students who are ready to prepare for college,” Graham said. “Our teachers do a great job, and it’s about providing the support they need to help students get to that next level.”

Graham is also involved in local public service organizations and was recently awarded the Fisher Family Good Samaritan Award in 2024.

“I’m just very excited to be a part of this,” Graham said. “I want to thank the school board members for having the faith and confidence in me. I promise to do the best of my ability while serving in this role.”

Although Towner was not selected for the vacant school board seat Thursday, his application showed extensive professional and community experience.

Towner is the owner and the president of Towner Communication Systems Inc. He holds degrees in psychology and philosophy and a master’s degree in business administration. He has been on the city’s Transportation and Traffic Commission and the United Way’s fund allocation committee. He has also spent time of the advisory boards of the Nichols Career Center, State Tech, the Salvation Army and the Jefferson City Chamber of Commerce.

“Being a product of public school, I’d like for my kids and other kids to have the same positive experience I did,” Towner wrote in his application. “[Two] of my five kids are new to public school and I want to help educate others about how amazing JC schools are today. I believe the district is moving in the right direction and I want to help further that with all kids. I believe my experience will help me in assisting the district.”

Trent Vallandingham, who is running for the Jefferson City School Board in April, was also in attendance at Thursday night’s meeting. Vallandingham said he is seeking a seat in the spring election because he wants to serve his community.

“I went to Jeff City schools from all the way from elementary through high school.” Vallandingham said. “Both my parents were teachers. My dad was a coach in the district as well under Pete Atkins. So, you know, just really want to get back to the district,”

Graham will serve the rest of Leonard’s term, which runs through April 2027.

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Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Hundreds of Ameren Missouri customers in the Osage County area lost power Thursday afternoon after a wave of strong thunderstorms moved through.

An Ameren Missouri spokesperson said the outages were because of the weather. About 500 meters were dark in the Loose Creek and Westphalia area early Thursday afternoon.

More than 200 Gasconade Electric Cooperative members in Pulaski County were also without power at about 2 p.m.

Wind gusts of more than 20 mph were recorded at the Columbia Regional Airport on Thursday morning and Thursday afternoon.

More storms are possible Thursday afternoon.

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Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Boone County jury found a Fayette woman guilty of murder and other charges in an 8-month-old girl’s death from 2021.

Jennifer Johnson, 49, was found guilty on Thursday of felony murder in the second degree and two counts of first-degree endangering the welfare of a child in the April 2021 death of Hannah Kent. She will be held at the Boone County Jail until her sentencing, which should occur within six weeks.

According to court documents, Hannah’s mother, Lanetta Hill, found the child about 8:30 a.m. unresponsive and cool to the touch after returning home and immediately noticed bruising. Hill took the infant to Women’s and Children’s Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Testimony during the first two days of the trial detailed Hannah’s condition after being left in Johnson’s care. Police and medical witnesses described bruising and brain injuries consistent with recent trauma.

Hill testified she had been friends with Johnson for more than a decade and had previously trusted her to watch her children, though it was the first time Johnson had cared for Hannah.

Hannah’s sister, Jynasha Hill, testified that the baby appeared normal before she left the house that evening, but said Johnson was in the bathroom when she departed.

Jurors also heard recorded statements in which Johnson denied any knowledge of what had happened. Phone records, however, showed messages sent from her phone about drugs during hours she said she was asleep.

Investigators testified they found baby formula on Johnson’s clothing, and testing showed blood on the shirt belonged to Hannah. Johnson told police she had changed clothes after showering.

The state called its final witnesses Thursday, including a Missouri State Highway Patrol crime lab employee who testified that residue found on a bag among Johnson’s belongings tested positive for methamphetamine.

Johnson told the judge Thursday that she would not testify in her own defense. The defense then rested without calling any witnesses. The move followed the defense’s decision to reserve its opening statement on Monday.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

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