Category: kmiz-local-news

Mitchell Kaminski

Editor’s note: The number of protection orders filed against Dusty Blue has been corrected to two.

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Questions about a Missouri state senate candidate’s past have resurfaced after a website documenting his legal history was created and campaign flyers featuring excerpts from a decade-old probable cause statement began popping up.

Dustin “Dusty” Blue is one of three Republican candidates running for Missouri’s 18th Senate District, a sprawling district that covers nearly 7,400 square miles, an area large enough to fit both Connecticut and Rhode Island combined. It includes Audrain, Macon, Monroe and Randolph counties.

The GOP primary race between Blue, of Mexico; State Rep. Ed Lewis, of Moberly; and Greg Sharpe, of Ewing; could effectively decide the next state senator for the 18th District, where a Democrat has not won election since 2006. 

The trio is vying to succeed Sen. Cindy O’Laughlin (R-Shelbina), who cannot seek reelection after reaching her term limit.

Blue’s campaign states he enlisted in the Army in 2008 and served in the 101st Airborne Division. He later worked as a commercial helicopter pilot in Kansas City before meeting his wife, Jennah, and moving back to Mexico, where he raised two children. In 2018, he launched his own business, Expert Roofing and Exteriors.  

On Tuesday, the Mexico Department of Public Safety shared on social media that flyers had started circulating featuring a quote from a Mexico police officer that stated, “I believe [Dusty Blue] poses a danger to the community or to any other person…”

In a statement on social media, the department said, “The quote is part of the standard language taken from a probable cause statement for a case the flier states was filed in 2012. When a case is filed, portions of the probable cause statement become open record,” adding, “Mexico Public Safety does not endorse or condemn any political candidate.”

This comes after a Political Action Committee by the name “Let’s Go Brandon PAC” launched a website documenting Blue’s “troubling past.” 

Records obtained by ABC 17 News found that Blue has two misdemeanor convictions in Audrain County: a 2005 first-degree trespassing charge a 2012 violation of an order of protection, and two orders of protection entered against him from 2005 to 2012.

Blue did not respond to ABC 17 News’ multiple requests for an interview, but posted a video on his campaign website, addressing what he called a “whisper campaign against me.” 

“Politics is a dirty game and the special interest and the consulting class funding the attacks against me are scared and they should be. My story is the American dream,” Blue said in the video. 

Blue also said in the video that he grew up in Section 8 housing in Mexico and later joined the military to bring “discipline and direction to my life.” 

“I fought hard to give my family a different life,” Blue said.  “Clawed my way out of poverty and refused to let my circumstances define my future. We defied all odds and built a life we’re proud of.” 

In May 2005, a Mexico, Missouri, resident petitioned for an adult abuse/stalking order of protection against Blue, writing that they “have no relationship other than respondent has stalked me.”  

In his sworn statement, the petitioner alleged that during the last week of April 2005, Blue pushed him. Then on May 5, 2005, he claimed Blue and his father tried to fight him. In his statement, he alleged that Blue and his father drove up and down his street, then threatened to assault him while calling him homophobic slurs. The man told the court he feared being paralyzed because of an existing back condition. 

Judge Linda Hamlett later granted a full order of protection on June 14, 2005. 

On July 1, 2005, Mexico police were called to a Casey’s General Store after witnesses said Blue confronted the man at the gas pumps in violation of the order.  

A probable cause statement says Blue walked up behind him and his girlfriend and said, “Don’t think a protection order is going to stop me.” He was arrested later that day and charged with a class A misdemeanor violation of an order of protection. Court records indicate he was found guilty in November 2005.

“They’re saying I threatened to beat up a guy. That’s true. I did threaten him because he was bullying and putting his hands on my little brother. I’ll own that. When you grow up with very little, and someone is trying to hurt your little brother, your instinct is to protect your family,” Blue said in the video posted on his campaign website. “I’ve grown a lot in the last 20 years, but at that time, I stood up for my brother. And I won’t apologize for loving my family enough to be willing to fight for them.” 

In a separate case, prosecutors charged Blue in August 2005 with first-degree trespassing, a class B misdemeanor, for entering a Mexico Housing Authority property from which he had been banned. 

An officer wrote that a housing authority employee saw Blue leaving Hassen Drive on the morning of July 26, 2005, and that Blue later admitted he knew he was barred, but went back to get personal belongings.  The court sentenced him to 15 days in jail and placed him on two years of probation. 

In June 2012, Blue’s then-girlfriend, whom he had dated for two years, sought a protection order, alleging that Blue repeatedly called her while she was in Springfield, Missouri, and accused her of cheating, according to her statement in the filing. 

Her petition and attached statement accused Blue of “punching holes in walls,” “punching doors” and her “car dashboard” and making her “anxious” during the relationship.  

“I’m not a perfect person. But let me tell you this. I’ve never laid my hands on a woman, and I never will.  I refuse to let my life be affected by false accusations of a jealous ex-girlfriend,” Blue said in response.   

Judge Wesley Clay Dalton entered a full order of protection on Oct. 5, 2012, barring Blue from any contact with her and again triggering federal firearms restrictions. 

A July 11, 2012, probable cause statement alleges Blue violated that order by sending the woman flowers at her workplace and messages through a third party. Prosecutors first treated the case as a felony based on his 2005 conviction for violating an order of protection, then filed substitute information charging him with a class A misdemeanor violation.

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Melissa Houston

COLUMBIA, Mo (KMIZ)

The City of Columbia Public Works has entered into an agreement with a contractor to perform maintenance on the “no-mow zones” around the city after areas started overgrowing from rain this month.

The no-mow zones, or Roadside Pollinator Program, was initiated to help promote biodiversity in Columbia and was strategically placed based on habitat potential, according to Columbia Public Work’s Engineer Manager Richard Stone.

Maintenance is set to start this week and is expected to last for the next two-to-three weeks, according to Stone.

Stone said the zones that need the most work are Scott Boulevard and Range Line Street, which is where maintenance will start and then go to any other remaining areas that need work.

“Over the next couple of weeks, we’re going to be doing some trimming of some of the bushy and woody elements that are in those areas,” Stone said.

Stone said little work was done on the zones last year, and that was partially due to the potential cost of consistently maintaining all pollination zones. The estimated cost last year was $85,000.

“Last year we did not do very much maintenance on those areas. We just barely managed them,” Stone said. “Some of those issues are coming back, where we’re going to need to do some more maintenance,  more aggressive maintenance.”

Right now, Stone and his team are trying to find a balance to keep the zones clear and not create a traffic hazard, while also finding an alternative to lower maintenance costs.

“We’re trying to find that balance of how much to spend on maintenance of these vs. long-term,  you know, where the break-even is going to be on spending maintenance on maintaining them,” Stone said.

Some residents along Scott Boulevard spoke briefly with ABC 17 News about their concerns on the overgrowth.

Andrea Smith, a resident in southwest Columbia, said she likes the environmental benefits of the pollination zones, but wishes they would be trimmed down. Smith said sometimes it is hard to see emergency personnel when driving around the “no mow zones.”

Residents were not officially informed of the upcoming maintenance that will occur in these zones, but Public Works spokesman John Ogan said he plans on sharing updates on the department’s social media.

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Sutton Parker

JEFFERSON CITY Mo. (KMIZ)

Following 12 years on the job, Cole County Presiding Commissioner Sam Bushman decided to not seek reelection.

With that seat now vacant, two candidates are vying for it in the upcoming Republican primary.

Voters will be able to choose between a state lawmaker with more than a decade of legislative experience and a Jefferson City chiropractor who has served on the Jefferson City Police Department personnel board.

Paul Dupuis, a chiropractor at his family’s office in downtown Jefferson City, said he decided to run for office to give voters another option. If elected, Dupuis said that his first priority would be to complete a tour of all county facilities and make sure the county is heading in the right direction, economically.

“I want to make sure we’re not wasting money, make sure we’re spending it where it needs to be spent. Make sure that we are doing the projects that are the highest on the list first, prioritizing those and working through those projects,” he said.

Dupuis also emphasized that he is a community leader and not a politician.

“I don’t think politics belong in county politics and county government. This is a role of running a business. I have all my experiences through running a volleyball club, being president of the Missouri Chiropractic Physicians Association, and working with budgets there,” he said.

Also running for the seat is current State Sen. Mike Bernskoetter (R-Cole County), who is now term-limited in the legislature. Bernskoetter said that if elected, he wants to represent the community well.

“I don’t know that I have a [top] priority. You know, even as a state rep and senator, I just wanted to represent my community, represent their constituents,” he said.

Bernskoetter added he believes his experience owning a local business and working in the state legislature makes him qualified for the position.

“Actually, I think it fits my talents very well. I’m a business owner here in town. And so, you know, I manage the business. And so I think managing the finances and the operations of the county fits very well, and I’ve got 16 years of legislative experience,” he said.

For the full unedited interview with Bernskoetter and Dupuis, you can find it on the ABC 17 News Your Voice, Your Vote Voter Guide.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The “Stop Insider Trading Act” was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday.

House Resolution 7008 – which includes Missouri Republican Reps. Mark Alford and Ann Wagner on the long list of cosponsors – would ban members of Congress, their spouses and their dependent child from buying publicly traded stocks. It would also require those people to give public notice before selling their stocks.

“Between 7 and 14 days before a Member or a covered spouse or dependent sells a covered investment, the relevant Member must file public notice of the intent to sell with the Clerk of the House of Representatives or the Secretary of the Senate, as appropriate. The Clerk or Secretary must publish this notice online. If the individual decides not to sell the covered investment, the notice must be withdrawn,” the bill language says.

The resolution now heads to the Senate. A similar bill had support last year from Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO). Alford supported the bill’s passage in a statement that was sent to media.

“Public service is a privilege, not a pathway to personal profit,” Alford was quoted in the release. “The American people deserve confidence that their representatives are making decisions based on what is best for the country, not what benefits their personal portfolios.”

Voting on the bill was mostly split along party lines, with 218 Republicans, 13 Democrats and one independent voting in support, according to the CSPAN tally.

Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, of New York, had expressed in a Tuesday social media post that she would vote against the measure.

“Republicans are trying to pull a trick this week. They say we are voting on an “insider trading” bill, but have snuck in massive SAVE Act-style voter suppression measures to it,” her post says. “This is a GOP effort to sabotage national mail-in voting, disguised as a trading ban.”

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Alison Patton

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins has until Aug. 4 to certify or reject the referendum petition to put the 2025 Congressional map on the November ballot.

In a statement to ABC 17 News, Hoskins said the 2025 map is the “law of the land.”

“I am still verifying and certifying the signatures of the referendum and will have that work completed by the August 4 constitutional deadline. I am also continuing to research the constitutionality of a referendum on a congressional redistricting map,” Hoskins wrote in an email.

The group backing the referendum, People Not Politicians, claim they already have enough signatures.

“We are over 6,000 signatures more than what is needed in all six congressional districts, so we’re just waiting for Denny Hoskins to do his job,” PNP executive director Richard von Glahn said.

If Hoskins certifies the referendum, then it goes in front of voters on the November ballot, but certifying the referendum means that Missouri’s current congressional districts go back to the 2022 map, which could raise questions about whether the August election was held legally.

“What that means legally, we don’t know yet,” Boone County Clerk Brianna Lennon said. “So, that will be something played out in court if that happens.”

If it isn’t certified — which is what von Glahn said that’s what he’s preparing for — then PNP will take Hoskins’ decision back to court.

“If he issues a certificate of insufficiency and we challenge that, that is supposed to go to the top of the docket in Cole County,” von Glahn said.

Lawmakers passed the 2025 congressional map during a special session for redistricting, and it has been challenged multiple times in court. Missouri courts have upheld the map, and the state’s legal team has stalled court cases, trying to drag it out.

Although von Glahn said he is confident a Cole County judge will be swift in carrying out a decision if PNP takes Hoskins to court between the August and November elections, there could be delays.

“Now, whether or not there are nefarious actors who seek delay and instead of resolution, I’m quite certain there will be,” von Glahn said.

He also said PNP will know next steps once Hoskins makes a decision.

Lennon said the last day to add anything to the November ballot is Sept. 8.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Temporary changes are coming to Jefferson City’s bus system next week because of staffing shortages, according to a Wednesday press release from the city.

The green and gold routes will alternate service throughout the day, as will the blue and red routes, according to the release.

The release says the city is asking for passengers to plan ahead and be aware “that buses will not operate on their normal frequency during this service modification.”

The release did not give an estimate for how long this schedule will be in place. The changes are set to begin Monday.

The full schedule can be found below.

Copy of Alternating Routes 2026Download

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Jessica Hafner

The ABC 17 Stormtrack Weather Team has issued a Weather Alert Day for Tuesday as dangerous heat lingers one last day.

A Heat Advisory replaces the Heat Warning for areas that may still feel a 100-105 degree heat index on Tuesday.

The upper-level ridge, or “heat dome,” is sliding west. As this happens, it makes it more likely for us to catch disturbances traversing the dome’s edge. This brings a chance for showers and clouds today that may limit heat in the north and west. Additionally, a cold front is slipping in from the northeast, although this won’t correct our airmass until Wednesday.

Lower humidity is forecast for Wednesday and Thursday.

Remember to stay hydrated with plenty of water and electrolyte drinks if you do have to spend longer periods of time outside. In these conditions, all age groups can experience heat-related illnesses and heat exhaustion. Take breaks indoors and make sure your pets have a cool place to rest, along with plenty of water. Limit their walks to around dawn or dusk to keep them safe in these conditions.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Eight new cases of cyclosporiasis were reported in Boone County on Wednesday, according to a spokesman from the Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services.

Total cases in Boone County now sits at 53, a jump from 45 on Tuesday. Cole County’s health department reported seven total cases on Wednesday.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services has reported 216 cases in the state this week.

The University of Missouri said last week that it has pulled iceberg lettuce from its dining halls in response to a recall.

Walmart had removed four bagged lettuce brands from its shelves in 27 states, according to previous reporting.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A former teacher who was accused of child sex crimes was found not guilty, the Saline County prosecutor told ABC 17 News on Wednesday.

Justin Hendricks, of Marshall, was charged in 2024 with first-degree sexual abuse and second-degree child molestation, among other charges. He was acquitted of all seven charges, according to his attorney and the prosecutor.  

Authorities accused Hendricks of abusing two youth over multiple years, court documents from previous reporting show.

Previous reporting shows Hendricks had denied the allegations when he was confronted by law enforcement.

Hendricks had previously worked as a high school social studies teacher in the Carrollton R-7 School District during the 2018-19 and 2019-20 school year, previous reporting shows. The charges were not related to the school, the district told ABC 17 News in 2024.

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Ellyse Edwards

COLUMBIA, Mo (KMIZ)

The Cooper County Fair is moving forward without carnival rides this year after its contracted ride company, Amusement Associates, shut down unexpectedly and did not return the fair’s $5,000 deposit.

Cooper County Fair Board President Bryan Larm said the board hired Amusement Associates in January after meeting with the company at a fairs and festivals event. The Cooper County board then paid a $5,000 deposit for carnival rides.

“We made the $5,000 deposit. Everything was golden,” Larm said. “Then last week, we got an email and it said he was going to cease business for insurance purposes.”

Larm said the company gave the fair about one week’s notice. He said Amusement Associates told the board it could no longer afford the insurance costs required to remain in business.

The late notice left the fair board scrambling to find another company before the fair began. Larm said the Cooper County Fair was one of four fairs affected by the same company.

Larm confirmed the fair did not get its deposit back.

“So, yeah, we did lose $5,000,” Larm said.

The board has discussed taking the company to court, but Larm said no final decision has been made. Board members are speaking with attorneys about whether pursuing the money would be worth the cost.

“We can’t spend $10,000 to make $5,000 either,” Larm said. “We’re in discussions with some lawyers, trying to get some ideas of what we should do and how far we should take it.”

The fair normally sells $25 wristbands for carnival rides. Larm did not provide an estimate for how much additional revenue the fair could lose without those sales.

“I don’t want to say a number because I could be totally off, but we have a very strong community and a very supportive community,” Larm said.

The board contacted other carnival companies after learning Amusement Associates would not attend. Larm said one company from Oklahoma considered coming, but could not make the trip work because of travel costs and other commitments.

That company is expected to send the fair a bid for next year.

Larm said finding carnival companies has become increasingly difficult for smaller county fairs because there are fewer companies available and many are already booked.

The board added other activities in place of the missing carnival rides, including miniature golf, a dunk tank, pony rides and other games.

Larm said the fair still has nightly entertainment, miniature golf, a dunk tank, pony rides, games and animals in the barns.

“Come see us. We’ve got lots of entertainment,” Larm said. “There’s something for everybody every night.”

The fair board is also reviewing its contracts as it plans for future events.

“We’re definitely looking more into our contracts and making sure that they are legit,” Larm said. “We want a little more knowledge about them to make sure all our I’s are dotted and our T’s are crossed.”

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