Category: kmiz-local-news

Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Three seats are up for grabs in the Columbia Board of Education election with all four candidates highlighting bullying as a major issue in the district that needs to be addressed.

Four people are running for three spots. Board President John Lyman, Vice President Paul Harper and Boardmember April Ferrao are trying to retain a spot on the board, while Dr. Keary Husain is looking to get on the board for the first time.

According to a survey for the 2025-26 school year, About 65% of students surveyed say bullying is not tolerated, but that enforcement was not consistent. The survey says 63% of responding students said their school atmosphere was mostly encouraging, but wanted more inclusiveness and fairness.

Lyman considered the bullying policy as “one place I’d like to see the district get better at.” Lyman added that he wants to make bullying reports more accessible and make the process of following investigations clearer.

“It’s moving the bullying report that’s kind of hidden right now on our website to and up front and top of mind,” Lyman said. “Something that’s easier to access for our families so that they know, ‘hey, if this is happening, this is where you go, this is what you do, these are the next steps, these are the things that happen after you’ve done that report, so that there can be resolution.”

LINK: Full interview with John Lyman

Husain similarly wants clearer ways to report bullying and more transparency in reporting data. He says this would be to make sure policies are being enforced equally across buildings.

“If you are reporting everything in a transparent fashion, you can see that, maybe 20 incidents were reported, but we’re only seeing data on the outcome of two,” Husain said. “Not everyone comes to the board meeting, not everyone streams the board meeting, not everyone is privy to the data or has a computer at home, just making this, ‘this is what’s happening in CPS.'”

LINK: Full interview with Keary Husain

Ferrao said the district’s bullying policy is something the Board of Education wants “to get right.” Ferrao adds she wants to make sure the policy is enforced and is well-documented

“Making sure that parents are informed, also making sure that there’s resources given to both the victim and the accused bully, making sure that we have data, making sure that if something is reported, it is written, it is documented it, so we can make data-driven decisions on that,” Ferrao said.

LINK: Full interview with April Ferrao

Harper said that he believes bullying isn’t being reported on as well as it should be. He similarly wants to make sure the district has adequate resources for student and parent support. Harper added that along with improving the policy, operations and district culture should also be addressed.

This includes setting clear expectations for staff and adding more procedures to clear up confusion.

“Making sure students who are bullied are supported, ensuring that the staff is doing what they need to do to process those things,” Harper said. “We need to make sure we’re supporting them [students] whether or not it actually fits under the definition of bullying, so we’re we’re making a policy so that all of those things happen.”

LINK: Full interview with Paul Harper

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

An associate judge has named Jeff Smith as the interim Miller County prosecutor.

The order appointing Smith was made by 26th Judicial Circuit Presiding Judge Aaron G. Koeppen. Smith will take on the roles until Gov. Mike Kehoe makes an appointment.

The appointment was necessary after Prosecutor Matthew Howard died on Monday. He was 64.  

The prosecutor position is up for election in the Aug. 4 primary. The last day to file was Tuesday. County Clerk Clinton Jenkins told ABC 17 News that one person, Robert Seek, filed to run on Tuesday.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Cooper County town was awarded $4.8 million in financial assistance from the Missouri Department of Natural Resource for upgrades to its wastewater treatment system, according to a Wednesday press release from the DNR.

It will cost a total of $6.28 million to upgrade Pilot Grove’s system and the city expects the project to be completed by May 2027, the release says. The project is designed to improve the water quality in Petite Saline Creek “by reducing pollutants and untreated discharges to the creek,” the release says.

Funding from the DNR consists of a $2 million loan and a $2.76 million grant through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, the release says.

There will also be $700,000 in city funds and $750,000 through a Community Development Block Grant, the release says. Funding is expected to save the city $1.5 million in interest during the loan’s 30-year period, the DNR says.

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Mitchell Kaminski

MOBERLY, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Moberly School District is looking to add a storm shelter as part of a slew of planned renovations, but will need help from Randolph County voters on April 7 to do it. 

In December, the Moberly Board of Education approved language to add a ballot measure that would authorize the issuance of $11.5 million in bonds to the district for facility improvements. The district is prioritizing adding a storm shelter and locker rooms to Spartan Fieldhouse and renovations to the middle school and elementary school buildings. 

“Just as the athletics side of it, we’re able to get locker rooms that are attached to the fieldhouse,” Moberly Director of Activities Anthony Vestal said. “Right now we’re still using our other locker rooms, which is a little bit to get through the Spartan way here. But attaching that here would be huge.” 

Under the ballot language, if the measure is approved, the bonds would not increase the current property tax levy of $1.143 per $100 of assessed value.

According to Moberly Superintendent Cristina Wright, the measure would renew an existing bond issue that is on a five-year cycle, allowing the district to continue making improvements without raising taxes.

“That money is earmarked for that purpose alone. It cannot be transferred over to teacher salaries or school supplies and vice versa,” Wright told ABC 17 News. “Our operating budget would have to be used if it were not approved to cover things like renovations and construction, which would be really prohibitive for us with a district this size and eight school sites.” 

During the 2021 bond issue, the district used the funds to expand its Early Childhood Learning Center, build the Alternative Center for Educational Success, and build the Spartan Fieldhouse, a $7 million facility that opened last February. 

“We wanted to build the biggest building we could with the money that we had,” Vestal said. “Everyone has had great things to say about it. You know, they come in here, they look at the facility, and it’s just kind of the wow factor. You know, our LED scoreboard is second to none in the state of Missouri. The seating on all four sides. I think it’s a place that we’ve set the bar high.” 

The Spartan Fieldhouse is now the center of the district’s plans, if the measure is approved. According to Wright, adding a storm shelter has been part of the plan since the facility was first designed. 

“This was designed as Phase 2 from the beginning of the concept for this field house in Phase 1. So [it was] always an idea. This is a special-event space right now, based on building code. So that means that approximately 1,600 people can fit into this space, but it can’t be used during the school day because it’s a special-event space without a storm shelter,” Wright said. “So, by adding this storm shelter with enough square footage for everyone that might be in attendance,  we are able to then have that much space to tuck folks away in a very safe spot.” 

The City of Moberly does not maintain a public storm shelter system, but officials have not yet determined if the shelter will be open to the public, if inclement weather hits. 

“It’s in discussion, and we would need to iron that out with the city of Moberly just for our practice and protocol,” Wright said. “But it certainly is part of the discussion.” 

However, City of Moberly spokesman Scott McGarvey said there have been no discussions with the city or other entities about constructing or operating a public storm shelter.

But Wright also said a new storm shelter would also allow the district to use the Spartan Fieldhouse to host classes during the school day. 

“We have emergency operating plans or EOP, and right now we’re sheltering in place for high winds or tornadoes,” Wright said. “But that doesn’t mean that there aren’t places where there’s glass or there are doors, and those have to be considered in how much space we have to tuck students away.” 

If voters approve the bond, the district says construction could begin this summer, with work starting shortly after the school year ends.

“The biggest benefit is if we have high winds or a tornado, we have a place to put students and staff and visitors who might be here for a special event. And since we’re hosting events that take a large number of community members,1,600 is a large number inside our community, we can offer that safety aspect,” Wright said. “So it really is a huge benefit to everyone, especially if they’re coming to support our students in contests, whether they be athletic or otherwise.”

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Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

NASA launched its Artemis II mission on Wednesday.

The mission is a lunar fly-by and the first of the space agency’s Artemis program.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Callaway County’s only contested race in the Aug. 4 primary will be the election for the county’s presiding commissioner.

The Republican candidates include Rob Barnes, Larry Robinson and Clay Chism. Presiding Commissioner Gary Jungermann is not seeking reelection.

Barnes is the only candidate with an active campaign committee listed with the Missouri Ethics Commission as of Wednesday afternoon. Larry Robinson ran for the western district seat in 2024 and lost to Christopher Scott.

Chism is running for office for the first time since he was ousted from his role as Callaway County sheriff.

Chism was removed from his position as the active Callaway County sheriff in June 2023 after his peace officer’s license was suspended after he was drunk both on and off the clock. Chism pleaded guilty to misdemeanor DWI in one of those instances from a 2022 Randolph County case.

He submitted his letter of resignation in April 2024.He was first elected as sheriff in 2016.

Mike Conner is the only person running on the Democratic side in the commissioner’s race.

Other county races are uncontested for Republican incumbents, including

Auditor Rylee Page

Associate Circuit Judge Division 6 Christopher Wilson.

Circuit Clerk Megan Morse

County Clerk Ronda Miller

Collector Sarah Gladman

Recorder of Deeds Christine Kleindienst

Associate Circuit Judge Division 7 Sue Crane

Prosecutor Sandra Colhour

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A fire that occurred Monday in a care facility in the 300 block of East Stone Street in Sturgeon was caused by an “electrical malfunction” near a porch, according to Boone County Fire Protection District Assistant Chief Gale Blomenkamp.

Previous reporting shows that a staff member at Sturgeon Residential Care Facility found a fire on the porch and tried to put it out before it spread to the attic. Blomenkamp told ABC 17 News in a Wednesday text message that the fire did get into the attic and caused about $400,000 in damage.

The fire was reported around 4:37 a.m. that morning.

There were 19 residents and two staff members were in the building when the fire started and were evacuated in about four minutes, previous reporting says. No injuries were reported.  

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A portion of East Ash Street and the sidewalk by the Boone County Courthouse will be closed from 6:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday, April 8, according to a press release from the City of Columbia.

Both lanes of the street and the southern sidewalk between North Seventh and Eighth streets will be closed, along with part of the northern sidewalk, the release says. Signs will direct pedestrians to alternate routes. Metered street parking will also be closed.

The release says the closures are occurring as an air conditioning unit is replaced on top of the courthouse.

Go COMO bus routes will also be affected, the release says. The Black Route will detour using Park Avenue and North Seventh Street. The Armory Sports Center stop will be moved to the west side of the intersection of North Seventh and Ash streets, the release says.

The Orange and Gold Routes – which are detoured to East Ash Street because of construction on Park Avenue – will temporarily be returned to its normal route on Park Avenue on April 8, the release says.

The release says no bus stops will be missed.

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Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Edits to Columbia Public Schools’ bullying policy, including summer interactions and employee protocol, will be discussed during a school board policy committee meeting Wednesday.

The new policy, if passed, would implement new guidelines for instructors on handling reports of bullying.

The initial policy had instructors and employees ask to report incidents to the building’s principal. Revisions change this to have instructors work directly with students.

According to meeting documents, staff “are expected to intervene to prevent student bullying, appropriately address the situation, assist the victim and report the incident to the building principal or designee for further investigation and action.”

The revisions also add new procedures for managing bullying off-campus and during school breaks.

While the school has limited jurisdiction over bullying that occurs off school grounds or through school resources and technology, the school will work to assist students who are affected, under the new policy. This includes contacting law enforcement or social media companies and “contacting the parents/guardians of the victim and the alleged perpetrators, communicating that this behavior is not allowed on district grounds or at district activities,” according to the meeting document.

Policy JFCF_ BULLYING _56088103h1kjluvtcfxagozzlox3qeDownload

Bullying reports will be accepted year-round, and schools will investigate instances of bullying during business hours, even when students are not in school.

“Reports of bullying that occurs during summer school will be investigated to the same extent as a report during the regular school year. However, if the relevant staff, students or witnesses are not available, the investigation will be delayed until a complete investigation can be conducted,” according to the meeting document.

Investigations of bullying will continue to begin two days after school leadership receives a bullying report. Reports involving students from multiple schools, special education students or a student with disabilities will have additional school administrators and staff added to the investigation.

The investigation should be completed within 10 school days of the date of the written report of bullying.

“Ultimately, the goal is for all policies to be clear and in language that all can understand. For this one, we also hope that the reporting and investigation of the incidents will be more consistent,” CPS School Board Vice President Paul Harper said in a statement.

The Policy Committee Meeting begins at 4:45 p.m. in the Aslin Administration Building.

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Alison Patton

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

Missouri lawmakers are considering a bill that would prohibit electrical corporations from using eminent domain to build wind and solar farms.

House Bill 2169 is going in front of the House Special Committee on Rural Issues at 4 pm. Wednesday. This bill is similar to two others from previous legislative sessions.

Bill sponsor Brad Pollitt (R-Sedalia) gave an example.

If three landowners owned about 80 acres total, and the two on the outside decide to install solar panels, then the solar company cannot use eminent domain to purchase the land in the middle to expand the solar farm.

Pollitt said he wasn’t aware of a case like the exaple happening, but the bill would close a “loophole.”

“There’s nothing in statute that says that that company cannot use eminent domain to take the other 80 acres to complete their solar project,” Pollitt said. “I want to specifically put in statute that they cannot do that.”

The public hearing on Pollitt’s bill was about 20 minutes long, and no one showed up in opposition to the bill.

Pollitt said the best chance to get his bill into law is actually in passing House Bill 2762, which absorbed Pollitt’s original bill. HB 2762 puts parameters around solar panels.

HB 2762, sponsored by Rep. Brad Banderman (R-St. Clair), passed out of the Utilities Committee on March 26. Pollitt said they are waiting for it to be assigned and discussed in the Rules Committee before it can be sent to the House Floor.

Both bills comes as Grain Belt Express, LLC., has filed multiple cases in Callaway County to force land owners to sell the company easements for construction and work on its transmission line. However, Pollitt said his bill does not apply to transmission lines.

“My bill actually specifically says that this does not associate with transmission lines,” Pollitt said. “This is only the land itself. Eminent domain can’t be used to acquire additional land to put up additional solar panels.”

The project will cross Missouri to deliver power from western wind fields to Illinois. The route will run through Mid-Missouri, and a connection is planned from north of Centralia to near Kingdom City. That route includes land in Monroe, Audrain and Callaway counties, according to the Grain Belt website.

Grain Belt sued the Missouri Attorney General’s Office after former Attorney General Andrew Bailey began an investigation into the project, alleging it had misled regulators and the public. New Attorney General Catherine Hanaway, who was chief legal counsel for Grain Belt in her private practice before becoming attorney general, reached an agreement with the company to provide her office with documents.

Lawmakers have about a month and a half to pass legislation before the session ends on May 15.

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