Category: kmiz-local-news

Euphenie Andre

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

As temperatures continue to fall and with more snow on the way this week, Mid-Missouri mechanics are urging drivers to check their tires and prepare their vehicles for the next round of winter weather.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Troop F responded to more than 400 incidents during last weekend’s winter weather. That includes:

170 calls for service

166 stranded motorists

73 non-injury crashes

4 injury crashes

1 fatal crash

Firestone Complete Auto Care experienced a major increase in customers since last weekend’s first snowfall. Mechanics report some of the most common issues right now include weak batteries, oil changes, and worn-down tires.

Joshua Moss, Store Manager at Firestone Complete Auto Care, said the storm served as a wake-up call.

“It was quite a busy time. It kind of felt almost like a retail Christmas because we increased probably 10 to 15 more customers that day. And a lot of it, of course, was tires,” Moss said.

Across all 12 stores in his district, Moss said each location saw an extra 15 to 20 cars last weekend. The snow didn’t just slow down drivers, it also slowed down their suppliers in Kansas City, delaying service for customers.

“Just like our customers, our deliverers were having trouble getting here. So, we had to push off some customers until the snow subsided and we could actually get our tires that they need,” Moss said.

Gavin Ross– an auto maintenance employee at Firestone– said tire care should be a top priority.

“Definitely keep an eye on your tire pressure. Ensure there’s no bald spots or any visible wear on your tire,” Ross said.

Drivers may also notice they’re stopping at the pump more often. Experts said colder weather forces your car to burn more fuel.

“The only time that we use a little bit more fuel is when it is snowing because the car has to work harder to get through it,” Moss said. “So, they do increase in that fuel but it is always good to have a full tank when it’s snowing.”

Data from the U.S. Department of Energy states, that at 20°F, a gasoline vehicle can get about 15% fewer miles per gallon compared to a 77°F day. For short trips of just a few miles, fuel efficiency can drop up to 24%.

“[Drivers are] using a lot more of their heat, especially starting their vehicles before getting into them. They should make sure their vehicles are warmed up before they go to work or head home,” Ross said.

Low temperatures can also make car batteries less efficient. When it’s cold, batteries can’t hold or produce power as effectively, forcing the alternator to work harder to keep them charged. To help improve fuel efficiency and reduce cold-engine strain, the Department of Energy recommends combining trips when possible.

Click here to follow the original article.

Nia Hinson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

At least 14 units were damaged in a fire at a storage unit in west Columbia on Sunday afternoon, according to a spokeswoman from the Columbia Fire Department.

Spokeswoman Skyler Clark told ABC 17 News firefighters were called to the 2500 block of West Worley Street around 12:30 p.m. Crews arrived and found smoke and flames coming from the building. The fire was knocked down in roughly 45 minutes, Clark said.

No injuries were reported and the cause of the fire is under investigation.

According to Clark, more information should be available on Monday.

CFD had asked people to avoid the area while crews worked the fire.

Click here to follow the original article.

Alison Patton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Kansas City woman was seriously hurt in a UTV crash in Morgan County on Saturday, according to a Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report.

A 56-year-old Oklahoma woman was driving a UTV westbound on Seals Road just before 4 p.m. when she drove up a steep hill, the report says. The vehicle overturned and rolled down the hill.

The 53-year-old passenger was flown to University Hospital with serious injuries, and the driver was taken to Lake Regional Hospital with moderate injuries, according to the report.

Both women were wearing seatbelts.

The 2025 Polaris Razor had extensive damage, the report says.

Click here to follow the original article.

Alison Patton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

EDITOR’S NOTE: The number of people who were killed in the attack has been corrected.

The United States Tiger Foundation hosted an event on Sunday, honoring the roughly 2,400 people who lost their lives in the attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. The event is scheduled to start at 11:53 a.m. at the Boone County Courthouse War Memorial–the exact time in Missouri when Pearl Harbor was attacked.

USTF honored the 19 St. Louis sailors who died during the attack, according to a press release. It will also recognize a 48-star flag believed to have been on the USS St. Louis.

The ship, nicknamed “Lucky Lou,” was the only major warship to escape the attack, the release says.

USTF will start the ceremony with Executive Director Susan Haines before Columbia Ward 5 Councilman Don Waterman makes a speech. Southern Boone County Commissioner Justin Aldred is scheduled to speak after Waterman.

Missouri Representatives John Martin (R-Columbia) and Kathy Steinhoff (D-Columbia) are also set to speak. The ceremony will wrap up with the presentation of a five-foot wreath by the speakers and U.S. Navy Petty Officer Carlos Luna, USTF says.

Veterans in attendance will receive a medal for their service, according to the press release.

The foundation will also be collecting blankets and pet beds for veterans at the event.

Click here to follow the original article.

Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Jefferson City man is behind bars Saturday after being arrested by Audrain County Sheriffs Friday evening.

According to a press release from the Audrain County Sheriff’s Office, Jefferson City Police were investigating 21-year-old Syvonn Byrd for a kidnapping and domestic violence incident. Byrd also had a felony arrest warrant for harassment.

Byrd was seen by deputies driving in Mexico, Mo. and entering a house. A search warrant was issued to search the house. Byrd later surrendered himself to officers after deputies presented the warrant.

Byrd was transported to the Audrain County Jail where he will be picked up by the Cole County Sheriff’s Office and the Jefferson City Police Department.

Click here to follow the original article.

Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

No injuries were reported following a structure fire in North Columbia Friday.

According to Columbia Fire Department Public Information Officer Skyler Clark, fire crews were called to the 1600 block of Mores Blvd. for a residential structure fire.

At the scene, crews found a barn on fire.

An ABC 17 News reporter at the scene saw at least one CFD fire engine, two CFD vehicles and a Boone Health ambulance.

Fire crews were also seen going up into a ladder truck to monitor the fire.

“They’re getting an aerial view to see if there’s any hot spots, to see if there’s any smoldering anything that could potentially reignite and make sure that the structure is safe while investigations are underway,” Clark said.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Click here to follow the original article.

Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A 58-year-old Warrensburg man was seriously injured Friday evening after being hit by a car in Johnson County.

According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report, at around 6:30 p.m. Friday, a 57-year-old man driving a 1996 Dodge Ram was heading east on E Gay Street in Warrensburg when he hit a pedestrian.

The man who was hit was transported to Western Missouri Medical Center. The driver was unharmed.

Click here to follow the original article.

Euphenie Andre

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A group of students gathered at the University of Missouri’s Black Culture Center Saturday night to honor Concerned Student 1950, the student organization that led the 2015 protests over racial discrimination on campus.

Several attendees said they came to pay respect to the organizers who pushed for major change at the university, and to learn more about Mizzou’s history.

Aleena Simons, a first-year sophomore, said the gathering was important because, in her view, the university has not fully considered the perspectives of Black students.

“Mun Choi has shown to not really take into perspective the Black students’ opinion,” Simons said.

A sign displayed at the event included a quote from the documentary Concerned Student 1950: “Racism lives on Mizzou’s campus and so do we.” it was signed with signatures and messages from students.

Matikah Cole, a freshman, said “Outside of Black Mizzou, there are spaces where it’s still kind of like I feel out of place, if that makes sense.”

A decade ago, students camped out on campus demanding action, saying racial inequalities had been ignored for years. Students of color reported being called racial slurs, discriminated against, and harassed both physically and verbally.

Back then, protest leaders called on administrators to make meaningful changes, and many students at the anniversary event said some of those concerns still remain today.

“For me as a film studies and political science major, it’s been a little difficult,” Simons said. “I don’t really see as many people of color in the classroom, and so it’s hard if there’s a group project or something I’m kind of always the last person to find a partner,” Simons said.

Over the past decade, Freshman applications have risen 64% to 27,290, and freshman enrollment has grown 46% to 6,033. Overall graduation rates have also improved, with the four-year rate climbing 16 percentage points to 64% and the six-year rate rising 8 points to 77%, according to University spokesperson Christopher Ave.

For Black students, the four-year graduation rate has increased nearly 16 points to 45%, while the six-year rate has grown almost 9 points to nearly 64% since fall 2015. Research at the university has expanded as well, with the value of proposals increasing 138% to $1.9 billion, and the annual operating budget has grown 70% to $3.9 billion.

While some progress has been made, many students said concerns from that time still linger today.

Amaya Morgan, president of the Legion of Black Collegians, said the event was about reflection and moving forward.

“It’s important to have those things [10-year anniversary commemoration] because we’re facing similar situations as in 2015, so we want to be able to give space to make sure everybody’s kind of seeing the place that they were at, see where we are at right now, and how we can all appreciate that and move forward,” Morgan said.

The anniversary comes the same year the university made headlines for canceling the Legion of Black Collegians’ “Black 2 Class Block Party” after administrators took issue with the event’s name.

At that time MU President Mun Choi responded, “The University of Missouri fosters a non-discriminatory campus environment. When holding events using University facilities, student organizations must avoid excluding individuals based on race. The name of the ‘Black 2 Class Block Party’ proposed by LBC suggested such exclusivity. For that reason, the decision was made that the event as described would not be held on campus.”

Cole said she was disappointed by the cancellation.

“It’s just really disappointing. I feel like it would have been a really good way to make Black students feel welcomed on campus, especially freshmen,” she said.

Students are calling on the university to acknowledge and address the racial divide on campus.

“I think for me, in order to feel seen by the university is him actually acknowledging that there is a racial divide on campus. There is a race issue on campus that has solutions that aren’t difficult as they are made out to be,” Simons said.

University spokesperson Christopher Ave said the university does not tolerate discrimination or harassment.

“All reported cases are investigated, and individuals who violate our policies or the law are held accountable. Potential consequences for those who commit such violations include being trespassed from campus, expelled from the university and charged with a crime.” Ave said.

Click here to follow the original article.

Alison Patton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Protesters against the Trump Administration are now using body cams to record interactions with counter-protesters.

Boone County Democrats protest at the intersection of West Broadway and Stadium Boulevard every Saturday from 10:30-11:30 a.m. During the last protest on Nov. 22, a counter-protester walked through and appeared to be recording other protesters and using curse words.

Since then, protest organizers have increased safety measures, including using body cams to record any situations like the one from November.

Steve Muller said people were concerned about safety after the incident.

“We don’t want anybody to get hurt or anything like that,” Muller said. “The way that came across when he was out here, it was very intimidating and some people felt threatened.”

Only protest leaders, like Muller, will wear a body cam. Muller said the camera only records when turned on.

An ABC 17 reporter was at the protest Saturday morning and didn’t see any counter-protests.

Click here to follow the original article.

Alison Patton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The City of Fulton is raising recycling prices by $14 because of higher processing and transportation costs, according to a Facebook post from the city.

Residents currently pay $2.07 per recycling bin a month, but that will jump to $16.20 starting in January.

“Even with this adjustment, Fulton’s recycling rate and our other utility rates remain lower than those in many surrounding communities,” the post says. “We are committed to keeping services as affordable as possible while maintaining the level of quality our citizens expect.”

Under the new fee, residents will be paying about $194 a year.

Residents can opt out of the recycling program by using the online form, or by calling the utilities billing department at (573)592-3111.

The solid waste department will pick up recycling carts after the form has been processed.

Click here to follow the original article.