Category: kmiz-local-news

Euphenie Andre

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Fewer girls are participating in high school basketball across the country. According to the National Federation of State High School Associations, participation in girls basketball has dropped about 21 percent over the past 25 years.

Missouri is among several states seeing an even larger decline, with participation down 34 percent. There were 8,321 players at 568 schools in 2024-25 compared to 12,646 players at 534 schools in 1999-2000.

The Federation, which relies on schools to self-report participation number, said student athletes are still playing sports, just less basketball. Experts point to a combination of factors, including rising costs and an increased interest in other sports.

Families are feeling the financial strain of keeping their kids active in basketball. According to the NFHS survey, the average sports family spent about $1,016 on their child’s primary sport in 2024, a 46 percent increase since 2019.

Parents told ABC 17 News that costs can be significantly higher, with some families spending up to $20,000 per season on travel, tournaments, uniforms, and training.

“You’re talking tens to $20,000 in a summer,” Mark Means said. “It just prices kids out. Basketball is not meant to be that way.”

Means was in Columbia on Friday to support his eleven-year-old daughter on the Troy Trojans. She started playing basketball when she was four years old.

“I’ve had three daughters go through AAU Basketball. Love the coaches, love what they’re doing. It’s way too expensive.”

Erin Dean, a mother to an eighth grader said it all adds up.

“I probably don’t want to calculate that number,” Dean said. “But it’s probably on an annual basis, probably about 20 to 25k with our travel.”

Dean’s daughter started playing basketball in third grade. Dean said she was surprised to learn that participation in girls’ basketball is declining, recalling that St. Louis, where she lives, has long been a “robust” hub for the sport.

“It’s competitive, it’s expensive, it’s time-consuming, and if you have other kids, other family needs, sometimes the prioritization of spending it on basketball, hotels, whatever flights. It’s a burden to a family. So I can understand,” Dean said.

Some programs, like Columbia Supreme, are working to make basketball more accessible. Founder Anthony Johnson said fees are cut roughly in half, ranging from $500 for younger players to $750 for older age groups.

“We make it affordable to make it more accessible. And we actively recruit girls from areas that typically don’t play,” Johnson said. “A lot of the kids, if we didn’t have this format, you know, they wouldn’t be on the team. That’s a very high percentage of the kids.”

The Columbia Supreme has been running since 2018. Johnson said he has not seen a decrease in participation numbers.

“We have a very high return rate,” Johnson said. “I don’t really see the kids that play competitive drop off, that is not something that I’ve seen.”

According to the survey, part of the decline is also attributed to shifting interests. Many girls are choosing sports such as soccer, softball, track, volleyball, flag football, and even girls wrestling, which have all seen a rise in participation.

Dean’s daughter also plays travel soccer.

“We are very busy” Dean said. “I committed to one year of the crazy madness before she goes to high school.”

According to the 2024 National Youth Sports Parent Survey, from the Aspen Institute’s Project Play, many parents feel pressure for their children to focus on a single sport. Nearly half of parents surveyed, 48% said they feel some or significant pressure for their child to specialize, and 53 percent said that pressure comes from their child’s desire to play high school sports. The survey also found that 21% of parents report their child plays their primary sport for 9 to 12 months out of the year.

Means’ daughter also plays soccer and flag football.

“At a young age you need to be playing all these kind of sports. We take our kids and we focus way too early, and they don’t get an opportunity to really kind of expand and see what’s out there,” Dean said.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, nearly 70% of kids quit organized sports by age 13.

Click here to follow the original article.

Jessica Hafner

The ABC 17 Stormtrack Weather Team has issued a Weather Alert Day for the likelihood of strong storms tonight. The threat for damaging winds and widespread heavy rain continues overnight as storms push ahead of a cold front.

A Tornado Watch is in effect for Morgan, Camden, and Benton counties until 4:00 a.m.

It’s been another warm and humid day as highs reached near records in the lower 80s along with dew points into the mid-60s. A wave of low pressure to our south will provide forcing for storms as moisture from the Gulf streams in and allows the atmosphere to build lots of potential energy during the day. We’ll have plenty of instability and wind shear to create strong storm updrafts late in the day, but it remains a question when will we be able to access it.

A weather balloon launched shortly after midday by the University of Missouri showed a weak “cap” in place, but little forcing for development as of early afternoon. MU launched another balloon around 3:30 p.m. that will give us a little better idea of what to expect for the rest of early evening as cumulus clouds begin to tower to our north.

If the cap, caused by a warm layer of air in the lower atmosphere, erodes, then development may start earlier in the evening and have more greater instability to use. This is the specific case in which storms would have the potential for very large hail and strong tornadoes. With later development, storms would still carry a risk for tornadoes, hail, and damaging wind but to a weaker extent.

Regardless of late afternoon or early evening development, storms are likely and will bring at least an isolated severe threat ahead of a cold front later in the night. The front will bring a sharp cool down by Wednesday, and an end to rain by lunch time on Wednesday afternoon.

Storms will pose the threat of all hazards, including large hail, damaging 60+ mph winds, and a few tornadoes. The large hail and tornado threat is largely tied to our late afternoon and early evening storms. This activity will pose the greatest risk if it can develop. The Storm Prediction Center has northeastern Missouri in a level 3/5 severe risk, where the best chance to see these early storms resides. However, a lesser risk does exit for all of Missouri for all severe threats.

Storms become more congealed with the potential of 1-2″ total rainfall through Wednesday. Isolated flooding is possible, especially along low water crossings.

Make sure you have multiple ways to get alerts through the evening and stay ahead of the storm timeline with our news and weather apps. Set the weather app to follow your location to get watches and warnings for your area.

Click here to follow the original article.

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Power was reported to be fully restored Saturday after storms left hundreds of Mid-Missourians experiencing outages.

Saturday morning, Cooper County crews were working to restore power to more than 400 Ameren customers.

The number of those without power started to rise again around 10:30 p.m. on Friday night.

Storms began entering the area earlier in the day, leading to a tornado watch being issued in the western part of our viewing area and a number of counties being put in a severe thunderstorm warning.

There were 475 Ameren customers without power in Cooper County around 10:30 p.m. on Friday. That number was down to 103 by 11:30 p.m., but jumped to 1,016 just hours later. By 10 a.m. Saturday, 405 were without power.

The cause of the outages was equipment damage from overnight storms and power and mainly reported in Boonville. According to Ameren’s outage map, power should be restored by 1 p.m.

The Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives’ map showed 142 people Laclede Electric Cooperative customers in Pulaski County without power at 8 a.m. Power was reported to be back on for all by 9 a.m.

At 10:35 p.m. Friday, the map showed 114 Co-Mo Electric Cooperative customers in Morgan County without power. Another 46 customers from the same company had no reported power in Moniteau County.

By 12 a.m. Saturday, the map showed power was fully restored in Morgan County, and 38 members were reported to be without power in Moniteau County. No outages were reported in Moniteau County by 2 a.m.

Callaway County saw 213 residences without power at 11:30 p.m., nearly all of those being customers of Callaway Electric Cooperative. That number was down to 85 by midnight. Consolidated Electric Co-op in Callaway County reported 21 customers experiencing outages around 2 a.m., bringing the total to 106 without power. No outages were reported by 6 a.m. in Callaway County.

The Callaway Electric Cooperative also reported outages in Montgomery County, where 67 customers were without power at 6 a.m. Saturday. No customers were experiencing outages by 9 a.m.

There were nearly 300 Boone Electric Cooperative customers without power on Friday night.

Boone Electric showed five outages were affecting 283 customers around 9 p.m. Most of the outages were reported around the Hallsville area.

For most, power was restored by 9:30 p.m. Three outages were affecting seven members at 11:45 p.m. By 2:30 a.m., only one customer was reportedly without power. More than 50 of Ameren’s Boone County customers were without power as of 10 a.m.

ABC 17 News reached out to find out the cause for some ongoing outages.

No outages have been reported for those living within Columbia city limits.

A handful of outages were sporadically reported around the rest of the area.

Click here to follow the original article.

Euphenie Andre

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Organizers of the annual True/False Film Fest said extensive safety measures are in place this weekend as thousands of people gather in downtown Columbia.

To host the festival, the Ragtag Film Society was required to submit a detailed safety plan to the city outlining procedures for medical emergencies, severe weather, power outages and other potential issues.

Despite expected rainy conditions Friday, the festival’s March March parade continued as planned, with volunteers stationed throughout downtown to help manage crowds and road closures.

According to the festival’s safety plan, several measures are in place to protect crowds from potential vehicle threats. At key access points: Ninth and Elm streets, Ninth and Locust streets, and the west alley off Ninth Street, organizers installed 8-foot barricades. Two vehicles are positioned directly behind each barricade to create an additional protective barrier.

Volunteers stationed at those checkpoints have keys to the vehicles so they can quickly move them if emergency responders need access to the area. Volunteers Josh Loeza, Chris Gadsen and Nathan Boyack were in charge of helping direct festivalgoers, monitoring barricades and ensuring emergency vehicles can pass if necessary.

“I’m working the parade. I’m moving barricades when it’s necessary for emergency vehicles to get through, or if volunteers need to move their cars, and just informing people,” Loeza said.

Festival organizers said volunteers received safety training before the event began. Volunteer Lily Lusk said that training included guidance on how to respond to emergencies.

“They have a super extensive sort of like what to do in case of any emergency, they gave us in our orientation. Kind of like a QR code to read over. So everybody’s prepared for anything,” Lusk said.

According to the safety plan, volunteers are instructed to call 911 if a medical emergency occurs and are not allowed to perform any actions they are not trained to handle.

The plan also outlines procedures in the event of severe weather. Volunteers would direct festivalgoers to the nearest shelter and help keep people away from doors and windows until conditions improve.

Volunteers are also prepared to assist if a power outage occurs during a screening or event. In that situation, they would use flashlights to help guide attendees and ask them to remain in their seats while organizers work to restore power.

Organizers and volunteers said large crowds are expected throughout the weekend.

“Very congested, but to be expected with the parade,” Boyack said.

The Columbia Police Department said the department does not plan to have additional officers assigned specifically for the festival in the downtown area this weekend.

Click here to follow the original article.

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A man has been charged in Cole County with first-degree statutory rape and statutory sodomy of a child younger than 14 years old.

Greggery Marshall, 44, of Jefferson City, is being held at the Cole County Jail without bond. A court date has not been scheduled.

The probable cause statement claims the Boone County Department of Family Services contacted the Jefferson City Police Department on Feb. 19 about alleged abuse Marshall did against a child victim. Family Services was tipped off by a mental health professional who was told about the assaults by the child, the statement says.

The victim allegedly described a series of assaults to the Child Advocacy Center that occurred from 2020-24 committed by Marshall, the statement says.

Marshall was also accused of sexually abuse a family member of the victim and a friend of the victim, the statement says. He allegedly denied the allegations to police.

Click here to follow the original article.

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A man who was shot by Columbia police on Christmas Day was indicted by a Boone County grand jury on Friday.

Marc Lucas, 31, of the state of California, was charged with first-degree arson, misdemeanor first-degree trespassing, two counts of unlawful use of a weapon, a single count of armed criminal action and two counts of misdemeanor fourth-degree assault.

He is being held at the Boone County Jail. An arraignment is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Monday.

Court documents in previous reporting say Lucas allegedly set a couch on fire at the Courtyard by Marriott hotel at Grindstone Parkway and Highway 63. He then got into a fight with Holiday Inn Express employees after he was denied a room at that hotel, previous reporting indicates. He had also allegedly pulled out a knife during some point in the encounter.

Lucas then allegedly walked to a nearby Break Time gas station, pulled out the knife and threatened to assault someone while officers were there, the statement says.

Officers allegedly tried to use a stun gun while detaining Lucas, but Lucas then allegedly tried to attack one of the officers with a knife and he was shot, police wrote in a December press release.

Click here to follow the original article.

Olivia Hayes

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Boone County judge denied a bond amendment Friday for the first man arrested in connection with a deadly Columbia shooting earlier this week.

Damarius Kavanaugh, 19, of Columbia, was charged with second-degree murder, armed criminal action, illegal gun possession and tampering with physical evidence after William Riechers, 20, of Columbia, was found shot dead in the area of Allen and Bryant streets.

Kavanaugh appeared via video from the Boone County Jail. He was read his charges, and a future hearing to discuss his bond issue was set for 1 p.m. Tuesday.

A second suspect, Landen L. Jackson, 24, is charged with second-degree murder, armed criminal action, illegal gun possession and unlawful use of a weapon. No court date has been set for Jackson. Court documents filed alongside Jackson’s charges state police believe Jackson to be the person who fatally shot Riechers.

Riechers and Kavanaugh were walking to a nearby convenience store from Riechers’ home on Lincoln Avenue when a light-colored SUV is seen pulling up to them on video footage as they approached the Bryant and Allen Street intersection, according to a probable cause statement.

Gunshots are heard seconds later, the statement says.

Kavanaugh allegedly “gave conflicting statements” about whether someone in the vehicle had shot first. He also told officers he didn’t know if Reichers or someone in the SUV shot first, the statement says.

Kavanaugh allegedly told police that his gun jammed after firing, but that he was eventually able to get two more shots off before throwing it in a nearby wooded area. Officers later found the 9 mm gun in a bag with a clip.

Kavanaugh just completed a 120-day prison program for unlawful use of a weapon and felony motor vehicle tampering, along with misdemeanor resisting arrest, last month.

Click here to follow the original article.

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A man who was wanted for murder in Kansas City was arrested Thursday in Columbia, according to Friday social media post from the Columbia Police Department.

La’Relle Dennis, 24, of Lee’s Summit, was charged in Jackson County on Feb. 28 with second-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action and a count of unlawful use of a weapon. He is being held at the Boone County Jail. A no-bond warrant was issued last week in Jackson County.

CPD’s social media post says officers were serving a search warrant on Thursday for an unrelated investigation in the 2600 block of Quail Drive when they found Dennis. He tried to run away from officers, but was caught, the release says.

The release says Dennis is accused of an August 2024 homicide for a man who was found shot to death in a vehicle on East 82nd Street in Kansas City.

The probable cause statement in the homicide case says the victim was found with a gunshot wound to their head in a damaged vehicle. The victim in the shooting was allegedly romantically involved with Dennis’ ex-girlfriend, the statement says.  Dennis’ vehicle was allegedly seen on video around the time of the shooting on Aug. 25, 2024, police wrote.

Click here to follow the original article.

Madison Stuerman

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Governor Mike Kehoe signed an executive order declaring a State of Emergency for severe storms expected on Friday.

An ABC17 Stormtrack Weather Alert Day has been issued for expected severe thunderstorms on Friday night.

This order activates the Missouri State Emergency Operations Plan, which allows state agencies to coordinate directly with local jurisdictions.

Kehoe said in a news release that the state’s emergency operation center will be activated Friday afternoon to support the coordination between local agencies.

“This Executive Order is a proactive step to ensure our emergency management teams are fully prepared should these storms warrant immediate action to protect Missourians,” Kehoe said in a statement.

Mid-Missouri is in the 2/5 on the severe weather outlook from the National Weather Service.

The National Weather Service says there is a chance of strong winds, hail and tornadoes across the state. In Mid-Missouri, there is a greater threat of damaging winds, but the threat for all hazards is possible.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol is also reminding drivers to be careful while driving. The agency added that drivers should never try to go through floodwaters, even if shallow.

Click here to follow the original article.