Category: kmiz-local-news

Alison Patton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Columbia City Council on Monday evening voted 5-0 to change its water rates.

According to council documents, the water ordinance would increase revenue by $3.6 million, or 12%, and would take effect with the start of the fiscal year on Oct. 1.

The council will decide on changing electric rates at its next regular meeting.

The electric utility ordinance, if passed, would also take effect Oct. 1, and would increase revenue by $2.8 million, or 2%, according to another council document.

The proposed price is based on the current Consumer Price Index, according to the council document for electric rates.

“This isn’t just a money grab. This is to go to pay for projects, to pay for materials, to pay for personnel and, you know, pay update staffing costs, those type things,” spokesperson for Columbia utilities Jason West said.

The utilities department says these changes are necessary because of the rising cost of operation and maintenance expenses, and to preserve adequate funds for both water and electric.

The city anticipates the increased water revenue will decrease monthly payments for about 65% of residential customers, according to a previous ABC 17 News report.

However, electric rates would increase service rates on all customer charges, demand charges, energy charges and dusk-to-dawn lights by 2%.

The customer charge for single-phase service would go up from $22 per month to $22.44, and the three-phase service would go up to $33.66 from $33.

West said it will be a couple extra dollars tacked onto the monthly electric bill.

“They will see an increase, but it’s not going to be 25 to $30 increase that most people may see under $5, an increase in their actual bill, depending on if they’re still using the same amount of electricity,” West said.

The energy charges vary based on how much energy is used and in what season. High utility costs have been squeezing consumers in the Midwest during the past year. Natural gas prices are up nearly 15% compared to a year ago, while electricity costs 7.4% more across the region.

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Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

With less than a month before the 2026 fiscal budget is expected to be approved, the City Council will hold the second of three public hearings at City Hall as staff brace for a tighter budget after expected tax revenue fell 3% short last year. 

The 2026 budget projects roughly $560 million in expenditures. Columbia allocated $563 million of its total spending for the 2025 fiscal year.

 According to the city, the proposed changes would increase water utility revenue by 12%. However, despite the increase City of Columbia expects water bills to decrease for 65% of residential customers under the three-tier system based on average water use.

The City Council is looking to vote on the final budget on Sept. 15 before the new fiscal year begins on Oct. 1. 

The City Council will also be holding a public hearing on setting the property tax rates. Roughly 8% of the general fund revenue comes from property tax, which brought in approximately $11.1 million last year. 

Property tax rates are established annually within limits set by Missouri’s constitution and statutes. They are based on revenues from the prior year, with adjustments for inflation. Growth from new construction, property improvements, and increases in personal property valuation are excluded when calculating the rate. The resulting figure becomes the city’s permitted tax rate if it falls below the legal ceiling, which in Columbia is currently $0.4125 per $100 of assessed valuation.

For 2024, the city’s tax rate was $0.4075 per $100 assessed valuation. For 2025, the rate has been reduced to $0.3907, as certified by the Missouri State Auditor. The decrease reflects the Hancock Amendment, which limits the growth of existing property values for tax purposes to the lesser of the Consumer Price Index or 5%. Because assessed valuation growth exceeded 8% this year, the city had to roll back the rate to comply with the law.

Under the proposed ordinance for 2025, a tax of $0.3907 per $100 assessed valuation would be levied on all taxable property in Columbia. If the state auditor determines the city’s ceiling is lower, the rate will be adjusted to the auditor’s ceiling.

Despite the lower rate, both the City of Columbia and Columbia Public Schools expect to collect more revenue in the upcoming fiscal year due to rising property assessments.

CPS Chief Financial Officer Heather McArthur confirmed the calculation in an email to ABC 17 News, noting the CPS finance committee will also be reviewing the tax rate calculation during its Monday night meeting.

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Matthew Sanders

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

Fulton Public Schools is adding its name to a suit challenging a state law to provide subsidies for pro sports teams.

The Fulton Board of Education voted last week to join the lawsuit filed by state Sen. Mike Moon (R-Ash Grove), state Rep. Bryant Wolfin (R-Ste. Genevieve) and a Maries County man. The lawsuit alleges that Senate Bill 3 is unconstitutional because it has provisions related to numerous subjects.

The lawsuit also claims the bill allows elected officials to use campaign funds for personal use to pay attorneys to defend legal challenges brought against them related to the bill, and that it allows some, but not all, counties to vote on the adoption of the tax credits for property tax relief.

The board also voted to retain the law firm Tueth Keeney Cooper Mohan & Jackstadt, P.C., to represent FPS in court.

FPS said in a statement sent to ABC 17 News that the district is challenging the law’s property tax credit portion.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

An Audrain County man was charged with several felonies on Friday after authorities claim he helped a teenager commit a shooting in March in Mexico.

Casey Minter Jr., of Mexico, was charged in Audrain County with conspiracy to commit a felony, unlawful use of a weapon, armed criminal action, endangering the welfare of a child and second-degree property damage, a misdemeanor. A warrant was served on Monday and a hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. Tuesday at the Audrain County Courthouse.

The probable cause statement says a 15-year-old shot at a home in the 300 block of North Missouri Street multiple times on March 26. Three residents were in the home at the time of the shooting.

“Surveillance video from the area showed an SUV commonly driven by Minter in the vicinity at the time of the incident,” court documents say.

Officers did a traffic stop on a vehicle on April 8 and found a gun – which ballistics testing allegedly determined was used in the shooting, the statement says. Minter allegedly denied being involved in the shooting, but the person he used for an alibi allegedly told law enforcement that he told them he helped “shoot up” the home with the youth, court documents allege.

Another person described as a witness in court documents allegedly told police that they were in the SUV with Minter and the youth. That person claimed they saw Minter drive the vehicle and give the youth the gun, court documents say.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Mexico, Missouri, man was charged on Friday with a pair of felonies after he allegedly strangled a woman multiple times this summer.

Jonathan Swiney was charged in Audrain County with two counts of first-degree domestic assault. A warrant was issued and no bond was set.

The probable cause statement says a woman was assaulted by Swiney on Aug. 9 after an argument occurred between the two. The victim allegedly told police they were strangled and beat by Swiney and described a second assault that occurred on July 3 that had similar details, the statement indicates.

The victim described multiple assaults and showed injuries they suffered in photographs they saved, the statement says.

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Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Mizzou Athletic Director Laird Veatch spoke with reporters Monday on Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium.

The Tigers will host Central Arkansas on Faurot on Aug. 28 — a Thursday night kickoff.

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Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was a guest at the White House on Monday as European leaders try to hammer out a deal to end the war in Ukraine.

Zelensky and Trump took questions from reporters before a closed-door meeting, and the atmosphere was more friendly than Zelensky’s last trip to the White House. They later joined European leaders for comments before another session of talks.

Watch the events in the video player.

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Olivia Hayes

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Codefendants Samarion Robins, 20, and Oscar Ashford Jr., 21, were denied a bond reduction by a Boone County judge on Monday.

Their Sept. 8 trial date was also pushed to Nov.18. The trial was pushed back after Judge Jeff Harris revealed that prosecutors handed more than 900 pages of discovery to the defense.

Robins and Ashford are charged with second-degree murder, armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon in the death of 15-year-old Aubrey Doxley in 2022 on McKee Street. Daniel Ayers also faces charges in Doxley’s death. Prosecutors dropped charges against a fourth defendant, Tavan Williams-Patrick, on Friday.

ABC 17 News spoke with family members of Robins and Ashford following court and they expressed frustration. They explained that they felt like the judge focused more on the 900 pages of discovery than whether bonds for Ashford and Robins should be lowered.

They also believe the two men are not soley responsible for Doxley’s death. The original probable cause statement alleges other people were shooting back at the car that Ashford, Robins, Williams-Patrick and Ayers were in.

The state explained that the 900 pages of discovery were police reports that they planned to cross reference, but that one specific report gave a reason into why the prosecution believes the shooting on McKee Street occurred. The state said that they believe the shooting was retaliatory after Ayers was shot almost two days before.

The state also confirmed its reasons for dropping the charges against Williams-Patrick. He was the first set to be tried out of the suspects, but the state wants Robins and Ashford tried first. Boone County Prosecutor Roger Johnson told ABC 17 News that prosecutors plan to refile charges later.

According to previous reporting, Doxley’s mother, Latoya, said Aubry was lying in her bed when shots came through the window of their home. She was taken to a hospital, where she later died. Prosecutors argue that the four defendants were shooting out of a car while they were driving down McKee Street the night of Doxley’s murder.

Ashford’s legal team asked for a pretrial release with no financial conditions. Court documents filed by his lawyer cite previous motions by state and federal courts that a bail amount is typically set to ensure the defendant appears in court. The documents argue that Ashford is not a flight risk or a danger to the community and that if the request is granted, he will comply with the court’s conditions.

Robins’ legal team argues that his $1 million cash-only bond is beyond his financial means to pay. Robins’ lawyer referred in court documents to the state’s move to drop charges against Williams-Patrick. They say the state’s evidence against Robins, Ashford and Williams-Patrick were the same and question the state’s ability to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Ayers will have a status hearing on Oct.10 after his court proceedings were suspended because of a court order for a mental health evaluation.

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Jazsmin Halliburton

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Jefferson City School District is kicking off the 2025-26 school year Monday morning, as students will be introduced to the new statewide cellphone policy in schools.

In July, Gov. Mike Kehoe signed Senate Bill 68 banning the use of cell phones during instructional time, lunch breaks, study halls and between class periods, for all K-12 students.

To implement the law, during school hours, cellphones must be turned off or on silent mode and stored in their backpacks or lockers.

This new state law requires all school districts to have the no-phone policy, even if the district already had one in place. In the past, the Jefferson City School District had a no-phone policy, that was only enforced in the classrooms. Due to the new law, the policy will be extended to the other areas of the school.

ABC 17 News spoke to Jefferson City School District Superintendent Bryan McGraw about the adjustment period for students and teachers as the first day of the policy takes place. “I think we work with kids and parents on implementing it and make it, safe space for all and have a great cooperation between both parties and work within the complexities of the law, of course” said McGraw.

Superintendent McGraw told ABC 17 news last week if a student is caught using their phone, the consequence depends on where and how the phone was being used. It also depends on how often the student is caught using their phone.  On Monday, McGraw said the administration will work with the student and parent to try to find common ground and work within the law.

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Matthew Sanders

President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin met Friday for a summit in Anchorage, Alaska.

The key topic: the war in Ukraine.

Trump failed to secure the ceasefire he’d been aiming for, with Putin making no promises beyond continuing the talks. The meeting ended with brief statements from each leader and no questions taken.

The abrupt end to the summit has led to speculation about what was said and who came out in a better negotiating position as Trump tries to end the war in Ukraine — the deadliest on European soil since World War II.

Who do you think came out with the upper hand? Let us know by voting in the poll.

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