Category: kmiz-local-news

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Maries County Sheriff’s Office wrote in a social media post on Wednesday that it was missing more than $5,000 in cash.

“In late June, I was informed by staff that over $5,000 in cash was missing. Upon learning this, I immediately made a formal request to the Missouri State Highway Patrol to investigate the matter. The Maries County Prosecuting Attorney was also made aware of the incident,” the post says. “I requested the Highway Patrol’s involvement to ensure accountability and transparency throughout the investigation. Unfortunately, due to the fact that this is an active investigation, I am unable to release many details at this time.”

Sheriff Mark Morgan wrote that he requested the Missouri State Highway Patrol to investigate and that more information will be released later. The patrol wrote in an email that its Division of Drug and Crime Control will investigate.

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Olivia Hayes

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Police responded to a a report of shots fired late Tuesday night in the 200 block of Apple Tree Court in Columbia.

Management of the property told ABC 17 News this was a drive-by shooting. Dispatch logs show Columbia police were called to the neighborhood around 11:45 p.m. for a shots-fired call. Police have not released the identity of a suspected shooter. CPD confirmed the shooting happened to ABC 17 News, but said it could not share further details.

Around 12:15 a.m., officers are seen on doorbell camera footage — shared to ABC 17 News by a neighbor — knocking on doors to try and get information from residents. That same neighbor shared video of the what the building looked like at 7 a.m. Wednesday. Glass windows and doors could be seen with damage to them.

When an ABC 17 News reporter arrived to the scene at around 11 a.m. Wednesday, the damaged glass windows and doors had been boarded up. A resident, who asked to not be identified due to fear of future threats, said he was sitting on his couch watching a movie when he heard what sounded like four or five gunshots.

Another neighbor — who wished to remain anonymous for similar reasons — said their sliding window to their apartment was shot.

The property’s management confirmed to ABC 17 News that nobody in the complex was hurt in the shooting. They also ask anyone with information to contact the Columbia Police Department.

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Keriana Gamboa

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Audrain County leaders said Wednesday that they back an effort by Boone Health to find a “strategic partner” to help grow its operation.

The Audrain County Commission, County Health Department and Boone Health signed a letter of intent in October 2024 to begin building a Medicare-certified critical access hospital in Mexico.

Audrain County Commissioner Alan Winders said the county fully supports Boone Health’s efforts to find a partner, noting it could bring expanded resources to them.

“Our goal is an E.R. and hospital here in Audrain County,” Winders said. “We commend the leadership. We are encouraged by the efforts, and we’re in full support of those efforts.”

Boone Health announced Monday that it’s actively seeking a strategic partner to help expand its services and reach across Central Missouri — but leaders say it’s not because the health system is in financial trouble.

Chairman of the Board of Trustees Dr. Jerry Kennett said Wednesday that selling the health system is at the bottom of the list of options and remains an unlikely outcome.

“We think that by growing with this strategic partner, we can provide additional services, expand our emergency room, and build stronger relationships with the communities in central Missouri at a much faster rate,” Kennett said.

Kennett said that Boone Health’s day-to-day operations remain financially stable, and the push for a partner is about accelerating long-term growth.

Dr. Kennett says Boone Health is considering more than 15 potential entities, including MU Health Care.

While the full process could take up to a year, Kennett said he hopes to have a list of interested health systems by August or September.

Kennett also said that if Boone Health doesn’t find a partner that aligns with its goals and expectations, the organization will continue to grow independently, though at a slower pace.

In April, ABC 17 News reported that Boone Health was working its way out of operational debt. Financial records obtained by the station revealed a nearly $30 million operational loss in 2024. However, that figure marked a $7.7 million improvement over 2023.

Early data from 2025 suggests a continued upward trend. Boone Health reported positive financial results for the first two months of the year, signaling a potentially significant turnaround.

Boone Health has operated as an independent health system since ending its partnership with BJC HealthCare in 2021. The county government owns the hospital.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Veterans Day will now be considered a paid holiday for University of Missouri System workers following Gov. Mike Kehoe’s signing of House Bill 419 on Wednesday.

Local union LiUNA 955 released a statement in favor of the signing on Wednesday.

“This is a huge victory for our union and for all UM-System workers.” Representative for LiUNA Andrew Hutchinson said in a press release.  “Two of our longtime stewards, Mark Perrigo and Darrell Dillon, took off from work to speak at a senate hearing about the need for this holiday. We are so grateful that the legislature and Governor respected their service.”

The bill also the Missouri State High School Activities Association to waive the minimum practice requirement for all students who are active-duty military, which includes the National Guard and Army Reserve.

The bill also allows the Department of Health and Senior Services to approve more medical training programs for loan repayment.

It also allows military personnel and their families to be considered Missouri residents while being enrolled in a state college or university. The bill also states that it creates a separate custodial account with the State Treasure to deposit money from the UM seminary fund, which a release from the governor’s office says will support agriculture programs.  

The bill also creates the Public Safety Recruitment and Retention Act, which provides college tuition for some public safety personnel and their legal dependents.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Rothville, Missouri, man was charged on Wednesday with two counts of fourth-degree child molestation.

A warrant was issued for Ronald Winn — born in 1963 — and a $20,000 bond was set. A court date has not been scheduled.

Court documents say that Winn sexually assaulted the victim on June 30 and July 5. The probable cause statement says that Winn allegedly groped the victim and on a separate occasion walked behind the victim, pushed their head forward and made thrusting motions. The second occasion was caught on video and was seen by deputies, the statement says.

The victim allegedly told law enforcement that Winn constantly made comments such as, “age is just a number, they should be in his bed, and asking them to go to the bathroom with him,” the statement says.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Syracuse, Missouri, woman was charged on Wednesday after she allegedly stabbed a woman 18 times on Tuesday and punched another.

Grace Turley, 23, was charged with first-degree domestic assault, third-degree domestic assault and armed criminal action. She is being held at the Morgan County Jail without bond. A court date has not been set.

Deputies were called to a residence in Syracuse on Tuesday for a report of a stabbing, according to the probable cause statement. One woman was punched in the eye and deputies could see bruising. That same woman heard Turley screaming and was told by a second woman to call EMS as they ran out of the home, the statement says. Turley punched that woman shortly after, the statement says.

Another person brought the stabbed victim to an area hospital and law enforcement later learned she was stable, though she was stabbed 18 times, court documents say. Deputies found a pool of blood in the bathroom of the home, along with a 5-inch long knife, the statement says.

Turley allegedly told deputies that she stabbed one of the victims because they asked questions, which made her upset, the statement says. She allegedly told deputies that she wanted to kill the victim, court documents say. She also allegedly said she hit the other woman in her face because she hated her, the statement says.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Missouri House of Representatives have announced a number of informational hearings around the state about tax reform, according to a Wednesday press release.

The hearing will be held by a special interim committee and will talk about its “ongoing work to examine Missouri’s property tax system and recommend solutions that promote fairness, transparency, and sustainability,” according to the release.

“We look forward to hearing directly from citizens, local officials, and stakeholders about how we can improve the property tax system to serve Missourians better,” Rep. Tim Taylor (R-Bunceton), chairman of the committee, said in the release. “The goal of this committee is to work together to find common-sense reforms and solutions that protect homeowners, promote economic stability, and ensure accountability to benefit all citizens of our state.”

Hearings in Mid-Missouri are scheduled for:

July 16 — Jefferson City11 a.m. State Capitol, House Hearing Room 3

Aug. 27 — Macon5:30 p.m. Macon Comfort Inn, 1821 N Missouri, Macon, Missouri

Sept. 3 — Jefferson City11 a.m. State Capitol, House Hearing Room 3

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Workers at a south Columbia Starbucks have unionized.

Employees at the Starbucks at Nifong Boulevard and Buttonwood Drive voted 12-4 on Tuesday to join Starbucks Workers United, according to a Wednesday press release from the union.

The location is the 15th store in Missouri and the first in Columbia to unionize, joining more than 11,000 employees in 45 states and Washington D.C.

“I’m excited to join Starbucks Workers United to encourage change within the company, and hopefully beyond. Given the current political landscape of the country, I think anything we can do to give more power to the workers is worth fighting for. Fighting for better wages and staffing is not only beneficial to partners within the company, but also the customers who pay for quality beverages,” shift supervisor Devin Duffie said in the release.

Starbucks issued a response in an email to ABC 17 News.

“At Starbucks, our success starts and ends with our partners (employees). We respect our partners right to choose, through a fair and democratic process, to be represented by a union or not to be represented by a union, and will continue to work to make Starbucks the best job in retail,” the email says. “Since last April 2024, Starbucks and Workers United have held more than nine bargaining sessions over 20 days and three mediation sessions over five days with a federal mediator. We’ve reached over thirty (30) meaningful agreements on hundreds of topics Workers United delegates told us were important to them.”

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Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Holts Summit police said Wednesday that they partnered with Homeland Security agents to make four immigration arrests this week.

The arrests happened Tuesday, according to a Holts Summit Police Department news release. The operation was in cooperation with the Callaway County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security.

The four people were arrested by federal law enforcement “due to their immigration status and/or potential involvement in matters that remain under active investigation,” according to the release. Police gave no other details about the arrests, including names and specific allegations.

They were taken into federal custody but it was not clear Wednesday where the detainees were being held.

Holts Summit city administrator Brandon Ruediger referred questions to federal officials.

Federal officials did not provide information about the arrests in response to an email inquiry.

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Jazsmin Halliburton

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Missouri River 340 heads into day two as the Jefferson City Carl R. Noren Access checkpoint opens Wednesday morning for the longest non-stop river race in the world.

Hundreds of racers are paddling the river in this annual race across the state that began at 7 a.m. Tuesday in Kansas City. The Carl R. Noren Access in Jefferson City is checkpoint number four along the race route.

There were a total of 535 racers that started in Kansas City and 379 boats. The number of racers is currently down to 508 as of Wednesday morning due to 27 that did not make the required cut time.

The MR340 is a race with non-motorized boats, kayaks and canoes heading 340 miles down the Missouri River to the finish line in St. Charles.

This race is four days long and there are some racers who will paddle throughout the night and skip checkpoints to reach the finish line by Wednesday evening, even though the finish line stays open until 9 p.m. Friday.

There are a total of 18 safety boats that will go downstream, staying alongside racers and at every checkpoint. If there is no safety boat around the racers at the time of an emergency, racers are instructed to call using a required phone and dial the dispatch safety number.

People are able to track the racers in their journey across the state here.

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