Category: kmiz-local-news

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A bond issue that was approved by voters this past spring, but was not certified by the state auditor’s office, is expected to appear on the ballot again this November.

The Hallsville School District’s $6.5 million bond to complete the second part of a three-phase plan for construction to address the growing student population, security upgrades and a new baseball field was approved during the April 8 election.

However, the auditor’s office would not authorize the bond because the Boone County Clerk’s Office didn’t follow the newspaper publication requirements listed in state law, according to previous reporting.

School spokesperson Kari Yeagy wrote in an email to ABC 17 News that the school board did not take an official vote at its Monday night meeting; but it plans “to move forward with pre-construction and design and preparing to place the bond on the ballot in November.”

Click here to follow the original article.

Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. 

Boone County’s Community Services Department reported a nearly tenfold return on investment through its Children’s Services Fund, according to its 2024 annual report.

The annual report, which began in 2014, evaluates services funded by the 2012 voter-approved sales tax, which supports programs for Boone County youth ages 19 and younger. Between 2019-23, the Boone County Children’s Services Board invested in five key service areas — infant and early childhood, school-based programs, youth and family support, treatment, and community support and basic needs—yielding a lifetime return of $390 million. For every $1 spent, the report found a return of $9.51.

“The amazing nonprofit organizations that are out there in the community doing really hard work for children, youth and families, that’s what I’m most proud of,  is to really brag on that work in the programs that they’re able to offer, not just here in the city of Columbia, but also throughout the community,” Boone County Community Services Department Coordinator Joanne Nelson said. 

The report — prepared by Central Missouri Community Action and Partner for Better — uses a model from Washington University’s Institute of Public Policy. School-based programs saw the highest return—$42.36 per dollar—followed by community support ($10.04), youth and family support ($14.23), early childhood ($9.70), and treatment services ($4.19).

The report also outlined progress made across multiple indicators since the fund’s inception:

Child poverty among children younger than 6 years old declined from 24.3% in 2014 to 13.1% in 2022.

Teen birth rates dropped from 12.5 to 7.1 per 1,000 girls aged 15–19.

Food insecurity among children fell to 9.9% from 17.8%.

Juvenile law referrals and substantiated child abuse cases also decreased.

However, some areas showed concerning trends. Mental and behavioral health hospitalizations for youth rose from 92.9 to 114.8 per 10,000 people between 2014-20. Teen deaths from unintentional injuries, homicides and suicides also increased from 26.6 per 10,000 people in 2014 to 30.5 in 2020. 

“It’s a huge concern,” Nelson said when asked about the mental health concerns in Boone County. “You’ll see that everything that we have in this report revolves around mental health. You may ask? ‘Well, we provide food, you know, are diapers or, you know, essential items.’  But that’s going to help the mental health of families. You can’t be mentally healthy unless you have  a roof over your head or food in your belly.” 

Boone County has seen several moderate improvements in youth and family related outcomes over the past decade, according to the report.

The teen birth rate dropped significantly, from 12.5 per 1,000 in 2014 to 7.1 in 2022. Juvenile law violation referrals among youth ages 10-17 also declined slightly, from 37.1 to 36.2 per 1,000 during the same period. Additionally, the substantiated child abuse and neglect rate fell from 4.8 to 3 per 1,000 children.

The department said it has funded 10 school-based programs, which served more than 33,000 individuals in 2023 through teacher training, case management, mental health screenings and crisis intervention. One of the report’s key recommendations is to expand school-based mental health services and provide professional development for educators.

In response to growing concerns about youth violence, the county began funding six grassroots organizations dedicated to community safety and youth engagement.

“Youth having guns is an extremely difficult challenge,” said Victoria Woods, Boone County’s new Health and Justice Coordinator. “That’s why the board invested that money… to help with some of these issues that deal with youth violence.”

Woods’ position was created through an initiative spearheaded by Boone County Northern District Commissioner Janet Thompson. It serves as a liaison between agencies, including law enforcement, behavioral health providers and social service organizations.

“It’s so multifaceted,” Woods said. “Mental health plays a big part. Gun access plays a big part of it. And then also we have to consider ramifications from COVID and just the long-lasting impacts that can have on youth mental health. That’s still like we don’t even have a full understanding of.” 

Woods emphasized that the root causes of mental health challenges often begin with instability in housing, income and basic needs.

“We can’t have mental health without having a roof over our head,” Woods said. 

She also said conversations with local law enforcement have been encouraging.

“We’ve been able to have a really positive conversation with (Columbia Police) Chief (Jill) Schlude and (Boone County Sheriff’s Office) Capt. (Jenny) Atwell as the jail administrator,” Woods said. “They’re looking for ways to best serve the community with the resources they have.  But resources can be limited, whether that’s personnel time, whatever that looks like for them.” 

The Community Services Department oversees the allocation of the Children’s Services Fund and funds from domestic violence court fees. Its mission is to promote the health, well-being, and independence of Boone County residents.

The full report is available through the Boone County Community Services Department.

Boone County’s Community Services Department brought in $11.2 million in revenue in 2024, with the vast majority — $10.6 million — coming from the Children’s Services sales tax. Other sources included investment income ($503,880) and smaller contributions from the Domestic Violence Fund and miscellaneous donations.

Expenses totaled $14.35 million, with 79% ($11.3 million) going toward contracted services for children, families, and individuals. The rest covered salaries, professional services, and operational support.

In 2024, the county also reallocated $1.83 million in unused Community Health/Medical funds to the general revenue fund, following accounting best practices.

The Boone County Children’s Services Board has invested nearly $76 million locally during the past decade. Despite being required to keep 17% of the fund in reserves, the board has contracted more than it collected in tax revenue to strategically lower the fund balance, which peaked in 2017 at $16.5 million and is now down to around $9.1 million.

“I just think that taxpayers need to know that we hear them,” Nelson said. “It’s really important that we keep track of all the taxpayer dollars  that are being spent,  that we can account for all of that, and we can show all the good work that organizations are doing out there.” 

You can view the full report here:

2024-Annual-ReportDownload

Click here to follow the original article.

Keriana Gamboa

Columbia Mo. (KMIZ)

The Trader Joe’s store is expected to open sometime in 2025, but no official timeline has been released.

ABC 17 News spoke with construction crews at the site, who say progress is moving smoothly and they expect to finish work within the next few weeks. Benjamin Zeitzmann with Musick Construction says when the store opens, customers can expect the same Trader Joe’s experience they’re familiar with.

“I would say we are probably at like, 70%,  probably within our scope of work that we have to do. We’re pretty close. Maybe 75%, I would say.  So we’re getting close. We’re pretty close,” Zeitzmann said.

Burlington Coat Factory will also be located on North Stadium Boulevard, near the site of Columbia’s highly anticipated first Trader Joe’s.

According to the chain’s website, the Burlington location is set to open on July 25.

Click here to follow the original article.

Erika McGuire

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Hot temperatures have arrived in Mid-Missouri, turning playground equipment into potential burn hazards for children.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, each year more than 200,000 children go to the emergency room with injuries from playground equipment.

Jefferson City Parks and Recreation says a young girl was injured at the Community Park last Wednesday after going down a metal slide. The slides have been closed until further notice.

“The playground and play features are built to industry safety standards; our staff have determined these two slide features will be closed off until further notice. We’ve reached out to the manufacturer for solutions that would allow us to reopen the feature sooner and are keeping an eye on surface temperatures,” JC Parks and Recreation said a statement

ABC 17 News tested a metal and plastic slide with a temperature gun at Cosmo Park in Columbia.

The plastic slide came in at 135 degrees, while the metal slide registered at 110 degrees.

While metal slides typically heat up faster, plastic can actually retain heat longer, especially in direct sunlight, making it just as dangerous.

Placement of equipment can also make a difference. ABC 17 News temperature gaged a tire that sat directly in the sun and one that was in the shade. We found the tire in the shade was 126 degrees while the tired under a tree in the shade came in at 99 degrees.

Both temperature checks were conducted around 12:30 p.m.

The CPSC warns of the risk of thermal burns from playground equipment, as metal and even plastic or rubber equipment can become hot enough to burn a child’s skin.

Mother Erika Tagliaferro was at Cosmo Park with her husband and daughter while on the road to St. Louis and quickly decided some equipment was off limits.

“I walked up and saw the metal slide and immediately it was a no,” Tagliaferro said.

She said when the warmer temperatures come around she keeps safety in mind when she dresses her daughter.

“If possible it is so hot so but tighter pants or tighter shorts even impose to the looser flowwy ones,” Tagliaferro added.

While clothing will help, many playgrounds lack proper shade.

The National Program For Playground Safety found in 2019 that 67% of playgrounds in the U.S. were fully exposed to the sun from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Mother Monica Jackson said more shade would allow her and her son to stay at the park longer.

“They have those sun shades those triangular ones that would make a big difference,” Jackson said.

The agency warns that any child of any age runs the risk of being burned by a hot source, but children 2 years old and younger are the most at risk. A young child’s skin is more susceptible to burning because it is thinner and more delicate.

What to watch out for:

Uncoated metal equipment, or metal equipment where the heat-reducing coating has rubbed off;

Slides, swings or other equipment that a child may sit on;

Dark-colored plastics and rubbers, especially the surfacing under and around the playground equipment;

Asphalt and concrete surfaces near playgrounds.

Safety tips:

Tap equipment first with back of your head for five seconds. If it’s too hot, it’s unsafe

Visit the park before peak sun hours

Wear breathable clothing and longer pants to protect the skin and closed-toe shoes.

Click here to follow the original article.

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A sidewalk closure that is expected to last through the end of August will begin next week in Columbia.

Crews on Monday will begin sidewalk repairs on the south side of the 1300 block of Bass Avenue, near the corner at College Avenue, according to a Wednesday press release from the city. The closure is expected to last through Aug. 25, the release says.

Pedestrian detours signs will be posted.

Click here to follow the original article.

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

An Iberia woman took an Alford plea on Wednesday in her husband’s death.

Amy Murray took a plea in Laclede County court for second-degree murder, second-degree arson and tampering with evidence. She was sentenced to 12 years in prison.

An Alford plea occurs when a defendant maintains their innocence but admits evidence would likely result in a guilty verdict if the case went to trial. Murray was originally charged in 2021 with first-degree murder in Miller County.

Previous reporting indicates that her husband, Joshua, died from antifreeze before Amy allegedly set fire to the bed the victim laid. Court documents in previous reporting say Amy Murray had worked as a nurse at the Jefferson City Correctional Center and had a romantic relationship with an inmate.

Click here to follow the original article.

Nia Hinson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Columbia homicide suspect claims he used lethal force because he feared for his life.

Kimo Spivey, 35, of Columbia is charged with first-degree murder, illegal gun possession, two counts of unlawful use of a weapon and two counts of armed criminal action. He’s accused of killing Melvin Hooker III outside of Plush Lounge in May 2023.

Spivey took the stand during the third day of his trial Wednesday, where he told the jury he shot out of self-defense. Spivey claimed he was working as the manager at Plush Lounge the night of the deadly shooting.

He claimed the bar was closed but was staying open late for an event. He said he sat in his vehicle waiting to decide if he was going to leave for the night, when he was told about a disturbance coming from the back of the parking lot. He claimed that disturbance involved Hooker, who allegedly “jumped on” one of his employees.

Spivey said he went to see what was going on when he saw Hooker reach into his vehicle for a gun, and eventually point the gun toward him. Spivey said he then shot back because he feared for his life, but never set out to kill Hooker.

“it wasn’t uh intentionally like. And I’m about to kill this dude. I fired because I was literally in fear. I didn’t know what he was gonna do, but like I said, he was being very aggressive. He was coming at me for a reason, I don’t even know why.”

Spivey also claimed he was “positive” Hooker is the one who shot him.

The prosecution pushed back and questioned why Spivey was in possession of a gun when he is a felon. He claimed he kept the gun for protection and had never shot it before that night.

Surveillance footage displayed during the trial also revealed the victim and at least one of the suspects charged briefly encountered each other before the deadly shooting.

Prosecutors on Wednesday played surveillance footage from outside the nightclub on the night of the shooting. The video showed Hooker walk up to a red truck registered to Spivey a little before 1 a.m., a Columbia Police Department investigator testified. According to previous reporting, police responded to the scene around 2:15 a.m.

The video shows Hooker appear to talk to someone inside of the truck briefly, before walking away toward the front of the door to the club. The video did not include audio. Spivey claimed the two were talking because Hooker was not allowed into the club that night due to him acting violently in the past.

Footage played in the courtroom also shows a group of people involved in an argument before several people began shooting.

The defense filed a motion for acquittal Wednesday, as well. The judge denied the motion.

Three people were charged in the shooting. Samuel Moss Jr., of Columbia, pleaded guilty in April 2024 to unlawful use of a weapon and was sentenced to 15 years in prison. 

Justin Lamar Simpson, 42, is charged with second-degree murder, unlawful use of a weapon, two counts of armed criminal action and illegal gun possession. His next court date was not listed on Casenet. Assistant Boone County Prosecutor Tony Gonzalez said Simpson was not in custody as of Wednesday.

CPD detective Joe Mueller who worked the case, and Boone County medical examiner Keith N Norton testified as the state’s last two witnesses on Wednesday. Mueller watched through surveillance footage from the nightclub the night of the shooting as part of the investigation.

On Wednesday, he walked jurors through each point in the video, pointing out where he observed shell casings on scene.

The medical examiner said Hooker’s autopsy results revealed there were drugs in his system, but ruled his death a homicide after bleeding to death from a gunshot wound to his chest.

Court will resume Thursday morning at 8:30, when the jury is expected to receive the case.

Click here to follow the original article.

Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The body of a Boonville woman missing since Monday has been found in the Missouri River.

The Boonville Police Department wrote in a social media post Wednesday that the body of Katelynn Nelson, 33, was found in the river near Jefferson City.

Nelson was reported missing early Monday. Police say she was reported as suicidal and her vehicle was found at Harley Park. Police called for help, including a Missouri State Highway Patrol helicopter, but could not find Nelson, police say.

An MSHP drowning report says Nelson went into the water early Monday and did not resurface. She was found 55 miles downstream and pronounced dead at the scene Wednesday, the report says.

You can get help for suicidal thoughts by calling or texting 988 or going to https://missouri988.org/.

Click here to follow the original article.

Matthew Sanders

CALLAWAY COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Callaway County family lost an outbuilding in a fire in Callaway County on Wednesday morning.

The fire at 2805 Route F near Fulton burned up a storage shed, including a Chevrolet Camaro, was called in a little after 9 a.m., said Millerburg Fire Chief Larry Curtis. Curtis said the fire could put off smoke for about two days.

The owner was able to get a few tractors out of the shed before the fire got too big, Curtis said. No one was injured.

Firefighters spent over an hour putting out the blaze.

Click here to follow the original article.

Jazsmin Halliburton

Editor’s note: This story was updated after MoDOT sent an updated press release.

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Traffic on U.S. 63 between Broadway and Vandiver Drive in Columbia will be down to one lane in both directions starting Thursday.

The work was originally set to begin on Wednesday, but the Missouri Department of Transportation announced in a Wednesday morning press release that the work was moved to Thursday

The one lane head-to-head traffic pattern will be ahead of the rehabilitation work on the northbound U.S. 63 bridge over Interstate 70 that is set to begin next week.

Drivers who are familiar with this area going southbound won’t see much of a change when entering and exiting the work zone. Northbound drivers on Highway 63 will need to stay in the left lane between the Broadway overpass and the Conley underpass. The right lane will change to exit only to the Highway 63/I-70 connector.

All exit and entrance ramps for Highway 63 are expected to remain open.

This is part of the first phase of the work to reconstruct the I-70/U.S. Route 63 interchange, which is one portion of the first project within MoDOT’s Statewide Improve I-70 Program.

All work is weather-dependent and subject to change.  

Click here to follow the original article.