Category: kmiz-local-news

Jessica Hafner

A strong cold front brought a round of dangerous cold on Monday, with below-zero wind chills in the early morning. Wind chills will remain cold on Monday in the teens, before a return to more average temperatures for New Year’s.

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The big changes can be blamed on a deep trough pushing off the Plains, bringing a cold front through the Midwest Sunday night into Monday.

Temperatures have dropped from the 70s into the 30s, and eventually into the teens tonight as cold northwest winds ramp up.

As the front quickly moves east, temperatures fall though the day and strong winds pick up in the wake of low pressure. A Wind Advisory is in place for the possibility of 45-50 mph winds. Power outages are certainly possible at those wind speeds.

Strong winds from the northwest will push temperatures down into the teens by Monday morning, and drop wind chills to around -3 to 0 for the start of the day. Even as highs rise into the mid-20s Monday, wind chills remain in the teens through the afternoon. Tuesday morning wind chills will still be between around 5 and 10 degrees.

Make sure you have the ABC 17 Stormtrack Weather App if you have plans to be out on Sunday morning for church services or holiday travel.

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Alison Patton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Missouri’s hands-free phone law hits one year of being in effect on New Year’s Day. Since its initial implementation in January 2025, the Missouri State Highway Patrol has cited 1,417 drivers.

The law was passed in 2023 after a Columbia man died from a car crash in 2019 when a driver was on a video call while speeding. It didn’t take effect until 2025.

The Siddens Bening Hands-Free law is a secondary law that makes it illegal for drivers to use their phones while driving. That means a law enforcement officer can’t pull a driver over for cell phone use alone, and there has to be another reason, like distracted driving.

Troop F, which covers much of mid-Missouri, issued 94 citations between Jan. 1 and Dec. 8, according to MSHP. That includes 90 citations for cell phone use, three citations for property damage and one for a death. Troop F issued a warning to one person for property damage as well.

People who are convicted could see these penalties:

First conviction in two years: Up to a $150 fine;

Second conviction in two years: Up to a $250 fine;

Three or more convictions in two years: Up to a $500 fine;

If a violation occurs in a school or work zone, fines up to $500;

If a violation occurs and causes a serious injury crash, up to six months in jail and/or fines up to $1,000;

If a violation occurs and causes a fatal crash, up to seven years in prison.

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Alison Patton

TAOS, Mo. (KMIZ)

A man who lives down the street from where one pedestrian was seriously injured and another killed in Taos, said the couple was likely crossing the street heading to the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church for Mass when they were hit.

The crash happened near the church on Route M west of Stoney Gap Road shortly before the Christmas Eve Mass.

A crash report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol said a 16-year-old driver hit an 85-year-old man and an 86-year-old woman. The man was pronounced dead at Capital Region Medical Center in Jefferson City, and medics airlifted the woman to University Hospital in Columbia.

Frank Rehagen said the couple was hit while they were likely walking into the church for Christmas Eve Mass at 9 p.m.

Rehagen also said mass started about 40 minutes late, which he believes was because the priest was performing last rites and assisting the medical team.

While he was waiting for mass to start, he said he saw the woman being airlifted from the Catholic school playground from across the street.

Rehagen said he’s lived in the same house for about 30 years, and he’s never seen an accident on Route M like this since living there.

“It’s not uncommon for people to come speeding through town here. And I made the remark to myself and friends over the years, I said it’s a wonder somebody hasn’t got killed in the highway here in town,” Rehagen said. “Well, now it’s happened.”

The Highway Patrol has not said whether they suspect speed to be a factor in the crash.

The teenage driver has not been charged with any crimes at this point. MSHP spokesperson Kyle Green said charges aren’t likely this early in the investigation and with the crash still being reconstructed.

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ABC 17 News Team

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (KMIZ)

ABC 17 SportsZone previews the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Florida, where Mizzou will take on No. 19 Virginia.

Kickoff is at 6:30 p.m. Saturday on ABC.

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Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Columbia Police say a California man was the suspect shot by officers on Christmas Day inside a gas station.

Marc Lucas, 31, was identified as the suspect in two separate incidents that preceded the shooting Thursday morning inside a Break Time gas station near Highway 63 and East Stadium Boulevard, the Columbia Police Department wrote in a news release.

In the first incident at about 9:20 a.m. Thursday, Lucas is accused of first-degree arson and first-degree property damage in the 3300 block of Lemone Industrial Boulevard, the release states. CPD provided no details about the alleged arson, but said officers didn’t at first realize Lucas was a suspect.

“Columbia Police were not aware when they interacted with Lucas that he was the suspect in the arson investigation,” the release states.

Officers were called a little after 10 a.m. to the 1400 block of Cinnamon Hill Lane, where Lucas is accused of first-degree trespassing, three counts of fourth-degree assault, unlawful use of a weapon and armed criminal action, police say. CPD did not release other details about the call.

Officers encountered Lucas inside the Break Time about an hour later when he “attempted to attack a patron inside a store with a knife,” according to the release.

Officers used a Taser on Lucas, who had a knife, and then used a gun when he tried to assault an officer, the release says.

Lucas was hospitalized after the shooting. He was not in the Boone County Jail on Friday afternoon.

The two officers who fired at Lucas during the encounter were placed on administrative leave while the Missouri State Highway Patrol investigates.

Missouri courts were closed on Friday, so it was not clear whether Lucas had been charged.

Information about Lucas’ medical condition was not immediately available.

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Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A boil-water order issued by the City of Eldon after E. coli was detected in the city’s system has reached 10 days and is still going.

The city issued the order on instructions from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources after a test revealed high levels of E. coli in the system on Dec. 16, the city said at the time. The state says the increased bacteria present an “acute” health risk.

The city posted a message Thursday afternoon on its Facebook page saying the order was still in effect after one of eight samples tested positive.

“The City is working closely with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and will continue required testing until all results confirm the issue is fully resolved. The Boil Water Order will remain in effect until DNR authorizes it to be lifted,” the post states.

The city gave out cases of water to residents this week to provide them with potable water.

The city said on Tuesday that positive samples were isolated to City Hall and the Public Safety Building.

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Matthew Sanders

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (KMIZ)

The Mizzou Tigers will play Virginia in the Gator Bowl on Saturday.

Watch the coaches talk in the media player.

Kickoff is at 6:30 p.m. Saturday.

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Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Camdenton man was in the Miller County Jail on Friday morning after his arrest following a chase and crash on Christmas night.

Robert E. Smith, 52, was arrested on suspicion of felony DWI, felony leaving the scene of a crash, felony resisting arrest and driving while revoked, according to a Missouri State Highway Patrol arrest report.

The high-speed chase started in Eldon and was later terminated, said Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop F spokesman Sgt. Kyle Green. Authorities later found the vehicle crashed in a field near Highway 54 and Atchison Road in Miller County, he said.

Smith was jailed without bond. Other details were not immediately available.

Missouri courts were closed Friday, so information about the case was not available.

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Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A 17-year-old driver and his 16-year-old passenger suffered serious injuries in a crash late Wednesday in Randolph County.

The driver from Cairo, Missouri, went off the left side of the road and crashed into a creek on West Shore Drive, about 4 miles west of Jacksonville, according to a Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report. The driver and his passenger, who is from Kansas City, were taken to University Hospital by ambulance.

Neither of the boys was wearing a seat belt, the report says.

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Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Police shot a man armed with a knife after he reportedly tried to assault an officer on Christmas morning at a southeast Columbia gas station.

Officers were called to the Break Time at East Stadium and Maguire boulevards a little after 10:30 a.m. Thursday. They shot a man who had the knife, and he was taken to a hospital, a Columbia Police Department spokesperson said.

Boone County sheriff’s deputies and Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers were also at the scene.

CPD spokesperson said MSHP is investigating the incident because it was an officer-involved shooting.

CPD Deputy Chief Matt Stephens said no officers were hurt, but the two officers involved in the incident are on administrative leave, per CPD policy, Stephens said.

The confrontation happened inside the gas station, Stephens said. Officers tried to use a stun gun before shooting at the suspect, Stephens said.

The 911 call reported the suspect was nearby on Cinnamon Hill, but police found him at the Break Time station.

Stephens said the suspect went into surgery and came out of it, but couldn’t give an update on his condition.

Stephens also couldn’t release the names of the suspect or the officers.

Residents said the timing made the situation even more frightening. With many businesses closed for the holiday, the gas station was one of the few places open.

“It’s scary, especially on a big holiday,” said Kennedy Killian, who lives nearby. “It’s a gas station, there aren’t many places open on Christmas. People stop to grab a drink or a snack before seeing family. To think someone was armed or that shots were fired is terrifying.”

Columbia Police dispatch records show officers have responded to numerous calls in the area around the shooting. In December alone, Columbia Police handled 11 dispatch calls in the area of Cinnamon Hill Lane, ranging from disturbances and welfare checks to accidents, harassment and 911 checks.

Residents living in the apartment complex next to where the shooting occurred said the violence hits close to home.

“It’s scary to know that kind of thing can just happen around the place we are staying,” said resident Jowei Tien. “So I feel a bit worried about the shooting.” 

Police activity in the area extends beyond just this month. Since the beginning of the year, dispatch records show 51 calls to the 3200 block of East Stadium Boulevard. The most common calls involved checking open businesses, larceny reports and accidents.

Killian said the shooting reflects a broader concern about safety across Columbia.

“I would say everything in Columbia is pretty close to downtown. I’m not very far, this place isn’t very far from downtown.” Killian said. “There have been numerous shootings and attacks, so it just doesn’t seem like a safe place for kids and families to want to stay.”

Tien said she is grateful many people were out of town for the holiday.

“I feel like it’s just a bit crazy to suddenly know a shooting can happen so random. And I’m also glad that people are out to their hometown so they’re not around,” she said.

Break Time closed in the aftermath of the shooting. An employee told to ABC 17 the store plans to reopen Friday.

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