Category: kmiz-local-news

Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A person was hospitalized with life-threatening burns late Sunday in Columbia and police are seeking a suspect.

Officers were called to the 1500 block of Paris Road to help firefighters at about 11:45 p.m. Sunday, according to a Columbia Police Department news release. A man had been rushed to the hospital after a porch was set on fire, the release says.

The fire caused minor property damage but left the victim with life-threatening injuries, police say.

The suspect left on a bicycle toward College Avenue, police say. Police describe him as a man wearing a hat and white T-shirt with brown hair and a mustache, 35-40 years old, about 6-feet tall and thin.

Police did not provide a possible motive.

A man who said he witnessed the attack — but wanted to stay anonymous because of safety concerns — told ABC 17News he saw someone throw gasoline onto the porch, lighting the victim on fire, and said the victim was later transported to a St. Louis hospital.

The Columbia Police Department asks anyone with information to call the department at 573-874-7652 or CrimeStoppers at 573-875-8477.

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Matthew Sanders

Protests took place in multiple Mid-Missouri cities on Saturday to coincide with a military parade held on President Donald Trump’s birthday.

“No Kings” protests were held nationwide and in local cities including Columbia, Jefferson City, Boonville and Fayette. The events drew crowds with signs bearing anti-Trump slogans. In Columbia, hundreds chanted and marched in downtown.

The protests were organized to oppose what Trump’s opponents see as his authoritarian actions, symbolized by the military parade. The president’s backers say those concerns are overblown.

What do you think? Let us know by voting in the poll.

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Nia Hinson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Several Columbia police officers investigated at the Eastgate Apartment complex in central Columbia Sunday night.

A social media post from CPD said they were responding to a shots fired call and asked the public to avoid the area.

According to a CPD officer on scene, police were searching for three people they believe are armed.

An ABC 17 News reporter saw several CPD and University of Missouri Police Department vehicles on scene, as well as crime scene tape. An ambulance was also seen leaving the apartment complex.

A portion of East Broadway was blocked off and a vehicle was towed from the scene around 11 p.m.

An officer on scene told ABC 17 News that additional information about what happened will not be available until Monday morning.

Check back for updates to this developing story.

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Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Governor Mike Kehoe will be heading to Paris, France Monday for a five-day trip to strengthen business ties and attract companies to the Show-Me State.

According to the governor, France is a key trade partner to Missouri, generating around $266 million in exports for the state. Major exports from Missouri include basic chemicals, electronic components and navigational and medical equipment.

Over 40 French companies operate in Missouri, including Schneider Electric, Alstom and Publicis Groupe.

Kehoe will meet with international figures and business leaders to discuss economic development. He will also visit the Movement of the Enterprises of France, the Paris Air Show and the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial.

Lieutenant Governor David Wasinger will serve as acting governor while Kehoe’s is away on business.

“We’re looking forward to promoting the Show-Me State as the ideal place to invest during our first international trade mission,” Governor Kehoe said in a statement.

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Keriana Gamboa

(Columbia, Jefferson City MO)

Protests tied to the ‘No Kings’ Rally movement broke out across the country on Saturday, with demonstrators calling out the actions taken by President Donald Trump’s administration.

The rallies were also held in response to the Trump administration hosting an Army 250th anniversary parade in Washington, D.C., on the same day as President Donald Trump’s birthday.

The movement reached Mid-Missouri, with rallies held in Columbia and Jefferson City. In Boonville, hundreds of protesters gathered outside the Cooper County Courthouse, while in Jefferson City and Columbia, roughly 1,000 demonstrators assembled at the steps of the Missouri State Capitol.

Protesters called for President Trump to be “dethroned,” comparing his actions to those of a monarch, rather than a democratically elected leader.

Political leaders also joined the demonstrations. Re. David Tyson Smith (D-Columbia) attended the protest in Columbia, while congressional candidate Jordan Herrera was present at the rally in Jefferson City.

“The people of Missouri are fed up, and that’s Republicans and Democrats. We’re going to push back against our democracy that’s being ripped from us right in front of our eyes,” Smith said.

“That’s what today is about. We’re talking about the violations of freedom of speech,  the violations of freedom to peaceably assemble, to express oneself, and to protest against a tyrannical government,” Herrera said.

Missouri is among at least three other states that activated the National Guard in response to recent protests against the Trump administration. However, Herrera said that the rallies in Jefferson City were not escalated by the Law enforcement there, and protesters remained peaceful throughout the day.

“There was absolutely no amplification from the government, from Governor Kehoe at all.  All we saw this week was an unnecessary amplification and posturing of forces, activation of the National Guard,” Herrera said.

‘We Stand United Missouri’ spokesperson Sue Rodgers said that they worked with the Jefferson City police and later thanked them for going to the event.

“Well, basically, they’re informed of what we’re doing. And so they’ve they come around just kind of take a look, see everything’s okay…So they know they know the group now they know how we act and they know what we work on,” said Rodgers.

ABC 17 News did not see any counter protests at any of the protests Saturday.

ABC 17 News also reached out to the National Guard to confirm whether they were present at any of the protests.

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Nia Hinson

COLUMBIA, MO. (KMIZ)

Gov. Mike Kehoe put pen to paper Saturday, signing several bills into law aimed at providing disaster relief, property tax relief, economic development and business retention.

The governor signed Senate Bills 1, 3, and 4, according to a Saturday afternoon press release. Senate Bill 1 provides $50 million in funding for the University of Missouri’s Research Reactor. It also provides money to the Department of Economic Development for the Missouri Housing Development Commission.

The bill will also now provide non-general revenue funding for the following projects across the state:

$55 million to the Department of Agriculture (MDA) for new stalling barns at the Missouri State Fair;

$13.25 million to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for State Parks capital improvements;

$20.6 million to the Department of Conservation (MDC) for conservation projects across the state;

$800,000 to DPS for Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) Troop A headquarters improvements;

$12.7 million to the Office of Administration (OA) for a new Troop E crime lab;

$35 million to OA for national guard facilities;

$48.1 million to the Department of Mental Health (DMH) for the new Kansas City region 200-bed mental health hospital;

$2.1 million to OA for Supreme Court building improvements.

Senate Bill 3 aims to try and incentivize Kansas City sports teams to stay in the state. It includes the Show Me Sports Investment Act, which would give the state’s professional sports teams access to state funding for stadium projects.

However, certain requirements have to be met.

Senate Bill 4 speeds up the Missouri housing trust fund for emergency aid.

According to Saturday’s release, Kehoe believes the bills show Missouri is “committed to taking care of our own” and staying competitive.

“Without action, thousands of Missourians would have been left without much-needed support, and the state would risk losing jobs and economic development opportunities that are key drivers for growth—not just for Kansas City, but for our entire state,” Kehoe said.

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Haley Swaino

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Three young men, one armed with a gun, robbed a business in west Columbia early Saturday morning, according to a press release from the Columbia Police Department.

Around 2:30 a.m., Columbia police responded to the 600 block of Scott Boulevard for an armed robbery. The name of the business was not listed in the press release. The clerk told officers that three men, possibly in their teens or early twenties, entered the business and one of them had a gun, the release states.

The suspects allegedly ran away with cash and merchandise from the business, the release says.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call CPD at 573-874-7652.

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Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Protesters are expected to meet in Fayette, Boonville, Columbia and Jefferson City Saturday to join the nationwide “No Kings Rally.”

The rally is being held in response to the Trump Administration hosting a military parade in Washington, D.C., the same day as President Donald Trump’s birthday.

Rallies will be held at various times across Mid-Missouri.

Fayette – At the intersection of S Church St. and W Morrison St. at 9 a.m.

Boonville – Cooper County Courthouse at 11 a.m.

Columbia – Boone County Courthouse at 11 a.m.

Jefferson City – State Capitol steps at noon

According to a press release, Columbia’s rally will feature speakers from Empower Missouri, Missouri Peaceworks and Respect Missouri Voters. There will also be a march through downtown Columbia at 12:30 p.m.

Governor Kehoe activated the National Guard on Thursday following unrest in Los Angeles this week.

The ‘No Kings’ website adds that it is committed to nonviolent action. Participants are expected to de-escalate any confrontations with counterprotests. Weapons of any kind, including those legally permitted, are not allowed.

The group also offered safety and de-escalation training for organizers.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A 30-year-old Hermann woman was seriously injured Friday in a crash on Highway 100 in Gasconade County, about 1,000 feet from Cole’s Creek Road, according to a crash report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

The report says that the 2006 Dodge Ram was heading eastbound when it went off the left side of the road and the driver overcorrected. The vehicle came back to the road before going off the right side, the statement says. It then hit several trees and ejected the driver, according to the report.

The woman was brought to Mercy Hospital in St. Louis by ambulance, the report says. She was not wearing a seatbelt, according to the report. The Dodge was totaled.

MSHP reports do not name those involved in crashes.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Two vehicles appeared to be in a crash on Friday night near the Conley Road shopping area in Columbia.

An ABC 17 News photographer saw Columbia Police Department officers and the Columbia Fire Department respond to the crash at the stoplight of Brickton and Trimble roads at 9:47 p.m. A red truck was seen with its hood up and doors open, while a silver Crossover could be seen with front-end damage.

Dispatch records show that the Columbia Fire Department was called to the intersection at 9:26 p.m. for a report of a vehicle fire. Boone County Joint Communications sent a notification at 9:37 p.m. stating that the crash led to northbound Trimble Road to shut down.

The scene cleared at 10:13 p.m.

ABC 17 News reached out to CPD and CFD.

Check back for updates.

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