Category: kmiz-local-news

Euphenie Andre

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Filling up your tank may not sting as much as it did a few years ago. As travelers hit the road for the holiday weekend, Missouri is standing out as one of the states with the lowest gas prices in the country.

Jeff Pawlow, stopped in Columbia for a gas break as he continued his travel to Illinois. Pawlow said he prefers to fill up in Missouri.

“Taxes are much higher in Illinois, so we love gassing up in Missouri, definitely cheaper in the Show-Me State,” Pawlow said.

Gas prices in Missouri have fluctuated over the years. According to GasBuddy, the state’s highest average price was $4.72 per gallon in June 2022. The lowest came during the COVID-19 pandemic in April 2020, when gas sat at just $1.36.

“Yeah, that was nice. I don’t know if we’ll ever see prices that low again,” driver Pawlow said.

Within Mid-Missouri, Chariton, Randolph, and Boone counties have the highest prices, averaging in the $2.90s. Meanwhile, Moniteau, Morgan, and Cole counties hover around the state average in the $2.80s.

Drivers in Jefferson City have seen prices drop about 35 cents from this time compared to last year, while Columbia has experienced a smaller decrease of 21 cents.

Nikuze Yvan, another driver, said the small change makes a difference.

“Based on the budget, sometimes you have to think about gas. My car doesn’t take much, but if I want to travel and prices go down, that’s always a good thing,” Yvan said.

Summer gas prices have held steady and are expected to trend downward as we move into the fall season. According to AAA, gas has been hovering around the $2.80 mark for the past month. That’s about 15 cents cheaper than this time last year.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, retail gas prices nationwide are trending lower as Labor Day approaches. Crude oil, which makes up more than half of what determines gas prices, averaged $67 per barrel this month, about $15 lower than August of last year.

The EIA attributes the lower costs to the seasonal switch to the winter fuel blend, which is cheaper to produce.

Officials said gas prices could drop another 35 cents per gallon by December.

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Haley Swaino

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A 33-year-old Nebraska woman was seriously injured Saturday at the Lake of the Ozarks after she was hit by a boat propeller, according to a Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report.

The report says the boat – a 2023 Landau pontoon driven by a 22-year-old Nebraska man – was headed east at mile marker 6 of the Big Niangua Arm of the lake around 3:00 p.m. when the man put it in reverse instead of neutral.

The boat then moved backwards and hit the woman while she was swimming in the water, the report says.

She suffered serious injuries and was flown to University Hospital by helicopter.

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Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

As summer winds down, people may be breaking out the grill to squeeze in those last few barbecues. According to the National Fire Protection Association, August ranked as the fourth-highest month for grill fires from 2019 to 2023.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission also found that from 2020 to 2024, a little more than 21,600 patients went to emergency rooms yearly because of grill-related injuries.

The Columbia Fire Department is reminding citizens to take precautions when grilling this holiday weekend to keep their families and homes safe.

All grills should be used outdoors and away from the sides of homes or underneath of decks and low tree branches. Grills should not be left unattended, and it is recommended to keep pets and children at least three feet away from an hot grill at all times.

For charcoal grills, only charcoal starter fluid should be used when lighting a fire. Hot coals should also be completely cool before being thrown away in a metal container.

Propane tanks and gas lines should be checked before grilling, and it’s recommended to open a gas grill before lighting it. The NFPA adds that if you smell gas when cooking, turn the grill off and call the fire department. If a gas grill’s flame goes out, turn the grill off and wait at least five minutes before re-lighting it.

The NFPA found that around one-fifth of grill fires are caused by poorly cleaned grills. It said grease traps should be cleaned out regularly, and grills are recommended to be cleaned with a non-metal bristle brush to avoid bristles getting into food.

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Euphenie Andre

EDITOR’S NOTE: The date of the holiday weekend’s start has been corrected.

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Missouri State Highway Patrol is urging drivers and boaters to make safe choices this Labor Day weekend after several serious crashes have already been reported.

Since the official counting period began on Friday, troopers reported three people have died in traffic and boating accidents, including a 17-year-old.

Over the last few days alone, troopers have responded to 32 traffic crashes, including two that were deadly. Ten others were left with serious injuries. Those crashes bring Troop F’s total to five fatal wrecks in August, and 28 so far in 2025.

While troopers reported no major boating accidents as of Sunday afternoon, just last weekend there were three crashes on Missouri waters. One was fatal, and another left a person seriously hurt. That marked Troop F’s third boating death in August, and its eighth this year.

Residents enjoying the holiday say safety is on their minds.

“We don’t drink alcohol when we’re out camping,” said Columbia resident Christina Zubillaga. “We make sure we’re not in the water after dark if there are no lights, and my mom always says to stay off the roads after the bars close.”

Veteran boater Randy Bowden said he’s noticed more boats on Missouri waters this summer, though in his opinion, it’s never as busy as the Lake of the Ozarks. Bowden, who has been sailing in Missouri for 30 years, says his approach to safety comes down to two simple rules: he drives sober and always wears a life jacket.

MSHP notes that boaters should avoid overloading their boat with too many passengers and pay close attention to the boats around them. Sergeant Kyle Green reminds drivers to slow down, avoid distractions, and never operate a vehicle or boat while impaired.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 17 people were killed and 498 others were injured in 1,047 traffic crashes over the 2024 Labor Day weekend. That means someone was killed or injured every 9.1 minutes.

Troopers also made 110 arrests for driving while intoxicated.

On Missouri waterways, there were four boating crashes, which led to two deaths and eight injuries. One person drowned, and troopers arrested six people for boating while intoxicated.

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Madison Stuerman

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Franklin County judge has ruled that no filming or recording will be allowed in the trial for a man accused of killing a Hermann police officer.

The judge ruled on Friday in the case of Kenneth Simpson after hearing arguments on Tuesday on multiple motions, including to manage media coverage.

Simpson is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Sergeant Mason Griffith and hurting another officer by shooting them in March 2023 in Hermann.

The judge ruled that no audio, video, or electronic coverage of any phase of the trial will be allowed. The media will not be allowed in the courtroom during jury selection.

The only coverage allowed is courtroom sketches. Still photographer during non-evidentiary portions, like breaks or attorney arguments, will be allowed as long as they do not attract attention.

A live stream will be provided by the court, but it is not to be shared or recorded.

The defense argued that Simpson would not have a fair trial and due process rights if media coverage was not managed.

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Madison Stuerman

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A section of a Cole County business collapsed after a fire broke out Friday evening.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Troop F shared a video on X of a building on fire at Bee Seen Signs in the 500 block of Babe Ruth Drive, just outside Jefferson City, around 7:30 p.m. on Friday.

Regional West Fire Protection District Chief Jack Brade told ABC 17 News that when crews first arrived on scene, flames were shooting through the roof of the building.

One employee was inside of the business when the fire started due to machinery in the warehouse, according to Brade. The individual tried to put out the fire, but it spread too rapidly and they burned their hand.

MSHP Sgt. Kyle Green told ABC 17 News that the person was able to get out safely.

Jefferson City Fire, Cole County EMS and fire and Cole County Sheriff’s Office were also on the scene. Brade said that due to the size of the building, it took crews a some time to get the fire contained. Crews had to make a few breaks in the building to contain the fire.

The fire primarily destroyed the building’s front office and part of the warehouse, with the center roof collapsing.

Brade adds that during structural fires like Friday’s, steel buildings often twist due to the heat and cause buildings to collapse, which can make firefighting difficult.

One RWFPD firefighter was taken to the hospital for exhaustion as a precaution and is stable. Brade said crews were fortunate that bystanders nearby provided water for crews during the fire.

Crews left the scene at around 3:45 a.m.

An ABC 17 News reporter spoke with two employees of Bee Seen Signs Saturday morning. They said business will “keep on rolling,” with plans to set up a temporary office and continue with sign installations.

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ABC 17 News Team

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Missouri high school football kicked off Week 1 of the 2025 season on Friday.

Scores from Mid-Missouri teams are posted below.

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Madison Stuerman

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

City, County and State offices will be closed in observance of Labor Day.

Several city services will be impacted by the holiday in Columbia.

Residential curbside trash and recycling will not be picked up on Monday. It will be delayed by one day for the rest of the week.

Go COMO will not operate; this includes the MU Tiger Line shuttle.

The Activity & Recreation Center will be open on reduced hours from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Albert-Oakland Family Aquatic Center will be open from noon to 5 p.m.

Jefferson City will also have its offices closed. Regular business hours will resume on Tuesday.

County courthouses will be closed for the holiday.

Both City Council meetings for Columbia and Jefferson City are moved to Tuesday night after Labor Day.

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Euphenie Andre

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The City of Columbia is alerting residents to a new email scam targeting people with short-term rentals or those applying for short-term rental permits.

Scammers have been impersonating Clinton Smith, the city’s incoming Community Development Director.

Smith, who officially begins his new role on September 29, has more than 17 years of experience in community development, most recently serving as the Director of Planning and Protective Services for Jefferson City since 2023.

The fraudulent emails are being sent from “planning.co-mo@usa.com”, which is not an official city address. Columbia officials emphasize that all legitimate city emails will always end in @CoMo.gov.

In the scam, recipients are asked to send payments to the fake email address.

Columbia resident Abby Shaffer said she takes a cautious approach when messages seem suspicious.

“I tend not to freak out. I check to make sure it’s a true source, and then I usually delete and report the message,” Shaffer said.

She added that poor wording and unusual phrasing are often red flags.

“Usually, I can tell if there’s wonky wording or if something doesn’t make sense. And I also never click on a link if it’s in a text,” she said.

City officials urge anyone who receives a suspicious email to avoid sending payment and to contact the city directly if there are questions about an invoice.

Residents can call the city at 573-874-CITY (2489) for verification.

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Madison Stuerman

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Boone County judge has granted a motion to move a teenager charged with murder from the Juvenile Center to the Boone County Jail.

In a hearing on Friday, the juvenile officer argued for Kavon Williams, 16, to be moved to the facility after several incidents.

In December, the judge denied the same request but said that if Williams’ behavior could change, his decision if brought back up by the state.

The juvenile office cited eight incidents between May 7 and July 14, including having contraband, having inappropriate conversations and arguments with other juveniles and a fight in one of the classrooms resulting in a teacher getting hurt.

“Mr. Williams is currently being housed with younger juveniles, and his continued threatening, disruptive and aggressive behaviors have placed the safety of staff and juvenile residents in the facility at risk,” counsel for the juvenile office said in the motion.

Williams was charged with second-degree murder and first-degree robbery in September after he allegedly killed a man from Macon County in February 2024.

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