Category: kmiz-local-news

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Millions of dollars are being raised and spent in the fight over Missouri’s abortion policy.

Thursday was the quarterly deadline for committees to file with the Missouri Ethics Commission over money raised and spent during the election cycle. Groups involved in the debate over Amendment 3 were among the many groups to file with the state.

Amendment 3 aims to reinstate an abortion ban that voters overturned in 2024. The amendment would also enshrine a ban against gender transition treatments for minors in the state constitution, if approved.

“Stop The Ban,” which opposes the amendment’s passage show in its report that it had $19.8 million this election cycle. The filing shows $8.7 million was spent by the group and it has $9.8 million on-hand heading into Election Day.

The Fairness Project, a group that typically supports progressive causes nationwide, was among the committee’s top donors with $8.3 million in total. Lynn Schusterman donated a total of $3 million and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg contributed $1.25 million.

The ACLU Foundation gave $2.8 million while the Open Society Policy Center of Washington D.C. gave $700,00, PROMO contributed $200,000.

Several donations broke the $5,000 threshold to report within 48 hours to the MEC.

“Protect Freedom And Democracy” is group supporting multiple causes this cycle, including trying to halt Amendment 3. Its filing shows it raised $835,373 this cycle and has $231,617.41 on-hand

Groups for Amendment 3

Her Health, Her Future PAC – which is ran by Missouri first lady Claudia Kehoe – is in support of the amendment’s passage. It has raised $2.9 million this cycle and has $215,206.10 on-hand.

“Her Health Her Future Missouri” put $750,000 into the campaign on Sept. 29. Rick Britton, CEO of DMP in Springfield, Missouri, contributed $250,000; Drury Southwest Inc. contributed $500,000 and St. Louis attorney Christ Archer contributed $100,000. Drury Displays Inc. in St. Louis contributed $141,555

Republican state Rep. John Martin contributed $25,000 to the group, while Doug Russell of the Durham Company gave $10,000. Several donations again nbroke the $5,000 threshold to report within 48 hours to the MEC.

Missouri Students For Life raised $45,616.54 and has no money on-hand.

Former Attorney General Andrew Bailey filed a new committee in support of Amendment 3 earlier and did not have to report.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A group supporting a measure to build a new jail in Boone County has raised $46,045.71 this election cycle, according to the October quarterly report to the Missouri Ethics Commission.

Proposition L is a proposed 3/8-cent sales tax that would be used to build a new jail, if passed, and will expire Dec. 31, 2042

“Prop L Supporters” has spent $3 so far this election and has $45,047 on hand, according to its report filed on Oct. 5. Quarterly reports were due Thursday.

Some of the biggest contributions to the political action committee in the report includes $25,000 from Brock Bukowsky, of Veterans United; $10,000 from Jim Yankee, of Flat Branch Bank; $5,000 from Parker-Millard Funeral Services; $545.71 by Sheriff Dwayne Carey and $500 from Cumulus Media.  

An opposition group “No on Prop L” has a limited activity report filed, which means it has not raised or spent more than $500. That committee started at the end of September.

Election Day is Nov. 3.

Prop L groupDownload

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CNN Newsource

By Emma Tucker and John Miller, CNN

(CNN) — Three children and one adult were killed in a shooting at an elementary school in Bend, Oregon, on Thursday, according to preliminary information from a law enforcement source.

The shooter was a 16-year-old male, according to multiple law enforcement sources.

The shooter had already been shot and killed inside the school when police arrived at the scene at about 1 p.m., police said. At an earlier news conference, police said there were multiple victims, including children, did not specify a number.

It’s not yet known who killed the shooter, but it “may have been a bystander,” said Sheila Miller, spokesperson for the Bend Police Department.

Medics transported at least two people to the hospital, according to police.

The first 911 call indicated an “unknown man had shot into a car,” moments before multiple calls to police reported a person had entered the school and started shooting, police said.

Silver Rail Elementary School was placed on lockdown, and the Bend Police Department set up a reunification point for student families.

The FBI is on the scene and assisting in the ongoing investigation, according to FBI Director Kash Patel. “We will make every resource they need available,” he said on X.

There have been at least 52 school shootings in the United States so far this year, leaving at least 28 people dead and 48 others injured, according to CNN’s analysis of events reported by the Gun Violence Archive, Education Week and Everytown for Gun Safety. The tragedy at Silver Rail Elementary represents the 36th shooting on K-12 school grounds this year, the data shows.

“We are stunned and heartbroken by this senseless tragedy,” said Bend-La Pine Schools Superintendent Steven Cook in a statement. “We extend our deepest sympathy to the families and to everyone affected by this violence. No words can adequately express the grief our community is experiencing.”

City officials will hold another news conference about the shooting at 5:30 p.m. local time at the City Council Chamber, according to a city council member.

A large crowd of parents and concerned community members gathered outside the school Thursday afternoon as they waited for updates about the situation. There was a large police and emergency personnel response, including police vehicles, ambulances and a fire truck.

School buses carrying students and staff members later arrived at the reunification center set up at the nearby Journey Church.

Over 400 students are enrolled at Silver Rail Elementary.

In a statement responding to the tragedy, Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon said: “My heart is with the victims of today’s shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School and their loved ones now facing the consequences of another school shooting in America.”

“Once again we must ask how many schools must be shot up before Republicans agree to act to curb gun violence,” he continued.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2026 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

So far this year, 54 fans have been ejected from Memorial Stadium during Mizzou home football games.

Mizzou (5-1) has played four games so far this year at Faurot Field. The most fans ejections occurred during the Florida game on Oct. 3, which also happened to be Mizzou’s homecoming game.

Ejections by game and opponent are as followed:

Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Sept. 3: Seven Troy, Sept. 19: 13 Florida, Oct. 3: 28 Texas A&M, Oct. 10: Six

On Sept. 3, six of the ejections were alcohol-related, with three being from intoxication and another three occurring from minors in possession of alcohol, according to ejection cards from the university. One person was tossed for vaping.

On Sept. 19, eight ejections were alcohol-related, with five being listed as “intoxication,” and another two being minors in possession. Four people were thrown out for vaping. One person tried to reenter the stadium and was not allowed to, the cards show.

During the homecoming game, 21 ejections were alcohol-related, with nine occurring from minors being in possession of booze, seven were for intoxication and two people brought in outside liquor.

Two people were tossed for being on the field without credentials, two were accused of causing a disturbance, one person was accused of assault and another was accused of fighting. Notably, one person was accused of sneaking into the stadium without a ticket.

Five of the ejections on Oct. 10 were alcohol-related, with four of them occurring minors being in possession of alcohol.

Last year, 111 fans were thrown out of the stadium during MU games.

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Stephi Smith

MOBERLY, Mo. (KMIZ)

Residents at Riley’s Mobile Home Park in Moberly are still without running water as contractors work to address contamination concerns.

Work started on Wednesday to restore water at the park after it was shut down last week. The property manager hopes to restore service this week, pending water testing and city approval.

Scott McGarvey, a spokesperson for the City of Moberly, said contractors must disinfect the water lines, flush them and send samples to a laboratory for testing before water service can be restored.

McGarvey said disinfection takes about 24 hours, followed by flushing and laboratory testing, which takes at least another 24 hours. The timeline also depends on how long flushing takes and when samples reach the lab.

Edward Rosales, the property manager, said contractors are continuing to work despite the rain and hope to restore service this week, pending testing and city approval.

“Despite the rain, our contractors remain on site working to restore water service as quickly as possible. We hope to have service restored this week, pending completion of the required testing and approval from the city,” Rosales said.

Contractors were at the park again Thursday afternoon, removing water from a hole before the disinfection process could begin.

“We want these residents taken care of, and so the city is doing everything it can to connect people with services, as well as making it clear to the property owner what our expectations are so that we can get this resolved as quickly as possible,” McGarvey said. 

For residents, the lack of running water has disrupted daily life.

Beatric Castillo said she first noticed dark water and sewage odors in her home in September. She said the smell persisted for months and believes the water contamination affected her health and made her dogs sick.

Castillo said she has had to find alternative ways to meet basic needs, including relying on a friend to bring her water for showering, cooking and cleaning. She has also been reusing water for her plants.

She pays about $500 a month in rent, which she said is too much given the park’s conditions and lack of reliable water service.

Castillo also said management has been unresponsive to residents’ concerns about the water and other issues.

“They don’t care. We’re living here like animals. We are not animals. We are persons. We need somebody to pay attention to this,” Castillo said. 

Shannon Trainor, who has lived at the park for three years, said his girlfriend has been taking empty tea jugs to work to fill with water. He said he has been checking his faucets every hour, but as of Thursday morning, he was still waiting for service to return.

Trainor said he does not know whether residents will be without water for days or weeks.

He and other members of his household have also been delivering bottled water and filled jugs to neighbors, many of whom he said have mobility issues.

“We would like…something occurring out here. I don’t know what, but somebody needs to figure out something,” Trainor said. 

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Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Local nonprofit Aging Best is urging seniors to review their Medicare plans during the current open enrollment period, as coverage limits and out-of-pocket costs could change.

Open enrollment runs from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7, and applicants can choose between traditional Medicare or privately run Medicare Advantage plans.

Changes include medication coverage, which will see an increased out-of-pocket cap and the end of federal subsidies. The cap on annual out-of-pocket expenses for Medicare Part D drugs will increase to $2,400, up from $2,100 in 2026, and the standard deductible will increase from $615 to $700.

“Anyone that is on Medicare, they need to call and have their Part D looked at,” Aging Best Director of Special Programs Candi Brockenstadt said. “We have benefits counselors, and those benefit counselors are non-biased, and so they’re able to look at all of the different plans, be able to look at a person’s what their pharmaceutical costs are, what medications they’re on, and then be able to compare and look at what the better plan might be.”

The costs come as inflation is on the rise, fueling concerns over the cost of living.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices have increased by 3.7% since last year. Since last month, gasoline has increased by about 9.1%, and energy has increased by around 5.2%.

Food costs have remained flat since last month but are about 2.5% more than last year.

“Everything is more expensive, whether it’s groceries or bills, their housing costs, their health care bills. Everything is rising, and so when you live on a fixed income, it just equates to everything, everyone struggling,” Brockenstadt said.

The Social Security Administration announced a 3.6% increase in benefits beginning in January. According to ABC, the rise in Social Security payments for 2027 amounts to an average of about $75 a month for each recipient.

Any increase is welcomed, but it “doesn’t necessarily translate into purchasing power,” Brockenstadt said. “If everything is going up on one hand, then the increase doesn’t necessarily mean at the end of the day that they’re going to actually have money to put toward all of the needs that they need to meet.”

Brokenstadt seniors are experiencing more food insecurity across Mid-Missouri, with many elderly residents relying on Social Security as their only form of income.

“People that are aging might not necessarily be able to return to work, their income is already fixed, and so once they reduce their expenses, a lot of times there’s no more places that they can reduce their expenses,” Brokenstadt said.

Social Security recipients can check their online accounts for their new benefit amount beginning in late November, the agency says. Notices will be sent to recipients by mail starting in early December.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A man was charged with assault and other felonies after he allegedly stabbed a man in the Prathersville area on Wednesday night.

Cody Bass, 32, of Kansas City, is charged in Boone County with second-degree assault, two counts of armed criminal action and one count of unlawful use of a weapon. He is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond. A court date has not been set.

The probable cause statement says the victim confronted Bass at 6 p.m. on Wednesday night after Bass was allegedly heard attempting to cheat on his girlfriend, who is related to the victim. Two hours later, Bass held a knife and allegedly threatened to kill the victim, the victim’s wife and the victim’s relative, the statement says.

At one point, the victim and Bass were moving to give each other a hug when Bass stabbed the victim, the statement says. Court documents say Bass pleaded for forgiveness from the victim afterwards.

Police noted seeing cuts on the victim’s hand and arm.

North Farrar Road was closed off at 8:41 p.m. for around 40 minutes, according to notifications sent by Boone County Joint Communications.

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Demetra Alarcon

HUNSTVILLE, Mo. (KMIZ)

The trial of a Moberly man charged with murder will proceed, a judge ruled Thursday.

Christopher Viley, 51, appeared Thursday before Judge Garreth Cooksey for his preliminary hearing at the Randolph County Courthouse. Cooksey ruled that there’s enough probable cause to move forward with the case, moving it up to circuit court.

Viley was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in late August in connection with the Aug. 23 shooting of Cheryl Gravitt, 57, of Moberly

Gravitt was found dead in her driveway with a gunshot wound to the back of her head outside her home in the 500 block of Morehead Street, court documents in previous reporting say. She was taken to the hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.

Six witnesses spoke at the hearing, including Moberly police officers, detectives, and a woman who was Viley’s girlfriend at the time of the shooting.

Brenda Porter, with a child advocacy center, testified that she interviewed a child who witnessed Viley at the scene of the crime. In the interview, the child also said she heard a firecracker-like sound and saw Gravitt fall to the ground.

Viley was seen on video surveillance walking towards the crime scene before what is presumed to be a gunshot was fired and seen walking away from the scene after, according to a probable cause statement. Viley was wearing clothes that fit the child witness’s description, investigators allege.

When a Moberly police detective interviewed Viley, he claimed to not be in the area when the incident occurred.

Viley’s arraignment is set for 9 a.m. Oct. 28 at the Randolph County Courthouse.

Court documents say Viley was arrested for fourth-degree domestic assault in February, which is pending a court appearance. Other past convictions include felony resisting/interfering with an arrest, first-degree assault and third-degree assault.

Viley is being held at the Randolph County Jail without bond.

Gravitt’s friends and family were in attendance Thursday morning, wearing shirts in remembrance of her.

Friends and family told ABC 17 News they are grateful for the case going to trial, adding that they are still grieving and looking for justice.

Stephanie Luntsford, Randolph County prosecuting attorney, said cases like these are difficult.

“These cases are difficult because someone has lost their life and that impacts many, many people, many, many loved ones. And of course, anyone going through that situation, it’s difficult,” Luntsford said.

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Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A police incident report shows three victims reported harassment by three freshman Mizzou football players who were arrested this month.

The players — defensive back Ahmod Billins, cornerback Trashundon Neal and wide receiver Karsten Fiene — were arrested on Oct. 5 on suspicion of first-degree harassment, a felony, but Columbia Police would not disclose any information about their arrests.

An incident report obtained Thursday from the Columbia Police Department states that the crime was reported the night of Oct. 4 and occurred on Sept. 29. The victims’ addresses are on Fourth Street in downtown Columbia.

Three victims are listed, all women who are either 18 or 19 years old.

The report also states the investigation was related to a past burglary in the 600 block of South Fourth Street.

State law defines first-degree harassment as “any act with the purpose to cause emotional distress to another person, and such act does cause such person to suffer emotional distress.”

Charges were not publicly available in online court records Thursday, but prosecutors have a few more days to file after the players posted bond following their arrests.

Mizzou football coach Eli Drinkwitz said after the players’ arrest that the athletic department had been informed and was following the case. A Mizzou Athletics spokesperson did not immediately respond to an email asking for an update.

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Ellyse Edwards

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Missouri Amendment 8 would place rules for county sheriffs in the state Constitution, including how sheriffs are elected, what duties they perform, how they staff their offices and how they can be removed.

Missouri voters will decide whether to approve the amendment on Nov. 3. Most counties already elect sheriffs to four-year terms under state law. Amendment 8 would put that requirement in the Constitution, making it harder to change through legislation.

The amendment would also identify the sheriff as the county’s chief law enforcement officer and list duties such as suppressing disturbances, arresting and jailing felons, attending court when directed and carrying out court orders. Many of those duties are already in state law.

Amendment 8 would authorize sheriffs to hire and appoint deputies, assistants and other employees they consider necessary. Those employees would serve at the sheriff’s discretion, and the sheriff could set their compensation. Current state laws already address sheriff staffing, but the rules vary.

The amendment would also change how an elected sheriff could be removed from office. If approved, a sheriff could be removed only through a quo warranto case initiated by the attorney general. A quo warranto case is a court proceeding that can challenge an official’s right to hold office.

SJR87Download

Under current law, a person can submit an affidavit alleging certain official misconduct to a prosecuting attorney. The prosecuting attorney can then decide whether to file a removal complaint in circuit court. Amendment 8 would require the attorney general to initiate the quo warranto process for a sheriff’s removal.

The amendment would not apply to St. Louis City, St. Louis County or St. Charles County. State and local government entities estimate it would have no cost or savings and would not change taxes.

No political action committees have formed either for or against the amendment. The joint resolution to get the question on the ballot was sponsored by state Sen. Jill Carter, a southwest Missouri Republican. It passed the Senate by a 24-9 vote, with Sen. Stephen Webber (D-Columbia) casting one of the dissenting votes.

The Missouri Democratic Party has called the measure a vote on a “weirdo legal theory” and an attack on local rights, encouraging a “no” vote.

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