Category: kmiz-local-news

Olivia Hayes

EDITOR’S NOTE: AI tools were used to help organize the information in this story.

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Missouri Department of Transportation is urging drivers to travel with caution, with warmer weather causing potholes to pop up across roads.

MoDOT crews responded to the westbound Interstate 70 on-ramp at the Highway 63 connector twice over the weekend to repair potholes. The Columbia Police Department also responded to the scene on Saturday for two incidents, including multiple vehicles that were damaged by the deteriorating road.

Other details were not available because reports were not filed.

Jason Shafer, MoDOT Central District maintenance engineer, said potholes form when moisture gets into cracks in the road. The fluctuating temperatures common during the late-winter season cause the water to freeze and expand, then thaw, then freeze again, damaging the pavement.

“What causes a pothole is where you get water infiltration through the surface and then if it freezes. So like this time of the year, whenever it’s nice and warm during the day and generally a little cooler at night, that’s when the activity gets started,” Shafer said.

Shafer said with the more mild winter weather the state saw this season, MoDOT hopes for fewer potholes.

MoDOT has about 300 pothole patching crews operating statewide across 34,000 miles of state-maintained roads. Shafer said MoDOT can sometimes have 150 crews out on the road at once in a day doing repairs. During the 2025 season, the agency repaired more than 650,000 potholes across the state. The total cost was approximately $20 million.

Shafer said MoDOT crews can use different methods to fill potholes.

“A lot of it depends upon the time of the year we’re doing it, equipment availability,” Shafer said. “We will still go out and do it by hand in some locations, although we prefer to stay off the roadway. We’ve also got an automated pothole patch machine that is truck-mounted, we drive right up to it.”

Shafer also asks motorists to stay aware of MoDOT crews trying to fix the potholes.

The financial impact on drivers when potholes cause car damage can be significant, according to AAA. The organization found that the average cost for vehicle repairs related to pothole damage is $406.

John Ogan, with City of Columbia Public Works, said road repairs in Columbia are managed year-round by the city’s Street Division. When reports of road damage are received, Ogan said, supervisors assign crews to perform the repairs. Workers typically use a cold asphalt mix to patch holes until a more permanent treatment can be applied.

Funding comes from the city’s Street Maintenance Construction Materials line item. This budget is approximately $912,000. However, Ogan said this funding supports a number of different maintenance needs beyond pothole repairs, so it is difficult to isolate the specific cost of pothole patching alone.

The city uses a pavement preservation program to determine which roads require long-term improvements. Each road is evaluated annually and given a rating on a scale of 1 to 10. If a road is otherwise in good condition, patching may be the solution for an isolated issue. If the overall condition has declined, the street may be scheduled for chip seals, mill and overlay or full resurfacing.

When potholes are widespread across an area, crews may also use mobile asphalt ovens and move through neighborhoods repairing multiple potholes at once.

Ogan said Columbia has increased its resurfacing efforts over the past two years. Crews patched up about 125 lane miles of road in 2024 and 135 lane miles in 2025.

City officials expect to resurface a similar number of lane miles in 2026.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Benton County man is in jail after he allegedly bit his brother during an early Saturday assault at the Candlewood Suites in Jefferson City.

Clemente Carrizales, 43, of Lincoln, was charged on Monday in Cole County with first-degree domestic assault. He is being held at the Cole County Jail without bond. An arraignment was held on Monday and he appeared by video from the jail, where he pleaded not guilty. A counsel status hearing is scheduled for 2 p.m. Wednesday.

The probable cause statement says police were called to the hotel around 2 a.m. Saturday for a report of an assault. Carrizales was allegedly seen covered in blood near the front desk of the hotel and claimed he was assaulted by his brother. Police noted Carrizales appeared to be under the influence of something, the statement says.

Police went up to the hotel room and noted the victim had a “half dollar-sized hole in his forehead,” and the victim said he was bit by Carrizales three times during the assault. The officer wrote that he noticed a chunk of skin on the ground in the room.

The victim claimed the deadbolt of the door was locked, which does not allow a card key to unlock it and the victim had to pound on the door to get Carrizales to open it, the statement says. Carrizales was allegedly upset and started the fight, the statement says.

Carrizales allegedly told officers he was kicked in his face, but the officer wrote there were no indications that happened.

Court documents say the victim will need plastic surgery.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Waynesville man was charged with two felonies after authorities say he assaulted a woman on Saturday.

Samuel Sloas was charged on Monday with first-degree domestic assault and illegal gun possession. An arraignment was held on Monday. A counsel status hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. Tuesday, March 17; while a preliminary hearing is set for 9 a.m. Tuesday, March 31.

Court documents say police were called to an apartment in the 600 block of Main Street after a family member of the victim was concerned about their well-being. The victim had visible injuries and allegedly told police that she was assaulted earlier in the day after Sloas “snapped,” the statement says. The victim was later treated for their injuries.

Sloas allegedly told police that he had accused the victim of taking money. The statement says police noticed marks on Sloas’ hands that would indicate he hit something, which he denied.

A gun and drugs were also found at the residence and he was charged in another case with second-degree drug trafficking, delivery of a controlled substance and keeping or maintaining a public nuisance.

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Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Boone County deputies are asking for the public’s help in finding a driver who hit a 9-year-old girl and drove away Sunday night.

The child, who was taken to a hospital but was alert and talking at the scene, was crossing in the 700 block of Demaret Drive east of Columbia at about 6:45 p.m. when she was hit, said Boone County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Brian Leer. Witnesses said the vehicle was a red sedan, driven by a young woman, with a black dog inside, Leer said.

The vehicle drove away north on Hogan Drive.

“The vehicle may have sustained some damage to the front end, however, no debris or evidence from the vehicle was found at the scene,” Leer said.

Neighbors say speeding in the area is a common occurrence

The stretch of road where the 9-year-old girl was hit on Sunday is known to frequently have drivers speed by and roll through stop signs, according to neighbors.

Although the sheriff’s office hasn’t said if speeding contributed to the crash, neighbors said they wouldn’t be surprised if it was a factor. Kisha Benson recently moved to the area in November, but has seen drivers speeding down the road every day.

“Since I’ve been out here cars have been flying up and down the street. I yell at people all the time ‘slow down’,” Benson said.

Benson said she recalls seeing the little girl playing outside before leaving her home to go get food. She returned to see the fire department and deputies who had blocked a portion of the street off and later learned that the child had been hit.

Long before Sunday’s incident, Benson said she had already taken steps of her own to ensure safety. That includes placing orange traffic cones out in the area for her 13 grandchildren who commonly play basketball and ride their bikes. She’s now taking that one step further.

Benson said she’s planning to have people sign a petition and get in contact with the city to have speed bumps or signs in the area warning people of children playing.

“I hope they catch them (the suspect) and I hope they will at least think about putting some signs out here…something because there’s too many kids out here. There’s too many children,” Benson said. “I’m very concerned about it because I fear somebody is gonna fly through here and hit one of mine, and then we’re gonna have a problem.”

Resident Richard Summers is also new to the area, only having lived there for four months. Summers said he’s personally almost been hit by a vehicle more than once while trying to cross the street to get to his mailbox and has seen people speed and roll through a stop sign near Hogan Drive.

Summers said he frequently sees deputies patrolling the area, but thinks that if that happened more often, it could help with the speeding issue.

“Because the deputies are out here and they know if they come flying down there, they’re going to get popped,” Summers said. “So that’s why they act like little boys and girls when the cops are around but other than that, they fly up and down here like crazy people…these people ain’t got on common sense. What if it was their kid? How would they feel?”

Summers said he would also support adding speed bumps to the street and said he’s considering going to the city about his concerns. He noted the many children who live in the neighborhood and said he’s worried about children possibly getting hit while getting off the school bus or again, while playing outside.

However, he said the speeding problem may also become a problem for others in the area.

“What happens if somebody on any bike gets hit? We have a lot of people going up and down through here with bicycles and everything else and it’s just ridiculous,” Summers said. “Something needs to be done and soon or another kid’s gonna get hit. It isn’t fair to the families of the kids that are in the neighborhood. It’s not fair to this neighborhood.”

Benson also said people’s cars are frequently side swiped due to drivers that are speeding in the neighborhood. Several other neighbors in the area also said they don’t allow their children to play outside due to speeding.

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Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A 60-year-old man found unresponsive in the intake area of the Camden County Jail on Sunday was pronounced dead about an hour later, according to a sheriff’s office news release.

Jailers notified emergency dispatchers after finding the man at about 10:30 p.m., the release says. The sheriff’s office says the man appeared to have suffered a medical emergency.

Jailers tried to resuscitate him until paramedics took over, but he was pronounced dead at 11:23 p.m.

The Camden County Sheriff’s Office did not identify the man. The Missouri State Highway Patrol has been asked to investigate the death, Camden County Chief Deputy Scott Hines wrote in the release.

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Madison Stuerman

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Pulaski County woman has been charged with murder after allegedly killing her boyfriend on Friday.

Lea Ann Barba, 42, was charged Friday with second-degree murder and armed criminal action.

Court documents state deputies were called to a home near Dixon on Friday afternoon for an unresponsive person after a gun was fired.

Barba was detained in a patrol vehicle, and Steven L. Chapman, 66, was found dead inside the home with a gunshot wound to his head.

Investigators said a semi-automatic Ruger SR9 9 mm pistol was found on the kitchen counter. Court documents state that the gun had one round partially in the chamber and one expended cartridge partially ejected but stuck.

Barba allegedly told deputies Chapman was her boyfriend for about three years and that the relationship was not good, according to court documents. Deputies reported that Barba said the victim beat and threatened to kill her.

Court documents state that Barba said the victim would force her into sexual relationships with men for drugs or cash. She allegedly told deputies he would threaten to hurt her if she reported him to law enforcement.

Barba allegedly told deputies that Chapman entered the home, grabbed the handgun from a shelf, and pointed it at her, threatening to kill her. She alleged that Chapman poked her head with the barrel of the gun.

Deputies say Barba pushed Chapman, causing him to stumble back into a chair. She then said she fired the gun, according to court documents. She told deputies she shot him because she was in fear for her life.

Deputies stated that Barba has a history of violence, probation revocations, and does not have a permanent address.

She is being held at the Pulaski County Jail on a $500,000 cash warrant.

As of Monday morning, no court date had been set.

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Nia Hinson

BOONE COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ)

Two horses that were pulled out of mud near Harrisburg in late February are now back home, according to a social media post from the Boone County Fire Protection District.

The post states firefighters involved in the rescue visited the farm and horses on Sunday.

“It was a great opportunity to reconnect with the owners and see firsthand the positive outcome of the rescue,” the post says.

The horses were rescued from the 8400 block of Gray Road near Harrisburg in what was formerly an animal lagoon on Feb. 25. Firefighters worked for several hours in the conditions to save the horses.

The horses were being treated at the MU Veterinary Clinic for pneumonia, complications for hypothermia and ulcers, according to previous reporting.

The horses’ owner was working on setting up a GoFundMe to help with the vet bills.

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Nia Hinson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

No people were injured after a trailer caught fire in north Columbia on Saturday morning, according to a press release from the Columbia Fire Department.

The release says crews were called to the 1500 block of Vandiver Drive just after 8 a.m. Crews arrived and found heavy fire in the interior of the trailer and put out the flames within five minutes.

One person home at the time was able to safely evacuate the trailer before CFD arrived, the release says.

A cat was found inside of the trailer with smoke inhalation injuries and was treated on scene before being taken to an animal hospital.

The fire was ruled an accident.

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Euphenie Andre

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Members of the Columbia Tenants Union rallied outside City Hall on Sunday, stating problems with their landlord have continued despite raising concerns publicly a month ago.

Tenants said not only have their complaints gone unresolved, but some believe the situation has gotten worse.

“I wish the mayor and the people in this building would wake up to what’s happening in Columbia, Missouri,” tenant Bruce Ross said.

Tenants hoped city leaders could help address their concerns. However, the city’s Neighborhood Services department said its authority is limited.

According to the department’s website, Neighborhood Services focuses on code enforcement and strengthening neighborhoods.

The department’s manager, Leigh Kottwitz said, “The City does not take action on civil matters, including rent increases…We also have no authority for the relationship between the manager and the occupants.”

In response, Columbia Tenants Union spokeswoman Vee Sanchez said she believes the community can help in other ways.

“There’s more than one way to support tenants who are fighting back,” Sanchez said. “We do want absolutely all of the community support as they go up against a large corporation,”

Last week, marked the end of a 14-day period tenants gave their landlord to respond to their concerns. Tenants said the response they received did not resolve the issues.

“The only thing we got was one email that basically told us we weren’t allowed to talk to our neighbors,” tenant Logan Moore said.

The email tenants received from Regal Communities stated:

“Recently, many tenants have expressed concerns about tenants or guests trespassing, soliciting, or otherwise disrupting the quiet of communities. We want to remind you that if you invite guests to the community, they are to abide by the applicable community rules and guidelines, including no soliciting. If your guest violates those rules or regulations, or bothers the quiet of the community, they may be asked to leave or be escorted from the community.”

The message also addressed questions residents had about lease and account information.

“We want to remind you that if you have any questions or would like to request certain information about your lot, lease, rent, charges, utilities, or account generally, you can submit your questions or requests by visiting the Regal Communities website,” the email stated. “You should also have access to certain information concerning your lease and ledger through your resident portal in Rent Café.”

Some tenants said they are now facing additional financial pressure.

Columbia Tenants Union spokeswoman Vee Sanchez said new fees were added just before rent was due.

“She [Robin Bealler, project manager] decided to add fees just the day before rent was due. Didn’t even send notices, just emailed people the day before. Hundreds of dollars,” Sanchez said. “Most people can’t just come up with 3 or $400 dollars in one day.”

One resident shared an email exchange with ABC 17 News showing messages from property management.

In one email, management told residents their rent deadline had been extended to Feb. 15. However, another message sent days later stated payment had to be made by 5 p.m. on Feb. 12, that same day or the tenant could face eviction.

Tenants said the situation has left many residents feeling frustrated and uncertain.

“Here we are struggling to make our rent,” Ross said.

Under Missouri law, a landlord cannot evict a tenant without a court order. However, eviction proceedings can begin if a tenant fails to pay rent, damages property or violates the terms of a lease.

If an eviction lawsuit is filed, tenants must receive notice and have the opportunity to appear in court before any eviction takes place.

ABC 17 News reached out to Regal Communities.

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Alison Patton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Missouri Supreme Court judge is expected to hear arguments in a redistricting lawsuit on Tuesday that could give voters, politicians and election authorities a final answer as to which congressional map is currently in place.

This lawsuit challenges the constitutionality of the law that enacts the map, House Bill 1. The judge’s decision could make several other lawsuits in lower courts irrelevant, along with a referendum to put the 2025 map on the November ballot.

“If she [the plaintiff] prevails in that case, then the referendum would be struck down, and all other cases relating to the referendum are no longer relevant because the law would be struck down,” said Richard von Glahn, the executive director of a group backing the referendum.

The general assembly passed a new congressional map in 2025 during a special session. The map, backed by President Donald Trump, could cut Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Kansas City) out of Congress and flip his seat to republican.

Time is critical in this case because local election authorities have about a month to update voter files before the August and November elections open.

“Those maps are locked so that people can participate in that, and for a number of days afterwards,” von Glahn said. “The maps do need to be finalized by the end of May.”

Spokesperson for the Secretary of State Rachael Dunn said voters will be tied to the 2025 congressional districts, and Secretary Denny Hoskins will let election authorities know what’s next when the April election is closed.

Cole County Judge Christopher Limbaugh denied plaintiff Merrie Suzanne Luther’s claims, ruling in the state’s favor on the basis that the Missouri constitution doesn’t expressly prohibit mid-decade redistricting.

Even if the high court sides with the lower court, the referendum still stands. The question then becomes, does the referendum stop the 2025 map from being implemented for the November election?

Plaintiffs Jake Maggard and Gregg Lombardi are asking a Cole County judge to provide an answer, and Von Glahn said he’s anticipating a decision this week.

People Not Politicians– the group backing the referendum– turned in over 300,000 signatures to Hoskins’ office in December. Local election authorities are currently verifying the signatures and will need to return them to the Hoskins’ office in the summer.

Von Glahn said the referendum has more than enough signatures required by law to get it on the ballot. He said the group sunshine requested the certified signatures from the Secretary of State’s Office, which is how they know the referendum is qualified to go on the ballot.

Boone County Clerk Brianna Lennon told ABC 17 News in February that her office was nearing the end of verification, but many other clerks weren’t yet done.

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