Category: kmiz-local-news

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Two men from Columbia were given federal prison sentences in separate cases on Wednesday, according to press releases from the Department of Justice.

Deshawn Anthony Harris, 21, was sentenced to five years in prison for possessing a “machine gun conversion device,” after pleading guilty to the charge, the release says. After his sentence, he will serve three years of probation.

Police pulled Harris over on April 4, 2025, and he was allegedly found with a gun “with a machine gun conversion device attached,” the release says.

In another case, Caleb Hunt, 28, was sentenced to eight years in federal prison for being a felon with a gun and illegally possessing a machine gun.

The release says the Columbia Police Department saw a photo of Hunt on social media with a gun in November 2023.  Hunt had a felony conviction from a 2019 shooting and is not allowed to own a gun.

In March 2024, Hunt had a gun during a chase with law enforcement and tossed it out the window, the release says. The gun was found by law enforcement and was determined to be the same gun from social media, the release says. He was arrested April 24 2024 and was found with three more guns, the release says.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

One person drowned Wednesday after falling from a bass boat at the Lake of the Ozarks, according to a social media post from the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

MSHP’s Troop F – which covers much of Mid-Missouri – wrote that three people fell out of the boat near the Gravois Arm at the 7-mile marker.

Two people were rescued and were not injured, the post says. A dive team is on its way to find and recover the body of the person who drowned, the post says.

Check back for updates.

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Demetra Alarcon

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Boone County Sheriff Dwayne Carey said Wednesday when early results came back for Tuesday’s election, he was surprised voters rebuked Proposition L.

Prop L was a proposed 3/8 cent sales tax to pay for a new Boone County Jail that would have expired in 2042. Nearly 60% of voters said “no” to the measure on Tuesday.

“Our canvassing had indicated that we were doing really well. And so I was kind of surprised by that. And then, of course, when I saw the second numbers, I knew that it was over and that it wasn’t going to pass,” Carey said.

Carey said that a variety of factors could have led voters to vote “no,” saying the sheriff’s office worked hard during the past three months, but in the end it was up to the voters.

“But at the end of the day, I mean, it didn’t pass. And so, you know, my job then is to move the agency forward,” Carey said.

Carey told ABC 17 News that since Prop L did not pass, the department will be looking at other solutions to address overcrowding; but he claimed while he is sheriff, the department will not push for another proposition about the jail.

“The jail administrator is calling every jail in the state of Missouri just to check beds. So some of those, obviously, we’re not using now, but this problem is not going to go away,” Carey said.

John Amick, a member of the group opposing Prop L, “No New Jail,” said the measure failing is an important step in the right direction. He added that since the topic has eyes, discussion on other issues surrounding incarceration can move forward.

“Public officials have a chance now. An opportunity to engage the public about the overcrowding issue and address actual ways to help public safety, rather than imperiling public safety by expanding incarceration so drastically,” Amick said.

One of those issues, Amick says, is addressing possible changes to the cash-bail system.

“So the county has an opportunity to address the cash-bail system, which traps people in the jail for long periods of time because they can’t afford to bond,” Amick said. “They have ways to address root causes of poverty and other aspects of life in one county that lead people to jail. They have all kinds of ways to be creative right now and address the public and take this seriously rather than just throwing a tax hike at everyone.”

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Officials determined there was no credible threat at a Boonville school on Wednesday, according to a social media post from the Boonville Police Department.

Police wrote that a student on Wednesday morning allegedly mad a threat about shooting another student on Thursday.

“Following the investigation, officials determined that there was no credible or imminent threat to the school. Investigators also determined that the student did not have the means to carry out the stated threat,” the social media post says.

Police did not describe which school or district the threat occurred.

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Stephi Smith

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Missouri voters ended Republican supermajorities in the Missouri House and Senate on Tuesday night after Democrats picked up several seats across the state.

In Jefferson City, Democrat Suzanne Luther defeated her Republican opponent, Shane Kampeter, by fewer than 200 votes. The Cole County Clerk’s Office reports Luther received around 51% of the vote.

A Democrat has not held that seat since 1992, when Chris Graham served four terms.

Democrat Keri Ingle also defeated Republican House Speaker Jon Patterson in eastern Jackson County for the Senate District 8 seat. A Democrat has not held that seat in at least 20 years.

In Springfield, Democrat Betsy Fogle flipped Senate District 30, defeating Republican Melanie Stinnett with 57% of the vote. A Democrat has not held that seat for more than 80 years.

Dustin Bax, chair of the Cole County Democratic Central Committee, attributes some of those wins to candidates building relationships with voters through direct, face-to-face outreach.

He said Luther and Fogle began talking with voters and working in their communities before Democrats knew a larger shift in voter support could happen.

“The No. 1 thing I tell people is you have to actually get out and talk to people. Like running an ad is great, but it’s never going to be as effective as showing up at their door and talking to them,” Bax said. 

Bax said Democrats also gained as many as 17 seats in the Missouri House and two seats in the Senate.

That means Republicans no longer have a “supermajority” they’ve held in the legislature since around 2010. Bax said Republicans will now need Democratic support to override a governor’s veto and will have to work with Democrats on some procedural motions.

State Rep. David Tyson Smith, a Democrat representing District 46, said he believes voters were looking for a change in direction.

He pointed to concerns about the economy, including grocery and gas prices, as issues that resonated with voters this election cycle. 

“The economy – food prices are through the roof. Gas prices are too high. And all we have to do is talk about that. And that’s something that everyone can relate to,” Smith said. 

Looking ahead to the 2027 legislative session, Bax said Democrats will have more opportunities to bring issues to the forefront through legislation and committee hearings.

He also cautioned Democrats against assuming Tuesday’s results will carry over into the 2028 election cycle, saying the party will need to continue organizing and reaching out to voters.

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Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A person running across Interstate 70 on Tuesday night suffered serious injuries when they were hit by a car.

The Columbia Police Department did not give the name or sex of the crash victim. CPD wrote in a news release that the person was running across the eastbound lanes near the Highway 63 connector a little after 6 p.m. when the sedan hit them.

The person was taken to a hospital with serious injuries, according to the release.

Officers spoke with the driver at the scene, a CPD spokesman said.

CPD did not provide a condition update on the pedestrian.

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Marie Moyer

BRUMLEY, Mo. (KMIZ)

National Transportation Safety Board investigators are expected to arrive at the Lake of the Ozarks on Wednesday afternoon to survey a plane crash that killed two people on Tuesday.

NTSB spokesperson Jennifer Gabris told ABC 17 News in an email that investigators are expected to arrive at about 1 or 2 p.m.

The FAA and Missouri State Highway Patrol reported the crash involved two people, a 51-year-old woman and a 52-year-old man from Simpsonville, Kentucky, which is between Louisville and Frankfort. The crash occurred at 2:15 p.m. Tuesday. FlightAware data shows an SR22 aircraft flew 15 minutes from Lee C. Fine Memorial Airport beginning at 2:09 p.m.

The Miller County Coroner’s office reported that next of kin have been notified.

An ABC 17 News reporter on Wednesday observed a park ranger stationed at the parking lot and entrance of Hidden Springs Trail, southwest of Lee C. Fine Airport, and was asked to leave the area. The reporter also observed caution tape blocking off an area south of Hidden Springs Trail. The reporter also saw the entrance of the Trail of 4 Winds Trail blocked off with police tape.

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources also announced a partial closure in the park.

An ABC 17 News reporter on scene Tuesday also reported a state park ranger stationed near the entrance of Hidden Springs Trail. The reporter also noted several fallen trees nearby.

The NTSB investigation will focus on three primary areas: The pilot, the aircraft and the operating environment. Information like flight track data, surveillance video and air traffic control communications will be reviewed. Investigators will also review the pilot, including a 72-hour background check and the pilot’s license.

A preliminary report is expected within 30, days and a final report could take 12-24 months to complete.

This marks the third plane crash near the Lake of the Ozarks since 2020, with two people dead in an Osage Beach Crash in August 2020 and a second crash in July 2023 that also left two dead.

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Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A crash involving a trailer hauling Budweiser Clydesdales on Tuesday closed eastbound Interstate 70 in Columbia after a three-vehicle crash.

Columbia Police reported the crash a little before 11 a.m., saying both lanes were closed at the Business Loop 70 West exit. It wasn’t immediately clear how the crash happened.

The Missouri Department of Transportation posted a note on its traveler information map stating a three-vehicle crash at the Business Loop had closed the road.

Traffic was backed up past the Stadium Boulevard exit in west Columbia.

Columbia Fire Department Assistant Chief Zach Grace said a truck hauling a Budweiser Clydesdales trailer was one of the vehicles involved. People were walking the horses out of the trailer. Two people and a horse were transported for injuries.

An Anheuser-Busch spokesperson said the horse and the truck’s driver were not hurt.

Firefighters at the scene said a horse was evaluated, but a Columbia Fire Department spokesperson later clarified that CFD was not aware that the horse had been injured or evaluated.

A Columbia Police Department news release said the crash involved five vehicles and one driver, a 57-year-old Columbia man, suffered serious injuries. A juvenile driver was treated for minor injuries.

Firefighters expect the scene to be cleared around 12:30 p.m. Traffic was being diverted onto the Stadium Boulevard exit at noon.

I-70 reopened at about 1:20 p.m.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A school bus was involved in a three-vehicle crash Tuesday morning in Callaway County, according to a crash report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

The crash occurred on westbound Highway 54 near County Road 240, just north of Kingdom City.

The report says a 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee – driven by a 40-year-old Fulton woman – hydroplaned, went off the right side of the road and hit a 2017 Ford Edge that was parked on the shoulder. The Ford was driven by a 34-year-old Auxvasse man.

The Jeep came back to the road, crossed the center line and hit a school bus, the report says. The bus was driven by a 57-year-old Holts Summit woman. All three people in the crash wore a seatbelt.

A 35-year-old woman in Auxvasse had minor injuries, while the Fulton driver had moderate injuries. Both were taken to University Hospital by ambulance.

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Mitchell Kaminski

ST. LOUIS (KMIZ)

Missouri voters approved Amendment 6 on Tuesday, making it harder for state lawmakers to change or repeal laws approved through the citizen initiative petition process.

The amendment passed with roughly 60% of the vote.

Amendment 6 changes the Missouri Constitution to strengthen protections for citizens’ initiative and referendum powers. Under the amendment, lawmakers will need at least 80% approval in both the Missouri House and Senate to send a proposed change to a voter-approved initiative law back to the ballot.

Voters would then have to approve the change.

Supporters said the amendment will protect the will of voters and prevent lawmakers from undoing policies approved at the ballot box. Opponents argued it will limit the Legislature’s ability to respond to changing circumstances and adjust state law.

The amendment also declares initiative and referendum rights fundamental under the Missouri Constitution. It restricts lawmakers’ ability to weaken the process, including by increasing signature requirements, shortening the time available to collect signatures, or adding other requirements for petitioners.

The Missouri Republican Party and the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry were among the most vocal opponents of Amendment 6.

However, the measure received strong support from labor unions across the state, including the Missouri AFL-CIO and Missouri National Education Association. Supporters of Amendment 6 also significantly outspent opponents. Campaign finance reports show more than $8 million spent in support, compared with $109,627 in opposition spending, all of which came from the Mo Protect PAC.

Meanwhile, the Missouri AFL-CIO contributed $1,173,497 to the campaign, the largest donation from any single contributor. The Sheet Metal Workers International Association Local Union No. 36, which hosted an election night watch party in St. Louis, also donated $300,000 in support.

Organizers for the Yes on 6 campaign told ABC 17 News they held 25 town halls across the state and had 2,500 volunteers.

Other organizations supporting Amendment 6 include the Missouri Democratic Party, Empower Missouri, Metropolitan Congregations United, Missouri Action Alliance, Missouri NAACP State Conference, Missouri National Organization for Women, Missouri NORML, Show Me Integrity, Sierra Club Missouri Chapter and Veterans for All Voters.

“For 118 years, Missourians have had the constitutional right to put initiatives on the ballot and to vote on those things. We’ve seen those under attack recently here in the state of Missouri,” Jack Cardetti, a spokesperson for the “Yes on 6” campaign, told ABC 17 News. “We’re really thankful to have all of the support we have, from working families and from other organizations that want to make sure that we continue to have a way to hold politicians accountable when they’re ignoring our voices.”

Over the past 50 years, 21 changes to the state’s constitution have come through citizen initiative petitions.

Notable measures approved in the past decade include medical marijuana in 2018, Medicaid expansion in 2020, recreational marijuana in 2022, sports betting in 2024 and a 2024 constitutional amendment establishing reproductive freedom.

The 2024 sports betting measure passed by fewer than 3,000 votes, making it the narrowest victory among the 21 successful initiative petitions.

However, state lawmakers have since reversed or modified some of those voter-approved initiatives, making Amendment 6 a pivotal measure in the ongoing debate over the future of Missouri’s citizen-led initiative petition process.

This includes advancing a proposed constitutional amendment that would repeal the 2024 reproductive freedom protections and replace them with more restrictive abortion provisions.

Supporters of Amendment 6 also pointed to Proposition A, approved by Missouri voters in 2024, as an example of why they believe the initiative process needs stronger protections.

Proposition A raised the state’s minimum wage and required employers to provide paid sick leave. In July 2025, Gov. Mike Kehoe signed a House bill that repealed the paid sick leave requirement and the automatic inflation adjustments approved by voters.

With Amendment 6 now approved, lawmakers will face a much higher threshold to send proposed changes to voter-approved initiative laws back to the ballot.

“We’ve heard from a lot of voters that they’re just sick and tired of them going through the whole process to put something on the ballot, vote for it, only to see politicians return to Jeff City and overturn it,” Cardetti said. “The beautiful thing about Amendment 6 is that it’s not about any one issue. It’s about having that right and making sure that we’re able to have an issue of petition process here in Missouri, and also making sure that the ballot summaries that are on these are unbiased, clear and easy to understand.”

Under previous law, citizens could use initiative petitions to propose constitutional amendments and state statutes. Voters could also use veto referendums to challenge legislation passed by the General Assembly.

To qualify a measure for the ballot, petitioners had to collect signatures from registered voters in at least two-thirds of Missouri’s congressional districts. The required number of signatures was based on the votes cast for governor in each district. Constitutional amendments required signatures equal to 8% of the votes cast for governor, while statutes and veto referenda required 5%.

Previously, voter-approved state statutes could be amended or repealed by the Legislature through the regular legislative process. Changing a voter-approved constitutional amendment required another constitutional amendment approved by voters.

Amendment 6 adds a higher threshold for lawmakers seeking to refer changes to voter-approved initiative laws back to voters.

Less than an hour before polls closed, Cardetti told ABC 17 News he was confident Amendment 6 would pass, pointing to voters’ rejection of Amendment 4 in August, a separate proposal that would have required initiative petitions to receive majority support in all eight congressional districts, rather than simply winning a statewide majority.

“More than 80% of Missourians in August went and voted against Amendment 4. Amendment 6 is just the opposite. So we’re really, really enthusiastic,” Cardetti said. “We have support from Democrats, Republicans, and Independents. This isn’t a partisan issue. In fact, most of our opposition is coming from the politicians themselves.”

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