Category: kmiz-local-news

Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

After walking back a proposal for a downtown task force, the City of Columbia is now considering forming a new advisory council made up of local college students.

The original task force proposal came at the request of University of Missouri System President Mun Choi, following the Sept. 27 shooting death of Stephens College student Aiyanna Williams in downtown Columbia.

However, during an interview with ABC 17 News on Tuesday, Columbia Mayor Barbra Buffaloe said that after speaking with the police, members of the city council, and other downtown stakeholders, the city decided to continue using its existing boards and commissions to address downtown safety concerns. 

“I think the city’s initial response was very tepid and not a strong response. They pretty much just let  Dr. Choi set the tone for everything,” Ken Rice, an executive for Pickleman’s who ran for the Ward 2 council seat this past August, said. “I was actually glad that the mayor, after some thought and consultation, did not form another task force. We form a lot of task forces. One of the things that I ran on is that there’s a lot of talk and task forces like to talk.  And we had one in 2014. It’s a 30-page report, and it had some really actionable items. But here’s the problem.  Just like many of the recommendations or consultants or task forces that the city convenes,  no action was taken.” 

Instead, Buffaloe is looking to create a Collegiate Advisory Council to the mayor, an idea that she got from a similar program in Columbia, South Carolina. 

The group would include student representatives from the University of Missouri, Stephens College, Columbia College and Moberly Area Community College to provide input on safety, transportation, housing, and workforce opportunities. 

Buffaloe said in a Friday social media post that she will be working with university administrators and their student body governments to help select members for the council. 

“I think that is a good idea. I feel like representation, if that is included, which this very much seems like, would be a good contribution to just what is going on with people, just in general, not just limited to the University of Missouri, but to the other colleges as well,” Yule Yoon, a freshman at the University of Missouri, said. 

When asked about their thoughts on the proposal, a University of Missouri spokesman told ABC 17 News in an email: 

“President Choi’s focus will be on implementing the 11 action items with city, county, state, federal and business leaders to improve public safety and the homeless crime problems.”

This comes after Columbia and University of Missouri leaders announced new measures on Oct. 1, aimed at improving downtown safety after the homecoming weekend shooting.

The plan calls for more police patrols, including additional Boone County deputies and Missouri state troopers on weekend shifts. The Columbia Police Department and MU Police will continue increased foot patrols downtown and seek to expand staffing.

City and university officials also plan to review local ordinances, lighting and crowd-control measures; audit prosecution of downtown weapons and assault cases; and meet with state and federal officials about additional safety resources.

“I have been living in Columbia for quite some time now, a few years, and I think that even with the addition of extra enforcement of police, I still feel safe,” Yoon said. “I do feel like having more police does give a social, psychological effect on people, where people do tend to feel a little bit more nervous.” 

Choi also held a walk of downtown Columbia with local business owners on Oct. 5, providing leaders with an eyewitness account of potential public safety issues in the area.

However, local business leader Ken Rice, an executive for Pickleman’s told ABC 17 News that the walk wasn’t open to everyone. 

“I made the assumption, perhaps wrongly so that he wanted any business leader and myself having a business that’s right on East Broadway that’s open till 2 in the morning with friends and family that work in that site. I thought, ‘Hey, well I’d be the right person to join. So initially I was just going to join his walk, and then it became that his walk was not necessarily for everybody,” Rice said. 

Instead, Rice held his own walk downtown with four others. 

“In the past, I would see maybe four CPD cruisers patrolling the streets during the late-night hours,” Rice said. “At any given point where we were,  there were four police cruisers in sight.  I saw a number of sheriff deputies.  I saw Mizzou police. I saw state troopers, and for the first time, I saw the CPD officers,  there was about four of them walking up and down on the street on Broadway.” 

Before releasing the new enforcement rules, Choi sent a letter to county and city leaders that crimes ranging from homeless trespassers on campus to gun violence in downtown Columbia have created a dangerous environment for citizens and students. 

While Rice credited Choi with helping add the increased enforcement, he added that some of the college students may be adding to the problems. 

“A lot of the problems that happened, at least that at times, is the college students that, you know, get quite inebriated and, they create ​​problems from fighting to harassment and stuff, different things like that. So I think there’s a number of different issues,” Rice explained. “I think there’s a number of things we have to consider. We have to be careful of one group being targeted over another.”

ABC 17 News reached out to Stephens College, Columbia College and Moberly Area Community College.

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ABC 17 News Team

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Week 7 of the Missouri high school football season is tonight.

Scores from Mid-Missouri teams will be posted below.

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Haley Swaino

EDITOR’S NOTE: The correct county and highway where the crash occurred is now reflected.

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A 65-year-old Kansas woman was seriously injured Friday evening in a crash on Highway 50 in Gasconade County, according to a crash report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

The report says a 65-year-old Kansas man was driving a 2016 Harley Davidson Ultra eastbound while a 63-year-old man from St. Robert was driving a 2021 Ford Ranger westbound.

Around 4:00 p.m., the Ford Ranger traveled into the path of the motorcycle while entering the left turn lane at Route 28.

The bike hit the truck, throwing both the driver and his passenger from it, the report says. The 65-year-old passenger was seriously injured.

She was flown to Mercy St. Louis Hospital. The report says she was wearing a helmet.

The man was brought to Mercy Washington Hospital by ambulance with minor injuries. He was also wearing a helmet, according to the report.

No injuries were reported for the truck driver.

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Euphenie Andre

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The SEC Network is returning to the University of Missouri campus this weekend, bringing national live broadcasts and a chance for Tiger fans to be on camera.

This is the second time the network has visited Columbia this football season, and organizers expect large crowds at Walsworth Plaza outside Mizzou Arena.

The SEC Network will air three shows live from Walsworth Plaza between Friday and Saturday. Fans who want to be on the plaza’s pit can arrive early, gates will open as early as 6:15 a.m. for those hoping to secure a front-row spot. Attendance is first come, first serve.

Live schedule

The Paul Finebaum Show — 2-6 p.m. Friday

Marty & McGee — 8-9 a.m. Saturday

SEC Nation — 9-11 a.m. Saturday

To keep the broadcast area safe and camera-ready, event staff will enforce several policies. Signs will be inspected before entry and must follow ESPN’s sign policy, no profanity, no websites and no political or religious messaging. No bags, food or drinks are allowed in the immediate event area, and fans should be prepared for security screenings.

Traffic is expected near Memorial Stadium on Stadium Boulevard, Providence Road, and Mick Deaver Memorial Drive.

Drivers on Providence Road and nearby Truman’s Landing should expect to see the Mizzou Parking Shuttle operating and an increased number of ride-share drivers.

Tailgating lots will also open early at 6 a.m., and drivers should expect lots of fans walking around Memorial Stadium.

Jon Gilmore, an MU alumni, said he’s been following the Tigers for decades and is thrilled to see the program getting national attention.

“I got here in the fall of 1990 and we stunk, so there were a lot of really tough games to go to and usually spent most of the game at the tailgate. The last 10 years have just been enormous for Mizzou sports, Mizzou football especially,” Gilmore said.

Current students are feeling the energy too. Colin Lopez said the program is “on the rise,” while Liam O’Sullivan added, “Football is fun to watch. It’s always a good time after, and yeah, I’m very happy they’re [SEC Network] coming.”

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Nia Hinson

MARSHALL, Mo. (KMIZ)

The superintendent of Marshall Public Schools says the district plans to tighten its event supervision and safety protocols after a student brought a BB gun to a football game Friday night.

According to a social media post from the district, law enforcement and school administrators received reports from several students that a possible weapon was on campus. School Resource Officers and administrators found the student and their parents within minutes and determined the student had a CO2 powered BB gun that looked realistic.

“The situation was handled quickly and at no point was there an active threat to students or spectators,” the post says.

The post states the district has seen a few recent incidents involving students having knives or weapons outside of school this year. Those incidents have not resulted in an active danger to schools, the post says.

In response, the district is no longer allowing unaccompanied youth into all future home football games.

Youth who don’t have a parent with them will also not be allowed to be out of the stands in large groups, according to the post.

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Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Saturday marked the second weekend of an increased police presence in downtown Columbia that followed the September shooting that killed Stephen’s College student Aiyanna Williams.

Since the deadly shooting, the City of Columbia Police Chief announced that law enforcement would be increased downtown, Mayor Barbara Buffaloe announced plans to create a student advisory council, and the city rolled out its rideshare drop-off locations to streamline weekend traffic for safety.

While downtown on Saturday night, an ABC 17 News reporter observed larger crowds compared to last week, when UM President Mun Choi walked through the area. However, the reporter and several others noticed that while police and Boone County Sheriff’s deputies were still visibly present, there seemed to be fewer patrols than during the initial rollout, with increased foot patrols and Boone County Sheriffs present starting around 1 a.m.

ABC 17 News spoke with more than a dozen students, restaurant workers, and Columbia residents who shared mixed reactions to the heightened police presence. Some expressed concern that the added patrols were unnecessary and created more unease, adding that a recent CPD report showed Columbia’s shootings so far in 2025 are about half the number reported during the same period in 2024.

One student said Columbia should further increase security downtown. Others criticized police for focusing too heavily on jaywalking, arguing their time could be better spent elsewhere.

About half of the people ABC 17 News spoke with Saturday night said they noticed fewer disruptions downtown and felt a greater sense of safety.

“Yes, a big difference,” Disco of Disco’s To Go food truck that operates in downtown Columbia said. “There’s been less fighting, less shootings, they actually clear the streets kinda early.”

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Nia Hinson

PARIS, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Randolph County deputy was shot in a deputy-involved shooting in Paris on Sunday, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

A press release from the MSHP says Randolph County deputies and investigators with the Division of Drug and Crime Control were asked to help the Ralls County Sheriff’s Office with a homicide investigation just before 2 p.m.

Law enforcement went to a home in Paris to make contact with the person of interest. The person shot at law enforcement when they entered the home, striking a Randolph County deputy, the release says.

Officers shot back and left the home.

Just before 5 p.m, SWAT entered the home and found a man, who was later identified as Charles W. Armour, 57, of Paris, Mo. dead. The Moberly Police Department’s SWAT team had tried to make contact with Armour about two hours prior, according to the release.

The deputy suffered a non-life-threatening gunshot wound and remains hospitalized.

An ABC 17 News reporter saw the area of West Monroe and Walnut Street blocked off around 6 p.m.

MSHP’s Division of Drug and Crime Control is investigating.

Check back for updates.

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Euphenie Andre

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The City of Columbia rolled out five taxi and rideshare locations this weekend in an effort to help keep traffic moving. But some rideshare drivers said it’s been difficult to navigate this new system.

“It’s been a challenge,” is how most rideshare drivers are describing this weekend.

“Which when you’re dealing with kids that have been drinking all day or adults that have been drinking all day, it’s a great challenge just to get them out the front door to the curb much less a whole block and a half to two block away from their destinations,” Lili Waller said.

The production started 5 p.m. Friday and will go through until 5 a.m. Sunday, according to a press release from the city. Anyone ordering a rideshare downtown during these hours will be directed to the nearest designated pickup spot. Drivers will also be required to meet passengers at those locations.

Here’s where you can find them:

Broadway, north side — between Waugh Street and 280 feet east of Waugh

Cherry Street, south side — between Hitt Street and Tenth Street

Locust Street, north side — between Ninth and Tenth

Ninth Street, west side — first four spaces south of Elm

Tenth Street, west side — between Broadway and the alley just north of Broadway

Parking meters in these areas will be bagged, and signs will mark each stand, blocking about six to seven spots. One woman told ABC 17 the block-off is inconvenient for her, as she can’t even park in front of her apartment building on Locus Street.

Rideshare apps have been updated, so drivers and riders will be directed to the nearest stand automatically, the city said. The spots are apply to pickup only. The purpose of these zones is for pick-ups only, but an ABC 17 reporter has seen some passengers being picked up not at exact pinpoint locations.

City officials said the change should help traffic flow through downtown and keep pedestrians safer during the weekend rush.

“I do appreciate them blocking off locations close to our destinations, the main place of habit so that they can get in and out. I have seen it help a little bit,” Waller said.

However, they’re also running into problems with law enforcement.

“While we’re trying to load people in the car coming up and laying on their horn behind us, what we’re trying to get people in the car. I get you call are trying to do a good job. You’re exceeding it that good job. But at the same time, give us a little break too,” Waller said.

Drivers said it is difficult to move prominently with intoxicated passengers.

“We’re not trying to impede traffic, we’re not trying to hold up the line. We’re trying to get drunk people, intoxicated, inebriated. I don’t mean no disrespect to anybody that’s been drinking all day, celebrating and partying, but get them home safe,” Waller added. “It takes a lot to get them into a car and make sure they’re in the correct car to get them to their destination in a safe manner.”

The rideshares will contiune until 5 a.m. Sunday. The city said this is not a permanent downtown policy.

This comes after the downtown shooting that claimed the life of Aiyanna Williams. Since then, city leaders and officials have stepped up police presence in the area.

Last week, MU President Mun Choi led a public walk through downtown to address safety concerns. Following that, city leaders said they plan to conduct their own private walkthrough without media present to assess the area and discuss next steps without drawing major attention.

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Nia Hinson

MOBERLY, Mo. (KMIZ)

Two firefighters were treated for minor burns after a fire broke out at a home in Moberly on Sunday.

According to a social media post from the Moberly Fire Department, firefighters were called to a home in the 300 block of Austin Street just before 2 p.m. Smoke and flames were showing from all sides of the home, the post says.

Roughly seven firefighters responded to the fire and brought it under control.

No one was home during the time of the fire, according to the post. The investigation is ongoing.

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Matthew Sanders

The federal government shutdown is entering its third week.

Last week saw developments such as the mass firings of federal workers (particularly those in Health and Human Services) and the closure of the Smithsonian and the National Zoo. Looming on the horizon — a missed paycheck for American military members.

Democrats have stood firm on a demand that subsidies for Affordable Care Act insurance plans be extended, blaming the shutdown on Republicans’ unwillingness to compromise. Republicans, meanwhile, say Democrats could vote to support the House-approved funding plan at any time.

Who do you think is more responsible? Let us know by voting in the poll.

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