Category: kmiz-local-news

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Gov. Mike Kehoe approved the state’s $50.8 billion budget on Monday.

The approval of the budget included 208 vetoes, totaling $2,233,729,313; according to a list of vetoes provided by the governor’s office. A press release says that nearly $300 million in general revenue was cut, and 32 expenditure restrictions totaling $211 million in general revenue.

Some notable vetoes include $11 million for sewer system improvements in Ashland, $2 million in Highway 63 improvements in Columbia, $1 million for Harrisburg Sewer system extensions and $500,000 for storm water improvements in Boone County.

Kehoe vetoed $4 million for the construction of a youth sports park in Boone County out of the $12 million that was added for the project, the list indicates.

Greg Logsdon, who is on the board of the Mid-Missouri Sports Park, told ABC 17 News that the group is thankful for the $8 million, which will be used to build an indoor basketball gym off of East Broadway, near El Chaparral Avenue.

Logsdon said that eight youth basketball courts will be built for local and national events.

A list provided by the governor’s office show s that $760,000 for a Columbia mobile structural fire training unit was struck down, as was $500,000 for the Welcome Home Program and $120,000 for the Columbia Housing Authority.

View a full list of the vetoes in the document below.

Fiscal_Year_2026_Veto_SummaryDownload

Check back for updates.

Click here to follow the original article.

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Jefferson City Police Department announced road closures in a Monday press release for Friday’s annual Independence Day celebration in downtown Jefferson City.

Road closures will start at 6 a.m. Friday and are expected to reopen by 2 a.m. Saturday. The event begins at 2 p.m. in the 200 block of Broadway, 100 blocks of East High Street and around the Capitol grounds, the release says. The Salute to America parade will start at 4 p.m., the release says.

The event is expected to end at 11 p.m.

A map of the 2025 Salute to America festival in downtown Jefferson City. [Courtesy of Salute to America’s website]

Click here to follow the original article.

Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Columbia man charged with a violent robbery in downtown Columbia was set to make his initial court appearance Monday afternoon.

Michael L. Langston, 44, is charged with first-degree robbery and second-degree assault for allegedly beating a victim at the Zephyr gas station on Providence Road on Friday morning.

A probable cause statement says Langston approached the victim and demanded money. Langston punched the man in the face, knocked him to the ground and stole money from his pockets, the statement says.

The victim was treated for a broken nose and fractured eye socket and had skinned knees and bruises, according to the statement.

Police obtained video of the assault, and investigators shared photos of the suspect. A detective pulled over a vehicle early Friday afternoon, and Langston came out of a house at 202 Hickman Ave. before going back inside, the statement says.

Langston took off his clothes once inside, but police arrested him and found the clothes in the house, according to the statement.

He remained in jail Monday afternoon without bond. A hearing was set for 1 p.m.

Click here to follow the original article.

Olivia Hayes

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

As negotiations remain at a standstill, officials from MU Health Care and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield will testify before a Missouri Senate Committee Monday afternoon.

Since April 1, over 90,000 patients previously covered by Anthem have been in limbo, with many struggling to pay for care out-of-network.

Troubles started after a steep request by MU Health Care for an 11-13% increase to cover inflation costs, while Anthem offered a 1-2% increase. MU Health Care reported that they lowered their proposal, but Anthem claimed their offer was still not doable. Anthem also said it offered MU multiple offers, including annual rate increases above the Consumer Price Index which MU Health Care declined.

Officials with the Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance and the Missouri Consolidated Health Care Plan will also testify at the hearing. The hearing will begin at 1 p.m. in the Senate Lounge.

Click here to follow the original article.

Matthew Sanders

After weeks of work behind the scenes, the U.S. Senate voted this weekend to start debate and amendments to the “one big, beautiful bill,” President Donald Trump’s signature piece of legislation.

Debate over the bill has been fierce, particularly over provisions that will cut Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program funding while delivering large tax cuts. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) has said he will not vote for a bill with Medicaid cuts but was among the slight Republican majority that voted to begin debate on the bill.

The Senate is working toward a swift vote on the full bill. If approved, it will have to return to the House for a vote. Trump says he wants the legislation on his desk for a July 4 signing.

Do you think Missouri’s senators should support the bill? Let us know by voting in the poll.

Click here to follow the original article.

Nia Hinson

COLUMBIA, MO. (KMIZ)

A St. Louis woman was seriously injured Saturday at the Lake of the Ozarks after being thrown from a tube.

According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, the incident happened near the 45 mile marker just before 6 p.m. A 2001 Lowe Pontoon was towing a tube that the 30-year-old woman was in.

The boat was turning and the woman was ejected from the tube, the report says.

She was taken to Lake Regional Hospital by ambulance with serious injuries.

The driver of the boat– a 74-year-old man from Gravois Mills– was not injured.

Click here to follow the original article.

Keriana Gamboa

Columbia Mo. (KMIZ)

Today, the Guiding Light Missionary Baptist Church held a Juneteenth celebration in collaboration with the NAACP Fulton Chapter and the City of Fulton Human Rights Commission.

The celebration featured live entertainment, inspirational speakers, and face painting for children.

Attendees gathered to hear respected community leaders emphasize the importance of honoring the holiday.

One of the speakers, D-Markus Thomas-Brown, Administrator for the City of Columbia’s Office of Violence Prevention, shared that Juneteenth is not just a time for remembrance; it’s a call to action within our own communities.

“Just to remind people that there’s work to do this there’s work that we can do in our neighborhoods and in the places we live, work, learn and play to bring a better Columbia and Fulton,  for that matter. And that time into the history of Juneteenth,” Thomas-Brown said.

Several individuals were honored at the event for their outstanding contributions to the community.

Click here to follow the original article.

Haley Swaino

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Traffic is backed up on portions of Interstate 70 in Callaway County Sunday morning as state troopers respond to multiple crashes and assist stranded drivers, according to a post from the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

Rain covered the roadway eastbound and westbound in the construction zone, the post says.

An ABC 17 News reporter saw one single-vehicle crash on I-70 East near mile marker 135 around 11 a.m. on Sunday. The vehicle appeared to have hit the median and Callaway County EMS and multiple sheriff vehicles were seen responding to the crash.

ABC 17 News saw traffic backed up to at least mile marker 128 past Interstate 70 Drive. Many drivers were seen leaving the congested highway and taking I-70 Drive.

A Boone County Joint Communications alert said that another crash at mile marker 131 on I-70 was blocking the left lane of traffic eastbound around noon.

Check back for updates.

Click here to follow the original article.

Haley Swaino

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

State troopers are investigating a deadly multi-vehicle crash Sunday morning on Highway 54 in Camden County, according to a post from the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

The crash happened on westbound Highway 54 at Old 54 Road, the post says.

Due to the roadway being blocked, MSHP asked drivers to avoid the area and take a different route.

Check back for updates.

Click here to follow the original article.

Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Missouri Senate’s Insurance and Banking Committee is set to hear testimony from University of Missouri Health Care and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield on Monday, in an effort to break the stalemate in insurance negotiations.

The hearing was scheduled earlier this month by Sen. Sandy Crawford (R-Buffalo) at the suggestion of Senate President Pro Tem Cindy O’Laughlin (R-Shelbina).

Since April 1, over 90,000 patients previously covered by Anthem have been in limbo, with many struggling to pay for care out-of-network.

The negotiations hit a standstill around this time when MU Health Care asked for an 11-13% increase to cover inflation costs, while Anthem offered a 1-2% increase. MU Health Care reported that they lowered their proposal, but Anthem claimed their offer was not doable.

Since the disagreement, MU Health Care released the financial report for the second half of its previous fiscal year, reporting a profit of over $50 million in operations. MU Health Care was covered by Anthem for the majority of the report, only being off-contract for a month.

Both MU Health Care and Anthem have been called to testify on Monday, as well as the Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance and the Missouri Consolidated Health Care Plan.

In a statement Thursday, University of Missouri Board of Curators Chair Todd Graves said that MU Health Care plans to stand up to Anthem.

“As Curators, we understand the importance of these negotiations for ensuring the long-term sustainability of our health system and preserving local access to care for rural Missourians,” Graves said.

In a statement Sunday, Anthem claimed to have offered MU multiple offers, including annual rate increases above the Consumer Price Index which MU Health Care declined.

“We have a strong, fact-based story to tell about our efforts to protect affordability, support our members, and reach a fair agreement,” an Anthem spokesperson said. “MU Health Care has made future meetings conditional on Anthem first meeting their terms.”

The hearing will begin at 1 p.m. in the Senate Lounge.

Click here to follow the original article.