Category: kmiz-local-news

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Columbia woman has been charged after she allegedly drove into another vehicle and pulled out a gun on Saturday.

Hali Johnson, 40, was charged with second-degree assault, unlawful use of a weapon and armed criminal action. She is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond. An initial court appearance is scheduled for Tuesday.

The probable cause statement says that police were called to Primrose Drive on Saturday. Johnson allegedly followed the victim’s vehicle with her Ford Escape and blocked the road so the victims couldn’t drive away, the statement says. A Chevrolet truck also parked behind the victim’s vehicle, the statement says.

Three or four men and three or four youths then got out of the vehicles and started punching the victim’s vehicle, the statement says. Johnson also got out of her vehicle, screamed and hit it with her hands, the statement says.

Johnson then got back into her Ford and rammed it into the victim’s vehicle, court documents say. One of the victims claimed they saw Johnson holding a gun, the statement says.

Johnson allegedly admitted to police that she punched the victim’s windshield after they backed into her truck and claimed that she initially started chasing the victim because she thought a kidnapping was occurring, court documents say.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Columbia man was arrested over the weekend after he allegedly pointed a gun at officers while recording a video for social media.

Heath Bishop was charged with unlawful use of a weapon and armed criminal action. He posted a $5,000 bond on Monday, court filings show. An initial court appearance is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Thursday, June 5.

The probable cause statement says Columbia police officers were investigating another call on Saturday in the 2200 block of Primrose Drive when Bishop pulled out a gun from his residence. He allegedly held a pistol in the air, loaded it and then unloaded it before going back into his residence, court documents say.

Police earlier saw Bishop around 11:20 a.m. get into a maroon sedan and arrive at his residence, the statement says. Police wrote that at 11:29 a.m., they saw Bishop holding a gun and a cellphone. An officer pulled out a gun and told Bishop to drop the weapon, which he did.

Bishop allegedly told police that he did not want to hurt officers, but wanted to record a video for the social media application SnapChat.  

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Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Days after President Donald Trump signed an executive order ending federal funding for NPR and PBS, public broadcasting stations in Mid-Missouri stations are bracing for impact.

Trump alleged in Thursday’s executive order that public stations were biased and “government funding of news media in this environment is not only outdated and unnecessary but corrosive to the appearance of journalistic independence.”

Under the order, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting board will stop direct funding to NPR and PBS and will stop any future funding to the organizations. This includes any remaining grants or contracts. A legal battle lies ahead.

“We are currently exploring all options to allow PBS to continue to serve our member stations and all Americans,” PBS President and CEO Paula Kerger said in a statement Friday.

NPR President and CEO Katherine Maher in a statement called the order an affront to the First Amendment.

“With the creation of the Public Broadcasting Act, Congress explicitly forbade ‘any department, agency, officer, or employee of the United States to exercise any direction, supervision, or control over educational television or radio broadcasting,'” Maher said in a statement posted to NPR’s website. “This independence has informed the role of public broadcasting in the American interest for more than half a century.”

Public broadcasting in Mid-Missouri includes radio stations KBIA and KOPN in Columbia and television station KMOS in Warrensburg. KBIA reportedly has 30,000 listeners per week, KOPN reaches around 200,000 people and KMOS reports reaching nearly 1 million people, each station reports.

Both NPR and PBS are considering legal action as both entities are private and protected from government interference, CNN wrote on Friday. According to CNN, the CPB disburses $535 million in taxpayer funds to public radio and TV stations. This is first approved by congress and typically done a year in advance.

A 2023-24 financial statement reports that the KMOS’s total operating expenses for the year were a little more than $3 million. The station’s financial reports found that more than $1 million in their funds was from public broadcasting entities like CPB and fewer than $200,000 were from state departments. More than $400,000 were from subscribers.

General Manager of KMOS-TV Josh Tomlinson said the station is currently not seeing any impacts, but worries for the long-term.

“We also represent a largely rural area, our coverage area, 15% of it is in communities of 2,500 or last,” Tomlinson said. “While they’re give as much as possible and we’re grateful for every dollar of it, if we were to lose our federal funding, it would be devastating to KMOS because there is not a source of income within our viewing area to replace that money.”

Along with airing some nationally distributed PBS programs, KMOS also produces Missouri-specific shows that touch on local culture as well as politics.

“We may not have something for somebody all of the time, but we definitely have something for everybody at some of the time,” Tomlinson said. “We carry a show called ‘This Week in Missouri Politics’ that is produced by the Missouri Times and it is all about Jefferson (City), the legislature in Jefferson City, and some people perceive that as a right wing show but it’s only because we have a Republican super majority.”

A major concern Tomlinson has is the possibility of weather coverage being impacted.

“We cover a broad swath of central Missouri in Missouri, in 33 counties, nearly a million people and we have automated weather alerts that go out whenever there’s a tornado or a thunderstorm,” Tomlinson said. “In some of those areas where the only station that they can get, and so that would be one of the areas that was impacted.”

Another concern is the station’s partnership with the University of Central Missouri since a large portion of the staff are digital media production students.

“We generally have anywhere from 15 to 20 each semester, it’s not part of their curriculum, they’re actually paid students that work here and they produce real content,” Tomlison said. “We pride ourselves on being that real-world learning lab that makes students job-ready from day one and I would be devastated to see that loss personally.”

Tomlinson said that the station is currently making plans for future funding.

Executive Director of KOPN Dylan Martin said that he expects the station to stay afloat despite any impending cuts. He credits listener support with more than 50% of the station’s budget coming from public donors. The station also has a contingency plan with its board.

“I’m confident that we can weather the storm, but it’s going to hurt the public radio system as a whole and definitely create some some stresses here,” he said.

Martin similarly shared concerns for communities needing weather coverage and hearing from those in the area.

“These stations are the only source of not only news, information, culture, even entertainment, but they are also the outlets for the emergency alert system, those the tornado warnings and flash flood warnings that that people need to stay safe,” Martin said. “We reach a lot of those small communities and what we offer is, it’s right in our mission, we want to give a platform to underrepresented voices.”

KOPN similarly runs nationally distributed programs, as well as local shows.

“We’re providing options and we’re providing different ideas, different perspectives, and definitely don’t all align, they, they often contradict each other,” Martin said. “On Wednesdays at 10 a.m., we have a show called’ Open to Debate’ that actually spends an hour presenting a moderated debate between people with two totally different points of view on a subject.”

Martin added he is most concerned about the station’s volunteer training program possibly being impacted.

“That’s one of the things I’m most proud of about KOPN and one of the things that I would be most sad to see lost is just our volunteer training program. We sort of specialize in training people in… putting people in the broadcasters and training them  to become broadcasters,” he said.

“That is one of the most impactful things we do, is just providing that just sort of bootstrap kind of education, I guess you’d say, teach people (the) art and science and the law of radio.”

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A man who was convicted of murder in 2009 was charged with first-degree assault on Saturday.

Kenneth Wayne Beck, 52, was charged with first-degree assault, two counts of armed criminal action and one count of violence to an inmate. He is currently being held at South Central Correctional Center.

The probable cause statement says that Beck allegedly assaulted his cellmate at Jefferson City Correctional Center on Sept. 13, 2023. He allegedly admitted to assaulting the victim by hitting him and then using a food service tray to hit the man in the head, court documents say. Beck allegedly told jail officials that he took things “too far,” the statement says.

The victim had a number of fractures and cuts described in court documents.

Beck is serving a life sentence without parole for first-degree murder and armed criminal action in Montgomery County. He was found guilty on both counts on Jan. 20, 2009, for a killing that occurred on June 10, 2006, court filings show.

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Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Eastbound Interstate 70 was at a standstill Monday afternoon after a crash near the Millersburg exit in Callaway County.

No one was hurt in the crash at the 136-mile marker between Columbia and Kingdom City, the Missouri State Highway Patrol wrote in a social media post. The collision blocked one lane of eastbound I-70.

The patrol says two people are involved but no one was hurt. The scene was cleared at about 2:30 p.m., the highway patrol reported.

🚨Crash Blocking EB I-70 @ 136MM🚨

Troopers are investigating a two vehicle non-injury crash blocking the right lane on eastbound I-70 at the 136 mile marker (between Columbia and Kingdom City).

Please slow down & be careful when traveling through the area in the passing lane. pic.twitter.com/O0JyALBk5N

— MSHP Troop F (@MSHPTrooperF) May 5, 2025

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Haley Swaino

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Tariffs of 25% went into effect Saturday on a slew of auto-related materials, including the estimated $155 million worth of car parts imported into Missouri from Canada each year.

President Donald Trump signed a proclamation on March 26 to impose a 25% tariff on imports of automobiles and certain automobile parts.

Data from Connect2Canada says Missouri purchased $413 million worth of engines and turbines from Canada in 2024, making them the top Missouri import last year. Missouri also imports hundreds of millions of dollars worth of plastics, metals and other materials used in vehicles.

The tariff applies to imported passenger vehicles, including sedans, SUVs, crossovers, minivans, cargo vans and light trucks, the White House says. Key automobile parts such as engines, transmissions, powertrain parts and electrical components will also carry the 25% tariff.

Trump’s tariffs on imported cars took effect on April 3. Tariffs on Canadian auto imports could significantly impact Missouri, according to previous reporting, as Canada is Missouri’s largest trade partner.

The previous auto tariffs did not affect U.S.-made cars. But with most auto part imports now under a 25% import tax, the industry could be hit by high costs. While U.S.-made vehicles are fully sourced and produced in America, no car from a U.S. plant is built without at least some imported parts.

Americans bought about 16 million cars, SUVs and light trucks in 2024, according to the White House. 50% of those vehicles (8 million) were imports. And of the 16 million cars purchased, only 25% of the vehicle content can be categorized as Made in America.

Auto part tariffs could significantly increase the cost of assembly in the U.S. and hurt manufacturers. The White House says it would refund automakers temporarily to help offset part of the tariffs.

“The automobile manufacturer may apply for an import adjustment offset amount equal to 3.75 percent of the aggregate Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) value of all automobiles assembled in the United States from April 3, 2025, through April 30, 2026,” the proclamation states.

But a CNN analysis found the added costs of tariffs could still come to an average of $4,000 per vehicle even with that refund.

This cost could eventually affect the American consumer.

Auto tariffs could lead to price increases on new cars, used cars, maintenance and repairs, and even insurance premiums if a car involved in an accident has new parts. This could also further reduce the availability of affordable vehicles.

The total cost to own a operate a new vehicle in 2024 was about $1,025 a month, according to a report from the American Automobile Association. That was up more than $200 a month from 2021.

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Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Prosecutors charged a Columbia man Monday in connection with two shootings that happened weeks apart.

Joshua A. Abrams, 23, was charged with first-degree assault, armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon in an April shooting in Downtown Columbia and another shooting last week in north Columbia. He was arrested over the weekend and remained in the Boone County Jail on Monday without bond.

Abrams is accused of being one of multiple shooters downtown early on the morning of April 13, according to a probable cause statement. One of the shooters fired at a Columbia Police Department officer’s car, the statement says.

Two people were hit and went to University Hospital in a private vehicle, where police interviewed one of them. The other victim could not speak, the statement says.

The victim who spoke to police said he was leaving a bar when he was shot by someone he didn’t recognize, the statement says.

The shooters ran down an alley, climbed a fence and got into an SUV.

Abrams is also suspected in a Thursday morning shooting on Clark Lane. Officers found shell casings and bullet holes in the ground in the area where shots were heard, the statement says.

Police allege a victim later told police that her friend’s boyfriend got drunk at a restaurant, then fired off shots outside a residence after an argument. Another witness identified the suspect as Abrams.

Abrams and one of the witnesses sped off after shots were fired and eventually crashed into Hominy Branch creek, the statement says. Police found a 9 mm handgun with ammunition in the wrecked SUV.

Security footage from the area where shots were fired helped identify Abrams, the statement says.

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Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Sturgeon man was charged with murder Monday after a deadly weekend shooting in northern Boone County.

Dalton R. Perkins, 31, was charged with second-degree murder, armed criminal action and first-degree domestic assault in the death of a 56-year-old Sturgeon man. He plead not guilty in his arraignment Monday. The Boone County Sheriff’s Office has not identified the victim.

Deputies were called to the 18900 block of Route NN in northern Boone County at about 8 p.m. Saturday after Perkins shot the victim in a fight, according to the probable cause statement. The man had at least one gunshot wound to the torso and died at the scene despite being given life-saving aid.

The witness who reported the shooting said Perkins shot at them, grabbed their hair and threw them from the porch.

Deputies found Perkins nearby and arrested him.

He is due back in court at 1 p.m. Monday, May 12 for a bond hearing. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. Tuesday, June 10.

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Nia Hinson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

After a roughly two-hour discussion, the Columbia City Council on Monday night unanimously decided to table an item that would have removed language around diversity, equity and inclusion to its June 16 meeting.

The proposed change comes as those three words – commonly referred to as DEI – have been targeted by conservatives around the country and within the state.

The city wrote in its council memo that the proposed changes to its vision, mission, core values, priority areas and goal statements in its strategic plan are to comply with an executive order from President Donald Trump on Jan. 21 that targets the language used.

The city’s current definition of “equity” reads:

“We recognize the local government’s role in our community’s history of systemic oppression. We are committed to removing these barriers and rooting our priorities, decisions, and culture in the principles of diversity, inclusion, justice and equal access to opportunity.”

The changes being proposed by the city are:

“We will ensure all residents have fair access to services, opportunities, and resources regardless of their background, neighborhood, income, or identity.”

City Manager De’Carlon Seewood addressed council members, as well as dozens of community members who piled into City Hall Monday, saying the city doesn’t take making changes lightly.

“Once you start changing your language, do you change who you are?” Seewood said.

Seewood said the city received both state and federal letters that required the city to comply with the executive order. He said most of the city’s concerns are centered around the fact that the city could lose federal funding if it doesn’t comply.

“We’re jumping to the money, but we’re not really understanding the whole civil rights part of it, which is super important,” Traci Wilson-Kleekamp with Race Matters, Friends said. “That’s a disappointment and a failure as a city attorney I think, to not defend democracy.”

According to city spokeswoman Sydney Olsen, the city has received $48 million in federal funding since 2020. The city said it could stand to lose funding for things such as its WIC program, HIV prevention work, the transit system and the Columbia Regional Airport if it doesn’t comply.

Ward 5 councilman Don Waterman said he is conflicted about the issue.

“Part of it is I feel that some of it is our hands are somewhat tied you know because we’re talking about grants for some of the programs, we’re talking about some positions within the city that are funded by those grants,” Waterman said. “If we say no, how much of those are we putting at risk?”

Waterman said he was contacted by several residents he doesn’t typically hear from regarding the issue, which he says made him pause and think more about it.

Seewood said if the council chooses to vote no, the city can no longer sign future grants. Current grants that have been awarded to the city but are still waiting on a signed agreement could also face issues down the road.

All of those who spoke during the public comment portion of the meeting were against the proposed change. Several community members suggested the city either vote against the changes, table the discussion, or sue the federal government.

There were also discussions regarding removing the definition of equity entirely.

Those who spoke included former Ward 3 councilman Roy Lovelady. Lovelady told ABC 17 News after Monday night’s meeting that he felt it was his duty to speak out about the issue as an African American and member of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Lovelady said his biggest concern is around the sense of urgency from the city to make a decision. He said the city worked tirelessly to ensure that equity was implemented throughout all departments during his time on the city council.

“I was a part heavily getting equity throughout all of the departments in the strategic plan and to know that in the blink of an eye, in the snap of a finger or a mission statement or an executive order from Trump it could all be wiped away,” Lovelady said.

Mckenzie Ortiz, with Mid-Missouri Democratic Socialists of America said she would like more public communication about how the city plans to uphold equity if it makes changes.

Ortiz was an advocate for the city tabling the discussion.

“It (the current equity definition) went through the public process and it was something that the city and its residents decided that they wanted to be included in our strategic plan and to rescind it with such short notice is really a problem for us,” Ortiz said.

According to the council memo for the meeting, the council looked at modifying the language of the strategic plan, which includes:

Vision: Columbia is the best place for everyone to live, work, learn and play.

Mission: To serve the public equitably through democratic, transparent and efficient government.

Much of the language from the 2021 strategic plan will not change, however, one change would be the individual descriptions of the subcategories to the “Core Values” section of the plan.

The “Core Values” are described as:

Service: We exist to provide the best possible service to all.

Communication: We listen and provide responses that are clear, accurate and timely.

Continuous Improvement: We value excellence through planning, learning and innovation.

Integrity: We are ethical, fair, and honest stewards of our community’s resources.

Teamwork: We build trust and achieve results by working together.

Equity: We will ensure all residents have fair access to services, opportunities, and resources regardless of their background, neighborhood, income, or identity.

Other modifications can include rescinding prior policy resolutions related to the plan.

Council Memo 5-5-25Download

Olsen said regardless of changes to the language, the city itself will not change.

“We still want to provide the services we’re providing to residents. We still want to ensure that everyone has access to those and we’ll continue to do that,” Olsen said. “And I think we want to let residents know that our mission stays the same and we still want Columbia to be the best place for everyone to live, work, learn and play.”

The city said any changes will not impact its diversity, equity and inclusion officer role, which is held by D’Andre Thompson.

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