Category: kmiz-local-news

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Issues with the internet at a test-taking site on Tuesday delayed the start of the bar exam in Missouri.

The National Conference of Bar Examiners announced in a Tuesday press release that “site-specific network bandwidth issue” caused the first day of the test to be delayed in Missouri. Issues were also reported in the state of Washington.

“The jurisdiction has modified tomorrow’s testing schedule to accommodate today’s delayed administration,” the release says about Missouri’s test takers.

The was the first year of using the NextGen Uniform Bar Examination, according to multiple press releases. The NCBE claimed in Tuesday’s release that the platform “performed as expected.”

The Missouri Bar announced in June that it would be one of the first states to administer the NextGen Uniform Bar Exam, along with Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Maryland and Connecticut, according to a map on the Missouri Bar’s website.  

The exam is held twice a year in Columbia, with the Wyndham Executive Center hosting the test for Tuesday and Wednesday.

One test taker at the site – who wished to remain anonymous because they were not sure what they were allowed to say — had confirmed to ABC 17 News that issues with Wi-Fi occurred at the center.

A second student — who wished to remain anonymous out of fear of possible retaliation — told ABC 17 News in an email that the test was delayed more than six hours.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A man charged with murder in a Fulton teenager’s shooting death in 2024 is set to go to trial next year.

Mitchell Henderson Jr., 46, of Columbia, is charged in Callaway County with first-degree murder, illegal gun possession and armed criminal action. He is being held at the Callaway County Jail without bond.

He is accused in the shooting death of Jakiem Braggs, 19, on July 16, 2024. Police responded to a shots-fired call that day in the 1200 block of Kathy Street and found Braggs dead in the street with gunshot wounds.

Two other adults charged in the killing had their charges dropped, while a juvenile was also accused in the case.

A jury trial was scheduled for 9 a.m. Monday, Feb. 1, 2027, while a pretrial conference was set for 1:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 25, 2027.

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Haley Swaino

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Columbia’s Opportunity Campus overnight shelter has been 85-90% full each night since its opening more than two weeks ago.

The 150-bed Waypoint Shelter opened on July 13. Shelter Director Jessica McNear said about 128-135 people experiencing hardship and homelessness in Boone County have been staying each night.

Amid an extreme heat wave in Mid-Missouri, McNear said the Opportunity Campus’ New Day Center is also welcoming in about 15 people to its overnight cooling center. That center is across the hall from the Waypoint Shelter.

Having both shelters has staff feeling “well prepared” for the winter.

“We have cots that we can utilize in our vestibule area so we can have overflow with appropriate staffing. And it’s been so convenient to have New Day next door,” McNear said. “So when we have people come in, and we might be at capacity, we’re able to just route them right next door to their warming and cooling area.”

While there are extra cots on hand in case of an influx, the Opportunity Campus also only allows people who became homeless in Boone County to stay at the shelter to avoid exceeding capacity. Staff described how it verifies residency.

“Most people are pretty forthcoming just in small talk and ‘Where are you from?’ and ‘Where are you coming from?’ and ‘How did you get here?'” McNear said. “And if they somehow get past the intake process into shelter and they’re from out of town, usually then we’re having conversations in case management about ‘Where did we become homeless?’ ‘Do we have outstanding rent payments?’ ‘Do we have outstanding utility bills or things that we need to take care of?'”

McNear said if someone is “turned away” from the Opportunity Campus because they are from outside Boone County, staff will still work to get them in touch with other shelters and resources.

“We’ve had some that have been sent from other areas that we’re unfortunately not able to bring into shelter,” McNear said. “We just don’t have the capacity to support other counties or the state at this point. So we’ve had a few drop-offs from other counties and places, but not as many as we maybe thought might happen.”

Since the old shelter on Ashley Street in Columbia closed and dissolved with others into the new 30,000-plus-square-foot facility, McNear said they haven’t had many new guests.

“The ones that seem to be new faces are either they’ve come for medical services and maybe gotten stranded, or other counties trying to maybe bring people in and drop them off,” McNear said. “And we’ve been pretty good about catching them at the door and rerouting either back to their community or identify transportation to help them get there.”

Outreach teams for the shelter, which include Columbia police officers, have been reporting seeing a few new faces outside the shelter.

“I think there’s more [people] potentially that haven’t come in to shelter yet that we’re hearing from our outreach teams. They’re seeing some new folks,” McNear said. “The majority, unfortunately, seem to be seniors who just are on a fixed income and they’re coming into homelessness for the first time. They just can’t make ends meet, or they had the death of a spouse.”

Some younger people have also been seeking shelter at the Opportunity Campus.

“We have quite a few younger folks coming in that have aged out of the foster care system, and I think are just kind of looking for where they can settle and get some support,” McNear said.

The Waypoint Shelter welcomes people 18 years old and older. The New Day Center’s age minimum is 21 years old. McNear said there can be exceptions.

“In an emergency situation. Let’s say it’s the middle of the night and there’s nowhere else for someone to go. In some situations, we may be able to bring someone in just for the night. That requires us to put them in a separate area, which requires me to pull a staff so that they’re supervision and make sure they’re safe. So it’s not something we can do regularly or often,” McNear said.

The shelter is one of few in Missouri that allows pets. McNear said while it has fluctuated, the shelter had five dogs in kennels on Tuesday.

“They’re all in quarantine while we wait on their rabies vaccinations to kick in,” McNear said.

And by the end of August, McNear said the campus will feel more like a school campus with classes.

“There is a lot of excitement and anticipation around that,” McNear said. “We have a big lineup of opportunities for our guests to get engaged and learn new skills.”

In the Opportunity Campus’ “next phase,” McNear said they’ll start offering support groups, basic life skills classes, like cooking, financial coaching and more.

“We have connections at local colleges that are willing to come in and have tutoring hours or study hours because we have people who are working towards their GED or their HiSET, or we even have college students,” McNear said.

Case managers have already been working with people to get them rehabilitated and connected with proper resources. McNear said the bringing together of about 30 local nonprofits in one location has been a game-changer.

“The sharing our offices and the collaborating has already started so that we know we’re not duplicating services. We’re not sending people down ten different paths. Everything about it has been really amazing and far exceeded my expectations in terms of starting a new program and a new facility,” McNear said.

Success stories are already emerging from the Opportunity Campus.

“I got a message from one of our case managers today that they were able to get someone housed,” McNear said.

The Opportunity Campus has a six-member security team that also is available to respond to concerns from nearby business owners and residents about people on their property.

McNear said the security team has expanded its reach down the Business Loop to North Garth Avenue, near Boost Mobile. Voluntary Action Center Executive Director Ed Stansberry told ABC 17 in early July that security was originally planned for residents and business in the surrounding block.

“We’re not law enforcement. If a crime is being committed, we can’t do anything about that. But if it’s someone that we can come down and ask questions and say, ‘Hey, are you lost or are you needing somewhere to go,’ we’re happy to do those things,” McNear said.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Columbia police officers on Tuesday evening blocked off the entrance to an apartment building in central Columbia.

Officers had an armored vehicle near Kinney Point Apartments near Garth Avenue and Sexton Road. A patrol vehicle was used to block off the area.

Officers left the scene by 8:20 p.m.

Randy Cole, CEO of the Columbia Housing Authority, which oversees the complex, said officers were serving a warrant in connection with something that happened over the weekend.

“CPD SWAT and detectives are on scene serving a search warrant for an event that occurred over the weekend.  Will let you know when I have more information,” Cole said in a message to ABC 17 News.

Cole later told ABC 17 News that the person officers were looking for was not at the apartment and is not a Columbia Housing Authority resident.

Check back for updates.

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Ellyse Edwards

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Lake Ozark Board of Aldermen decided on Tuesday to delay a vote on a proposed curfew that would prohibit anyone younger than 18 from being on the Bagnell Dam Strip without a responsible adult during late-night hours.

During the meeting, aldermen amended the proposed ordinance, changing the proposed curfew start time from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. They also added an exemption so business owners with employees younger than 18 years old would not face penalties under the ordinance.

Those changes prompted the board to postpone the vote until its next meeting.

The proposed ordinance would apply to the city’s C-1 business district, which stretches from Lake Ozark Christian Church to the Bagnell Dam Strip. If approved, the curfew would be in effect from 11 p.m.-5 a.m.

The proposal was introduced in July after Lake Ozark Police Chief James Boren raised concerns about minors attempting to enter bars on the Strip with fake IDs.

At a previous meeting, Boren showed aldermen a stack of fake IDs officers had confiscated from minors. He said the proposed curfew would reduce the number of underage people gathering on the Strip at night.

At Tuesdays meeting, some local business owners raised concerns.

“Every employee that works for me is under 18,” said Brian Hanley, owner of Grandpa’s Ice Cream and Pies. “Probably 50% of my customers, maybe 75% of my customers are under 18 and you’re driving them away.”

While other owners of bars. including Marty Byrds and Alley Cats, sent letters of support regarding the board’s proposal, along with support of other ordinances such as open container laws and minor-in-possession laws.

The proposal has also drawn opposition from former Lake Ozark Mayor Dennis Newberry, who previously said on social media that city officials should focus on enforcing existing laws.

According to city meeting minutes, the board unanimously approved the ordinance’s first reading in July after Alderman Tom Gattermeir suggested schools be notified if the proposal is approved.

The Board of Aldermen is expected to take up the ordinance again at its Aug. 11 meeting.

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Demetra Alarcon

COLUMBIA, MO. (KMIZ)

According to Feeding America’s new data through 2024, food insecurity numbers are up from 2023.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture defines food security as the condition in which all people, at all times, have access to enough food for an active, healthy life.

In 2023, Feeding America reported an estimated 951,330 food-insecure population in the entire state, making a 15.4% food insecurity rate in Missouri.

In 2024, Feeding America reported an estimated 997,750 food-insecure population in the state of Missouri, making a 16% food insecurity rate in Missouri.

Feeding Missouri, a partner of Feeding America, says that between 2020-24, food prices have increased by nearly 24%. Executive Director of Feeding Missouri Leigh Anne Haun said rising food insecurity is being fueled by multiple factors.

“Food insecurity is not the result of a single challenge. It is often the combination of higher costs, economic uncertainty, and difficult tradeoffs that families face every day,” Huan said.

2024 data shows in central and northeast Missouri, there are an estimated 134,030 food-insecure people, which is an estimated 7,830 people from 2023-24. With rising numbers Feeding Missouri says the food banks are being resilient.

“The charitable food network has always been resilient. Across Missouri, food banks and their community partners continue to work together to ensure families can access food close to home,” Huan said.

She also adds the importance of community. “The single greatest need right now is continued community investment. It takes donors, volunteers, businesses, community organizations, and policymakers working together to ensure Missouri families have access to nutritious food.” said Huan.

To combat rising food insecurity, The Food Bank for Central & Northeast Missouri serves 32 counties, including Adair, Audrain, Benton, Boone, Callaway, Camden, Chariton, Clark, Cole, Cooper, Howard, Knox, Lewis, Linn, Macon, Maries, Marion, Miller, Moniteau, Monroe, Morgan, Osage, Pettis, Phelps, Putnam, Ralls, Randolph, Saline, Schuyler, Scotland, Shelby and Sullivan counties.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

One of the men accused in the Isle of Capri casino robbery from late March has new options for his bond.

Benjamin Charles, 21, of Columbia, is charged in Cooper County with first-degree robbery, armed criminal action and tampering with evidence. He is currently in the Cooper County Jail. His original bond was $1.3 million.

A judge on Monday gave Charles two options for bond: A $1 million cash or surety bond or a $250,000 cash bond. A trial setting is scheduled for 9 a.m. Monday, Sept. 28.  

He is one of two men accused in the case. Hollis Vanleer Jr., 20, of Bloomington, Illinois, was arrested in his hometown last month. He is charged with first-degree robbery, armed criminal action and first-degree assault.

The pair, who were carrying guns when they entered the casino, allegedly took about $1.28 million from the main money drawer and that a patron had tackled one of the men, previous reporting from court documents shows. Vanleer hit the patron before the pair got away in a Ford Taurus, court documents in previous reporting say.

The vehicle was left in Howard County. Law enforcement found a receipt in the vehicle and were able to determine a card used in the purchase belonged to Charles, who was also determined to be an employee at the casino, the statement says.

Vanleer is also charged in Illinois in a separate case.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A member of the Mizzou football team’s past two seasons is seeking an extra year of eligibility.

Defensive tackle Sterling Webb filed a lawsuit on Tuesday in St. Louis County against the NCAA, claiming that he should have one more year of eligibility.

Webb is seeking a declaratory judgement and claims there has been a breach of contract.

Webb played at New Mexico State during the 2022 and 2023 seasons before transferring to Missouri in 2024 and completing the 2025 season. The petition alleges that Webb should have an extra year left after the NCAA made eligibility changes to an “age-based model” of five seasons in five years.  

Webb was 18 years old when he started playing college football in 2022 and will be 23 this year. The petition alleges that recent seniors are excluded while still fitting in the framework of the rule and this year’s incoming freshmen benefit more.  

“But the NCAA did not stop at adopting the new model. It attached a transition condition providing that student-athletes who had already completed a fourth season of competition before the model takes effect, without a ‘redshirt year’  in reserve, get nothing (the “Transition Exclusion”),” the lawsuit says.

The petition alleges MU has a roster spot available to him and cites a recent court case in Texas that allowed an offensive lineman at Texas to play an extra year.

The lawsuit says Webb is seeking a decision on the matter before fall camp starts for the Tigers on Monday, Aug. 3.

Mizzou Athletics gave its support for Webb in a statement sent to ABC 17 News.

“Mizzou Athletics is aware of today’s court filing to consider Sterling Webb’s college football eligibility status,” the statement reads. “We support Sterling as he pursues his legal options and will continue to monitor the process. Because this is an active legal matter, we will not speculate on the outcome or provide further comment at this time.”

A motion hearing is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Wednesday.

26SL-CC05297 – STERLING WEBB V. NATIONAL COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSODownload

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A man who allegedly pointed guns at passing vehicles near his Worley Street apartment on Friday night has been charged with felonies and misdemeanors in Boone County.

Glen Lee Parey, 53, was charged on Monday with unlawful use of a weapon, misdemeanor fourth-degree assault, first-degree harassment, misdemeanor misusing 911 and resisting arrest. He was also charged in a separate case for repeatedly misusing 911 in early June.

A public defender was appointed to determine Parey’s eligibility on Tuesday. A confined docket hearing is scheduled for 1 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 4. A preliminary hearing is set for 9 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 10. He is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond.

The probable cause statement from Friday’s incident says Parey called dispatchers and made several threats, including saying he was going to kill the 911 operator and that he was “ready for a fight.”

Another person had called 911 stating that a man was pointing two guns at vehicles that drove by the 1400 block of West Worley Street, the statement says. Police called Parey and he allegedly admitted to doing it for his “protection,” the statement says.

Police went to the residence with an armored vehicle and made commands for him to come out. Previous reporting indicates he was arrested after 4 a.m. Saturday.

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Matthew Sanders

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

State Sen. Rick Brattin and Secretary of State Denny Hoskins said at a news conference that an LGBTQ+-themed event held last weekend at the Columbia Public Library included “grooming” of children.

The Republican politicians are pushing for an investigation into an event called “Rainbow Story Time” that was held Saturday at the library. The event was billed as a “queer-led” story time appropriate for families.

Hoskins has threatened the library’s funding, saying the event might involve material inappropriate for children.

Brattin, who sits on the Senate’s education committee, said the event sexualized children, emphasizing its acceptance of dressing in drag.

Hoskins said at the news conference that he plans to revisit the rule on funding for libraries because of the controversy. He called out one of the books from the story time, “Big Wig,” as “grooming” material because of its theme, which involves dressing in drag.

Hoskins said he would push for a law to outlaw these types of events.

“If it’s not illegal, then we’re going to be working with the legislature,” Hoskins said. “I had several legislators that have called out to me and said, ‘Hey, if this is not illegal, we want to file bills to ensure this is illegal in the future.'”

Hoskins added that his office has allocated over $1.2 million to the Daniel Boone Regional Library over the last four years.

“I’m going to revisit the rule on the and the formula allocation that goes to each public library to make sure that events like this aren’t funded with taxpayer dollars,” Hoskins said.

Brattin said the material at Rainbow Story Time was not “G-rated.”

Hoskins said he did not read either book, only excerpts through photographs of the books online.

“I did not, I think you had to pay for it, and most certainly I wasn’t going to pay for any of that crap,” Hoskins said.

Brattin did not mention if he read the books.

Under Chapter 573 of the Missouri Constitution, for material to be “pornographic for minors” it must meet all three requirements: cater sexual content to minors or, “cater or appeal to a prurient interest of minors,” clearly show nudity or sexual acts and lack “serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value for minors.”

While specific examples of illegal material was not show, Brattin warned the books were grooming children.

“It’s pushing a narrative of a movement that tends to want to grow, and that’s what we’re protecting, it’s making sure that not one lifestyle that is sexualizing children is being pushed upon them.” Brattin said. “You take toddlers and you say it’s okay for drag shows, that it’s okay for cross-dressing, then it’s okay for men to be in the locker room and in the bathroom with you, you dismantle the guard of which we’re supposed to be putting kids and protecting kids, so it’s absolutely a grooming”

The comments prompted a response from state Rep. Wick Thomas, D-Kansas City, a former librarian, who held a news conference Tuesday focused on public libraries, intellectual freedom and access to community programming.

Thomas said the threats from state officials were unfounded and emphasized that families chose to attend the story time.

“It was a lovely storytime attended by dozens of families who all chose to be there. These books being accessible to our communities is not what they said it was. I do not believe in government censorship, and all of these families chose to be there.”

Thomas also defended the role of librarians in choosing books for their communities.

“I think it’s also important that librarians are uniquely poised to be able to represent their community and buy books for their community that the community wants. Queer youth exist. I know because I was one of them. I came out at 16 in rural Missouri, actually, in the same district that Senator Brattin represents now, which is why it is especially infuriating that his. language and this political stunt that he’s using for his campaign is going to harm kids like me. Kids who grew up in rural Missouri who were just looking for community while legislators in the Missouri State capital made their lives harder.”

The Daniel Boone Regional Library said Tuesday that it received Brattin’s request for information Friday and is in the process of gathering the requested documents.

In a statement to ABC 17 News, the library said Rainbow Story Time was “in full compliance with all statutes and regulations.” The library said the program consisted of age-appropriate picture books, songs and activities suitable for toddlers and preschoolers, and that “Absolutely no materials prohibited by current laws were presented to any child in attendance.”

The library added its programs receive age-appropriate designations and that it maintains policies regarding parental control over a minor’s access to materials, as well as a process for parents or guardians to challenge those designations.

Thomas said the controversy could also have broader implications for public education and library funding.

“We do not need threats from government officials. We are one of the last in teacher pay. What we need is to be funding education, not threatening librarians. What they have received this week was threats of complete defunding and potentially registering librarians as sex offenders for having books like Rainbow Saurus,” Thomas said. 

Rep. Kathy Steinhoff (D-Columbia) told ABC 17 News before the news conference that she has not heard complaints from Boone County residents on the event.

“I hate that these elected officials are trying to make this a political moment for them because our library is a fantastic example of serving our community and the needs and the interests of our community. And this programming is not of concern,” Steinhoff (D-Columbia) said. “It is nowhere near the allegations that they are making, it is not any infringement of our law, it is just good literacy and community engagement happening in our local library.”

Rep. Stephen Webber (D-Columbia) posted on X Tuesday in opposition to Brattin.

“Brattin has been one of the biggest anti-trans, pro-gun nut legislators in Jefferson City and now he’s going after our Boone County public library,” Webber said in a post.

Brattin has been one of the biggest anti-trans, pro-gun nut legislators in Jefferson City and now he’s going after our Boone County public library. 1/3 https://t.co/G80ULq0qk0

— Stephen Webber 🇺🇸 (@s_webber) July 28, 2026

In a statement Tuesday, the Daniel Boone Regional Library told ABC 17 News they received Brattin’s Sunshine Law request and are currently collecting the requested documents.

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