Category: kmiz-local-news

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A woman sued Columbia Urgent Care on Friday after claiming the business discriminated against her.

The plaintiff’s name is redacted in the petition, but she alleges in documents that CUC LLC and Dr. Jonathan Morris violated the Missouri Human Rights Act by committing sex discrimination during the duration of her employment, as well as creating a hostile work environment on the basis of sex and suffered retaliation.

The petition also alleges a breach of contract because the woman was never paid in full. Court documents say the plaintiff was hired in May 2023 for $75,000 a year, but never received consistent payment or payment equal to that salary. Court documents say she quit in July 2024.

The lawsuit alleges Morris made unwanted sexual advances toward the woman during her first week of employment, which included unwanted touching of private areas of the woman. The lawsuit also claims Morris pushed the woman into a bathroom and engaged in unwanted sex during that same week.

The woman and other female employees were sexually harassed by another male employee and concerns were “laughed off” by Morris, the lawsuit alleges. The petition also details other events of alleged misconduct throughout the year.

ABC 17 News reached out to Columbia Urgent Care on Providence Road by phone on Wednesday, but the business hung up after a reporter identified himself. ABC 17 News also reached out to Columbia Urgent Care by email on Wednesday and has not heard back.

The woman filed a charge of discrimination with the Missouri Commission on Human Rights on Dec. 27, 2024, and was given a notice of a right to sue on July 22, 2025.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Rocheport woman was sentenced on Monday to two years of supervised probation in connection with an overdose death from 2023.

Jeanne Hovis pleaded guilty on Monday in Boone County to delivery of a controlled substance. If she violates probation, she faces a three-year prison sentence. She was originally charged with second-degree murder and drug distribution.

A case is still pending against Jonathan Shelley, who is also charged with second-degree murder and drug distribution.

Two other people were originally charged in the case, but charges were dismissed against one “because of developments in the evidence,” according to a September email from Prosecutor Roger Johnson. Another person originally charged, Nathaniel Cross, died.

Court documents in previous reporting say Shelley was with the overdose victim, whom police found lying unresponsive in a bathtub. Another statement says Hovis arranged the purchase of crack cocaine and fentanyl the night of the overdose.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Missouri Gaming Commission on Wednesday issued 39 temporary retail and mobile sports betting licenses.

An email from an MGC spokesperson says the temporary licenses allow companies to test systems and equipment and “make any necessary preparations needed” before sports betting goes live in the state on Dec. 1.

The list of temporary approved licenses

DraftKings

Catalist Sports Inc.

Gaming Laboratories International, LLC – SW

GeoComply

Underdog Sports – SW

FanDuel Sportsbook

SportsContentCo

Circa Sports

GDC America, Inc.

Fanatics Sportsbook

Fanatics Sportsbook – ACKC

Fanatics Sportsbook – ACSC

Caesars Sportsbook

Caesars Sportsbook – Harrah’s Kansas City

Caesars Sportsbook – Horseshoe St. Louis

BMM Testlabs

Integrity Compliance 360 Inc.

Hollywood Casino St. Louis – SW

River City Casino – SW

SIS Content Services, Inc.

Penn Sports Interactive, LLC – Mobile

Penn Sports Interactive, LLC – Supplier

BetMGM

BetMGM – Supplier

Swish Analytics Missouri Inc.

Swish Analytics Inc.

Argosy Riverside Casino – SW

Kambi

International Betting Integrity Association

bet365

bet365 – Supplier

Century Casino Cape Girardeau – SW

Genius Sports Media Inc.

United Tote Gaming Services, LLC

Stadium Technology Group, LLC

Entain Holdings (UK) Limited

LexisNexis Risk Solutions

NYX Digital Gaming (USA), LLC

SUZOHAPP Gaming Solutions, LLC

Voters approved a proposition last year to legalize sports gambling in Missouri.

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Ryan Shiner

 COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A portion of Rock Quarry Road in Columbia is scheduled to be resurfaced next week through the first week of November, according to a Wednesday press release from the City of Columbia.

Contractors will begin a mill and overlay resurfacing project at 7 a.m. Monday, Oct. 27, on the portion of the road that is south of East Stadium Boulevard, the release says.

Crews will work daily from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. and one lane of traffic will be open at all times, the release says. Temporary lane closures will be required and traffic control signs and flaggers will be in the work zone, the release says.

The project is expected to be completed by 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 7.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Election packets for this upcoming April’s City Council elections in Columbia are available for pickup and filing begins on Tuesday, Oct. 28, according to a Wednesday press release from the city.

Races will be held for the Wards 1 and 5 council seats currently held by Valerie Carroll and Donald Waterman, respectively.

Petitions and instructions will be available at Columbia City Hall from 8 a.m.-noon and 1-5 p.m. on weekdays, excluding holidays. The deadline to file is 5 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. Election Day is Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

Candidates must obtain at least 50 signatures from residents who reside in the ward and are registered voters, the release says.

Potential candidates must be qualified voters and residents of the ward they wish to represent, the release says. They must also not hold “lucrative public office or any lucrative position in the City government during their terms,” the release says.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

James Egan in a Wednesday press release announced his campaign to become the Division 9 associate circuit judge in Boone County.  

The release says Egan is a Columbia resident who has spent more than three decades in public service. He first worked as an educator with “at-risk youth” before working as an attorney with the Missouri State Public Defender’s office for 22 years, according to the release.

From 2019-22, he served in the MSPD’s appellate division and later joined the MSPD’s Central Capital Office as associate trial counsel, where he handled death-penalty litigation, the release says. He currently serves in the MSPD’s Columbia trial office, the release says.

“Boone County deserves a judge who knows the law, understands people, and treats every person who comes before the court with dignity,” Egan said in the release. “My guiding principles are simple: follow the law, respect everyone, protect victims’ rights, and ensure decisions are fair, consistent, and transparent.”

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A man who was riding in a forklift was killed after the vehicle crashed Tuesday morning on Beechnut Street in Macon County, about three miles west of Ethel, a Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report says.

The crash report says the Caterpillar DC60 Forklift – driven by a 19-year-old Ethel man – was heading eastbound when it crossed the center of the roadway and went off the north side of the road. The forklift overturned and ejected a 21-year-old man from Ethel, who was a passenger in the vehicle.

The 21-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene and was brought to the Macon County Coroner’s Office, the report says.

The forklift had extensive damage. Neither person in the vehicle utilized a safety device, the report says. The driver had no reported injuries.

MSHP reports do not name those involved in crashes.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Missouri Lottery announced in a Wednesday press release that a Boone County man bought a ticket from a Columbia gas station that won him $3.2 million.

The Quick Pick ticket was bought at the Midwest Petroleum at 126 South Providence Road for the Oct. 15 drawing.

The man claimed the prize at the lottery’s headquarters in Jefferson City.

“That night, I was watching a movie and didn’t check it until later,” the winner was quoted in the release. “At first, I thought I had matched five of the six numbers, but then I looked again and realized I had all six!”

The name of the winner was not announced in the release.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Mexico, Missouri, man was charged after he was accused of brutally killing his ex-girlfriend’s dog after he broke into her home on Friday.

Allen Lyons, 34, was charged on Wednesday with second-degree burglary, second-degree animal abuse, first-degree harassment and armed criminal action.

The Mexico Department of Public Safety wrote in a press release that Lyons was arrested on Tuesday and brought to the Audrain County Jail. He is being held without bond. A confined docket hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. Thursday at the Audrain County Courthouse.

The probable cause statement says police were called around noon on Oct. 17 after the victim found her 5-year-old English bulldog dead in a bathtub filled with water with a 30-inch pipe. The woman told police Rousey, the dog, was healthy and behaving normally when she left for work. The woman came home from work for lunch, the statement indicates.

The woman had been receiving harassing text messages from Lyons for days, the statement says.

Police wrote that the crime scene indicated Rousey was “violently attacked in the bedroom” and blood was splattered on the walls, floor and furniture. Police wrote a “a large pool of blood, fecal matter, and urine was present in one corner of the room, with smears suggesting the dog had attempted to flee the attack.”

An examination from the University of Missouri’s Vet hospital indicated Rousey “suffered severe head trauma with puncture wounds and internal bleeding,” as well as injuries to the throat, court documents say.

Lyons allegedly first denied all of the allegations, but police were able to use GPS data that showed he went to the woman’s home after she left for work.

“When confronted with the GPS and video evidence, he stated officers could not see his face. When told that his face was visible, he ended the interview,” the probable cause statement says.

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Erika McGuire

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The new Trader Joe’s in Columbia will open Thursday, Oct. 30, the company confirmed Wednesday in a press release.

The store is located at 201 North Stadium Blvd at The Shoppes where a number of businesses including Men’s Warehouse, Five Below and other stores are located.

The grocery chain offers a variety of products including fresh produce, frozen meals, and alcohol.

“I truly believe the community all I have heard since I got into town is how excited the community is that we are going to be here,” Store Captain Pamela Volk said. “I’m not saying other communities aren’t as excited but the people, the people will make this unique,”

The opening has been in the works for nearly a year and employees are working on the final touches before the doors open to shoppers.

“We’re doing training, we’re doing stocking, we’re doing facing cleaning just getting the store prepped and ready for open,” Volk said.

The store has hired 77 employees, according to Volk, and are looking to hire at least 10 more. She said the pay range is between $14-$17 an hour. Paper application are available at the store or applications can be found online, Volk said.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held at 9 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 30 moments before the store officially opens, the release says.

Volk said the company came to the Columbia area because it’s what the community wanted.

“Trader Joe’s is also looking to expand where we put our stores. I know they are always looking for a great location and I think that our customers have really put that bug in their ear. We look at this community and we listen,” Volk added.

Trader Joe’s will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Traffic is an area of concern as the area is known for congestion with Home Goods, and Chick-Fil-A nearby.

Shopper Emily Smith said she expects the area to be packed like other Trader Joe’s locations.

“I think it will be different for sure I mean Trader Joe’s are known to be congested and busy and lots of people coming in and out,” Smith said.

However, Volk is optimistic about parking in the area.

“Good flow there just isn’t one ways and spaces are really wide and the isles are really wide so it should be just find in the first couple months,” Volk added.

But, shoppers like Kaitlyn Weigand says Trader Joe’s is worth the wait.

i”Ill sit through the traffic for trader joe’s I love it,” Weigand said.

Volk said employees will park further away from the store or in the back of the building.

The City of Columbia said in an email back in June that Trader Joe’s did not “necessitate”, as part of the permitting process, a traffic study be performed to identify potential upgrades.

In a statement the city said: “It should be noted that the city will be watching traffic volumes and impacts on the adjacent street network following the opening of these businesses to become aware of any adjustments that might need to be made to the signal timing at Worley and the Mall signal or any signage or striping that might be necessary on the surrounding streets. “

ABC 17 News reached out to Kroenke Group, who owns the Shoppes At Stadium to see how they plan to handle increased traffic but did not hear back.

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