Category: kmiz-local-news

Haley Swaino

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Two massive data center projects are moving forward in Montgomery County — one as part of Amazon’s data center campus.

The Montgomery County Commission received an administrative review confirming land approval for the proposed data canters near the Interstate 70 and Highway 19 interchange.

Project Green is by Kansas City’ real estate company NorthPoint Development, LLC. Steve Etcher with the Greater Montgomery County Economic Development Council said Amazon wants to build a data center just north of I-70, between New Florence and High Hill.

Project Green would cover about 1,000 acres. Plans include four initial buildings, with 13 more to be built in a second phase. Power would come from Ameren under its new “large load tariff” model. Water would come from the Montgomery County Public District.

The other project is by a New York-based company called Spade Property Owner, LLC. Project Spade would cover about 780 acres, according to documents. Plans include three large primary buildings — each with more than a million square feet under its roof.

A security guard station, visitor center with parking, a pump house and water filtration building are also in the plans.

Building permits have not yet been secured, according to the Montgomery County Commission. The next step in the development process will be the purchase of the land.

A town hall is set for 6:30 p.m. Monday at Montgomery City Elementary.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Trent Vallandingham announced his bid for the Jefferson City Board of Education in a Wednesday press release.

Vallandingham is the second person this week to announce their candidacy. Michelle Rodemeyer announced her bid earlier this week. Three seats on the board are up for election. Candidates can begin filing across the state on Tuesday, Dec. 9.

The release says Vallandingham is a lifelong Jefferson City resident and graduated from Jefferson City High School in 2002. The release says both of his parents were teachers and he is married to an educator who has worked as a teacher and administrator.

He works in medical device sales with Arthrex, which he claims gives him “a strong background in communication, teamwork and problem-solving,” according to the release.

Focuses of his campaign include ensuring a high-quality education for students, representing the community and supporting teachers and staff “by championing the resources, respect, and leadership they need to thrive,” according to the release.

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Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The state senator who represents Columbia clapped back on social media after Gov. Mike Kehoe shared images of his meeting with University of Missouri President Mun Choi.

Kehoe posted on social media with photos of him and Choi meeting with public safety officials, including Missouri State Highway Patrol leaders.

“This week, our state public safety leadership met with University of Missouri leaders to discuss our ongoing efforts to combat crime in Columbia,” Kehoe wrote. “We will not accept crime in Columbia or anywhere else in our state—and our administration is committed to working with local communities to support law enforcement and a safer Missouri.”

MU spokesman Christopher Ave said that the university is happy to have Choi’s support, using Columbia Police Department crime statistics to bolster his argument.

“The university values the governor’s support for public safety in Columbia and around the state,” Ave wrote. “Crime in downtown Columbia is 50% higher this year compared to last year. This is unacceptable. City leaders must address this issue. We can no longer accept delays, deflections and excuses.”

State Sen. Stephen Webber (D-Columbia) shared Kehoe’s post on the social media platform X, but added that he was filing legislation to address the issue.

“As Columbia’s Senator I went to the Columbia Police to ask what I can do to be most helpful at the state level,” Webber wrote. “They said to make it illegal for children to carry guns in public. So I prefiled that (SB 922). I look forward to your vocal support of this LEO requested policy.”

The law would create an offense of illegal gun possession by a minor, with some exceptions. The legislative session begins next month.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Moberly Joint Communications wrote in a Wednesday press release that it has been taking fire calls for several Randolph County agencies since Nov. 3.

It now handles dispatch calls for the Westran Fire Protection District, Eastern Fire Protection District, Northeast Fire Protection District, Higbee Fire Protection District, Southeastern Fire Protection District, Moberly Fire Department, Moberly Police Department and Randolph County Sheriff’s Office.

“The Randolph County Commission is pleased to announce the opening of the Joint Communications Center,” Presiding Commissioner Sid Conklin said in the release. “This partnership with Moberly Police Department, Randolph County Sheriff’s Department, Randolph County Rural Fire Departments and Randolph County Ambulance District will enhance the services provided by our public safety agencies. This endeavor is truly a joint venture to make Randolph County a safer place to live and work.”

The release says the move is the first step of a “two-step process.” Medical calls are currently handled by the Randolph County Ambulance District, but all 911 calls are expected to be handled by Moberly Joint Communications in June 2026, the release says.

Randolph County new has just one non-emergency dispatch phone number: 660-263-0346

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Nigerian national who admitted earlier this year to fraudulently obtaining a student visa and other documents was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in federal court, according to a Wednesday press release from the Department of Justice.

Mercy Ojedeji pleaded guilty in federal court in April to unlawful use of fraudulent immigration documents and one count of wire fraud. The release says he also serving a nearly eight-year sentence for aiding online scammers and committing pandemic and mortgage fraud after acting as a money mule in another case.

Previous reporting says Ojedeji used fake academic transcripts, recommendations, resume and a report about his English proficiency to get the visa from the University of Missouri and be admitted to its chemistry PhD program for the 2023 fall semester.

He also received a stipend and a tuition waiver worth more than $49,000. Ojedeji used the student visa to get a Social Security card from the Social Security Administration and used the number and other documents to open a bank account.

He never attended class and was kicked out of the graduate program in January 2024, the release says.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Scholastic is selling its headquarters in New York and its distribution center in Jefferson City through a lease-back deal, according to a press release from the company’s website.

A leaseback occurs when a business sells a location to another party and leases it from the buyer.   

Scholastic is selling the Jefferson City location “to funds managed by affiliates of Fortress Investment Group (“Fortress”) for gross proceeds of $95 million in cash,” the release says. Its New York location is being sold to Empire State Realty Trust for $386 million, the release says.

The Jefferson City distribution will have a 20-year lease with two 10-year extensions available, the release says.

“The Board ultimately determined that these transactions offered a compelling and attractive opportunity to enhance Scholastic’s balance sheet and maximize value for shareholders, while streamlining Scholastic’s footprint with minimal disruption to operations and employees,” the release says.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A popular bar in Columbia will close for 15 days after its liquor license was suspended by the state.

Tropical Liqueurs – colloquially known as “Trops” by locals – will shut the doors of both of its locations in town beginning on Thursday, the business announced on its social media page. Trops is located at 515 East Broadway in downtown Columbia and 3805 South Providence Road on the south side of town.

The business wrote that the Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control determined it was not in compliance with the state’s to-go alcohol law.

“According to their report we are still not in full compliance with the new state to-go alcohol law, even after all the changes we have made… a finding we respectfully (and loudly, in our heads) disagree with,” the social media post says. “We’re also fully aware that these rules aren’t exactly enforced equally across the state, but hey, here we are… So we’ll use this little break to make sure every operational detail is lined up perfectly with the state guidelines, down to the tiniest technicalities so that we can continue to serve our beloved slushees.”

Trops’ downtown location has a sign on its front window stating “Liquor laws say your drink needs a snack buddy! Buy Some popcorn and your drink can hit the road! Thanks for keeping it legal (and tasty)!”

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The business wrote on its social media that both locations are expected to reopen Friday, Dec. 19.

A similar complaint was filed by the Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control in 2024, but a closure was avoided after an appeal was filed by the business.

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Marie Moyer

FULTON, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Carver School Apartments, once home to Fulton’s George Washington Carver School, opened Wednesday, adding 33 affordable senior apartments to the city’s housing stock.

Victor Pasley, a member of the George Washington Carver Cultural Center and former student at Carver school from 1952-60, was inspired by a similar project in Sedalia that a friend told him about.

“He showed me a school that had been renovated from an elementary school like Carver into senior apartments,” Pasley said. “So I went through the school and saw it, and I said, ‘That’s exactly what we need in Fulton.'”

MACO Development Company began renovations on the building at the end of October 2024, after around four years of funding negotiations, with historic building credits and state and federal housing credits helping cover costs.

The apartments are not furnished, but include a bathroom and a kitchen. Some units have multiple bedrooms, expanded bathrooms and lower kitchen counters for residents with mobility issues or who use a wheelchair.

“It is a definite need, affordable housing,” Fulton Ward 1 Councilman Bill Hinchie said. “That’s one of the things we’re trying so hard as a City Council to develop, is a lot of affordable housing. This is a great check mark to get affordable housing for people 55 and older.”

Carver School was built in 1937 and served as an all-Black school until it was integrated by the Fulton Board of Education in 1970. The school hosted sixth-grade classes until its closure in 1982.

Matt Gowin, a former student, has been following the building’s years-long development process and is happy with the work the board and local community members have put into the project.

“As I walk through the hallways, I remember fond memories, my friends, the purpose of each of these rooms, the hardwood floors that have been maintained, the gymnasium is beautiful, just a lot of great memories,” Gowin said.

LaVerne Williams, who attended Carver School in 1960, has also been following the construction process.

“Starting school here, and to see the building just go down, it really hurt, but is so wonderful to see now that it’s built up, and it’s just exciting,” Williams said.

The building also features a gymnasium, office lounge and workout room. Several apartments also have the original hardwood flooring and chalkboards.

“You walk into some apartments, and they have a chalkboard there where folks can put their grocery list for the day, there’s just a lot of neat features like that,” Pasley said.

During the grand opening, a sign was featured that said rental applications can be picked 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday through Thursday at 310 Christopher Lane in Fulton. The office can also be contacted at 573-310-6086.

MACO added rental applications are open and can also be obtained through the George Washington Carver Cultural Center.

“We have this beautiful facility now that … Carver School will be here forever now,” Pasley said. “As the citizens of this town move up and down the street, Westminster Avenue, and they see this school, it brings back incredible memories.”

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Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Wednesday is National Signing Day for high school football players to select which school they will attend.

Mizzou football’s Eli Drinkwitz held a news conference at noon to talk about Missouri’s signings. Watch it in the video player.

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Alison Patton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission has chosen a Columbia-based contractor to head up the team designing and building a section of the widened Interstate 70 between Columbia and Rocheport.

The commission awarded Emery Sapp and Sons and Parsons Transportation Group as contractors for a $441 million project to widen and improve I-70 from the Missouri River bridge at Rocheport to the Highway 63 connector in Columbia.

The ESS Team will begin construction at the earliest in the spring and work to put in an extra lane in both directions, according to MoDOT. The project will also update the Missouri River bridge in Rocheport and the interchange in Columbia.

Emery Sapp and Sons Executive Vice President Josh Doerhoff said the complex infrastructure in Columbia is what makes it a multi-billion dollar project.

“The complexity, the added interchanges, the enhancements to all those interchanges come at a dear cost, but we’re returning that at high value and reliability and safety features at each of those locations,” Doerhoff said.

The Columbia to Rocheport project is nearly three times the cost as projects with similar mileages.

The 13-mile-long project is expected to start in the spring and finish in 2029.

The ESS Team and MoDOT said they will keep two lanes open during peak travel times when construction starts.

The commission selected the ESS Team out of two other potential contractors, Ames Millstone Weber Joint Venture and the Lunda Team.

The Lunda Team replaced the I-70 Missouri River bridge near Rocheport in 2021. The Parsons Transportation Group was a part of the 2021 crew and is now working with Emery Sapp and Sons on the 2026 project.

The Rocheport-to-Columbia work is part of a project to widen I-70 from suburban St. Louis to suburban Kansas City.

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