Category: kmiz-local-news

Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

More than 100 volunteers woke up early Saturday morning to help with Columbia’s first-ever NCAA Division I National Championship.

Katie Martinez, the University of Missouri Assistant Athletics Director for Student Athlete Development and Volunteer Coordinator for Saturday’s event, told ABC 17 News that recruiting for volunteers started back in July through an interest form.

“We assign [volunteers] a few weeks ago to their roles and how they’re going to execute at this event and help us out,” Martinez said. “We have also multiple staff and students helping us out.”

Martinez said that she’s excited to help out with such a historic event for the city.

“This is such a great opportunity for us to showcase, ‘What does Columbia have and how is it a hidden gem in the state of Missouri?’ We have such a fantastic course to show off,” Martinez said.

University of Missouri senior Blake George got the opportunity to volunteer through his sports management class.

“It’s a little intimidating just because of how big of an event it is and how historic it is for the university, but it’s a great opportunity,” George said.

Volunteer roles included checking in and greeting visiting teams on Friday and Saturday, running the event’s merchandise booth, and stepping in wherever needed.

“All the volunteers are so upbeat. They started checking in at 5 a.m., and they’re like, ‘Where do you need me? Where do you want me?’ They’re taking the initiative to make sure that we can put our best foot forward,” Martinez said.

Event volunteer and Mizzou Cross Country Alum Bonnie Belfield was also excited to help out, adding that the energy at cross country events is special.

“When I heard that they were hosting this for the first time, it was very easy to say, ‘Yes, I will be there,'” Belfield said. “It’s really amazing, the facility is spectator-friendly, which is what you really need with a cross-country course.”

Other volunteer opportunities can be found on the University’s website.

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Alison Patton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Around 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, about 200 cars wrapped around the Parkade Center in Columbia, nearly two and half hours before the Powerhouse Community Development Corporation was supposed to start giving out free turkeys and food boxes.

The giveaway had to start 15 minutes early because about 500 cars had pulled into the parking lot and some were stalling traffic in the roadway, Powerhouse CEO Charles Stephenson said.

“Everybody’s going to get a turkey and a food box,” Stephenson said. “We’ve never run out to date.”

Powerhouse purchased about 600 more turkeys this year, because they’ve seen about a 40% increase in need, Stephenson said.

SNAP benefits were released earlier this month, but Stephenson said there’s lasting financial strain from that.

“People had already started spending some of their disposable income to buy food and groceries, and now they got the SNAP, but they don’t have the cash to pay bills,” Stephenson said.

Hope Edwards was at the Thanksgiving giveaway, and she said she isn’t eligible for SNAP because her partner is still in school, but they’re living on one income.

“This then allows us to have a more normal Thanksgiving,” Edwards said. “All the food’s expensive, even like ground beef is so expensive right now, so this helps a lot with that.”

Miss Boone County Colleen Finney got up early Saturday morning to help pack cars with turkeys and food boxes. She said helping her community is worthwhile.

“The holiday season is coming up, and we have to remember that there are those that are in less fortunate situations,” Finney said.

Powerhouse is having a hot meal giveaway on Thanksgiving from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Fifth Street Christian Church.

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Haley Swaino

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Charges against a man named Jimmy Kenda have been dropped after a man who harassed a woman at a gas station and led police on a high-speed chase in Jefferson City on Friday provided a false identity, police say.

Kenda was wrongly charged Friday with first-degree sexual abuse, aggravated fleeing a stop and first-degree harassment.

Officers say around 4:30 p.m. Friday, they learned that the suspect gave them the name and identifying information of another person to avoid arrest.

The felonies against Kenda were rescinded, and formal charges are pending against the suspect, police said Saturday morning. The suspect’s name will be released after formal charges are filed.

Officers were called to the Break Time at 326 Ellis Blvd. around 2:45 a.m. on Friday, where a woman said a man repeatedly made unwanted advances that included touching her and offering to pay her for sex, according to a probable cause statement. The man followed her to the drink station and continued to touch her inappropriately, the victim told police.

The suspect’s vehicle was soon found at another gas station. An officer began to question Kenda, who took off down Route C at speeds up to 100 mph in heavy rain, the statement says. Kenda crashed at the intersection of Route C and Rock Ridge Road and was arrested, police say.

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Haley Swaino

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A 49-year-old man from Kansas City, Kansas, was seriously injured Saturday in a crash on Route Z in Camden County, according to a crash report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

The report says a 2006 Ford E250 – driven by the man – was headed northbound when it went off the right side of the road just before 1:30 a.m. and hit a tree at 1865 Route Z.

The man was brought to Lake Regional Hospital by ambulance with serious injuries, the report says. He was wearing a seatbelt, and the truck was totaled.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The parking lane on Stadium Boulevard outside of Helias Catholic High School in Jefferson City will be closed for a few days next week as sidewalk repairs occur, according to a Friday press release from Jefferson City Public Works.

Crews will work from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Wednesday.

Lane closures are also planned for the northbound lane of Myrtle Avenue, which is also next to Helias. Crews will work 9 a.m.-noon Monday and 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday.

Message boards and signage will be in place. Helias’ academic calendar shows the school’s Thanksgiving break begins Wednesday.

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Alison Patton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The group backing a referendum to get the new congressional map on the ballot filed its second lawsuit against the Secretary of State Denny Hoskins, according to court documents.

People Not Politicians is arguing Hoskins wrote misleading and biased ballot language for the group’s referendum.

This is the ballot title Hoskins approved, and posted to the official Secretary of State website:

“Do the people of the state of Missouri approve the act of the General Assembly entitled ‘House Bill No. 1,’ which repeals Missouri’s existing gerrymandered congressional plan that protects incumbent politicians, and replaces it with new congressional boundaries that keep more cities and counties intact, are more compact, and better reflects statewide voting patterns?”

According to court documents filed by the group, People Not Politicians argues the word “gerrymandered” is biased and argumentative. The group argues the whole ballot title is argumentative.

“It’s the latest attempt by desperate politicians seeking to break the rules and justify their power grab and try to manipulate an outcome around what should just be a fair and free election,” Executive Firector von Glahn said.

People Not Politicians is asking a Cole County judge to throw out the ballot title and write a new one, according to court documents.

People Not Politicians contracts another group, called Advanced Micro Testing, to help collect signatures, according to a People Not Politicians spokesperson. AMT makes up less than 10% of People Not Politicians’ workforce.

AMT filed its own, separate lawsuit Tuesday in federal court against four other campaign companies, according to court documents. AMT is alleging these other companies “poached” 28 AMT employees.

Those other companies are Let The Voters Decide, Vortex Elite, Synergy Wise Solutions and Onest Marketing.

According to the court documents, these other companies started a campaign to block the ballot measure, and allegedly tried bribing employees and created a smear campaign.

“The Smear Video indicates that AMT did provide its employees with a hotel with working water or food or money,” the court documents read.

AMT wants the judge to bar the other companies from soliciting, encouraging contract breaks, employing with AMT’s employees, remove all smear videos and stop using confidential trade information from AMT, according to court documents.

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Euphenie Andre

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Organizers are expecting a large crowd for Saturday’s NCAA Cross Country Championship, and that could mean heavy traffic around the Gans Creek Concourse.

Fans planning to attend must purchase parking passes online in advance—no passes will be sold on-site. Tickets for the event are still available and can be purchased online the day of the meet.

The University lists three parking options for sale—Red, Orange, and Purple—all within a 10-minute drive of the course:

Red Lot: 2800 Maguire Blvd, $12

Orange Lot: 2810 Lemone Industrial Blvd, $6

Purple Lot: 3101 Lemone Industrial Blvd, $6

Shuttles will run from each lot to the course starting at 6:30 a.m.

Additional parking is available at 4210 through 42240 Phillips Farm Road and 4780 Discovery Drive. Those lots are booked from 5:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. that day. Shuttle buses will run from the lots.

There will be two main points of entry: One designated for shuttle drop-offs and two parking lots close enough for attendees to walk. Organizers said pedestrians will be guided to cross at supervised points where public safety officers can help direct them to the ticketed access area.

Megan McConachie, spokeswoman for the Columbia Convention and Visitors Bureau, said safety has been the top priority throughout the planning process. She said several city departments have been involved in coordinating traffic flow and logistics leading up to race day.

“We working with our streets department, our parking folks, or public safety so that– A, they know what’s going on and B, they can also advise us because that’s their area of expertise on moves we might need to make,” McConachie said.

McConachie added that the satellite parking setup is designed to reduce congestion and get fans to the course safely.

“So having those satellites parking places as well as is just going to alleviate some of that traffic. It’s going to be mostly people coming in on shuttles and they’re going to kind of stop at a point that’s before where they’re going to encounter any athletes,” she said.

Drivers will see signage along Highway 63, Discovery Parkway, and East Gans Creek Road reminding them to watch for pedestrians. The Columbia Police Department will have three officers on site to manage traffic. Officials advise drivers to allow extra time and follow law enforcement directions.

Beyond the crowds and traffic, the championship brings a major economic boost to the area. According to the Columbia Convention and Visitors Bureau, this weekend’s event is expected to generate $1.2 million in revenue for local businesses, from restaurants and hotels to shops and attractions.

Organizers say that careful planning of parking and shuttles helps ensure fans can enjoy the event safely—and support the community at the same time.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A woman described as the treasurer of the Cole Camp R-1 Parent-Teacher Organization has been accused of embezzling thousands of dollars from the group.

Andrea Butler, of Cole Camp, was charged Friday in Benton County with stealing more than $750. A criminal summons was issued on Friday and an initial court appearance is scheduled for 9 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026.

The probable cause statement says Butler became the PTO’s treasurer on Sept. 11 and that from Oct. 16-Nov. 6, she “cashed checks and made withdrawals that did not correspond with any PTO events as well as withdrew money for PTO events but did not deposit back the cash withdrawn or the cash made on the event.”

The statement also alleges she made several purchases on Amazon. The total amount of money stolen was $4,138.43, according to court documents.

Butler is not currently listed as the treasurer on the PTO’s website.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Jefferson City has announced that the Madison Street Parking Garage will officially close on Dec. 29.

A social media post from the city says the City Council approved a demolition contract at its meeting this week. A portion of the parking garage closed last month after an inspection “identified severe deterioration to decking, ramps, and supporting columns, creating safety concerns.”

The city says more than 900 on-street parking spaces and several off-street lots will be available as the parking garage is demolished

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A former corrections officer at the Morgan County Jail has been charged after they were allegedly in a sexual relationship with an inmate while they were employed.

Ashley Jacobson, of Jefferson City, was charged with sexual conduct in the course of public duty. A warrant was issued on Friday and a $25,000 bond was set.

The probable cause statement says a detainee told officials about seeing Jacobson and another inmate kissing in public and telling other detainees in the cell block to look away. The inmate reported the behavior on Sept. 30 and Jacobson was fired that same day after she declined to interview, the statement says.

Other jail staff noted Jacobson’s behavior was “suspicious” and that she would visit the cell block “in a flirtatious manner,” the statement says.

The inmate in question was interviewed and he allegedly admitted to being in a relationship with Jacobson, claimed they were get married and he would adopt Jacobson’s daughter, the statement says.

A family member of Jacobson also spoke with officials, claimed Jacobson was in a sexual relationship and reiterated the information from the inmate, the statement says.

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