Category: kmiz-local-news

Ellyse Edwards

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Columbia City Council directed city staff Monday night to examine whether the city can legally delay demolition permits involving properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The council unanimously approved a motion requesting a staff memo or short report on the legality of creating an administrative delay. Staff members were asked to bring the information back by the council’s second meeting in October.

The vote does not establish a delay, and no new restrictions on demolition permits are currently in effect. The council would need to take additional action after reviewing the staff report.

First Ward Councilwoman Valerie Carroll introduced the proposal during council comments at the end of Monday’s meeting. Carroll said recent efforts to preserve Katy Station prompted the discussion, but she wants the city to consider protections for other historic properties that could face demolition.

Carroll initially suggested a delay of up to one year, but the motion approved Monday does not specify how long a potential delay would last. City staff will first examine what authority it has and how such a policy could legally operate.

Carroll said an administrative delay could provide additional time for private buyers, preservation groups or the city to explore alternatives before a historic property is demolished.

Katy Station, also known as the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railroad Depot, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and houses Shiloh Bar and Grill. A community group called Save Katy Station has been working to preserve the building.

During the council discussion, members also raised questions about which demolition applications currently receive a historic-preservation review and whether a delay should apply to every permit or only properties on the National Register.

The staff report is expected to address those questions before the council decides whether to pursue a new policy.

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Demetra Alarcon

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Jefferson City Council’s rejection of rezoning for a permanent homeless shelter won’t stop a community group working on the project, according to a statement from Housing the Community Jefferson City.

Housing the Community released the statement after the city council voted 6-3 Monday night to reject rezoning for a homeless shelter.

The Jefferson City Council voted to block a measure that would have allowed Jefferson City Room at the Inn to convert a vacant building into a new resource center and emergency shelter.

While Housing the Community is disappointed in the council’s decision, leaders emphasize that the community’s need for these services remains unchanged.

“The City Council’s vote against our proposal for 107 Adams Street was disappointing, but it does not change our commitment or our goals,” Scott Johnston, Housing the Community board president, stated in a news release. “Housing the Community Jefferson City will continue working toward an expanded emergency shelter and a resource center where people experiencing homelessness — or at risk of becoming homeless — can connect with services, support, and a path toward stable housing. The need remains, regardless of what address ultimately becomes home to these programs.”

Moving forward, the organization said it will continue to work with municipal leaders.

As the search for a permanent site continues, Housing the Community will continue evaluating its options and asking the community to stay involved.

A special city task force on homelessness reported this spring that expanding shelter beds should be a city government priority.

In an interview with ABC 17 News, Johnston said that the group will continue to look for a permanent location.

“We will continue to look for an alternative location and to do what we have said in our mission statement, which is to, you know, is to do something for the situation of the unhoused in the Jeff City area,” said Johnston.

In an interview with ABC 17 News, Sarah Hamilton, chair of Jefferson City Room at the Inn, said that she was disappointed but not surprised by the council’s decision.

“We knew it was going to happen. But you still get your hopes up. You still hope that what you want to happen is going to happen. And so there’s a lot of disappointment there,” said Hamilton.

Moving forward, the Room at the Inn will continue to operate out of the First Baptist Church. Hamilton said that the main downside of this is that they can only house 20 people.

“Last year we learned that there were more than 20 people that needed our help. One night we turned away eight,” said Hamilton.

ABC 17 reached out to every council member for comment. Ward 5 councilmember Mackenzie Job was the only member who responded.

“There is much to learn from this failure and many harsh realities to consider when examining this situation from an outside perspective as well as, for me, introspectively. It was reiterated several different ways last night that there is no one-size-fits-all solution to this issue that I personally believe is the result of a much larger societal failure in this day and age of an increasingly atomized society, severely diminished access to resources, and no shortage of greed and self-interest. Councilwoman Young’s statement last night eloquently and compassionately conveyed many of the sentiments I share in that we as city leaders could continue shaping a proposal without killing it. To me, this was a step toward progress, but I think people want to see “perfection,” even though we all seemed to mostly agree that no one really has a “perfect” solution. Many thoughtful comments have been shared throughout this process, so hopefully  all parties can make use of this feedback while continuing to work toward a different solution. When one door closes, there is always a window” Job said in a statement to ABC 17.

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Jazsmin Halliburton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The ongoing saga over which congressional map Missouri will use for the November election takes a new turn after People Not Politicians filed an emergency appeal to the Eighth District Court of Appeals late Monday night.

This comes after the Eighth District Court of Appeals ruled Monday that the state’s current plan to use the 2022 congressional map in the November election violates the U.S. Constitution. PNP’s emergency motion for appeal is the next move in the battle, arguing that the ruling conflicts with the U.S. Supreme Court’s order.

PNP’s emergency appeal lists three independent grounds to keep the 2022 map. The first ground states that the court violates the Supreme Court’s stay. On Sept. 8, the Supreme Court stayed the district court’s temporary restraining order, preserving the 2022 map. That order, issued by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Clark in St. Louis, blocked the state from using the 2022 congressional map.

The second ground listed in the emergency appeals reads that the district court and the circuit court lacked jurisdiction. The appeal says the court made a request by asserting the case could only be decided by a three-judge court; no law supports the court’s conclusion.

The final ground listed is that lower courts should ordinarily not alter election rules on the eve of an election, as voting has already begun.

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Last week, county clerks warned that it is too late to change the ballots to anything else. Military and overseas ballots have already been sent out, while absentee voting starts Tuesday.

Monday’s ruling also states that the district court “should administratively stay its permanent injunction until Sept. 28, 2026, at 5 p.m. Central Daylight Time. Without any stay, Secretary Hoskins and local election authorities would be required to immediately begin implementing the 2025 map before the Supreme Court receives or decides any appeal.”

Richard von Glahn, Executive Director for People Not Policitians, told ABC 17 News that the district court holding its decision was wise. “I think wisely stayed their own decision until next Tuesday,” said von Glahn. “Missourians that have already voted, that are planning on voting this week, that are getting their ballots in the mail, should feel very confident voting, knowing that those maps are going to be the maps that are ultimately found to be legal and in place for the election.”

Boone County Clerk Brianna Lennon told ABC 17 News that her office is still printing ballots based on the 2022 map and is awaiting a ruling from the Supreme Court.

The 2025 map was approved by Republicans in the General Assembly at the urging of the White House to squeeze another GOP House seat into the Missouri congressional map. The 2025 map splits up Kansas City’s Fifth District into three other districts that extend into rural Missouri.

The group People Not Politicians, which sued and led a petition drive to keep the 2025 map from going into effect, vowed to file an emergency appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Columbia City Council unanimously passed the fiscal year 2027 budget during its Monday night meeting.

The city will begin spending its allocated $606 million when the fiscal year begins Oct. 1.

Documentation from the city shows the largest portion of spending is allocated to utilities at $304.8 million, while transportation will see $81.3, public safety receiving $68.4 million and “supporting activities” having $67.1 million.

Information about the budget on the city’s website did not appear to show potential money from the recently approved 1% public safety sales tax. That tax was narrowly approved by voters in August and will start on Jan. 1.

The city expected to have $581.5 million in revenue. Previous reporting states the city also anticipates $48.2 million in capital improvement projects that are not covered in operating expenditures. The city’s total operating expenditures are $558.4 million, per previous reporting.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A 48-year-old St. Joseph man died in a crash involving a motorcycle at around 7:30 p.m. Monday in Cooper County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol announced that it was investigating a two-vehicle crash in the eastbound lanes of Interstate 70 near mile marker 99.

According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report, a 2015 Subaru Crosstrek, driven by a 29-year-old woman from Seattle, Washington, was behind a 2014 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide driven by a 48-year-old man from St. Joseph when the motorcycle overturned.

The motorcyclist was ejected off the bike, and the woman hit the man. The Subaru came to a controlled stop in the right lane. The report states the man was pronounced dead at the scene just before 8 p.m.

According to the report, the man was wearing a DOT-approved helmet at the time of the crash.

The report states the woman was not hurt.

The Subaru had minor damage, while the motorcycle was totaled.

The Missouri Department of Transportation wrote on its Traveler Map that the crash was reported at 8 p.m. and the road was expected to be closed for about three hours in total.

MSHP wrote that traffic is backed up for about two miles, but the Traveler Map also showed traffic slowing down in the westbound lanes as vehicles approach the crash area.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA Mo. (KMIZ)

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services announced in a Monday press release that people may have been exposed to measles at Busch Stadium and other areas of St. Louis.

The release did not state how many people with measles were in the reported areas. It also did not state if it was related to another exposure that occurred at a train station in Sedalia last month.

According to the DHSS, possible exposures occurred at:

Sept. 12 3:30-7:50 p.m. The Cat’s Meow-Soulard 2600 S. 11th St., St. Louis Sept. 12 6-11:30 p.m. Busch Stadium,Seated in Section 141 700 Clark Ave., St. Louis Sept. 12 9:30 p.m.-close Paddy O’s 618 S. 7th St., St. Louis Sept. 13 11:30 a.m.-unknown Little Ireland 125 N. 1st St., Pacific Sept. 13 6:30 p.m.-unknown B & H Market 2244 W. Osage St., Pacific Sept. 13 8 p.m.- close Pacific Brew Haus 220 S. 1st. St., Pacific Sept. 14 3-5:15 p.m. Goodcents 173 Long Rd., Chesterfield Sept. 14 5:30-7:45 p.m. Bud’s Market 312 E. Osage St., Pacific

The DHSS says those who may have been exposed should look for symptoms for 21 days from the date of exposure. People who think they may have measles should contact their healthcare provider.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Fitzgibbon Hospital in Marshall announced in a Friday social media post that it will stop having inpatient labor and delivery services on Sept. 30.

The hospital wrote that its women’s care clinic will stay open.

“The inpatient Labor and Delivery unit has experienced ongoing financial losses for several years,” the social media post says.  Following a thorough review of the unit’s performance given the resources required to sustain inpatient obstetrical services, it was determined that continuing the service in its current form was not financially sustainable.”

This comes after American Medical Administrators took over its hospital operations earlier this month after a buyer for the hospital backed out of its deal.

“Expectant mothers currently receiving prenatal care at Marshall Women’s Care will continue to receive support from their current clinical care team,” the post says. “Marshall Women’s Care will work directly with patients to assist with delivery planning and transition of care, including referrals to surrounding healthcare facilities as arrangements are finalized.”

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Monroe County announced on Thursday that it will hold an informational meeting about how the department uses Flock cameras, according to a social media post from the county’s sheriff’s office.

The meeting will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, Oct. 5 at the county’s courthouse. The sheriff’s office wrote that a representative from Flock will be at the meeting.

“The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office has always worked to be transparent with the citizens we serve. We believe the public should have an opportunity to understand how these systems work, know how they are used, and to ask questions about them,” the sheriff’s office wrote.

This comes as communities around the country have been rethinking their contracts with Flock with concerns over privacy and its use by law enforcement officers has come under fire.

Gov. Mike Kehoe last week signed an executive order that puts limits on the use of video obtained from Flock cameras.

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Olivia Hayes

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Nearly eight years after the January 2019 death of Dominick Roland, Columbia Police have persons of interest in the case, but are yet to arrest anyone.

Witnesses described to police a dispute that night between a man in the car with Roland and another man just before the drive-by shooting that killed Roland.

Roland was found in a crashed car with a gunshot wound near a gas station in the 3800 block of Range Line Street around 2:55 a.m. Jan. 26, 2019. He was being taken to a hospital in a private vehicle by his twin brother, Darius, when the crash happened.

CPD criminal investigator Lt. Matt Gremore says there’s still not enough evidence to support formal charges that would hold up in court.

“There’s a big difference between I heard this, and I know this, and because of that, we kind of get stuck in cases to where we’re not able to close it. But we hear the same rumors that the community is hearing,” Gremore said. “Because they’re just rumors at that point and they’re not factual things that we can put on paper to a probable cause statement, that’s where it hurts us.”

The events that ended with the crash on Range Line began earlier in the evening in central Columbia, according to records obtained by ABC 17 News. 

Based on statements provided to police, it is believed that Roland was with a group of three friends and his brother earlier in the evening on Jan. 25.

In an interview with ABC 17 News after Dominick Roland’s death in 2019, his mother, Michelle Roland, described her son as loyal.

“Unfortunately, that has been the story of my son’s life because he is loyal to a fault,” she said. “He has always been with the wrong people at the wrong time.”

Records show the group met up between 11:30 p.m. and midnight to bar hop.

One witness told investigators the group would later drop off Roland’s brother, Darius, at his home on Raleigh Drive between 1:30 a.m. and 1:40 a.m. and that Dominick went back out with the rest of the group.

Dominick Roland was sitting in the back passenger seat. One of the men in the car told police they went east on Brown School Road toward Highway 63. He said that it was just a few minutes after leaving the Roland home when another car pulled up and started shooting as they approached the intersection with Derby Ridge Drive.

Numerous witness accounts noted a dark-colored or gray car, but Gremore would not confirm if police had identified a car of interest from that description.

“I can’t tell you yes or no, that is the car. What I hope is that someone sees this and comes forward with more information to corroborate things that we might already know,” Gremore said.

After the shooting, the group realized Dominick Roland was bleeding and took him back to his home on Raleigh Drive. It was there that they moved him into the family van with his brother driving.

Darius Roland crashed the car on the way to the hospital after he saw his brother become unresponsive.

“He was not talking, things didn’t look good,” Gremore said. “Obviously we didn’t know the extent of how bad things were until he goes to the hospital.”

The car wreck occurred at 2:55 a.m., and neighbors told police they heard shots fired at 2:39 a.m., leaving about an hour between the time Darius Roland was dropped off at home and when police found Dominick Roland shot in the car.

Police canvassed Raleigh Drive around 3:30 a.m., and during their investigation officers found blood on the road and the curb, believed to be from when the group moved Dominick Roland.

Around 10 a.m., officers found four guns in the back seat of a white Chevy pickup truck while searching the Roland home. One of the guns had Dominick’s blood on it.

On Jan. 29, arrest warrants for weapons charges were issued for Laron Nesbitt and Jamaal Radcliffe –two men out with Roland the night he died —  related to the guns found in the truck. Those charges were later dropped.

Nesbitt is serving 17 years in prison after pleading guilty in April 2020 to the shooting of 20-year-old Deonte Gainwell. Gainwell was found dead from gunshot wounds early Jan. 17 in the 3700 block of Weymeyer Drive.

A jailhouse informant told police that Nesbitt had confided in him about an ongoing argument between him and another man in the hours leading up to Dominick Roland’s shooting. Nesbitt and the other person were allegedly arguing that night after running into each other at a club called Vibez in downtown Columbia.

The informant told police that Nesbitt said he believed the person he was arguing with that night was the shooter. However, Nesbitt allegedly said the car the shots came from was different from the car he saw the man in earlier that night.

When asked by police if he or anyone in the group had any ongoing disagreements that night that could have motivated the shooting, Nesbitt said he did not.

Gremore would not discuss a possible motive, but he said he doesn’t believe the shooting was random.

In 2020, Columbia/Boone County CrimeStoppers raised its reward for any info leading to answers in Roland’s killing and the death of 13 others to $3,000. You can contact CrimeStoppers and provide an anonymous tip at (573)875-8477 and Columbia Police at (573)874-7652.

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Olivia Hayes

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri is calling out Columbia city leaders, after it says a request to discuss city ordinances — which it says targets unhoused people — remains unanswered.

The request was first sent in a letter on July 16 and included support from local and state advocates including COMO Mobile aid Democratic Socialists of America and Missouri Jobs with Justice. It cites two city ordinances as cause for concern being the recently passed median ordinance and the existing 17-95 surrounding camping on public property.

The letter claims the median ordinance violates a person’s rights to free speech and assembly. It went into effect July 1 and prohibits pedestrians and drivers from interacting at medians and intersections where the medians are “narrow, traffic volumes are high, or speed limits are high.”

City ordinance 17-95 makes it illegal for any person in a park to camp in places other than designated areas for organized camping. The downtown Columbia Community Improvement District requested city leaders gather data for a formal Urban Camping Ordinance at an Aug. 14 council meeting, but no type of ordinance has been discussed or officially passed.

The ACLU says it requested the meeting to “better understand the city’s goals, to share the concerns heard directly from members of the community and to discuss potential solutions that promote both public safety and the well-being of all Columbians.”

City spokesman Christopher Ave said in a response to the letter that the Mayor and council members have received the letter and are taking the request into consideration. In the meantime, Ave said the mayor is waiting on staff to provide her research related to the concerns expressed by the ACLU. Ave said staff vacancies have slowed the process down.

However, Ave noted the ACLU and other groups backing the request are welcome to speak freely at City Council meetings.

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