Category: kmiz-local-news

Jazsmin Halliburton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A local organization will be holding a candidate forum for the upcoming August election at the Columbia Public Library Wednesday night.

The forum is hosted by Race Matters, Friends and will be open to the public to discuss election issues ahead of the August 4 election day. The forum will be from 6 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. and will include candidates running for Columbia’s 4th Ward City Council seat, Boone County Auditor, Division 9 Associate Circuit Judge and Missouri House District 44.

According to a release from Race Matters, Friends, candidates will be asked a wide range of topics such as judicial philosophy, systemic awareness, transparency, data-driven accountability and more. This forum will feature candidates with their opposing candidate.

As election day approaches, check your local polling location and see if it has changed. You can check by going to your county clerk’s website.

When you arrive at your polling location, you must have a valid ID, which includes:

A non-expired Missouri driver licenses

A Missouri Nondriver’s license that is not expired or does not have an expiration date.

U.S. passport

Military ID

Federal or state-issued document with your photograph and name.

If you do not bring these types of identification with you to the polls, you can still vote by casting a blue provisional ballot. Your vote will be counted if you return to the same polling place before closing with your valid ID or a signature that matches your voter registration.

The last day to request a mail-in ballot will be July 22.

Click here to follow the original article.

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The US House on Tuesday moved the Sunshine Protection Act forward, which would stop Americans from needing to adjust their clocks twice a year.

If it becomes law, daylight saving time would become permanent in the United States. The measure passed 308-117 and heads to the Senate for debate.

Do you think daylight saving time should be permanent? Let us know in the poll and in the comments.

Click here to follow the original article.

Melissa Houston

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo (KMIZ)

Cole County election judges will see a pay increase starting with the August election, marking the county’s first wage increase for these workers since 2019.

Previously, Cole County election judges made $120 per day along with $15 for training. But under a newly appointed plan, judges will now receive $210 per day with a mileage reimbursement of $0.70 after the first 10 miles driven.

Cole County Clerk Steve Korsmeyer said the push for a pay increase began with an election judge sending him a letter pointing out it had been nearly seven years since their last raise.

“We took it to the commission about minimum wage, and they approved it,” Korsmeyer said. “It was awesome.”

This raise nearly doubles their daily pay, and Korsmeyer said that election judges work nearly 14-hour shifts on Election Day, making the boost a necessary step to fairly compensate them for their time.

“They do put in a full day; they work 14 hours a day,” you know, Korsmeyer said. “So it is a long day for them. So I’m sure it’ll be a welcome relief for them.”

This raise is expected to increase Cole County’s election judge budget for the August election to between $30,000 and $31,000. This is a significant increase from their typical $18,000 to $19,000 budget. Funding for elections is shared by the state, the county and local cities.

Despite the increase in budget, Korsmeyer said the change won’t negatively impact the county’s overall budget.

“It really doesn’t affect our budget any,” Korsmeyer said. “We can move some money around.”

Right now, Korsmeyer said there are no staffing concerns and expects 143 judges to be working for the August elections. He does say that he anticipates this increase encouraging people to sign up to become an election judge.

“With the salary increase, who knows? Maybe we’ll get more people wanting to fill out applications and stuff, which will be great,” Korsmeyer said.

The pay raise brings Cole County closer to Boone County, which has gradually increased its election judge wages over the years.

In Boone County, election judges earn a base rate of $170 per day with an additional $50 for training. Election judge supervisors earn a base of $200 per day.

Boone County Clerk Brianna Lennon said the county occasionally bumps pay higher during major elections when the polling places are busier.

Cole County is expecting to use 143 judges in August’s election and Boone County plans to use between 300 and 350 judges.

The difference in staffing also reflects a difference in the budget size.

While Cole Counties election judge budget is roughly $30,000, Boone County’s estimated budget for all of the August election is between $300,000 and $400,000.

Lennon said the budget discrepancies exist because Cole County has fewer polling locations, which requires fewer staff members.

Both Clerks agreed that compensating election judges is vital to maintaining a strong voting system locally, and fair to compensate workers for the long hours they put in.

“I don’t think that there is any number out there that you can say, well, this is a fair amount to work on election day because there’s a lot that happens and we’re throwing our election judges into a very long day,” Lennon said.

Cole County election judges will formally be notified of the pay increase during their upcoming poll worker training sessions ahead of the August eleciton.

Click here to follow the original article.

Steven Lambson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Douglass Family Aquatic Center opened back up to the public Tuesday after recent storms forced some repairs.

Columbia Parks and Recreation said storms on July 10 caused a mechanical failure, prompting staff to close the pool through July 13.

Crews finished the repairs in time for the pool to reopen Tuesday at noon.

The storms that caused the failure also left damage across parts of mid-Missouri.

Click here to follow the original article.

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Downtown Columbia businesses are asking the city to consider an urban camping ordinance.

According to Nickie Davis, executive director of Columbia’s Downtown Community Improvement District, roughly 70 businesses have signed a letter asking the city to research and consider the ordinance.

Davis stated last week that the Downtown CID planned to send a proposal letter to the City Council by Friday. At least two local business owners were able to speak to ABC 17 News about reasons for their support last week.

Davis after Tuesday afternoon’s CID meeting said the request is expected to be discussed at the next City Council meeting on Monday.

The proposal has been met with criticism online.

ABC 17 News has asked for a copy of the letter.  

Click here to follow the original article.

Haley Swaino

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A day after Columbia’s new Opportunity Campus fully opened its overnight shelter, some residents are voicing renewed worries about what the facility could bring to their part of town.

The 30,000-square-foot facility can serve more than 7,000 people a year experiencing hardship and homelessness, according to Voluntary Action Center Executive Director Ed Stansberry.

VAC staff told ABC 17 News that 123 of the 150 available beds in the campus’ Waypoint Shelter were filled Monday night.

Clifford Montgomery, owner of Montgomery Welding Repair & Steel Supply, lives near and does business across the street from the shelter. He said he’s experienced people near his property multiple times.

“You never know who’s going to show up, when they’re going to show up, and the trash they bring with them,” Montgomery said. “I built a fence along the Business Loop. So they just camp next to the fence.”

Formal mayoral candidate Tanya Heath said she’s spoke with some residents who live near the old Ashley Street shelter that experienced similar issues.

“They had personal threats to their safety. They had needles in their front yard. There was trash, unfortunately, that was left while people were coming to the Turning Point and back. And then there was also noise issues,” Heath said.

Trespassing was another issue residents say they experienced, according to Heath.

“People sometimes were found sleeping in front of cars that were on the side streets,” Heath said. “People would come out to go to work and they’d have to check all the around their car to make sure that they could back up safely.”

Montgomery and some other residents near the new shelter location say they’re experiencing similar issues. ABC 17 checked in with The Loop CID to see how its ensuring those staying at the Opportunity Campus and surrounding residents and workers are being good neighbors to each other.

“We actually meet monthly with Jessica [McNear] at the Opportunity Campus and CPD [the Columbia Police Department],” Carrie Gartner, Executive Director of The Loop CID, said.

Shelter staff are also working to ensure the safety of everyone in the area, according to Gartner.

“They have visited their neighboring businesses. They have a security team,” Gartner said.

But Tuesday morning, Montgomery and some others said they hadn’t been spoken to.

“They said they was gonna give a number for their security so I don’t have to call the police,” Montgomery said. “I have not got that.”

ABC 17 News checked with VAC and was told staff is out face-to-face sharing the private numbers with neighbors. Neighborhood security will start on July 20 and surrounding businesses and residents will have that number by then, VAC staff told ABC 17 in a text message.

Click here to follow the original article.

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Columbia man was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Monday after he pleaded guilty to several felonies in connection with two overdose deaths in 2023.

Marcus Larkins, 21, pleaded guilty to second-degree drug trafficking, tampering with evidence and four counts of unlawful use of a weapon. He previously faced additional charges of stealing a gun. He is currently being held at the Boone County Jail.

The probable cause statement in previous reporting says two people were found dead in the 2800 block of Blackfoot Road on Oct. 13, 2023, from a suspected overdose. 

The statement says multiple witnesses allegedly pointed out a trailer where the drugs were sold and one person allegedly told law enforcement he gave money to two men in order to buy drugs. Larkins was allegedly identified by a witness.

Click here to follow the original article.

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Columbia man pleaded guilty on Monday to a felony in connection with a 2024 shooting in downtown Columbia.

Kalvin Johnson, 22, pleaded guilty to unlawful use of a weapon. He is currently being held at the Boone County Jail. He was previously charged with first-degree assault, unlawful use of a weapon, armed criminal action and stealing a gun.

Two other people were accused in the incident. Tanikya Dunn, of Sikeston, pleaded guilty last year to first-degree assault and was given five years of probation along with a 10-year suspended sentence. Dunn was originally charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal action.

Jearlissia Jackson, of Columbia, was also charged in the shooting with accessory to first-degree assault, armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon. She has a hearing scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Monday.

According to previous reporting, police responded at 3 a.m. May 19 in the 10 block of South Ninth Street after a woman was shot in a vehicle. The victim had allegedly identified Jackson as being in an SUV and claimed Johnson was the shooter, court documents in previous reporting say.

A fight involving 10 people occurred before the fight and Dunn was accused of hitting someone in the head with a liquor bottle, previous reporting says.

Click here to follow the original article.

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Callaway County man who took an Alford plea in May in a 2017 Cole County homicide case was sentenced to probation on Monday.

Zacchaeus Silva, of Williamsburg, pleaded guilty in May to accessory to second-degree assault in the beating death of Jerry Robertson on April 20, 2017. He had been indicted with second-degree murder, first-degree assault, armed criminal action, evidence tampering and witness tampering charges.

An Alford plea is one in which a defendant does not explicitly admit guilt, but acknowledges the state has the evidence to obtain a conviction.

Silva was sentenced to five years of supervised probation with a seven-year suspended sentence.

A co-defendant, Robert Thrasher, was sentenced to 18 years in prison after pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter in 2022, previous reporting shows.

Click here to follow the original article.

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The trial has been scheduled for next year for a Lincoln University sprinter who is accused of killing her boyfriend in Jefferson City in February.

Denita Jackson, 28, is charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action. She is being held at the Cole County Jail without bond.

A jury trial is scheduled to begin 9 a.m. Monday, Jan. 4, 2027. A pretrial conference is set for 3 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 22.

Jackson was accused of stabbing and killing her boyfriend Kevaughn Goldson after she allegedly found him with another woman at a residence on Fairmount Boulevard. Goldson and Jackson were members of LU’s track teams.

Goldson, 23, was a senior from Jamaica who was a sprinter on the LU track and field team, according to the LU Athletics website. Jackson’s hometown was listed as Berbice, Guyana on LU’s website and has an immigration detainer listed in jail records.

Click here to follow the original article.