Category: kmiz-local-news

Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) 

EDITOR’S NOTE: A misspelled name has been corrected.

Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins visited the University of Missouri campus Wednesday afternoon for an event hosted by the university’s Turning Point USA chapter.

Hoskins is currently facing several legal battles, including the ongoing fight over Missouri’s congressional maps, in which the Missouri Supreme Court found him in contempt after he directed local election officials to use the 2025 map in violation of the court’s order. The court later found that Hoskins had purged the contempt after reversing course and directing officials to use the 2022 map.

Oral arguments are scheduled for Thursday morning in the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals over a Sept. 8 temporary restraining order issued by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Clark in St. Louis, that blocked the state from using the 2022 congressional map.

“I’m not going to speculate on what exactly the 8th Judicial Circuit does. But what I will say is, as of today, as of right now, the only court order that I have is from the Missouri Supreme Court to use the 2022 maps,” Hoskins told ABC 17 News when asked how confident he was that the state could use the new 2025 congressional maps. “Could that change tomorrow? Well, [it] certainly could, but I’m not going to speculate.” 

Hoskins is also facing a proposed class-action lawsuit from five Missouri voters seeking roughly $80 million. The lawsuit alleges Hoskins violated state law in his handling of a referendum challenging the congressional map. The case seeks to represent roughly 162,000 voters whose signatures on the referendum petition were verified by local election authorities.

On Monday, Hoskins was also sued by Nicholas La Strada, the former director of Election Integrity, who alleges he was fired after “blowing the whistle on fabricated evidence and a decision to overturn a certified election” in Marshall, according to La Strada’s legal team. 

“Obviously, I can’t comment on personnel issues or pending litigation, but I’m really, really looking forward to discovery in this case where we can present our side of the facts,” Hoskins told ABC 17 News when asked about allegations of trying to overturn the election results. “The Secretary of State doesn’t certify municipal elections, so there’s no way I can certify a municipal election.” 

Hoskins also addressed each of these court battles during his presentation to students. 

The Secretary of State filed a brief to the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday, urging the court to rule that a referendum cannot suspend a congressional map passed by the Legislature and that switching maps after the primary elections violates the U.S. Constitution.

“I don’t think our founding fathers ever meant to have a referendum on a congressional redistricting map, Hoskins said during the event. “The dates don’t make sense. It doesn’t make sense that the deadline for me to rule is sufficient or insufficient. Is the same deadline or the same date as our primary election.  And so on August 4th,  I ruled that the referendum was insufficient due to it being unconstitutional.” 

When asked by a student why he waited so long to make a decision on the referendum petition created by voters over the new congressional maps, he said it was because he needed to give election clerks time to verify signatures. 

Hoskins says he was in Dallas last week for the GOP Republican convention when news broke that the courts had ruled the 2022 map was in effect. Shortly afterward, he sent an email to county clerks informing them that the 2022 map was in effect. Hoskins says that about 15 minutes later, he received another email from Judge Clark of the 8th Judicial Circuit informing him that a temporary restraining order was in place. That prompted Hoskins to send a second email directing county clerks to use the 2025map.

“I picked the federal court order, which included a temporary restraining order directing us to use the 2025 map because of the Supremacy Clause,” Hoskins said, explaining the decision that ultimately led to determining he was held in contempt of court for a time. “I still have not been to the GOP convention. I had to leave at 2 o’clock the next day and miss that so I could come back that Wednesday and be in court.

“I’ve got a federal court order that I’m following, and I got a state court, and I’m either going to federal prison, I can go to federal prison or I go to Cole County Jail. I may be going to jail today; that’s what I’m thinking.” 

But Hoskins was adamant that each step of the way he followed federal court orders. Hoskins also responded to complaints that he is constantly getting sued. 

“We actually looked back at the three secretaries of state before me, and I’ve been sued less on average per year than the last three Secretaries of State,” Hoskins said. 

His visit comes despite a screenshot being shared on Republican social media accounts that showed an apparent post from YikYak asking “Are they going to Kirk him?” in a likely reference to Charlie Kirk’s assassination at a Turning Point USA event last year. MU responded on Tuesday, saying that they were aware of the post and reported it to MUPD. 

Since Kirk’s death, Turning Point membership has grown across the country, with MU’s Turning Point USA chapter president, Nate Vass, telling ABC 17 News that the group has over 300 members. 

“I originally got involved with Turning Point. U.S. High School. Charlie Kirk was the biggest inspiration to me, so I wanted to do everything because all the videos that I saw on Instagram made me want to get involved,” Vass told ABC 17 News. “His assassination impacted me very greatly. Honestly, it radicalized me as a person. I’ve been much more involved and much more committed to everything we’re doing since the assassination. We put even more work and more effort into getting as many students involved in our movement as possible and just be able to talk with people. That’s what Charlie wanted to do is just talk and have civic dialog.” 

Vass added that they had invited Hoskins to speak before his legal battles with the courts began. 

“He wasn’t getting sued and stuff when we booked him to come, it’s actually great timing for us,” Voss said. “We stand with Denny Hoskins. We stand with the 7 to 1  thing that he’s doing. It’s incredible. I’m very appreciative.”

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

There were more than 2,600 electricity customers without power on Wednesday in Camden County after storms went through the area.

Roughly 15 reports of outages were called in by Ameren customers mostly along Highway 54. There were 1,005 Ameren customers affected. Most of those outages were reported after 5 p.m. with restoration times varying between 8:15-8:45 p.m.

The number of those without power ballooned after 6:30 p.m., with Ameren showing 2,231 in the county without power and the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives showing 404 members without power between Co-Mo Electric Cooperative (335) and Laclede Electric Cooperative (69).

The number of Ameren customers without power fell to 991 by 7 p.m.

“Equipment damage” was cited as the reason for one of the Ameren outages.

Phelps County saw 364 Gascosage Electric Cooperative members without power and Pulaski County had 52.

Check back for updates.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Former Randolph County Sheriff Aaron Wilson pleaded not guilty to a felony charge on Wednesday.

Wilson was charged in July with stealing more than $750. He waived his arraignment on Wednesday and a preliminary hearing was scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10.

The probable cause statement in the case says current Sheriff Andy Boggs reported a missing $5,000 check “which was reportedly given to former Randolph County Sheriff Aaron Wilson by Confidential Witness 1 in August 2024.”

The check allegedly came from proceeds of the witness’ business account.

“After speaking with office staff and the Randolph County Treasurer, there was no record of receipt or a deposit from Sheriff Wilson for five thousand dollars,” the probable cause statement says.

Wilson allegedly deposited the check while he was still the sheriff, court documents allege. Wilson allegedly admitted to receiving the check.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A St. Louis man drowned Wednesday morning at the Lake of the Ozarks after he suffered a head injury, according to a report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

The report says the man jumped from a deck into shallow water and injured his head at the 4.8 mile marker of the Gravois Arm in Morgan County.

The man was pronounced dead at the scene at 10:50 a.m. His body was brought to Kidwell Garber Funeral Home.

MSHP reports do not list the names of those involved or affected.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

An 85-year-old Holts Summit man died in a crash on Wednesday afternoon in Holts Summit, the Missouri State Highway Patrol shared in a crash report.

Troop F – which covers much of Mid-Missouri – wrote on X that it investigated a two-vehicle crash on Route AA between Evergreen Drive and County Road 499, an area just north of Holts Summit.

🚨Fatal Crash in Callaway County🚨

Troopers are investigating a two vehicle crash on Rt. AA, between Evergreen Drive and County Road 499, north of Holts Summit.

Unfortunately, one person was ejected and pronounced deceased at the scene.

Please avoid the area. pic.twitter.com/vp0U56fYWB

— MSHP Troop F (@MSHPTrooperF) September 16, 2026

Trooper Christ Winter told ABC 17 News at the scene that the driver of a golf cart was killed in the crash. The cart was heading eastbound when it was hit by another vehicle, he said. The driver of the other vehicle had no injuries.  

The report says a 2011 Chevrolet Malibu – driven by a 24-year-old Columbia man – rear-ended a golf cart the 85-year-old was driving.

The 85-year-old man’s body was brought to Parker Millard Funeral Home.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

President Donald Trump sent a signed letter and photograph of himself to a Boone County woman who was cited by the county’s health department for serving food out of her home.

Kathy Kite, of Harrisburg, received a letter from the president, which was dated Sept. 2. Trump’s letter included words of encouragement for Kite.

“Your generosity, dedication, and selfless acts of service continue to enrich the lives of your neighbors, strengthen your community, and exemplify the spirit that makes our Nation so special,” Trump’s letter states.

Discussion over the issue of has gained national attention in recent weeks.

An Aug. 27 letter to the Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and Human Services from Kite’s lawyer Dave Roland, of the Goldwater Institute, challenges the department’s claim that the county’s food code was violated.

“Your letter implied that the Department did not consider the Food Code to apply if Ms. Kite was feeding ‘friends and family,’ but you did not identify any part of the Food Code that defines ‘friends and family,’ nor did you indicate what factors the Department would use to determine whether one of Ms. Kite’s guests was a ‘friend’ she was allowed to serve food at her home or a ‘member of the public’ she was not permitted to serve food at her home,” the letter states.

Health department spokesman Austin Krohn told ABC 17 News on Wednesday that there was no update on the situation.

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Melissa Houston

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Columbia’s No Mow Zones will undergo maintenance starting next week and for the 30 days following that under a new contract.

The City of Columbia initially planned maintenance on the zones in July, but spokesperson John Ogan said the contract had lapsed and the City focused on conducting maintenance locally. He wanted to ensure the maintenance contracts stayed within budget and were environmentally sound.

Ogan said a new 30-day contract was signed Friday with a St. Louis contractor, DJM Ecological Services. The contractor will begin maintenance on Monday, starting with Scott Boulevard and Range Line Street.

“All of this is going to be happening pretty quickly. People should notice that change; it should be rather sudden,” said Ogan.

Ogan said he expects a drastic change in the condition of the No Mow Zones.

“Right now, we’re going to be getting rid of some of that bushy overgrowth that people have noticed along Range Line and Scott Boulevard and other locations for a while,” Ogan said.

The zones received little maintenance over the past couple of years, allowing invasive, bushy, tall species to take hold. Ogan said maintenance will include high mowing and using herbicide in those areas to eradicate those invasive species.

Some plants that are causing overgrowth include frost aster, Johnson grass and bundleflower. Ogan said these plants aren’t usually categorized as invasive species but tend to get bushier and out of control.

At a future time, Ogan said there will be another phase with the contractors that includes seeding No Mow Zones with local species.

“At a future date, we’ll be seeding plants that are much smaller and are less prone to spread and colonize and overcolonize areas,” said Ogan. “We’re going to look for native species that improve sightlines and are will look more aesthetic.”

The total 30-day maintenance conducted with the contractor is estimated to cost $34,369, according to the proposal from DJM.

The City of Columbia established the No Mow Zones to create more habitat for pollinators such as bees and butterflies.

One Columbia resident, Kevin Boyer, said the No Mow Zones are a safety concern.

“It’s still a safety issue. What if somebody loses control or they fall asleep and they fly through that and hit you head-on? I mean, it’s good to be able to see your surroundings,” said Boyer.

On social media, many people have talked about No Mow Zones being a place that animals will jump out of and drivers don’t see them, for Boyers he has experienced this with people.

“I’ve seen homeless people walking through there at night and when they come through those five-six foot tall weeds, I almost nailed them with my car one night because they jumped out in the middle of the night,” said Boyer. “There not supposed to be in there and you can’t see nobody from the other side because they’re so tall.”

Boyer said that the money spent on maintenance of the zones seems unnecessary and that regular trimming should be the answer.

“If it’s taking care of, I think it’s okay. But then again, I think it’s a waste of taxpayer money to have to take care of something like that,” said Boyer. “You can just, you know, trim it out and maybe take care of it once or twice a year through the summer when things grow new mulch or whatever.”

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A gun was found inside a student’s vehicle on Wednesday morning at Rock Bridge High School, according to a letter to parents sent by CPS Superintendent Jeff Klein.

The letter says, “A concern was reported to school administrators involving a firearm inside a student’s vehicle in the school’s parking lot.”

Klein wrote that the gun was found “inside a locked area of the vehicle” and that it was “not used in a threatening manner, nor was there any threat of violence made in connection with this incident.”

The letter was sent at 1:47 p.m. Rock Bridge parent Hollie Lessard said she wishes the district would have communicated the situation sooner, since school officials had identified the issue hours before.

Jeff Thompson, whose grandson attends Rock Bridge, said even with the district’s reassurance that there was no threat, it is still scary a gun was found on campus.

A student ABC 17 News spoke with as they were leaving school Wednesday said they had no clue about the incident. The student said teachers did not say anything to students about the gun and no announcement was made about increased security measures.

The letter says law enforcement has been notified.

Per district policy, the student that brought the gun onto district property faces the possibility of expulsion or a one-year suspension from the school.

ABC 17 News has reached out to Columbia Public Schools and the Columbia Police Department. CPD referred ABC 17 News back to CPS.

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Ellyse Edwards

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Columbia Fire Department is receiving an additional $60,000 for fuel purchases as diesel prices reach record levels in Missouri and nationwide.

The Columbia City Council approved the money as part of the city’s fourth-quarter adjustments to its fiscal 2026 budget. The one-time funding will come from the city’s general fund balance.

According to a council memo, the additional money is intended to cover the Fire Department’s projected fuel consumption through the end of the fiscal year on Oct. 1 and ensure uninterrupted operations for its emergency vehicles.

The memo does not specify whether higher fuel prices, increased fuel consumption or a combination of both created the need for additional funding. The request comes as diesel costs have risen sharply in Columbia and across the state and nation.

AAA reported Wednesday that diesel averaged $5.96 per gallon in Columbia. That is up about 46 cents from one week ago and more than $1 from one month ago.

LINK: ABC 17 Fuel Finder page

Diesel in Columbia cost about $3.45 per gallon at the same time last year. The current average is approximately $2.51 higher, representing an increase of more than 72% over the past year.

Columbia’s diesel average hit a new record Tuesday, according to AAA. Wednesday’s average remained within a fraction of a cent of that record.

Missouri’s average diesel price reached a record of nearly $5.97 per gallon Wednesday. That is up from about $5.56 one week ago, $5.01 one month ago and $3.40 one year ago.

The national diesel average also reached a record Wednesday at $6.31 per gallon. One year ago, the national average was about $3.70.

AAA’s figures reflect average retail pump prices. The amount the City of Columbia pays may differ depending on how it purchases fuel or whether it operates under a fuel contract.

The $60,000 fuel appropriation is part of a total of $1.16 million in additional funding for the Columbia Fire Department. The city also approved $50,000 for vehicle maintenance and outside repair work.

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Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Emergency phone lines were restored Wednesday afternoon in Boone and Cole counties after an outage that began in the morning.

Jefferson City Police Lt. Curtis Finke said a little before 4 p.m. Wednesday that service for the city and Cole County had been restored by communication carrier Brightspeed.

“There was no disruption or delay in emergency services provided by the Jefferson City Police Department 911 Center during the outage,” Finke said.

Boone County Joint Communications stated in an alert just before 5 p.m. that service had been restored.

Joint Communications issued an alert at about 11:20 a.m. saying that 911 phone service was unavailable. People in need of emergency help are asked to call 311 instead.

Boone County Office of Emergency Management said in a news release the issue is caused by a disruption with Brightspeed. The agency later said that the outage affected 911 centers across Missouri, but was concentrated in Mid-Missouri.

Jefferson City Police Department posted on Facebook on Wednesday morning that 911 calls are still being received but are being rerouted.

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