Category: kmiz-local-news

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

State Rep. John Martin (R-Centralia) announced that he plans on running for reelection.

Martin announced his bid in a Monday afternoon press release. He represents Missouri’s 44th District in the state house and was first elected last year.

“My Christian faith and blue collar background drive me to lead with integrity,” Martin in the release. “I will always be a defender of our rights and freedoms, and a champion for prosperity in every zip code.”

The release says his campaign plans on focusing on infrastructure and tax reform. He is a member of the Boone County Farm Bureau. He is a former pastor who owns Pro Pumping & Hydrojetting LLC in Columbia, according to previous reporting.

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Nia Hinson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Columbia City Council members did not vote on a median ordinance as scheduled on Monday night.

Ward 3 Councilwoman Jacque Sample and Ward 5 Councilman Don Waterman told ABC 17 News on Monday afternoon that many council members were seeking more information from commissions.

Council members on Monday night voted 6-1 to table the issue until Feb. 2, with Waterman being the sole “no” vote.

The ordinance would regulate the use of medians, road crossings and islands by both motorists and pedestrians at intersections with speeds of 35 miles per hour or greater, average daily traffic volumes of 15,000 vehicles or greater, or where the median width is fewer than 6 feet wide.

If adopted, the ordinance will:

Prohibit crossing a major road anywhere except in a crosswalk, a pedestrian-control signal, or an intersection if those things aren’t available.

Prohibit being on a median fewer than 6 feet wide except when crossing the road.

Prohibit getting out of cars while in a traffic lane or within a major intersection.

Prohibit approaching cars on a major road unless the car is legally parked.

Prohibit people in vehicles from engaging with pedestrians at major intersections.

The council voted to table the ordinance, noting that they need more clarification on the ordinance.

Roughly 30 residents packed Columbia City Hall for Monday’s meeting speaking out about the issue. Most who spoke were in opposition of the ordinance, saying it takes away free speech and doesn’t address saefty, while few said they supported it.

However, those against it, like Luke Fennewald say the ordinance doesn’t target safety but rather criminalizes homelessness and panhandling.

“Most Americans live paycheck to paycheck, and I don’t think people realize how close we are to being homeless,” Fennewald said. “It just takes one unfortunate tragedy and you might find yourself in those folks’ positions.”

Luke Jensen is also an activist in the city, who says he has a deep caring for the homeless population, but also believes if passed, the ordinance would also restrict people from voicing their opinions.

“A lot of protesters use those same medians to demonstrate their political beliefs, and we believe that if this is passed, then it will also be a crackdown on our First Amendment,” Jensen said.

Sample had previously requested to hear more from the Human Rights Commission, Disabilities Commission, Public Transit Advisory Commission and the Bicycle/Pedestrian Commission. Sample also said medians typically attract homeless people, and some residents worry where those people will move to next..

Sample told ABC 17 News on Monday that if the council were to vote on the issue Monday night, she would not support the ordinance.

“I don’t think we can effectively address pedestrian safety with a single ordinance, so this isn’t the right way to do it,” Sample said before the meeting. “We need to address pedestrian safety but I don’t feel that this particular ordinance in front of us is the way for us to do that.”

Waterman said on Monday afternoon while he understands some council members desire to receive more information from various commissions, he believes they will not hear anything much different from what they’ve already heard. He said he anticipates the vote among council members will be to table the issue, but he is ready to vote “yes.”

“I think it’s a safety issue. I know there’s a lot of sentiment that it’s not a safety issue but it is in fact a safety issue. (Columbia Fire Department) Chief Schaeffer has mentioned that it is a concern while they’re responding,” Waterman said. “God forbid it gets voted down and then two, three, four months later we have someone standing in a median that gets run over…then we’ll be circling back to it.”

Ward 2 Councilwoman Vera Elwood and Ward 4 Councilman Don Waterman also told ABC 17 News that they supported tabling the issue.

The city said it plans to open a survey for residents to submit input to.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The City of Columbia announced in a Monday press release that Columbia Regional Airport will announce new flights on Tuesday.

The announcement comes after Columbia Regional Airport had 14,202 passengers depart from its airport in October, which is a record for the location. Another press release on Monday says there were 28,810 arrivals and departures combined.

The airport has flights that operate daily to Chicago O’Hare, Denver and Dallas Fort Worth.

“These numbers reflect the confidence travelers have in choosing their local airport,” airport manager Michael Parks said in a news release. “United’s new service, combined with American Airlines existing routes, gives passengers access to hundreds of destinations around the world, while saving time and supporting our local economy.”

The airport is expecting more than 5,500 travelers during the week of Thanksgiving, the release says.

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Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A lane of eastbound Interstate 70 in east Columbia was closed Monday afternoon for emergency repairs.

The Missouri Department of Transportation said the driving lane of I-70 East would be closed until about 6 a.m. Tuesday. The release did not say why emergency repairs were needed. A MoDOT representative did not immediately respond to questions sent via email.

MoDOT says drivers should give themselves extra time if they’re driving through the work zone.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

An Audrain County woman was charged with several felonies after her she was accused of abusing her child.

Tiffany Cox, of Vandalia, was charged on Monday with first-degree endangering the welfare of a child, child abuse, possessing a forging instrument, forgery, drug possession and misdemeanor possessing drug paraphernalia. A warrant was issued and no bond was set. A confined docket hearing was scheduled for 10 a.m. Tuesday.

The probable cause statement says Cox was arrested on Oct. 2 for an active warrant and the Audrain County Sheriff’s Office began investigating her for child abuse when they noticed a number of bruises on Cox’s child. The youth was put in the custody of another family member and was then evaluated at University Hospital, the statement says.

The child allegedly had “extensive bruising to the extremities, abdomen, back, cheeks, and chin of Confidential Child Victim and noted the facial bruising was consistent with squeezing or pinching,” the statement says. The youth also tested positive for amphetamine and methamphetamine, according to the statement.

Law enforcement searched Cox’s residence on Nov. 14 and found meth, several uncapped syringes, “glass smoking devices,” a printer and apparent counterfeit money.  

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A man was arrested and charged in Boone County after he allegedly stabbed a woman on Sunday morning after an argument.

Isaiah Bowser, 23, was charged on Monday with first-degree assault and armed criminal action. He is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond. Court information says his residence is in Columbia, while jail records list him being from Jefferson City. An initial court appearance was held on Monday.

The probable cause statement says the victim called two people after they were assaulted by Bowser after an argument. The victim claimed they were stabbed with a pair of scissors, court documents say. Bowers allegedly left the area before police arrived.

The victim spoke with police at a hospital and allegedly told them that she was stabbed after an argument occurred around 2 a.m. Police later found Bowser in a shed at a residence in the 800 block of North Seventh Street, the statement says.

Police found Bowser with a bloody knife, the statement says.

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Matthew Sanders

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

Missouri recipients of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program funds are now getting their full benefits after the end of the federal shutdown, a spokesperson for a state agency said Monday.

Full payments have been processed, and households will receive their benefits per their normal distribution schedule, which is based on last name and birthdate, the spokesperson for the Department of Social Services said.

“DSS continues to oversee timely distribution to support Missourians and encourages recipients to monitor their balance by logging into their online ebtEDGE account or calling the number on the back of their card,” DSS spokesperson Baylee Watts wrote in an emailed statement.

Missouri SNAP recipients only had access to partial benefits before the full payments were processed because of the shutdown that started Oct. 1 and the legal wrangling around it. President Donald Trump signed legislation to fund the government last week, and the state began processing full payments.

More than 320,000 Missouri households use SNAP benefits, according to the Missouri Budget Project.

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Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

EDITOR’S NOTE: AI was used to help research the background for this story.

The City of Columbia could vote Monday to create a Collegiate Advisory Council to engage college students in local policy issues affecting students.

University of Missouri System President Mun Choi proposed the council after the Sept. 27 shooting death of Stephens College student Aiyanna Williams in downtown Columbia.

According to city documents, the advisory council would provide input to the City Council on policy issues affecting student residents, including safety, housing and transportation. It aims to strengthen partnerships between the city and local higher education institutions.

The advisory council would consist of nine student members, three representing the University of Missouri, two for Columbia College, two for Stephens College and two for the Moberly Area Community College Columbia campus. The City would appoint members following an application process.

Missouri Students Association President Logan Kuykendall said that he is excited for the council, adding that it helps give students a more direct line of communication with the city, compared to public comments or ward meetings.

“I think really making sure we have a formal procedure is going to make sure we can ensure it is equitable going forward.”

Kuykendall adds that MSA plans to help the University with picking student representatives. He plans to focus on picking students who may see direct impact from city issues like housing or food insecurity.

“We’re just going to be focusing on the University of Missouri and then trying to appoint representatives of marginalized groups who face these problems here on campus to make sure that we are uplifting as much of the voices that are being impacted by our community,” Kuykendall said.

Columbia College student Gabrielle Nielsen agrees that the need for student-city communication is present in the student body, adding that many students have voiced concern over local rent and downtown safety.

“I would love to see actual, not only active listening and a genuine consideration, but a change made,” Nielsen said. “To actually see changes made of just listening, it’s not just performative posturing type, wanting to make people feel heard and not actually doing anything about it.”

The council would meet monthly during the academic year, with subcommittee meetings as needed. It would have an elected chair and vice chair, and a staff liaison from the City Manager’s Office would provide support.

The initiative builds on the success of the Youth Advisory Council, established in 2015, which involved high school students in civic engagement. The Collegiate Advisory Council aims to extend this model to university and college students.

The item is currently up for a second read and vote on the City Council’s agenda, meaning the council can discuss and also choose not to vote on the item.

The Columbia City Council will meet at 7 p.m. Monday at City Hall.

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Matthew Sanders

EDITOR’S NOTE: The spelling of the suspect’s last name has been corrected.

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Newberg man was charged Monday with first-degree murder and armed criminal action after his brother died in a shooting.

Eric D. Colgrove, 55, was arrested Sunday night after a woman called 911, saying her sons were shooting at each other. The victim was pronounced dead a few hours later from gunshot wounds. The Phelps County Sheriff’s Department identified him Monday afternoon as Keith Colgrove, 48.

The woman told investigators that Colgrove and his brother had been in an argument over fixing her coffee pot, which escalated into the deadly shooting, a probable cause statement says. Colgrove went to his home during the argument and got a gun, followed his brother inside his home, then started shooting, a witness reportedly told deputies.

Deputies found a gun in Colgrove’s truck.

Colgrove was in the Phelps County Jail without bond on Monday.

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Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Mizzou Tigers women’s basketball team is looking to get back into the win column after losing a close game to Kansas on Saturday in Kansas City.

The women now turn their attention to Southern Illinois, which comes to Mizzou Arena for a 6:30 p.m. tipoff on Tuesday. Watch a news conference with coach Kellie Harper in the media player.

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