Category: kmiz-local-news

Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

University of Missouri commencement ceremonies are set to continue through the weekend as nearly 6,000 students have earned degrees.

The majority of ceremonies are taking place on Saturday in Jesse Auditorium and Mizzou Arena:

College of Health Sciences – 8:30 a.m. in Mizzou Arena

School of Medicine – 10 a.m. in Jesse Auditorium

College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources – Noon in Mizzou Arena

College of Health Sciences (Professional/Clinical) – 2:30 p.m. in Jesse Auditorium

College of Arts & Science (part 1) – 3:30 p.m. in Mizzou Arena

School of Law – 5:30 p.m. in Jesse Auditorium

College of Arts & Science (part 2) – 6 p.m. in Mizzou Arena

Ceremonies will also continue through Sunday:

Trulaske College of Business – 9 a.m. in Mizzou Arena

Graduate School (PhD/EdD) – Noon in Mizzou Arena

Honors College – 1 p.m. in Jesse Auditorium

Army ROTC – 2:30 p.m. in Monsanto Auditorium

Graduate School (Master’s/Education Specialists) – 3 p.m. in Mizzou Arena

Over 4,700 students will receive bachelor’s degrees, and over 1,000 will receive master’s degrees, according to the university’s website. The class of 2026 is also made up of over 1,000 first-generation students, 80 active-duty military and over 70 student athletes.

Traffic impacts are expected, with the Columbia Convention and Visitors Bureau reporting hotels in the area are at around 75-80% occupancy. Drivers should expect many graduates and families on campus. This includes traffic on Conley Avenue, Ninth Street, Tiger Avenue and Rollins Street.

Major roads, including South Providence Road and Stadium Boulevard, are also expected to see some backups.

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Euphenie Andre

MOBERLY, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Randolph County community came together Friday to offer mental health support and healing resources for those grieving the loss of 16-year-old Kayla Huff.

The first “Day of Healing” comes as the Randolph County Prosecutor’s Office announced new charges in the case. Twenty-year-old Alayna Mason and 19-year-old Hunter Ames are now both charged with first-degree murder in connection to Huff’s death. Two others are charged with kidnapping and tampering with evidence.

Licensed counselors, social workers and a crisis incident team from the state shared their services at the church throughout the day.

The Rev. Randy Paxton, of Immanuel Baptist Church, said the idea for the event “Day of Healing” began during the community’s search for Kayla.

As hundreds of people searched for the missing teen, Paxton said he could see the emotional toll it was taking on friends, families and even strangers across the community.

“They needed something.” Paxton said. “Whether it was a shoulder to cry on, whether somebody to talk too just somebody to wrap their arms around them and let them feel loved,”

Family friends said Immanuel Baptist Church was like a second home to Kayla. Now, it has become a place where people are gathering to grieve together and support one another through heartbreak.

Huff’s best friend, Christina Wilson, said she learned about her death Thursday.

“I did what any person would do,” Wilson said. “I started crying, and I was like, this can’t be real.”

Wilson said as the hours turned into days during the search for Kayla, she began to feel something was wrong. She said she stopped sleeping and lost her appetite while hoping her friend would be found safe.

“There were days my mom would tell me, ‘You’re drained, kid. Get some sleep,’” Wilson said. “But I couldn’t. I just wanted to find Kayla.”

Randolph County Prosecuting Attorney Stephanie Luntsford said the case has deeply affected the community because Huff reminds people of someone they know, a daughter, a friend or the girl next door.

“It hits home,” Luntsford said. “Something like this happened in our own backyard.”

Ann Elliot and Dana Woods were among those providing mental health services Saturday. Woods said the Crisis Intervention Team deployed counselors and crisis intervention services to Huff’s school to support both students and staff.

“Not only the children but the staff, because the staff are kind of in autopilot right now, and they’re going to need somebody to kind of be there to help them deal with the situation,” Woods said.

The “Day of Healing” will continue 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday at Immanuel Baptist Church. Organizers said they expect an even larger turnout as more people are able to attend after school and work. A vigil honoring Huff is also scheduled for 7 p.m.

“People can write messages to Kayla, or actually this will go to her parents, to show how much people cared about her and the impact she made in her young life, especially in this church,” Elliot said.

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Mitchell Kaminski

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

Around 6 p.m. Friday, lawmakers threw their papers in the air and began filing out of the House chamber after the Missouri General Assembly wrapped up its 2026 legislative session.  

Missouri lawmakers passed 100 bills during the session, the highest total since 2019 and a sharp increase from the 81 bills approved during the 2025 session. The total includes 42 House bills, 41 Senate bills, and 17 appropriations bills. 

Bills that passed Friday include SB 1408, which cleared the House by a 93-46 vote. The bill will allow officials to increase the speed limit to 75 miles per hour on rural, divided highways where the limit is currently 70 mph.

Another bill that passed Friday with overwhelming bipartisan support was SB 1135, also known as “Bentley and Mason’s Law.” Of the 129 votes cast in the House, only two lawmakers voted against it. 

The bill requires courts to order anyone convicted of a DWI crash that kills a child’s parent to make child maintenance payments within one year after being released from prison. 

The House also passed SB 1421, which automatically expunges misdemeanors after one year and nonviolent felonies after three years. The bill also places restrictions on flying drones and unmanned aircraft over stadiums. 

One of the most significant measures to advance during the 2026 session was a proposed constitutional amendment that would ask Missouri voters in August or November whether to eliminate the state income tax.

Supporters say the proposal could attract new businesses to Missouri and leave more money in residents’ pockets. Critics, however, argue it would shift the tax burden onto lower- and middle-income Missourians through expanded sales taxes.

Following the end of the session, Missouri House Democrats held a press conference, while House Republicans did not. Much of Democrats’ media availability focused on Gov. Mike Kehoe’s income tax proposal, which was advanced by Republican lawmakers.

“We’re confident that when the GOP sales tax hike goes on the statewide ballot, voters will overwhelmingly reject it and punish Republican candidates who supported it,” House Minority Leader Ashley Aune said. 

Aune also added she believes Democratic voter turnout will be the highest the state has seen in years. 

However, Aune did praise some of the bipartisan legislation passed during the session, highlighting a bill that was signed into law by Kehoe that prohibits pregnancy from preventing a divorce from being finalized.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Several roadwork projects in Columbia are set to begin Monday, according to several press releases from the City of Columbia and the Missouri Department of Transportation.

I-70 ramp work

The westbound on-ramp to Interstate 70 from Range Line Street and the off-ramp at Providence Road will be closed from 8 p.m. Monday-2 a.m. Tuesday, according to MoDOT.

Rollins Street west of South College Avenue

Ameren will begin replacing a 6-inch gas main under Rollins Street, just west of the intersection.

Crews will excavate across Rollins Street and will require a road closure from Monday through Friday, June 5, according to a press release from the city.

Additionally, the crosswalk on the west side of South College Avenue will be closed.

West Rollins Road

On Monday, city crews will close the westbound lane of West Rollins Road near the intersection with South Scott Boulevard, according to a release from the city.

A closure will occur that day from 7 a.m.-3 p.m. to repair two traffic islands adjacent to 4208 West Rollins Road, the release says. Lane closures should be expected.

Eighth and Walnut Garage

Crews on Monday will begin a summer maintenance project at the parking garage at Eighth and Walnut streets.

The project, which is expected to last through early August, includes, “cable repairs, concrete repairs, and sealant and expansion joint replacement work throughout the garage,” the release says.

The garage will be restricted to permit parking only. Hourly public parking will not be available.

Juror parking for the courthouse will be moved to the Fifth and Walnut parking garage, the release says.

South Sixth Street, East Stewart Road

Parts of South Sixth Street and East Stewart Road will be closed to traffic, parking and pedestrians beginning Monday “pedestrians to accommodate construction of the University’s new Engineering Innovation Center,” the release says.

Short- and long-term closures are scheduled.

Short-term closures: May 18-Aug. 14:

South Sixth Street to through traffic between Elm Street and Conley Avenue.

East Stewart Road between South Fifth Street and South Sixth Street.

The sidewalk on the east side of South Sixth Street between Elm Street and East Stewart Road.

Parking closed on the west side of South Sixth Street between Elm Street and East Stewart Road.

Parking closed on the north side of East Stewart Road between South Fifth Street and South Sixth Street.

Long-term closures: May 18, 2026-March 31, 2028

South Sixth Street between Elm Street and East Stewart Road.

The sidewalk on the east side of South Sixth Street between Elm Street and East Stewart Road.

Parking closed on the west side of South Sixth Street between Elm Street and East Stewart Road.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A healthcare worker has been accused of sexually abusing a patient last year at Phelps Health.

Alan Atkisson, of Rolla, was charged on Thursday in Phelps County with second-degree sexual abuse.

A patient reported on Aug. 15. 2025, that Atkisson, who is described as a sonographer in court documents, sexually abused them during a medical examination on June 21, 2025.

The victim gave specific detail to Rolla police and claimed they are now afraid of returning to Phelps Health for future appointments, the statement says.

Atkisson allegedly declined to speak to police. A criminal summons was issued on Thursday and Atkisson had an entry of appearance filed on Friday, where he pleaded not guilty, court filings show.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Jefferson City man has pleaded guilty to first-degree involuntary manslaughter in an August 2024 bar fight that led to a man’s death.

Kamari Balton, 27, was previously charged with second-degree murder in the death of Rafael Ayala. He pleaded guilty in Cole County on Friday morning. He will be sentenced at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 7. Court filings show that he is facing a maximum sentence of seven years.

Previous reporting shows police had found Ayala on the ground unconscious on Aug. 17, 2024, outside of Twisted Chicks, a Jefferson City bar. Balton was arrested about a month later.

The owner of the bar at the time told ABC 17 News that the fight occurred in the parking lot outside of the building after the bar was closed.

Balton has been held at the Cole County Jail since his 2024 arrest.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A man has been arrested in Paducah, Kentucky, in connection with this past weekend’s shooting of Mizzou running back Ahmad Hardy in Mississippi.

Rashodrick Harris, 20, was arrested on suspicion of two counts of aggravated assault, according to Laurel Police Department Sgt. Macon Davis. He is also facing an additional count in Kentucky for being a fugitive from out of state. He had an arraignment hearing on Friday morning and is being held at the McCracken, Kentucky, County Jail without bond.

Davis said Harris is accused of shooting Hardy and another victim after a concert early Sunday. Davis told ABC 17 News that Laurel police received a tip from someone this week that led to authorities looking at surveillance video by a nearby convenience store.

A victim in the case allegedly identified Harris as the suspect. Davis said Harris was arrested by Kentucky police early Friday.  

Check back for updates.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A 20-year-old Randolph County woman and a 19-year-old man are now charged with first-degree murder in the death of a Moberly teen.

Prosecutors filed an amended complaint on Friday afternoon that charges Alayna Mason and Hunter Ames with first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping in the death of 16-year-old Kayla Huff. Ames faces an additional count of tampering with evidence

Randolph County Prosecutor Stephanie Luntsford said as investigators continue to uncover new details in the case, prosecutors believe it was necessary to update the charges.

Luntsford said an autopsy was conducted on Huff, providing the office with preliminary findings.However, she would not go into detail about those findings because the final autopsy report has not yet been completed. She also did not say when the report is expected to be finished.

“We do have an individual that’s deceased. We do have some information regarding, her death and some of the evidence and statements about events that led up to that,” she said.

Mason and Ames are among two other people who were charged in the disappearance of Huff, who was found dead earlier this week by law enforcement.

Christopher Hull and Julian Mason are each charged with first-degree kidnapping and tampering with evidence.

All four people suspects are in the Randolph County Jail and have a hearing scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Monday.

Check back for updates.

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Alison Patton

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

There is growing tension between the secretary of state and the Boone County clerk over when to tie voters to a new congressional map that eliminates a safe Democratic district, and now state Sen. Rick Brattin is asking for the clerk to be removed from office.

Boone County Clerk Brianna Lennon, a Democrat, wrote a letter to Secretary of State Denny Hoskins on Wednesday, informing him that the voters can’t be tied to the new 2025 congressional districts ahead of this year’s August primaries until he certifies a referendum that would ask voters to confirm the new districts.

In an interview with ABC 17 News, Lennon said she and many other election officials are waiting on Hoskins to update map files so that they can tie voters to the new districts.

Lennon has another concern. If Hoskins certifies the referendum, which he would need to do on or before Aug. 4, the congressional districts revert to the 2022 map. However, the referendum would go on the November ballot.

“Which means we have effectively held an entire primary under a map that is no longer valid. That is an open question and uncharted territory. I do not know what the outcome of that will be, but the overall concern that I think a lot of us have about what the overall integrity of what our elections are going to be in August,” Lennon said Friday.

Hoskins, a Republican, responded to Lennon’s letter the following day, Thursday, telling all local election authorities that the 2025 map is legal and backed that claim with recent court rulings upholding the map.

During a news conference Friday in the state Capitol, Hoskins said the Missouri attorney general or even the U.S. Department of Justice could take action. Hoskins also said he doesn’t believe it is legal to hold a referendum on a new congressional map.

“I’ve not said whether I rule it [the referendum] constitutional or unconstitutional,” Hoskins said.

Brattin said the authority to redraw congressional maps belongs solely to the state legislature.

The map, called “Missouri First” by supporters, has been under legal fire since it was passed during a special legislative session in September. The Missouri Supreme Court upheld the legality of the map Tuesday.

The 2025 map is likely to cut out Democrat Emanuel Cleaver (D-Kansas City) from District 5 and turn the district over to Republican control. Brattin announced he is running for the new District 5, which now includes part of Boone County, in February.

Brattin wrote letters to the Boone County prosecutor and Missouri’s attorney general, asking for immediate action if Lennon doesn’t implement the map.

“If the Boone County Clerk is refusing to implement a valid and currently operative congressional map, that conduct raises serious concerns of a willful failure to perform a mandatory legal duty under Missouri law,” Brattin wrote to Boone County Prosecutor Roger Johnson. “Election officials are not policymakers. They are tasked with administering the law as written, not substituting their own judgment for that of the legislature.”

Brattin asked Johnson and Attorney General Catherine Hanaway to look into the matter and remove Lennon from office if necessary.

“If you’re not capable or willing to execute the law of the land, especially create absolute chaos within the election process, then you have no business being here,” Brattin said during a press conference.

Brattin said he is acting in his official capacity as a state senator to bring up these concerns.

“This is something we fought for the 7-1 map [seven Republicans, one Democrat], back in ’22,” he said. “This is something I’ve been near and dear to before I was a political candidate, but regardless, my oath is to uphold the Constitution, and it’s clear that she’s [Lennon] not upholding the law of the land that we’ve passed.”

State Rep. Ashley Aune (D-Kansas City) said states across the country are falling into dangerous mid-decade redistricting.

“I would love to have a conversation in this building [the Capitol] about how we can address that and how we can avoid a situation where our county clerks are put in a position where they don’t quite know how to proceed,” Aune said at a press conference Friday evening.

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Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

No charges will be filed against an Iberia teacher who was accused of having sexual misconduct with a student.

Miller County Prosecutor Robert Seek, who was appointed to the position earlier on Friday, told ABC 17 News that no charges will be filed against Casey Ann Mason.

Mason, 28, was booked into the Miller County Jail on Thursday afternoon and was released at 10:15 a.m. Friday. The school district wrote in an earlier press release that she was arrested on suspicion of having sexual contact with a student.

Seek told ABC 17 News that he will not charge Mason because he felt that it did not apply since the alleged victim was 18 years old.  

District Superintendent Amanda Mace wrote in the social media post that Mason had resigned.

“At this time, I do not have information about whether the arrest will result in formal criminal charges against Ms. Mason,” she wrote. “However, Ms. Mason has submitted her letter of resignation from the District and will not be returning to employment with the District.”

The district says it is cooperating with investigators.

Mace on Friday declined to give any more information, including Mason’s position and years of service.

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