Category: kmiz-local-news

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A porch that caught fire Tuesday night in the 7400 block of Oakley Drive in southwest Columbia was caused by “improperly discarded smoking materials,” according to a Wednesday press release from the Columbia Fire Department.

“While the Columbia Fire Department reminds residents to utilize extreme caution when approaching hazards such as this, we recognize these efforts led to the minimization of damage and prevented injuries to the resident,” Columbia Fire Deputy Chief John Ambra said in the release.

A resident was found sleeping inside the home by firefighters, the release says. No injuries were reported.

Firefighters arrived to the scene and saw neighbors controlling the fire with a garden hose, the release says.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

U.S. Rep. Mark Alford (R-MO) will be pausing all public events, including town halls, after Wednesday’s shooting death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

Kirk, a controversial figure and founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed during an event Wednesday at a Utah college.

Alford – who represents Missouri’s fourth district in the US House, which includes Howard, Pettis and Morgan counties, as well as the northern portion of Boone County – told ABC 17 News in a text message that he will not hold public events in the immediate future.

“Due to this rise in political violence, our office will be pausing all public events, including town halls, until further notice. I will not risk the safety of my family, my staff, or my own personal safety because some choose violence over dialogue,” Alford wrote in the message while giving condolences on Kirk’s passing.

Alford has held a number of public town halls in his district since President Donald Trump was sworn into office and has faced backlash at the events. A crowd in Harrisburg gave sharp criticism to him during an Aug. 27 event.  

Alford previously claimed an event in February — that was held in Benton — was “hijacked” after he was faced with jeers and boos.  

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A flurry of reactions occurred in social media and other places after the death of conservative political commentator Charlie Kirk was announced.

Kirk, 31, the founder of Turning Point USA – which is a political group aimed at promoting conservative causes on college campuses – was shot to death Wednesday while speaking at Utah Valley University. President Donald Trump gave condolences to Kirk’s family while announcing his death.

“The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead. No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie. He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us. Melania and my Sympathies go out to his beautiful wife Erika, and family. Charlie, we love you!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Trump also ordered American flags to be flown at half-staff in honor of Kirk through Sunday evening, a social media post from the White House shows.

Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe, a Republican, also gave condolences on X. The Missouri Senate also held a moment of silence in the chamber amidst the redistricting debate occurring during Wednesday’s special session.

“Political violence tears at our nation’s very foundation. America was built on passionate yet peaceful debate and freedom of expression,” Kehoe wrote. “Charlie was an unwavering voice for conservatives across the country who raised the bar for civic engagement and political dialogue, inspiring countless young people to make their voices heard.”

Claudia and I are deeply saddened to hear of Charlie Kirk’s passing.

Political violence tears at our nation’s very foundation. America was built on passionate yet peaceful debate and freedom of expression.

Charlie was an unwavering voice for conservatives across the country who…

— Governor Mike Kehoe (@GovMikeKehoe) September 10, 2025

Turning Point’s chapter at the University of Missouri had shared a post on Instagram asking for people to pray for Kirk immediately after he was shot. The MU chapter will hold a vigil for Kirk at 8 p.m. at Traditions Plaza on the quad south of Jesse Hall.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by TPUSA Mizzou (@tpusa_mizzou)

Rep. Bob Onder (R-MO) referred to Kirk as a “martyr” on social media.

Charlie is a martyr.

— Dr. Bob Onder (@BobOnderMO) September 10, 2025

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) made a comment on X condemning political violence after Kirk was shot.

“Political violence has no place in this country. We must condemn this horrifying attack. My thoughts are with Charlie Kirk and his family,” Sanders wrote.

Zohran Mamdani, a left-wing politician running for mayor of New York City, also condemned political violence in a social media post.

“I’m horrified by the shooting of Charlie Kirk at a college event in Utah. Political violence has no place in our country,” Mamdani wrote.

Mamdani’s post was shared by a number of people on X, including left-wing commentator Sam Seder.

Missouri Republican Sen. Eric Schmitt also issued condolences to Kirk’s family on social media.

“Charlie was a patriot in the fullest sense of the word. A loving husband & father. An incredible friend to me & so many,” Schmitt wrote.

Rep. Mark Alford (R-MO) gave condolences in a text message and also announced he would be holding off on having public events in the near future.

“Leslie and I are horrified by the assassination of Charlie Kirk. We are praying for his family, especially his wife and young children. We strongly condemn political violence in all forms. It has no place in the United States. Our country must be better than this,” Alford wrote. “While we didn’t know Charlie personally, it’s clear he was a God-fearing man and strong conservative who passionately loved our country.

“Charlie and I have both tried to listen to those who disagree with us and respond with reason and facts. That’s exactly what we did on our recently completed 15-stop town hall tour. Instead of respectful debate, he was murdered.”

A number of users on social media gave a variety of viewpoints, with many giving condolences to Kirk’s family, while others criticized his stance on issues including gun control.

Check back for updates.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Montgomery County man was charged with four felonies after he allegedly told investigators he had been viewing child pornography for 25 years.

Matthew Thomson, of High Hill, was charged with three counts of promoting child pornography and a lone count of child porn possession. A warrant has been served and an initial court appearance is scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday.

The probable cause statement says law enforcement conducted an online investigation on Dec. 1, 2024, and found child porn files downloaded to a computer with an IP address associated with Thomson’s address.

Law enforcement supposedly found several more files associated with the same IP address through Sept. 5, 2025, the statement says. A search warrant was issued at Thomson’s home on Sept. 5, but he was not home and was contacted while he was at work at a St. Louis County hospital, the statement says.

Thomson allegedly went to the Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop C office on Monday and admitted to downloading and viewing child porn for 25 years, the statement says.

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Erika McGuire

(Editor’s note, 9/10: The story corrects the day of the week that the state senate will begin taking up legislation in the special session.)

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

Hundreds gathered at the Missouri State Capitol Wednesday afternoon to protest state Republicans taking one step closer to officially redrawing Missouri’s congressional maps.

The rally was held by Missouri democrats in response to the “Missouri First Map” that was drawn after President Donald Trump requested Gov. Mike Kehoe to call a special to redraw the maps — a process that typically occurs only after the census.

Republicans are aiming to protect their narrow majority in the U.S. House with mid-term elections coming up next year.

According to a press release from the Missouri Democrats, this decision came despite bipartisan opposition and ignored the testimony of thousands of Missourians who voiced concern over the maps.

On Tuesday, the House of Representatives approved Gov. Mike Kehoe’s “Missouri First” map Tuesday in a 90 to 65 vote. The approved map would change Congressman Emanuel Cleaver’s fifth district in Kansas City by cutting the city into three districts.

Several groups, including Missouri Jobs with Justice, Indivisible, and the United Auto Workers Union attended the rally that began at noon.

Protesters first gathered on the Capitol steps, then moved inside to the rotunda — where crowds filled all three floors, chanting and holding signs.

The rally then moved to the third floor, where protesters marched around the House Chambers at lawmakers were in session debating redistricting and initiative petition reform.

Protesters claim the redrawing of Missouri’s congressional maps is unfair, illegal, and a blatant power grab.

“It’s against the law. It’s against our state constitution. How can they do this?” said protester Stephanie McCorkle.

“Any other way, they’d lose. If they don’t cheat they lose,” added protester Darryl Stines.

“It’s a blatant power grab to overturn the will of the people, it continues to have a through line with President Trump his agenda and Gov. Kehoe’s agenda and the agenda to continually marginalize individuals that need representation within our government,” Robert Fisher with PROMO Missouri said.

Terrence Wise, with with Missouri Workers Center and Stand Up KC said the moves of the republican party not only in Missouri but in the federal government is something he takes personal.

“They are attacking and showing violence to my family and my community and i know us coming together won’t stop them we have to build a movement with everyone who is in here today and not standing with us today,” Wise said.

Congressional candidate for the 5th district in Missouri, Jordan Herrera, says the tactics being used by republicans is telling.

“They are trying to get this done when people are not paying attention tells me everything, they don’t even believe what they are doing hell even Speaker of the House John Patterson said he’s not gunna vote for this thing,” Herrera said. “The last thing I have for Kehoe is this map even though majority of Missourians do not want it I will be suing against this map immediately so I will see you in court.”

State Rep. David Tyson Smith (D-Columbia) said the redraw of the maps is about Trump trying to keep control of the house.

“The way this is happening is insidious that’s what its about so we’ve gotta fight back, Missouri cannot be Donald Trump’s puppet we can’t be a slave to the White House we’ve gotta stand up for Missouri values and the citizens of Missouri,” Smith said.

Democrats, Smith said, will keep fighting back and do whatever they can to take their power back.

The Missouri House of Representatives also voted Tuesday to send initiative petition reform, along with redistricting bills, to the Senate in a 98 to 58 vote. Joint House Resolution three would require all initiative petitions to get approval from a majority of voters across the state and from each district.

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Matthew Sanders

Economic indicators have been making big headlines lately.

Last week came a sorry report with just 22,000 jobs created in August and unemployment at its highest since 2021.

Then came more bad news on Tuesday — fewer jobs were added in the year that ended in March than experts thought, while income gains were eaten away by inflation during the Biden years.

These numbers can be signs of trouble to come — many experts sounded alarms over the anemic August job tally. The numbers look backward, and not forward, and future trends are sometimes difficult to discern.

How are you feeling about the U.S. economy? Let us know by voting in the poll.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

No injuries were reported after a porch caught fire Tuesday night in the 7400 block of Oakley Drive in Columbia.

A firefighter on the scene said the fire did not reach the main portion of the house. The cause of the fire is under investigation. A Columbia Fire Department spokeswoman wrote in an email that the porch had minor damage.

CFD spokeswoman Katherine Rodriguez wrote in an email to ABC 17 News that firefighters were called to the 7400 block of Pemberton Drive, but found the small fire on the patio of a home in the 7400 block of Oakley Drive. The streets run parallel to each other.

Fire marshals are investigating.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A traffic shift has been scheduled on Interstate 70 at Little Cedar Creek, east of Columbia, according to a Tuesday press release from the Missouri Department of Transportation.

The release says MoDOT crews will begin shifting both lanes onto different pavement on Thursday evening and will be fully shifted Friday night. This will occur around mile marker 135.

Crews will be extending a large culvert at Little Cedar Creek. The adjusted traffic pattern is expected to last through February, the release says.

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Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A motorcyclist suffered serious injuries Tuesday in a crash that shut down part of Highway 54 for more than an hour.

The driver of the 2009 Honda GL1800, a 31-year-old man from Marthasville, Missouri, suffered serious injuries when he rear-ended an SUV on westbound Highway 54 near Fulton, according to a Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report. The man was not wearing a helmet, the report states.

The SUV driver suffered minor injuries. Both drivers were taken by University Hospital by ambulance.

The crash shut down westbound Highway 54 while the road was cleared.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A portion of sidewalk in downtown Columbia will be closed for several weeks, according to a Tuesday press release from the city.

The sidewalk in front of the McKinney Building at 411 East Broadway (between Fourth and Fifth streets) closed on Tuesday evening.

An exact date for the sidewalk to reopen was not listed, but the city wrote it would last several weeks. Repairs are being made to the McKinney Building.  

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