Category: kmiz-local-news

Mitchell Kaminski

ASHLAND, Mo. (KMIZ) 

The Southern Boone School District held a community forum at Southern Boone High School on Tuesday night to discuss a possible shift to a four-day school week beginning with the 2026–27 academic year.

More than 50 people attended the event, where school board members responded to pre-submitted questions from community members, followed by a live discussion at the end. 

“That’s really the intent of this is to really get the community feedback. We did try to attempt to do the Q&A in order to keep a structured component,  but that is really what we were trying to dispel,” Board President Amy Begemann told ABC 17 News. “The gentleman brought up how it seems like a decision has already been made when, in all essence, it has not.” 

Under the proposal, students would attend school 7:50 a.m.-3:25 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, extending each day by 30-40 minutes. The district would eliminate the current early-release Wednesdays, and one Monday each month would be set aside for staff professional development. Remaining Mondays would function as off-days, allowing families to schedule appointments without students missing class.

The school board claims the biggest reason for a potential switch would be to help recruit and retain quality teachers as it tries to compete with larger districts like Columbia Public Schools. 

“Having the most appropriate and most qualified teachers, obviously has a greater impact on the student learning,” Begemann said. “So, really student first, but what are the components that are impacting that? Of course, one being that more qualified teachers and retaining those folks.” 

District leaders added the four-day schedule could boost attendance, increase instructional time and offer families and students more flexibility. However, several questions arose about how parents would handle child care for younger students on Mondays. 

School Board member Heather Brown said during the meeting that the district could look to increase work with other childcare providers, such as the YMCA, with whom they are already partnered. However, Brown added it will ultimately be up to parents to figure it out. 

Other concerns raised during the forum included whether students would be overwhelmed by longer school days and how those involved in extracurricular activities would manage homework if practices and sporting events pushed them home later in the evening.

The Southern Boone School District achieved a 95.9% on the Annual Performance Report conducted by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, placing the district 10th in the state overall. 

One parent said the quality schools in Ashland were one of the reasons they moved to the area, but added they would not have moved here if there were a four-day school week in place. Another parent said her child wanted to change districts if Southern Boone changed the schedule. 

Begemann said nothing has been decided at this point and no options are off the table. 

If the proposal is not approved, the district is looking at several other options to help attract and retain teachers. One option the Southern Boone finance committee discussed was scheduled salaries for teachers. Two other ideas the district floated were raising taxes or increasing class sizes; however, officials noted that both ideas would be unpopular. 

Conversations about a schedule change began in May. A survey was distributed to parents and staff in June, and a committee formed to study the issue held its first meeting in August.

The results of the survey are expected later this week. However, Brown acknowledged during the meeting that some of the survey questions were poorly worded and did not produce the intended feedback, adding the process has been a learning experience for everyone involved.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Missouri Attorney General’s Office and Auditor’s Office are investigating the state’s governing body for high school sports after claims of sex and racial discrimination were made.

A Tuesday press release from both offices alleges that a whistleblower was not eligible for an at-large position on MSHSAA’s board because they are white and male.

In a list of emails provided in the press release, one of the responses from a lawyer representing MSHSAA alleges an article of it Constitution “does not serve as a blanket disqualification preventing administrators from running for or serving on the Board of Directors. Rather, the eligibility requirements are tied to specific seats, and by design they ensure balanced representation across both geographic regions and demographic groups.”

“The individual identified in your correspondence, Mr. Johnson, was not and is presently not precluded from serving on the MSHSAA Board of Directors. Rather, he was unable to run for a particular at-large seat because he did not meet the current qualifications attached to that seat pursuant MSHSAA’s Constitution. Mr. Johnson remains eligible to run for election to a seat representing his own region, where his service as an administrator would qualify him under the governing bylaws,” the email from Natalie Hoernschemeyer reads.

An email to the whistleblower details the article from the MSHSAA Constitution states the man was not eligible.

“The current Board of Directors, after taking out members whose terms are up, has a majority of males. Since you are a male, you do not meet this requirement. The ethnicity of the board has a majority of white, non-Hispanic members. Without knowing your ethnicity or race, we ask for you to respond with the minority ethnicity or race group in which you identify, if you applicable,” the email says.

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Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

When former Cardinals manager Mike Schildt announced his abrupt retirement at the end of the 2025 MLB season, it came as a bit of a shock. 

The 57-year-old had just guided the San Diego Padres to a 90-72 record and was coming off his third consecutive 90-plus win season. While several factors contributed to his retirement, one of the reasons he cited was death threats from sports bettors. 

Schildt is one of countless coaches and players who have been subjected to abusive messages online due to lost bets and busted parlays, as legal sports betting continues to spread across the United States. The abuse isn’t limited to professional athletes and coaches; it has also spread to the college ranks.  

On Dec. 1, sports betting will be up and running in Missouri, and while it is expected to bring in millions of dollars in tax revenue to the state, the University of Missouri is closely monitoring how it will impact student-athletes. 

The NCAA reported that 1-in-3 high-profile athletes receive abusive messages from sports bettors. 

Pam Brunzina, MU’s faculty athletics representative to the NCAA and SEC, said concerns intensified once the NCAA allowed student-athletes to bet on professional sports. According to Brunzina, the NCAA remains highly focused on game integrity, but the dangers extend far beyond point-shaving.

Even though placing prop bets on Missouri collegiate teams is not allowed under state law, Brunzina says there have already been isolated incidents of Mizzou athletes being harassed due to sports wagering.

“The NCAA actually did a study on that the past couple of years, looking at harassment of student athletes, particularly around the basketball tournaments, and it can be pretty ugly,” Brunzina said. “I think it’s important for all of us to remember that when we are watching the student athletes compete, that they are young people out there doing their best. Even if we have a bet that’s dependent on their performance, we need to remember that they are trying their hardest and to have some perspective.”

The NCAA rolled out a video campaign during the men’s and women’s basketball tournaments in March, urging fans to curb harassment and calling on states to ban prop bets tied to student-athletes. 

The NCAA also partnered with Venmo over the summer to curb abusive or unwanted interactions on the platform after some bettors sent student-athletes harassing payment requests tied to lost wagers.

The 2025 study marked the second year the NCAA commissioned a study on online harassment targeting college athletes, coaches and officials. The review, conducted by Signify Group, examined seven championship events and tracked social media activity connected to 5,555 athletes, 625 coaches, 466 teams and 26 official NCAA accounts during the 2024-25 academic year.

Signify found that 31 individuals were responsible for the most severe cases of abuse, with eight of them tied to sports betting, according to the NCAA. The study also determined that seven messages rose to the level of being forwarded to law enforcement.

Brunzina added that because athletes are receiving Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) money, many view them as fair game to be targeted online.

“I do think that for some people there is maybe just a shift in mentality of viewing them, the student athletes, more as professional athletes and maybe having a little bit different attitude or expectation of them and forgetting that they are college students, performing at a really high level,” Brunzina said.  “But they aren’t really professionals.”

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

An 18-year-old man was charged with several crimes after he allegedly broke into several cars on the University of Missouri’s campus.

Larron Brown was charged with first-degree tampering with a motor vehicle, five counts of second-degree burglary, two counts of misdemeanor stealing and five counts of first-degree property damage.  He is being held at the Boone County Jail on a $50,000 bond

The probable cause statement says police at 11:30 p.m. Saturday night were called to Mark Twain Hall for a report of a theft. One of the victims claimed they only parked the car in the past few hours and one of the back windows was busted out and $20 and small items were stolen, the statement says.

The statement describes at least four other vehicles that had one of its back windows destroyed and several of those had items and money stolen. Video allegedly showed the vehicle Brown was driving, the statement says.

Brown was stopped by deputies near the corner of College Avenue and Paris Road on Sunday morning, the statement says. The vehicle driven by Brown was reported stolen from Boonville, the statement says.  

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Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Two congressmen representing parts of Missouri have released statements about their votes to release the Epstein files.

U.S. Rep. Mark Alford (R-Raytown) and U.S. Rep. Emanuel (D-Kansas City) were among the 427 House members to vote Tuesday afternoon to compel the Justice Department to release files related to the investigation of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Epstein killed himself while in jail, and his death has sparked speculation about which powerful figures knew about his crimes.

“On my last day as a television news anchor and from the very beginning of the Epstein Files saga, I’ve said the only thing that matters is the truth,” Alford said in a news release. “Time and again, I have advocated for any files in the Justice Department’s possession to be responsibly released, while protecting victims’ identities. Transparency is not a partisan issue — it’s a moral one.

“The public has a right to know who enabled these heinous acts, and we must ensure the full scope of Epstein’s criminal network is exposed. The Epstein case has cast a long shadow over our institutions and fueled distrust among Americans. By releasing the files, we can begin to restore faith in our justice system.”

Cleaver lamented House Republicans’ foot-dragging over releasing the files. He called on the Senate to immediately pass the bill, which came just a few hours later.

“The crimes committed by Jeffrey Epstein and his associates were disgusting, deplorable, and devastatingly damaging to dozens, if not hundreds, of young and vulnerable girls across the country,” Cleaver said. “While it is deeply disappointing that the president and the Speaker of the House fought to prevent this bill from ever coming to the House floor, a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers came together to force a vote that will bring us another step closer toward providing justice to the victims and transparency to the American people.”

Only one House member, Louisiana Republican Clay Higgins, voted against releasing the files.

President Donald Trump, whose relationship with Epstein has been a source of speculation, had initially opposed the release of the files, but he reversed course over the weekend with a vote in the House looming.

The measure now heads to the president’s desk.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Moberly man was charged with a felony after he allegedly pointed a gun at another man during a drunken road rage incident on Monday evening.

Roben Teter Jr., 29, was charged in Randolph County with unlawful use of a weapon. An arraignment is scheduled for 8:45 a.m. Wednesday.

The probable cause statement says Teter pulled out a gun and waved it at the victim’s face in the area of North Morley and Coates streets. Teter’s eyes were bloodshot and watery when police met with him and he smelled like alcohol, the statement says.

Teter allegedly told police that the other vehicle cut him off, but alleged he did not have a gun, the statement says. The victim allegedly told police that his vehicle is “slow to shift” and believed Teter was driving erratic because the victim’s vehicle was not going fast enough, the statement says.

Both vehicles ended up in the same parking lot and Teter allegedly got out of the vehicle and started waving the gun at the victim’s head, the statement says.

Police found a loaded gun in Teter’s vehicle and claimed Teter gave a breath test that resulted in a .106, which is higher than the legal limit to drive, the statement says.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Columbia man who currently teaches lessons to children at his home was charged on Friday with having child pornography.

David McGowan, 62, was charged in Boone County with five counts of child porn possession. He is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond and an initial court appearance was held on Tuesday afternoon.

The probable cause statement says law enforcement received a tip on Aug. 14 from a CyberTip about child porn being stored in an online platform. A search warrant was conducted on Sept. 30 and law enforcement took multiple electronic devices.

The statement says several hundred images of child porn were found on the devices.

Court documents did not describe what kind of lessons McGowan provided youth.

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Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

City of Columbia residents are now having their cardboard curbside recycling recycled, instead of being diverted to a landfill.

The recycling center has resumed processing residential paper and cardboard, according to Columbia Utilities. That service hasn’t been available since spring, when a tornado destroyed the recycling center.

In an email, Utilities spokesman Jason West said there are some limitations to paper processing due to weather. The processing center currently does not have a roof or walls, leaving both machinery and stored paper material vulnerable to rot and damage.

“When it is not too windy and not rainy, we will be able to bale the material,” West said. “However, if the wind is blowing too much or if the material is already wet when collected, we will not be able to bale every day until the area is at least covered.”

“Extremely low temperatures could also cause us not to be able to use the machinery because it is just sitting outside and we don’t have a heat source down here,” Recovery Superintendent for Solid Waste Tom Elliott said.

According to Elliott, crews collect around three bales worth of fiber recycling every recycling route, with three to four routes run per day. One storage container that is shipped off holds 28 bales.

Elliott added there are no immediate plans to reopen drop-off recycling centers in the city. Residents can continue separating paper waste from other recyclables and leaving them either in another container or alongside the recycling during curb-side pickup. Residents in complexes with recycling dumpsters should also continue separating materials. Wax and plastic-covered paper is also not accepted.

“We are bailing and selling this material, so the cleaner, the material, the better,” Elliott said. “If we can remove the contaminants in the waste from both the containers, the mixed containers, and the mixed fiber, that would help us tremendously.”

The Material Recovery Facility in Columbia was destroyed by an EF-1 tornado on April 20.

Columbia resident Samantha Harrison hopes for the city to start accepting other items, like glass. However, she said this is a step in the right direction.

“Recycling is a great thing for the earth, I think we need to do as much as we can right now,” Harrison said. “Anything that the city can put towards it is incredible.”

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Olivia Hayes

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Boone County plans to spend more than $20 million in its 2026 budget for upgrades to equipment, vehicles, and radio systems for first responders.

The Boone County Commission introduced its proposed budget for 2026 at its Tuesday commission meeting.

Total spending for the budget adds up to $143,956,629, a 3% increase over the 2025 budget. The 2026 total revenue projection is estimated at $133.8 million, a 12.9% increase over 2025. A chunk of that is unspent American Rescue Plan Act money, which must be spent by the end of 2026.

The budget is centered around five priorities:

Improving workforce retention and reducing workforce turnover and vacancies.

Addressing priority staffing and space needs

Providing new and replacement equipment, vehicles, technology and infrastructure.

Providing public safety improvements through training and retention.

And more financial stability and transparency of the county’s operating funds.

However, reduced reimbursements from the state government for prisoner expenses, juvenile detention expenses, public health initiatives and various grant opportunities are creating new challenges, county commissioners say.

Revenue from use and sales tax collections is anticipated to remain flat.

To improve workforce retention and reduce job turnover and vacancies,

The county government hopes to improve worker retention and reduce turnover and vacancies with a new county-wide pay plan and compensation structure. Since the pandemic, the county has reported unexpectedly high employee turnover and longer job vacancy rates. Since 2023, the county has been working with an outside consultant on employee salary increases and reducing workforce turnover.

The new pay plan moves the county from an open range model on a single pay grid to a hybrid step and range model with positions placed on pay grades.

The cost to implement the study and the 2026 pay plan is $3.9 million.

To address staffing and space needs, the county is in the final stages of construction on the Regional Law Enforcement Training Center and Public Safety Childcare Center on its Public Safety Campus. The proposed budget includes 26.4 full-time equivalent employees to staff the campus.

The $18.3 million Regional Law Enforcement Training Center is anticipated to open by Jan. 1. The Regional Law Enforcement Training Center will partner with more than 25 other law enforcement agencies in the area. The Boone County Sheriff’s Office will conduct academy training for recruits and continuing education credit training for certified peace officers.

The $5 million Boone County Public Safety Child Care Center also has an anticipated completion date in 2026. The Childcare Center will provide extended access to childcare for first responders who work forBoone County. The budget includes $1.1 million for initial operations.

The budget includes approximately $9.2 million to replace and buy new equipment. This includes $2.1 million for portable and mobile radios, more than $500,000 for vehicle replacements, $150,000 for new vehicles, $400,000 to replace machinery and equipment, more than $120,000 for new machinery and equipment and more than $500,000 for computer hardware replacements and new computer hardware.

Joint Communications is also expected to go live with a radio system in 2027 that will improve county-wide communication among first responders. In preparation, the 2026 budget includes funding for mobile and portable radios at $10.8 million and $2 million for a radio tower.

The Boone County Jail has reached its 200-bed capacity due to overcrowding. When at capacity, Boone County contracts with other counties in Missouri to hold inmates while they wait for a trial or mental evaluation. The budget assumes that the cost will increase by $1.3 million over last year, for a total of $2.1 million.

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Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The House on Tuesday afternoon approved a bill to release files related to the Epstein sex abuse investigation.

Watch the debate and vote in the player.

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