Category: kmiz-local-news

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMcaster on Friday signed an extradition order for a man accused of killing a University of Missouri student 26 years ago.  

Sentrell Wilson, 45, of Spartanburg County, South Carolina, is charged with first-degree murder in Boone County for the 2000 death of University of Missouri student Candace Richie. Wilson was arrested in South Carolina on Feb. 23 and is being held at the Spartanburg County Jail.

McMcaster’s office in March had stated that the extradition could take weeks. His office confirmed to ABC 17 News in an email that he signed the order on Friday.

Columbia Police Department Lt. Matt Gremore told ABC 17 News in February that Wilson and Richie were in a relationship. Richie, 21, was found dead by police in the 2300 block of Whitegate Drive in February 2000 

A bond motion in previous reporting claims Wilson asphyxiated a woman and left her body where it was not found for several days, then fled Missouri.

Check back for updates.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Centralia’s Board of Aldermen on Monday is expected to discuss the definition of what would be considered a data center, should one be built within city limits.

City documents say the proposed definition would read as followed:

“DATA CENTER. A facility, or portion of a facility, the primary purpose of which is data processing, data storage, digital computation, cloud computing, colocation services, artificial intelligence training or processing high-performance computing, cryptocurrency or digital asset processing, elecommunications hosting, or similar high-density computing uses. A data center may include associated offices, mechanical equipment, cooling systems, backup power systems, substations, storage areas, security facilities, and other accessory improvements customarily incidental thereto. A data center shall not be housed in whole or in part within shipping containers, portable units, or other temporary or movable structures.”

Data centers would be subject to approval of a conditional use permit, per city documents. Some parameters listed includes the centers being located “within a permanent principal building or within permanent accessory structures,” meaning shipping containers or other portable units would not be allowed.

The construction and use of data centers has come under fire around the country within the past year. Data centers were proposed in Montgomery County, with residents pushing back over concerns of use of natural resources and energy. Ameren in November had announced an agreement that aims to put new rules on “large-load customers” such as data centers.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A 48-year-old pedestrian suffered minor injuries after they were hit by a vehicle on Friday at Jefferson Street and Capitol Avenue, according to a crash report from the Jefferson City Police Department.

A crash report says the crash occurred at 12:23 p.m. and involved a 2025 Dodge Durango. Information about the driver was not provided in the report.

The Dodge was stopped southbound on Jefferson Street at a red light and the pedestrian was on the northwest sidewalk corner, the report says. Both the traffic light and crosswalk signal turned on at the same time and the pedestrian was hit by the Dodge in the crosswalk, the report says.

The pedestrian was brought to an area hospital.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe signed an executive order on Friday declaring a state of emergency ahead of severe storms that are expected to enter the area this evening.

The potential of hazardous storms with damaging winds and hail prompted the ABC 17 Stormtrack Weather Team to declare Friday a Weather Alert Day.

Kehoe’s order activates the state’s emergency operations plan which enables state agencies to coordinate with local jurisdiction “to expedite assistance.”

“This Executive Order is a proactive step to ensure our emergency management teams are fully prepared should these storms require immediate action to protect Missourians,” Kehoe was quoted in the release. “While the State Emergency Operations Center is activating to support any necessary coordination efforts, Missourians should take this forecast seriously and be ready to act if conditions worsen.”

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Lucas Geisler

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) –

The woman accused of killing a Jefferson City boy in 2018 will have her trial take place in Pulaski County this summer.

Judge William Hickle ruled on Friday that the jury trial for Quatavia Givens will take place entirely in Pulaski County. The court had already agreed to pick the jury from there.

Givens, 33, was charged with first-degree murder, child abuse, first-degree endangering the welfare of a child and abandoning a corpse in relation to the death of 4-year-old Darnell Gray in 2018. She is listed on the Cole County Jail online roster, but was admitted to Fulton State Hospital last year.

Court documents say that Givens allegedly struck and smothered Gray, resulting in his death.

Givens was deemed competent to stand trial last year.

The trial is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, July 23 in Pulaski County. Givens will remain in the Cole County Jail.

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Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Columbia City Council will hear a first reading Monday of a potential August ballot issue to create a public safety sales tax.

The ordinance to put the tax before voters on Aug. 4 is listed under the introduction and first reading portion of the council’s agenda, meaning it won’t be discussed at Monday’s meeting. The bill will be up for a second reading and a city council vote next month on whether it should be on the ballot.

A city council memo states that the tax would generate approximately $38 million, which would be used to fund 50 police officers and 40 firefighters over four years. The money would also go to build a new police facility, buy equipment for police and firefighters and maintain competitive pay, the memo states.

Sales tax in Columbia is 7.975% outside of special taxing districts, where it tops out at nearly 9%. The city’s portion of that tax is 2%. Columbia shoppers already pay a 1-cent general sales tax, a half-cent transportation sales tax and quarter-cent taxes for capital improvements and parks.

como public safety taxDownload

Police and fire leaders have pushed for more staffing for several years as city budget experts have warned of flat or declining sales tax receipts. CPD Chief Jill Schlude laid out her department’s needs at a joint meeting between city and county officials and University of Missouri leaders.

CPD has 12 vacant spots and a headquarters that is over 100 years old, Schlude said. The new headquarters would be in the old IBM building on Lemone Industrial Boulevard.

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Lucas Geisler

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) –

The man Columbia police arrested Thursday after an hours-long standoff had skipped out on returning to jail following his release from the hospital, according to court documents.

Brian Strickland, 58, was arrested Thursday night on Parkade Boulevard. Columbia police wrote that they tried to serve a warrant for his arrest on a charge of felony stalking around 3 p.m., eventually taking him into custody around 8 p.m.

Strickland was in the Boone County Jail on Friday afternoon.

Court records show that Strickland had been arrested on April 10 for a warrant on first-degree stalking. Judge Kim Shaw granted him a medical furlough on April 11. Shaw ordered him to return to the jail after his discharge from the hospital around 2 p.m.

Boone County prosecutors later on April 11 said Strickland never returned to the jail following his hospital discharge. Judge Kim Shaw ordered a no-bond warrant for his arrest that night.

The defense team asked Judge Shaw to recall the warrant on April 13, but she denied that request on April 15. That same day, prosecutors added charges of second-degree kidnapping and fourth-degree assault.

A probable cause statement in the case says that on Feb. 15, Strickland threatened to kill someone and “shoot up” their vehicle. Police detailed dozens of messages he allegedly sent the victim, threatening to kill them over cheating allegations.

Strickland also had a 2024 warrant out of the Kansas City area for making a terroristic threat.

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Jazsmin Halliburton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Columbia Fire Marshals are investigating the cause of a morning duplex fire in northeast Columbia on Friday.

Crews were called to the 2800 block of Isherwood Drive at 7:44 a.m. on Friday and found flames and heavy smoke coming from a duplex.

No people were hurt, but Columbia Fire spokesperson Skylar Clark confirmed two dogs died.

Clark said the fire was mostly contained to the basement and first floor of the left side of the duplex.

A press release from CFD later stated that the fire was accidentally caused by candles.

ABC 17 News reporter on scene saw firefighters using tools to cut out a window and part of the roof. Other firefighters were seen climbing into the attic.

At least 20 personnel were on scene, according to Clark. Five fire engines were present along with one Boone Health ambulance. ABC 17 News did see multiple Columbia Police officers at the scene.

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Jazsmin Halliburton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Officials from the City of Columbia, Boone County, University of Missouri, Columbia Public Schools and the Chamber of Commerce will hold a joint meeting Friday morning.

The meeting is set to begin at 8 a.m. in City Hall, where officials will discuss several items on the agenda, like public safety and housing affordability.

According to the agenda, the City of Columbia will begin the meeting by giving an update on public safety. Last week, the city council approved a downtown ambassador program to help improve public safety after a deadly shooting last fall.

The program will cost $504,390.03 per year and will be split three ways between the City of Columbia, the University of Missouri and the Downtown Community Improvement District. Each party will pay $168,130.01, according to meeting documents.

Boone County will give an update on the affordable housing codes and next steps to take. County officials will also discuss the senior real estate tax relief program, which was amended, making the yearly renewal process automatic. Updates will also be given on the rural gravel road paving project.

The Columbia Chamber of Commerce will discuss its CEO search, World of Works, a leadership visit to Chattanooga, Tennessee and 2026-27 board appointments.

Columbia Public Schools and the University of Missouri will also give updates. This meeting is open to the public.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The first and second phases of the NextGen Missouri University Research Reactor is the top-dollar capital project for the University of Missouri in 2027.

Meeting documents from Thursday’s Board of Curators meeting shows the university is planning on spending about $140 million for Phases 1 and 2 of the project next year. Those phases include “the programming, site study, preliminary design, and Nuclear Regulatory Commission licensing activities needed to support development of a new research reactor facility,” documents detailing the school’s capital project plan from 2027-31 show.

“The project is intended to expand the University’s capacity to support cancerfighting research and medical isotope production, building on the role of the existing MU Research Reactor as a nationally significant producer of critical medical isotopes used in FDAapproved therapies and research applications,” documents say.

The project is expected to be completed by 2033, according to previous reporting.

Additional projects next year include a $25 million repair to Jesse Hall, which includes upgrades to the exterior masonry, metal repairs and window replacement. Another $40 million for Chilled Water Capacity & Resiliency Improvements and a 2028 decommissioning of Pickard Hall is set for $10 million.

MU Health Care is also hoping for a $23 million expansion of its Callaway County location between now and 2029.

“This project supports expansion of rural health care services to improve access and capacity in Callaway County. The investment aligns with MU Health Care’s mission to address regional health needs and strengthen care delivery outside the core campus environment,” documents say.

All projects can be found in the document below.

ACTION 1 – FY27 Capital Plan COMBINED (1)Download

Also at the meeting, the school approved a pilot one-year extension to make submitting test scores optional for prospective students for the Columbia, Rolla and St. Louis campuses.

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