COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) No-excuse absentee voting opened Tuesday, giving all registered Boone County voters the chance to cast their ballots early in person. The Boone County Clerk’s Office says on its website that no-excuse absentee voting allows any registered voter in the county to cast a ballot in person just like on Election Day. No-excuse
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Jefferson City inmate was charged with first-degree murder and other charges after authorities claim he killed another inmate on June 4. Brandon Cole Smith, 43, of Licking, was charged on Tuesday in Cole County with first-degree murder, violence to an inmate and armed criminal action after a grand jury indictment was
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The defense in a child murder case out of Benton County claims a woman accused in the case should be held by the Department of Mental Health. Kourtney Aumen, 26, of Lincoln, Missouri, is charged with first-degree murder, child abuse, two counts of armed criminal action, two counts of first-degree endangering the
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Cases of cyclosporiasis, a diarrhea-causing foodborne illness, are on the rise in Missouri, with cases in Mid-Missouri increasing over the weekend, and the cause of the outbreak is still unknown. The Columbia/Boone County Health Department reported 37 cases of cyclosporiasis as of Monday, which is seven more since Friday. The Cole County
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Governor Mike Kehoe announced Friday that he is asking for local, state and federal damage assessments from flash flooding and storms over July 9-11. The request comes in advance of an expected request for a federal disaster declaration. Kehoe said in a news release that the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and
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Editor’s note: The number of cases has been updated in real time as the health department receives updated numbers. COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Boone County saw its diagnosed cases of cyclosporiasis increase to 22 on Friday, according to the county’s health department. Cases in the county increased from nine to 13 between Wednesday and Thursday. The
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) An Eldon police detective pleaded guilty to misdemeanor driving while intoxicated about a week after he was charged. Luke Gatlin, of Kaiser, pleaded guilty on Wednesday in Miller County and was ordered to pay a $640.50 fine and court costs. He was charged on July 9. Court documents in previous reporting indicate
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) An April inspection report obtained by ABC 17 News from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services shows improper medication disposal and storage at Heisinger Bluffs Senior Living in Jefferson City. A Jefferson City man filed a wrongful death lawsuit last week against the facility with claims of medical negligence, not
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Callaway County deputy shot a dog on Tuesday while serving a warrant near Auxvasse. The Callaway County Sheriff’s Office announced in a Thursday social media post that Deputy Zach Hubbard shot a dog on Tate Drive near Auxvasse. The sheriff’s office showed body camera footage of the two responding deputies that
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) In about a week, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services has reported that cases of cyclosporiasis in Missouri has nearly doubled from 43 to 80. “There are more cases across the country than we usually see in an entire year,” DHSS said in a Facebook Post Thursday. The Columbia/Boone County
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Miller County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a shooting from Monday that left a 35-year-old man dead. The identity of the shooter and victim have not been released. The press release from the sheriff’s office says it was called at 6:30 p.m. Monday to a residence on Big Oak Lane near Brumley
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Missouri Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick released his audit of Morgan County on Thursday and gave it a “fair” rating. “The good news is the county doesn’t show any signs of excessive waste or fraud, but it does have several areas lacking controls and procedures, which can lead to inefficiency and increase the possibility
Continue Reading COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A lawsuit was filed on Thursday in federal court that challenges Missouri’s recently passed hemp restrictions. Gov. Mike Kehoe on April 23 signed House Bill 2641 into law, which effectively banned the sale of THC seltzers and other intoxicating hemp products at convenience stores, bars and restaurants. It would require those products
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A lawyer who worked for the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has filed a lawsuit against its commissioner. Lindsey Phoenix, of Columbia, filed a lawsuit against Education Commissioner Karla Eslinger on Monday, claiming retaliatory termination and that her First Amendment rights were violated. The petition alleges that after the shooting
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Holts Summit man was charged with two felonies after he was accused of sexually abusing a child on July 13 in Cole County. Fernando Yordi, 23, was charged with first-degree statutory rape of a person younger than 14 years old and first-degree sexual abuse of a victim younger than 14 years
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The group promoting Gov. Mike Kehoe’s push to eliminate Missouri’s income tax has spent $3 million so far this election. Filings with the Missouri Ethics Commission show Missouri Promise PAC has spent $3.3 million from April 1-June 30 supporting Amendment 5. Most of its spending has gone toward “media” so far. Its
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Gov. Mike Kehoe signed House Bill 2372 into law Monday that includes several overhauls to healthcare laws in the state. HB 2372, was sponsored by state Rep. Tara Peters (R-Phelps County) and state Sen. Mike Bernskoetter (R-Cole County). One provision in the bill, bans health insurers from placing time limits on anesthesia
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Some rural highways and interstates will go from 70 miles per hour to 75 mph as soon as Aug. 28, after Gov. Mike Kehoe signed a bill into law Monday. However, some driver safety organizations say this could lead to more traffic crashes. “Unfortunately, increasing the speed limit even just five miles
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia Police Department is getting $1 million in the newly signed state budget to use specifically on downtown public safety. When exactly the money hits the city’s account depends on Gov. Mike Kehoe releasing the funds, according to State Sen. Stephen Webber. Webber said a conversation with Columbia Police Chief Jill
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe on Monday signed a slew of bills into law, including one that can increase the speed limit on rural roads. Kehoe’s office announced in a Monday press release that the governor signed Senate Bill 1408. The bill allows the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission and the Missouri Department
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