Category: NEWS
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Some Columbia Business Owners Ask for Urban Camping Ordinance
Some Downtown Columbia business owners have requested that city leaders adopt an urban camping ordinance, preventing homeless people from sleeping in the streets. Those business owners have said that there has been an increase in the number of homeless people sleeping in doorways and on sidewalks. Downtown Community Improvement District Director Nickie Davis has said…
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Columbia Man Arrested on Gun and Drug Charges After Police Search
A Columbia man is behind bars after police served a search warrant to discover a stolen firearm and drugs at his home. Authorities searched 67-year-old Richard Sponseller’s residence on Thursday, July 2nd, due to him being a felon in possession of a firearm. Upon executing the search, the officers found a Taurus Spectrum Handgun which…
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Jefferson City Woman Sentenced to 18 Years for Rape of a Minor
A Jefferson City woman has been sentenced after pleading guilty to statutory rape of a minor. Estelle Kerns pleaded guilty to on count of First Degree Statutory Rape on June 29th, 2026 and has been sentenced to 18 years in prison with credit for time served. Kerns was initially arrested in May of 2025 after…
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Columbia Man Charged with Drug Possession, Child Endangerment
A Columbia man has been charged after police found fentanyl during a search at his residence last week. According to court documents, Columbia Police and Narcotics Unit Officers served a seach warrant on Thursday. The house reportedly belonged to 29-year-old Trey Keith, and officers found white powdery substance that tested positive for fentanyl totaling 173…
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Callaway County Discussing Potential Data Center Plans
Mid-Missouri has seen multiple data center developments recently, and Callaway County is the next one showing possible interest. The county has reportedly been in talks with Crusoe, an artificial intelligence company, about a data center, but no agreements have been signed. Preserve Callaway County Missouri, LLC held a community discussion at the Fulton Legends Rec-Plex…
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Clark Street Bridge Closed Wednesday
Drivers in Mexico, Missouri should plan ahead this week. The City of Mexico says the Clark Street Bridge will be closed on Wednesday, July 8, from 7 a.m. until approximately 1 p.m. while Public Works crews perform maintenance on and around the bridge. Motorists are encouraged to use an alternate route during the closure to…
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Fireworks Company Explains Holiday Cancellations
The company behind several canceled Fourth of July fireworks shows in mid-Missouri says a November accident at its Buffalo facility led to manufacturing delays that ultimately prevented it from fulfilling some holiday contracts. AM Pyrotechnics, now operating under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, caused the canceled or postponed shows in Mexico, Osage Beach and Camdenton. In…
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Downtown Conference Center Project Moves Forward
Construction of Jefferson City’s new downtown conference center and hotel is one step closer after the City Council unanimously approved key project agreements during a special meeting Monday. City leaders say updated plans include expanding the hotel from 203 to 215 rooms while removing a planned pool to reduce costs. The project is now estimated…
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Driver Seriously Injured in Landfill Trench Fall
A tractor operator was seriously injured after falling into a deep trench at the Columbia landfill Monday afternoon. The Columbia Fire Department says crews responded just after 4 p.m. to the landfill on Peabody Road, where a tractor pulling a hydroseeder had slid into a 24-foot-deep trench. The driver was ejected from the tractor and…
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Two Hospitalized After Vienna Crash
A two-vehicle crash in Maries County sent two people to the hospital Monday afternoon. The Missouri State Highway Patrol says the crash happened around 1:40 near Vienna when a 35-year-old Columbia woman driving an SUV attempted a left turn and failed to yield to an oncoming pickup truck driven by a 20-year-old Rolla man. The…
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Mexico Authorities Respond to Natural Cover Fire on 4th of July
Mexico first responders were called to assist with a natural cover fire in the 2300 block of Fairground Road on Saturday. The issue occurred around 12:25 p.m. when responding personnel found a flame moving quickly through tall, dry grass. The fire was extinguished before damaging any other personal property, but burned about one acre of…
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MHS Parking Lot Resurfacing Begins Today
Crews will begin resurfacing the student parking lot at MHS Today as part of ongoing campus improvements. chool officials say the parking lot will be closed during the work, and anyone visiting the campus is asked to use caution and avoid the construction area. The project is aimed at improving facilities for students, and administrators…
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Independent Stave Donates to Emergency Communications Group
on Friday, Independent Stave Company in New Florence donated more than $2,000 to Audrain Emergency Communications Incorporated to help strengthen emergency communications across mid-Missouri. The $2,053 check was presented during AECI’s annual Field Day, where amateur radio operators test emergency communication capabilities. Company representative Josh Plank says the donation reflects Independent Stave’s commitment to supporting…
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Kansas City Man Dies in Lake of the Ozarks Drowning
A 25-year-old Kansas City man has died after drowning at the Lake of the Ozarks. The Missouri State Highway Patrol says the man entered the water Saturday night near the five-mile mark of Lick Branch Cove but never resurfaced. Troopers recovered his body Sunday morning. The Morgan County coroner pronounced him dead Saturday night. Investigators…
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Fire Quickly Contained at Stephens College Dorm
A fire at a Stephens College dormitory was quickly contained Sunday morning, according to the Columbia Fire Department. Crews responded to an automatic fire alarm at an unoccupied dorm on Melbourne Street just after 9:25 a.m. Firefighters used thermal imaging cameras to locate the fire inside a second-floor air-handling unit and extinguished it before it…