COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Missouri nursing homes rank among the worst in the country for the amount of care provided to residents, and ongoing staffing shortages may be adding to the problem and putting residents’ health and safety at risk. Federal guidelines from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services require skilled nursing facilities to provide
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JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Dozens of abortion and Proposition-A advocates gathered at the Capitol on Thursday to protest the recent passage of two bills during the legislative session. On Wednesday, the senate ended its session after republicans forced a vote to approve a ballot measure to send abortion rights back to the voters. It also
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JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) State funding for a new juvenile center in Cole County is uncertain after the Missouri legislature failed to pass House Bill 19 on Wednesday. About $4 million of the more than $14 million project would have come from the state. The project has been in works since 2022 and would have
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Missouri lawmaker is pushing for changes in how long-term care facilities in the state operate. Senate Bill 733, sponsored by Stephen Webber (D-Columbia), would modify several provisions related to long-term care facilities. Current law states that a certificate of need is not required to transfer ownership of an existing and operational
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Schneider Electric broke ground Tuesday on a major expansion of its Columbia manufacturing facility. The company announced an investment of over $700 million in the U.S. this year, with more than $70 million of that directed to the Columbia project. The expansion, at Schneider’s facility in the 4800 block of Paris Road,
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The head of a local program focused on treating patients with autism spectrum disorder said last week that he hopes plans for a federal database can help uncover the cause of the condition, but it should protect patients’ safety and privacy. The National Institutes of Health plans to work with the Centers
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COLUMBIA, MO. (KMIZ) Water in Columbia still had discoloration Thursday afternoon following the recent switch from the city’s main central water line to a secondary west line. City of Columbia Utilities Spokesman Jason West said the city made the switch Tuesday evening due to low tide. The city was originally going to close off service
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia Public Schools’ Adult English Language Learner program could face significant setbacks as the Trump administration’s proposed fiscal 2026 budget includes cuts to adult education state grants. The proposed budget includes a 24% cut to adult education funding, reducing it from $642 million to about $486 million. CPS’s program provides free online
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Sen. Eric Schmitt says he will introduce legislation to enhance penalties for crimes against first responders after the stabbing death of a Kansas City paramedic. Early Sunday, Kansas City firefighter-paramedic Graham Hoffman, 29, died in the line of duty after he was attacked while treating a patient. He was laid to rest
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia Fire Department says it is phasing out a harmful fire fighting foam for its trucks because of its known environmental hazards, particularly its lasting impact on soil and water from PFAS chemicals. Columbia Fire Department Assistant Chief Lester Shewmake said the new foam is a safer alternative. “The new foam
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Callaway County woman accused of shooting and killing a woman at an apartment complex earlier this month is out on bond. Heather M. Smith, 37, was charged with second-degree murder, child endangerment, armed criminal action and three counts of unlawful use of a weapon. Her bond was lowered to $150,000 on Monday
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Lines are forming outside at least one Columbia license office as people rush to get a new Real ID ahead of a pending deadline. Columbia’s license office on Vandiver had a line out the door Tuesday morning. An employee told ABC 17 News that it takes 5 to 10 minutes to process
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The City of Columbia says it chose to resume recycling collection to help residents maintain recycling habits without adding to their household trash burden. Recycling drop-off centers in Columbia will remain closed and curb-side pickup resume on Monday, though all of it will be brought to the landfill. Recycling pickup was suspended
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Contract negotiations between MU Health Care and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield remain at a standstill. MU Health Care Chief Operating Officer Tonya Jackson told ABC 17 News on Thursday that no future meetings are scheduled between the two sides. MU Health Care has not been considered “in-network” for Anthem customer since
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia has issued just its second emergency declaration in the last 15 years. The City of Columbia declared a disaster on Monday after the National Weather Service confirmed an EF-1 tornado touched down Sunday in northeast Columbia. Then-city manager John Glascock signed a disaster declaration on March 20, 2020, at the start
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The University of Missouri says it’s continuing to make safety a top priority for people on and around campus. UM System President Mun Choi said during a news conference Thursday after a meeting of the board of curators that leaders at the University of Missouri and the Columbia Police Department are working to increase patrols
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The University of Missouri Board of Curators met Thursday morning in Rolla, tackling issues including the future of federal funding for research and its impact on the university. No decision on federal funding cuts has been made, but it could result in a $22 million loss in National Institutes of Health grants,
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MOBERLY, Mo. (KMIZ) The Missouri Department of Corrections is working with the Missouri Prison Transformation Project and the University of Missouri to improve the quality of life and well-being of prison inmates and staff. The project held an open house Tuesday morning at Moberly Correctional Center to provide a firsthand look at a redesigned housing
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Missouri Department of Transportation has scheduled the demolition of the exit ramp from westbound Interstate 70 to Business Loop 70 in Columbia for this weekend. The bridge demolition will require an extended single-lane closure with off-and-on full closures of eastbound I-70 between Route B and Highway 63 from 7 p.m. Friday
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Races for city offices are non-partisan by law in Missouri. But sometimes, it might be hard to tell. In Columbia, one candidate in the just-decided mayoral race took in more than a quarter-million dollars of campaign funding, a total more often seen in races for state offices. Meanwhile, voters made it clear
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