Columbia Archives - Missourinet

Delay in Columbia Planned Parenthood arson trial

October 2, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

A trial for a mid-Missouri man charged with the February arson at the Columbia Planned Parenthood clinic has been delayed.

42-year-old Wesley Brian Kaster of Columbia is charged with one count of maliciously damaging a building, owned by an organization that receives federal financial assistance, by means of fire or an explosive.

Kaster’s trial was scheduled to begin last week; however, U.S. Attorney’s office spokesman Don Ledford says Kaster requested a continuance and federal prosecutors did not object.

The new trial date is December 2 in Jefferson City, before U.S. District Judge Brian Wimes.

Federal prosecutors say surveillance video from Planned Parenthood and from neighboring businesses recorded Kaster starting at about 2:30 a.m. on February 10, when he allegedly broke the front door and placed a bucket inside the building that was later found to be filled with gasoline. Prosecutors say that after a few attempts during the next hour, Kaster allegedly ignited a Molotov cocktail-type device inside the clinic.

Ledford tells Missourinet that Kaster remains in federal custody until trial.

Lightning, hail and a few tornadoes possible across Missouri this evening (AUDIO)

August 26, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

The National Weather Service (NWS) in St. Louis says severe thunderstorms are likely Monday evening across a large section of Missouri, stretching from Columbia to Jefferson City to the Lake of the Ozarks to Springfield.

The National Weather Service (NWS) in St. Louis says severe storms could impact Columbia, Jefferson City and Springfield tonight (map courtesy of NWS St. Louis Twitter page)

NWS meteorologist Jared Maples tells Missourinet the time frame will be from about 5 to midnight.

“Will extend from about Columbia and Jefferson City and just increase to the southwest of there, and a lot of that is probably going to come from this complex that is ongoing right now,” Maples says.

He says lightning, large hail and wind gusts up to 65 miles-per-hour are expected, adding that a few tornadoes are also possible.

“That’s what everybody should keep their eyes and ears open for and have several sources for warning information for that type of threat,” says Maples.

The NWS in Kansas City has issued several severe thunderstorm warnings for western Missouri today, and the NWS Springfield office has also issued several severe thunderstorm warnings.

Click here to listen to Brian Hauswirth’s full interview with NWS St. Louis meteorologist Jared Maples, which was recorded on August 26, 2019:

Bellefontaine Neighbors “hammered” by seven inches of rain; Missouri heat advisory remains (AUDIO)

August 12, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

The National Weather Service (NWS) in St. Louis says parts of north St. Louis County received more than six inches of rain and flooding early Monday morning. NWS hydrologist Mark Fuchs tells Missourinet far north county was “hammered” by rain.

“Folks in north County had upwards of over seven inches of rain, measured, in automated rain gauges up around Bellefontaine Neighbors and Glasgow Village,” Fuchs says.

The NWS issued numerous flash flood warnings across the St. Louis metropolitan area this morning.

“Just an incredible amount of water and quite a bit of flash flooding across north county,” says Fuchs.

Meantime, virtually all of Missouri remains under a heat advisory until 9 p.m. Monday. The heat index in Columbia and Jefferson City makes it feel like 107 degrees, and the heat index in southeast Missouri’s Poplar Bluff is about 110.

Fuchs tells Missourinet the heat has created a dangerous situation in which heat-related illnesses are possible.

“We’re looking at heat indices in parts of west-central Missouri, heat indices might exceed 110 degrees. And the same is true down in southeast Missouri,” Fuchs says.

You’re being urged to drink plenty of water and to avoid strenuous activity during the hottest part of the day.

Click here to listen to Brian Hauswirth’s full interview with NWS hydrologist Mark Fuchs, which was recorded on August 12, 2019:

Severe storms expected across much of central and eastern Missouri this evening (AUDIO)

June 5, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

The National Weather Service (NWS) in St. Louis warns that severe storms are expected Wednesday afternoon and tonight across parts of northeast, central and eastern Missouri.

The National Weather Service (NWS) in St. Louis outlines the time frame for today’s anticipated severe weather (June 5, 2019 map courtesy of NWS St. Louis Twitter page)

NWS meteorologist Ben Herzog tells Missourinet storms are expected to develop in northeast Missouri and west-central Illinois, and are expected to push straight south.

“Primary thing we’re anticipating with these storms are strong, straight-line winds, damaging winds although these storms will also be capable of producing large hail,” Herzog says.

Herzog says 60 to 70 mile per hour winds are possible, along with lightning. He says the severe storms are expected to begin Wednesday afternoon in Columbia, Jefferson City and Moberly around the afternoon commute time.

“The most likely time for storms in those areas looks like it’s going to be around 5, 6 o’clock, something like that,” says Herzog. “Now I should say that’s going to be the time when storms are most likely.”

The NWS says severe storms are expected to impact the St. Louis region from about 4-7 p.m., and will impact the southern Missouri towns of Lebanon, Rolla and Farmington between 7 and 10 tonight.

The NWS says the St. Louis region and northeast Missouri’s Troy and Bowling Green are now at an enhanced risk of severe weather this afternoon, which means numerous severe storms are possible.

Click here to listen to Brian Hauswirth’s full interview with NWS meteorologist Ben Herzog, which was recorded on June 5, 2019:

Thunderstorms, hail and flash flooding possible Tuesday evening in parts of Missouri (AUDIO)

June 4, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

Strong to severe thunderstorms are possible across much of Missouri late Tuesday afternoon and evening.

The National Weather Service (NWS) in Pleasant Hill says 65 mph wind gusts, hail and an isolated tornado or two are possible across parts of Missouri on June 4, 2019 (map courtesy of NWS Pleasant Hill Twitter page)

National Weather Service (NWS) Pleasant Hill meteorologist Hal Pietrycha says the storms should start near Kansas City.

“Right now we’re watching just on the state line with Kansas and Missouri that general quadrant basically right now, south of the Missouri River, or put another way, south of I-70 at the state line,” Pietrycha says.

He says damaging winds and large hail will be the main threat. He says wind gusts up to 65 miles per hour are possible.

“Biggest threats today right now appear to be large hail, by that golf ball-sized perhaps,” says Pietrycha.

He says flash flooding is also possible.

The NWS says impacted towns could include St. Joseph, Chillicothe, Columbia, Jefferson City, Sedalia, Hannibal and Rolla.

Mr. Pietrycha also tells Missourinet an isolated tornado or two are possible today.

Click here to listen to Brian Hauswirth’s full interview with NWS Pleasant Hill meteorologist Hal Pietrycha, which was recorded on June 4, 2019:

Columbia-Hickman High School football coach arrested for DWI. Second time offense for Monroe who was stopped early Sunday morning

July 7, 2014 By Bill Pollock

Arnel Monroe

Columbia Hickman High School football coach Arnel Monroe was arrested for driving while intoxicated, after being stopped by Columbia Police at a DWI checkpoint shortly after 4 a.m. on Sunday morning. He was arrested and later released on $500 bail. Monroe served two-years probation in 2006 after a previous arrest for DWI in Columbia.

Monroe has been on the Kewpies football staff since 2011. According to KMIZ-TV, Monroe was suspended during the 2013 for undisclosed reasons and missed nearly two weeks.

Hickman went 3-6 last season.

Kansas City area highway shooting suspect identified, charged

April 18, 2014 By Mike Lear

The Jackson County Prosecutor has announced 18 felony charges stemming from 9 shooting incidents on highways in the Kansas City area against 27-year-old Mohammed Pedro Whitaker of Grandview.

Mohammed Pedro Whitaker (photo courtesy, KSSZ in Columbia)

Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker has filed 9 counts of shooting into a vehicle and 9 counts of armed criminal action against Whitaker. Whitaker could face life in prison if convicted.

Peters Baker says more charges could be filed later.

Three people sustained non-life-threatening wounds in the shootings that began March 8. Authorities believe 12 shootings are related, mostly in Kansas City but other happened in Lee’s Summit, Blue Springs and Leawood.

Whitaker is a 2004 graduate of Moberly Senior High School and a former Columbia resident.

KWIX in Moberly and KSSZ in Columbia contributed to this report

See more: Law enforcement, elected officials & a former classmate react to arrest and charges of suspected KC-area highway shooter

Columbia senator on MU’s actions after ESPN report on rape allegation

January 27, 2014 By Mike Lear

The state senator that represents Columbia thinks investigation of an alleged rape at the University of Missouri and reported on by ESPN needs to follow two paths.

ESPN on its “Outside the Lines” program reports the University did not investigate or report to law enforcement the allegation that a student athlete, swimmer Sasha Menu Courey, was raped by members of the football team in 2010. Menu Courey committed suicide in 2011.

Columbia Senator Kurt Schaefer calls the situation “very serious.” He was glad to see that the University has turned over information it learned from the ESPN report to Columbia Police, and that MU System President Timothy Wolfe is calling for an independent investigation of how the allegation was handled by the University.

In one of two statements released by the University of Missouri athletics department, it says it believes it did the right thing and was respecting the wishes of Menu Courey’s parents, who its says did not reply when it contacted them about the incident.

Schaefer tells Missourinet he knows the University is refuting points in ESPN’s story, but says, “What I would hope is the University would be focused on really looking back at what happened and making sure policies are sufficient to make sure that something like this doesn’t ever happen, and also that this particular instance is investigated from a criminal perspective to determine whether anyone needs to be prosecuted.”

Schaefer says he hopes that nearly four years later, some physical evidence remains that can help determine whether a crime was committed.

He says he does not anticipate legislative action regarding the case until the investigations are completed and their findings are known.

See our earlier stories related to Sasha Menu Courey

Rock Bridge grad on Nebraska football team takes out frustrations inside a bathroom

October 4, 2011 By Bill Pollock

Chase Rome (NU Media Relations)

Chase Rome, a graduate of Columbia’s Rock Bridge high school is in some hot water following the Nebraska Cornhusker’s first Big Ten loss.

Rome, a redshirt freshman, was cited by Dane County deputies in Wisconsin for criminal damage to property. Rome allegedly ripped a paper towel dispenser from the wall of a bathroom at the Dane County Regional Airport as the team was getting ready to leave Madison late Saturday night following their miserable loss to the Badgers.

Rome was widely regarded as one of the top five prospects in Missouri. He only visited Nebraska, but he had offers from dozens of schools, including Missouri, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and Florida.

Columbia moves to 2-0, Lindenwood 0-2 in NAIA volleyball

December 2, 2010 By Bill Pollock

Columbia (Mo.) claimed victory in Pool E Wednesday in the second day of pool play action at the NAIA Volleyball National Championship. Columbia took control of its match early against Rocky Mountain (Mont.) The Cougars limited the Battlin’ Bears to a .075 hitting percentage and just 22 kills for the match. On Thursday, the 3:15 match pairs Pool E’s two unbeaten teams together, Columbia and Azusa Pacific.

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