Abdula-Kaba Abdullah
• The Columbia Chamber of Commerce announced Thursday that Abdul-Kaba Abdullah has been named its new President & CEO, effective July 1. He is currently Executive Director of Park Central Development in St. Louis and is a former city manager of Berkeley. Abdullah will replace Matt McCormick who resigned in October to lead the Ocala, Florida, area chamber of commerce.
• A Randolph County judge convicted former Moberly police officer David Heyde this morning during a bench trial in Huntsville. Heyde shot and killed Baily Scott outside his home last July. Scott had confronted him about killing birds. The judge ruled there was no evidence of self defense.
• Columbia College auctioned off nine properties near downtown Columbia on Wednesday afternoon, bringing in around $2 million. The online bidding process originally opened on June 11. The buyers will be disclosed when the deals close.
• A sex sting by the Boone County Sheriff’s cyber crimes unit has led to at least seven arrests so far this week of men charged with enticing sex from a minor. One of them was the top attorney for the Missouri Department of Revenue. Investigators say 56-year-old Daniel Follett of Columbia tried to pay a decoy posing as 16-year-old for sex. He’s been fired from his job.
• A 19-year-old man from Columbia faces felony charges following a double shooting Wednesday afternoon. Columbia police arrested Chase Ricketts after finding two people shot near the Greens apartments on Clark Lane. Police also arrested a juvenile for assault and armed robbery. Both of the shooting victims suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
• A 20-year-old man accused of robbing a casino in Boonville during March was arrested Wednesday in Bloomington, Illinois. Bloomington police arrested Hollis Vanleer Jr. for first degree robbery, armed criminal action, and assault. Vanleer and another suspect allegedly stole $1.3 million from the main money drawer before fleeing the scene.
• Boone County seniors have until 5 p.m. June 30 to apply for the county’s Senior Real Estate Tax Relief Program. Eligible residents must be 62 or older before Jan. 1, 2026, own their primary home and owe property taxes. Approved credits would apply to 2027 real estate tax bills. Applications go to the collector’s office.
• A 19-year-old man from Overland Park received a 10-year prison sentence Friday for domestic assault at the University of Missouri. Former student Maxwell Warren pleaded guilty to choking one woman in a dorm and pushing another in a parking lot. Warren could receive probation after serving 120 days in a treatment program.
• Three Columbia residents face stealing charges in Cole County. Leanthony Bartlett, A’Kealah Hand, and Latria McNeal rare accused of posing as credit union employees. The trio allegedly stole over $12,000 from three Jefferson City victims by accessing their online banking accounts.
• The westbound I-70 on-ramp at Providence Road in Columbia will close overnights Monday through Wednesday next week for construction work.
• Veterans United Home Loans announced today that Kelley Frink has been promoted to Chief Operations Officer.
• Vice Provost Jim Spain will retire from the University of Missouri in September. He has spent more than 35 years at Mizzou in Columbia.
Recent headlines:
City, county officials continue joint push on housing, homelessness
Columbia officials press their case for public safety sales tax
Fourth Ward candidates discuss public safety tax, charter changes and city priorities
Recent obituaries are here.