Month: March 2013

Three months after a woman’s body was found at an eastern Missouri motel, a man has been charged in the crime.Curtis Lee Smith, 52, of Columbia is already in prison for second-degree murder for another killing. Now, he is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Kristi Murphy.Murphy’s body was found in a bathtub

A proposal to raise Missouri’s fines for seat belt violations could have a better chance in the Senate this year.Senate Transportation Committee Chairman Mike Kehoe said Wednesday that he wants to advance the bill to the full Senate for debate. The legislation by Sen. Joe Keaveny has died each of the past three years in

Two Mid-Missourians were killed in a head-on car crash in Franklin County Tuesday afternoon.According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Austin Vanbooven, 21, of Rhineland was traveling eastbound on Route 100 when he crossed the center line and hit a vehicle heading westbound, driven by Amanda Witthaus, 27, of Hermann.Both Vanbooven and Witthaus were pronounced

The Mid-Missouri family of fallen soldier and Hickman High School graduate Sterling Wyatt appeared on Anderson Cooper’s show Wednesday morning on ABC 17/KMIZ.The episode focused on the controversial Westboro Baptist Church based in Kansas and its members who picket the funerals of soldiers. On the show, the Wyatt family came face-to-face with a former member

A Cole County man has been charged with rape and child molestation after allegedly assaulting a woman and forcing a child to have sex.Joe Clayton Stevens, 26, has been charged with first degree statutory rape, first degree child molestation and second degree domestic assault after making an appearance in Cole County Circuit Court WednesdayAccording to

JEFFERSON CITY (AP) – Missouri lawmakers are continuing to press members of Gov. Jay Nixon’s administration about why it was necessary to buy a new $5.6 million state airplane.A House appropriations committee on Wednesday questioned Nixon’s chief of staff, John Watson, about his knowledge of the plane’s purchase by the Missouri State Highway Patrol. And

News of President Barack Obama’s plan to seek a raise in the federal minimum wage is causing a widespread debate around the country and in Mid-Missouri.If the $9 minimum wage becomes a reality, it will be a pay bump of $1.65 in Missouri since the state’s minimum wage is a dime higher per hour than

The Carnival Triumph cruise ship is slowly returning to Mobile, Alabama after a fire erupted on the ship, causing it to lose all power.Carnival Cruise Lines says the Triumph’s nearly 3,000 passengers should be back on land sometime Thursday. They have been adrift off the Yucatan Peninsula since Sunday morning. Since then, tug boats have

Keion Bell scored 24 points, Jabari Brown added 20 and Missouri easily defeated Mississippi State 78-36 on Wednesday night, earning their first true road win of the season.Missouri (18-6, 7-4 SEC) jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the opening minutes and led 34-10 by halftime. It took Mississippi State (7-16, 2-9 SEC) more than

It will still be mild for Valentine’s Day with high temperatures near 50 but clouds will increase ahead of a cold front which will bring temperatures down Friday. Some light snow showers are possible in the early morning hours Friday but no accumulation is expected. Temperatures will fall into the upper 20s by Friday morning

***UPDATE 8:08 P.M.***American airlines began flying out of Columbia Regional Airport Thursday afternoon. An American Eagle plane, full of passengers, took off for Chicago around 2:30 p.m. followed by two flights to Dallas. Local representatives celebrated the new partnership at the airport Thursday, and both sides of the agreement say they are thrilled about today’s

***UPDATE 1:04 P.M.***ST. LOUIS (AP) – A Missouri man facing a third murder trial after judges overturned two earlier convictions has been freed from jail and says he’s overwhelmed.Mark Woodworth walked out of the Livingston County jail at midday Friday and repeatedly said he was overwhelmed by the prospect of his new freedom. He thanked

Emergency crews responded to a Columbia business Thursday morning after a car apparently drove into the store.According to dispatchers, a car partially drove into the front door of Arena Liquor off of Providence Road around 11:30 a.m.There is no word yet on what caused the driver to crash into the building and how much damage

A man charged in the December murders of a couple in Ivy Bend will get a new judge to oversee his trial.Morgan County Circuit Court officials say 25-year-old Ronald Blowers request for a change of judge was granted. Judge Kenneth Hayden has been assigned to the case.Blowers also filed a motion for a change of

Governor Jay Nixon continues his push for Medicaid expansion in Missouri, this time focusing on mental health. The expansion would give health care coverage to 300,000 more Missourians.Nixon tells ABC 17 News with the shootings in Aurora, Colorado and in Newtown, Massachusetts over the past year. He says now is the time to act and

Since the beginning of the year, Mid-Missouri has seen over three inches of rain but still remains in a moderate-to-severe drought condition. Missouri farmers say this cropping season has been very dry compared to normal conditions and hope to see rain this spring and moderate temperatures this summer. The ABC 17 Stormtrack team says we

CLASS 4106 lbs: Josiah Kline, Hickman120 lbs: Logan Moriarity, Jeff City126 lbs: Quinn Smith, Rock Bridge132 lbs: Jason Keihne, Rock Bridge138 lbs: Samuel Crane, Rock Bridge145 lbs: Alex Shea, Hickman; Rodney Webbe, Jeff City160 lbs: Kyle Johnston, Rock Bridge182 lbs: Cody Maly, Rock Bridge285 lbs: J’Den Cox, Hickman; John Carter, Jefferson City CLASS 2106 lbs:

After spending most of the week in the 40s and 50s, colder air has arrived for Friday and Saturday. Highs will only reach the upper 30s Friday and mid 30s Saturday. Lows Friday night will dip into the low 20s. Friday/Saturday Climate Stats:Normal high: 44Normal low: 25February Averages (Through Feb. 14):Avg high: 47.7Avg low: 27.9Avg

Missouri senator Claire McCaskill stopped in Columbia Friday to push for the extension of the Violence Against Women Act. The legislation, originally passed in 1994, gives female assault victims housing, and counseling, and trains law enforcement to identify domestic violence and deal with it.McCaskill quickly blamed House republicans as the reason why the bill has

A man walking on Clark Lane Thursday night was hit by a car, and the driver sped off. It’s a situation ABC 17 News questioned Columbia leaders about, and asked what is being done to keep pedestrians safe along the busy road. Now some council members and those who live along the street want safety