Month: March 2013

After months of debate Columbia Public Schools finally decided new school start times. In a six to a one vote, the school board chose the less controversial plan.Middle schools will start at 7:30 A.M. followed by long route elementary schools at 7:40 A.M. All other elementary schools will begin at 8:20 A.M. and finally high

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) – A Missouri House committee has endorsed a state bonding package to fund construction projects at college campuses, parks and other state facilities.The proposal endorsed Tuesday would allow up to $1.2 billion in bonds. It calls for at least $500 million to be used for non-higher education projects with at least

As Columbia’s director of Parks and Recreation gets ready to head into retirement this week, his replacement has been named.City officials say Mike Griggs, the assistant Parks and Recreation director, will take over as director effective March 15.He was chosen out of 100 applications to take over for Mike Hood who retires March 14 after

A former Mid-Missouri officer is due back in court later this week for six counts of statutory rape. 23-year-old Aaron Nelson waived his preliminary hearing on Tuesday in Moniteau County. His arraignment is now set for Friday.Nelson used to work for the Stover Police Department. He is accused of having sex with three underage girls

***UPDATE THURSDAY 9:30 A.M.***Mayor Eric Streumph is calling on Communications Director Michelle Gleba and Public Works Director Roger Schwartze to rescind their resignations.He made the announcement during a special meeting Thursday morning.Streumph said if they wanted to keep their jobs, they would make every effort to find money in the budget for their salaries. He

The FDA announced the popular antibiotic zithromax, or Z-Pak, can cause fatal heart rhythms. In 2011, over 40 million patients were prescribed the drugs.”I think physicians like it because it’s a short therapy. It’s only about five days, there are only a total of six pills to take and even though you only take it

Mizzou Football beings their month long spring camp practices. Starting today the Tigers will be getting ready for the 2013 SEC Football Season.Spring Camp goes from March 12 through April 20. The Tigers will scrimmage April 6th and !3th at 9 AM. The Black and Gold game will be April 20th at 1 PM.Attached are

After a successful run for a year, the results from the student organized anti-bullying program is hard to ignore. The Attorney General’s office sees it as a model to emulate and help other schools across Missouri to reduce bullying. The “Kindness is Cool” campaign, started by a small group of honor students at Tuscumbia High

Temperatures will start off in the upper 20s Wednesday and climb into the mid 40s during the afternoon hours. Skies will be mostly sunny with northwesterly winds up to 10 mph. As surface high pressure slides to the east, winds will shift to the south Wednesday night and Thursday with warming temperatures to end the

A true son is coming home. On the same day Kansas City made their trade with the San Francisco 49ers official for QB Alex Smith, the Chiefs signed former Missouri Tiger QB Chase Daniel to a three-year deal to become the team’s backup. After going undrafted out of Missouri in the 2009 draft, Daniel ultimately

The St. Louis Rams are cooking up a plan to help Sam Bradford take the next step. At 3:00 pm on Tuesday, the new NFL league year started and the free agency signing period began. A couple hours later St. Louis agreed to a five-year deal with TE Jared Cook. Cook was drafted out of

***UPDATE WEDNESDAY 2:21 P.M.***VATICAN CITY (AP) – Argentine Jorge Bergoglio has been elected pope, the first ever from the Americas and the first from outside Europe in more than a millennium. He chose the name Pope Francis.After announcing “Habemus Papum” – “We have a pope!” – a cardinal standing on the balcony of St. Peter’s

Another military branch makes cuts following the loss of millions because of sequester.The Air Force announced Tuesday it is immediately suspending the tuition assistance program for its airman. They are following the footsteps of the Marine Core, Army, and the Coast Guard who made the same cuts last week. ABC 17 News crews met with

***UPDATE 1:33 P.M.***PITTSBURGH (AP) – A man nicknamed the “Bucket List Bandit” by the FBI after he allegedly told a Utah bank teller that he had just four months to live has pleaded guilty in Pennsylvania to that robbery and 10 other heists in nine other states.On Wednesday, Michael Eugene Brewster pleaded guilty to Sept.

The ABC 17 Stormtrack weather team covers what you can expect for the spring and summer ahead with severe weather, flooding and drought in the ABC 17 Stormtrack Severe Weather Special.

The ABC 17 Stormtrack weather team covers what you can expect for the spring and summer ahead with severe weather, flooding and drought in the ABC 17 Stormtrack Severe Weather Special.

The Networks of Mid-Missouri are airing the 2013 SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament. The games will affect programming on ABC 17/KMIZ through Friday night.Show times following the games are approximate, depending on the length of the game.Thursday, March 14- 6 p.m. ABC 17 News at 6- 6:30 p.m. SEC Tournament Second Round- 9 p.m. SEC Tournament

***UPDATE WEDNESDAY 6:56 P.M.***After six hours of deliberations, the jury ruled Shelley Richter guilty of endangering the welfare of a child in the first degree.The court found Richter not guilty on the other child abuse charge.***UPDATE 12:50 P.M.***The case went to the jury just before noon on Wednesday.In closing arguments, the prosecution declared that the

The possibility of budget cuts in Columbia Public Schools due to the federal sequester might become a reality. District leaders say a program for low income families may be hit the hardest. The Title I Early Childhood program could be in its last year. The program’s director says she hopes the cuts don’t happen because

Columbia Regional Airport reports being busier than it’s ever been, but that could change if federal budget cuts force the tower to shut down. ABC 17 News has been telling you the airport’s tower is on the FAA’s list to be cut. Many airport officials, including the tower chief, have told us they are worried