Month: June 2013

Less than 24 hours after the NBA Draft, former Missouri Tiger point guard Phil Pressey has found a new home. Yahoo’s Adrian Wojnarowski is reporting Pressey signed a free agent contract with the Boston Celtics. Phil Pressey averaged 11.9 points and 7.1 assists per game as a Junior with Missouri last season. He decided to

Crowded sidewalks and long waits for a taxi are common scenes in downtown Columbia, especially on weekends. The city wants feedback on whether bar and restaurant owners think a soft bar closing could solve those problems. It would give bars the option to stay open an extra hour. Last call is at 1 a.m. and

On Wednesday night Alex Oriahki posted a video singing along to the Destiny’s Child song “Say My Name”. On Thursday night, in the second round of the NBA Draft with the 57th pick, the Phoenix Suns said his name. “I’m tremendously happy for Alex, we had 3 guys drafted in two years.” Missouri head coach

As ABC 17 News reported Wednesday, Columbia Police Chief Ken Burton pitched a new city curfew as an answer to reduce crime. Now, we’re looking at how curfews affect crime in other cities. Wednesday, city officials held a press conference at City Hall to talk proposals to help solve crime. One of those ideas has

The mother of the man accused of being the gunman in the downtown Columbia shooting tells ABC 17 News her son did not do it. Eric Cravens, 20, made his first appearance in a Boone County courtroom Thursday after prosecutors charged him with three counts of first-degree assault and armed criminal action. Teresa Smith said

Columbia police arrested a man Wednesday for numerous charges, including burglary and assaulting police officers. Officers responded to the 4800 block of Clark Lane just before 5 a.m. Wednesday to arrest 25-year-old Zachary P. Connor, a wanted person. On June 14, officers say Connor assaulted a female victim by forcing his way into her home

The Columbia School Board approved the district’s budget for the 2013-2014 fiscal year. The $266 million budget includes a planned excess in spending over revenues by nearly $3 million. Columbia Public Schools spokeswoman Michelle Baumstark says the deficit spending is intentional because of the Battle High School opening.

The Jefferson City Police Department cracks down on heroin usage once again, in the arrests of three alleged heroin distributors. This crack down is in conjunction with The Heroin Overdose Prevention And Education campaign that began last January. Steven Dennis, Tatum Carter, and Gregory Wright were arrested Sunday for distribution on the drug. The three

Police arrested three Chicago men for heroin distribution in the Capital City. 33-year-old Steven L. Dennis, 32-year-old Tatum Cater, and 23-year-old Gregory White were arrested earlier this week. Police say Dennis has been identified as a “relatively high level” heroin distributor and is also a suspect in recent cases of heroin overdoses. Dennis has been

The State Fire Marshal is investigating after Lawrence Flax, 41, was found dead inside a Macon apartment during a fire. According to the Macon Police Department, fire crews were called to a structure fire in the 100 block of N. Rollins Street just before 7 a.m. Wednesday. Firefighters were able to evacuate an apartment in

After a rash of shootings in recent days, Columbia city leaders held a news conference Wednesday afternoon to discuss the crimes and crime prevention strategies. City Manager Mike Matthes, Columbia Police Chief Ken Burton and all City Council members attended the news conference in City Council chambers. Matthes began the meeting highlighting how public safety

Columbia police have made an arrest in the downtown shooting that happened on June 15. Officers arrested Eric Cravens, 20, of Columbia for the shooting that injured three people at the intersection of Broadway and 10th Street. Police made the arrest around 4 p.m. Wednesday after a “determined and methodical investigation.” Cravens was arrested after

The Columbia city manager, city council and police chief held a news conference Wednesday to address crime in Columbia and talk about new initiatives to curb crime. Police Chief Ken Burton said he plans to have a written proposal to the City Council in 30 days outlining a curfew law for Columbia. But not all

An iconic hotel in the capital city has a new owner. Columbia-based Puri Group purchased the hotel and conference center located off of Highway 54. The business had been on the market for several months. The Puri Group several hotels in Mid-Missouri. The group owns the Double Tree and two additional hotels in Jefferson City

A boil advisory has been issued for select customers in Boone County. Public Water Supply District No. 10 says due to a water main break, the boil advisory will be in effect until 3 p.m. Friday. Customers living on the following roads are affected: Barber Road Harper Road Rockhollow Road Ridge Trail Road Krause Road

A tractor trailer knocked down power lines on Rock Quarry Road in Columbia, causing emergency crews to shut down the road. The Columbia Fire Department says the truck was traveling northbound on Rock Quarry near Rolling Rock Drive around 2:30 p.m. and became entangled in power lines. The truck also broke a telephone pole. Crews

Police arrested a man Sunday after he allegedly assaulted an officer while carrying drugs on his person. Columbia police say Jesse Westcott approached officers while they were arresting two other people for liquor law violations at Bengal’s Bar and Grill. Despite warnings instructing him to stay back, Westcott continued to approach the officers. While an

A day care facility is out of business after a toddler was found wandering in the middle of the road. In a story ABC 17 News first reported Monday night, a 23-month-old child left the Kids Unlimited property for approximately 20 minutes on June 13 without the day care’s knowledge. “It scared me; you know

Boone County fire crews are investigating a mobile home fire in Sturgeon. It happened at a trailer park in the 600 block of Ogden Street just after midnight, Wednesday. Investigators say the fire was contained to the inside of one trailer and no one was injured. Firefighters don’t have a damage estimate and are still

Police are investigating a pair of armed robberies at gas stations in south Columbia. The first call went out shortly after 2 a.m. at the Midwest Petroleum gas station on Nifong Boulevard. The second call went out 15 minutes later at the Break Time gas station on Forum Boulevard. Police believe the same person was