Month: March 2014

A Columbia man is back behind bars in Boone County after police caughthim in Illinois two weeks ago. Cameron Caruthers appeared in court Wednesday after allegedly cutting off his home detention monitor last month and fleeing the state. A judge originally ordered Caruthers to wear an ankle bracelet after he was arrested for drugs. Police

It has been one month since 10-year-old Hailey Owens, of Springfield, was kidnapped and killed. Nearly three months ago, 6-year-old Markell Beasley was also kidnapped and killed. These children have certainly not been forgotten and have many Mid-Missourians asking for an improved Amber Alert System. Former Highway Patrol public safety officer Charles Jackson created the

A suspicious bag closed a Walmart parking lot in Columbia Wednesday afternoon. A 9-1-1 caller reported the bag at the Conley Road store, and the Columbia Police and Fire departments arrived at the scene. A full-sized black suitcase was abandoned in a mulch planter near the middle of the parking lot. Crews blocked off part

After another day of discussion, the Columbia City Council made decisions on three downtown housing developments. The three developments with Collegiate Housing Partners, Opus Development Company, and American Campus Communities were open for public comment at Monday night’s and Wednesday’s meetings. The Council unanimously approved the Collegiate Housing Partners development, which plans to build a

One day after a heated Columbia city council meeting, council members gathered for an all-day retreat. They discussed downtown infrastructure, development, utility needs, and public safety. Although no decisions were made or votes taken, councilwoman Laura Nauser believed they made good progress. “We were all here until 1 a.m. at the council meeting and all

General Motors is recalling more than 3 million vehicles. 1.6 million vehicles are being recalled because of a problem with the ignition switch. “What I’m hearing is that it’s an electrical failure where the vehicle could possibly die while driving, in which case you’re going to lose some of your steering, breaking and some of

Leaders with the City of Jefferson have released summaries of the two final conference center proposals. Both the Ehrhardt Group and the Farmer Holding company have proposed separate centers — one downtown and one at the mall. The summary shows a larger conference center for the Farmer proposal, but they are asking for just as

Columbia Police arrested a First Student bus driver Tuesday morning for “unacceptable actions” against a student on the Shephard Boulevard Elementary School route. 55-year-old Robert Harris Braid was arrested for 3rd degree assault for hitting a 7-old-boy in the face with paper while on the bus. Columbia Public Schools spokeswoman Michelle Baumstark confirms the incident

A man who is accused of throwing gasoline and lighting his wife on fire with a cigarette lighter in June 2013 appeared in court Tuesday for a pretrial conference in Huntsville. Their home in at 301 S. Randolph Street in Higbee was also engulfed in flames. Willard Hunt was charged in Randolph County with first

In a visit to Moberly Tuesday afternoon, Missouri Governor Jay Nixon and Moberly officials made an announcement that 125 jobs will be created in the Randolph County city in the coming couple of years. GAF Materials Corporation will build a plant near the old Mamtek site, about 1/4 mile from the USDA building in Moberly.

Columbia City Council got an earful Monday night during a public hearing on three proposed student housing complexes downtown and near the MU campus. “It appears when the wealthy, distant corporate speculators tell this administration to jump, their only question is ‘how high?’” said one resident in attendance. Cries of support after a demand for

Four University of Missouri athletes were arrested Saturday night in Columbia following a traffic stop for expired Alabama license plates. Freshman basketball players Shane Rector and Wes Clark were arrested for possession of 35 grams or less of marijuana. Redshirt freshman football player Shaun Rupert and sophomore corner Aarion Penton were also arrested for misdemeanor

Mizzou women’s basketball is WNIT-bound, after the tournament announced its 64-team field. The Tigers will take on Creighton in the opening game. MU will play on Thursday with the time to be announced. Robin Pingeton’s squad is 17-11 overall this season. Missouri will try to improve from last season’s WNIT appearance, when the Tigers dropped

This week, road crews will work on fixing the extra traffic congestion caused by a major road closure construction project in Columbia. On Wednesday and Thursday this week from 4 to 6 p.m., crews will direct traffic and restrict traffic flow to see if it helps with congestion. Columbia Public Works will restrict left turns

In the hour she spoke at Columbia City Hall Monday afternoon, U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill covered a variety of topics, including infrastructure, immigration, marijuana and healthcare. McCaskill’s main talking point at the meeting was infrastructure. “We cannot be the economic superpower we are if we do not invest in infrastructure in this country,” McCaskill said.

Last week Zack Jefferson was charged for the 2011 murder of Jon Spurling. Spurling was found shot to death in his rural home in Harrisburg. At the time investigators told ABC 17 News, Spurling had walked into a crime happening at his home. Jon Spurling’s best friend told ABC 17 News he could never wrap

The Jefferson City Public Schools are preparing for severe weather by holding tornado drills. Educators say practicing what to do in the case of severe weather not only keeps children safe, it keeps them cool and collected if there is a real emergency. Every classroom in the JCPS system has a plan of where to

One of mid-Missouri’s most well known radio personalities passed away Monday after a battle with cancer. 57-year-old Dane Gregg, who has been the voice of Boonville sports for decades, was also a morning show host on KWRT radio out of Boonville. The beloved broadcaster posted on his Facebook wall March 4th, “I am again overwhelmed

It’s been almost a week since the University of Missouri announced it would demolish University Village in June, including the Student Parent Center on site. At the time, MU couldn’t tell parents if it plans to reopen or move the center. It’s been an issue parents using the facility have been fighting for with a

The Columbia City Council will meet Monday night to allow the public to comment on three downtowncollegiate housing developments that were introduced March 12th. The city council voted on February 17th to reject a resolution to determine specific projects tobe funded through the proposed Central Columbia TIF District. The first bill would allow a development