Month: March 2015

The Columbia Missouri National Education Association, or teachers’ union, met Tuesday night to present a counter proposal to the Columbia school district’s final proposal on teacher contract negotiations. But half the seats at the table were empty, as the district team was absent. The teachers’ union is asking for approximately $6.6 million in pay increases

More than 100,000 pounds sail through the air as Ameren gently lifts a new 22-mega watt transformer into place. Ameren crews replaced a Boonville transformer with one that supplies more power. Currently, the transformer powers Boonville, Pilot Grove and Jamestown. “We’ve gotten enough load growth in the area, enough new customers that we needed to

Freedom of religion or freedom to discriminate? It is a topic swarming the nation right now as Indiana faces backlash for a bill it just passed. The act prohibits laws that substantially burden a person’s religion, but those against this say now businesses can discriminate against gays and lesbians. ABC 17 News looked through Missouri

Firefighters had their hands full Tuesday after several calls across Mid-Missouri. A large portion of a field burned near Richland and Rangeline streets east of Columbia, about one mile south of the Route Z exit off I-70. Officials with the Boone County Fire Department also told ABC 17 News another controlled burn spread Tuesday afternoon

Jefferson City Police held a second news conference to release more details into the apparent suicide of Spence Jackson, the late media director for former Missouri Auditor Tom Schweich, who killed himself last month. Police on Tuesday released a suicide note that was handwritten in ink and dated March 27. Police said it was the

Road work will close an Interstate 70 ramp in Columbia Tuesday night. Entrance ramps to I-70 from Providence Road will be closed for core drilling work by MoDOT. The westbound entrance ramp will be closed until 6:00 p.m. Tuesday. The eastbound ramp will be closed between 8:00 Tuesday night and 5:00 Wednesday morning. Drivers are

A Camden Co. man was arrested Friday after running from police and having marijuana. A Camden County deputy stopped a driver on Friday night south of the Hurricane Deck Bridge for failing to stay in his lane. Immediately after 31-year-old Eric Carlson pulled over, he got out of the car and ran down the embankment

A Columbia man was sentenced to 5 years in state prison for child pornography. 30-year-old Jonathan Hillyard was arrested on October 29, 2014 following an investigation that began in mid-September 2014. The Boone County Cyber Crimes Task Force got a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The Center reported someone in

A Mid-Missouri man pleaded guilty Monday to beating a man with a hammer. Davis is charged with assault, robbery, and armed criminal action. He plead guilty to assault and tampering with a motor vehicle. In exchange for his plea, four other counts including armed criminal action and robbery, were dismissed. Assistant prosecutor Brouck Jacobs said

Fulton Middle schoolers were welcomed back from spring break on Monday with an apology. After a week of reviewing what happened during the “Claim It” game, Fulton’s superintendent Jacque Cowherd said they did violate probably seven or eight points on the privacy law. The “Claim It” game was when teachers asked students a list of

A missing Henry County girl was found safe with a suspect in New Mexico Monday afternoon. 13-year-old Hannah Kennish went missing between 3:00 and 8:00 Sunday morning. The suspect is 55-year-old Raymond Vallia who is described as 5’9″, 230-250 pounds, with grayish brown hair and brown eyes. Vallia was to be driving a 2013 black

A Columbia man is charged after a domestic dispute turned into a possible hostage situation. Columbia police arrested Haohan Hu, 21, shortly after 7:00 Friday night for unlawful use of a weapon, felonious restraint and domestic assault. Hu was charged with unlawful use of a weapon and felonious restraint by Boone County prosecutors Monday. His

An Illinois woman was arrested early Monday morning in Callaway County after an investigation revealed she had given deputies a false identity following a pursuit in February. On Sunday, Callaway County deputies learned Illinois State Police had a warrant out for the arrest of 32-year-old Sara See who was wanted for unlawful use of a

A man accused of throwing a brick at someone’s head in a Columbia bar is also accused of attacking and injuring a correctional officer. 28-year-old Maxrile Barney is accused of throwing a brick at someone’s head at Ten Below in Columbia on January 17. Barney was arrested over the weekend, and appeared in Boone County

Temperatures will climb into the 70s early in the week, touching near 80 Wednesday. The weather looks great Tuesday with light winds, sunshine and mild temperatures. However, as a storm system winds up over the Plains Wednesday, winds will increase from the south with gusts as high as 30 mph. It would be best to

A Linn man was federally indicted Monday for having illegal guns. 58-year-old Charles Trimble was charged with two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and appeared in court Monday. The indictment was returned under seal by a federal grand jury on February 25. The indictment said Trimble had 12 guns, including

Leaders in Osage County are broke ground on a new elementary school in Linn Monday. Last year, voters approved a bond to pay for the new school, which will be close to Linn High School. It will take around a year to build and is scheduled to be done by next spring. The current elementary

Jefferson City police have confirmed that Spence Jackson, the former media director for late state auditor Tom Schweich, has died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. During a press conference Monday afternoon, Captain Doug Shoemaker said Jackson may have died Friday or Saturday. Right now police are not commenting on what part of the body

Mid-Missouri drivers in Jefferson City and Columbia will be impacted by road work Monday. In Jefferson City, crews are installing a water main on Case Avenue. Case between Monroe and Adams is expected to be closed until 5:00 Monday night. In Columbia, Water & Light crews are replacing a 6″ water line on Texas Avenue

Cole County Sheriff White has confirmed he is not seeking re-election next year. White has served as sheriff for the past three terms. In his announcement, White said he’s served 34 years in law enforcement and “suspects that is long enough.” White has endorsed Captain John Wheeler as Cole County’s next sheriff, saying Wheeler is