Month: June 2015

The founder of a watchdog group called Citizens for Justice has filed a civil lawsuit against the Columbia Police Department citing police misconduct and retaliation. Matt Akins formed the group after he was detained at a DWI checkpoint in 2010 when an officer said Akins had an illegal firearm and charged him with an unlawful

The Jefferson City School District is still dealing with overcrowding issues in its schools. School Board President John Ruth said the city has seen unanticipated growth over the last couple of years. District officials want to propose a plan to build a new high school while remodeling the current high school and adding a new

After a judge declared a mistrial last week, a woman accused of shooting her father and his girlfriend will be back on trial in August. A mistrial was declared in the case of Susan Van Note last week after her attorneys raised concerns about the jury pool talking about the case during breaks. A new

Potential for heavy rain in Mid-Missouri will be high this week as multiple systems make their way through the region. A Flash Flood Watch is in effect until Wednesday night for areas along and east of Highway 54, including Jefferson City and the Lake of the Ozarks. Between 1-3″ is possible over most of Mid-Missouri,

The City of Columbia will pay $350,000 for a service agreement between the Columbia Fire Department and the Boone County Fire Protection District. The deal allows either department to assist the other in cases of emergency where one agency might reach the situation faster than the other. Columbia Fire Chief Randy White displayed the new

A Fulton woman was arrested Monday on suspicion of stealing a car. Police officers were called to the FastLane on Amerihost Drive around 10:15 p.m. Monday after getting reports of a woman stealing a car parked at a gas pump. The Callaway County Sheriff’s Department helped identify the suspect as Destiny Werdehausen. She was later

A man has pleaded guilty to interfering in a Columbia murder investigation. Glenn Anderson will be sentenced in August for hindering prosecution and providing a false alibi. Police say Anderson covered for James Thomspon, who was convicted of hiring a hit man to kill Brian Daniels in April of 2013. Anderson could face up to

The Columbia City Council approved more than $100,000 of improvements at the Worely Street and Clinkscales Road intersection in central Columbia. Daniel Glosson lives just down the street from the intersection. He said it gets congested during peak times of the day. “In the morning traffic can get backed up or if I come home

Crews in Boone County have found the body of an adult male in the Missouri River near Hartsburg south of Columbia. This follows more than two hours of searching along the river Monday morning. The search operation started at Smith Hatchery Road, which is near Cooper’s Landing. Neighbors who live in the area tell ABC

Two people survived with minor to moderate injuries after a truck went off the road into a ravine Monday evening just northeast of Columbia. Crews say it appears the driver lost control around 5:40 p.m. while going eastbound on Oakland Church Road, near Route B, which becomes Paris Road. They are not sure if speed

Police are investigating reports of gunfire Monday afternoon off Clark Lane by the connector in Columbia. A caller reported hearing about three shots exchanged between two cars in the parking lot of Taco Bell just after 4:30 p.m. Both vehicles apparently left the scene after the shooting. Shortly before 5 p.m., police were searching the

Investigators confirm the daughter of a missing woman has been found safe, and one person of interest is now in custody for her mother’s death. On Monday the Greene County sheriff’s department said Gypsy Blancharde was discovered with a man inside a home near Big Bend, Wis., outside Milwaukee. On Sunday, the Greene County Sheriff’s

About one in five Missourians don’t know where their next meal is going to come from, and that need continues to grow. ABC 17 News teamed up with the Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri to help those in need, and work to change those numbers for the better. A 12 hour food drive

The Boone County sheriff’s department has identified two people shot Monday after an apparent murder-suicide just east of Columbia. The body of Thomas Scofield, 66, was found in a home’s backyard in the 900 block of Sun Valley. Deputies believe Scofield shot Jason B. Hagan, 40, inside the home before taking his life. Deputies told

A Macon woman was sentenced Monday to 10 years in prison for her role in a deadly 2014 home invasion in Columbia. 24-year-old Deshai Richardson was originally charged with second degree murder, but that charge was dropped. Richardson pleaded guilty to 1st degree burglary in a home invasion that left one suspect dead in April

There are a few different ways you can be involved in getting this food to the people that need it. Starting a food drive or donating food. “We’ve had little kid who have instead having presents at their birthday parties, they have people bring food and they bring and donate the food to the food

One in five people are considered hungry. That is s a statistic that holds across the country, according to Lindsay Young Lopez, Executive Director of the Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri. “20% of people, when you think about it, that is really staggering. I also put it in terms of the perspective that

The Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri serves 32 counties, and 28 of them take part in the Buddy Pack Program. “It makes me feel good that we can be a part of aiding a family and a student,” said Alpha Hart Buddy Pack Coordinator Tara Collier. Collier said every week during the school

Along with helping fill the refrigerators and pantries of those in need, the food bank also works to make sure that food is nutritious. Some people may be surprised to find out that there are a lot of options for produce at the food bank. As a food solicitor, it’s Don Moore’s goal to make

Volunteerism doesn’t stop at the food bank. Trucks leave the warehouse daily to deliver food to agencies across Mid-Missouri. “I have been blessed in my lifetime. I ask everybody who comes through here to smile, because when you smile, you feel good. I like to be serving people and making them happy,” said volunteers Diana