Month: May 2016

The ABC 17 News staff has selected the top 5 most-important and most-controversial issues that came to the table in the 2015/2016 legislative session. Follow the links to see how our locally-elected state lawmakers voted on each of those issues. University of Missouri Funding – After the landmark protests and administrative shake-up at Missouri’s largest

During the 2015-2016 Missouri legislative session, the country witnessed multiple mass shootings including the deadly massacre in San Bernardinoand on a college campus in Oregon. Here in Missouri, several bills were filed and voted upon that loosen restrictions on concealed carry firearms. One of the major bills along those lines is House Bill 1468, which

Near the end of the 2014-2015 legislative session, multiple lawmakers, including former Missouri speaker of the house John Diehl, resigned from their positions amid allegations of various inappropriate behaviors. It led to a big push for ethics reform in the state capitol during the 2015-2016 session. While dozens of bills were filed and considered, three

In 2015, videos from California appeared to show planned parenthood employees discussing the sale of post-abortion body parts. The videos led many republican lawmakers in Missouri to launch an investigation into the state’s Planned Parenthood facilities. Missouri’s Attorney General also investigated the videos and found they did not prove any wrong-doing in the state of

In November 2015, the University of Missouri’s Columbia campus was host to the largest student protest in decades. The uprising led to months of turmoil both on campus and within the system’s administration. Many Lawmakers were unsatisfied with the response by UM system leadership and called for millions to be cut from its budget. The

State senator Bob Onder, Lake St. Louis, filed a bill that would allow certain business owners in the wedding industry to refuse service to same-sex couples on the ground of religion. The measure, SJR 39, was so controversial, that it led to a 40-hour-long filibuster during debate in the Missouri senate. While the senate did

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo- Representative Courtney Curtis of Ferguson held a hearing Monday afternoon to discuss racial profiling at traffic stops. The president of the St. Louis Branch of the NAACP, Adolphus Pruitt, was the first to testify. He brought records dating back to 2012. He first showed that the documented traffic stops were fairly even

Wednesday will be warm and humid with temperatures climbing into the mid 80s as dewpoints climb into the mid 60s. A surface low pressure area in southeast Kansas will lift a trailing warm front through in the morning as it drifts to the northeast. A few showers and t-storms are possible from 8 to noon

University of Missouri students are reacting to the shooting that happened Friday night on campus, near Traditions plaza. MUPD has confirmed that two shots were fired on Friday, and they’re still looking for a suspect. ABC 17 went on campus to ask students for reaction to the shooting, and a majority of the students that

Police in Mexico have arrested a man after getting reports of gunfire early Sunday morning. At around 12:20 a.m., police responded to the 400 block of Jackson Street after witnesses reported shooting. They found and arrested Terrell Metts, 32, who apparently had a handgun with him at the time. He was booked into jail on

Parts of Mid-Missouri have now been downgraded to a Marginal Risk for severe storms this afternoon and evening. Due to rain this morning, areas north of I-70 may be less favorable to see severe thunderstorms, while small hail will be possible in the weaker storms. Areas south have the greatest chance where instability will be

The Columbia Public School Board is scheduled to meet Monday night and one of the expected votes could have an impact on future teacher salaries. The school board will vote on a teacher collective bargaining agreement with the Columbia Missouri National Education Association. Last month, Columbia Public Schools and the National Education Association reached a

Columbia police are investigating an armed robbery in the 900 block of Bernadette Drive, which happened Saturday night around 9:30. According to investigators, the victim said he was traveling through Columbia on business, met the suspect at the Columbia Mall, and made plans to hang out later in the evening. When they met near Our

Much needed rainfall moves in this week. We’ve picked up 6.21″ so far since January 1st, which is 6.72″ below normal by May 9th. Storms are likely to increase this afternoon and evening. The strongest storms could have hail up to half dollar size and winds of 60 mph or greater. Instability and wind shear

Columbia Police are investigating after receiving reports of multiple gun shots. It happened in the 400 block of Hirth Ave. around 1:45 a.m. Sunday. On scene, officers found multiple bullet holes in the driver’s side door of a maroon Dodge Charger. One female victim who is 27 years old had minor injuries to her legs

Today, the Storm Prediction Center upgraded Mid-Missouri from the “Marginal” to “Slight Risk” category for the threat of severe weather expected on Monday afternoon. Isolated showers and thunderstorms will be possible throughout the morning and early afternoon hours of Monday. However, as atmospheric instability increases throughout the day, the strongest likelihood for strong to severe

COLUMBIA, Mo- Two people are recovering after a car crash Sunday afternoon. It happened a little before 4 o’clock near the intersection of Providence and Blue Ridge Rd. It involved a jeep and a pick up truck. The Columbia Fire Department tells ABC17 that there were two females inside the jeep that were taken to

May 7, 4:30 p.m.: MUPD confirms there was no law enforcement presence at last night’s gathering on Traditions’ Plaza. No plans to have extra patrols in the area tonight. University officials are working to get more information on last night’s incident. We are waiting to hear back. 11:22 p.m.: MUPD confirm two shots were fired

An Eldon woman is in serious condition at University Hospital after being involved in a motorcycle crash early Saturday morning. It happened just after midnight Saturday on Highway 54, approximately 4 miles east of Lake Ozark. The Missouri State Highway Patrol says the 2005 Harley Davidson suffered a tire failure, causing it to overturn and

A frontal boundary currently draped over the mid section of Missouri will stall out tonight and eventually lift northward as a warm front during the day on Sunday. This will provide a decent set of for showers and thunderstorms to develop on Mother’s Day. Sunday morning will start out dry and continue that way into