ABC 17 News Investigates Archives

IN DEPTH: Boone County’s COVID-19 cases in May

May 18, 2020 8:16 PM Lucas Geisler

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Boone County has kept its average daily case gains below one for throughout May. The county added nine cases of COVID-19 since May 1, but the seven-day average of cases over that time has remained below one, according to an analysis done by ABC 17 News. The county had reached an average

IN DEPTH: New COVID-19 daily case average dropping statewide

May 15, 2020 8:43 PM Lucas Geisler

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) The week-long average of new cases of COVID-19 added in Missouri dropped over the last seven days. An ABC 17 News analysis shows that the average number of new cases announced by the Department of Health and Senior went down from May 9 to 15. The state’s seven-day average was 216

Business owners say COVID-19 complaints, concerns fixed quickly

May 5, 2020 8:18 PM Lucas Geisler

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Business owners that dealt with city officials over compliance with Boone County health’s order say the issues didn’t last long. ABC 17 News reported on Monday that the Office of Neighborhood Services elevated at least seven complaints to the Columbia/Boone County Health Department director. All seven ended without prosecution, and owners of

State health department could pay private labs more than $1 million to ramp up testing

April 28, 2020 7:48 PM Lucas Geisler

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services could pay more than $1 million to private labs in increase testing capacity as the state begins to relax social distancing rules. The contracts obtained by ABC 17 News show that at least three labs, including one in mid-Missouri, will help the state

DEFENDERS: Text tricks people into COVID-19 scams

April 23, 2020 8:30 PM Deborah Kendrick

The Missouri Attorney General is warning Missourians to keep an eye out for scammers trying to take advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic.

DEFENDERS: Price gouging complaints reach nearly 1,000 in Missouri

April 10, 2020 7:28 PM Deborah Kendrick

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt confirms his office is investigating 951 price gouging complaints related to COVID-19. The number of consumer complaints has increased every week since mid-March when ABC 17 News started monitoring the data. The number of complaints reported on April 10 are 30 times higher than they were

DEFENDERS: Beware of COVID-19 stimulus check scams

March 30, 2020 4:50 PM Deborah Kendrick

The FBI, state attorneys general and other agencies are alerting Americans to possible COVID-19 stimulus check scams.

DEFENDERS: Missouri AG reports more than 500 COVID-19 price gouging complaints

April 1, 2020 7:34 PM Deborah Kendrick

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) The Missouri Attorney General’s office said it has received more than 500 price gouging complaints in the past two weeks related to COVID-19. Chris Nuelle, Press Secretary with the Missouri Attorney General’s office, said it has received 534 complaints as of Wednesday. Attorney General Eric Schmitt says some of the top

DEFENDERS: FBI warns about hackers ‘Zoom Bombing’

March 31, 2020 4:43 PM Deborah Kendrick

The FBI is warning about hackers hijacking video conferences and online classrooms through the popular software called Zoom.

Cafe Berlin closed its dining room Monday in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

List of Boone County eateries staying open during COVID-19 outbreak

March 18, 2020 7:27 PM Zara Barker

Columbia, Mo. – KMIZ EDITOR’S NOTE: This list has become outdated and ABC 17 News is using a new tool to alert consumers to open restaurants. Information about local businesses can now be accessed at https://columbia.open4biz.us/ During the coronavirus outbreak, many restaurants are having to adjust the way they do business on a daily basis.

Gov. Parson holds COVID-19 briefing Saturday afternoon

March 21, 2020 2:51 PM ABC 17 News Team

Gov. Mike Parson held a daily COVID-19 briefing Saturday at 3 p.m.

DEFENDERS: Missouri Attorney General monitoring medical supplies price gouging

March 16, 2020 8:24 PM Deborah Kendrick

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt is warning of potential price gouging that could affect the medical supply chain in containing the spread of COVID-19. According to the state’s AG’s office, a supply shortage could potentially cause a spike in prices. As of now, the Missouri Hospital Association has not reported a

Downtown Columbia bar cited for mold on beer lines

March 12, 2020 8:08 AM Zara Barker

A downtown Columbia bar was cited for six violations, including having mold build-up on the outside of its beer lines.

Boonville police warn of possible scam related to coronavirus

March 11, 2020 6:47 PM ABC 17 News Team

BOONVILLE, Mo. (KMIZ) Authorities are warning Mid-Missourians about a potential scam related to the new coronavirus. The Boonville Police Department says there is a man apparently going around the area in a van claiming he can make house calls to take blood and test for the coronavirus for $55. Police are asking anyone who has

DEFENDERS: Missouri Attorney General warning about coronavirus scams

March 9, 2020 7:36 PM Deborah Kendrick

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt is asking Missourians to be on the lookout for potential scams related to COVID-19, or coronavirus. Schmitt said consumers need to be on the lookout for a large increase in prices. In most cases, price gouging could be seen with possible price increases on hand sanitizer,

Investigation notes problems with fire suppression system at Stuckey’s Dairy Queen

March 6, 2020 7:26 PM Lucas Geisler

State fire investigators noted past problems with a fire suppression system at a gas station that burned down in November.

State cites seven supervision issues as reason for revoking learning center’s license

March 5, 2020 7:56 PM Sydney Olsen

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The future of the Mary Lee Johnston Community Learning Center is uncertain as the center works to keep its state license. The Department of Health and Senior Services sent the learning center a letter on Feb.13 to inform staff the department intended to revoke the center’s license after several incidents where children

Donut D-Light storefront located on Vandiver Drive in Columbia, Mo on Wednesday, March 4, 2020.

Re-opening inspections: No violations at Columbia donut shop after lightning strike

March 4, 2020 4:25 PM Zara Barker

Boone County/Columbia Health Department inspectors have twice visited Donut D-Light in Columbia after a lightning strike hit the shop’s electric box last year.