ABC 17 News Investigates Archives

Weather service communication outages pose threats in severe weather

May 6, 2021 12:26 PM Zola Crowder

A nationwide outage in March rendered the weather service’s chat function, which also serves as a source of communication, inaccessible for a whole day.

DEFENDERS: Avoid these red flags when booking vacations

May 6, 2021 8:53 PM Deborah Kendrick

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) With Memorial Day weekend and summer around the corner, you might be looking to book your next vacation. As rental vacation sites gain more popularity it is also populated with scammers. Before you start booking your next vacation, the Better Business Bureau says to watch out for several red flags. “Since it’s

Missouri has wasted more than 5,000 coronavirus vaccine doses at a cost of $300,000

April 27, 2021 2:13 PM Molly Stawinoga

Missouri’s wasted coronavirus vaccine from Feb. 1 through April 5 cost taxpayers more than $100,000, and Missouri providers lost out on more than $200,000 in payments from giving the shots.

Opioid overdose deaths in Missouri up more than 30 percent in 2020

April 25, 2021 2:00 PM Deborah Kendrick

Data from “NoMoDeaths,” a state collaborative project to help combat the opioid crisis, shows the first three quarters of 2020 saw a nearly 31% increase in opioid-involved overdose deaths.

DEFENDERS: Be careful when posting COVID-19 vaccination cards to social media

April 5, 2021 11:12 PM Deborah Kendrick

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) As vaccine eligibility opens up to more Missourians and Americans, people are wanting to share the moment on their social media accounts. Some people have been posting a selfie with their vaccination card as proof they got the coronavirus vaccine. U.S. Health officials are warning of this very thing. Health officials say

Third-party site claims to help secure coronavirus shot appointments

March 3, 2021 1:42 PM Meghan Drakas

With more people than coronavirus vaccines available, third-party websites are offering help to individuals trying to schedule an appointment.

DEFENDERS: Adults 18-24 more likely to get scammed, BBB says

March 1, 2021 3:09 PM Deborah Kendrick

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Adults ages 18-24 are becoming the next target for scams. The Better Business Bureau recently released a report that focused on the impact of scams in the wake of the pandemic and the demographic groups most at risk. According to the BBB, adults ages 18-24 reported the highest median losses ($150) and

More than 600 doses of coronavirus vaccine wasted in Missouri

February 25, 2021 1:06 PM Molly Stawinoga

ABC 17 News obtained records from the state Department of Health and Senior Services that show 631 doses of the coronavirus vaccine were wasted through Jan. 31.

DEFENDERS: Price gouging makes top 10 consumer complaints for the first time

February 22, 2021 4:54 PM Deborah Kendrick

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Illegal telemarketing calls and no-call violations was the number one complaint the Missouri Attorney General’s Office received in 2020. In 2020, 34,527 Missourians reported a no-call complaint to the office. Those complaints involved phone calls to Missouri residents by businesses or organizations soliciting the purchase of goods or services. Here are

Health leaders say listening, transparency key to assuring minority populations on vaccines

February 15, 2021 8:37 PM Lucas Geisler

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) State and local health leaders are using different outreach methods to overcome coronavirus vaccine hesitancy within communities of color. Agencies from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services to MU Health Care are using various partnerships to address racial minorities who may be skeptical of the vaccines. That includes linking up

Coronavirus vaccine line jumpers sneaking their way to get vaccinated out of turn

February 8, 2021 7:31 PM Deborah Kendrick

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) While state guidelines say only certain groups of Missouri’s population are eligible to get the coronavirus vaccine, some are reportedly getting the vaccine out of turn. Last week, Governor Mike Parson and Dr. Randall Williams said there have been reports of people jumping the line to get a coronavirus vaccine and some

DEFENDERS: BBB advises not to share coronavirus vaccine card on social media

February 1, 2021 6:13 PM Deborah Kendrick

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Better Business Bureau is advising people to not share their coronavirus vaccination card on social media. The BBB said it can increase your risk of identity theft and other scams. When posting the photo on social media scammers are able to see your full name, birthday and where you got your

Hate groups spotted in U.S. Capitol riot have Missouri chapters

January 18, 2021 8:42 PM Lucas Geisler

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Hate groups researchers say they have spotted at the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riot have chapters in Missouri, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center. The SPLC says it has identified more than a dozen groups it classifies as hate groups in Missouri, including groups that hold white supremacist views or are

DEFENDERS: IRS warns about stimulus check scam

January 18, 2021 4:45 PM Deborah Kendrick

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Internal Revenue Service is warning about a new wave of COVID-19 related scams regarding stimulus checks. The IRS says scammers are contacting people trying to get them to verify personal or financial information before issuing an economic impact payment. The IRS says it will not contact you to request any personal

Planning underway for public rollout of coronavirus vaccinations in Boone County

January 13, 2021 1:56 PM Molly Stawinoga

The coronavirus pandemic is not the first time Mid-Missouri health officials have had to prepare for mass vaccinations.

Inspectors found one non-critical violation at Gentry Middle School.

Thirteen more inspections at Columbia Public Schools result in one violation

January 6, 2021 11:48 AM Molly Stawinoga

Health officials inspected 13 Columbia schools since ABC 17’s last report. Only one was found with a non-critical violation.

COVID-19 continues to impact trauma training for CPD officers

January 5, 2021 7:56 PM Sydney Olsen

A 19-year-old man is recovering in a local hospital after being shot in Columbia on Monday. Columbia police responded to the scene, and officers provided medical aid before EMS crews arrived.

DEFENDERS: Scams circulating as second stimulus check are issued

January 4, 2021 3:24 PM Deborah Kendrick

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A second round of stimulus checks are getting sent to most Americans, and scammers are trying to monetize. The Better Business Bureau is getting reports of con artists who tell people they need to either pay for their stimulus checks or provide personal information to receive it. In some of the online

No plans to require coronavirus vaccine in area schools

December 23, 2020 11:41 AM Molly Stawinoga

Educators are included in Phase 1B of Missouri’s COVID-19 Vaccination Plan, which is the next in line. As of right now, there are no plans to require teachers or staff to get vaccinated.

Boone County businesses paid fines for COVID-19 violations

December 23, 2020 5:58 AM Ben Fein

ABC 17 News obtained court documents detailing businesses in Boone County that violated COVID-19 guidelines.