News

***UPDATE WEDNESDAY 6:56 P.M.*** After six hours of deliberations, the jury ruled Shelley Richter guilty of endangering the welfare of a child in the first degree. The court found Richter not guilty on the other child abuse charge. ***UPDATE 12:50 P.M.*** The case went to the jury just before noon on Wednesday. In closing arguments,

Former Mamtek CEO Bruce Cole is scheduled to be back in court Thursday. Cole is charged with theft and securities fraud over the failed Mamtek project, which never came to Moberly. Cole is still trying to get his bond lowered. Something the Attorney General’s office is against. In court he will also request a change

The City of Columbia has named a new director for its Parks and Recreation Department. Mike Griggs will be taking over for retiring director Mike Hood. City officials say Griggs, the current assistant Parks and Recreation director, will take over the top spot effective March 15. He was chosen out of more than 100 applicants

Beginning Wednesday, March 13, the Networks of Mid-Missouri will air the 2013 SEC Basketball Tournament. The games will affect programming on ABC 17/KMIZ. Wednesday, March 13– 6 p.m. ABC 17 News at 6– 6:30 p.m. SEC Tournament Opening Round: Game 1– 9 p.m. SEC Tournament Opening Round: Game 2– 11 p.m. (or immediately following the

The 2013 MSHSAA State Wrestling Tournament was highlighted by Hickman High School senior J’Den Cox, who won his fourth state championship by pinning Jefferson City’s John Carter in the Class 4 heavyweight division. To see highlights of more Mid-Missouri state champions, watch the sports video.

Mizzou Football began their month-long spring camp practices. Starting Tuesday, the Tigers will be getting ready for the 2013 SEC Football Season. Spring Camp goes from March 12 through April 20. The Tigers will scrimmage April 6th and 13th at 9 a.m. The Black and Gold game will be April 20th at 1 p.m. Attached

***UPDATE TUESDAY 11:48 A.M.*** Columbia is announcing an agreement to preserve the historic Niedermeyer building. A preliminary agreement was reached between the current owners, Collegiate Housing Partners, and local businessman Nakhle Asmar. Asmar has plans to preserve and renovate Niedermeyer. We expect more information about the deal once all parties sign off. “This is a

After months of debate Columbia Public Schools finally decided new school start times. In a six to a one vote, the school board chose the less controversial plan. Middle schools will start at 7:30 A.M. followed by long route elementary schools at 7:40 A.M. All other elementary schools will begin at 8:20 A.M. and finally

The suspect in a deadly 2011 crash in Cole County is set to learn his sentence. Investigators say Damien Bryan was drunk when he crashed, killing two people. In October Bryan was convicted of two counts of second degree murder and DWI. He could spend the rest of his life in prison. Sentencing is set

Emergency management officials throughout Missouri prepared for spring storms by activating tornado sirens during a drill on Tuesday afternoon. We wanted to know if a tornado were to hit Boone County, would officials be able to react because the county has no official emergency management director right now. The 911 center is also undermanned. They

ABC 17 News has learned that the Chamois Power Plant in Osage County will close. The Central Electric Power Cooperative decided to shut down the plant due to new mandates from the Environmental Protection Agency. In order to come into compliance with new rules from the EPA, the plant would have to undergo pollution-reducing upgrades

An AMBER alert has been issued Saturday for a one-year-old girl, who apparently was kidnapped from a Save-a-Lot store in Springfield, Missouri. Harmony J. Blue is a black girl standing about two feet tall and weighs about 21 lbs. She has black hair and brown eyes and was last seen wearing a blue one-piece sleeper.

Meteorological winter, which runs from the beginning of December to the end of February, ended up being one of the warmest and snowiest on record. In Columbia, the 2012-2013 Winter was the 16th warmest (compared to last winter’s third warmest), with an average temperature of 35.7 degrees. It was also the 15th snowiest. Columbia picked

Mid-Missouri authorities are currently looking for a man found guilty for multiple counts of statutory sodomy. Sean Price was due in court on Friday for sentencing but never showed up. Price was convicted in Boone County last month on a change of venue and could face life in prison. The victim was 7 years-old at

Sleet and snow created slick roads and highways across mid-Missouri Sunday night. There were 50 crashes on Missouri Highways Sunday, dozens along Interstate 70. Both MODOT and Columbia Public Works said they have crews working overnight to prepare the roads for the morning commute. But the extreme temperatures are causing some challenges. Crews are having

Two big box stores in Columbia are temporarily closed so crews could remove snow from their roofs. Employees confirmed the Sam’s Club and Walmart on Conley Road were shutdown around 11 a.m. Customers and staff were evacuated over safety concerns, and it is not clear when the buildings will reopen. Walmart spokesman Dianna Gee says

New federal requirements for school lunches aim to add more nutrition to the menu, but often the trash cans are getting fed the best. Students are now required to have at least one fruit or vegetable on their plate, but many kids are throwing the apples and salads in the trash. So, Columbia Public Schools

A Fulton homeless shelter is fighting for its future, as it faces shutting down next month. The Wiley House will be shutting down in October, unless it can raise about $4,000 before then. The home for single men and women serves about 20 people, or about 10 percent of Callaway County’s homeless population on any

Surface high pressure will settle over Missouri Friday night and clear out our skies. Temperatures will drop into the upper 40s to near 50 by early Saturday morning. Some high clouds will drift through the weekend but we will stay dry under mostly sunny skies. Highs will reach the mid 70s Saturday and the upper

***UPDATE FRIDAY 6:00 P.M.***Police officers arrested two men for robbing the Midwest Petroleum on South Providence Road Friday morning.Investigators say they recognized Albert Butler and Travis Butler from surveillance video. Police say both men admitted to their involvement with the robbery. Police say they also recognized a third suspect, Jeremy Burnett.All three men could face