Olivia Hayes, Author at ABC17NEWS

MU Health Care announces layoffs, closure of Hy-Vee quick care clinics as part of ‘organizational redesign’

June 17, 2026 2:51 PM Olivia Hayes

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) MU Health Care on Wednesday announced that it has laid off 74 employees as part of an “organizational redesign.” In a Wednesday afternoon press release, MU Health Care claimed the reduction in workforce, along with an adjustment of benefits, will “help strengthen the health system’s long-term financial sustainability, improve operational performance and

FBI reports nine drones seized, 14 violations in first few days of World Cup festivities in Kansas City

June 16, 2026 5:26 PM Olivia Hayes

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) As the first of six FIFA World Cup matches kicked off Tuesday in Kansas City, the Federal Bureau of Investigation is sounding the alarm on drone use near the stadium and celebration events. Ahead of the games, the Federal Aviation Administration imposed temporary flight restrictions around World Cup stadiums, fan festivals and

Highway by Butler Memorial Airport closed again as federal officials investigate deadly plane crash

June 15, 2026 8:20 PM Olivia Hayes, Marie Moyer

BUTLER, Mo. (KMIZ) The Butler Police Department said Monday that North Business 49 at the Butler Memorial Airport will be closed as officials investigate a deadly plane crash from Sunday that killed 12 people. Officials from the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board arrived on Monday. According to the FAA, the plane

Illinois woman dead after crash in Camden County

June 14, 2026 7:52 PM Olivia Hayes

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A 50-year-old Illinois woman is dead after a crash in Camden County just before 1:20 p.m. Sunday. A Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report said the woman was driving Westbound on U.S. 54 when she went off the right side of the road and struck the edge of a concrete driveway. The

Missouri attorney general emphasizes World Cup human trafficking prevention

June 10, 2026 8:14 PM Olivia Hayes

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Human trafficking is believed to impact at least 27.6 million people globally, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Large sporting events like the upcoming FIFA World Cup create a prime environment for traffickers, with big crowds helping them fly under the radar. Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway said Wednesday that her

Local nonprofits partner to raise awareness around gun violence

June 5, 2026 9:22 PM Olivia Hayes

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Mom’s Demand Action Missouri and Powerhouse Community Development led a joint effort against gun violence Friday night. In light of National Gun Violence Awareness Day, the groups gathered with and for survivors of gun violence at Douglass Park in Columbia. Attendees wore orange in solidarity. Two of those in attendance included Kimberly

CPD reports department short 21 uniformed officers, but violent crime down since 2021

May 26, 2026 4:39 PM Olivia Hayes

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia Police Department on Tuesday released its annual report for 2025, which shows violent crime trending down in the city for the fourth year in a row. CPD defined violent crime as a criminal act that involves a force or threat of force against a person. It may consist of murder

18-year-old seriously hurt in Pulaski County crash

May 23, 2026 10:33 PM Olivia Hayes

PULASKI COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ) An 18-year-old Plato man is seriously hurt after a crash on Highway AW south of Highway TT Friday night, according to a Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report. A 13-year-old boy was minorly hurt and a 39-year-old man was also moderately hurt in the crash. Both were from the St. Robert

Lake-area law enforcement ramps up efforts for holiday weekend

May 22, 2026 7:33 PM Olivia Hayes

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Missouri State Highway Patrol’s counting period for the Memorial Day holiday weekend kicked off at 6 p.m. Friday. “Every available trooper will be on the road or on the water, enforcing Missouri laws and assisting those in need. Troopers on the roadways will focus their attention on hazardous moving violations, speed

Columbia City Council passes ordinance restricting ‘gray’ gaming machines

May 19, 2026 10:02 PM Olivia Hayes

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The City of Columbia is continuing the crack down on unregulated gaming machines with a new ordinance. An ordinance was passed at Monday night’s council meeting against the maintenance and offering of illegal gaming or lottery machines. Previous reporting shows the city has been targeting unregulated machines known as “gray machines” or “no-chance

Boone Co. Sheriff’s Office confirms body recovered from Perche Creek near Missouri River access

May 17, 2026 7:50 PM Olivia Hayes

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Boone County Sheriff’s Office Confirmed Sunday night that a body was recovered from Perche Creek near the Missouri River access. According to a social media post from the Boone County Sheriff’s Office, at 1:40 p.m. Sunday, Boone County Joint Communications received a report of a container being found in Perche Creek

Family member details vase thefts from gravesites at Columbia cemetery

May 11, 2026 8:18 PM Olivia Hayes

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) As Teresa Shaw walked through the grounds at Memorial Funeral Home and Cemetery on Monday, she counted vase after vase that had been stolen from gravesites in recent months. “My grandmother’s is missing, my grandmother’s daughter’s is missing,” Shaw said. “My stepfather’s was missing. You can go on over there and there’s

No one hurt after car hits Kingdom City Subway

May 10, 2026 6:23 PM Olivia Hayes

KINGDOM CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) The Missouri State Highway Patrol confirmed Sunday a car struck the Subway restaurant in Kingdom City and drove off. Sgt. Kyle Green, with MSHP’s Troop F, said no injuries were reported and no one is currently in custody. Green said law enforcement has a vehicle of interest that they are looking

Law enforcement arrests teen in connection with missing Randolph County girl

May 9, 2026 3:09 PM Olivia Hayes

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Randolph County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest of a 17-year-old in connection with the disappearance of Kayla Huff early Saturday afternoon. A news release said the arrest was made Friday with assistance from the Moberly Police Department. 16-year-old Huff has been missing since Wednesday and search efforts are ongoing. Volunteers and

Columbia Planning & Zoning data center regulation debate continues

May 7, 2026 3:58 PM Olivia Hayes

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia Planning and Zoning Commission talked standards and regulations for possible data centers at Thursday night’s work session. Commission members will discuss “broader” topic areas that they want to include in a working draft of the regulations and standards that would govern data centers in Columbia. “This is the process of

Boone Health to open new cardiology clinic Monday following fallout with Missouri Heart Center

May 6, 2026 4:59 PM Olivia Hayes

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Boone Health will have its new cardiology clinical practice open and operating starting Monday. Boone Health announced the split with Missouri Heart Center at the end of March and filed a lawsuit alleging breaches of contract, misuse of confidential information and plans to engage in unlawful competition. Roughly 20,000 patients are expected

Columbia Police confirm shots fired on Sylvan Lane

May 3, 2026 7:07 PM Olivia Hayes

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia Police confirmed shots were fired on Sylvan Lane near Hendrix road in Northeast Columbia around 6 p.m. Sunday. CPD officer Nathan Turner said at the scene that investigators found evidence of gunshots, but no one was reported to have been hurt. No damages were reported either. An ABC 17 News reporter

Columbia Utilities proposes a city-wide irrigation ordinance

April 29, 2026 4:15 PM Olivia Hayes

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) City of Columbia Utilities is proposing an irrigation ordinance to manage water use across the community. The department believes this move would also help to support ongoing commercial and residential growth in the area. City utilities wrote on its BeHeard page that Columbia’s daily summer peak water demands can exceed 170% of

Columbia Office of Violence Prevention gives update to analysis report during meeting with Collegiate Advisory Board

April 27, 2026 10:20 PM Olivia Hayes

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) During Monday’s Columbia Collegiate Advisory Board meeting, Office of Violence Prevention Administrator D’Markus Thomas-Brown detailed his department’s efforts and gave an update on the progress of an anticipated violence analysis report. In January, city leaders started collaborating with the National Institute of Criminal Justice Reform to curb violent crime in the community.

Hundreds interviewed by police, still no suspect 17 years after violent murder of Columbia homeless man

April 23, 2026 11:06 AM Olivia Hayes

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Even with hundreds of witness statements, Columbia Police criminal investigator Lt. Matt Gremore says 17 years later that no clear suspect has been identified in the death of 49-year-old Mark Dailey. “To this day, we have no idea who the suspect is or even what the motive was for the killing,” Gremore