Jefferson City Archives

Jefferson City Schools parents feel strongly about mask mandate

August 17, 2021 2:57 PM Chanel Porter

The Jefferson City Board of Education will meet Tuesday at 6 p.m. — its first since the district made the decision.

Gamma, delta and lambda: What are they and are they cause for concern?

August 17, 2021 12:49 PM Leila Mitchell

Genetic variants of SARS-CoV-2 — the virus that caused the coronavirus pandemic — have been emerging and circulating around the world. The World Health Organization classifies variant viruses as “variants of interest” and “variants of concern.” According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, variants of concern can spread more quickly and cause more serious COVID-19 illness.

Jefferson City School District students and staff will be required to wear masks to begin the school year

August 16, 2021 7:01 PM Chanel Porter

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Jefferson City Public Schools made the announcement Monday that the district will require students and staff to wear masks when social distancing isn’t possible as the school year is set to begin in one week on Aug. 23. Effective Tuesday, this approach was recommended by the Cole County Health Department and

Lewis and Clark Middle School in Jefferson City returns to in-person classes after Thanksgiving break.

Jefferson City School District to require masks where distancing isn’t possible

August 16, 2021 11:59 AM Leila Mitchell

Jefferson City Schools announced the decision Monday afternoon. The district released its back-to-school plans amid the continuing coronavirus pandemic earlier this month but said at the time a decision on masks would come Monday.

One charged after shots fired Sunday evening in Jefferson City

August 16, 2021 3:44 PM Karl Wehmhoener

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) A Jefferson City man is charged after a weapons offense investigation on Sunday evening in the 1700 block of East Miller St. According to court documents, according to witnesses and victims, Eric Perkinson, 49, allegedly threatened with a handgun and fired it during the incident. Officials report that Perkinson tried to

Jefferson City School District to decide on mask requirement on Monday

August 16, 2021 4:19 AM Meghan Drakas

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) According to the Jefferson City School District website, the district is set to decide on whether or not to require masks for the upcoming school year on Monday. The district previously released its return to school plan in early August but chose to hold off on a final decision on masks

Jefferson City Schools to decide on mask requirements

August 15, 2021 4:56 AM Ben Fein

Jefferson City Schools are set to decide on mask requirements at schools, as the deadline to make the decision is set for Monday, according to the district’s return plan.

Two area governments looking for public comment on how to spend CARES Act funding

August 13, 2021 9:24 PM ABC 17 News Team

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Two area governments have begun looking at how to use CARES Act money for community needs. Jefferson City leaders are planning to apply for two million dollars in the CARES Act funding. The money can go to public services, infrastructure, economic assistance, and planning. Residents can fill out a community needs assessment

West Ash street and West Boulevard flooding.

Missouri requests federal disaster declaration for late June storms

August 13, 2021 3:34 PM Karl Wehmhoener

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Gov. Mike Parson has requested federal assistance after severe storms and flooding in late June caused damage in 21 Missouri counties. “Due to extremely heavy rains and significant flash flooding in late June, Missouri experienced nearly $7.3 million in damage to roads and bridges alone,” Governor Parson said. “The joint preliminary

Governor orders flags at half-staff for fallen Jefferson City Marine

August 13, 2021 12:59 PM Matthew Sanders

Marine Corps Cpl. Dalton Pierson died July 28 at Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, North Carolina, Parson’s office said in a news release. The release did not say how Pierson died.

Iberia man sentenced to 13 years for sexual assault

August 12, 2021 8:14 PM Karl Wehmhoener

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) An Iberia was sentenced to 13 years in state prison after pleading guilty to sexual abuse as an aggravated sex offender. David Gene Lee, 50, sexually assaulted a 19-year-old victim in Jan. 2021 at a Budget Inn. A press release says that Lee stalked the victim at the Missouri River Regional

COVID surge in Cole County impacts wait times, doctors push vaccines

August 12, 2021 11:56 AM Hannah Falcon

As Missouri passes 10,000 COVID deaths and hospitals and ICU capacities peak, Cole County health officials plan to give an update on the state of the county Thursday afternoon.

Helias Catholic High School will require masks in common areas, 3 feet of social distance

August 12, 2021 11:49 AM Leila Mitchell

The guidelines are effective as of Wednesday but may be updated, especially if conditions related to COVID-19 change within the Helias Catholic school building or the wider community, according to the plan.

Blair Oaks Board of Education takes up return plans

August 10, 2021 10:08 AM Meghan Drakas

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) ABC 17 News sat down with Superintendent of Blair Oaks R-II School District Jim Jones to talk about the upcoming school year and how it might differ from the last. Jones covered topics including vaccines, COVID-19 precautions, masking and academic changes for the nearly 1,250 students who attend Blair Oaks. The first

Jefferson City man sentenced to 13 years for receiving child porn

August 11, 2021 7:06 PM Karl Wehmhoener

JEFFERSON CITY, MO. (KMIZ) A U.S. district judge sentenced a Jefferson City man Wednesday to federal prison for receiving child porn over the internet. Dana Paul Cline, 54, was sentenced to 13 years in prison without parole and ordered to pay a total of $31,000 to several of his victims. Cline pleaded guilty in July

New American citizens naturalized on Missouri’s bicentennial

August 10, 2021 2:37 PM Hannah Falcon

Tuesday morning, 33 new citizens were naturalized at a special bicentennial ceremony presided over by Judges Beth Phillips and Stephen Limbaugh Jr.

Judge considers next step in Medicaid expansion lawsuit

August 6, 2021 2:03 PM Lucas Geisler

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) A Cole County judge will consider what exactly he’ll order the state of Missouri to do next in expanding eligibility to the state’s Medicaid program. Judge Jon Beetem heard 20 minutes of argument between the two sides fighting over the future of the health insurance program. Attorneys for those that sued

Governor making several stops in Mid-Missouri Thursday as Bicentennial gets in full swing

August 5, 2021 4:06 AM Ben Fein

Governor Parson and the first lady will travel to Marshall, Boonville, Tipton, and Jamestown Thursday.

CDC issues new eviction moratorium after federal ban expired

August 4, 2021 12:30 PM Hannah Falcon

The ban on evictions in the United States was reinstated Tuesday evening by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Three days earlier, the previous eviction ban expired after a failed vote in the U.S. congress.

Local hospitals had to turn away patients because of staffing issues and the rise in occupancy levels

August 4, 2021 5:17 PM Chanel Porter

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Local hospitals in Mid-Missouri are being affected by the nationwide nurse shortage, as well as the surge of COVID-19 patients, which has resulted in higher occupancy levels and patients being turned away. Dr. Robin Blount with Boone Health said new nurses join the staff at the hospital every two weeks, but they