ABC 17 News Investigates Archives

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.

DEFENDERS: BBB warns about coronavirus scams

March 2, 2020 8:11 PM Deborah Kendrick

The BBB says consumers should be on the lookout for fake cures, phony prevention measures and other coronavirus cons.

Inspectors threatened to shut down Memorial Stadium concession stand over violations

February 26, 2020 1:27 PM Zara Barker

Inspectors handed out fewer health code violations to concessions stands this season. But one stand was almost shut down.

Lincoln University to charge flat-rate tuition starting in fall semester

February 21, 2020 3:55 PM Joe McLean

Undergraduate students at Lincoln University will no longer be charged tuition by credit hour but instead, by semester.

J. Pfennys Sports Grill and Pub on High Street in Jefferson City, Mo.

Inspections yield multiple violations for downtown Jefferson City sports bar

February 19, 2020 4:34 PM Zara Barker

Inspections from the Jefferson City Environmental Health Department visited more than three dozen eateries in January.

Reports detail response to fatal construction site collapse

February 17, 2020 6:44 PM Barry Mangold

Incident reports from the Jefferson City police and fire departments, obtained by ABC 17 News, walk through the investigation into a wall collapse that killed a construction worker.

DEFENDERS: Valentine’s Day weekend scams

February 17, 2020 6:37 PM Brittany Wiley

A report from the Federal Trade Commission shows romance scam artists made about $201 million.

Surprise health inspections reveal some violations at Mizzou Arena

February 12, 2020 8:43 PM Zara Barker

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Inspection records completed at Mizzou Arena during the 2018-2019 basketball season show which concession stands had the most and least amount of violations. “Our number one priority is the safety of our guests, we want people coming to the game to be focused on the game, not food safety, that’s our job,”

DEFENDERS: Be cautious when using mobile payment apps

February 10, 2020 2:17 PM Deborah Kendrick

Mobile payment apps come with a lot of conveniences, but their popularity also makes them targets for scammers.

Wendy's off Bernadette Drive in Columbia, Mo.

Mold, contaminated soda lids found at Columbia Wendy’s

February 5, 2020 5:56 PM Zara Barker

Inspectors found “contamination” on soda lid cups at a Columbia fast food restaurant last month.

Jefferson City High School teacher stripped of coaching duties after profanity-laced texts to students

February 4, 2020 5:02 PM Joe McLean

The Jefferson City School District scaled back the duties of one of its teachers after a text conversation with a group of students came to light.

DEFENDERS: Watch out for scammers during tax season

February 3, 2020 3:17 PM Deborah Kendrick

Starting Monday the Federal Trade Commission is launching Tax Identity Theft Awareness Week.

DEFENDERS: New law meant to reduce robocalls

February 2, 2020 8:00 AM Deborah Kendrick

Some new laws could significantly reduce the number of robocalls you get on your phone.

Mid-Missouri schools see more vaccinated students than statewide average

January 31, 2020 10:36 PM Zara Barker

According to data from the Missouri Department of Health and Human Services, about 97% of students across Missouri schools are not vaccinated. That number is not as high in mid-Missouri.

The Ben Renick case: snakes, shootings and millions of dollars

January 30, 2020 8:50 PM Lucas Geisler

MONTGOMERY CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) As prosecutors in Missouri begin making their case that two people killed Ben Renick in 2017, courts are still settling millions of dollars worth of deals he started before his death. In the years since Renick, 29, was shot and killed at his Montgomery County home near New Florence, attorneys and

Traffic stop audio shows former Columbia police chief felt ‘targeted’

January 29, 2020 4:28 PM Sydney Olsen

Body camera and dashboard camera video suggest former Columbia police chief Ken Burton felt targeted by Mayor Brian Treece and the Columbia Police Department before his DWI arrest.

Two Jefferson City eateries top the list with 6 violations

January 29, 2020 7:39 PM Zara Barker

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – KMIZ Jefferson City inspection reports show two eateries tied for the most overall violations during December inspections. In January, Jefferson City’s Environmental Health Services Department posted all inspections completed within city limits in December 2019. Overall, Happy Garden on Truman Blvd and Hardee’s on Country Club Drive tied with 6 overall

DEFENDERS: Warning about Census job scams

January 27, 2020 5:33 PM Deborah Kendrick

The U.S. Census Bureau is recruiting to fill thousands of temporary positions, but the Better Business Bureau says to beware of scams.