Boone Archives

Local company reacts to suspension on building permits

March 31, 2020 6:41 PM Sydney Olsen

One local construction is reacting after the City of Columbia suspended new commercial and residential building permits until Special Order 2020-03 expires on April 24.

A health worker at Boone Hospital works in the drive-thru testing location.

Columbia hospitals coordinating on COVID-19 ‘surge plans’

March 31, 2020 4:12 PM Molly Stawinoga

Columbia hospitals are working together to prepare for a surge in patients amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

State officials say Hearnes Center scouted as emergency hospital

March 31, 2020 2:19 PM Matt Ragsdale

Gov. Mike Parson said Tuesday that an inter-agency group including several state departments and the Missouri National Guard have scouted the Hearnes Center as a possible emergency hospital to treat COVID-19 patients.

Columbia police take extra precautions during COVID-19

March 30, 2020 7:06 PM Sydney Olsen

Officers at the Columbia Police Department are working to protect themselves as the number of cases of COVID-19 continues to rise in Missouri and Boone County.

Charges dropped in Columbia bomb threat case

March 30, 2020 2:06 PM Matt Ragsdale

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) UPDATE: Charges were dropped by the Boone County prosecutor’s office. ORIGINAL: A man charged with making a terrorist threat in Boone County has been brought back to Mid-Missouri after he was arrested in Iowa in February. Boone County prosecutors charged Raymond Utter with second-degree terrorist threats after he allegedly threatened University Hospital

Bathroom fire at Stephens Lake Park under investigation

March 29, 2020 6:40 PM Sydney Olsen

The fire marshall with the Columbia Fire Department is investigating the cause of a fire in a bathroom at Stephens Lake Park.

Trucking industry getting assistance from all corners amidst the COVID-19 pandemic

March 28, 2020 7:55 PM Zach Boetto

Governor Parson and the Missouri Department of Transportation are offering special permits and extended hours to truckers responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. “The volume of goods that are being transported, particularly to grocery stores right now is unfathomable, its 2-3 times the Christmas rush, Black Friday type volume,” said Tom Crawford, President and CEO of

Several outages hit Columbia, leaving nearly 200 without power.

Lights back on for more than 1,000 hit by outages in Columbia

March 27, 2020 11:32 PM Molly Stawinoga

Several power outages are shutting off lights in Columbia as storms sweep through mid-Missouri.

Columbia lab responsible for one-third of COVID-19 testing across Missouri

March 26, 2020 10:26 PM Zach Boetto

A private Columbia laboratory is now assisting numerous hospitals across Missouri and out-of-state with COVID-19 testing.

Mental health experts offer advice for coping with COVID-19 related stress

March 26, 2020 11:48 AM Connor Hirsch

Psychiatric experts with the University of Missouri Health Care system are warning about the mental health effects of coronavirus-related stress and isolation.

Corps to keep reservoir levels lower to brace for possible flooding

March 26, 2020 12:17 PM Matthew Sanders

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Kansas City District says it will keep water levels lower in reservoirs because of the risk of spring flooding.

Rush on paper products still underway in Columbia grocery stores

March 26, 2020 11:16 AM Joe McLean

Fewer than 48 hours after a stay-at-home order took effect in Columbia, paper towels, napkins and toilet paper appear to be the products toughest to keep in stock.

Boone County medical director expects COVID-19 cases to rise, hopes for smaller spike

March 25, 2020 2:19 PM Connor Hirsch

“I think we are going to see more cases for sure,” said Ashley Millham, medical director of Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health. “But I hope it’s a slower rise and a shorter peak.”

Stay-at-home order compliance will be complaint driven

March 24, 2020 8:52 PM Sydney Olsen

A stay-at-home order will go into effect in Boone County and Columbia at 8 a.m. Wednesday morning. Under that order, city and health officials will be able to take action if businesses or individuals do not comply with the order.

WEDNESDAY UPDATES: Hy-Vee offers bonuses to employees working during pandemic

March 25, 2020 5:56 AM ABC 17 News Team

Check back throughout the day for more updates on COVID-19.

Rural communities in Boone County impacted by COVID-19

March 25, 2020 8:34 PM Ben Fein

Areas in Boone such as Centralia face unique problems in dealing with the COVID-19 outbreak. The city is abiding by the county’s stay at home order, and mayor Chris Cox says he’s seen restaurants take the biggest hit so far.

Columbia’s stay-at-home order allows essential businesses to stay open

March 25, 2020 11:55 AM Amber Tabeling

A stay-at-home order issued by Columbia and Boone County authorities that took effect Wednesday includes a long list of what officials consider “essential businesses.”

Semi crash in eastern Boone County sends 2 people to the hospital

March 25, 2020 9:48 AM Matt Ragsdale

Boone County Joint Communications and Mo-DOT tweeted about the crash at mile marker 136 near Route Z for a wreck.

Columbia Chamber of Commerce hosting ‘webinars’ to help local business

March 24, 2020 9:19 PM Zach Boetto

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia Chamber of Commerce has started to host webinars to help keep the local business community informed. “It is working with our community, working with our business community and our citizens to do the best that we can to make sure people are staying home and only going out whenever it’s necessary,”

Columbia hospitals prepare for more COVID-19 testing

March 24, 2020 11:18 AM Molly Stawinoga

Some Mid-Missouri hospitals are expanding testing for the coronavirus after the state Department of Health and Senior Services changed testing criteria.