Columbia Archives

Columbia man charged, accused of helping murder suspect avoid police

November 13, 2023 11:23 AM Madison Stuerman

Boone County Prosecutors have filed charges against Maurice Penny Jr. after he is accused of helping Ja’Shaun Barney avoid arrest.

Both driving lanes of Ridgemond Bridge to close starting Wednesday

November 12, 2023 9:35 PM Grace Pankey

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Ridgemont Bridge is scheduled to close for its removal and replacement on Wednesday. The contractor for the City of Columbia, S&A Equipment and Builders LLC, announced on Wednesday that both of the driving lanes of Ridgemont will be closed between College Park Drive and Highridge Drive. The work is expected to

Columbia church fire cause by candle, not sound equipment

November 12, 2023 5:04 PM Euphenie Andre

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The report on the United Methodist Church fire revealed it was caused by a candle and not sound equipment like the Columbia Fire Department originally said. In July, ABC 17 reported on the fire that occurred at the United Methodist Church. Initially, the Columbia Fire Department stated that the fire resulted from

Columbia found not guilty after being accused of child abuse

November 12, 2023 6:28 PM abc17news-Newsroom

EDITOR’S NOTE: Oringderff was acquitted Jan. 23, 2025, after a trial. COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia woman was arrested Saturday after she was charged with child abuse. A warrant was served to Taylor Ashley Oringderff, 31, after she was charged with one count of child abuse, originally filed on Nov. 3. According to online court

A day in the life of a lifelong Columbia resident experiencing homelessness

November 11, 2023 5:27 PM Meghan Drakas

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Homelessness affects more than half a million people nationwide, according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, and Mid-Missouri is no exception. That includes lifelong Columbia resident, Chris Eubanks who says he has been homelessness for the past two years. “It can literally happen to anybody,” Eubanks said. Chris Eubanks is a

MU football game will honor military members, traffic impacts expected

November 11, 2023 4:34 AM Gabrielle Teiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) On Saturday, the 16th-ranked University of Missouri Tigers will go head to head against the 14th-ranked Tennessee Volunteers at 2:30 p.m. with special military appreciation events planned in light of Veterans Day. The Mizzou Tigers will be wearing their special all-black Veterans Day uniforms. The helmet is also black with a large

Columbia family shares story of son’s fatal fentanyl overdose

November 10, 2023 10:02 PM Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo (KMIZ) The Drug Enforcement Administration announced on Tuesday that 21,218 pounds of old, unwanted, and expired medications were collected in Missouri during National Prescription Drug Take Day, to combat the opioid crisis. Opioid overdoses account for 70% of deaths of adults aged 18-44 in Missouri, the leading cause of death in the state,

297 Missourians in jail await mental health evaluations

November 10, 2023 6:46 PM Nia Hinson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Missouri Department of Mental Health is experiencing an increase in individuals in jail awaiting a mental health evaluation. According to Jeanette Simmons, the deputy director for the Division of Behavioral Health, 297 people in Missouri jails are currently waiting for a mental-health evaluation before they can go to trial. Those people

Columbia College holds Veterans Day ceremony

November 10, 2023 3:16 PM Jazsmin Halliburton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia College honored veterans on Friday in front of the outside the Gen. Charles E. McGee House on North Eighth Street. This ceremony held the day before Veterans Day included speakers from the college, Silver Star Families of America and the Missouri National Guard. During the ceremony, the college announced that it renewed

Police: Another arrest made in relation to June 26 Dove Drive shooting

November 9, 2023 7:39 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Another arrest has been made in relation to the June 26 homicide on Dove Drive in Columbia, according to a Thursday night social media post from the Columbia Police Department. Police say Maurice Penny Jr., 39, of Columbia, was arrested in connection to the shooting death of Deshon Joseph Houston, 33, who was

CPD: Two found dead in central Columbia

November 9, 2023 3:02 PM Ryan Shiner, Nia Hinson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia Police Department stated on its social media that two people were found dead in the 500 block of Woodlawn Avenue. The department wrote on its social media that police responded at 12:15 p.m. to the house. CPD spokesman Christian Tabak told ABC 17 News that police were originally called to

Columbia Public Works to hold dry snow run Tuesday

November 9, 2023 7:13 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) City of Columbia Public Works crews and other departments will partake in its annual snow dry run on Tuesday, according to a Thursday release from the city. The purpose of the run is to review safety procedures and practice snow routes for winter-weather responses, according to the release. The release states a

Columbia looking to vacant lots to help solve affordable housing issue

November 9, 2023 6:50 PM Morgan Buresh

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The City of Columbia is looking to transform vacant lots to help solve the city’s affordable housing issue. City leaders are attending a Vacant Property Leadership Institute in Austin, Texas, this week to get information on what can be done with the city’s vacant lots. Columbia Neighborhood Services Manager Leigh Kottwitz –

Boone County Sheriff’s Office warns of gift card scams, wants to see stores do more to stop them

November 8, 2023 4:23 PM Morgan Buresh

Gift cards often make great stocking stuffers this time of year, but they can also be an easy way for scammers to bleed people dry of hundreds and thousands of dollars.

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Do you think the Columbia roll cart ordinance should be revised?

November 9, 2023 2:16 AM ABC 17 News Team

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Roll carts have been a hot-button issue in Columbia for years, and the new program is set to begin on March 4. At the most-recent City Council meeting, Ward 6 Councilwoman Betsy Peters suggested the language surrounding the storage of roll carts at a residence is not specific enough. The council decided

MDC closes overlook area at Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area for repairs

November 8, 2023 8:26 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The overlook area at Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area has been temporarily closed for repairs and maintenance, according to a Wednesday press release from the Missouri Department of Conservation. A timeframe for when the overlook area will reopen was not announced. MDC staff continually evaluate existing infrastructure on conservation areas to ensure public safety. The repair

Columbia City Council seeks revisions to roll cart ordinance

November 8, 2023 7:21 PM Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo (KMIZ) The Columbia City Council is looking to change the ordinance for its roll cart program. During Monday’s City Council meeting, Ward 6 Councilwoman Betsy Peters took issue with the language surrounding the city’s current roll cart ordinance, specifically about the storage of roll carts. “We have no ordinance in the city,” Peters

Columbia Board of Education plans for future attendance as new schools are in the works

November 8, 2023 8:03 PM Nia Hinson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia Board of Education members on Wednesday night were presented with an update on the addition of three new schools being built within the district. According to Chief Operations Officer of Columbia Public Schools Randall Gooch, additions to Russell Boulevard and Battle elementary schools are on track to open at the start

Employees of High Profile dispensary in Columbia seek unionization

November 7, 2023 7:07 PM Mitchell Kaminski, Gabrielle Teiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Several employees of High Profile dispensary in Columbia are seeking to unionize. On Tuesday, the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 655 filed for an election with the National Labor Relations Board. According to the NLRB’s website, 33 employees are eligible to be represented by UFCW Local 655, according to the National

Columbia Commission on Human Rights discusses possibility of city becoming LGBTQ+ sanctuary city

November 7, 2023 7:28 PM Nia Hinson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) On Tuesday night, the Columbia Commission on Human Rights met at City Hall to discuss the possibility of Columbia becoming an LGBTQ+ sanctuary city. The discussion comes after the The University of Missouri chapter of the Young Democratic Socialists of America presented an ordinance to the Columbia City Council Monday night. The