Columbia Archives

Homeless outreach organizer shares thoughts from Wednesday night Columbia police chief forum

October 19, 2023 7:39 PM Jazsmin Halliburton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia police chief candidates answered questions in front of the public on Wednesday night. Each candidate was asked five questions concerning violent crime, staffing, accreditation, homelessness and mental health and working with community groups. John Trapp, owner of 4-A-Change homeless outreach, shared his thoughts on the police chief candidates regarding the

Burrell expands behavioral health crisis center hours to 24/7

October 19, 2023 12:31 PM Morgan Buresh

Burrell Behavioral Health has expanded its crisis center hours to 24 hours a day to provide anyone with mental health assistance in the late hours of the night or early morning

Updated COVID-19 vaccine available at Columbia/Boone County PHHS

October 19, 2023 4:57 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The updated COVID-19 vaccine is now available at the Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services, according to a Thursday press release from the department. Appointments to get the new vaccine from Pfizer can be made by calling 573-874-7279, according to the release. Appointments will be held at the PHHS building on

Sex offender sentenced to five years in federal prison for uploading bestiality video

October 19, 2023 3:56 PM Ryan Shiner

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia man was sentenced in federal court on Wednesday for uploading an “obscene bestiality” video to his Google account, according to a Thursday press release from the Department of Justice. Brian Joe Gravatt, 48, was sentenced to five years in federal prison without parole. Gravatt was required to register as

Columbia man charged with child molestation

October 19, 2023 2:57 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia man was charged on Thursday with first-degree child molestation in Boone County. A warrant was ordered for Ricky Cook, 52, and no bond was set. He was not in the Boone County Jail on Thursday. A court date has yet to be set. According to court documents, Cook is accused

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Are you in favor of any of the Columbia police chief candidates?

October 19, 2023 2:16 AM ABC 17 News Team

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The City of Columbia held a forum on Wednesday night that included all four final candidates for its opening for chief of police. The city is looking for a new police chief after Geoff Jones retired on Aug. 1. Matt Stephens was named the interim chief. City spokeswoman Sydney Olsen previously said the City was on track

Columbia police chief candidates address violent crime solutions at candidate forum

October 18, 2023 3:37 AM Lucas Geisler, Mitchell Kaminski

Watch candidates speak with media in the web player above. View a livestream of the forum in the web player above. COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Four people vying for Columbia’s police chief job made their pitches to the public on Wednesday night. The four finalists include: former Forest Park Chief of Police and Public Safety Director

More additions to come after MizzouRec unveils new outdoor fitness space

October 18, 2023 6:33 PM Jazsmin Halliburton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The MizzouRec held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday afternoon for the opening of its new outdoor fitness space. The area was once the home of Truman’s Pond, and outdoor pool located near the southeast entrance of the building before it closed in 2022. The outdoor space will hold fitness programs including personal training

True/False loses $75,000 of inventory from September fire

October 18, 2023 6:15 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The True/False Film Fest stated on its website that it lost about $75,000 of inventory in a Sept. 15 fire. A fire broke out in a Downtown Columbia building at the corner of Ninth and Broadway streets on Sept. 15. The building housed Tellers bar and restaurant and office space for True/False.

Columbia man sentenced in federal court for drug trafficking, illegal gun possession

October 18, 2023 3:15 PM Ryan Shiner

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia man was sentenced Wednesday for his alleged role in trying to distribute fentanyl and illegal gun possession, according to a press release from the Department of Justice., Ryan Knudsen, 31, was sentenced to 10 years in prison without parole, according to the release. Knudsen pleaded guilty on June 20

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Does Memorial Stadium need improvements to keep pace in the SEC?

October 18, 2023 6:23 AM ABC 17 News Team

Mizzou Athletics said Monday that it will present a plan to the board of curators next month to upgrade facilities over several years.

Billboards placed in Boone County in hopes of finding sports editor’s killer

October 17, 2023 10:13 PM ABC 17 News Team

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A series of billboards have gone up around Columbia, with the goal of helping solve a murder from over two decades ago. The billboards are paid for by a group called Justice For Kent, who are looking to help solve the 2001 murder of former Columbia Daily Tribune Sports Editor Kent Heitholt. The group said in

Nearly one-third of Columbia curbside trash pickup customers respond to roll cart selection postcard

October 17, 2023 7:28 PM Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia City Council on Monday amended its 2024 annual budget to allocate funds for the purchase of roll carts for an automated residential curbside refuse collection. According to the City Council agenda, city staff is working to buy 36,200 roll carts for the program which cost roughly $2.2 million. At the

‘Rock M’ at Faurot Field won’t be touched during MU Athletics’ facility upgrades

October 17, 2023 7:00 PM Morgan Buresh

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Mizzou Athletics said it plans to present a facilities master plan to the University of Missouri Board of Curators next month, according to a news release sent earlier this week. Many details of the plan won’t be announced until later. Assistant Athletic Director for Communications Dave Matter told ABC 17 News in

Columbia firefighters alerted administration to possible mold weeks before action was taken

October 17, 2023 10:57 AM Hannah Falcon

Firefighters from Columbia Fire Station 6 are bunking with Station 7 while the city assesses possible mold damage to ceiling tiles.

Columbia City Council recognizes union for water distribution workers

October 16, 2023 4:12 PM Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) On Monday the Columbia City Council unanimously approved to recognize positions in the Water Distribution Division of the Utilities Department as a part of the LiUNA Local 955 bargaining unit. This comes after the water distribution workers rallied outside City Hall last week, claiming that the city violated their rights under the

How to give money safely on GoFundMe and other crowdsourcing websites

October 16, 2023 6:57 PM Morgan Buresh

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) As the war continues in the Middle East, some people may be looking at ways to financially help those who have been affected. GoFundMe spokesperson Leigh Lehman said she has seen an outpouring of support for emergency relief to the Middle East recently. There are also many active GoFundMes in Columbia this

Juveniles suspected of tampering, resisting arrest after Boone County chase in stolen car

October 16, 2023 4:10 PM Matthew Sanders

Two juveniles were taken into custody Monday north of Columbia after they bailed from a stolen car at the end of a chase, a spokesman for the Boone County Sheriff’s Office said.

Columbia man accused in June standoff with police pleads guilty

October 16, 2023 3:56 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia man who was accused of pulling a weapon on someone and having a standoff with Columbia police in June pleaded guilty last week to several charges. Jaytaj Moore, 21, pleaded guilty on Tuesday, Oct. 10, to second-degree burglary, unlawful use of a weapon, resisting arrest and fourth-degree domestic assault. He

FBI report: Violent crime decreases to pre-pandemic levels, but property crime is on the rise

October 16, 2023 10:43 AM Associated Press

By JIM SALTER Associated Press ST. LOUIS (AP) — Data in the FBI’s annual crime report released Monday shows that violent crime across the U.S. decreased last year, dropping to about the same level as before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. But property crimes rose substantially. Violent crime dropped 1.7%, and that included a