COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) As colder temperatures move into Mid-Missouri, health experts typically expect an increase in seasonal illnesses. But so far, influenza activity across the region remains low. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services reported “low” influenza activity across the state from the week of Nov 16-22. The weekly total number of cases
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Three people died on Missouri roads over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend counting period, according to a Monday press release from the Missouri State Highway Patrol. MSHP’s data counted from Wednesday afternoon through Sunday night. Preliminary data shows in addition to the three fatalities, there were 304 crashes, 82 people injured and 87
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Branson woman has died after a crash in Cooper County on Thanksgiving morning. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports that the crash happened on Highway 135 at Lang Road at 2 a.m. Thursday. Troopers say a 40-year-old Branson woman was driving when she went off the road and hit an embankment.
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Branson woman suffered serious injuries after a crash in Cooper County Thursday morning. Missouri State Highway Patrol reports the crash happened on Route 135 at Lang Road at 2 a.m. Thursday. Troopers said a 40-year-old Branson woman was driving when she went off the road and hit an embankment. The car
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A woman has sued the Otterville School District and its superintendent, claiming that her First Amendment rights were violated after she was banned from athletic events in the district. The lawsuit – which was filed in the Western District Court of Missouri on Tuesday – says Teni Northern was banned from her
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PILOT GROVE, Mo. (KMIZ) The response to an EF-2 tornado that damaged or destroyed dozens of buildings in Pilot Grove was hampered by some first responders not being able to communicate with each other using radios at the scene. A four-page “after-action report” drawn up by the Cooper County Emergency Management Agency gives insight into
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A woman who is accused of embezzling money from nonprofits in Boonville and Columbia is back in jail. Jennifer Waibel, 52, of Boonville, is being held at the Cooper County Jail for a Boone County warrant, according to online jail records. She was booked into the jail at 1:48 p.m. Monday and
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PILOT GROVE, Mo. (KMIZ) More than seven months after an EF-2 tornado hit the small town of Pilot Grove, a report obtained by ABC 17 News through a Missouri Sunshine Law request breaks down the timeline of events on April 2. 2025. According to the agency, the morning began with dangerous conditions as the National
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A woman accused of embezzling nearly $50,000 from a Boonville nonprofit has now been charged with a similar crime in Boone County. Jennifer Waibel, 52, of Boonville, was charged last week in Cooper County with stealing more than $25,000. Her bond in that case was reduced and she is no longer listed on the Cooper
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Lohman man who was indicted on a child sex crime on Oct. 15 is now in the custody of the Cooper County Sheriff’s Office. Martin Stoecker, 21, is charged with two counts of child enticement and two counts of giving liquor to a minor, according to a press release from the
Continue Reading COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) – A Boonville woman accused of embezzling from a non-profit she worked for is now in the Cooper County Jail. Jennifer Waibel, 52, spent nearly $50,000 on a credit card owned by Unlimited Opportunities Incorporated in the summer of 2023, according to a probable cause statement. She is scheduled to be back in court on
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Northern Lights can be seen throughout a decent portion of the country on Tuesday evening. Some ABC 17 News viewers took photos showing the views from their homes. Do you want to share what you see with us? Let us know on our Facebook page or on the share page of
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BOONVILLE, Mo. (KMIZ) The former executive director of Unlimited Opportunities Inc. has been charged with a felony after she was accused embezzling nearly $50,000. Jennifer Waibel, of Boonville, was charged on Monday in Cooper County with stealing more than $25,000. A warrant was issued for her arrest on Monday and a $10,000 bond was set.
Continue Reading COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Disaster Recovery Centers will be open in several counties around the state this week that were approved for FEMA assistance last month for storms that caused damage in the spring. A press release from FEMA says a recovery center will be open in Cooper County at the Pilot Grove Community Center from
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COOPER COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ) A Boonville man was seriously injured when his minivan was crashed into head-on on Sunday. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report, the crash happened around 4:15 p.m. on Route B at Doyle Road. The report states a 29-year-old man from Rocheport was driving a 2021 Ford F-150, when
Continue Reading COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) FEMA individual assistance was approved for 20 Missouri counties that were damaged in storms that took place from March 30-April 8, according to a Friday press release from SEMA. Assistance is available to residents in Bollinger, Butler, Cape Girardeau, Carter, Cooper, Dunklin, Howell, Iron, Mississippi, New Madrid, Oregon, Ozark, Reynolds, Ripley, Scott,
Continue Reading COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Jefferson City man has been charged after authorities claim he shot at two people on May 9 in Boonville. Fernando Townshend was charged on Thursday in Cooper County with first-degree assault, unlawful use of a weapon and armed criminal action. Janiya Rucker, of Jefferson City, was charged with being an accessory
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Missouri Department of Transportation are working together to curb aggressive driving as crash hot spots emerge in work zones along the Improve I-70 Project. “This last week has been very challenging for our team across the state,” MDOT Improve I-70 Program Director Eric Kopinski told
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A non-injury rollover crash involving a tractor-trailer stifled traffic flow on eastbound Interstate 70 in Cooper County on Friday. The crash happened at about 5 p.m. By 6 p.m., traffic was at a near standstill, with the Missouri Department of Transportation’s traveler information map showing a delay of hours possible. The crash
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COOPER COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ) Two men from Boonville were killed during a head-on collision Wednesday afternoon on Highway 87 in Cooper County, just outside of Boonville city limits, according to a crash report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol. The crash occurred near Hail Ridge Court on Highway 87, CCFPD Lt. William Johnson said. The
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