Local News Archives

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Who will be Mizzou’s starting quarterback in Week 1?

August 1, 2023 2:31 AM ABC 17 News Team

Plenty of hype and anticipation always accompany the preseason and this year the biggest question might be at quarterback.

Man accused in Lake of the Ozarks boat crash that injured several people charged

July 31, 2023 4:20 PM Mitchell Kaminski

Lake of Ozarks, Mo (KMIZ) The man accused of crashing a boat into a house and injuring several people at the Lake of the Ozarks has been charged. Adam Ramirez, 47, is charged with seven counts of boating while intoxicated — causing physical injury. A warrant was issued Monday, but he is not currently in

Moniteau County man sentenced to life in prison for murder charge

July 31, 2023 10:04 PM Ryan Shiner

CALIFORNIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A California, Missouri, man who pleaded guilty to murder and other charges in May was sentenced on Monday. Ethan Bondurant, 20, pleaded guilty on May 1 to second-degree murder, two counts of armed-criminal action, two counts of first-degree assault and one count of second-degree assault. Boundurant was sentenced to life in prison

All rides at Cole County Fair pass inspection

July 31, 2023 9:41 PM Ryan Shiner

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) All 31 rides at the Jefferson City Jaycees Fair passed inspection in March. The rides – owned PBJ Hapee Days Shows – were inspected Feb. 24, according to the Amusement Ride Safety Inspection Report. The inspection report was approved March 20. View the full report below. 2023-07-28-PBJ-Shows-2023-Annual-Inspections-for-KMIZDownload The Cole County Fair

Driver in 2022 Cole County bus crash pleads guilty, sentenced to probation

July 31, 2023 8:57 PM Ryan Shiner

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) A bus driver who allegedly fell asleep at the wheel and crashed a bus filled with children in Cole County last year pleaded guilty last week. Thomas Babbit, 64, of Boonville, pleaded guilty on Tuesday, July 25, to operating a motor vehicle in a careless and imprudent manner and driving a

Continuance granted for former Callaway sheriff, next court appearance set for September

July 31, 2023 8:27 PM Ryan Shiner

HUNTSVILLE, Mo. (KMIZ) Former Callaway County Sheriff Clay Chism was granted a motion for continuance Monday at the Randolph County Circuit Court Chism was charged in last fall with a pair of misdemeanors: Driving while intoxicated and resisting arrest. A trial setting is set for Friday, Sept. 22, according to an email from the Randolph

‘Bulky items’ seen on curbs in Columbia gives reminder for large trash pickup process

July 31, 2023 7:48 PM Grace Pankey

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A number of students in the East Campus area of Columbia saw their leases end before a new school year starts. Curbsides were filled Monday with couches and other furniture. The City of Columbia considers the accumulation of trash or garbage a public nuisance. However, the city no longer picks up bulky

Boonville man accused of armed robbery

July 31, 2023 7:28 PM Ryan Shiner

BOONVILLE, Mo. (KMIZ) A Boonville man was charged Monday after being accused of an armed robbery that allegedly occurred last week. Brandon Terrell Rhymes, 37, is charged with first-degree robbery, armed-criminal action and second-degree assault. He is not listed on the Cooper County Jail roster, according to online records. A warrant was issued and a

Jefferson City man charged with sodomy in Callaway County

July 31, 2023 7:06 PM Ryan Shiner

NEW BLOOMFIELD, Mo. (KMIZ) A Jefferson City man was charged Monday with two counts of first-degree sodomy and first-degree harassment. Patrick Joseph Lutz, 35, is being held in the Callaway County Jail without bond. A court date has not been set. According to the probable cause statement, the victim and Lutz were at a campsite

Investigators say witness interview led to discovery of Betty Hayes remains, arrest of her suspected killer

July 31, 2023 1:11 PM Hannah Falcon

An interview with a witness led to investigators finding the remains of a Monroe County woman who disappeared more than a year ago, according to court documents.

Columbia man sentenced to 10 years in prison for illegal gun possession after murder acquittal

July 31, 2023 1:44 PM Gabrielle Teiner

A Columbia man was sentenced to the maximum of 10 years in state prison Monday at the Boone County Courthouse for illegal gun possession after being acquitted of murder.

Man charged with child sex crimes in Audrain County

July 31, 2023 6:24 PM Ryan Shiner

MEXICO, Mo. (KMIZ) A man was charged Sunday with four counts of second-degree statutory sodomy. Kristofer Hahn, 32, has a confined docket hearing set for 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Audrain County Courthouse. A warrant was issued and no bond was set, according to court records. The victim told Audrain County Sheriff’s deputies in June

Building hit, no injuries reported after shots fired reported Friday night in Downtown Columbia

July 31, 2023 6:07 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) No injuries were reported in a shots-fired incident Friday night in Downtown Columbia, according to the Columbia Police Department. Police told ABC 17 News in an email that a vehicle and a building were struck by gunfire in the 900 block of East Broadway Street. Police responded to the shots-fired call at

Boone Health cutting 60-plus jobs; most are unfilled

July 31, 2023 5:13 PM Matthew Sanders

Publicly-run Boone Health said Monday that it is cutting more than 60 of its 2,320 positions but most of them are unfilled.

Man pleads guilty to 2020 Downtown Columbia murder, sentenced to 22 years in prison

July 31, 2023 3:42 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Marlin Johnson pleaded guilty on Friday to the 2020 killing of Joseph Hecht. Johnson, 27, of Columbia, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 22 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections. He was credited with 1,094 days served. He is currently in the Boone County Jail. According to previous

No injuries reported in Jefferson City church fire

July 31, 2023 2:50 PM Ryan Shiner

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) No injuries were reported in a Monday fire at Unitarian Universalist Church in Jefferson City, according to a press release from the Jefferson City Fire Department. JCFD was dispatched to the church in the 1000 block of Northeast Drive. Fire crews quickly had the fire under control and determined that no

All clear given after report of bomb at Bothwell Regional Health Center

July 31, 2023 9:42 AM Madison Stuerman

Using one explosive-detecting canine from the Sheriff’s Office and four bomb-sniffing canines from Whiteman Air Force base a search was done both inside and outside the hospital with nothing found.

Rolla man dies in Phelps County crash

July 31, 2023 11:21 AM Matthew Sanders

A Rolla man died Sunday when a truck hit his Jeep when he failed to yield during a left turn, the Missouri State Highway Patrol says.

Matt Stephens begins serving as interim police chief for the Columbia Police Department

July 31, 2023 4:21 AM Joushua Blount

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Matt Stephens is now serving as the interim police chief for the Columbia Police Department. This comes after Chief Geoff Jones announced his retirement from the department in June after serving for more than 24 years. The City of Columbia expressed its excitement for Stephens. City manager De’Carlon Seewood said he is thankful Stephens has

Monday is the last day for schools to apply for teacher salary grant

July 31, 2023 6:12 AM Nia Hinson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Monday is the last day for educators in Missouri to apply for a grant that would increase teacher pay at least $13,000 for the 2023-2024 school year. State law requires that teachers are paid a minimum of $25,000. However, last year legislators approved the salary grant program to help pay teachers at