Local News Archives

‘Sample’ inspections frequently turn up smoke detector problems in Columbia

February 8, 2023 4:21 PM Lucas Geisler

City of Columbia inspectors often note problems with smoke detectors during large rental property inspections, according to records obtained by ABC 17 News.

Second training session held for Columbia Citizens Police Review Board

February 8, 2023 3:24 PM Marina Diaz

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The City of Columbia’s Citizens Police Review Board held its second training session on Wednesday. The CPRB held its first training session Feb. 1. The training sessions come months after the board was temporarily suspended in August. The first training session focused on discussions on the form of government, Sunshine Law, conflicts

Jefferson City man sentenced 15 years for illegally owning gun

February 8, 2023 7:53 PM Ryan Shiner

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) A Jefferson City man was sentenced in federal court Wednesday for illegally possessing a gun. Malik Rashod Miller, 25, was sentenced by U.S District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to 15 years in federal prison. On Oct. 11, 2022, Miller pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of

Columbia couple sentenced for selling counterfeit Disney movies on eBay

February 8, 2023 7:19 PM Ryan Shiner

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia couple was sentenced in federal court on Wednesday for a scheme to smuggle counterfeit Disney DVDs into the United States and sell them on eBay. Tabitha Nicole Rodgers, 43, and her husband, Clint Travis Rodgers, 49, were sentenced in separate appearances, a press release stated. Tabitha Rodgers was sentenced

Columbia firefighters’ union endorses Knoth, Bush for City Council races

February 8, 2023 4:34 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia firefighter’s union announced a pair of endorsements for the April 4 election in a press release on Wednesday. In two documents, the Columbia Professional Firefighters, IAFF Local 1055 revealed it would be endorsing Nick Knoth in the First Ward council race and Gregg Bush in the Fifth Ward race. Bush

$1 million winning lottery ticket sold in Columbia

February 8, 2023 3:52 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Someone just got $1 million richer. After Tuesday night’s Mega Millions drawing, a lottery player won $1 million from a ticket bought at the Alta Convenience Store at the Petro-Mart on East St. Charles Road in Columbia. The ticket matched all five white-ball numbers drawn to win the “Match 5” $1 million prize. The

Sports betting and school transfers on the mind of Missouri lawmakers

February 8, 2023 7:22 AM Kennedy Miller

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) On Wednesday, Missouri lawmakers are set to talk about a couple of bills and one of those subjects includes sports gambling. One proposed bill would give Missourians over the age of 21, the green light to legally place bets for sports online and in casinos. Sports betting has been a hot topic for

Columbia Public Schools still seeking more bus drivers after long struggle with shortages

February 8, 2023 11:39 AM Ethan Heinz

Columbia Public Schools’ transportation provider is still looking to hire bus drivers nearly three years after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic that has been blamed for staffing shortages nationwide.

Missouri has legal pot, but restrictions on use remain

February 8, 2023 11:34 AM Erika McGuire

The passing of Amendment 3 in the Show-Me State in November has prompted questions about where adults 21 or older can legally use marijuana products.

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Will Democrats and Republicans be able to work together?

February 8, 2023 2:41 AM ABC 17 News Team

President Joe Biden called for bipartisanship in his State of the Union speech Tuesday night.

Maries County Sheriff looks for man who crashed truck following chase

February 7, 2023 8:29 PM Ryan Shiner

DIXON, Mo. (KMIZ) The Maries County Sheriff’s Office announced on its Facebook page that it is looking for a man who may be injured after he crashed his truck during a chase. “Maries County Deputies are currently looking for a subject who fled on foot from law enforcement at the junction of Highway HH &

Crowds gather at Capitol for bill hearing on teaching of sexual orientation, gender identity in schools

February 7, 2023 10:38 AM Hannah Falcon

Half an hour before the hearing for Senate Bill 134 on Tuesday morning, a crowd of over 60 was standing outside the Senate Lounge door.

Columbia City Council gives the go-ahead for homeless shelter

February 7, 2023 6:59 PM Marina Diaz

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia City Council approved the Voluntary Action Center’s Opportunity Campus at its meeting on Monday night. The approval was for the conditional use permit for the construction of a public campus that would offer a variety of services for the homeless. The 26,300-square-foot shelter would be built at Bowling Street and

Missouri contractor receives probation, pleaded guilty to charges related to deceptive business practices in November

February 7, 2023 6:23 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) An area contractor who pleaded guilty in November to several charges involving deceptive business practices was sentenced to probation on Monday. Blake Mahoney, 29, pleaded guilty to stealing $25,000 or more on Nov. 28. He received a suspended sentence of eight years in the Missouri Department of Corrections with five years of

Recreational marijuana sales begin in Columbia

February 7, 2023 5:51 PM Ethan Heinz

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Dispensaries in Columbia can officially sell marijuana to anyone 21 years old or older as of Tuesday morning. According to a representative from the state, all six dispensaries in Columbia received their comprehensive licenses, allowing them to sell recreationally. An ABC 17 crew visited two dispensaries and overheard and observed people on

Phelps County man accused of killing father

February 7, 2023 3:11 PM Ryan Shiner

ST. JAMES, Mo. (KMIZ) A St. James man has been accused of shooting and killing his own father on Monday morning. Samuel Karlinski, 19, is charged with second-degree murder and armed-criminal action. He is being held in the Phelps County Jail without bond, according to the Phelps County Sheriff’s Office’s Facebook page. A court date

Recreational marijuana sales begin at Columbia dispensaries

February 7, 2023 8:35 AM Kennedy Miller

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ.) Beginning Tuesday, marijuana dispensaries in Columbia will be allowed to start selling weed for recreational use. This move comes after the Columbia City Council voted in favor of regulating business licenses for recreational marijuana at its council meeting Monday evening. It comes just a few days after the state started approving those licenses as

Callaway County business owner pleads guilty to coronavirus fund fraud

February 7, 2023 11:59 AM Matthew Sanders

A Kingdom City business owner pleaded guilty Tuesday to defrauding the government of nearly $700,000 in coronavirus relief money.

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Why do you watch the Super Bowl?

February 7, 2023 2:43 AM ABC 17 News Team

Super Bowl Sunday has become like an American holiday.

Columbia City Council approves business license regulations for recreational marijuana

February 6, 2023 6:11 PM Marina Diaz

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia residents can begin buying recreational marijuana Tuesday morning. The Columbia City Council — at its regular meeting on Monday — unanimously approved the authorization of new business license regulations for recreational marijuana dispensaries. The Missouri Department of Health and Human Senior Services issued an emergency rule last week, allowing Missouri dispensaries