Local News Archives

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Should American forces stay in Afghanistan beyond Aug. 31?

August 25, 2021 2:03 AM ABC 17 News Team

Many are worried that’s not enough time to get Americans and Afghan allies out of the country.

A pound of meth seized during a traffic stop on I-70 in Cooper County Monday

August 24, 2021 11:39 PM Karl Wehmhoener

COOPER COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ) A Kentucky man was arrested Monday morning after a traffic stop leads to a seizure of one pound of meth. A Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper pulled over Larry Dyer for following a vehicle too closely. According to the probable cause statement, the trooper saw items consistent with the use of

Man allegedly runs over a woman during a domestic disturbance Tuesday morning in Boone County

August 24, 2021 10:21 PM Karl Wehmhoener

COLUMBIA, Mo, (KMIZ) A man has been charged after police responded to a domestic disturbance Tuesday morning. According to court documents, Augustus Armstead woke up at 5 a.m. and allegedly assaulted a woman while she was sleeping and then went back to sleep. The victim told police Armstead left her bleeding and left marks on

Mid-Missouri communities continue to grieve after double homicide of mother and daughter

August 24, 2021 9:33 PM Chanel Porter

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Communities in Columbia, Fulton, and Maryville say they are mourning the losses of 43-year-old Allison Abitz and her 11-year-old daughter Jozee after they were killed in their home Sunday night. Allison Abitz was a teacher at Bush Elementary School in Fulton for 5 years and her daughter was a student in the

Audrain County man charged with multiple sex crimes against a child

August 24, 2021 8:38 PM Karl Wehmhoener

MEXICO, Mo. (KMIZ) After a 13-year-old victim came forward, an Audrain County man was charged with multiple sex crimes against a child. Randall Giboney is charged with two counts of possession of child porn, sexual exploitation of a minor, child molestation, invasion of privacy and making a false report. According to court documents, a victim

Columbia Public Schools Superintendent shines light on COVID protocols

August 24, 2021 8:00 PM Leila Mitchell

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia Public School Superintendent Brian Yearwood answered important COVID-19 protocol questions for parents and students Tuesday. Columbia Public Schools will be requiring masks and social distancing when inside of school buildings. Superintendent Yearwood said the most important thing to the district is the safety of students and faculty. “This is the best

Family files wrongful death lawsuit after fatal February crash

August 24, 2021 7:58 PM Karl Wehmhoener

MEXICO, Mo. (KMIZ) The parents of a man that died in a crash in February 2021in Audrain County have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against David Brenneke. Kristopher and Kerrie Grimes filed the lawsuit in Audrain Circuit Court Tuesday. According to the lawsuit, Cole Grimes’s parents allege Cole’s death was due to the negligence of

Former school resource officer charged with sexual contact with a student at School of the Osage

August 24, 2021 5:43 PM Karl Wehmhoener

LAKE OZARK, Mo. (KMIZ) A former School of the Osage school resource officer is facing multiple charges after allegedly having a relationship with a student from Dec. 2019 to March 2020. Jenna Jackson, of Osage Beach, is charged with having sexual contact with a student and sending a nude picture to a student. According to

Southern Boone High School closed Tuesday for a deep clean after student tests positive for COVID-19.

TUESDAY UPDATES: Southern Boone school board to review coronavirus plan Thursday

August 24, 2021 10:01 AM ABC 17 News Team

Check back for updates related to the coronavirus pandemic in Missouri.

Missouri attorney general sues Columbia Public Schools over mask mandate

August 24, 2021 12:59 PM Matthew Sanders

Schmitt, a Republican who is also running for U.S. Senate, said in a news release Tuesday that Columbia Public School’s mask requirement for all students and staff is unreasonable because few children are infected with coronavirus. Schmitt also claims that wearing masks shows only a marginal benefit in fighting the spread of coronavirus.

Argument leads to Monday night shooting; victim has life-threatening injuries

August 24, 2021 9:12 AM Matthew Sanders

Police were sent to the 400 block of North Providence Road at about 8:20 p.m., according to a Columbia Police Department news release. The shooting victim was taken by ambulance to a local emergency room, police said.

Woman dies in Cole County Jail

August 24, 2021 4:23 PM Matthew Sanders

Jail staff found Tiffany McCormack, 35, dead, according to a Cole County Sheriff’s Office news release. The release said there was no sign of injury on McCormack. She was being housed alone, the release says.

Fulton Public Schools community coming together after killing of teacher and student

August 24, 2021 2:09 PM Meghan Drakas

The Boone County Sheriff’s Office was called Sunday night to the 7500 block of Lavender Drive, where deputies found the bodies of 43-year-old Allison Abitz and her 11-year-old daughter Jozee Abitz.

Water main break shuts down one lane of Broadway in Columbia

August 24, 2021 7:51 AM Molly Stawinoga

Maintenance crews were pumping water out of a large hole in the ground near Bourne Avenue

Columbia Public Schools returns with COVID-19 precautions in place

August 24, 2021 4:37 AM Meghan Drakas

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia Public Schools is set to return for the 2021-22 school year on Tuesday with multiple COVID-19 precautions in place. CPS is welcoming back close to 19,000 students and nearly 3,000 employees at their 42 buildings on Tuesday. Masks According to the district’s website, masks are required indoors for students, staff and

Community reacts after the killings of a Fulton teacher and her 11-year-old daughter

August 23, 2021 11:29 PM Chanel Porter

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A community in Boone County and two school districts around Mid-Missouri are grieving the loss of a 43-year-old woman and her 11-year-old daughter after they were found dead Sunday night at a Boone County home. Deputies found Allison Abitz and Jozee Abitz dead in the 7500 block of Lavender Court just south

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Are you satisfied with your school’s coronavirus plan?

August 24, 2021 2:10 AM ABC 17 News Team

Some schools are requiring masks indoors at all times, while others are only requiring them in limited settings or not at all.

One person dies after carbon monoxide poisoning exposure on a boat at the Lake of the Ozarks

August 23, 2021 11:45 PM Karl Wehmhoener

LAKE OZARK, Mo. (KMIZ) One person has died and four others were injured after a carbon monoxide poisoning Saturday night on a boat that was at the Lake of the Ozarks near Big Niangua Tonka Springs Cove. The Missouri State Highway Patrol report states Steven Sutton, 66, of St. Charles died after a leak inside

Centralia mother battles COVID-19 during pregnancy

August 23, 2021 3:58 PM Zach Boetto

At 31 weeks pregnant, 24-year-old Madeline Sweezer of Centralia tested positive for COVID-19.

Teachers, parents and students prepare for the first day of school in Columbia

August 23, 2021 8:36 PM Lucas Geisler

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia Public School students and parents are getting ready to return to learn Tuesday. A couple of school parents in Columbia say they feel safe knowing everyone has to wear masks at school buildings right now however a new school brings new challenges. Mackenzie Blakeman’s daughter starts sixth grade at Warner Middle