News

Gov. Mike Parson declared a state of emergency Thursday afternoon as conditions along the Missouri and Mississippi River systems worsen. Parson activated the Missouri State Emergency Operations Plan, which allows state agencies to coordinate directly with local jurisdictions. “The rising floodwaters are affecting more Missouri communities and farms, closing more roads and threatening levees, water

Police were searching for three men after a Thursday morning break-in in northeast Columbia. Police said the three men entered a home in the1500 block of Spiros Drive around 3 a.m. claiming to be sheriff’s deputies. The residents inside the home realized the men were not officers and called police. The three men then fled

The company that owns a duck boat that sank on a Missouri lake last year, killing 17 people, won’t operate the vessels this year and will instead open a replacement attraction in the tourist town of Branson. Ripley Entertainment spokeswoman Suzanne Smagala-Potts announced plans for the new attraction, called Branson Top Op, on Thursday. She

THIS AFTERNOON: We’re continuing to track lots of sunshine this afternoon as temperatures continue to rise through the upper 40s. Westerly breezes are a bit of a nuisance today as we have seen some gusts over 20 mph. Those should begin to relax through the evening hours… temperatures top out in the low 50s. TONIGHT

A woman is recovering after a pickup truck rolled over her Wednesay night in Morgan County. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Chelsey J. Farr, 26, of Stover, was run over around 9:10 p.m. in the parking lot of a building on Ivy Bend Road. Troopers said Farr got caught in the door of

Police have identified the woman found dead Wednesday in Moberly. The Moberly Police Department said Kimberly Belcher, 29, was found unresponsive in a residence in the 500 block of East Logan after dispatchers took a call at 12:48 p.m. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said foul play is not suspected, but did

The Moberly Police Department was investigating a woman’s death Wednesday afternoon in the 500 block of East Logan Street. Authorities were working to get a search warrant for the property and put up crime scene tape in the area. Police said the investigation was preliminary and that nothing has been ruled out. Police were sent

THURSDAY: Heading out the door, you’ll want that jacket with wind chills below freezing early in the day. As an upper-level ridge builds in place, a mix of sun and clouds will turn into mostly sunny skies by the afternoon as temperatures climb back into the middle 50s . TONIGHT : Temperatures will drop back

One person was taken into custody Wednesday afternoon after leading police on a chase near Ashland. The chase began after Allan Bobbitt, 32, was driving with a revoked license and did not pull over for police. Bobbitt eventually slid off of Edwards Road, into some trees and ran away from law enforcement. A K9 was

The University of Missouri said Wednesday that its police department has a rigorous process when it comes to hiring police officers. On Tuesday, An MU Police Department officer was fired Tuesday for a photo he posted on Facebook before he had been hired by the university. Marcus Collins had been dressed up as black rapper

A jury has acquitted a man accused in a 2002 Columbia rape. Jackie Jennings of Columbia was indicted by a grand jury in 2017 on charges of forcible rape and burglary after DNA tied him to the 2002 case. His trial began Tuesday at the Boone County Courthouse and ended Wednesday afternoon with the acquittal.

Citizens of Jefferson City will have several opportunities to voice any comment or complaint to the city’s police department at a series of listening sessions. The Empower Missouri Central Area committee is organizing the five sessions, which will be hosted in each of the city’s wards. The first session will be held Wednesday at 6:30

One person was taken into custody after trying to get away from Columbia police officers Wednesday night. Police told ABC 17 News the person crashed their vehicle into a fence at a home on Paris Court around 9:30 p.m. while trying to flee from officers. Officers said the person was taken into custody, but did

The Columbia and Boone County League of Women Voters held a forum for candidates running for school board and mayor Wednesday night. Columbia school board candidates James S. (“Jay”) Atkins, Ardella (“Della”) Streaty-Wilhoit and Blake Aaron Willoughby were all present at Daniel Boone Regional Library to answer questions at the forum. Brian C. Jones will

TONIGHT: Temperatures will remain mild this evening under partly cloudy skies until a second cold front in as many days moves through. There may be enough lift with this latest front that we could see some scattered sprinkles, but only enough to dampen vehicles overnight. Temperatures will fall from the mid 40s into the mid

A Columbia City Council member is continuing to lobby for a police camera in his ward in response to recent gun violence in the Bodie Drive area. Second Ward Councilman Mike Trapp brought up an idea to install a police camera near Bodie Drive during the general comments portion of Monday’s city council meeting. Trapp

A Maries County mother faces child endangerment and murder charges in the death of her 14-year-old, disabled daughter. Tracy Ellis was booked into the Maries County Jail on Tuesday, accused of causing the teen’s death through criminal negligence during a fire Sunday afternoon on County Road 438 in St. James. A probable cause statement said

Jackie Jennings, who was acquitted Wednesday afternoon of rape and burglary charges, spoke briefly with ABC 17 News as he left the courthouse. Jennings was charged in 2017 with the 2002 rape.

Police responded to a crime scene on Hanover Boulevard in northeast Columbia on Wednesday morning in response to a physical disturbance. When officers arrived, there had had been a fight between two people, and one person was sent to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Officers also found evidence of shots being fired when they got