News

Shannon Welker has landed his dream job. Welker, originally from St. Louis knew he wanted the University of Missouri gymnastic head coaching position the minute it opened up. He began his career at the St. Louis gymnastics center as head coach and program director. From there he became an assistant head coach with the University

ABC 17 News learned a Mid-Missouri tax scam we have been warning people about is continuing to grow, and now the IRS is involved. David Keithley is behind bars in Howard County charged for scamming thousands of dollars from people across Mid-Missouri. Since ABC 17 News told people about his crimes twice in April, more

Missouri lawmakers have passed a nearly $25 billion budget that could force Gov. Jay Nixon to choose between aiding children and low-income seniors. The 2014 budget passed Thursday assumes more than $55 million of savings by eliminating tax breaks for low-income seniors and disabled residents who live in rental housing. The budget would spend the

Columbia firefighters were called to a fire at an insulation supplier early Thursday morning. Smoke could be seen coming from the building Johnson Products and Cell Pak share on Paris Road around 6:30 a.m. A public information officer told ABC17 News the fire started in a machine inside the building. By the time fire was

Boone County deputies have arrested a 24-year-old man for allegedly supplying drugs to a 13-year-old and a 17-year-old. Matthew Martin Roberts of Ashland was arrested Wednesday. Investigators say he distributed Adderall, which is a controlled substance, to a 13-year-old girl and 17-year-old man. Deputies say the exchange happened in the Ashland City Park, which is

Every year, 200,000 people start the process to become a Jeopardy contestant. And with each level, that number dwindles down to 500. ABC 17’s Meredith Hoenes followed Mid-Missourians through the last round of the interview process and found that round could be the most fun and most challenging. Initially, 200,000 people sign up on the

A gas leak on Stadium Boulevard in Columbia has closed the intersection with West Ash Street until further notice. As of Thursday 4 p.m., traffic on Stadium Boulevard can proceed normally northbound/southbound and traffic can turn east on Ash Street, however drivers cannot turn west onto Ash Street. Traffic is reportedly heavy in the area.

A man wanted by law enforcement is in custody Wednesday evening after leading officers on a chase then crashing into another car. Boone County Sheriff’s deputies attempted to pull over a black SUV on Highway WW for a traffic violation. The driver, Rashard Bigham, led deputies on a short chase into the El Chaparral neighborhood.

Columbia police have arrested a man suspected of robbing a Break Time convenience store last month. On Wednesday, officers arrested 32-year-old Phillip J. Masters on charges of first-degree robbery and armed criminal action. Investigators believe Masters robbed the Break Time on Forum Boulevard around 1:30 a.m. on April 26. Police said robber pointed a handgun

A University of Missouri assistant professor was arrested early Wednesday morning for burglary and sexual misconduct. Columbia police arrested 29-year-old Tyler D. Hack around 4 a.m. in the 1100 block of West Broadway. Officers said Hack entered his neighbor’s home through an unlocked door. The neighbor was asleep then woke up to Hack fondling him.

University of Missouri Health Care’s Missouri Psychiatric Center opened its renovated youth unit Wednesday. The new $1.9 million unit will provide nearly 7,800 square-feet of upgraded facilities to patients five to 18-years-old. The Missouri Youth Psychiatric Services unit will have 17 beds for patients, along with two quiet rooms. This renovation is the final phase

ABC 17 News has learned the world’s largest retailer is indicating it will bring a Sam’s Club to Jefferson City. Officials said Walmart could open the warehouse club as early as 2015. City leaders believe the store would mean more than 100 new jobs and a boost to the local tax revenue. Kirk Farmer of

The Columbia Police Department will start to move to a precinct system over the next decade, according to chief Ken Burton. The change had been on Burton’s mind since he took over as chief and was recommended by an outside consultant Columbia hired last year. But the change will be slow and expensive. In an

A car crash injured two mid-Missourians in Osage County Wednesday morning. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported that a car ran off the road just south of Highway 50, near Loose Creek, striking a tree and a fence before becoming airborne and rolling over. Both the driver and passenger were ejected from the vehicle. Holly

Boone County Sheriff’s deputies arrested three people after serving search warrants related to a meth investigation. On Wednesday morning, deputies searched a home in the 2300 block of Grandview Circle and a home in the Woodstock Estates mobile home part off New Haven Road. Investigators had received information that people in the homes were manufacturing

The president of Helias Catholic High School will resign at the end of the school year. The Diocese of Jefferson City announced Wednesday Didier “Di” Aur will leave the school to take a new principal job in Memphis, Tenn. Aur is a native of Memphis and came to Jefferson City in 2006 to become the

Eleven children are out of the hospital after a school bus was involved in a crash near the Lake of the Ozarks. The accident happened around 7:30 a.m. Wednesday after a car was rear-ended in a turning lane on Business 54 and then hit the bus. The students were on the way to Mills Elementary.

Three men were arrested for allegedly robbing a Moberly teenager at gunpoint. Around midnight Sunday, an 18-year-old was walking near Emerson and Myra when three men approached him. One of the men pointed a weapon at the victim and grabbed money from the victim. The suspects also took the victim’s cell phone before fleeing. Police

Columbia is moving forward onitsplans for amultimilliondollar terminal despite an airline pullingitsservices next week. Officials with Columbia Regional say despite Frontier Airlines endingitsservice inmid-Missourisix months after it got here, the airport is still generating money with just one carrier. Not enough members attended Wednesday’s meeting to vote, but the voting members present agreed they would

Gov. Nixon addressed the funding cuts to drivers license bureaus on Wednesday. The governor said reducing of a third of its budget is unprecedented. He is currently planning to eliminate staff and positions within the department of motor vehicles by July 1. A panel of House and Senate members agreed on Tuesday to the changes