News Archives

Airport traffic increasing for the holiday season

November 28, 2019 5:15 AM Brittany Wiley

Airport traffic will increase for the holiday season.

Police, bars prepare for Thanksgiving festivities & keeping roads safe

November 27, 2019 6:45 PM Jasmine Ramirez

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) The Jefferson City Police Department will have more patrols out Wednesday with more people out celebrating the holidays. Local bars are making preparations to ensure guests stay safe. “Traditionally, this is probably the busiest night in downtown Jeff City,” said J Pfenny’s Sports Grill & Pub Manager Mitch Rademan. He said

Deer will be active during Thanksgiving travel

November 27, 2019 3:32 PM Sydney Olsen

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) According to AAA, more than 49 million travelers in the United States hit the road on Thanksgiving in 2018. On top of delays and distracted driving, holiday travelers should also be on the lookout for deer. “This is the time of year where deer are very active. They’re trying to find each

Report: Unsecured child seats contributed to five fatality crash on Missouri highway

November 27, 2019 5:51 PM Barry Mangold

Emergency responders with decades of experience said it was one of the most severe crashes they had ever seen. “I’ve been in law enforcement for 24 years and this is the first time I’ve gone to a one-vehicle, five-person fatality,” said Missouri State Highway Patrol Sgt. Scott White. White was one of many who responded

Boone County detention officer arrested accused of having child pornography

November 27, 2019 9:16 PM Matt Ragsdale

FULTON, Mo. (KMIZ) Multiple law enforcement agencies assisted in the arrest of a former Boone County detention officer suspected of having child pornography. Kevin Downey, 33, of Fulton was arrested and taken to the Callaway County Jail around 9:30 a.m. Wednesday. Mid-Missouri law enforcement officers responded to a residence at the 900 block of State

Cole County to select new EMA director, current head retiring

November 27, 2019 7:22 PM Matt Ragsdale

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Cole County could select a new Emergency Management Agency director by Tuesday. Cole County Presiding Commissioner Sam Bushman said county leaders have narrowed down the more than 40 applicants to two finalists. A final round of interviews is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon. County commissioners, Jefferson City police officers and firefighters along

Columbia donut shop plans to open 2 stores after lightning struck its original shop

November 27, 2019 11:50 AM Zara Barker

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia donut shop is expected to reopen after lightning struck its electrical box. However, the owners are also going to open another location in Columbia. From one, to zero, and now two locations, it’s been anything but a sweet ride for Donut D-Light owners Cindy and Kevin Hicks. In August, the

Missouri State Highway Patrol increasing presence on roadways

November 27, 2019 7:25 PM Zach Boetto

According to multiple transportation companies, Wednesday night is the worst time for drivers to hit the road. “So with the large volume of traffic that we see during these peak travel periods, we understand that people have a tendency to get in a hurry and otherwise good drivers tend to kind of let those driving

High winds cause damage in mid-Missouri

November 27, 2019 9:14 AM Madison Fleck

The Centralia Police Department reported snapped power lines and damage to certain areas on Wednesday morning after high winds moved through the area. According to the National Weather Service, Centralia saw some wind gusts of 45 mph. Very high winds have been observed overnight last night into early this morning. Highest gusts have been over

Camden County man accused of sexual contact with a child

November 27, 2019 4:45 PM Matt Ragsdale

CAMDENTON, Mo. (KMIZ) Camden County prosecutors have charged a Macks Creek man with seven felonies relating to alleged sexual contact with a child younger than 14 years old. Andrew Helm, 44, is charged with multiple counts of first-degree child molestation and first-degree statutory sodomy. He was arrested Tuesday, according to court documents. Court documents say

Federal agencies assembled to investigate Cole County jail shooting

November 27, 2019 1:38 PM Joe McLean

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) – The Cole County Sheriff’s Department is leading a multi-agency investigation into the shooting of 34-year-old Cole County Jail inmate Brandon McNeese. A Missouri State Highway Patrol spokesperson told ABC 17 News Wednesday that one trooper from the Division of Drug and Crime Control was assisting with the investigation. John Ham,

Medical marijuana patient numbers exceed expectations

November 27, 2019 1:48 PM Madison Fleck

More than 21,000 patients have been approved for medical marijuana use since June 28, which is 2,000 more than initial projections for the first year. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services estimated that 19,000 patients would be approved in the first year and that 22, 543 patients would be approved by the end

No injuries after car crashes into Jefferson City house

November 27, 2019 1:29 PM Joe McLean

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) – An 80-year-old woman did not suffer injuries when her car left the road Wednesday and slammed into a house in the 900 block of Westwood Dr. in Jefferson City. Crews from Cole County EMS, the Jefferson City Fire Department and the Jefferson City Police Department responded to the scene shortly

Endorsements: Why do they matter?

November 27, 2019 10:32 AM ABC 17 News Team

A look at which Democratic presidential candidates are winning endorsements and why they matter. Video by Stringr.

WEATHER ALERT DAY: Near hurricane force wind gusts slam mid-Missouri Wednesday morning

November 27, 2019 6:23 AM Luke Victor

The ABC 17 StormTrack Weather Team continues a Weather Alert Day until NOON Wednesday. This is as very strong winds continue to pound the region. Max Wind Gusts Wednesday Morning (Hurricane force winds begin at 74 mph) Moberly reported the highest wind gust at 65mph, just 9 mph shy of hurricane force winds. Winds are

Crews battle house fire in Sedalia

November 27, 2019 6:55 AM Zara Barker

SEDALIA, Mo. – Crews battled a house fire on North Grand in Sedalia overnight. Sedalia Firefighters Local 103 posted on Facebook asking people to avoid the area. An ABC 17 News viewer sent in cell phone video he captured of the scene. The viewer told ABC 17 News one adult and three children were inside

Hundreds without power as wind threatens mid-Missouri

November 26, 2019 9:37 PM Matt Ragsdale

LINN, Mo. (KMIZ) UPDATE as of 6 a.m.: Hundreds across mid-Missouri are still without power. Close to 200 Ameren Missouri customers in Jefferson City do have their power back on, but the utility company is still reporting 671 customers are waking up in the dark. Nearly 200 Boone Electric Cooperative customers power is also back

Former NCAA sanctions committee member ‘disappointed’ by MU sanctions

November 26, 2019 11:08 PM Barry Mangold

Members of the University of Missouri’s leadership and a former member of the NCAA Committee on Sanctions say that Tuesday’s decision to uphold a punishment against Mizzou was “inconsistent” with similar cases. “Missouri here got penalized because they got a panel that was tougher than a number of the other panels,” said Rodney Uphoff, an

New adult abuse reporting system expected to lower number of hotline calls

November 26, 2019 7:20 PM Jasmine Ramirez

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) The Department of Health and Senior Services is rolling out a new adult abuse and neglect online reporting system. Missourians can submit reports of adult abuse, neglect and exploitation online 24/7 as an alternative to calling the hotline. “There’s an aging population and a lot more awareness about the issue of

Doctors see patients with sinus infections, stomach bugs

November 26, 2019 10:54 PM Katie Greathouse

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Doctors at Broadway Urgent Care in Columbia are treating a variety of seasonal illnesses. Patients have been diagnosed with conditions including sinus infections, stomach bugs, pneumonia and strep throat.