News

The Cole County Sheriff’s Department said it is facing a turnover rate like it has never seen. Right now, the department is short four positions with another one opening up next month, according to Capt. John Wheeler. The department lost 17 employees in 2015. And so far this year, it has already lost 7 more.

The Jefferson City Planning and Zoning Commission will soon move plans forward to rezone parts of downtown. If passed, the proposed changes would affect areas of East Capitol Avenue and East High Street. These would put into place new residential and commercial usage standards as well as building code standards. “What we envision this would

The Red Cross needs help filling a critical blood shortage. The agency says there is “significant need” for type O. It is extremely useful in emergency situations, because anyone can get it, no matter who the patient is, but it is only found in about seven-percent of the population. Officials say they have to collect

Mid-Missouri troopers are reporting a spike in the number of people trying to drive around school buses while their stop signs are down. On Wednesday the agency confirmed reports have jumped recently in the Mexico, Mo., area. The district has recorded at least 90 complaints of bus sign violations just since August 21. A copy

Columbia, MO- Senator Claire McCaskill stopped by a Boone County Elementary School today. While she was there she discussed the recent attacks on Belgium. “I just hope we stay calm and realize that if we are united with our allies and we work together the many, thousands of patriotic, American Muslims, we’re going to be

ABC 17 News confirmed Ashley Stone,32, is in custody and has been formally charged after getting shot at and taking deputies on a chase that ended in a car crash in Callaway County. The charges out of Callaway County include resisting arrest and assault. The Callaway County sheriff’s department confirmed Stone was wanted on a

Callaway County deputies have arrested a man for failing to register as a sex offender, as well as a woman who allegedly lied to investigators about where the man was. In late February, the sheriff’s office started investigating Timothy Durbin of Holts Summit for failing to register as a sex offender. Durbin, 35, was supposed

University of Missouri System Interim President MichaelMiddletonannounced the hiring of Dr. Kevin McDonald as the UM System’s first ever Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer (CDO) Wednesday. The appointment of this position, effectiveJune 1, meets one of the eight initiativesannouncedby the UM Board of Curators in November. “Dr. McDonald’s extensive background and expertise in diversity

Daryl Dudley is suspending his campaign for Columbia City Council. This comes as the fourth ward candidate has been met with controversy following a formal complaint filed by opponent Ian Thomas. In a news release, Dudley cites “recent distractions” that “are overshadowing very real issues facing the City of Columbia and making it impossible for

ABC 17 News is seeing reports that a suspect in the Brussels terror attacks has been arrested. Reuters News is reporting the information, citing a Belgian newspaper. Reuters said early Tuesday that the arrest comes asBelgian police were hunting a suspect named as Najim Laachraoui. The news outlet saidLaachraoui wasalready sought as his DNA had

Columbia’s former Emergency Management Director was back in the city Tuesday night to be honored. Zim Schwartze received an award from Missouri 911 Operators recognizing her work as a 911 official. ” Tonight was incredible,” said Schwartze . “I had no idea this was going to go on.” This comes nearly two years after Schwartze

Airports and transit systems around the nation are heightening security after the terrorists attacks that happened in Belgium. New York City and Los Angeles announced this morning that both cities are increasing the visible presence of officers today. Columbia’s Regional Airport spoke with ABC 17 and said they adjust accordingly to situations. The airport couldn’t

A line of showers and t-storms will develop ahead of a cold front and sweep across Mid-Missouri Wednesday evening from 6 PM near HWY 65, heading east and out of the area by 1 AM. Some of the the storms could contain damaging wind of 60 mph or greater or large hail, close to the

The Columbia Neighborhood Watch and Columbia Police Department trained a group of residents how to prevent crime in their neighborhoods Tuesday. In 2015, there were more than 1,000 burglaries in Boone County. In those burglaries, nearly $1.8 million worth of property was stolen. Columbia police said having more residents actively involved in neighborhood watches across

A Cole County judge agreed to move the plea hearing for Vincent Smith. Smith is charged with murder, attempted robbery, burglary and armed criminal action for the shooting of Johnny Evans in 2015. He testified in the state’s case against Charles Thompson, the alleged triggerman, but the jury found Thompson innocent of the murder. Smith’s

All 16 University of Missouri Journalism students studying abroad in the Belgian capital of Brussels are safe Tuesday morning after terror attacks. ABC 17 News talked to Samantha Kummerer, a Missouri Journalism student interning at Reuters TV in Brussels. Kummerer tells us all 16 students in Brussels are accounted for and safe. There were at

The terror attack in Belgium on Tuesday is renewing questions and concerns about security in the U.S., especially at national and state sites, parks, and monuments. Security at Missouri buildings like the Capitol and the Truman building has raised questions in the past. Metal detectors were installed at the Capitol following the 9/11 terror attacks,

The investigation into the Brussels bombing is just beginning. Authorities have now released pictures of the suspected terrorists. ISIS is claiming responsibility for the deadly attacks. Last week, U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt called for the Obama administration to offer a definitive plan to defeat ISIS. Blunt said it’s a “national security imperative” and a “moral

A motorcyclist was injured in a crash in central Columbia Tuesday morning. It happened on Providence Road near Nebraska Avenue shortly before 10:30 a.m. The driver of the motorcycle was taken to a hospital, but the extent of his or her injuries is unknown.

The Warren County Sheriff’s Department has identified the torso found at a rest stop along I-70 in 2004. The torso, which was headless, handless, and legless, was found by a maintenance worker trimming hedges at the rest stop near Wright City. Deputies say the torso belonged to Deanna D. Howland from Alton, Illinois. She had