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Robert “BJ” Branson, 38, of Dixon, entered a guilty plea on Wednesday to first-degree child molestation and two counts of second-degree statutory rape, according to the official release. In March of 2011, the 11-year-old victim reported years of abuse by Branson. The release says Branson was charged, but the case was dropped in 2012 when

UPDATE: Charges filed Wednesday against Tammy Yvette Nevels, 45, claim she admitted using a lighter to set a bed on fire in northeast Columbia. A 76 year-old man and 16 year-old were inside the home Monday when the flames broke out, but no one was hurt. In new court documents, police say Nevels was fighting

A Boonville man was arrested for felony leaving the scene of an accident in connection to a crash on Saturday in Cooper County on westbound I-70 at the 114.2 mile marker. Mark Burlison, 33, was arrested on Sunday at 1:10 p.m. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, a pickup truck with a trailer ht

***HEAT ADVISORY THROUGH 8 PM FRIDAY FOR BENTON, CHARITON, COOPER, HOWARD, MORGAN, PETTIS, RANDOLPH, AND SALINE COUNTIES.**** WEDNESDAY: A weak cold front is slowly tracking through Mid-Missouri. Through the afternoon hours this will bring slightly drier air and easterly winds. Even with the frontal passage, it will be hot and humid with high temperatures in

Mizzou leaders are scheduled to announce record-breaking numbers on Mizzou’s year-end goals for fundraising. The announcement is scheduled to happen on Wednesday. “Our Time to Lead Campaign” is aimed at prioritizing student success, the university endowment and signature centers. When it comes to endowment, the campaign says it’s important to have funds to keep the

WEDNESDAY: A weak cold front will drop south,bringing humidity down only slightly. It will be hot with high temperatures in the low to mid 90s under mostly sunny skies and east winds up to 8 mph. Heat indices will reach 98-104. Areas east of I-70 will feel a tad cooler through the day due to

Like a cave’s mix of rock, mud and water, rescue leaders in mid-Missouri rely on a mix of skills to get people stuck in a cave out. Doug Westhoff, assistant chief of the Boone County Fire Protection District, said cave operations require skills and gear for water and climbing, as well as tools to navigate

Department of Health and Senior Services officials said they will be asking the state for additional resources to help address the significant number of requests for original birth certificates from adoptees across the state. In 2016, former Gov. Jay Nixon signed a bill that would allow adoptees born before 1941 to request a copy of

The Boone County jail will start giving Narcan to inmates who are being released from the facility. Narcan is the life-saving drug that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. The Boone County commission approved the proposal at their meeting Tuesday morning. The funding for the program is coming from a federal grant. Inmates

Rep. Jay Barnes (R-Jefferson City), the former chairman of the House committee that investigated accusations against former Gov. Eric Greitens, filed a complaint with the Missouri Ethics Commission against Greitens and other groups for alleged campaign finance crimes. “The disgraced former governor and his henchmen cannot be allowed to escape accountability for their alleged illegal

A Columbia road closure will last longer than anticipated, according to the City of Columbia Public Works Department. The department announced in a press release Tuesday that the Aldeah Avenue closure at Broadway intersection has been extended to July 20. It was initially only supposed to last until Wednesday, The city said Aldeah will remain

At least 70 people are dead in Canada, following another heat wave that has gripped the country. The sweltering heat wave has not only affected Canada, but a good portion of the northern hemisphere as summer is in full swing. Just this year, Mid-Missouri has already seen 30 days of 90-plus degree days, with multiple

TONIGHT: Tonight will remain warm with lows dropping into the mid 70s. It will feel muggy under mostly clear skies and winds out of the east up to 6 mph. WEDNESDAY: A weak cold front will drop south,bringing humidity down only slightly. It will be hot with high temperatures in the low to mid 90s

Sanchez Monroe Walker, 31, of Fulton, pleaded guilty to transporting an individual across state lines to engage in prostitution. In early 2015, Walker met a female victim, “FV,” at a party in Columbia, Mo. FV joined Walker and a prostitute, referred to as “CR,” in their business. On April 9, 2015, the group went to

Tyronne and DJ have been participating in the so-called “Fireworks War” every Fourth of July for years. For them, it’s fun. “Dangerous but fun,” Tyronne said. “Ain’t [sic] nobody died yet.” The war has happened on Fourth of July for about two decades. There’s even a documentary about it and it’s getting more viral every

A cross country runner from the School of the Osage was taken to the University of Missouri Medical Center in serious condition Tuesday morning after he was hit by a SUV. The 14-year-old boy was hit in the 300 block of Four Seasons Drive in Lake Ozark. According to the Camden County Sheriff’s Office, the

TUESDAY: Reminder that a heat advisory begins at 1 PM for Cooper, Howard, Chariton, Saline and Pettis counties, where heat indices will reach 100 to 105 in the afternoon. Other areas not under a heat advisory will still be hot and caution will need to be exercised. All of mid-Missouri will be hot and humid

20-year-old Rovon Blocker was found dead on Hulen Drive, Saturday night, and police are not releasing many details. He graduated as a star lineman from Battle High two years ago. ABC 17 has been asking police for a possible motive that led up to death of Blocker. We do know a juvenile has been detained

A captain with the Boone County Sheriff’s Department is expected to discuss a proposal to the Boone County commissioners Tuesday morning related to inmates released with a higher chance of overdosing. The proposal would create a program for inmates who are about to be released and are at risk of a drug overdose. The inmates

Cooper County residents dealt with a widespread power outage Monday night. Cooper County Emergency Management sent out an alert around 10:30 p.m. saying Blackwater, Bunceton, Pilot Grove and Speed were without power. The alert said power was supposed to be restored by 3:00 to 3:30 a.m. Tuesday. ABC 17 News checked the Ameren Missouri outage