News

A mistake by local law enforcement could mean sex offenders are living closer to schools and daycares than they should be.An eight year computer error at the Boone County Sheriff’s Department miscalculated the distance between sex offenders’ homes and places they are not allowed to go. Currently one sex offender was allowed to live near

Tuesday afternoon, the Cole County Sheriff’s Department announced a new program offering rewards for information about convicts possessing firearms. It is the second initiative local cops have put in place to crack down on recent violence. Back in November, Columbia police launched a so called “ceasefire initiative.” The goal of that program: to reduce the

***UPDATE WEDNESDAY 7:17 P.M.*** Police are getting involved in the investigation after the Fire Department has deemed it suspicious. Detectives have been interviewing a list of people, including those who were at home at the time and ran out before firefighters got there.According to Columbia Fire Department Battalion Chief Brad Fraizer, fire investigators determined that

***UPDATE FRIDAY 1/25/13 10:40 P.M.***Eldon Mayor Ronald Bly confirmed to ABC 17 News that the Eldon animal shelter is empty as they’re doing a complete rennovation. Mayor Bly says the investigative findings by the Missouri Department of Agriculture is expected at any time. ***UPDATE 4:30 P.M.***Eldon Mayor Ronald Bly confirmed to ABC 17 News that

Tough news for Missouri’s top scorer.Missouri Senior Forward Laurence Bowers suffered a sprained MCL in his right knee during Tuesday nights win over Alabama.Bowers underwent a MRI Wednesday. The results showed no damage to the ACL or bone to that knee. Bowers will miss the upcoming games this week against Ole Miss (12th) and Georgia

*** UPDATE 7:15 P.M. ***Wednesday marks the start of Missouri’s 97th General Assembly. Top State Senate and House leaders spent much of the first day of the session outlining similar priorities.Both want to focus on improving roads, getting people working again, and trying to find wastes in government, but both chambers say one of their

A storm system bringing widespread rain to much of Texas Wednesday will lift toward Mid-Missouri Wednesday night and Thursday. WEDNESDAY NIGHTClouds will increase late Wednesday evening with showers moving into southern parts of the area, near I-44 and the Lake of the Ozarks by 3 to 4 a.m.THURSDAY MORNINGShowers will push north of I-70 between

A Columbia woman will spend the next 15 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to tax evasion.Christine D. Todd, 37, pleaded guilty and admitted in court that she engaged in a tax evasion scheme to defraud her employer and customers. Prosecutors say she stole more than $257,000 from Major Brands, Inc. and its customers

Some Missouri farmers affected by the historic drought are now eligible for loans and assistance from the federal government.On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture declared 63 counties in the state as a primary natural disaster area. That designation says 31 counties suffered either extreme or exceptional drought, or have suffered a severe drought for

There’s no word yet from Boone County and Columbia officials about impending changes to gun policies or if either entity will introduce new programs to get illegal guns off the street. ABC 17 was in touch with city and county leaders earlier this week after a program was launched in Cole County to take guns

The flu outbreak is continuing to grow across the United States. Nationally 18 children have been killed by the disease so far this flu season. Although Missouri is not among the states getting hit hardest by the disease, in Mid Missouri Pharmacists said they have seen a spike in the disease this past month.”I mean,

The National Rifle Association and Gun Rights Groups will meet at the White House on Thursday to figure out a prevention plan for tragedy. However in Jefferson City, lawmakers kicked off the new session Wednesday saying it’s not a priority in Missouri.While lawmakers laid out priorities and agendas the only people really talking about guns

We’ll have some big weather changes the next few days, going from springlike weather to wintry weather in 24 hours. A southern storm system will bring rain and warm air to the region Thursday with .25″ to .50″ of rain possible and temperatures climbing into the 50s by late afternoon. Friday will be dry with

ABC 17 News has an update to a story our crews reported back in 2011. Prosecutors have now charged a Columbia man for his role in a contracting scam.Joshua Whitlock allegedly swindled thousands of dollars from people after promising to complete remodeling work and he has a history of scamming people. Whitlock was on probation

***UPDATE 6:12 P.M.***Police arrested Jerry Goldman, 30, in central Columbia around 1 a.m. Thursday, and ABC 17 News sources confirm he is related to the victim in the shooting on Bonny Linn Drive. Follow the link at the bottom of this page to read about Goldman’s arrest. ***UPDATE 9:50 A.M.***Police say three rounds were fired.

***UPDATE 6:52 P.M.***The search for a new Columbia College president is underway as Dr. Gerald Brouder calls is quits after nearly two decades. Brouder says he’s retiring effective August 1st. He worked for 17 years at the University of Missouri as provost and interim chancellor before becoming the 16th president of Columbia College in 1995.A

A Dense Fog Advisory has been issued for northwestern sections of Mid-Missouri through early Friday morning. Visibilities will drop to under a quarter of a mile through the overnight. If you are driving overnight or early Friday, be prepared for areas of dense fog.

***UPDATE THURSDAY 10:49 P.M.***At least one gunman is on the loose while Columbia police piece together two violent crimes. The first crime happened on Bonny Linn Drive when a man was shot in the leg.The second happened an hour later when the shooting victim’s brother, Jerry Goldman, held a gun to another man’s head on

The Missouri Community Action Center has had people lining up to get energy assistance applications all day long. Representatives of the non-profit say they have spent close to $700,000 and now they are asking the community for help. Melody Rodriguez, the Energy Coordinator from the CMCA said, “I have 300 on a wait list right

The influenza virus has been raising concerns across the country this season, but there is another virus spiking this season among children. RSV, or Respiratory Syncytial Virus is going around in mid-Missouri, and it has already sent at least one child to intensive care. Doctors say almost every child contracts the virus by their third