News

More swimmers will soon start using Columbia lakes and pools as we head into the Memorial Day holiday weekend, but the high chances of rain could mean higher chances of E. Coli in the water. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources says that with heavier rain, lakes see an increase of E. Coli. E. Coli

The American Red Cross is urging people to donate blood and platelets going into the Summer months. The organization says this ensures blood is readily available for patients all summer long. It also says activities during and after Memorial Day can lead to a shortage of blood and platelet donations when regular donors become busy.

Columbia’s former Emergency Management Directorhas been namedAssociation of Public-Safety Communications Officials (or APCO) International Director of the Year. Current Springfield-Greene County911 Emergency Communications Director Zim Schwartze is set to be recognized during the opening general session at the 2016 APCO Annual Conference & Expo during Aug. 14-17 in Orlando, Florida. “As a city, we are

The double roundabout interchange at Rangeline and I-70 opened Monday. The so-called “dogbone” interchange, which opened to traffic at 6 a.m., consists of two tear-shaped roundabouts that join together to form a single roundabout. “This particular design will run more efficiently than a signalized intersection, as was here prior to (its construction). More vehicles will

IBM is needing over 20,000 people to fill open positions, but it is also laying off thousands in the process. According to IBM the layoffs are due to the company’s shift in strategy from software to cloud. The number of national layoffs are unspecified but IBM has reported they hope to fill 20,000 positions. As

A Cole County grand jury indicted Ashley James for second-degree assault after a December 13 incident. Court documents say James attacked her former friend on the side of Hwy 179 near Route C in Jefferson City. The victim told ABC 17 News she was knocked unconscious, which led to her being run over by a

At least five units were called to a motorcycle crash on I-70 around 3:45 p.m. Monday, backing up traffic east of Columbia. Delays were reported after it blocked some lanes on the eastbound side of the interstate. ABC 17 News went to the scene past the Lake of the Woods exit around mile marker 133

A two-vehicle crash at Highway 50 and Monroe Street briefly had one lane of traffic closed, but the roads are completely open now. The crash happened at around 9:30 Monday morning; ABC 17 News has confirmed air bags did deploy as a result of the crash. One of the drivers was taken by ambulance to

UPDATE 9:04am: Officials at Fort Leonard Wood report the situation involving a suspicious package is now all clear. In an updated news release, officials said it was actually East 8th Street that was closed. However, officials report that road is now reopened and said the situation is all clear. ORIGINAL STORY: A road in front

Three are being held at the Callaway County Jail with a $4500 bond each on suspicion of delivering a controlled substance to a state correctional facility. Dorothy Oliver, 54; Terry Lambert, 56; and Laniesha Dill, 21; were arrested Sunday morning after an investigation was conducted based on knowledge of pending drug activity at the Fulton

Five years after a massive tornado touched down in Joplin, the city continues to rebuild and recover. On May 22, 2011, an EF5 tornado touched down in the city and quickly worked its way through leaving miles of destruction in it’s path. “When we looked outside our neighborhood was completely flat,” said Liz Easton, a

Sunday, May 22, 2016 marks the five year anniversary of the EF-5 Joplin Tornado. It was a day that shook the nation after more than 150 lives perished in the storm, lives that changed the face of weather technology. ABC 17’s Stormtrack Meteorologist Aaron Morrison sat down with Steve Runnels of the National Weather Service

UPDATE:The two women arrested in the high speed chase were Melinda Vandeventer, 20; and Chasten Jordan, 33. Vandeventer was the driver and was arrested with tamperingmotor vehicle 1st degree, resisting arrest, possession of drug paraphernalia, operating a motor vehicle in a careless and imprudent manner, and displaying plates of another. Her total bond is $10,145.00.

Hundreds of Columbia residents headed to Douglass Park Saturday afternoon for the first ever “Rock the Community” event. Event organizers Rodney and Rita Renee are St. Louis natives who have been putting it on for about 10 years back in St. Louis. This year they decided to bring it to Columbia. Rita Renee said they’ve

Quail Drive in north Columbia is once again quiet, but it was a different scene around 8 on Thursday night as police arrested Vincent Dawson. Authorities said that after a traffic stop on Quail, Dawson fired a shot. Authorities said it’s unclear if Dawson meant to shoot at the officers or if it was just

A broken pipe Friday left a small river in parts of central Columbia. ABC 17 News learned the broken main is privately run by Boone Electric. They worked to fix the break, with help from the city’s water and light crews. It also left a lot of water in the parking lot of Family Pawn.

Documentation necessary for the State of Missouri to seek the death penalty against murder subject Pablo Serrano-Vitorino has been filed. Serrano-Vitorino is charged with murder, armed criminal action, and burglary in relation to the death of Randy Nordman in March 2016. According to investigators, Serrano-Vitorino killed Nordman while on the run from police. At the

Deputies, troopers and police have found a wanted man who escaped into some woods near the Osage Beach Wal-Mart near the Lake of the Ozarks on Friday. Officers got an anonymous tip around noon that Timothy Bunch, 32, was seen walking along Osage Beach Parkway. Bunch was later caught without any issues around 3:20 p.m.

The Boone County Sheriff’s Department has confirmed Ryan Wilkerson is in custody after allegedly leading multiple law enforcement agencies on a chase in a stolen vehicle through multiple counties. According to the Sheriff’s Department, Deputies saw Wilkerson driving a stolen pick up truck from Independence just after midnight near Rangeline and Blue Ridge. When deputies

In a special session Thursday morning, the Columbia Public Schools Board of Education heard a report on new ways to make sure all students have access to technology in the classroom. CPS Technology Services director Chris Diggs gave Thursday’s presentation on a possible two or three-year technology plan and how it could help update the