News

State Sen. Kurt Schaefer is now asking MU Chancellor Bowen Loftin for documents concerning a study that purports to, “gain a better understanding of the abortion decision-making process,” as well as the effects of Missouri’s 72-hour waiting period on the decision to have an abortion. Schaefer’s letter to Loftin says the MU’s connection to this

A New Bloomfield man pleaded guilty Tuesday to molesting two children between 2010 and last year. Robert Pope was sentenced to 18 years in prison on four different counts. Officials said the victims were 5 and 8 years old when the abuse started. Pope will have to wait 15 years before he’s eligible for parole.

Workers hauled away mobile classrooms from an east Columbia elementary school Wednesday. The trailers are located at Shepard Blvd. Elementary School. Ten of them sold for about $1,000. Two others will go to Smithton Middle School, to replace two that need repairs. Shepard’s two-story addition cost more than $5 million. An open house is scheduled

The Columbia Public Schools Finance Committee met to discuss ways to address future budget issues Wednesday. In April 2016, the school district may be asking voters to decide on a regularly scheduled bond issue and tax levy. The board of education will decide if it wants to ask voters for a $35 million no tax-increase

An estimated 1.2 million homeless students are trying to get an education in our nation’s schools, and those are only the ones we know of. Over the past number of years, the problem has been growing in the U.S., and here in Mid-Missouri. There are some resources in place. The question is: Do we have

Strong, low level winds will carry moisture and a wave of low pressure into southern Missouri Thursday morning. Showers and t-storms are expected to move into south-central Missouri by daybreak and track to the northeast through early afternoon. These will affect the Lake of the Ozarks area by mid-morning to near I-70 by noon. Areas

Columbia Parks and Recreation is already planning how it will spend $18.4 million dollars generated from a voter approved sales tax over the next six years. Tuesday, nearly 71 percent of voters were in favor of passing the renewal park sales tax. According to Michael Griggs, Parks and Recreation Director, 46 percent of the funds

Lawmakers held a special meeting in Osage Beach Wednesday morning addressing several safety issues. State Representatives Diane Franklin (R) Camdenton, Rocky Miller, (R) Tuscumbia and David Wood (R) Versailles heard from citizens about concerns of structural fire, dock and wake safety. Osage Beach City Hall was packed with hundreds of Lake area citizens eager to

The English Department at the University of Missouri submitted a letter to the MU Board of Curators, expressing their lack of confidence in the Chancellor. The letter, addressed to the board and President Tim Wolfe, said the department took a vote on November 3, resulting in 26 votes of no confidence, 0 votes of confidence,

Programming Note: Biz Kid$ will air at 8:00 a.m. Thursday on KZOU, KMIZ-DT 3.

A Jefferson City man was sentenced in federal court Wednesday for distributing heroin. 32-year-old Xavier Johnson was sentenced to 12 years and 7 months in prison without parole. Johnson pleaded guilty to distributing heroin and possession with intent to distribute. In July 2013, Johnson distributed $100 worth of heroin to someone who distributed it to

Pulaski County deputies completed sex offender compliance checks last Monday after months of preparation. The checks coincided with the week of Halloween due to the higher risk of children coming into contact with sex offenders while trick-or-treating. Authorities checked addresses to verify that each offender was actually registered, and made sure each person wasn’t living

Two different agencies responded after a grease fire got out of control in Holts Summit Wednesday afternoon. Firefighters from Holts Summit and New Bloomfield battled the blaze. When they got to the scene off Morfin Road near Highway 54, smoke and flames were pouring out of the home. ABC 17 News has confirmed most of

Delays are possible on a highly traveled route in Cole County. Crews are closing lanes in both directions overnight so they can remove concrete barriers. The work is getting started Wednesday night and will last until 6:00 a.m. They’ll be back at it Thursday night. The work is part of the Lafayette Street Interchange project.

Two people were sentenced in federal court Wednesday for helping distribute synthetic marijuana. 50-year-old Jimmy Moore and 45-year-old Tina Moore each pleaded guilty to committing mail fraud by labeling their synthetic marijuana products as incense and “not for human consumption,” when they were actually manufactured to be used as a drug. The Moores operated a

City of Columbia Proposition 1 (Parks Sales Tax): Percent reporting: 100%Yes: 6048No: 2506 Harrisburg R-8 Schools 67 cent tax levy: Percent Reporting: 100%Yes: 260No: 299 Cooper County Proposition 1 (911 Tax) Percent Reporting: 100%Yes: 497No: 788 City of Otterville- $600k Bond Issue for Street Improvements: Percent Reporting:Yes: 34No: 35

Boone County residents passed Proposition 1 for the city of Columbia Tuesday night. The tax revenue will go to the city’s parks, and will last for another six years, and bringing in $18 million. Get the complete election results here. The 1/8 cent sales tax for parks passed 6048 votes to 2506. That sales tax

Missourians will weigh in on ballot issues in different counties at the polls on Tuesday. One major issue involves Proposition 1 in Columbia. If it passes, it would extend a one-eighth of one percent sales tax that is set to expire in March. The tax revenue goes toward parks and recreation, and supporters of the

Emergency responders are weighing in on access proposals at the site of the new East Elementary School in Columbia. ABC 17 News has reported the last several weeks that residents in nearby neighborhoods have expressed safety and traffic concerns following a CPS proposal. This comes as CPS is working on a second possible proposal. The

• The waning Moon shines with Jupiter before and during dawn on Friday morning the 6th, as shown in the picture, Venus and Mars are below them. • In Saturday’s dawn, the waning crescent Moon steps down pairing with Venus. Faint Mars will be close by making a triangle. There will be clouds exiting on