News

Flu season is just weeks away and before Mid-Missourians get sickened with the virus, ABC 17 News talked to doctors to find out what they expect for flu season 2014 and how to prepare. Right now, doctors aren’t sure what kind of flu season we’re in for because it’s just too early to tell. The

It’s an app that’s growing in popularity. And an app that has caused some problems in mid-Missouri. On Friday, multiple schools in south Columbia were on lockdown because of a threat posted on a social media app called “Yik Yak.” On the app, someone posted about a gun being brought to Rock Bridge High School.

At least one Columbia resident is concerned about the increasing dangers of her neighborhood street. The fear comes after the woman’s dog was hit and killed in front of her house. She said cars speed down her street everyday. Now, she said she’s worried one of those cars is going to hit a child. Veronica

Tuesday, the University of Missouri System announced changes to its policy on responding to sexual misconduct. So far this year, there have been six Title IX violations reported on the Mizzou campus. Three of them were this month. The biggest change is that UM System President Tim Wolfe created an equity resolution process. It is

After months of review changes are coming in the University of Missouri System to strengthen the school’s response to sexual misconduct and discrimination. A task force has been working on this since January. This year the issue of sexual assault came to the forefront when a former MU swimmer claimed she was raped by an

Columbia police were called to reports of gunfire early Tuesday morning. The shooting happened in the 1400 block of Grindstone Parkway at the Den Apartment Complex around 2 a.m. Officers arrived to find a car had been hit several times by bullets from a handgun. No one was inside the car at the time. Police

Deputies have made an arrest in connection with two car thefts from a neighborhood east of Columbia. The cars were stolen from Suncrest Court between September 16 and 18. They later identified Zachary Wainscott from Sturgeon as the suspect in both thefts. Wainscott, 17, was arrested Monday near the intersection of McKee Street and Orchard

Cole County officials are looking to expand their electronic monitoring bracelet program. The pre-trial service program allows for some low risk citizens to get out of jail before their trial date, while wearing a bracelet that tracks their where-abouts. In the long run, this will save taxpayers a lot of money when it comes to

A California man accused in the September 3 killing of his son-in-law appeared in court Tuesday. Bateman’s bond was set at $1 million, and he was appointed a public defender. 68-year-old Donald Bateman is charged with first degree murder and armed criminal action in the death of 43-year-old Antoine Johnson in the 500 block of

The Missouri Department of Transportation opened the J-turns on Highway 63 and Hinton Road in Boone County Monday. It’s been a dangerous intersection as there have been two deadly crashes there in the past ten years. MoDOT has been adding j-turns in the area to improve safety, saying they make it easier for drivers making

The Providence Inn and Suites motel in Columbia on Vandiver and Providence Road has a new potential buyer. Mattresses, trash, furniture and debris littered the Providence Inn and Suites’ parking lot just days ago. The city issued the property owner a nuisance citation and the owner cleaned up the mess Monday afternoon. But over the

Bids are in for the biggest road project MoDOT is handling in Mid-Missouri. A bid for the new Lafayette Interchange in Jefferson City could be approved within the next month. Emery Sapp and Sons of Columbia put in the lowest bid to complete the project. MoDOT received 4 competitive bids to do the job. Emery

Columbia police have taken four teens into custody following a strong armed robbery. Just after 12:45 a.m. Monday, police were called out to SoCo Club on Seventh Street, a popular hangout among the gay community. Investigators say a group of teens approached the victim and his friend asking to use their cell phone. The victim

After going through recently obtained Highway Patrol documents, ABC 17 News discovered a trooper did not follow proper protocol when putting a life vest on a man who was handcuffed. It has been four months since 20-year-old Brandon Ellingson drowned in Trooper Anthony Piercy’s custody. Ellingson was arrested on suspicion of drinking while boating. After

A Moberly man is in custody following a standoff Sunday night. 54-year-old Scott Halley barricaded himself in a home in the 100 block of South 5th Street. Police were at the scene for about an hour, and no injuries have been reported. Halley was charged with 2nd degree burglary, 3rd degree domestic assault, disturbing the

A Mid-Missouri senior center is struggling to stay afloat after it shut down about two weeks ago. The center in Higbee that used to deliver meals to about 80 homebound seniors had been running in the red for years. Leaders met behind closed doors Monday to talk about how to save the facility. One committee

What if you could choose your own punishment? Some parents have made their children wear signs and stand on street corners when they’ve done something wrong. One Mid-Missouri community is giving that option to those who have broken the law. “Initially, there were some people that were very upset about it and thought it was

Last week, piles of trash and dirty furniture littered the parking lot of a shuttered Columbia motel. The mess was lying outside Providence Inn and Suites off Vandiver Drive. Businesses in the area told ABC 17 the mess was becoming an eyesore. The city handed the current owner a violation, giving them 10 days to

Sam Santhuff, known as “Super Sam” to those familiar with the Fulton boy’s struggle, died Friday morning. Santhuff was 6 years old. Santhuff passed away at St. Louis Children’s Hospital after more than a year diagnosed with a rare form of blood cancer. Santhuff went through chemotherapy, as well as an experimental treatment involving stem

An accused Audrain County killer appeared in court Monday afternoon, and was bound over for arraignment. There was tight security in the courtroom in Mexico Monday afternoon for 34-year-old Ricky Harding, who is charged in the May death of Summer Hickman. Harding is charged with second degree murder, armed criminal action, domestic assault, and 4