News

Despite the government shutdown, two planned Central Missouri Honor Flights will go on as scheduled. The first flight, scheduled for Oct. 15, will continue with 70 Mid-Missouri veterans traveling to Washington, D.C. A second flight, scheduled for Nov. 5, will take approximately 70 veterans to the nation’s capital. During the one-day trips, veterans are able

Tours at the former Missouri State Penitentiary in Jefferson City have been canceled through the end of the year. Officials with the penitentiary say due to the presence of mold in the buildings, tours will be discontinued through 2013. The Jefferson City Convention and Visitors Bureau says the musty smell was getting unusually bad and

A generic drug that millions of people use to help them breathe is increasing significantly in price. Patients used to get albuterol tablets from pharmacies for a couple of dollars for a monthly prescription. Now it is costing them more than $900, and that is with insurance. Albuterol is also the generic form, so there

Columbia police arrested a man they say is responsible for eight robberies and thefts in recent weeks. Tuesday night, officers arrested 29-year-old Jermell Lamar Burnett for numerous robberies and thefts that happened in central part of the city from July through September. Police say he is responsible for the following crimes (in chronological order): On

Following a month of steadily dropping gas prices, gas is now $2.99/gallon in Columbia and $3.07/gallon in Jefferson City. For the first time since January, gas had dropped below $3 in Columbia. Experts say supply and demand, refinery production, and local taxes all play a part in gas pricing. They say the main reason for

Ozarks Technical Community College in Springfield and several other schools went on lockdown Wednesday afternoon after officials received a threat. A message posted to the college’s website stated that due to a “potential threat,” the entire Springfield campus is on lockdown. The message advised everyone to seek refuge in a locked office or classroom. Emergency

Frank Haith talks about the first practice of the 2013-2014 basketball season, new players and goals looking ahead. Watch the full video above.

The 2014 budget for Columbia went into effect Tuesday. Public safety will see some some changes this year. The fire department has just over $800,000 more than in last year’s budget. “The biggest increase we saw in this year’s budget was five grant-funded firefighter positions that became part of the budget,” said Battalion Chief Brad

The Columbia Police Officer’s Association says the police department and city spent more than $500,000 of taxpayer money to wrongfully prosecute an officer accused of assault. The CPOA says its initial Internal Affairs report cleared Rob Sanders of any wrongdoing after a 2011 incident in a police department holding cell. Rob Sanders was charged with

A former Columbia police officer who faced up to a year behind bars for shoving an inmate into a holding cell wall was found not guilty Tuesday. Rob Sanders had been charged with third-degree assault for the 2011 holding cell incident involving Kenneth Baker. Then in 2012, Chief Ken Burton fired Sanders for using excessive

AT&T is planning to work on their cell service after numerous complaints from Mid-Missouri residents. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer, who represents Missouri’s 3rd congressional district, met with the president of AT&T Missouri on Tuesday. Several Maries County residents told ABC 17 News they are having problems connecting to the network despite the cellular phone company saying

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is discontinuing some health insurance plans because of new health care reform requirements starting next year. In letters sent to certain plan holders, the company is recommending new policies to replace the ones that are discontinued. Boonville business owner Vaughn Sell got his letter Saturday morning. It begins: “Anthem

An Audrain County man has been arrested for allegedly possession child pornography. The Sheriff’s Office says it served a search warrant in the 400 block of Cleveland Street in Vandalia early Tuesday morning. Officers seized computer equipment and arrested 23-year-old Manuel Gomez after finding child pornography on the computer. Audrain County law enforcement say the

The government shutdown brings concerns for travelers. National monuments and tourist spots are closed across the nation, including the Gateway Arch in St. Louis. Those traveling out of the country still needing passports are worried. Government officials warn that there could be delays in processing passport and visa applications. The government is still working to

RR Donnelley employees in Jefferson City walked off the job for the last time Tuesday. In August, the publisher announced it would shutter its operations in the capital city and nearly 500 employees would lose their jobs. While it is a hard day for employees and their families, city officials are focusing on getting those

Columbia police have made an arrest in a shooting that happened on Quail Drive late Monday. Around 11 p.m., callers reported hearing gunfire around the 2600 block of Quail Drive. Officers found shell casings and say no one was hurt and no property damaged. Police arrested Matthew Johnson in connection with the shooting. He was

A restaurant in downtown Columbia is staying open after inspectors discovered roaches last week. The Chinese Wok was cleared on Monday after fixing the issues. The business at the corner of Fifth Street and Broadway was cited for six critical and six non-critical violations, after a customer said he found a roach on his table.

The Missouri Supreme Court has ruled in favor of Gov. Jay Nixon in a budget battle with State Auditor Tom Schweich. The court ruled Tuesday that Schweich did not have legal standing to challenge about $170 million of spending cuts announced by Nixon in June 2011. The cuts to education and other services were based

Missouri’s new federally-run health insurance marketplace features at least two major players – Coventry and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield. A representative for Aetna, which now owns Coventry, told ABC 17 News Monday the company would offer plans in the state marketplace. That may be good news for people with doctors at Boone Hospital.

Leaders of Ward Two in Columbia and police met with ward residents Monday night to inform them of upcoming projects and crime in the area. Police said violent crime and property crime in Ward Two is down one percent from this time last year. Last week at the Mayor’s Task Force for Community Violence meeting,