ABC 17 News made a records request for the expenses related to the September trip to Memphis to visit the National Civil Rights Museum. The majority of the money spent on the trip went toward travel and lodging. According to the document, $3,612 went toward the hotel, Peabody Memphis. This covered a total of 25
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Three new firefighters will be joining the Columbia Fire Department to work at stations 10 and 11, which have not yet been built. This comes after Columbia residents said public safety is one of their top priorities. The Columbia City Council accepted a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which will pay for the
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The budget discussions for Cole County agencies launched Wednesday, as commissioners met with the heads of several departments they oversee. Presiding Commissioner Sam Bushman told ABC 17 News county leaders will work to evaluate spending priorities over the next 13 weeks. “We have to look at priorities and see what we really, really, really need
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The Missouri House Gaming Committee is holding a hearing Thursday as investigations continue into illegal slot machines. The Missouri State Highway Patrol testified and said it has seen an increase gambling complaints. “This year the division of drug and crime control has opened 92 criminal cases related to the illegal gambling devices, and we have
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A well-known local Democrat said Thursday that she will seek a state Senate seat, setting up a primary in the race for the 19th District. Judy Baker, a former state representative who lives in Columbia, in a news release announced her campaign for the seat currently held by Republican Caleb Rowden. The district covers Boone
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Missouri U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt and Rep. Vicky Hartzler are among Republicans who oppose President Donald Trump’s decision to pull U.S. troops out of Syria. The Missouri Republicans typically side with the president. But they’re asking him to rethink his decision on Syria considering America’s ties to the Syrian Kurdish fights who have helped the
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A Missouri appeals court has sided with a local judge’s ruling that the state Department of Corrections owes corrections officers for unpaid wages. The Western District Court of Appeals on Tuesday upheld a ruling out of Cole County against the Department of Corrections in a lawsuit first brought in 2012 by the Missouri Corrections Officers
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U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley said federal agencies, including the Senate, should continue overseeing agreements between U.S. schools and a Chinese education group. Hawley (R-Missouri) told ABC 17 News on Tuesday that he still has concerns about the University of Missouri’s partnership with the Confucius Institute, a subsidiary of China’s Ministry of Education. The University of
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The city of Columbia has hired a new finance director. The city announced the hiring of Mexico, Missouri-native Matthew Lue with a news release Tuesday. Lue will take over the job, which has been filled on an interim basis by Janet Frazier since September 2018, on Nov. 4. Lue received a bachelor’s degree in finance
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A U.S. company behind Hyperloop transportation technology is considering where to build a small stretch of track, and Missouri is a “strong contender” to be the project’s host. “We’ve seen a lot of great energy from the people of Missouri for this project. We’ve seen a lot of great energy from the government, from the
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Mayor Brian Treece wanted Columbia City Council members Ian Thomas and Michael Trapp to “evaluate” their ability to serve on the council, according to emails obtained by ABC 17 News. Treece sent a draft statement to at least three council members that they would release to the media after the Cole County Prosecutors Office charged
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UPDATE: The City Council unanimously voted to pass the conversion therapy ban around 9 p.m. Monday. ORIGINAL: A report on dog breed-specific legislation and a vote on a conversion therapy ban are among the items on the agenda for Monday’s Columbia City Council meeting. The Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and Human Services is
Continue Reading A federal judge has declined to block a Missouri law that bans companies from labeling plant-based meat products or meat substitutes as meat. U.S. District Judge Fernando Gaitan Jr. said last week that he wouldn’t issue a preliminary injunction to stop Missouri agriculture officials from enforcing the law , which says a product cannot be
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Hallsville city leaders and residents met at the Hallsville Community Center to discuss the potential sale of the city’s sewer system. The Hallsville Board of Aldermen announced Tuesday the public meeting would be held Thursday night. Among those in attendance was former Hallsville Mayor and current state Rep. Cheri Toalson Reisch. Reisch said the process
Continue Reading Civil rights group leaders, City Council members and Columbia residents are planning multiple events to help curb gun violence. Glenn Cobbins, a community activist, said he and others are set to host a block party near Rice Road and McKee Street. Police have investigated multiple shootings in the Northeast Columbia neighborhood in the past two
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A second candidate has announced her bid for the chance to challenge Rep. Vicky Hartzler in 2020 for the 4th Congressional District. Mid-Missouri native Lindsey Simmons announced her candidacy today. She is a graduate of Missouri Valley College and got her law degree from Harvard. In a press release, she described herself as an advocate
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Several state lawmakers heard from students and health experts about the extensive popularity of vaping products among Mid-Missouri minors and adults at a forum Tuesday. Reps. Kip Kendrick, Martha Stevens, Chuck Basye, Cheri Toalsen-Reisch and Sen. Caleb Rowden attended the Youth Community Coalition Legislative Forum at First Presbyterian Church. One Hallsville High School junior, Lydia
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Update as of 7 p.m.: Russell Bucklew was pronounced dead in a prison in Missouri just before 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. Missouri Gov. Mike Parson will not interfere with the scheduled execution of a man convicted of murder. Parson’s office said he has declined to grant clemency to Russell Bucklew, who is scheduled to be executed
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Three buildings could all be implicated by the demolition of a crumbling structure in downtown Jefferson City. Andy Neidert, the owner of the building at 200 E. High Street, started the application process for a demolition permit in early September. A section of the building, which once housed law offices and apartment buildings, suddenly collapsed
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Jefferson City spent more than $4 million on disaster response, according to estimates from the city. According to city estimates, the cost of the response to May’s tornado is approximately $1,544,880. Costs of spring’s floods is about $2,699,678. This includes the estimated costs for emergency responders and city workers. According to the estimates, there are
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