News

One Mid-Missouri police officer is on the ground in Moore following Monday’s deadly tornado. ABC 17’s Evan Millward is in the devastated city and found widespread destruction after the EF-5 tornado touched down, but also numerous agencies aiding in the recovery effort. Joining the recovery efforts are hundreds of first responders and search and rescue

Tornadoes across the Midwest have many in Mid-Missouri asking how prepared their cities and buildings are for severe weather. Officials at the Columbia/Boone County Office of Emergency Management said they have received numerous calls in the last few days about severe weather preparedness. Emergency officials said the most important thing for residents to have is

Cole County officials have dismissed a murder charge against a man accused of a 2011 deadly shooting. Prosecutor Mark Richardson confirmed to ABC 17 News he is dismissing the murder charge against Jose Hurtado. Richardson said there is a “witness issue” in the case and that he will determine later if the charge will be

Mid-Missourians donating money to help those affected by tragedies like the Oklahoma tornadoescan fall victim to scammers. Experts say one of the most common ways to donate is through digital and online sources, and donors need to be careful where they send their money. “Any time there is a natural disaster, the scammers seem to

A New Franklin family is without a home after Monday’s storms severely damaged their house. A tree toppled onto a house on Highway 5 in New Franklin. Damage was so bad the home is unlivable. The local fire department helped the family clear the damage.

Missouri Department of Transportation crews repaired a sign truss over the I-70 and Highway 63 connector Monday. MoDOT said the structure was damaged during Monday night’s storms and strong winds. Crews had to close the right turn lanes on the connector during the repair.

After a tornado in Moore, Okla. destroyed two elementary schools, Columbia Public Schools released details about its severe-weather plans. “We do live in a tornado area of the country, so that’s certainly something we are always concerned with,” said Michelle Baumstark with Columbia Public Schools. The school district said schools conduct emergency drills once a

Boy’s Baseball Class 5 Rock Bridge 11 – Lebanon 1 F/5 Class 4 Boonville 7 – Duchesne 3 Class 3 Hallsville 9 – Palmyra 0 Class 2 Russellville 5 – Harrisburg 2 Class 1 Sturgeon 10 – La Plata 0 F/5 Girl’s Soccer Class 3 Jefferson City 1 – Blue Springs South 0 Class 2

A Pulaski County teenager is dead following a single-car crash Tuesday morning. The Missouri State Highway Patrol says Alexandria Harris, 19, of Laquey was traveling on Highway 28 near Dixon when the car traveled off the left side of the road and crashed into a ditch. According to a crash report, the car caught on

The Cole County Health Department has identified the illness that sickened nearly 100 students last week. The health department said norovirus is to blame for sickening students at the Cole County R-1 Elementary and Middle School. Officials determined the sickness based on the students’ symptoms, duration of sickness and test results from the Missouri State

The Columbia Police Department released results of its enhanced drunk driving enforcement campaign. The campaign, which ran from May 17-19, coincided with University of Missouri commencement weekend. Columbia officers worked overtime to focus on removing intoxicated drivers from the roads. Police set up a checkpoint on Rock Quarry Road near Capen Park and arrested seven

A Columbia man is behind bars Tuesday after he allegedly sprayed tear gas in the face of a Boone County Sheriff’s deputy. The Boone County Sheriff’s Department said a deputy was assisting Columbia police officers during a traffic stop Monday night near Highway 763 and Brown School Road when the incident happened. When the deputy

Medical experts blame a so called club drug for anxiety attacks, seizures, and accidental deaths. Here in mid-Missouri, use of the drug, often referred to as “molly,” appears to be on the rise. While the drug’s name may sound innocent, users believe the pills to be the purest form of another popular club drug called

A Missouri judge has ordered the former head of a failed artificial sweetener plant in Moberly to wear a GPS monitoring device while he awaits trial. St. Charles County Circuit Judge Daniel Pelikan issued the order Monday during a hearing for Bruce Cole. Pelikan also tentatively scheduled the trial for February. Cole is under house

Community Lanes in Moberly closed down for good. ABC 17 News confirmed the business shutdown on Monday after more than 50 years. The owners blame the economic downturn for reducing their customers’ expendable income, but they will continue searching for a buyer. The bowling alley first opened in 1957.

A system similar to mid-Missouri’s Smart 911 service helped emergency crews rescue dozens of tornado victims in north Texas yesterday. Those who signed up for the free service provided detailed information on a profile page set up for themselves and their families. These details showed up right as the 911 calls came in, which helped

Mid-Missouri help is on stand-by Monday night in case they’re called into action in Oklahoma. Missouri Task Force 1, based in Boone County, went on alert. They have picked which firefighters from across the state would head to Oklahoma if they are activated. There is widespread destruction from a tornado in Moore, Okla. Already through,

Columbia police were investigating a homicide in the 500 block of Ann Street early Sunday morning. According to police, 25-year-old Brandon Coleman was shot and taken to University Hospital, where he later died. As of Monday night, family members of Coleman told ABC 17 News that police informed them no one would be arrested for

The suspects in an Easter Sunday murder and crime spree want their cases moved. 18-year-old Christopher Lewis and 22-year-old Jeffery Nichols face several charges including murder, assault and resisting arrest. They face the death penalty. Investigators say the men stole five cars and shot three people in Randolph and Macon counties. Randolph County prosecutor Mike

Parts of Mid-Missouri suffered damage Monday night due to severe storms, but the worst damage is being reported in Pettis and Johnson counties. ABC 17 News crews in Johnson County report 30 to 40 houses severely damaged from storms. In communities near Knob Noster and just to the west of Sedalia, several homes suffered roof