News

Marijuana could become legal inMissouri if a national group gets its way. The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws plans to file a bill next year to regulate and tax marijuana. A proposal is being drafted right now and may be introduced for the 2014 General Assembly session. Local coordinator Dan Viets said

A man was taken into custody two days after a storage facility in Mid-Missouri goes up flames. Firefighters spent more than four hours at the scene early Monday in Mexico, Mo. Most of the 18 units off South Olive were damaged. Officials called in the State Fire Marshals office to investigate the possible arson. They

A Mid-Missouri teen is facing possible charges for allegedly threatening his classmates. Michael Markwell, 18, was arrested in Mexico., Mo., Thursday morning. He claims he was joking when he wore a mask on a school bus and made threats against the bus driver and other students. Police confirmed they did not find any evidence, and

The Jefferson City conference center debate had its backers Thursday, but one group came out and trying to change some of the plans. The group know as the Citizens Against Convention Center filed petitions with the city. Group leaders tell ABC 17 News they filed two petitions. One is to lower the lodging tax from

Employees on the Business Loop are going to extra lengths to protect themselves and their businesses after a rash of robberies in central Columbia. “We have lots of cameras and try to leave in pairs and we make sure at least two people are here all the time,” said Amber Pilchner, an employee at Payday

Here is a look at the police department’s reported crimes compared to last year. There is a large dip in the number of reported assaults and larceny. Reported robbery, rape and burglary are all the same or slightly less. Reported vehicle theft and arson are the only two with a slight increase. Even with the

The Roots N Blues N BBQ Festival is starting a day earlier, adding bands to the lineup on Friday. But this year’s biggest change will be parking. The festival is now at Stephens Park, which means traffic will be directed downtown with the use of a shuttle. There will be no spots available at Boone

The Roots N Blues N BBQ Festival is starting a day earlier, adding bands to the lineup on Friday. But this year’s biggest change will be parking. The festival is now at Stephens Park, which means traffic will be directed downtown with the use of a shuttle. There will be no spots available at Boone

A home in Ashland suffered damage after a Thursday morning fire. Southern Boone firefighters were called out just before 7 a.m. to the 200 block of Walnut. They arrived to flames showing in the attic. Investigators say an attic fan caught fire, but caused minimal damage. No one was hurt.

Columbia police have arrested a suspect in the robbery at the Break Time on Conley Road. Jarreau Kelley, 29, was arrested for first degree robbery and armed criminal action. Wednesday, police arrested him at his home in the 4100 hundred block of Lenior Street. Police developed him as a suspect after the robbery Wednesday morning.

According to the 2012 annual crime statistics released by the FBI, Boone County violent crime increased between 2011 and 2012, while Columbia crime dropped. Numbers in 2012 and 2010 are comparable for Boone County and saw a drop to more normal levels in 2011. For Columbia, 2012 violent crime numbers for last year dropped by

Enrollment in Missouri’s new health insurance marketplace opens within two weeks. It’s the first major part of the 906-page Affordable Care Act (ACA), otherwise known as “Obamacare.” Because of the ACA, nearly 800,000 uninsured Missourians — 16 percent of the state’s population — will be eligible for coverage through the marketplace. If someone does not

A man who was facing murder charges has entered a plea bargain allowing him to plead guilty to lesser crimes. Last year, Larrell Banks was charged with second-degree murder in the death Lamont Sargent, of Columbia. In the last week, that charge has been dropped because of his guilty plea. The assistant prosecuting attorney confirmed

A recent rash of five robberies and a burglary this week all in the area of Rangeline Street and Business Loop 70 East have store owners there on high alert. Petromart, Passions, and Jenkins Produce Stand were all robbed, while Exclusive Clothing was burglarized. The produce stand was robbed twice this week. The employees at

Missouri State Senator Kurt Schaefer announced plans Wednesday to run for Missouri attorney general in 2016. Schaefer (R-Columbia) is currently serving his second term as senator of Missouri’s 19th District. The office of attorney general is expected to be up for grabs because the two-term incumbent, Democrat Chris Koster, has already said he’s preparing to

One person was injured in a house fire in Boone County Wednesday afternoon. Around 3:50 p.m., Boone County Fire Protection District crews were called to the house on 12400 block of Highway YY, north of Columbia. Seventeen units responded to the fire. According to an ABC 17 News crew at the scene, the home is

Research projects at the University of Missouri received hundreds of thousands of dollars Wednesday for research that could one day help save lives. The projects range from heart valve replacement devices to detecting infections in the blood. MU officials tell ABC 17 News the projects are on the brink of going to the patient testing

A Jefferson City man was arrested for allegedly robbing an acquaintance at gunpoint Tuesday. Police say 52-year-old Michael A. Green picked up the male victim around 2 p.m. near the intersection of Green Meadows Road and Crescent Green Drive in Columbia. As Green and the victim were heading to a movie, Green stopped the car,

The Special Olympics Missouri State Outdoor Games are coming to Jefferson City. The announcement came during a Jefferson City Convention and Visitors Bureau news conference, Wednesday. The event will be held in Jefferson City starting in 2014 through 2017. The 2014 games will happen the weekend of Oct. 3-5. Officials say the event will provide

A person was arrested for unrelated warrants after a body was found decomposing on the back porch of a home near Camdenton. On Wednesday, officials confirmed the remains belong to a woman. Investigators think it is the woman who rented the house in Camelot Estates. On Tuesday night, 30-year-old Jamison D. Shelton was taken into