News

For 27 years, September has been designated as National Recovery Month to shed light on those trying to recover from drugs, alcohol, mental health issues and opioid abuse. ABC 17 has covered this topic extensively. Heather Harlan, a recovery specialist at Phoenix Health in Columbia, said these issues are just like any other chronic illness.

On Friday, the Thompson Center Research and Training building had a ribbon-cutting to celebrate its opening. It’s a new facility that is a part of the Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders on Keene Street. The Research and Training building will provide more space for experts to research and teach others how to interact

Columbia police officers arrested a 22-year-old woman early Friday morning after they were called to the Steak n’ Shake restaurant on Clark Lane. According to a probable cause statement, Tierra Tindall walked out of the restaurant without paying for her $12 meal. A witness told police the waitress followed Tindall and another woman outside telling

Some evacuees in the path of Hurricane Irma are inquiring and booking rooms here in Mid-Missouri. Hotel operators along I-70 tell ABC 17 News they’ve had phone calls and bookings from people fleeing the incoming storm. Mobile home residents as far as north central Florida have been given a mandatory evacuation order and are told

Boonville police believe they know who is responsible for shattering car windows. Last weekend, police received multiple reports of broken car windows. At first, they thought the glass was broken by a BB gun or pellet rifle. Now, they believe the damage was done by steel balls and rocks launched from a slingshot. Police have

The Missouri State Highway Patrol arrested a Jefferson City man Thursday after finding hundreds electronic files of child pornography in his home. Ben Hilkemeyer, 32, was charged Friday with two counts of promoting child pornography and five counts of possession of child pornography. Court documents state the Highway Patrol began investigating an online file sharing

A Rocheport man is suspected of driving while intoxicated in an August crash that injured his passenger. Jacob Mouden, of Rocheport, was charged Thursday with driving while intoxicated resulting in serious physical injury. According to a probable cause statement, a Boone County deputy responded to the crash during the early morning hours of Aug. 17

Ten Columbia Water and Light crew members arrived in Orlando Friday ahead of the expected power outage from Hurricane Irma. “We’ll be helping with setting new poles, running new lines and installing new transformers,” said Ryan Williams, assistant director of Columbia utilities. “We’re pretty well-equipped with whatever problems they may have.” Columbia utility workers are

While Missouri may be more than 1,000 miles away from Florida, it’s all hands on deck to help with Hurricane Irma. The Boone County Fire Protection District believes there’s a good probability Missouri Task Force 1 will be deployed to Florida. After all, multiple members have already been sent. “It’s a challenge. My wife works

Officials in Mid-Missouri are sending assistance to Florida as Hurricane Irma continues to track toward the southern portion of the state. Dave Griffith, the executive director of the local Red Cross chapter in mid-Missouri, confirms to ABC 17 News that they’ve sent 11 people to Florida. Additionally, five members of Missouri’s Task Force One have

The Jefferson City Police Department has confirmed that they are investigating an armed robbery that happened just after 3:00 p.m. Friday at Verizon Wireless in the 2100 block of Missouri Boulevard. No one was hurt, but the suspect escaped. JCPD detectives said the suspect threatened an employee with a semi-automatic handgun and demanded money and

Two people were hospitalized after a three-vehicle crash just before 5:45 p.m. Friday. It happened southwest of Columbia at Scott Boulevard and Thornbrook Terrace. All vehicles were damaged heavily from the crash. It’s not yet clear how the third vehicle was involved, but an emergency responder on the scene said the other two vehicles were

The Callaway County Prosecutor’s Office charged a 45-year-old Hatton man Friday after a lengthy investigation by the Sheriff’s Office. The Callaway County Sheriff’s Office said Larry Threlkeld is believed to be involved in a motor vehicle theft, burglary and arson investigations dating back to December 2016. Callaway County deputies arrested Threlkeld on Sept. 1 after

Two robbers broke into a home overnight on Friday, stealing items and attacking the two people inside. Columbia police said the home invasion in the 900 block of Hope Place happened just after midnight. Public information officer Latisha Stroer said two men armed with guns broke into the house and assaulted a 24-year-old man and

A Boone County man accused of a 2014 murder has been committed to the Department of Mental Health. Charles T. Key entered a plea of not guilty by reason of mental disease of defect excluding responsibility, which the Boone County Prosecutor’s Office accepted. Judge Christine Carpenter ordered that Key would be committed to a Department

TONIGHT: Through the overnight hours we will see temps drop back into the mid to upper 50s under mostly clear skies with a light southeasterly breeze. SATURDAY: After a comfortable morning, temperatures will climb into the low 80s in the afternoon with southeasterly winds up to 8 mph with a partly cloudy sky. EXTENDED: Sunday

A Brattleboro, Vt., man has been sentenced in federal court for the aggravated sexual abuse of a child at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. According to an official press release, Paul Kickery Sr., 68, of Brattleboro, formerly of Fort Leonard Wood, was sentenced on Thursday to 30 years and four months in federal prison without parole.

For the first time since 2010, we’ve seen two major hurricanes form before Aug. 31. Early Thursday afternoon, Irma become a Category 3 hurricane with winds of up to 115 mph, after undergoing rapid intensification. Just 12 hours prior to becoming a major hurricane, it was a strong tropical storm with 70 mph winds. While

Hurricane Irma continues to strengthen as it tracks into the Caribbean, posing dangerous threats for more than a dozen islands. Hurricane watches are in effect as torrential rain, damaging winds, and storm surge moves towards the islands. Early Tuesday morning the system increased to a category 5 as winds were clocked at 175 mph, well