News

The Missouri House has passed a bill giving student journalists more leeway over their publications. Lawmakers voted 131-12 Tuesday to limit the power of public schools to censor student media, including publications financed by the school. Administrators would still be able to block content that is slanderous, libelous or otherwise breaks laws. Rep. Elijah Haahr

Proposition 1 has passed in Columbia, preventing the city from using a system with automated collection, including roll carts. The ballot question on Tuesday asked people to vote “yes” if they would like to ban the city from adopting a roll cart trash collection. However, in 6 months, the city council has the option of

The jury heard from key witnesses during the second day of a Jefferson City murder trial Tuesday. 19-year-old Charles Thompson is charged with the February 2015 killing of Johnny Evans in Jefferson City. The first witness called was the medical examiner who performed the autopsy on Evans. he testified that Evans died from blood loss

367 delegate votes were up for grabs in Tuesday’s Republican primary. “Ordinarily by this time, in one or both of the parties, one of the candidates are starting the victory parade,” said Dr. Terry Smith, a political science professor at Columbia College. “But now at this point, nobody is even close to a majority of

Residents in Audrain County are concerned tonight after a fatal crash that happened yesterday near US 54 and Highway 19 South. Several of concerned drivers and residents who live or drive that highway believe that more should be done to prevent future accidents. ABC 17 went down to that intersection and talked with a driver

Callaway County deputies found heroin and methamphetamine during a bust near Fulton on Tuesday morning. Working with the MUSTANG drug task force, deputies searched a home in the 4900 block of Larry Court shortly before noon. In addition to the drugs, deputies reported finding materials used to package narcotics. Four people were arrested at the

The upper level winds will shift to the northwest sending colder air in from Canada from Thursday through Sunday giving us near to below average temperatures through the weekend and a chance of light rain Saturday. The average high temperature in mid-March is 55-57 degrees with nights typically dropping into the middle 30s. Thursday and

A tornado watch is in effect for some counties in the northeast Mid-Missouri area. The watch is set to expire at 9 p.m. However, the ABC 17 Stormtrack weather team says conditions for a tornado or severe weather are getting less favorable as we get closer to sunset, and will drop significantly once the sun

Columbia police have asked for the public’s help finding an unsafe driver recently spotted on a busy road. The motorcycle was caught on someone’s cell phone Monday on Stadium Boulevard. The department’s deputy chief tweeted a picture, asking people to write down a license plate number if they see the same person.

ABC 17 News got an update Tuesday night about a rollover crash in Jefferson City. Police believe a car went through a red light around 5:15 p.m. at Industrial Boulevard and Jaycee Drive. It hit a truck, which landed on its top and spun all the way around. The car’s driver suffered a minor injury

ABC 17 News learned a mid-Missouri retired teacher from Sedalia is now facing time in federal prison for trying to have sex with an underage girl and her mother, who was actually an undercover detective. Paul Cannon, 71, pleaded guilty on Tuesday, after posting a craigslist ad on January 18. The U.S. Attorney’s office said

Today, voters in Missouri, Florida, North Carolina, Ohio and Illinois are choosing which candidate they want to see on the November ballot. Political experts project believe despite the fact that it’s only a primary election, record-numbers of voters will turn out today. Political science professor at Columbia College Dr. Terry Smith said this primary has

Eddie Holmes, Jr. has pleaded guilty for a double shooting on Demaret Drive in Boone County. The shooting happened in April 2015, leaving two people injured. Holmes pleaded guilty Tuesday and was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Holmes was also a suspect in a shooting on the same road in June 2015. ORIGINAL STORY

UPDATE: Demarqeyan Mobely and Quincy Hines have been charged for the armed burglary on Dunhill Way. Hines and Mobely are going to be tried for robbery in the first degree and armed criminal action. Mobely is also charged with burglary in the first degree. This comes after Columbia police arrested the two men in connection

In Monday’s executive session, the UM System Board of Curators voted unanimously to reject an appeal Dr. Melissa Click filed following her February termination. Board chair Pamela Hendrickson said in a prepared satement that “her appeal brought no new relevant information to the curators.” Hendrickson said the board believed Dr. Click was treated fairly throughout

Missouri’s primary officially started at 6 a.m. Tuesday. Here is what you need to know before you head out to vote: * 24,000 registered voters in Boone County have been assigned to a different voting place this year. Be sure to check your sample ballot or go online to find out where you are supposed

State and local law enforcement agencies will hold active shooter training at Westminster College Tuesday morning. A group of Westminster students took part in the drill, along with an actor who played play the part of “the shooter.” Student “victims” were also carried around on stretchers. Westminster officials told ABC 17 News they wanted the

Columbia mayor and city council candidates squared off in a debate Monday night at Battle High School ahead of the municipal election in April. Mayor candidates Brian Treece and Skip Walther were the first to the podium. A panel asked the two several questions ranging from economic development, infrastructure, city growth and roll cart trash

A cold front will be moving through this evening. As temperatures warm to the mid to lows 70s today, strong to severe storms will be possible late in the day ahead of this front. Timing looks to be from 3PM-8PM. Areas east of US 63 are under a Marginal (low) risk, while areas east of

A crash temporarily stopped traffic on eastbound Interstate 70 Tuesday morning. It happened around 1:00 a.m. on I-70 near mile marker 125 by the Olive Garden. Our ABC 17 News crew took cell phone video of the crash. The video appears to show emergency crew blocking all eastbound traffic as they worked to clear the