Columbia Archives

Grand jury indicts Columbia man accused of killing pregnant woman on first-degree murder

August 22, 2023 4:06 PM David Kitchin

A Columbia murder suspect is now charged with first-degree murder after his grand jury indictment in Boone County.

CPS enrollment eclipses 19,000 students on first day of classes

August 22, 2023 3:20 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Tuesday was the first day of classes at Columbia Public Schools, and unofficial enrollment numbers from the district show an increase in students attending school. According to a press release from CPS, the total first-day enrollment is 19,157. That total is up by 357 students from last year’s official enrollment number. The

Columbia Public School students battle heat on first day of school

August 22, 2023 5:44 AM Nia Hinson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) On Tuesday, students in the Columbia Public Schools District went back to school and began the 2023-2024 school year. The ABC 17 Stormtrack Weather Team issued a weather alert day that extended through Thursday for extreme temperatures that were expected in the area. Chief Communications Officer Michelle Baumstark said the district took

Columbia City Council amendments to budget increase it by $5 million

August 21, 2023 7:29 PM Marina Diaz

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Amendment discussed at Monday’s City Council meeting led to a tentative $5 million increase to the city budget. The council met on Monday to discuss several topics, includiding a hotel tax, hear from the public regarding the city’s upcoming budget, and review the Columbia Police Department’s contract with the Columbia Public Schools.

Columbia man arrested, charged after allegedly shooting at person in front of house

August 21, 2023 7:38 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia man was arrested and charged after he was accused of shooting at another person in front of a house on Saturday in eastern Columbia. Aaron McCann, 36, was charged with first-degree domestic assault, unlawful use of a weapon and armed criminal action. He is being held without bond at the

Columbia Public Schools moves outdoor activities inside as classes start amid extreme heat

August 21, 2023 12:02 PM Morgan Buresh

This week is not only the first week of school for many area school districts, it’s also a week of high temperatures.

Mothers of children killed in Columbia apartment fire sue property owners

August 21, 2023 5:53 PM Matthew Sanders, Lucas Geisler

The mothers of two children killed last December in a Columbia apartment fire have sued the owners of the apartment complex where they died.

Columbia man charged with 13 child sex crimes

August 21, 2023 4:18 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia man faces more than a dozen charges for child sex crimes. David Walter Nacarato, 39, was charged on Thursday with five counts of first-degree child molestation, three counts of statutory rape, first-degree rape, first-degree sodomy, two counts of statutory sodomy of a victim and possession of child pornography. All charges

University of Missouri welcomes more than 5,100 freshmen as new semester begins

August 21, 2023 2:21 PM Dan Kite

The University of Missouri said Monday that 5,100 freshmen are starting their college careers at the Columbia campus.

Columbia man pleads guilty to reduced charge in stepfather’s death

August 21, 2023 12:36 PM Matthew Sanders

A Columbia man charged in March 2022 with shooting and killing his father pleaded guilty to reduced charges Monday and could spend more than two decades in prison.

University of Missouri hosts Tiger Walk amidst high temperatures

August 20, 2023 9:23 PM Isabella Roberts

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Today, The University of Missouri held it’s annual Tiger Walk amidst the heat, and students braved the heat to celebrate an age old tradition. With dangerous highs ABC 17 spoke to students about how they stayed cool. “We beat the heat by drinking a lot of water preparing for the event, but it’s

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Should the City of Columbia buy the McKinney building?

August 21, 2023 2:44 AM ABC 17 News Team

The City of Columbia is considering the purchase of a downtown building — a proposal set to come before the city council Monday.

Columbia City Council talks of potential purchase of historic McKinney building

August 19, 2023 6:46 PM Gabrielle Teiner

The Columbia City Council is considering purchasing of the historic McKinney building at the council meeting set for Monday at 7 p.m.

Murder charge downgraded for man accused of killing baby

August 18, 2023 10:41 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Charges have been updated for a man accused of killing his child and abandoning the corpse. Staffone Fountain, 31, of Independence, was previously charged with first-degree murder and abandonment of a corpse. He is now charged with second-degree murder, abandoning a corpse and first-degree endangering the welfare of a child. Fountain’s attorney

Columbia Board of Education approves new version of SRO agreement

August 18, 2023 7:23 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia Board of Education on Friday approved a new version of its school resource officer agreement with the Columbia Police Department. The board took it up after the city’s legal department made some suggestions following Monday’s vote. It now goes to the City Council for approval on Tuesday, Sept. 5. Deputy

Advocates against sexual assault warn of ‘Red Zone’ period for coming weeks

August 18, 2023 7:35 PM Marina Diaz

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Advocates against sexual assault say the coming weeks are a ‘Red Zone’ period where students are more vulnerable to sexual assault. Advocates are offering advice on preventing assault, asking for consent and resources for victims. “There is something that is called the Red Zone,” Nightcap CEO Shirah Bernard said. “It’s a period

Safety top of mind as students move back to University of Missouri campus

August 18, 2023 12:09 PM Morgan Buresh

As University of Missouri students move in to begin the school year, one thing on both parents’ and students’ minds is safety.

Friday marks 20th anniversary of fire at The Heidelberg

August 18, 2023 7:08 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Friday marked the 20th anniversary of a day when Columbia almost lost one of its most well-known establishments. On Aug. 18, 2003, The Heidelberg in Downtown Columbia caught fire. Seventy firefighters responded and it nearly three hours to put out. Firefighters said at the time that an electrical malfunction in the ceiling above a

Four men arrested in Sedalia in relation to human trafficking investigation, law enforcement says

August 18, 2023 3:28 PM Ryan Shiner

SEDALIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Four men were arrested Thursday in Pettis County in relation to a human trafficking investigation, according to a Friday press release from the Sedalia Police Department. The four men arrested, according to the release, on suspicion of patronizing prostitution were: Donald Reece, 62 of Sedalia;James Deer, 39 of Columbia;Tim Sinn, 44 of

Four Missouri Task Force One members, K-9s begin work in Maui

August 17, 2023 7:32 PM Grace Pankey

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Four Missouri Task Force One members and K-9s who were deployed earlier this week to Maui began searching for human remains Thursday morning. Those four more members on Wednesday flew out of St. Louis to join the search and rescue efforts. That was after two members were deployed last week as part