Missouri Archives

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Have you seen or heard evidence of mountain lions in Missouri?

January 11, 2023 2:39 AM ABC 17 News Team

The Missouri Department of Conservation was in northern Boone County on Tuesday investigating a reported mountain lion sighting.

Mountain lion sighting reported in northern Boone County

January 10, 2023 12:07 PM Erika McGuire

A Missouri Department of Conservation team was expected to be in Boone County sometime Tuesday to investigate a mountain lion sighting.

City of Columbia discusses how to add staff for Go COMO

January 9, 2023 7:50 AM Joushua Blount

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The City of Columbia met for a work session Monday inside the City Council chambers at city hall. The council discussed staffing within the city’s transit system. After seeing staffing shortages over a long period of time, the city is considering condensing its Go COMO bus routes. Go COMO says to keep

More than 300 human trafficking victims reported in Missouri in 2021

January 9, 2023 11:21 AM Ethan Heinz

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Hundreds of people have been forced or coerced into human trafficking over the past few years in Missouri, including nearly 330 of them confirmed in 2021. According to data collected from the National Human Trafficking Hotline, there were 240 cases of human trafficking in 2021. Of those cases, 327 victims were involved.

Forms now available for personal marijuana cultivation

January 8, 2023 7:58 PM Abby Landwehr

Applications to grow your own marijuana for personal use are now open to residents 21 years old and older. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services opened information and forms to the public Saturday as Amendment 3 guidelines continue to be rolled out. The change also joins the newly released application to have sentences

Mid-Missouri sees overnight snowfall for the start of the New Year

January 8, 2023 5:07 AM Joushua Blount

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Mid-Missouri experienced overnight snowfall for the first time since the start of 2023. ABC 17 Meteorologists say Mid-Mo saw below one-inch snow totals with isolated reports of two inches in northeastern Missouri. If you need to get out Sunday morning, you’ll want to use caution as the roads could still be wet.

Columbia Boone County Public Health and Human Services to offer vaccine clinic

January 7, 2023 10:07 AM Joushua Blount

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia Boone County Public Health and Human Services offered a vaccine clinic Saturday, providing the community another opportunity to get vaccinated. I.D.s, health insurance, and appointments weren’t required. The vaccine clinic was held at Columbia Boone County Public Health and Human Services at 1005 W. Worley St. from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00

$940 million Mega Million jackpot winning numbers announced

January 6, 2023 10:46 PM Abby Landwehr

The winning numbers were called for the Mega Millions jackpot Friday night: 3-20-46-59-63 and the Mega Ball was 13. The prize — reported at $940 million — is the sixth largest Mega Millions prize so far. Winners of the amount have the option to get their pay over the course of 30 years, but if

MoDOT, MSHP bring awareness to human trafficking

January 6, 2023 3:47 PM Ryan Shiner

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) The Missouri State Highway Patrol and Missouri Department of Transportation announced in separate press releases on Friday that they will participate in a trafficking awareness initiative next week. January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, marking the anniversary of the passage of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, MoDOT said. “Human trafficking remains a

On Capitol attack anniversary, challenge of Hawley announced

January 6, 2023 9:30 AM Associated Press

By JIM SALTER Associated Press ST. LOUIS (AP) — Two years to the day since U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley’s now-famous raised-fist salute to rioters at the U.S. Capitol, a Marine veteran who ran unsuccessfully for Senate in 2022 has announced that he’ll try to unseat Hawley in 2024. Lucas Kunce announced his bid on Friday.

State health department to post personal marijuana cultivation applications

January 6, 2023 9:34 AM Joushua Blount

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) The process to make recreational marijuana more accessible to Missourians will take a step forward this weekend. Starting Saturday, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services will post applications for personal cultivation licenses. The license will allow approved applicants to grow their own marijuana. The future use of recreational marijuana

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Should Missouri cut taxes even more?

January 6, 2023 2:48 AM ABC 17 News Team

Last year Republican lawmakers and Gov. Mike Parson celebrated the passage of a massive income tax cut worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

Study highlights fentanyl deaths in Missouri

January 5, 2023 10:05 PM ABC 17 News Team

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A new study by the Missouri State Medical Association highlights the growing trend in fentanyl deaths in Missouri. The study shows there was an increase in the number of deadly opioid overdose deaths in 2021 compared to 2020. This is according the study published in Missouri Medicine, the journal of the Missouri State

Transportation projects selected for state’s cost-share program

January 5, 2023 9:44 PM Ryan Shiner

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission on Wednesday approved the funding of 28 local transportation projects using $75 million in budget stabilization funds under the state’s Transportation Cost-Share Program. The Missouri Department of Transportation and Missouri Department of Economic Development selected the projects with the goal of building partnerships with local

Applications for personal marijuana cultivation forms open Saturday

January 5, 2023 4:37 PM Abby Landwehr

The timeline of Missouri’s recently passed Amendment 3 continues. Applications to grow marijuana for personal use open Saturday for Missouri residents 21 years old and older. Forms for applications to cultivate marijuana are available to the public through the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. All applicants must be Missouri residents over 21 and

Gov. Parson brings in legislative session with prayer breakfast

January 5, 2023 6:30 AM Joushua Blount

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Gov. Michael Parson helped kick off the 2023 legislative session in Jefferson City Thursday morning. The governor hosted the annual prayer breakfast at the Capitol Plaza Hotel from 7:30 until 9 a.m. On Wednesday, state lawmakers returned to the State Capitol for the first day of the legislative session. House leadership

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Should it be harder to amend the constitution?

January 5, 2023 2:47 AM ABC 17 News Team

One of the priorities set out by Missouri legislators in this year’s session is to change the process of getting an amendment on the ballot via petition.

MDC recruitment doing well as other law agencies struggle to fill positions

January 4, 2023 7:11 PM Chris Bryant

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Many law enforcement agencies and departments are having trouble filling open positions. However, the Missouri Department of Conservation says it’s not experiencing this challenge. Conservation agents are the face of MDC in the field. They are the ones that most people interact with from hunting, fishing and general wildlife issues. MDC Conservation Agent Cole

Missouri legislative session kicks off at noon with fresh faces

January 4, 2023 11:38 AM Hannah Falcon

State lawmakers are returning to the capital city for another session of committee hearings, floor debates and discussing Missouri’s future.

Missouri Senate leaders’ legislative priorities going into 2023 session

January 3, 2023 6:32 PM Hannah Falcon

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) The 2023 Missouri legislative session starts Wednesday. As expected, Republicans and Democrats in the State Senate have differing priorities. Republican Party Republican State Sen. Caleb Rowden, of Columbia, returns to the Capitol this year with a new title: Senate President Pro Tem. The position will have to be ratified by the