Missouri Archives

Callaway County still paying suspended sheriff after DWI plea

January 5, 2024 4:27 PM Lucas Geisler

Suspended Callaway County sheriff Clay Chism continues to collect pay from the county weeks after admitting to driving while intoxicated.

Courage2Report tips for school safety concerns rise in 2023

January 4, 2024 11:55 AM Morgan Buresh

The Missouri State Highway Patrol’s anonymous school safety tip hotline received hundreds more reports in 2023 than in 2022.

No issues in Columbia yet with drug stronger than fentanyl

January 4, 2024 6:43 PM Jazsmin Halliburton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A drug more lethal than fentanyl has potential to grow and spread across the country. According to Forbes and CNN, nitazenes are a class of synthetic opioids similar to fentanyl but can be much stronger and more fatal. Nitazenes were made by researchers in the 1950s as an alternative to morphine, but

MDC director announces retirement

January 3, 2024 9:02 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Missouri Department of Conservation Director Sara Parker Pauley will retire on July 1, according to a Wednesday press release. The Columbia native spent 30 years in public service and became the MDC’s first female director in November 2016, the release states. A search for the next director will begin in February. “The

Missouri takes first step toward implementing Summer EBT food program

January 3, 2024 11:20 AM Morgan Buresh

The state of Missouri has taken the first step toward participating in an enhanced food benefits program for children this summer.

Columbia lawmakers identify education as early priority for 2024 legislative session

January 3, 2024 5:52 PM Hannah Falcon

Lawmakers gaveled in for the 2024 legislative session Wednesday afternoon with hopes to continue working on many of the priorities that didn’t make it to the finish line last year.

WATCH: House Republicans hold news conference after first day of legislative session

January 3, 2024 1:21 PM ABC 17 News Team

The Missouri General Assembly kicked off its 2024 legislative session at noon Wednesday.

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Should lawmakers focus on foreign ownership of farmland?

January 3, 2024 2:20 AM ABC 17 News Team

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson signed an executive order Tuesday that bars ownership of farmland by “foreign adversaries” near military facilities.

‘MOBUCKS’ applications open, close Tuesday

January 2, 2024 9:01 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Applications for the MOBUCKS program opened Tuesday morning and closed at 4 p.m. due to “extraordinary demand,” according to a press release from the State Treasurer’s Office. A spokesman for the treasurer’s office told ABC 17 News in an email that the portal was open just from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. “because the

Parson bans some Missouri farmland purchases by ‘foreign adversaries’

January 2, 2024 10:53 AM Hannah Falcon, Matthew Sanders

Gov. Mike Parson will sign an executive order Tuesday dealing with foreign-owned farmland.

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Did you make a New Year’s resolution this year?

January 2, 2024 2:18 AM ABC 17 News Team

Photo courtesy of MGN COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The new year is upon on and with that, come a number of New Year’s resolutions. Many people make resolutions about fitness and other topics. Did you make a New Year’s resolution this year? Let us know in the poll and in the comments.

MU Health’s first baby born in 2024 has same birthday as grandfather

January 1, 2024 3:24 PM ABC 17 News Team

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) MU Health Care has revealed the name of the first baby born in 2024 at MU Women’s Hospital in 2024. Mya Nicole Portz was born at 4:13 a.m., according to an email from a hospital spokesman. The email states that Mya and her mother are doing well. Mya is the daughter of

Missouri State Highway Patrol’s New Year’s counting period ends Monday

January 1, 2024 3:53 AM Gabrielle Teiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) 2024 is officially here and the Missouri State Highway Patrol has been monitoring drivers on the roads this past weekend as their counting period for the New Year comes to a close. The counting period began at 6 p.m. Friday Dec. 29 and will continue until Monday Jan 1. at 11:59 p.m.

MoDOT reports traffic death rate in Missouri down 6% compared to 2022

December 30, 2023 4:50 AM Gabrielle Teiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) As 2023 is coming to a close, the Missouri Department of Transportation and the Missouri State Highway Patrol are looking to decrease the number of traffic deaths for 2024 after they reported 978 traffic deaths this year alone. While that number is still high, it is not as high as years past.

Another $7.9 million of ARPA money awarded for Cell Towers Grant Program

December 29, 2023 9:30 PM Ryan Shiner

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Another $7.9 million in ARPA funding was awarded on Friday, according to a press release from the Department of Economic Development. The release states grants will be awarded to 14 projects to construct new towers that provide quality cellular service and greater 911 connectivity to high-cost areas. This is the second round of funding.

Two sentenced for health care fraud of Missouri, Florida hospitals

December 28, 2023 9:10 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Two men from Florida were sentenced earlier this month for a multi-state scheme to defraud insurance companies, according to a press release from the Department of Justice. The release states Jorge Perez, 63, and Ricardo Perez, 60 – both of Miami – were using rural hospitals to bill for urine drug testing

Crashes, injuries, fatalities down from last year on Missouri roads over Christmas weekend

December 26, 2023 8:58 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Two fatalities were reported on Missouri roads over Christmas weekend, according to a Tuesday press release from the Missouri State Highway Patrol. MSHP began counting data from 6 p.m. Friday through 11:59 p.m. Monday. Troopers investigated 124 crashes, including 71 injuries and 18 DWI arrests, the release states. According to the release,

Missouri braces for wintry mix following Christmas travel chaos in the Midwest

December 26, 2023 6:31 PM Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Missouri Department of Transportation is advising drivers to use caution during their post-holiday travels as a wet, wintry mix heads towards Missouri. The Columbia Department of Public Works has already begun preparations, as it announced in a post on its social media that a team of nine city snowplow operators will

Missouri Department of Conservation starts accepting Christmas tree donations for fish habitats

December 26, 2023 11:31 AM Jazsmin Halliburton

MDC fisheries staff collect the trees to submerge in nearby lakes and ponds to create habitats for multiple types of fish.

Camden County Sheriffs finds possible remains of man who has been missing for over a decade

December 25, 2023 6:49 PM Jazsmin Halliburton

CAMDENTON, Mo. (KMIZ) Camden County detectives are believed to have found the remains of Donnie Erwin, who was pronounced missing in December 2013. On Saturday Camden County authorities and cadaver dogs searched the pond where Erwin’s car was found. The lost car was initially discovered on Dec. 16 by a freelance videographer who was looking