News

UPDATE: Click here to read and watch the complete report right now. ORIGINAL STORY: It’s been 25 years since the Great Flood of 1993 devastated the Midwest along the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers, causing $15 billion in damage. A report from the Missouri Dept. of Natural Resources in 1996 highlighted the devastation Missouri and eight

UPDATE: The complete report on James Scott is now online. For the story and extended interviews, click here. ORIGINAL: James Scott is the only person convicted of, and currently serving 20 years to life for causing a catastrophe in Missouri. Tonight, he’s telling ABC 17’s Joey Parker what he really thinks put him behind bars.

Causing a catastrophe is a criminal statute in Missouri. and it’s one you may have never heard of. If you Google the crime of causing a catastrophe in Missouri, you’ll certainly find the name James Scott. He is the only person in the state to ever be convicted of that crime and serving time for

THIS AFTERNOON: Much of Mid-Missouri is drying out this afternoon after a round of overnight thunderstorms. Places along HWY 54 near the Lake of the Ozarks and points eastward are continuing to see wet conditions this afternoon. If you, or anyone you know is planning an afternoon at The Lake, be advised that there’s likely

A man was taken into custody early Friday after allegedly hitting a building with his pick-up truck and driving away. Moberly police were sent to 1408 N. Morley St. at 5:12 a.m. and determined a 2001 Dodge truck failed to stop at a stop sign on Sparks Avenue, drove across North Morley Street and hit

The ongoing conversation over racial disparities in traffic stops will once more come to City Hall on Thursday night. The Columbia City Council will host a work session at 6 p.m. over the Missouri Attorney General’s Office vehicle stops report. The report shows, among many things, that black drivers in Columbia are pulled over more

Columbia police responded to a report of an armed robbery late Thursday night. It happened in the 1100 block of Woodland Springs Court near the Fairfield Inn and Suites around 11:00 p.m. A man pulled a gun on another person outside, took items and fled eastbound along I-70 between Clark Lane and I-70, according to

Officials said Cole County Emergency Medical Services is out of the woods after a staffing shortfall in early 2018. In a social media post Thursday night, the department announced the number of recently hired full-time and part-time employees has reached 13. “We are excited and proud to announce that our recruitment team has done an

A man is now in custody after an incident on I-70 just east of the Lake of the Woods exit in Columbia. ABC 17 News crews saw a man in handcuffs on the eastbound side of I-70 while Boone County deputies searched the nearby area off the highway just after 1 a.m. Friday. Initial reports

FRIDAY: Morning storms are continuing to track to the east through the morning commute, and we are watching for storm development to the southwest. You’ll want ot grab that umbrella for the morning commute, as rain will still be with us. Rain is expected to come to an end from west to east into the

The FBI was on scene investigating in 1000 block of Southampton Drive in Columbia Thursday afternoon. The Columbia Police Department assisted in the investigation, according to officers on scene. Law enforcement searched a home on the corner of Forum Boulevard and Southampton Drive. ABC 17 News crews observed officers come in and out of the

On Thursday the Planning and Zoning Commission voted 7-0 to approve an 88-acre solar farm in east Columbia just south of I-70. The Truman Solar project by Cypress Creek Renewables would involve 44,000 solar panels able to rotate while the sun moves east to west. Columbia Water & Light estimates that the project will generate

Human traffickers often use social media to choose their victims. “There is a high demand to purchase young people for sex and they’re finding every mean because the payoff is so high,” said Nanette Ward, founding member of the Central Missouri Stop Human Trafficking Coalition. Charges filed this week against Renee Collins on suspicion of

EDITOR’S NOTE: Because of a source error it was reported that the suspect was in custody. However, he was not in custody late Thursday afternoon. A Columbia man has been charged with shooting another man four times at a north Columbia apartment building. Prosecutors charged Derrick Smith, 30, on Thursday with first-degree assault and armed

An eastern Missouri man filed a lawsuit against two Jefferson City bars Tuesday. James Lovelace, of Moscow Mills, filed the suit in Moniteau County court against Spectators and The Mission. The bars played a “direct and proximate” role in the death of his 20-year-old son, Graden Lovelace, who died after crashing into Joshua Blankenship on

The Missouri Attorney General’s Office launched a review of the Archdiocese of St. Louis regarding allegations of sexual abuse by clergy members Thursday afternoon. The Archdiocese had already agreed to cooperate with the investigation. “Victims of sexual abuse of any kind deserve to have their voices heard, and Missourians deserve to know if this misconduct

A school bus carrying 19 students from Rock Bridge High School was rear ended Thursday at approximately 4:30 p.m. on S. Providence Road and Nifong Boulevard. According to Michelle Baumstark, community relations director for Columbia Public Schools, another bus was brought to the scene in order to bring children home.

More than 30 dogs and cats were removed from a home just east of Columbia. Boone County Fire Protection District firefighters were sent to 501 E. Broadview Court at about 11:30 a.m. on calls of a house fire, district Assistant Chief Gale Blomenkamp said. The homeowner met the first firefighters to arrive and said a

TONIGHT: Widespread showers and storms are expected to form just to the northeast of Kansas City into the night, ahead of an approaching warm front. These storms will likely grow in size due to moisture rich air from the south flowing into the storms. While there is a marginal risk for severe weather, cloud coverage

Either University of Missouri Health Care or SSM Health can end negotiations over two hospitals if there’s not a deal in place by Sept. 30, according to the letter of intent each side signed. ABC 17 News obtained the letter through an open records request on Wednesday. The letter details the rules that govern negotiations