News

After a couple cool, damp days, sunshine will return for the start of spring. Morning clouds will clear to mostly sunny skies Friday afternoon, boosting temperatures into the low to mid 60s which is above the 30 year average high of 57. Looking to the weekend, Saturday will be the warmest day as high temperatures

The Columbia Police Department is searching for more people responsible for vandalism downtown. CPD said since last Wednesday, more than 30 spots of graffiti have shown up in the area. The new graffiti spells the phrases “Krep” and “Yini.” Police added overnight patrols and are reviewing surveillance video to find more suspects. Police already arrested

Many elementary students in Columbia may soon be moved to different schools. Thursday, Columbia Public School leaders met to talk about the final recommendation for boundary changes because of a new elementary school being built in southwest Columbia. The Beulah Ralph Elementary School on Scott Boulevard and Highway KK is expected to be completed by

Two people were arrested early Thursday morning for apparently having drugs and a gun. Fulton Police searched a room at the Westwood Motel at around 7:30 a.m. Investigators said 18-year-old Deion Austin and 20-year-old Ehlannah Kaskus had several baggies of marijuana, drug paraphernalia, and a handgun in the room. Both were arrested on several charges

This week callers are posing as veterans in Columbia trying to scam people out of money. They are pretending to be from Welcome Home Inc. It is a nonprofit program that helps homeless veterans to return to society as self-supporting citizens. The organization is need of funding for their $3.5 million building project on the

Representative Sheila Solon said her bill, House bill 531, would require e-cig liquid manufacturers to have child proof packaging. She said the bill was brought to her attention by pediatric doctors in her district because they’ve seen an increase in emergency room visits from exposure to e-liquid. This bill essentially makes the liquid packaging harder

Missouri lawmakers heard from hundreds of protesters Thursday at the state Capitol. They held signs demanding lawmakers pass a Medicaid expansion bill. Missouri is one of about 20 states that didn’t sign on to the Medicaid expansion that was part of the Affordable Care Act. Protesters blocked traffic near the Capitol to try to get

The Boone Co. Sheriff’s Department has released the results of a St. Patrick’s Day DWI checkpoint in Boone County. Deputies stopped a total of 363 cars on Tuesday. There were no DWI arrests, but there were at least 16 other citations given out, including 9 misdemeanor drug citations and one person arrested for a felony

Prosecutors are now seeking the death penalty against the man accused in a 2014 triple killing near Jonesburg. Shawn Kavanagh is accused of going on a stabbing spree while looking for his estranged wife on Valentine’s Day in 2014. The woman survived, but an 8-year-old boy and two others were killed. Kavanagh’s next court appearance

A convicted sex offender is back behind bars after police found him in a Columbia park. Officers first talked to Robert Loux in February when he was in Flat Branch Park with an alcoholic beverage. He ran off before officers learned he was also convicted of a sex offense, which means he must be at

A Columbia man was arrested Wednesday night for allegedly threatening people with a baseball bat. 40-year-old Brian Benter apparently threatened residents of a duplex in the 4300 block of Santa Barbara. When deputies arrived and pulled Benter over, they found the bat inside his vehicle. There were no injuries reported. Benter was arrested for 3rd

ABC 17 News sat down with a member of the Cole County Commission Thursday to discuss upcoming projects on the county’s agenda. Commissioner Jeff Hoelscher discussed the county’s $150,000 economic development agreement with the Jefferson City Chamber of Commerce. Last year, there was a lot of debate over this as there was some concern that

Sunny spring days have many homeowners thinking about getting their lawns in shape. Some may want to get their lawn mowed while others may be considering a major landscaping project, such as a patio, deck or fence. Consumers can save themselves a lot of hassle by considering their budget and any deadlines they have for

In addition to the .42″ of rain from last night and this morning at Columbia Regional, more measureable, much needed rain is expected later today. This afternoon, rain is likely, staying north of HWY 50. Values from 0.30- to 0.50″ possible north of I-70 and west of 63. Rain will be ending 9-11PM in east

The number of sexual assaults reported on the University of Missouri’s campus is at an all-time high. From August to December of this past year, 144 incidents were reported to the Title IX coordinator. Of those reports, 135 were potential violations that are currently being investigated. For the past year, MU has made several changes

A waiter was arrested Tuesday after allegedly sexually assaulting a woman in a Columbia restaurant. According to court documents, a woman walked into the bathroom at La Siesta Mexican Restaurant on Rangeline Street and was vomiting in a stall when 32-year-old Rudi Perez-Ramirez entered the same stall and locked the door behind him. The victim

Rain chances will increase as we head into the afternoon and evening Thursday. The morning will start off in the upper 30s with patchy drizzle and an overcast sky. As the day goes on, showers are expected to increase in the afternoon with temperatures in the mid to upper 40s. Rain becomes likely by late

With just about a month left to file taxes, fraud continues to be a big concern. In just the last week, there have been at least two new reports to the Columbia Police Department. And according to the IRS, it is a growing problem. Wednesday, the IRS told Abc 17 News fake tax returns resulting

University of Missouri Police have identified a student accused of harassing and making hostile comments toward another MU student. The student allegedly made comments related to the recent discussion surrounding the showing of ‘American Sniper’ on campus. MU Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin released a statement Wednesday saying the student will be temporarily suspended until the

The City of Columbia is holding a Ward 3 forum Wednesday night on the future of residential trash and recycling pick up. The city wants to hear from residents about how to make waste services better for the community, and options to make trash collection safer for city workers. It also wants to examine ways