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Boone County emergency management officials said they are testing a new outdoor warning system Tuesday. Officials said the old system caused confusion because all the sirens in the county would sound during the threat of severe weather, no matter where the threat was. “Citizens, for example, in the central part of Columbia said, ‘Well, the

Last summer, straight line winds caused $1 million worth of damage to two schools in Mid-Missouri. Last June, the principal of Prairie Home school got a call saying the roof of a portion of the school blew off and into the parking lot. “I was so surprised when people were sending me texts and pictures

The intensity of thunderstorms over Mid-Missouri can sometimes be underestimated due to a lack of radar coverage in the central part of the state. If you’ve ever been through a severe thunderstorm in Mid-Missouri and watched the ABC 17 Stormtrack weather team when severe weather arrives, you know Doppler radar is a key tool in

Thunderstorms are common in the spring and summer months, and sometimes can turn severe. A storm is considered severe if it is producing winds of 58 mph or greater, 1″ hail or larger, or a tornado. The structure and formation of a storm can give meteorologists insight on what type of severe weather threat will

In Mid-Missouri, we start the transition into warmer temperatures in March. Temperatures tend to be variable during the spring and summer months, however. The average high may be 61, but it isn’t uncommon to see highs anywhere from the low 50s to upper 60s. Temperatures become more consistent in the summer. April and May are

Once a tornado warning is issued, immediate action needs to be taken. Martina Pounds with Boone Co. Emergency Management said, “The main thing is to get down. Get down to the lowest floor.” Pounds said all commercial buildings in Columbia are required to have a designated storm area. If you find yourself at the mall,

The ABC 17 Stormtrack Weather team is here to alert you immediately if dangerous weather is moving into Mid-Missouri. For this reason, it is our policy to briefly interrupt programming for severe thunderstorm warnings so we can give you the latest information. However, if a tornado warning is issued, we will stay on the air

The weather pattern hasn’t changed much in the past year except to the transition from a weak La Nina condition last spring to a weak El-Nino condition this spring. When we talk about an El Nino pattern, we are referring to the shift in the upper level winds due to warmer than normal water in

A safety report for the Columbia Housing Authority revealed concerns about illegal drug use and harassment issues at Paquin Tower. “We suspect some drug sales going on at Paquin Tower so we’re investigating that,” CEO Phil Steinhaus said. Steinhaus said the Tower does have a slightly higher rate than the other Housing Authority properties. “We

Things got out of control Monday after someone tried to burn trash behind their home in Boone Co. Firefighters told ABC 17 about 5 acres are destroyed on Remie Road off Route Z, about 30 minutes northeast of Columbia. Eight crews responded at around 3:15 Monday, and kept flames from reaching the woods. A few

A cold front moves through by early Tuesday morning leaving us with temperatures more like mid-March. A cool breeze will increase from the northeast up to 20 mph early Tuesday as temperatures hover near 50, only climbing to the upper 50s to near 60 during the afternoon. Tuesday night will also be seasonal with low

A fight between two women in Moberly on Sunday ended with one in the hospital and the other under arrest. According to the Moberly Police Department, 23-year-old Angelica Benitez attacked the other woman on Bedford Street, hitting her with a car and stabbing her with a knife. The victim was treated at a hospital and

Officials plan to fix a small sinkhole in central Columbia early Wednesday. On Monday, crews were on scene taking some measurements to get the right materials. They think the stormwater pipe might have failed last week due to rain. The pipe was installed in the late 1960s. The sinkhole is off Nebraska Avenue near Providence

Police have made another arrest in connection with a chase and crash in south Columbia last week. Jamie Chick, 30, was arrested Sunday evening on suspicion of resisting arrest, domestic assault, driving without a license and failing to yield to an emergency vehicle. On Wednesday, March 11, a Boone County sheriff’s deputy reported seeing the

Those living in a Columbia apartment complex got quite a scare this weekend. The fire department was called out to Eagle Crest Apartments on Queen Ann Drive to investigate a building collapse. Someone living there said they heard a loud boom and the ceiling in the living room looked like it was going to collapse.

Jefferson City fire officials said it was too dry and windy to have open burns. They also said as of March first it’s illegal to burn in the city. The city ordinance changed last year and yesterday Jefferson City fire officials said they were extremely busy going to illegal burns because residents thought it was

A Mid-Missouri man convicted of child sex crimes is back in court. Prosecutors said 36-year-old Jeremy Jennings will be sentenced this Friday after being convicted last month on two counts of statutory sodomy. The victim was only 4 years old. The jury is recommending 10 years in prison for each count.

The Jefferson City Council Monday night is scheduled to read a bill that would authorize a contract with a debris removal company to demolish 3 houses in conflict with an ongoing road project. The bill would authorize a contract with B&N Tree Service and Debris Removal to knock down 1303, 1304, and 1309 Monroe St.,

The Columbia City Council is expecting a big turnout at Monday’s meeting, where the group will vote on construction of a trail project. The Shepherd Boulevard to Rollins east-west trail project is an extension of the Hinkson Creek Trail. Supporters said it will provide a connection east to west connection from near the MU campus

Mid-Missouri law enforcement is still working to crack down on drunk drivers ahead of St. Patrick’s Day. The holiday is on Tuesday, but extra patrols started over the weekend. Columbia Police will have a least one sobriety checkpoint and multiple saturation patrols within the city. Jefferson City Police are also increasing DWI saturation patrols. Last