News

The 911 Operations Center in Columbia says their phone lines are being clogged with calls that are classified as non-emergencies. The center told ABC 17 News that in 2012, 65 percent of the calls that were taken were not actual emergencies. Those calls tie up operators from dealing with real emergencies. One such incident happened

A single-car crash in Higbee Tuesday morning killed one teenager and injured two others. Law enforcement say a car crash on County Road 2560 killed Kayla Cooke, 19, of Higbee. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Troopers say the driver, Dakota Redifer, 19, of Higbee failed to handle a curve and ran off the

A free bus service in Columbia will start charging its riders. OATS offers transportation for the elderly, disable and those who live rural areas. Currently, the service suggests donations for rides, but starting July 1st, riders will have to pay. OATS already receives government funding and the new policy switch is designed to stretch those

A Mid-Missouri meat processing facility was shut down Tuesday after inspectors found unsanitary conditions. Mexico Meat and Produce, a custom exempt processing center in Mexico, Mo., must halt all operations until it receives a satisfactory inspection. The Missouri Department of Agriculture’s Meat and Poultry Inspection Program did not specify results of the failed inspection. Officials

A Moberly man was arrested Monday night for assaulting his ex-girlfriend and cutting her with a razor. According to police, 45-year-old Mark Dwayne Jones showed up to his ex-girlfriend’s home in the 2500 block of Quail Drive in Columbia. Jones started yelling at the victim and approached her with a straight razor. Police say he

The Columbia Police Department continues to investigate a downtown shooting that injured three people. Around 12:30 a.m. Saturday morning, someone shot at least eight rounds near the intersection of 10th Street and Broadway. One victim suffered gunshot wounds to the lower body and two other victims were injured. Their injuries are considered non-life threatening. Police

Emergency crews rescued a woman Sunday night after she fell nearly 30 feet down an embankment. Officials say Amy Brinkman was riding her bike with a group on the MKT trail in Rocheport Sunday night. Rescuers told ABC 17 News they dropped a boat in the water and paddled down stream to rescue the woman.

The body of a missing Camdenton man has been found, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Joe Bartholomew, 51, was last known to be fishing off a private dock on the Big Niangua Arm at the Lake of the Ozarks Sunday. Troopers searched the water and land in the area Sunday evening but did

The University of Missouri Research Reactor Center held a required emergency drill Monday morning. The drill started just before 11 a.m. and simulated a structure fire inside a laboratory. Employees and students had to evacuate the labs and surrounding buildings. Part of the drill included a decontamination station where fire units practiced the decontamination of

ABC 17 News has confirmed University of Missouri linebacker Torey Boozer has been dismissed from the team for undisclosed disciplinary reasons. Boozer was one of three players arrested in October behind Faurot Field for possession of marijuana. He pleaded guilty in February to an amended charge of trespassing and paid a fine and court fees.

A serious boating accident on the Gasconade River left one man seriously injured. The accident happened around 7 p.m. Saturday evening, on mile marker 28 near Parson’s Lane near the Mt. Sterling area. 35-year-old Justin Harness of Owensville, was arrested on charges of boating under the influence. The passenger, 38-year-old Jason Kitchell, suffered serious injures

Columbia police have no new information Sunday after three people were injured in a shooting early Saturday morning. Around 12:30 a.m., officers responded to a shooting near 10th Street and Broadway. Police say one victim suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the lower body. A second victim was transported to the hospital by a personal vehicle.

A Mid-missouri town loses it’s storm warning signal in the middle of severe weather season. Kingdom City officials are working to fix or replace it but it will take time. Emergency management officials say there are dangers of having no warning system which often times, small towns don’t. Now, a $25,000 system in Kingdom City

Room and board at Lincoln University in Jefferson City will cost more, starting in the fall. The university’s curators voted Thursday to increase room rates by $80 per student for fall and spring, and $40 per student for summer. Board rates will increase $50 per student per semester, with no change for summer students. A

Columbia schools will expand a bus route in the fall after parents in one neighborhood voiced their concerns to ABC 17 News. Stephany Vasquez lives off 8th Street in Columbia. Her home is 0.9 miles from Benton Elementary. That means her children do not qualify for bus service because they live less than a mile

University of Missouri system leaders released new details about the search for the next person to replace Brady Deaton as chancellor. The UM Board of Curators wrapped up its annual meetings today on the University of Missouri campus. System leaders dedicated time to talk about the search process for the next chancellor. Deaton announced he’s

Jefferson City pool employees work around the clock to provide a safe environment for area children. They say that steps need to be taken by children and their parents to ensure that the pool stays the safest that it can be. Memorial Park Aquatic Center manager Craig Wehmeyer said, “As soon as you can, start

A Boone County mobile home was destroyed after a fire. Around 10:30 p.m. Thursday, emergency crews were called to the 4500 block of N. Oneal Road for a mobile home on fire. At one point, 19 units were at the scene, with half of the home reportedly engulfed in flames. No one was injured, but

Law enforcement confirms a Randolph County woman was injured in a train vs. vehicle accident in Higbee Thursday night. Around 8:35 p.m., firefighters and emergency crews were called to the railroad tracks near Randolph Street. Randolph County Sheriff Mark Nichols and the Missouri State Highway Patrol says 48-year-old Teresa Beal of Higbee was attempting to

State troopers caught a Kansas City robbery suspect in Boone County Thursday. James Yokum, 43, has been charged with robbing the First Federal Bank on Tuesday. According to the Highway Patrol, Yokum came from St. Louis to Kansas City to stay with his half-brother while rehabilitating from a drug addiction. During an argument, Yokum allegedly