News

Starting Friday, 6,000 students plan to walk across the stage at the University of Missourigraduation ceremonies. As they pick up their diplomas, they also take home an expensive tab. On Thursday, Fidelity Investments reported the average debt for a 2013 graduate is more than $35,000, while the average debt ofan MUgraduate is closer to $19,000.

Law enforcement in Texas confirm they have arrested a woman wanted in connection with an April shooting and chase in Boone County. Texarkana, Texas Police Department Sgt. Steve Shelley told ABC 17 News that 26-year-old Autumn Kee was arrested following a week-long coin theft investigation. Kee and 21-year-old Sheldon Grayson were wanted in Boone County

Two Pulaski County fugitives were captured this week. The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department said 54-year-old James Rhodenizer was arrested Wednesday night by deputies and federal agents. Rhodenizer was wanted on several state and federal drug and property crime charges. Law enforcement found a large sum of cash and a controlled substance in Rhodenizer’s possession. The

Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster announced Thursday he wants the former CEO of Mamtek to have GPS monitoring. Bruce Cole is awaiting trial on four counts of securities fraud and one count of felony theft following the failure of the Moberly Mamtek plant. Cole is currently under house arrest and must have electronic monitoring. According

A Thursday morning car crash sent two adults and three children to the hospital in Jefferson City. Around 8 a.m., police said two cars crashed head-on near the intersection of Highway 50 and Broadway Street. Police said the car driven by Barbara Sage, 64, of Jefferson City suffered extensive damage. Sage was not transported to

A Hallsville woman is behind bars Thursday afternoon after she allegedly stabbed her estranged boyfriend. According to the Boone County Sheriff’s Department, 19-year-old Megan Cunningham reportedly pulled a knife out and stabbed her estranged boyfriend. Cunningham was arrested on charges of armed criminal action and domestic assault. She is currently in the Boone County Jail

On Wednesday, Jefferson City Administrator Nathan Nickolaus handed Mayor Struemph his version of next year’s budget. One of the most notable fixes is the lack of raises for the city’s nearly 300 employees whose salaries come from the general revenue fund. It will be the first time they do not get a bonus in 23

Gas prices have jumped yet again across Missouri, this time reaching as high as $3.69 a gallon in Columbia. While a hefty bill is normal for fuel this time of year, Missourians are paying more compared to many other states. Typically, Missouri is in the top-five lowest paying states, but now ranks about 22nd out

Memorial Day weekend is almost here and that means thousands of people will soon be at the Lake of the Ozarks, but is everyone aware of the dangers? In the summer of 2012 three people, including two children, were shocked near their docks and drowned. ABC 17 News talked to officials in a special report

Boys Baseball Class 5 District 9 Rock Bridge 13 – Camdenton 7 Class 4 District 8 Boonville 7 – Kirksville 0 Class 3 District 8 Hallsville 4 – Wright City 3 Class 3 District 13 Fatima 3 – Blair Oaks 0 Class 2 District 7 Harrisburg 8 – South Shelby 2 Class 1 District 11

Even though prosecutors asked for more time on Wednesday, a judge set a trial date for Jose Hurtado. Jury selection starts next Wednesday. Hurtado is accused of killing Francisco Navarro at Apache Manor, a Jefferson City trailer park, in late 2011. Investigators think he was shot after trying to break up a fight over a

Two Mid-Missouri colleges are trying to help you get your degree faster. Linn State Technical College and Lincoln University signed an agreement that would allow students with an associate degree in computer technology at Linn State to get financial assistance for a bachelor’s degree at Lincoln. Lincoln University is getting a $1-million grant to make

A Centralia school district employee is on paid administrative leave pending an investigation whether he or she acted inappropriately with a student. Right now, the name of the employee and the type of misconduct are not being released. District Superintendent Darin Ford didn’t return ABC 17 News’ calls but did send an email statement: “It

Jefferson City police made three arrests after a traffic stop turned into a chase. It started Tuesday afternoon in north Jefferson City when an officer tried to pull over a vehicle for a routine traffic stop. Initially the driver, 54-year-old Marcus Parker, stopped but police say he then took off. The chase ended on Route

The National Transportation Safety Board recommends eachstateloweritsblood alcoholcontent limit for driving. On Wednesday,local law enforcement in Columbia hope the number of crashes involving alcohol decreases. The difference between the currentBAC limitandwhat’s beingsuggested isn’tmuch. Using MoDOT’sapplication ShowMyBuzz,the difference between .05percentand .08percentis marginal. For anaverage-size woman,drinking three beers over the span of an hour and ahalf would

Eldon police and Miller County deputies were looking for a gunman considered dangerous and suicidal Tuesday night. A police news release stated only that officers had been called to reports of a man shot in the leg at 7:58 p.m. No location was given, but the release stated that officers found no victim, just a

More former Ash Street Place apartment residents have joined a lawsuit against the complex’s owners, demanding they be allowed to collect their belongings after a fire last month. The suit was filed more than one week ago and had grown to 12 plaintiffs as of Tuesday night. But Ashland attorney Matthew Uhrig told ABC 17

A woman with a gun escaped Tuesday morning after trying to hold up a Columbia restaurant. The suspect attempted to rob HoneyBaked Ham off Green Meadows Road around 11 a.m. She allegedly had a white cloth wrapped around her head and demanded cash. But officers said she escaped empty-handed in a silver car heading north

Law enforcement became involved Tuesday morning after flames broke out inside a vacant home in northeast Columbia. Crews found large piles of trash burning in the basement of a rental house on Pleasant Way off Rice Road. No one was living there and electricity was not hooked up. Smoke damage is estimated at $6,000. Police

A Moberly man was arrested Monday for child pornography following an online investigation. The Boone County Sheriff’s Department Cyber Crimes Task Force said they began an investigation last month. Detectives downloaded child porn through a file-sharing program from a computer that they believed to be in the Moberly area. A cyber crimes task force in