Columbia Archives

Teen fentanyl use, deaths on the rise

June 13, 2023 11:48 AM Mitchell Kaminski

Teen fentanyl deaths went up 182%, according to a recent study.

Former Columbia public school administrator suing district over claims of retaliation

June 13, 2023 7:21 PM Nia Hinson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Andrew McCarthy, a former assistant principal at Hickman High School, is suing the Columbia Public Schools over claims that the district passed him over for promotions because of a previous lawsuit he filed. “Each instance he was passed over in favor of somebody with you know less education, less experience… essentially not

Providence Road closed briefly after moped crash

June 13, 2023 1:49 PM Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Southbound Providence Road was closed briefly in central Columbia on Tuesday afternoon after a moped crash. The moped rider was taken to a hospital after apparently hitting a utility pole. Information about his injuries and how the crash happened were not available at the scene. The southbound lanes at the Rogers Street

Columbia Board of Education approves budget for 2023-2024 school year

June 12, 2023 6:15 AM Kennedy Miller

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia board of education unanimously approved a $371 million budget for the 2023-2024 school year. CPS Chief Financial Officer, Heather McArthur said a portion of the money approved in the budget will go toward the district adding behavior specialists. McArthur also said the district will increase pay for summer school programs

Woman charged with four felonies after fight at Columbia recreation spot

June 12, 2023 12:00 PM Erika McGuire

City officials and police remained quiet Monday about who was arrested over the weekend at Columbia’s Activity and Recreation Center on accusations of assaulting a boy.

Sheriff: Columbia teen was driver of car with 800 fake Percocet pills made of fentanyl

June 12, 2023 5:04 PM Matthew Sanders

The sheriff of a Mid-Missouri county said over the weekend that the driver of a car carrying more than 800 fake Percocet pills made from fentanyl was a runaway teenager from Columbia.

Man gets four years in federal prison for insurance fraud in case with Columbia ties

June 12, 2023 4:12 PM Matthew Sanders

A Kansas City man was sentenced Monday to four years in federal prison for his role in a $1.1 million insurance fraud scheme with a former Columbia man.

Fourth former University of Missouri fraternity brother takes plea deal in hazing case

June 12, 2023 9:37 AM Matthew Sanders

A fourth former member of a shuttered University of Missouri chapter of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor Monday.

Four arrested for fight at ARC in Columbia Sunday afternoon; police unable to determine if shots fired

June 11, 2023 5:05 PM abc17news-Newsroom

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Four people were arrested after a disturbance at the Activity Recreation Center in Columbia led to a large police presence in the area for over an hour Sunday evening. Columbia Police and several other agencies responded to the ARC Sunday at 4:34 p.m. for reports of a fight and possible shooting. Police

Staffing shortages are causing GO COMO to combine bus routes on Monday

June 10, 2023 8:05 PM Isabella Roberts

COLUMBIA Mo. (KMIZ) Staffing shortages are causing the City of Columbia to combine Bus Routes on Monday. On Monday, the Red, Blue, and Orange routes will depart from Wabash at 6:45 AM. After completing their routes they will return to Wabash at 7:25 am, and change their designations to the Green, Gold, and Black routes. They will

Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri hosts 6th annual “Hope for Heroes 5K”

June 10, 2023 5:15 AM Joushua Blount

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Food Bank for Central & Northeast Missouri hosted its 6th annual “Hope for Heroes 5K” at the Nickell Shelter in Cosmo Park and in Kirksville, Missouri Saturday morning. The event took place at 7:30 a.m. and the Food Bank said the money raised will help support the Food Bank’s veteran programs

Water main breaks along Providence Road in central Columbia

June 9, 2023 11:31 PM Lucas Geisler

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) – Crews spent Friday night repairing a water main along Providence Road. Utility workers were out late on Friday fixing a main that gushed water into the street. Boone County Joint Communications warned drivers about the problem at Providence Road and Kentucky Boulevard at 5:12 p.m. Water mains broke in a nearby

Columbia man pleads guilty in wife’s murder

June 9, 2023 2:20 PM Matthew Sanders

A Columbia man who pleaded guilty Friday to his wife’s 2006 murder has been sentenced to more than two decades in prison.

Friday marks last day to submit proposals for Columbia ARPA funding

June 9, 2023 5:59 AM Kennedy Miller

COLUMBIA Mo. (KMIZ) Friday marks the deadline for proposals to be submitted for Columbia’s American Rescue Plan funds. Groups have asked for millions of dollars to combat everything from homelessness to community violence. By the middle of May, the city had received $31.8 million in requests for ARPA funds. Columbia has been awarded $25.2 million in ARPA funding.

Man accused of killing wife in 2006 headed to court ahead of upcoming trial

June 9, 2023 5:45 AM Joushua Blount

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Keith Comfort will have a pre-trial hearing on Friday at 1:30 p.m. before his jury trial on Monday morning at the Boone County Courthouse. Comfort is charged with killing his wife in 2006. According to court documents, in 2019, authorities say Comfort admitted to police in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin that he killed his wife Megan

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Would an MU Health Care/Capital Region integration be good for local health care?

June 9, 2023 2:35 AM ABC 17 News Team

MU Health Care said Thursday that it plans to integrate with Jefferson City’s Capital Region Medical Center.

Police investigating on side of Highway 63 in northeast Columbia

June 8, 2023 9:48 PM Lucas Geisler

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) – Several officers and a crime scene truck were on the side of Highway 63 on Thursday night in northeast Columbia. An ABC 17 News crew could see multiple police officers and the crime scene investigation van on Highway 63 near the Vandiver Drive exit. Some officers had cars resting on the

Community members and local activists discuss violence trends in Columbia

June 8, 2023 7:49 PM Nia Hinson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Two local groups held a town hall meeting Thursday night to discuss crime in Columbia. The meeting was a joint collaboration between Destiny of H.O.P.E and P.E.A.C.E non-profit organizations. The meeting was called at the Parkade Plaza following a shooting that left two teenagers dead after an argument lead to gunshots in

MU Health Care announces intent to integrate with Capital Region Medical Center

June 8, 2023 10:58 AM Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Two Mid-Missouri healthcare systems announced their intention to integrate on Thursday. According to a news release, leaders from MU Health Care and affiliate Capital Region Medical Center signed a letter of intent to “fully integrate their health systems.” The two systems have been affiliated for more than 25 years. MU Health Care

Volunteers needed at The Food Bank during the summer

June 8, 2023 4:54 PM Isabella Roberts

The Food Bank for Central & Northeast Missouri is looking for volunteers during the summer months.