A substitute teacher shortage across the nation is affecting Columbia Public Schools. CPS began a contract to supply substitute teachers with a new staffing company July 1. However, every substitute has to reapply with the new company. This means CPS lost the substitute teaching pool it had with the former company, Kelly Services. EduStaff is
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Living in high crime neighborhoods can take a toll on a person’s mental health. MU health officials told us today that a first or second hand experience can result in fear, resentment and even PTSD. Dr. Bruce Harry, an MU Health Care psychiatrist says, “It’s disruptive both to the sense of community but also individual
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A Boone County grand jury indicted a Harrisburg man Friday on four felony counts in connection with a deadly June crash on Rangeline Street. Charles Waddill was indicted on charges of felony driving while intoxicated, involuntary manslaughter, leaving the scene of a crash and felony evidence tampering. Prosecutors originally charged Waddill in July with leaving
Continue ReadingA lieutenant with the Jackson Police Department said Thursday that no reports or statements were filed in the six days following allegations of vandalism and hate speech at a high school football game. The Jackson High School Indians hosted the Battle High School Spartans Friday night, after which, multiple Battle parents told ABC 17 News
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A lawsuit against Columbia Public Schools and members of the Columbia Police Department claim they were negligent in how they questioned a student. The lawsuit said police officers violated the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution when they spoke to a 16-year-old Rock Bridge High School student about an alleged sexual assault. It also claims
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Prosecutors charged a Columbia man with eight felonies after a shooting Wednesday night in northeast Columbia. The Columbia Police Department arrested Terrell Marquise Lawrence, 21, after reports of shots fired near Rice Road and Boyd Lane. He was charged with unlawful use of a weapon, three counts of armed criminal action, two counts of domestic
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An unlicensed Columbia massage therapist pleaded guilty Wednesday to two misdemeanor charges of sexual misconduct. Karl A. Swope was sentenced to pay a $4,000 fine and register as a sex offender for life. Swope was charged in September 2018 with second-degree sexual abuse after he allegedly touched a woman inappropriately. Police said the victim went
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A data breach Hy-Vee grocery stores reported this summer affected customers at two Columbia locations and in Jefferson City and Osage Beach. The company on Thursday released more information about the breach that it initially reported in mid-August. The release Thursday included a list of affected stores. Malware meant to access card data was used
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Grocery store chain Schnucks will stop selling all tobacco products at all of its locations starting Jan. 1, the company said in a news release Thursday. The company has a store on Forum Boulevard in Columbia. “Tobacco products are certainly a profitable part of our business, but our company’s mission is to nourish people’s lives,”
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A water main break prompted a precautionary water boil advisory in a south Columbia neighborhood Thursday morning. The Consolidated Public Water Supply District No. 1 alerted the public to the advisory Thursday morning. Resident along Gans Road, Bearfield Road, Bearfield Drive, Rock Quarry Road, Happy Hollow Road and parts of Highway 63. The advisory is
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Authorities investigated in the area of Rice Road and Boyd Lane Wednesday night. Officers were dispatched to the scene around 7 p.m. Police cleared the area within the hour at around 7:40 p.m. ABC 17 News crews saw several patrol cars in the area, including one that was blocking Rice Road. Officers were searching the
Continue ReadingCivil rights group leaders, City Council members and Columbia residents are planning multiple events to help curb gun violence. Glenn Cobbins, a community activist, said he and others are set to host a block party near Rice Road and McKee Street. Police have investigated multiple shootings in the Northeast Columbia neighborhood in the past two
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Boone Electric Cooperative announced Wednesday it is completely rehabbing its headquarters in Columbia, including new buildings, and renovation of the existing space. The plan is set to cost $25 million, and Boone Electric customers will likely see a rate increase to pay for the new building. “Over the next few months, the board will discuss
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Work on a new roundabout in south Columbia may wrap up ahead of schedule. According to a post on the Public Works Department Facebook page, the roundabout at Forum Boulevard and Green Meadows Road is about 75% finished. The post said the contractor believes the opening date could be between Oct. 20 and Nov. 1,
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Columbia experienced a string of shootings in the month of September, several of them deadly. That gun violence has continued into October, with police investigating another shooting Tuesday night. Police responded to the 1400 block of Raleigh Drive at about 7:30 p.m. Tuesday after reports of shots fired. Police found several shell casings in the
Continue ReadingTwo vehicles were badly damaged in a collision that slowed traffic on a major Columbia street during the Wednesday evening rush. Images from the scene of the crash on Stadium Boulevard between College Park Drive and Rollins Road showed heavy front-end damage to two vehicles and a long line of traffic. It wasn’t immediately clear
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Columbia police officers were investigating a shooting in north Columbia on Tuesday night. Officers were dispatched after 7:30 p.m. to the 1400 block of Raleigh Drive. A sergeant on scene said officers found shell casings in the road and driveway of a home. ABC 17 News saw seven evidence markers outside of a duplex. The
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A woman accused of firing a gun at her romantic partner and prompting a lockdown of several Columbia schools was sentenced to 12 years in prison Monday. Judge Jodie Asel sentenced Brandi Sorm after she withdrew a not guilty plea and pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree domestic assault in connection with the Sept.
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Columbia police are searching for a suspect who stole a car and led authorities on a chase. Police responded to the area of Rangeline Street around 1 a.m. Wednesday. Police said the driver of the stolen car led them on a foot chase near Eugene Field Elementary School. Authorities took a passenger of the car
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Following a deadly month of violence in Columbia, a group of men hope to use their past experience in prison as a means to mentor young people away from a life of crime. “I think that we operate in the capacity of scouts,” Mataka Askari said. “What we’re doing is coming back and saying ‘Hold
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