News

Authorities in at least five Missouri cities have now gotten reports of suspicious phone purchases at Wal-Mart stores. ABC 17 News reached out to law enforcement in Ava, Missouri and has confirmed through a news release that last Saturday a man purchased a large amount of cell phones from a Walmart there. Police said they

The Macon County Sheriff’s Office released new details from its investigation into reports of several phones being bought at Walmart. The department says after further investigation it believes the purchases were made by a cell phone trafficking ring. Officials do not believe the phones were bought to be used in criminal activity. The sheriff’s office

ABC 17 News has confirmed parts of the city of Fulton lost power on Friday, after a squirrel reportedly tripped a breaker on a local transformer. Officials told ABC 17 News about 3,000 customers were affected, but electricity was restored later that same afternoon. Crews re-routed the electricity until the issue was fixed.

The UM System Board of Curators approved a 5-year contract worth $2.35 million annually for Mizzou football coach Barry Odom on Friday. Odom’s base salary is $450,000. There is an additional guaranteed non-salary compensation amount of $1,900,000. The last figure covers guarantees of $475,000 each in four different categories related to operating the football program:

With two mass shootings fresh in the minds of many around the country, sheriffs from Florida to Ohio have called on people to buy guns for protection. Two mid-Missouri departments are also encouraging people to arm themselves. They said it goes to show everyone, everywhere needs to be ready for any situation. Those phone sales

On Friday police identified a woman they arrested after a chase in Jefferson City. Police said they arrested 40-year-old Katina Daniels after the chase Thursday night. Country Club Drive on the west side of Jefferson City was temporarily closed after the high speed chase Thursday night. Jefferson City police said officers saw Daniels driving without

Columbia police are investigating a road rage incident that ended with shots fired. Police say it happened just before 10 p.m. on the connector. Two drivers were headed northbound on Highway 63 and reportedly started yelling at each other. A man driving a white sedan then shot at the victim. The victim’s truck appeared to

Warm above average temperatures are expected through the weekend as southerly winds continue ahead of our next low pressure system. A cold front will approach Saturday night, and sweep through Mid-Missouri on Sunday, bringing a good dose of rain and changing temperatures. Saturday will be the warmest of the next 7 days, with temperatures reaching

The U.S. Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals set a date for a Columbia man’s argument against the death penalty. A three-judge panel will hear arguments for Ernest Lee Johnson’s case on January 13 at the Thomas Eagleton Courthouse in St. Louis. A Boone County jury convicted Johnson twenty years ago for killing three convenience store

State lawmakers will soon discuss House Bill 1647, which would reform Missouri’s execution process. State Rep. Mike Kelley, R-Lamar, said the bill would require the state Supreme Court to perform a review on all pending death row cases within 30 days of it passing. The bill would also require the court to schedule an execution

A man is facing several drug-related charges Friday morning after he was arrested Wednesday. Deputies with the Callaway County Sheriff’s deputies and the MUSTANG drug task force arrested 52-year-old Billy Owen of Auxvasse Wednesday at 4:04 p.m. They were serving a search warrant in the 200 block of Peach Tree Drive. Officials tell us they

Voters approved a new sales tax for the Business Loop 70 Community Improvement District Thursday night by one vote. Seven of the fifteen registered voters returned their ballots, approving the half-cent sales tax at some stores 4-3. CID Executive Director Carrie Gartner said the tax will take effect April 1. Gartner said six ballots were

Columbia police on the night shift are back to one officer in each patrol car. CPD confirmed it made the change this week after announcing back in September there would be two officers in every car for officer safety. ABC 17 News crews were on scene of an armed home invasion Wednesday night and noticed

In less than a week, thousands of people are leaving mid-Missouri, whether it’s for the holidays or when the university goes on break. So the Columbia Police Department is warning residents of the threat of holiday burglaries. With burglary numbers on the increase and plenty of students and families heading home for a winter holiday

The Boone County Sheriff’s Department Cyber Crimes Task Force confirmed a man was arrested for having child pornography after a search warrant was carried out Thursday in a home in 1500 block of Hinkson Avenue in Columbia. It comes after the mid-Missouri agency got a cyber tip in October from the National Center for Missing

A strong low pressure system is developing to our southwest that will pull in quite a bit of moisture for the weekend. This low pressure system will start to approach the area Friday night, bringing a few spot showers, but the bulk of the rain and thunderstorms is expected by Saturday evening. A strong cold

Cell phone service providers explain the purchase of prepaid cell phones in bulk from retailers like Walmart is a common scam for dishonest employees and customers. Cell phone stores tell ABC 17 News cell phone service provider employees will often buy the inexpensive prepaid phones in bulk to create fake qualified customers for promotional discounts

Columbia Water and Light says water service has now been restored after a water main break Thursday morning. The repairs were completed by 1:30 Thursday afternoon. The 42 commercial customers affected are now under a precautionary boil order until mid-afternoon Friday. Water and Light tells ABC 17 customers not affected, but nearby the break, may

ABC 17 is learning a worker was life-flighted at a mid-Missouri manufacturing plant Thursday just north of Holts Summit. Emergency crews responded before noon on Thursday at the Doolittle Trailer facility along the outer road near Highway 54. Officials tell ABC 17 News they believe an outbuilding was under construction when the employee was pinned

ABC 17 News has a reporter in St. Louis, where the University of Missouri system board of curators are expected to approve contract details for MU’s new head football coach, Barry Odom, after the team’s defensive coordinator was promoted last week. It is the first official curator’s meeting for the new interim system president, Mike