News

Two Tuscon, Arizona residents were arrested last week after Phelps Co. deputies apparently caught traveling on I-44 with drugs in their car. Deputies stopped the car near the 197 mile marker on eastbound I-44 on December 3. Deputies searched the car and found 73 pounds of cocaine in a hidden compartment. 23-year-old Monica Castillo and

A 40-year-old California man was arrested Sunday morning after Highway Patrol troopers pulled him over for a registration violation. Troopers stopped Michael Cox at the 104 mile marker on I-70, and smelled a strong odor of burnt marijuana coming from him. Cox told the trooper he could not search the car, but the trooper used

A Holts Summit man was arrested Monday morning for charges relating to sexual abuse between 2010 and 2012. Court documents said Holts Summit Police overheard a 9-year-old victim say she “had a baby in her belly,” and “the baby in her belly was not coming out.” Investigators talked to the victim’s grandmother, who said the

A 19-year-old man was arrested Monday after officers smelled marijuana coming from a MU residence hall dorm room. An officer went to Zachary Bannister’s room in Hudson Hall and searched his room after he gave consent. The officer found drug paraphernalia including 2 scales, marijuana, two fake IDs, and an open, unlocked safe. Bannister had

Sentencing is now set in February for a mid-Missouri mother charged for the death of her daughter, who overdosed on prescription drugs Christmas Eve. Starletta Blevins-Moore just pleaded guilty Monday to two counts of endangering the welfare of a child. Her 16-year-old was found dead last year in Maries County near Dixon, about an hour

More than 250 bills were pre-filed Tuesday, for the 2016 Missouri Legislative Session that gets underway January 6th. Republican State Representative Caleb Rowden of Columbia, pre-filed a sweeping 4-point ethics reform package. As our guest on “This Week,” Representative Rowden talks about why ethics reform is so important to him at this moment. Here’s a

About two weeks after learning the Columbia Police Department will be dissolving its Traffic Unit, ABC 17 News asked MODOT’s Highway Safety division if the change could affect future grants to the city. ABC 17 News confirmed CPD’s decision to eliminate the Traffic Unit through a leaked email. CPD is set to dissolve the Traffic

ABC 17 News has confirmed a colonel with the Missouri National Guard from Columbia has landed in jail, accused of driving drunk and hitting another car. The crash happened Sunday night off Highway 17 just north of Fort Leonard Wood. Troopers say John Findley, 46, crossed the center line, trying to pass another car. His

Some major traffic impacts are planned for Interstate 70 this week that are expected to impact drivers in Columbia. Starting Tuesday night at 8:00, crews will redirect westbound traffic at Rangeline to the new westbound bridge built there. On Wednesday night at 8:00, crews will also redirectwestbound traffic at Garth to the new westbound bridge

The Columbia City Council approved a new neighborhood association plan, as well as approved raising the city manager’s salary. City Manager Mike Matthes left the room for the discussion Monday night to raise his base salary to $165,000. The bill attached to the city’s website for the issue said it would raise the salary from

A mild weather pattern is shaping up for the rest of the work week with high temperatures 15-20 degrees above average as we reach into the low to mid 60s Thursday and Friday. The weather looks mainly dry through Friday, with the exception of a few sprinkles or brief light showers Tuesday night. A stronger

A Centralia man was sentenced to 7 years Monday after he was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the 2013 death of a 12-year-old Columbia girl. 35-year-old Aaron Wormington was driving with 12-year-old Jade Stafford in the passenger seat on November 23, 2013 when the crash happened on Commerce Road in Mexico. Wormington tried to

A Missouri state representative this week filed a bill that would require DUI offenders to participate in a victim impact panel. Representative Mike Kelley wants DUI offenders to better understand the effects of driving while impaired. Kelley filed legislation to create Toby’s law, named in memory of Tobias Olsen, who was killed along with his

Now is the time of year many people are decorating their homes for the holidays. But if you are hiring someone to help out, officials said you should take extra measures to avoid being scammed. Many people turn to websites like Craigslist to save money, according to officials. But often times if you hire someone

The Federal Aviation Administration expects about 1 million drones, a type of recreational flying device, will be sold during the 2015 holiday season. The Ashland Board of Alderman is preparing for the increase in popularity by passing new rules for flying drones near the Columbia Regional Airport and within city limits. Board members voted unanimously

A man is still on the run Monday night after leading police on a chase in Jefferson City. Maurice Bellamy was charged Monday afternoon after court documents claim an officer tried to pull him over on West Ashley St. Monday morning. Bellamy apparently sped off, ran a stop sign, and hit three parked cars and

ABC 17 News has learned two people are dead in north central Missouri after a small plane went down about 45 minutes west of Moberly in Chariton County. A citizen called to report the plane had crashed around 9:15 p.m. Sunday in a field near Izora City Avenue, off County Road 309, about eight miles

The Columbia City Council is scheduled to meet Monday night to discuss plans surrounding a proposed East Elementary School. The school board approved a development plan earlier this fall, and heard from residents about its plan for access to the school. The new proposal the council will discuss Monday would result in a 289-lot plat

The Mexico Department of Public Safety is investigating an attempted armed robbery that apparently happened on Saturday. A caller told officers a man approached her and demanded money, and when she told him she didn’t have any, he hit her in the face and left the area. The victim said the man was about 5’10”

A 37-year-old man was shot twice after he allegedly tried to run over Gasconade County authorities late Thursday night near Rosebud. Eric Campbell is charged with 2 counts of assault on an officer after deputies and task force officers went to a home on Idel Road with a narcotics search warrant. According to Sheriff Randy