Columbia Archives

Basye asks judge to add name to April Columbia School Board ballot

January 19, 2023 4:23 PM Ryan Shiner

A former state legislator will try to convince a judge that he should force Columbia Public Schools to add Basye’s name to the April election ballot.

Police: Child detained, released after threat at Gentry Middle School

January 19, 2023 5:24 PM Matthew Sanders

Columbia police said Thursday that they detained a child after investigating a threat at Gentry Middle School.

Man accused in Paris Road gas station shooting is in Boone County Jail, has court hearing

January 19, 2023 3:20 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A man who was allegedly involved in a Dec. 19 shooting at a gas station on Paris Road in Columbia is now in the Boone County Jail. Terrance A. Johnson Jr., 27, is charged with first-degree assault, armed-criminal action and shooting a gun at a motor vehicle/person. Johnson was arrested in St. Louis last week.

Pre-trial conference scheduled for man who confessed to killing his wife in 2006

January 19, 2023 5:47 AM Kennedy Miller

BOONE COUNTY Mo. (KMIZ) On Thursday, a pre-trial conference is scheduled for a Columbia man who admitted to killing his wife back in 2006. Comfort first reported his wife as missing after he allegedly killed her in 2006. After 13 years, Comfort finally confessed to killing his wife, Megan Shultz after she allegedly told him she was

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Should the state pay $859 million to expand I-70?

January 19, 2023 12:20 AM ABC 17 News Team

Gov. Mike Parson’s budget, unveiled during his State of the State address Wednesday, includes $859 million for upgrading Interstate 70 to three lanes in some places.

Basye files lawsuit against Columbia Public Schools, Columbia School Board

January 18, 2023 9:08 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Former Missouri State Rep. Chuck Basye is filing a lawsuit against Columbia Public Schools, the Columbia School Board and its members. Verified-Petition-Basye-v.-Columbia-Public-Schools-1.18.23-FINALDownload Basye told ABC 17 News that he filed the petition around 6 p.m. Wednesday. His lawyer, Brent Haden, confirmed on Wednesday evening that he’s filing it. Basye said in December

Swift Prepared Foods postpones hiring until March

January 17, 2023 8:13 PM Ryan Shiner

EDITOR’S NOTE: This story was updated following the announcement on Wednesday. COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Swift Prepared Foods is postponing all hiring until at least March, according to a Wednesday press release. The release states the company still plans on hiring 100 people for its Columbia plant on Paris Road. The company originally said in a

Gov. Parson touts I-70 expansion in State of the State address

January 18, 2023 3:41 PM Lucas Geisler

Parts of Interstate 70 in Mid-Missouri could expand to three lanes under a budget plan put forward by Gov. Mike Parson.

Former Hickman coach sentenced 12 years for child porn charges

January 18, 2023 3:00 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A former Hickman High School assistant soccer and basketball coach who pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography was sentenced on Friday. Benjamin E. Melvin, 26, was sentenced to 12 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections for four counts possessing child pornography. Melvin pleaded guilty to the charges on Nov. 21. He

Columbia middle school principal asks for help in reducing rumor’s spread

January 18, 2023 12:29 PM Matthew Sanders

The leader of a Columbia middle school asked families and students in an email Wednesday to help control the spread of what staff believes is a non-credible social media threat.

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Do you support local taxes on recreational marijuana sales?

January 18, 2023 12:12 AM ABC 17 News Team

Cities and counties in Mid-Missouri are considering whether to put their own sales taxes on recreational marijuana on the ballot.

Columbia City Council votes to add marijuana sales tax question to April ballot

January 17, 2023 9:12 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia City Council unanimously voted at its meeting on Tuesday to add a sales tax question for recreational marijuana to the April 4 ballot. The question will ask voters if there should be an additional 3% sales tax for recreational marijuana sales. This would be in addition to the state’s 6% tax. The council

Boone County Commission opens up applications for ARPA funds

January 17, 2023 7:38 PM ABC 17 News Team

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Boone County Commission has opened up applications for its federal COVID-19 relief money. During the first round of applications, the county has $15 million in American Rescue Plan money it can distribute to qualifying businesses and organizations, according to a press release from the commission. The application is on the Commission’s

Police identify MU student found dead in fire pit at north Columbia home

January 17, 2023 2:37 PM Matthew Sanders

Columbia police have identified the University of Missouri student officers found dead last week in a fire pit behind a house in north Columbia.

Organization hopes to boost downtown Columbia security with camera grants

January 17, 2023 11:11 AM Erika McGuire

An organization with a mission of making Columbia’s downtown more appealing said Tuesday that it will award grants to businesses to install security cameras.

Advisory group wants city to take over Business Loop 70 in Columbia

January 17, 2023 1:26 PM Matthew Sanders

A city advisory group that specializes in issues affecting Downtown Columbia wants the Missouri Department of Transportation to relinquish control of Business Loop 70.

Change of venue proposed in FIJI hazing case

January 17, 2023 12:05 PM Ethan Heinz

One of the men accused of hazing a pledge at a former University of Missouri fraternity asked Tuesday for a change of venue in his criminal case.

City of Columbia looking to add 3% sales tax to recreational marijuana purchases

January 17, 2023 5:44 AM Kennedy Miller

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The City of Columbia is looking at possibly adding a local sales tax to recreational marijuana purchases. On Tuesday, the city will discuss putting a 3% sales tax on marijuana purchases. The 3% sales tax would be in addition to the state’s 6% sales tax. 011723-COLUMBIA-CITY-COUNCIL-Download This proposal comes after recreational marijuana was approved by voters under

Police continue search for two suspects following crash at Columbia liquor store

January 16, 2023 5:46 AM Kennedy Miller

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ.) The search continues for two suspects who crashed a car into a Columbia liquor store early Monday morning. The Columbia Police Department says two men drove into the side of Arena Liquor on 2201 Ballenger Lane. The incident took place around 2:30 a.m. Monday. The suspects left the scene, but not before stealing $400 and

Tow-truck drivers, roadway workers face dangers while working on highways

January 16, 2023 4:34 PM Ethan Heinz

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) According to the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration, there were 300 fatal work-zone crashes in 2020. Jordan Toebben, the owner of Toebben’s Towing — a tow service based out of Jefferson City — said distracted motorists create unsafe conditions for those who work on roadways. “We’re trying to work