News

The Columbia Police Department and city are holding a meeting Wednesday night to discuss new downtown street lights. ABC 17 News has been reporting on the project since November 2017. The lights are designed to improve nighttime security and prevent crime. Six lights are installed on East Broadway between Hitt Street and Waugh Street. The

Gov. Mike Parson announced Wednesday at his State of the State address that inmates and employees at the Crossroads Correctional Center will be transferring to the Western Missouri Correctional Center, which will allow for a pay raise across the department. The transition will take place over the next several months, according to Department of Corrections

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson set out his priorities for the 2019 legislative session Wednesday, with workforce development and infrastructure among his key policy pushes. “My administration is focused on making significant investments in workforce development and infrastructure, reforming and restructuring government responsibilities, and saving for the future,” Parson said in his prepared State of the

Another winter weather event is expected to blow through mid-Missouri over the weekend, creating the possibility of school districts canceling classes for the second week in a row. Many schools in mid-Missouri canceled classes on Monday after areas received at least 15 inches of snow. The National Weather Service measured 16.9 inches at the Columbia

Two people have been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the killing of a man who was found dead in Callaway County. Emily Ricketts was charged Jan. 9 and Ruben Cabrera on Jan. 11 in the Jan. 6 killing of Lauro Garza-Perez, Callaway County Prosecuting Attorney Chris Wilson said Wednesday. According to court documents,

The mother of a woman accused in a Callaway County killing said Wednesday that she fears for her daughter’s life. “I’m so afraid she’s going to die,” said Angela Ricketts, mother mother of Emily Ricketts. Emily Ricketts and Ruben Cabrera were charged last week in the shooting death of Lauro Garza-Perez, who was found dead

Boone County road crews are planning for the possibility of a slick morning commute. Rain is set to move in overnight north of Interstate 70, ABC 17 Stormtrack chief meteorologist Sharon Ray said. The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory overnight for some local counties, but not Boone County. With the forecast

The first winter storm of 2019 kept tree services, utility companies, street crews and insurance companies busy throughout the week. Jay MacLellan, spokesman for Shelter Insurance, said the company has received 38 claims in mid-Missouri since the storm started Saturday. “We’ve had the large bulk of those have come from through our property claims and

St. Louis police fatally shot a man facing charges in Cole County on Tuesday while officers responded to a carjacking. Quency Floyd, 22, of St. Louis, allegedly ran from plainclothes St. Louis detectives before shooting at them. Four detectives shot back, killing Floyd, St. Louis police said. No officers were injured in the exchange. Cole

TONIGHT: Light rain will increase in the evening from the west and will run into near freezing or below freezing temperatures north of I-70. This is where light freezing rain and sleet are possible and could lead to a glaze of ice on elevated surfaces and untreated roads. Areas south will stay just above freezing

Missouri Senate Minority Leader Gina Walsh urged the majority party not to take action against voter-approved initiatives in the Democratic response to Gov. Mike Parson’s State of the State address Wednesday. Walsh used former Gov. Eric Greitens as an example of the Republican Party’s track record in the General Assembly. “Now, with a new Governor,

Gov. Mike Parson will deliver the 2019 State of the State Address Wednesday afternoon. The speech is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. at the Missouri Capitol, and Democrats will give a response at 4:15 p.m. Parson will announce his priorities for the state during the speech. It’s his first State of the State Address

Several Columbia Police Department units rushed to Hickman High School on Wednesday afternoon, but police and school officials were not releasing details about what prompted the response. Columbia Fire Department Assistant Chief Brad Fraizer said firefighters were sent to the school for an assault and were on scene for less than five minutes. Fraizer said

The University of Missouri is preparing for another possible snow storm while still clearning up from the one last weekend. All residence halls will open at 9 a.m. Thursday, a day earlier than what was originally scheduled, MU officials wrote in an email to students. Dining plans will also be active again starting Thursday. The

The Columbia Board of Education is expected to approve the sample ballot this week for the April 2 general election. Two positions on the board will become vacant when James Whitt and Jan Mees’ terms expire in April. Mees and Whitt didn’t file for re-election. Four candidates — Ardell “Della” Streaty-Willhoit, Brian C. Jones, Blake

THIS AFTERNOON: A Winter Weather Advisory goes into effect this evening as the potential for freezing rain may cause impacts after 6 PM tonight until 9 AM Thursday. Macon, Randolph, Monroe, Chariton, Saline, and Audrain counties are under the Winter Weather Advisory. Drizzle is expected to move into the area after rush hour this evening.

WEDNESDAY: Early fog and drizzle will end and overcast skies remain in place with high temperatures only reaching into the mid 30s. After a cold front moves through today light rain will pick up into the evening which could turn to freezing rain north of HWY 50. A Winter Weather Advisory goes into effect this

So far, the city of Columbia has issued 135 tickets and towed eight cars that were parked on priority snow routes over the weekend. According to the city’s website, no one is allowed to park on priority routes when 2 inches of snow or more accumulate. The car will be ticketed or towed at the

Longtime Columbia College men’s basketball coach and athletic director Bob Burchard will retire following the 2018-19 basketball season. “Columbia College is a special place,” Burchard said in a release. “I will be forever grateful for the opportunity to serve the institution and our students.” Burchard began at Columbia College in 1988. Since then, he’s led

The Court of Appeals for the Western District of Missouri ruled Tuesday that the Cole County government must pay at least $36,000 for Sunshine Law violations made by the former prosecuting attorney’s office. To read the opinion, click here. The violations stem from records request made in 2015 by St. Louis County resident Aaron Malin,