News

After a century of burning coal for energy, Columbia’s Municipal Power Plant will stop the practice by October. Plant superintendent Christian Johanningmeier said the Water & Light Department made the decision after state and federal rules changing the operation of coal-burning plants. The Environmental Protection Agency’s rules on coal combustion residuals, or CCRs, begin October

One person is in custody after reportedly firing a shotgun in Cole County. Authorities tell ABC 17 News the man threatened someone with a the weapon at a mobile home park in Taos, just southeast of Jefferson City. The suspect then apparently walked into the woods and fired the shotgun, starting a brief chase. Authorities

For the start of the high school football season the weather looks great. Temperatures will start off warm at the start of the games with mostly clear skies, a mild evening and a light southerly breeze. Warm, moist air will move in from the southwest late Friday night as a wave of low pressure aloft

The Battle High School radio tower that was supposed to be up by now is not. The tower would enable crews to talk to one another and joint communications during emergency situations in the high school’s area. No tower means emergency crews inside the high school can’t communicate with crews outside or with joint communications.

A Missouri man sentenced to serve life in prison without parole for marijuana will soon be free. Dan Viets, the attorney for Jeff Mizanskey, announced Thursday afternoon that his client is to be released from prison on Sept. 1. Mizanskey has served more than 21 years for nonviolent marijuana offenses. In May, Gov. Jay Nixon

Students and staff at a Mid-Missouri school are back in class Thursday afternoon following a fire. Jefferson City firefighters were called out just after 9:30 a.m. to the Trinity Lutheran School at 812 Stadium Boulevard. School officials had already evacuated students and staff from the building when JCFD crews arrived. Authorities tell ABC 17 News

IKEA has recalled the Patrull Nightlight because it poses an electrical shock hazard. Nearly 400,000 nightlights have been recalled. The lights come in white, orange and pink. They automatically turn on in the dark. No accidents have been reported in the United States, however there was one reported in Austria where a child suffered minor

A 77-year-old man is dead after crashing an ATV in Callaway County. It happened just before 4 p.m. Thursday on County Road 453 near Mokane. Authorities have not yet released his identity until all of his family members are identified. ABC 17 News has a crew on the scene. Watch ABC 17 News at 9

A suspect in a manhunt around Lake Ozark has been caught Thursday afternoon following a manhunt. School of the Osage District Officials tell ABC 17 News they placed Heritage Elementary on lockdown following a manhunt near the Lake of the Ozarks. Police say around 1:20 Thursday morning they were doing traffic stop by the Breaktime

Boone County Treasurer Tom Darrough thought the circuit clerk’s account balance was a mistake. The number had jumped by five million dollars since he checked the other day, and called Christy Blakemore’s office to make sure what he saw was right. “So I immediately checked into why that six million was there, and came about

A large group of University of Missouri students are making demands after their health insurance was suddenly taken away last week. Wednesday, the Forum on Graduate Rights, a group of about 1,200 MU graduate students, released a list of seven demands to the university administration. If they do not get a response by Tuesday, they

A property owner in the southern part of Columbia may soon be forced to demolish the remaining parts of his house after a fire last year left it destroyed. Last July, fire crews were called out to a home on Carter Lane for a fire. The home, belonging to Byron Hickam, was determined to be

ABC 17 News has confirmed the Boone Co. Government Center in downtown Columbia has closed for fleas. Crews are coming in Wednesday night to apply a treatment afterhours. The building serves several purposes, everything from property taxes to marriage licenses. Officials said they expect to have everything re-opened by Thursday. Columbia’s library was closed for

Severe storms rocked Mid-Missouri late Tuesday night, bringing heavy rain and even some wind damage to parts of the area. Flash flood warnings were issued for parts of Morgan and Benton counties, where 3-4″ of rain was reported by Tuesday morning. Damaging winds blew through Callaway County between 11:00 p.m. and midnight, bringing a 72

A Columbia man is behind bars after authorities said he attacked a mall security officer. 25-year-old Eric Smith was arrested Tuesday morning in the 2400 block of Bernadette Drive. Columbia Police officers said earlier Tuesday morning, he was sleeping at the Columbia Mall when he was told to leave. He reportedly refused and punched the

A group of Lincoln University students have had enough after they claim there are cockroaches and other pests in their school-provided accommodations. The owner claims there are no bugs, and told ABC 17 News she has the pest report to prove it. The students said they want to move out. They’re staying at the America’s

Last week ABC 17 alerted viewers when a Senate committee grilled the Health and Senior Services director for not knowing if the Planned Parenthood in Columbia met state licensing requirements. It was disputed that their doctor did not have privileges at a hospital within 15 miles of the clinic. ABC 17 News obtained a letter

Several Park Avenue residents said they’re worried about the recent gun violence on their street. “There have been a couple of times when we have heard gunshots in the middle of the night,” said Mikella Marley, 19. “It’s a little nerve-wracking to be in bed and hear a loud pop outside. When you’re not used

A Howard Co. man pleaded guilty Wednesday to child sex crimes. 42-year-old Darrell Hamilton pleaded guilty to two counts of first degree child molestation and one count of possession of child pornography. Hamilton admitted to forcing two children into sexual contact and having the child porn. Sentencing is scheduled for October 21 at 9:00 a.m.

The Highway Patrol Wednesday released more details about a deadly car crash north of Columbia. Troopers said 54-year-old Mark Tuggle suffered a medical problem. Tuggle was driving Tuesday on Route B in Higbee, just south of Moberly. His car went off the road, hit some trees, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.