News

***UPDATE 7 P.M.***NEW YORK (AP) – Officials say the death toll from Superstorm Sandy has reached 48.Many of the victims were killed by trees toppled by the storm, including a New Yorker killed in bed by a tree that fell onto an apartment.More than 8 million, from Maine to the Carolinas, are waiting for the

Hurricane Sandy made landfall near New Jersey Monday evening. The storm created extreme weather conditions across the East Coast including:- heavy rains in excess of 6″ – wind gusts higher than 100 mph- storm surge higher than 10 feet near New York City- blizzard conditions in West Virginia with up to 3 feet of snow

Five people were arrested near the Lake of the Ozarks for allegedly running a fake pot laboratory. The synthetic marijuana is known as “Spice.” Sheriff’s deputies believe the amount they uncovered is worth $100,000.Investigators served a search warrant over the weekend at a home on Shadow Circle less than ten miles from Osage Beach. They

The Missouri Secretary of State announced today that 72 percent of the state’s registered voters are expected to turn out for next week’s election.The turnout is expected to be higher than that of the 2008 election, when 69 percent of registered voters headed to the poll.Political experts expect undecided voters will decide the winner of

***UPDATE SATURDAY 10 P.M.***Missouri Task Force 1 has completed its mission in Long Beach, Long Island, New York. The team will spend Saturday night in Ft. Dix, New Jersey before being flown into New York City Sunday by chopper to continue search and rescue missions.In a Facebook post, the team says “all members are doing

***UPDATE 7:30 P.M.***The Columbia School Board has chosen Darin Preis to fill Paul Cushing’s vacant seat on the board.Preis previously served on the board and is currently the executive director of Central Missouri Community Action.***ORIGINAL STORY***Columbia Public Schools leaders are scrambling to fill an open seat on the school board during a crucial time for

A Moberly plant is supposed to be producing biodiesel, but in three and a half years and at a cost of $8.5 million to open, the plant still is not producing any product.Officials say the plant should be up and running in the next six months. They say their goal is to have biodiesel production

Millions of Americans are still without power Tuesday night. As the East Coast starts to pick up the pieces, Mid-Missourians have reached out to ABC 17 News asking how help.As with any disaster relief, the outpouring of support is already growing. However, there are also always people looking to profit off of disasters. Relief organizations

According to the Centers for Disease Control, Halloween is the deadliest night of the year for pedestrians. The agency found children ages five to 14 are four times more likely to be killed while walking on Halloween night.Children face numerous dangers while trick-or-treating, including crossing the street, costume safety, and candy.Columbia police are asking children

***UPDATE 4:30 P.M.***A former Mid-Missouri priest charged with sex crimes believe he should not face trial.Prosecutors charge Gerald Howard, also known as Carmine Sita, with multiple counts of forcible sodomy and rape. Under his former name, Sita was convicted of sex crimes against another child in 1982.Prosecutors say while he was a priest at Saints

A judge has rejected the appeal of a man convicted of killing a Columbia newspaper editor.Wednesday afternoon, Cole County Circuit Judge Dan Green ruled that Ryan Ferguson did not prove his “actual innocence” of killing Columbia Tribune Sports Editor Kent Heitholt.Ferguson filed the appeal for a new trial in February 2011 and a five-day hearing

A Mid-Missouri man pleaded guilty to an armed bank robbery earlier this year.David Brian Krzysik, 49, of Tuscumbia pleaded guilty in federal court Wednesday to the armed robbery of First State Bank in Iberia. He also admitted that he attempted to rob Central Trust Bank in Tuscumbia.According to authorities, Krzysik robbed First State Bank on

University Hospital unveiled its newest Staff for Life helicopter Wednesday.The helicopter will join the fleet immediately and is equipped with in-flight cardiac monitoring, mobile blood testing and ultrasound, as well as night vision and autopilot for the pilots.The aircraft and staff are stationed at University Hospital, Lake Regional Hospital in Osage Beach and west of

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. (AP) – Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill is back on the campaign trail for the first time after the death of her mother.Betty Anne Ward McCaskill died Monday after a long struggle with heart and kidney problems. The Democratic senator stopped campaigning last week while her mother was ill.McCaskill’s voice seemed to

***UPDATE THURSDAY 2:30 P.M.***The Cole County Sheriff’s Department conducted checks on sex offenders Wednesday night to ensure they were in compliance with the law. A 2008 law states that certain sex offenders must follow certain rules, including avoiding contact with children, staying indoors through the evening, turning off porch lights, and hanging a sign on

Road crews across Missouri spent the day Wednesday testing their equipment to ensure it is ready for the winter ahead.This year is the first time the Department of Transportation has done a statewide winter operation. MoDOT had all 46 of its truck drivers out with snowplows to test for safety measures and to make sure

Missouri’s Department of Conservation is awaiting test results to confirm if a wolf was killed in Boonville.A bow hunter killed the animal in the Franklin Island Conservation Area on Tuesday and now conservationists are trying to find out how the animal got to Missouri.Officials say the animal was truly a “lone wolf” and believe he

***UPDATE THURSDAY 8 P.M.***Fire investigators say the cause of the fire will likely be undetermined. They say there was so much damage that there is still do dollar estimate.***UPDATE THURSDAY 7:18 A.M.***The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but fire officials do know it started in a machine shop/store room area of Champion Motor

Highlights from SportsZone Football Wednesday.

Police say one person was arrested after an accident along I-70.It happened near the 130 mile marker, in the eastbound lanes, just before 1 a.m. Thursday.A car and semi were involved in the crash. Reports are that the car flipped over.No one was taken to the hospital.Police say one person was arrested, but haven’t released