Top Stories 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.

Florissant man charged after allegedly stealing motorcycle from home in Cooper County

January 19, 2023 5:14 PM Ryan Shiner

BOONVILLE, Mo. (KMIZ) A man has been charged with multiple felonies in Cooper County after allegedly stealing a motorcycle. Joseph Princivalli, 32, of Florissant, is charged with second-degree burglary, first-degree tampering with a motor vehicle, first-degree property damage and possession of a controlled substance. He is being held at the Cooper County Jail on a

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

Eastern Missouri deputies on the search for five jail escapees

January 19, 2023 12:51 PM Kennedy Miller

The St. Francois County Detention Center is on the lookout for five inmates who escaped from its facility on Tuesday evening.

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

Jefferson City Council votes to increase bus rates

January 18, 2023 8:38 PM Ryan Shiner

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Bus riders in Jefferson City will soon be paying more. At its meeting on Tuesday night, the Jefferson City Council voted 6-3 in favor of raising the price to ride the bus. The change will go into effect Feb. 6. Ward 1 Councilmen Jack Deeken and David Kemna, along with Ward 2

Governor proposes improvements to railroad crossings following year of deadly crashes

January 18, 2023 7:49 PM Hannah Falcon

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) During his State of the State address on Wednesday, Gov. Mike Parson asked for a new line item in the fiscal year 2024 budget to increase safety measures at railroad crossings. Parson is proposing $35 million from Missouri’s budget be put towards making train crossings safer. This comes after an unusually

Parson proposes using $3.5 million to add more mental health resources

January 18, 2023 7:08 PM Marina Diaz

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo, (KMIZ) Missouri Gov. Mike Parson proposed to use $3.5 million to increase the number of youth behavioral health professionals across the state. According to the initiative, the funding will go towards 27 professionals to “help our youth in crisis and receive the treatment they need.” Parson’s proposition was announced during Wednesday’s State

Two women arrested in Camden County after allegedly trying to steal copper wires

January 18, 2023 5:18 PM Ryan Shiner

STOUTLAND, Mo. (KMIZ) The Camden County Sheriff’s Office arrested two women on suspicion of burglary on Tuesday. Ashley M. Blackburn, 22, of Camdenton, and Amber L. Juergens, of Richland, were each charged with second-degree burglary. A court date was not set. Both women were listed on the Camden County Jail roster Wednesday and are each

Parson prioritizes infrastructure, education, worker pay in State of the State

January 18, 2023 6:12 AM Ryan Shiner

Gov. Mike Parson on Wednesday praised tax cuts approved last year and highlighted his plan to fund education, mental health services and state worker pay raises in his State of the State speech.

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

Solar farm connection proposed for Callaway County

January 17, 2023 8:40 PM Ryan Shiner

EDITOR’S NOTE: The article has been updated to clarify the details of the project. KINGDOM CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Ameren is hoping to connect to a new solar farm in Callaway County. Union Electric Company d/b/a Ameren Missouri filed an application with the Missouri Public Service Commission seeking a Certificate of Convenience and Necessity to construct,