News

Fatma El-Walid rushed into an office-hours study session with her cellular biology class on March 13, 2015. Several students left shortly after her arrival before 5 p.m., leaving El-Walid and eight other students there. The professor, Dr. Michael Garcia, turned the conversation from cellular biology to conspiracy theories, such as the assassination of former U.S.

On November 27, the the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) processed 185,345 background checks for gun ownership across the country. That’s the highest number of firearm checks since the system was created by the FBI on November 30, 1998. “They’re going to ask you things that pertain to your history,” said Mike O’Dell,

Light southerly winds will help warm our temperatures as we head into the weekend with above average highs. The average high temperature for early December is 45. Saturday looks mostly sunny with high temperatures in the mid 50s and light southerly winds. Clouds will increase Saturday night as a weak cold front approaches. This will

On Thursday the Missouri Department of Economic Development responded to seven questions about the IBM facility in Columbia more than a month and half after ABC 17 News asked the questions. This comes after Columbia Third Ward councilman Karl Skala called on the state to be more forthcoming with IBM data on Wednesday. ABC 17’s

In the past, students in grade school and high school spend a day or two every year practicing how to get to safety during a fire or a tornado. In 2015, students go through active shooter training. Columbia Public School students go through multiple active shooter drills every school year. “It’s so important that we

A Missouri state lawmaker pre-filed a bill on Tuesday to remove the current ban on carrying concealed firearms in higher education institutions. State Sen. Brian Munzlinger, R-Williamstown, represents 14 counties, including Chariton and Randolph in the ABC 17 News viewing area. Under current Missouri law, a concealed carry permit does not allow a person to

Representatives of 81 religious and advocacy groups signed a letter to the state Legislature Thursday morning urging lawmakers to welcome foreign refugees. This comes just days after a joint committee hearing on the cost of Missouri accepting refugees from Syria. “How embarrassing if Missouri were to end up on the wrong side of history,” said

A Columbia man will spend 20 years in prison for beating a woman to death and leaving her on the side of a gravel road in Cooper Co. 26-year-old Bryant Holmes Jr. was caught back in October 2013. The sheriff believes he killed Satina Beckner with a blunt object. Her body was later found near

Columbia Police are asking for the public’s help in identifying two people accused of theft at a laundromat. It happened early last Friday at the Robinson’s Cleaners in the 3600 block of Buttonwood Drive. Police released surveillance images Thursday afternoon of the two suspects. Police said they believe these men were involved, and they’re asking

Columbia Police have released the final numbers for burglaries over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. The numbers reflect burglaries that happened from November 20 to December 1. This year, there were 17 residential burglaries, and that number is down compared to the 28 reported in 2014 and 36 reported in 2011. However, commercial burglaries are up

The state Department of Economic Development Thursday announced that Cardinal Health will expand its Moberly manufacturing facility. The addition will create 50 new jobs over the next 6 years. Among the 50 new full-time positions are maintenance technicians, machine operators, and material handlers. The expansion will bring the company’s Moberly workforce to 175 employees. Those

Every city in the nation is full of potential soft targets, and experts say there is no way to know which one could become a target at any time. ABC 17 News reached out to Cole County Sheriff Greg White to find out how you can stay safe during your everyday life. “If you see

The Salvation Army in Columbia depends heavily on the red kettle campaign and expects to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars through the next few weeks. “This is our biggest fundraiser of the year and so we use the money that we receive at Christmas to fund our programming through the year,” said Maj. Richard

A Columbia councilman said Wednesday the state needs to be more forthcoming with data on the IBM facility in Columbia. This comes after ABC 17 News reported Tuesday the Missouri Department of Economic Development had not answered seven questions ABC 17’s Jillian Fertig asked in an email sent on October 14. On Wednesday, those seven

ABC 17 anchor Marissa Hollowed spoke with interim UM system president Mike Middleton about a range of topics from the new MU office that will include civil rights in Title IX and his take on the protesting of racial issues nationwide. Here are some notable quotes from Middleton during the interview: Mike Middleton served as

More than 780 people have died on Missouri roadways in 2015 as of December 1. That is nearly 80 more deaths compared to the same time in 2014. The increase goes against the general downward trend of crash deaths over the last ten years. “Over the last 10 years from about 2006 to 2015, the

Temperatures will slowly warm up the next few days with mostly sunny skies. Surface high pressure will move over us Thursday giving us plenty of sunshine and warming temperatures into the upper 40s. The warming trend will continue for the end of the week through Saturday due to abundant sunshine and southwesterly winds as the

The latest round of work at the Columbia Regional Airport is complete. In August, workers started demolishing and rebuilding the pavement around the intersection between the main runway and crosswind runway. It cost almost $5 million, but 90% of that was covered by federal grants. The city still wants to improve the crosswind runway, with

Officials with the Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri and Missouri’s Department of Health and Senior Services were preparing for a hearing that could determine the fate of a Columbia Planned Parenthood clinic’s abortion license Wednesday. The hearing is scheduled to start at 1:00 Wednesday afternoon. It comes after MU Health Care ended it’s refer

A Columbia teen was released from jail Wednesday after he was accused of posting someone else’s pornographic video online. Police claim 18-year-old Eugy Ngassi-Koumou demanded cash from the girl. When it didn’t work, officials said he sent the video to the victim’s younger sister before posting the clip on Twitter. Even though his first account