News

The Columbia Police Officer’s Association says the police department and city spent more than $500,000 of taxpayer money to wrongfully prosecute an officer accused of assault. The CPOA says its initial Internal Affairs report cleared Rob Sanders of any wrongdoing after a 2011 incident in a police department holding cell. Rob Sanders was charged with

A former Columbia police officer who faced up to a year behind bars for shoving an inmate into a holding cell wall was found not guilty Tuesday. Rob Sanders had been charged with third-degree assault for the 2011 holding cell incident involving Kenneth Baker. Then in 2012, Chief Ken Burton fired Sanders for using excessive

AT&T is planning to work on their cell service after numerous complaints from Mid-Missouri residents. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer, who represents Missouri’s 3rd congressional district, met with the president of AT&T Missouri on Tuesday. Several Maries County residents told ABC 17 News they are having problems connecting to the network despite the cellular phone company saying

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is discontinuing some health insurance plans because of new health care reform requirements starting next year. In letters sent to certain plan holders, the company is recommending new policies to replace the ones that are discontinued. Boonville business owner Vaughn Sell got his letter Saturday morning. It begins: “Anthem

An Audrain County man has been arrested for allegedly possession child pornography. The Sheriff’s Office says it served a search warrant in the 400 block of Cleveland Street in Vandalia early Tuesday morning. Officers seized computer equipment and arrested 23-year-old Manuel Gomez after finding child pornography on the computer. Audrain County law enforcement say the

The government shutdown brings concerns for travelers. National monuments and tourist spots are closed across the nation, including the Gateway Arch in St. Louis. Those traveling out of the country still needing passports are worried. Government officials warn that there could be delays in processing passport and visa applications. The government is still working to

RR Donnelley employees in Jefferson City walked off the job for the last time Tuesday. In August, the publisher announced it would shutter its operations in the capital city and nearly 500 employees would lose their jobs. While it is a hard day for employees and their families, city officials are focusing on getting those

Columbia police have made an arrest in a shooting that happened on Quail Drive late Monday. Around 11 p.m., callers reported hearing gunfire around the 2600 block of Quail Drive. Officers found shell casings and say no one was hurt and no property damaged. Police arrested Matthew Johnson in connection with the shooting. He was

A restaurant in downtown Columbia is staying open after inspectors discovered roaches last week. The Chinese Wok was cleared on Monday after fixing the issues. The business at the corner of Fifth Street and Broadway was cited for six critical and six non-critical violations, after a customer said he found a roach on his table.

The Missouri Supreme Court has ruled in favor of Gov. Jay Nixon in a budget battle with State Auditor Tom Schweich. The court ruled Tuesday that Schweich did not have legal standing to challenge about $170 million of spending cuts announced by Nixon in June 2011. The cuts to education and other services were based

Missouri’s new federally-run health insurance marketplace features at least two major players – Coventry and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield. A representative for Aetna, which now owns Coventry, told ABC 17 News Monday the company would offer plans in the state marketplace. That may be good news for people with doctors at Boone Hospital.

Leaders of Ward Two in Columbia and police met with ward residents Monday night to inform them of upcoming projects and crime in the area. Police said violent crime and property crime in Ward Two is down one percent from this time last year. Last week at the Mayor’s Task Force for Community Violence meeting,

Employees at the power plant in Chamois left their jobs for the final time Monday. Central Electric Cooperative announced it would close the plant last winter. $2.2 million in direct payroll will be taken out of the local economy. The school district in Chamois could stand to lose $58,000. CEO Donald Shaw told ABC 17

Boone County fire crews rescued four people Monday afternoon after they got stuck in the middle of the Missouri River. The first calls came in around 3:10 p.m., but firefighters had to go about a mile upriver from Huntsdale to get around a sand bar and then back down to the stranded boaters. Crew members

A man confessed he attacked a deputy last year and stole his patrol car, taking authorities on a lengthy car chase around Boonville. Ronald Greer pleaded guilty last week on two counts — assaulting an officer and escaping from custody. All other charges were dropped, and Greer received 15 years in prison. Deputies were transporting

The possible shutdown of government in Washington DC is projected to have a to have a significant impact in Mid-Missouri. There are still several questions out there about what will exactly be affected. The Department of State has some funds outside the congressional budget. If you’re looking to get a passport they will still be

The flu killed 1,300 people in Missouri alone in one year, according to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. The Boone County Health Department is fighting the spread of the flu by offering flu shots for both kids and adults. The shots are free for kids ages 6 months to 18. They are

Democratic state representative Chris Kelly says a federal shutdown could have a major impact on the Missouri economy. He says Missouri’s federal employees would feel the loss of that time with no pay or work. Kelly also says the jobs that federal employees do are crucial to the Missouri economy. “Things like research, passports, parks,

Centralia police arrested a Rocheport woman Sunday night on suspicion of possessing and selling methamphetamine. Officers say by the time they arrested Michelle Poe, 30, she’d sold meth in Centralia, and had more of the drug with her. Police told ABC 17 News that Poe had her two daughters, age 6 months and 1 year,

The Chamois Power Plant will close its gates for the final time Monday. Central Electric made the decision to close the plant based on the economic cost to keep it open. Now, 30 people are looking for new work, but all residents in the small town are feeling the impact. “We have some families that