Columbia Archives

Randy Minchew no longer planning state senate run

June 8, 2023 5:08 PM Lucas Geisler

Columbia businessman Randy Minchew said he will not run for the newly-drawn state senate seat representing Boone County.

Columbia man pleads guilty to insurance, COVID business relief fraud

June 8, 2023 4:35 PM Lucas Geisler

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia man pleaded guilty on Thursday to federal charges for scamming insurance companies on car crash claims and fraudulently obtaining federal COVID-19 relief money. Lawrence Lawhorn made the plea in two separate cases on Thursday. Lawhorn pleaded guilty to wire fraud, mail fraud and identity theft in the car crash

Missouri Show-Me State and Senior Games start on Thursday

June 8, 2023 5:33 AM Joushua Blount

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Missouri Show-Me State and Senior Games kick off in Columbia on Thursday and will have dozens of events heading into the weekend. According to the game schedule, there will pickleball games at 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Cosmo-Bethel Park in Columbia. The sport of pickleball has been around for a some

Karen Hayes picked as new Columbia Board of Education member

June 7, 2023 6:00 AM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Former teacher Karen Hayes was picked as the new board member for the Columbia Board of Education at a special session Wednesday. Hayes was one of the three finalists picked for the final meeting, and won the seat with five out of the six votes among board members. Other finalists included previous

MU will ‘comply with state and federal laws’ after Parson signs anti-transgender bills

June 7, 2023 8:15 PM Marina Diaz

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Missouri Gov. Mike Parson signed Senate Bills 39 and 49 on Wednesday. The bills affect health care for transgender people and transgender athletes from competing in girls and women’s sports, which includes public and private universities and colleges. The bill goes into affect Aug. 28 University of Missouri’s spokesperson Christian Basi said,

Missouri Department of Agriculture expands farmers market programs to seniors, WIC

June 7, 2023 11:38 AM Mitchell Kaminski

The state Department of Agriculture this week unveiled two USDA-funded programs that will allow seniors and mothers to use food benefits at farmers markets.

First traffic to flow over new Missouri River bridge on I-70 this month

June 7, 2023 11:57 AM Avery Roehler

Passenger vehicles will drive over the new Missouri River bridge on Interstate 70 for the first time starting later this month.

Crash hurts one, briefly blocks traffic between Columbia, Hallsville

June 7, 2023 4:26 PM Lucas Geisler

BOONE COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ) – A three-car crash briefly blocked traffic on Wednesday afternoon on Route B between Columbia and Hallsville. Boone County Joint Communication warned about the crash around 3:40 p.m. on Wednesday at Route B and Kemper Road. The intersection is just south of Hallsville. Crews had the road reopened around 4:15 p.m.

City of Columbia websites experiencing outages

June 7, 2023 10:24 AM Matthew Sanders

The City of Columbia said Wednesday morning that its websites were at least partially down.

Fire put out at bike shop on Rogers Street within minutes

June 6, 2023 10:49 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) One block of Rogers Street near College Avenue and Paris Road in Columbia was shut down Tuesday night for a fire. Crews had the fire at Walt’s Bike Shop under control within minutes of arriving. No injuries were reported and no one was believed to be in the building, according to a

No one injured after a car caught fire in central Columbia

June 7, 2023 7:38 AM Kennedy Miller

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ.) The Columbia Police Department says no one was injured after a car caught fire in central Columbia early Wednesday morning. Police say they were called to Sanford Ave. around four in the morning on Wednesday where the vehicle was located. When ABC 17 News Crews arrived 4:15 a.m., two CPD cars and

D-Day ceremony held in Columbia

June 6, 2023 10:17 PM ABC 17 News Team

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The United States Exercise Tiger Commemorative Foundation held a D-Day tribute ceremony Tuesday at the Boone County Courthouse to remember the Normandy Beach landings that occurred June 6, 1944. The ceremony kicked off with the ringing of a Navy bell, followed by a flower- and wreath-laying ceremony. All veterans and their families who attended

Discussions ongoing about decreasing violent crime in Columbia

June 6, 2023 8:23 PM Avery Roehler

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Discussions between elected officials are ongoing about how to handle a recent string of gun violence in the city. The discussions took place at Monday’s City Council meeting, where many council members shared concerns. “We’re way past the time of just discussing. It’s time to put something into action where we can

Columbia man seriously injured in Putnam County crash

June 6, 2023 7:45 PM Ryan Shiner

UNIONVILLE, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia man suffered serious injuries in a Monday crash in Putnam County on Missouri 5, about two miles south of Unionville, according to a Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report. The crash occurred as a 2010 Mercury Grand Marquis – driven by Randolph Reed, 57, of Columbia – was heading northbound,

Sentencing for Fiji member accused in Santulli hazing case moved to Aug. 3

June 6, 2023 7:16 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A motion for continuance was granted for a University of Missouri fraternity member accused in the Danny Santulli hazing case. Alec Bradley Wetzler, 21, of St. Louis, pleaded guilty in April to supplying liquor to a minor and buying liquor as a minor, both misdemeanors. His sentencing hearing was originally set for

Multiple shell casings found in north Columbia early Tuesday morning

June 6, 2023 7:09 AM Kennedy Miller

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) On Tuesday morning, Columbia Police say they found multiple shell casings after a reported shooting near Rangeline St. and Blue Ridge Rd. ABC 17 News Crew arrived on scene at 4:40 a.m. as officers were finishing up their investigation. The Columbia Police Department confirmed shell casings were found in the area. Police

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Are you worried about violent crime in Columbia and Boone County?

June 6, 2023 2:45 AM ABC 17 News Team

This year has seen several high-profile violent crimes, including the deadly shooting of two teenagers at a party over the weekend and the wounding of four others.

South Columbia dispensary workers to hold union vote next week

June 5, 2023 9:25 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Next week, workers from a south Columbia marijuana dispensary will get a chance to vote on joining a union. Last month, several workers picketed Shangri-La over working conditions and firings. Now — the national labor relations board will help them figure out if they want to unionize. The election will be held 2-4 p.m.

Columbia Board of Education picks three finalists for open seat

June 5, 2023 9:02 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia Board of Education has chosen which applicants will be interviewed Wednesday for its open seat. The members went over and discussed each application at a meeting Monday night. Former teacher Karen Hayes, previous Board candidate Andrea Lisenby and former Board President Jan Mees will be interviewed by board members Wednesday.

Public comments at City Council meeting express concern over crime and policing in Columbia

June 5, 2023 8:04 PM Isabella Roberts

Watch Monday’s Columbia City Council meeting in the web player above. COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) At Monday’s City Council meeting, there were three public comments that led the meeting and all heavily focused on crime levels and policing in Columbia. Several people came to the meeting with questions and ideas for the council to address what