Top Stories Archives

Early morning Columbia fire kills poultry

January 11, 2024 2:47 AM Erika McGuire, Matthew Sanders

One person was treated for injuries and several birds were found dead after a house fire early Thursday in north Columbia.

Man charged with 13 child sex crimes in Phelps County

January 11, 2024 2:54 PM Ryan Shiner

ROLLA, Mo. (KMIZ) A man was arrested on Wednesday at his home in Salem after he was charged with 16 sex crimes, 13 of which involving children, according to a social media post from the Phelps County Sheriff’s Office. Dustin Leon Drennen, 34, was charged with 11 counts of statutory sodomy, two counts of first-degree

Man pleads guilty to rape, sentenced to nine years in prison

January 11, 2024 2:16 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A 24-year-old man who pleaded guilty to rape and other sex crimes on Monday was sentenced to nine years in prison. Elijah Schwartz –who is listed as being from Ohio on Casenet – pleaded guilty to first-degree rape, second-degree domestic assault and two counts of second-degree sodomy. He was initially charged with

Police: No injuries reported after shots were fired in north Columbia

January 10, 2024 10:59 PM Ryan Shiner

Editor’s note: This story was updated to reflect property damage being reported after police released more information. COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Police say there were no injuries reported Wednesday night after shots were fired near Blue Ridge and Oakland Gravel roads. Columbia Police Sgt. Derek Moore told ABC 17 News that police responded to a shots-fired

Two injured after UTV equipment failure in Cooper County

January 11, 2024 7:31 AM Erika McGuire

A UTV crash in Cooper County Wednesday afternoon sent two people to the hospital.

RECALL ROUNDUP: Regulators recall furniture restraint kits, turkey kielbasa and Ford Focuses

January 11, 2024 11:17 AM Erika McGuire

This week’s roundup includes furniture kits, sausages and another Ford vehicle.

Biden administration awards funding for 44 electric vehicle chargers in Columbia

January 11, 2024 10:56 AM Matthew Sanders

The City of Columbia is getting $3.6 million from the federal government to build 44 electric vehicle chargers.

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Does Missouri need harsher penalties for ‘swatting?’

January 11, 2024 2:15 AM ABC 17 News Team

Police were sent to Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft’s home Sunday night on a bogus call.

City of Moberly blames animal fat and drought for odor complaints

January 10, 2024 7:23 PM Mitchell Kaminski

MOBERLY, Mo. (KMIZ) The City of Moberly says animal fat from a nearby meat-processing facility and the ongoing drought over the summer are the cause of an odor coming from a wastewater-holding basin located just off Rollins Street near Highway 63. Last week Moberly received its second warning from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources

Schlude talks policies, staffing during first Columbia Police Review Board meeting as chief of police

January 10, 2024 4:28 PM Nia Hinson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Jill Schlude attended her first Columbia Police Review Board meeting as the city’s police chief on Wednesday evening. Schlude described being grateful to the board, adding that she feels it’s important for both parties to be able to collaboratively work on issues. During the meeting, board members asked Schlude various questions regarding

Columbia Parks and Rec to hold MLK Day walk; city offices closed Monday for holiday

January 10, 2024 9:54 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia Parks and Recreation on Monday will hold its annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Candlelight Walk and Memorial Celebration, according to a Wednesday release from the city. The candlelight walk will start at 6:30 p.m. at the Armory Sports Center, 701 East Ash Street. The release states participants should meet in the basement of the facility; the lower level

MU launches new campus safety app

January 10, 2024 8:55 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The University of Missouri has launched a new smartphone application for campus safety, according to a Wednesday press release Mizzou Safe, which includes features such as location sharing, push notifications, real-time reporting and text-to-911, is available for free in the iOS App and Google Play stores, the release states. The application provides communication between students

Arson case for Casa Maria’s owner moved to Butler County

January 10, 2024 8:03 PM Ryan Shiner

DUNKLIN COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ) An owner of a Mexican restaurant in Columbia who has been accused of arson in Dunklin County had her case moved to Butler County on Wednesday. Crystal Umfress, 42, was charged with second-degree arson. Umfress is an owner of Casa Maria’s Restaurant in Columbia. Her lawyer had requested a change of venue

Saline Animal League calls eviction ‘unlawful’

January 10, 2024 1:26 PM Jazsmin Halliburton

An animal rescue organization in Saline County said this week that its eviction from Marshall city facilities is “unlawful.”

No numbers being shared surrounding MU Health Care-Capital Region integration

January 10, 2024 6:53 PM Morgan Buresh

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) MU Health Care and Capital Region Medial Center in Jefferson City completed the integration of its health systems last week, but leaders aren’t sharing any numbers related to the cost of the merger. A celebration event was held Wednesday in Jefferson City, but financial experts were not available. ABC 17 News

Investigators determine suspicious package sent to attorney general contained meth

January 10, 2024 1:12 PM Hannah Falcon

The suspicious package sent to the Missouri Attorney General’s Office in April contained methamphetamine, according to records ABC 17 News obtained from the Missouri Department of Public Safety.

Two running for Columbia Ward 2 Council seat, Peters files for reelection in Ward 6

January 10, 2024 4:59 PM Ryan Shiner

Two people have filed to run for the Ward 2 Columbia City Council seat, according to an email from City Clerk Sheela Amin.

More than 600 co-op members remain without power in Macon County

January 10, 2024 2:47 PM Ryan Shiner

MACON COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ) More than 600 Macon Electric Cooperative customers in Macon County were still without power Wednesday afternoon. Thousands were without power as early as Tuesday morning, according to the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives outage map. More than 2,600 members of the Macon Electric Cooperative in Macon County were without power on Tuesday,

City of Belle claims no sign of missing funds or misuse of guns amid mayor’s charges

January 10, 2024 4:18 PM Ryan Shiner

The City of Belle released a statement Wednesday saying that no money is missing from its bank accounts and that none of its guns are missing or have been misused.

WHAT’S GOING AROUND: Doctors seeing respiratory illnesses, flu and COVID-19

January 10, 2024 11:14 AM Erika McGuire

Here is a roundup of the illnesses doctors say are spreading around Mid-Missouri.