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Bench trial continues for Jefferson City man accused of killing Lincoln University student

January 20, 2023 6:11 AM Kennedy Miller

COLE COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ) A Jefferson City man facing murder charges for a shooting in 2018, is set to continue his bench trial on Friday morning at the Cole County Courthouse. Alfred Chism Jr. allegedly admitted to killing a Lincoln University student back in 2018. According to court documents, Chism says he shot Charon Session in self-defense. Chism claimed Session had been verbally harassing him prior

Man seriously injured in Cole County crash after falling asleep

January 20, 2023 7:17 AM Joushua Blount

COLE COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ) Gregory D. Trout, of Blue Springs, is recovering from serious injuries after a crash in Cole County on Thursday. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report, the crash happened around 2:00 p.m. on U.S. 54 near Gray Rd. According to troopers, Trout was traveling eastbound on U.S. 54 when

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Should Chuck Basye’s name be added to the Columbia School Board ballot?

January 20, 2023 12:10 AM ABC 17 News Team

Former state lawmaker Chuck Basye will be in court Monday, when his lawyer will try to convince a judge to force Columbia Public Schools to add his name to the April ballot.

Columbia begins accepting proposals for ARPA funding

January 19, 2023 9:34 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The City of Columbia is accepting initial project proposals applicable for American Rescue Plan Act funding, the city said in a press release on Thursday. Columbia was awarded $25.2 million in ARPA funds. The Columbia City Council previously identified four areas it would like to prioritize with the first half of the

Funeral services scheduled for MU student found dead in fire pit

January 19, 2023 8:44 PM Ryan Shiner

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) A funeral has been announced for the University of Missouri student who was found dead last week in a fire pit behind a house in north Columbia. Samuel Clemons, 21, was identified by police earlier this week. Clemons was a sophomore studying biological sciences, UM System President Mun Choi said in a

Parson proposes pay raise for state employees in State of the State address

January 19, 2023 8:07 PM ABC 17 News Team

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Gov. Mike Parson’s State of the State address on Wednesday included a proposal for an 8.7% cost-of-living pay increase for state employees. According to state pay data, the average gross pay for full-time employees in 2021 was $45,021.85. For any worker who makes the average salary, the increase would be roughly $3,916.

Parson prioritizes maternal mortality during address

January 19, 2023 7:34 PM Hannah Falcon

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) After Gov. Mike Parson announced maternal mortality would be a priority for this year, one Missouri mother felt relieved, but still wonders if it’s enough. In his State of the State address on Wednesday, Parson said he’s requesting $4.3 million go towards the Department of Health and Senior Services to develop a

Boone County Commission approves marijuana sales tax question for April ballot

January 19, 2023 6:59 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Boone County Commission on Thursday approved its own sales tax question involving recreational marijuana. Boone County joins other area counties and cities – including the City of Columbia, Jefferson City and Cole County – that will have a sales tax question on the April 4 ballot. Like those other entities, the

Parson looks to temporary fix to boost Missouri teacher pay for second straight year

January 19, 2023 11:54 AM Marina Diaz

Missouri’s governor is again proposing a one-year fix to pay teachers more in this fiscal 2024 budget.

Man robs Jefferson City credit union

January 19, 2023 12:10 PM Matthew Sanders

A man robbed a Jefferson City credit union at gunpoint Thursday morning, police say.

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