Columbia Archives

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Do you support the death penalty?

September 1, 2021 1:17 AM ABC 17 News Team

Lethal injection has come under scrutiny in recent years on ethical and constitutional grounds.

Statewide coronavirus deaths pass 400 in August

August 31, 2021 9:13 PM Leila Mitchell

As the coronavirus continues to take lives every day across the United States, Missouri had 100 more deaths in August 2021 compared to August 2020.

Greyhound to open new stop at Wabash Bus Station

August 31, 2021 5:52 PM Karl Wehmhoener

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) On Wednesday, Greyhound will open a new stop at Wabash Bus Station in Columbia. The new stop will feature 1:40 p.m. and 8:10 p.m. schedules that will operate Monday through Saturday. The stop at the Midway Truck Stop and Travel Plaza will remain open. Customers can still purchase tickets in-person from the

Missouri Supreme Court declines to halt Johnson execution

August 31, 2021 3:05 PM Associated Press

By JIM SALTER Associated Press The Missouri Supreme Court has refused to halt the October execution of a man convicted of a triple killing who claimed his intellectual disability made him ineligible for the death penalty. Ernest Lee Johnson is scheduled to die by injection Oct. 5 at the state prison in Bonne Terre. It

MONDAY UPDATES: Missouri DHSS adds 137 coronavirus related deaths after analyzing death certificates

August 30, 2021 11:00 AM ABC 17 News Team

Check back for updates related to the coronavirus pandemic in Missouri.

Missouri hate crimes in 2020 highest since 2011

August 30, 2021 9:14 PM Zach Boetto

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The FBI released new hate crime statistics for 2020 on Monday, showing Missouri reported it’s most since 2011. The state of Missouri, in 2020, reported 115 hate crimes, up compared to the 89 in 2019. Here is how the numbers break down for the last 10 years: 2020: 1152019: 892018: 662017: 1042016:

Catholic Charities of Central and Northern Missouri preparing for anticipated Afghanistan refugee arrivals

August 30, 2021 8:59 PM Karl Wehmhoener

As the humanitarian crisis unfolds in Afghanistan, Catholic Charities of Central and Northern Missouri (CCCNMO) is preparing to resettle any Afghan refugees that arrive in Central Missouri.

Coronavirus quarantines rise as students return to classrooms

August 30, 2021 11:58 AM Lucas Geisler

Quarantines have gone up in school districts due to people testing positive for COVID-19 or for exposure to it. Columbia Public Schools reported 117 students and five workers in either isolation or quarantine on Monday. Jefferson City School District reported seven active student cases and four active staff cases, with a close contact in each category.

Court documents unsealed in Boone County double murder case

August 30, 2021 4:29 PM Matthew Sanders

In documents detailing the two first-degree murder charges against JT McLean, police say a witness, a supermarket receipt and neighborhood surveillance videos connect McLean to the scene where Allison Abitz, 43, and her daughter, Jozee Abitz, 11, were found dead in their home just south of Columbia on Aug. 22.

One dead in crash at Highway 63 and Vandiver Drive

August 30, 2021 5:41 AM Meghan Drakas

Shannon Marrero, 37, of Columbia died in the crash that happened at about 5 a.m. at Vandiver and Highway 63, the Columbia Police Department said.

Columbia Red Cross team responding to Louisiana for Hurricane Ida

August 30, 2021 5:13 AM Meghan Drakas

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The American Red Cross of Missouri-Arkansas is sending multiple response teams to Louisiana to help residents of the state recovering from Hurricane Ida. The Columbia Red Cross is sending one team of two drivers with a vehicle filled with food and emergency supplies to communities in Louisiana. Two crews will also depart

Columbia College returns in-person with COVID-19 precautions in place

August 30, 2021 4:37 AM Zola Crowder

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia College students start class Monday in-person and the school has put COVID-19 precautions in place. Masks As of Aug. 9 masks are required indoors for all students, staff, and faculty regardless of vaccination status. There are some exceptions to the mask policy, including when people are alone in a work space

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Do you support the Missouri AG’s lawsuit against school mask mandates?

August 30, 2021 3:55 AM ABC 17 News Team

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt has named Columbia Public Schools in a class-action lawsuit meant to ban districts’ mask mandates statewide.

Bridge work continues in Boone County, I-70 traffic delays expected

August 29, 2021 4:59 AM Ben Fein

Ongoing rehabilitation work of the Perche Creek Bridges in Boone County is expected to cause lane closures this week.

Police issue a Silver Alert for missing 71-year-old woman

August 28, 2021 11:54 PM Meghan Drakas

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) UPDATE: As of a little after 8 a.m. on Sunday, the University of Missouri Police Department released Theresa Antoine-Mitchell had been found and is safe. The University of Missouri Police Department has issued an Endangered Silver Advisory for a missing woman last seen on Saturday night at 5:30 p.m. Police are searching

SATURDAY: Fourteen new Covid-19 deaths recorded

August 28, 2021 8:14 PM Chanel Porter

The state now has a seven day positivity rate of 12.9% on Saturday, The change in positivity comes along with 1,865 additional confirmed cases bringing the total to 626,104 since the start of pandemic. Health officials also recorded 698 new probable cases with a total number of 126,639 antigen test results being positive. Fourteen new

New laws set to go into place in Missouri to limit health orders, allow college athletes to be compensated

August 28, 2021 3:50 AM Ben Fein

ultiple new laws are set to take effect on Saturday, including compensation for student athletes, limits on health orders, multiple relating to law enforcement and others.

Columbia police: Stolen catalytic converters cases as cost of metals rise

August 28, 2021 12:01 AM Joushua Blount

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia Police Department is reporting a rise in stolen catalytic converters in the area. According to a report, there was a total of 78 catalytic converters stolen in 2020 and 96 so far for this year. Thieves steal the catalytic converter because of the precious metals in them. Converters contain platinum,

Columbia murder suspect released on bond

August 27, 2021 3:57 PM Matthew Sanders

Jeffrey McWilliams is suspected in the death of Augustus Roberts, who died at a home in the 1900 block of Lasso Circle on Dec. 11, 2017. He is charged with second-degree murder, first-degree robbery and armed criminal action.

Police: Columbia suspect said girls were ‘flaunting themselves’ after bus stop confrontation

August 27, 2021 12:58 PM Matthew Sanders

Mark L. Martin, 57, of Columbia was arrested Thursday and charged with first-degree harassment, a felony. Police in a news release Thursday said a girl reported Martin trying to lure her into his truck at a bus stop at Hyde Park Avenue and Cooper Drive in south Columbia.