Columbia Archives

Hospitalization concerns grow as state health leaders meet to discuss coronavirus surge

July 9, 2021 12:51 PM Ben Fein

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services hosted a virtual meeting to discuss the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in the Show Me State.

Syringe being filled with coronavirus vaccine

Health officials across the state are begging people to get vaccinated as cases continue to rise at alarming rates

July 8, 2021 7:36 PM Leila Mitchell

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Health departments and health experts are begging people to get vaccinated as the Show-Me-State hits the highest number of COVID-19 hospitalizations in the country. Margret Day, Physician and Co-Chair of the COVID-19 vaccine committee at MU Health said hospitals are filling up with unvaccinated individuals with severe cases of the virus. “What

Columbia police officer gets probation in child’s death

July 8, 2021 10:11 AM Ben Fein

The crime carries a maximum penalty of a year in jail. The sentencing memo filed June 30 does not come with a recommended sentence for Heese, but notes that her chance of committing future crimes is low.

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Do Columbia and Boone County need new health orders?

July 8, 2021 2:05 AM ABC 17 News Team

Boone County reported a daily case total of more than 100 this week for the first time since the winter pandemic peak. However, officials have resisted putting a new health order in place after months without regulations. Boone County is also the most vaccinated county in Missouri.

City of Columbia Utility drive thru sign on 8th Street.

City of Columbia sets blueprint for utility bill late fee return

July 7, 2021 8:32 PM Karl Wehmhoener

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The City of Columbia will reinstate fees beginning Aug. 1 for late utility bill payments. The state of emergency city manager John Glascock declared in April, 2020, put the late fees on hold due to the pandemic. The City made the decision to reassess late charges after the City lifted its state

Columbia businesses and residents split on masks as coronavirus cases surge again

July 7, 2021 2:37 PM Ben Fein

The department fell short of crafting new orders to force virus mitigation measures. In addition to masks, the department is also recommending practices such as frequent hand washing and social distancing around unvaccinated individuals.

Law enforcement in Missouri is unsure of how the Second Amendment Preservation Act will affect their department

July 7, 2021 6:15 PM Leila Mitchell

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Law enforcement agencies across the state are unsure how the new Missouri law will affect their relationship with their federal partners. The law imposes a $50,000 fine on any state or local official who enforces a federal gun law that is not already a law in Missouri. Brian Leer, with the Boone

TUESDAY UPDATES: Missouri DHSS adds 29 coronavirus related deaths after analyzing death certificates

July 6, 2021 7:15 AM ABC 17 News Team

Check back here for updates on the COVID-19 pandemic in Missouri.

Columbia Police changing shift structure beginning in September

July 6, 2021 4:25 PM Karl Wehmhoener

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia Police Department announced officers will move to 12-hour shifts beginning September 5. Officials say the change aims to increase the number of officers on shifts and available to respond to calls. Columbia Police Chief Geoff Jones says the changed schedule will increase officer safety, improve the Department’s ability to provide

Columbia College and other organizations to form Nadria Leeann Wright Memorial Nursing Scholarship

July 6, 2021 9:07 PM Karl Wehmhoener

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia College, along with other organizations will launch the Nadria Leeann Wright Memorial Nursing Scholarship. The Battle High School alum was killed in in September 2019 shooting when she was a freshman nursing student at Columbia College. “Nadria was a tenacious young woman full of hopes and dreams and she made an

City report says Columbia trash system reducing waste; residents still have complaints

July 6, 2021 6:01 PM Hannah Falcon

A new city report shows that solid waste management has been collecting 25% less trash than last year, and residential recycling has increased by 19%.

Ventilator and staffing shortages force rural Missouri hospitals to seek help

July 6, 2021 5:27 PM Chanel Porter

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Some hospitals in Missouri saw a spike in Covid-19 cases by nearly 27% last weekend, which caused some to experience a ventilator shortage. Dr. Robin Blount with Boone Hospital said the biggest hot spot is southwest Missouri in the Springfield and Joplin area. “I know this morning they were reporting that in

Former Boone County clerk plans run for Congress

July 6, 2021 3:18 PM Lucas Geisler

ASHLAND, Mo. (KMIZ) A former Boone County clerk is eyeing a run for a seat in Congress. Taylor Burks filed paperwork with the Federal Elections Commission on July 1 to run for the Fourth Congressional District seat in 2022. Burks is the current director for the Division of Labor Standards for the state of Missouri.

Researcher: Delta variant ‘spreading through Missouri at a remarkable pace,’ sewage study shows

July 6, 2021 12:41 PM Leila Mitchell

Experts say the delta variant is spreading fast throughout Missouri and is expected to “explode” in Fulton, Columbia and Jefferson City in the next week.

Woman reports armed robbery in central Columbia parking lot

July 6, 2021 10:51 AM Matthew Sanders

Officers were called at about 7 p.m. to the 1200 block of Again Street near Again Street Park and West Boulevard Elementary School, the Columbia Police Department said in a news release.

Columbia City Council to discuss parking for new downtown hotel

July 6, 2021 5:58 AM Zola Crowder

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia City Council members are set to discuss parking for a new hotel on the corner of Cherry and Hitt Streets downtown Tuesday night. The parking agreement being introduced would let the hotel use 99 parking spaces in the Hitt Street Parking garage to support the anticipated off-street parking demands generated by

Columbia residents eager for the city to discuss new pedestrian crossing project in Downtown Columbia

July 5, 2021 6:44 PM Chanel Porter

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The City of Columbia council will meet Tuesday to discuss the construction of the Fourth Street and Broadway pedestrian crossing project in Downtown Columbia. This project design includes a new crosswalk connecting the northeast corner to the southeast corner of the Fourth Street and Broadway Intersection. Columbia resident, Kin Brown, said she

Rural Boone County fire districts report few fireworks-related problems

July 5, 2021 11:15 AM Leila Mitchell

Spokesmen for two Boone County rural fire districts said the Fourth of July weekend was relatively quiet, with few calls for injuries or other fireworks-related issues.