Columbia Archives

Southern Boone High School closed Tuesday for a deep clean after student tests positive for COVID-19.

TUESDAY UPDATES: Southern Boone school board to review coronavirus plan Thursday

August 24, 2021 10:01 AM ABC 17 News Team

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

Missouri attorney general sues Columbia Public Schools over mask mandate

August 24, 2021 12:59 PM Matthew Sanders

Schmitt, a Republican who is also running for U.S. Senate, said in a news release Tuesday that Columbia Public School’s mask requirement for all students and staff is unreasonable because few children are infected with coronavirus. Schmitt also claims that wearing masks shows only a marginal benefit in fighting the spread of coronavirus.

Argument leads to Monday night shooting; victim has life-threatening injuries

August 24, 2021 9:12 AM Matthew Sanders

Police were sent to the 400 block of North Providence Road at about 8:20 p.m., according to a Columbia Police Department news release. The shooting victim was taken by ambulance to a local emergency room, police said.

Fulton Public Schools community coming together after killing of teacher and student

August 24, 2021 2:09 PM Meghan Drakas

The Boone County Sheriff’s Office was called Sunday night to the 7500 block of Lavender Drive, where deputies found the bodies of 43-year-old Allison Abitz and her 11-year-old daughter Jozee Abitz.

Columbia Public Schools returns with COVID-19 precautions in place

August 24, 2021 4:37 AM Meghan Drakas

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia Public Schools is set to return for the 2021-22 school year on Tuesday with multiple COVID-19 precautions in place. CPS is welcoming back close to 19,000 students and nearly 3,000 employees at their 42 buildings on Tuesday. Masks According to the district’s website, masks are required indoors for students, staff and

Community reacts after the killings of a Fulton teacher and her 11-year-old daughter

August 23, 2021 11:29 PM Chanel Porter

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A community in Boone County and two school districts around Mid-Missouri are grieving the loss of a 43-year-old woman and her 11-year-old daughter after they were found dead Sunday night at a Boone County home. Deputies found Allison Abitz and Jozee Abitz dead in the 7500 block of Lavender Court just south

Firefighters put out residential structure fire in north Columbia

August 23, 2021 10:29 PM Karl Wehmhoener

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia firefighters put out a residential structure fire in the 2000 block of Quail Drive. The Columbia Fire Department responded to a residential structure fire just before 9 p.m. Monday. Firefighters arriving on the scene five minutes later reported smoke and flames shows from the house. Officials with the fire department report

Teachers, parents and students prepare for the first day of school in Columbia

August 23, 2021 8:36 PM Lucas Geisler

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia Public School students and parents are getting ready to return to learn Tuesday. A couple of school parents in Columbia say they feel safe knowing everyone has to wear masks at school buildings right now however a new school brings new challenges. Mackenzie Blakeman’s daughter starts sixth grade at Warner Middle

Columbia police investigating a shooting at Douglass Park

August 23, 2021 9:01 PM Karl Wehmhoener

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia police are investigating a shooting at Douglass Park. Watch a replay of the scene in the player below. A Columbia police source confirmed the shooting just before 9 p.m. Columbia police crime scene investigators were on the scene. Columbia Police responded to an information request by stating that officers are still

Pfizer Vaccine at Sturgeon vaccination clinic

Universities and hospitals will not mandate vaccines amid FDA approval

August 23, 2021 5:58 PM Leila Mitchell

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) U.S. health officials are hopeful the FDA’s approval of the Pfizer “Comirnaty” vaccine will encourage more people to get vaccinated and mandate vaccines. Some local Mid-Missouri universities and hospitals have no plans to mandate employee and student vaccines amid the approval. Universities University leaders told KMIZ they will continue to encourage vaccination

Enrollment up as University of Missouri begins fall semester

August 23, 2021 3:24 PM Karl Wehmhoener

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) With the fall semester starting at the University of Missouri, officials are reporting enrollment is up almost one percent to 31,121 compared to last year. Undergraduate enrollment at the university is up more than 1% with 23,533 students and transfer student enrollment is up over one percent from last year. “I’m thrilled

Fulton teacher, daughter killed; Boone County sheriff investigating

August 23, 2021 1:55 PM Matthew Sanders

Deputies found Allison Abitz and Jozee Abitz dead in the 7500 block of Lavender Court just south of Columbia after getting a call from a concerned family member late Sunday, the sheriff’s department said in a Facebook post.

Vehicle, home hit by gunfire in central Columbia

August 23, 2021 10:44 AM ABC 17 News Team

No one was injured after someone fired shots in the 700 block of Washington Avenue at about 4:30 a.m. Sunday, the Columbia Police Department said in a news release. Police released no other details but said more information might be released later.

Columbia Public Schools buses lined up as students and teachers return to full time in person classes.

Pandemic heightens Mid-Missouri substitute teacher shortage

August 22, 2021 6:52 PM Leila Mitchell

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Substitute teachers are needed throughout several Mid-Missouri school districts as students head back to in person classes this week. Kerri Stith, Columbia Missouri State Teachers Association (CMSTA) President, said many teachers left their job due to the stress of the pandemic. Districts are asking that staff and faculty stay home even if

Columbia Public School parents protest mask requirement

August 21, 2021 8:15 PM Hannah Falcon

About 30 Columbia Public School parents met outside the Aslin Administration Building to protest CPS’s mask requirement for the upcoming school year.

Moberly man arrested after harassment

August 21, 2021 8:02 PM Chanel Porter

MOBERLY, Mo. (KMIZ) The Moberly Police Department arrested a man on Friday after a harassment incident. Just after 9 p.m. on Friday, Moberly police officers responded to a residence in the 700 block of Taylor St., for a request to checking the well-being of a juvenile female. Officers arrived and contact was made with the

SATURDAY UPDATE: Seventeen new Covid-19 deaths added to the state dashboard

August 21, 2021 4:50 PM Chanel Porter

The state now has a seven day positivity rate of 13.9% on Saturday. The change in positivity comes along with 1,914 additional confirmed cases bringing the total to 613,486 since the start of pandemic. Health officials also recorded 519 new probable cases with a total number of 122,706 antigen test results being positive. Seventeen new