Category: kmiz-local-news

Olivia Hayes

CALLAWAY COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ)

Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers recovered a stolen car Saturday on U.S. 54 near Callaway County.

A social media post from MSHP’s Troop F said its troopers were alerted about the stolen car around 2:30 p.m. Troopers located the vehicle and took the 15 year old driver, who had been reported missing, into custody.

🚔Troop F Recovers Stolen Vehicle🚔

On December 27, 2025, at 2:30 p.m., troopers in Callaway County were alerted to a stolen vehicle traveling on U.S. 54.

Troopers located the vehicle and took the 15 year old driver, who had been reported missing, into custody without incident. pic.twitter.com/imHxa4QghT

— MSHP Troop F (@MSHPTrooperF) December 28, 2025

Click here to follow the original article.

Olivia Hayes

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Missouri State Highway Patrol’s say a 17-year-old is in custody after leading troopers and Jefferson City Police on a chase Saturday.

In a social media post, MSHP Troop F said a Dodge van was reported stolen to JCPD. Around 1:45 p.m. troopers located the van on US 54, approaching Fulton. A short pursuit followed and stop sticks were deployed.

Additional photos of a vehicle pursuit brought to a safe ending utilizing a tire deflation device. pic.twitter.com/bCcyDzTPZ1

— MSHP Troop F (@MSHPTrooperF) December 27, 2025

The car was brought to a stop. Sgt. Kyle Green, with MSHP Troop F, tells ABC 17 News nobody was hurt and no other cars were damaged.

Click here to follow the original article.

Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

No one was injured following a shooting in Boonville on Saturday night, according to the Boonville Police Department.

In a social media post, on Saturday, around 6:15 p.m. at the intersection of Main Street and Morgan Street, two people in a car got into a fight. This led to the driver leaving the vehicle and running away, and the suspect was the passenger pulling out a gun and firing from the inside of the vehicle.

The passenger then drove off in the vehicle. Police later found the vehicle and the suspect, the passenger, a short while later near New Franklin.

The Howard County Sheriff’s Office later reported that the suspect was connected to a reported home invasion in the Rosewood Subdivision, just outside of New Franklin

The suspect is being held on 24-hour investigative detention. Charges will be filed by the Cooper County Prosecutor’s office.

Residents describe Boonville as a quiet, small town and said incidents like this are uncommon. Business owners along Main Street told ABC 17 they rarely feel unsafe, despite noticing an increase in police activity.

Terry Quinlan, owner of the antique shop Vintage Vibes, has run his business on Main Street for the past two years. “Very calm. We feel safe here,” he said, recalling his hometown. Quinlan was unaware of Saturday’s incident, as his store closes at 4 p.m., but he said violent events are rare in the area. “It’s a rare occurrence here in town,” Quinlan said. “I know there’s more that goes on in Columbia, but it’s very rare here in town.”

Right across the street from Quinlan is Your Money’s Worth Antique Mall. Volunteer Anthony Cox agreed with Quinlan, stating there has been a small uptick in shootings, usually involving youth, but nothing he considers alarming. “I think it’s just kids trying to act tough,” he said.

Cox added that his wife, who works at Hotel Frederick, witnessed the scene Saturday. “She saw that they had Main Street kind of closed down from about the edge of the bridge pretty much all the way downtown. They were taking care of the scene, making sure they got all the evidence they needed, and they just stated to everybody that it was a crime scene,” he said.

According to Boonville police, Saturday’s shooting marks the fourth reported shooting in the city in 2025.

Boonville police responded to shots fired around 3 p.m. May 9 at Main Street and Rankin Mill Lane. Officers found evidence a gun was discharged, but no injuries were reported. The suspect or suspects fled before police arrived.

On July 24th BPD responded around 10:30 a.m. to a report of a gunshot victim near Main and High Streets. Officers found a man inside a vehicle suffering from a gunshot wound. Police said the shooting occurred elsewhere in Howard County, and the victim drove himself to the location.

On Nov. 24th police responded to shots fired near Sixth and Locust streets after a man fired a gun following an argument with a woman. The suspect fled on foot but was later located on Seventh Street and taken into custody with a firearm.

ABC 17 has reached out to the Boonville Police Department for the suspect’s identity. Officers said additional information is expected to be released Monday.

Click here to follow the original article.

Alison Patton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Missouri State Highway Patrol’s anonymous tip form for schools shows “handle with care” as the number one report for 2025.

Courage2Report allows parents, students and school staff from private and public K-12 schools to report concerns like bullying, school threats and suicide to the school and local law enforcement without the reporter’s name being attached.

The top reported concern for 2025 comes from law enforcement officers who respond to a scene where a child was present and believe the scene could be traumatic for the child. This is known as “handle with care” because the report then goes to the child’s school, where staff can assist the child in adjusting to the event.

There were 361 handle-with-care reports out of 1,763 total tips, according to Courage2Report data

The second most reported tip is bullying, with 185 reports. The threat to kill is the third most reported, with 179 reports. Physical assault follows with 118 reports, and school shooting threats come in at 112 reports.

Last year, Courage2Report had 1,741 tips, which is 22 reports fewer than in 2025.

To report a concern, you can visit the Courage2Report website here.

Click here to follow the original article.

Euphenie Andre

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Drivers across Mid Missouri should plan for delays as several road construction and improvement projects continue or begin next week in multiple counties.

Many of the projects will run from Dec. 29 to Jan. 4. The impacted counties include: Boone Co., Callaway Co., Camden Co., Crawford Co., Howard Co., Laclede Co., Maries Co., Miller Co., Moniteau Co., Morgan Co., Osage Co., Phelps Co., Pulaski Co., and Washington Co.

Boone County

Crews will be working on Route 763, also known as College Avenue, where concrete curb replacement is scheduled from December 29 through December 31 between Rogers Street and East Ash Street. One lane will remain open while the work is underway.

Interchange improvements also continue along U.S. Route 63 at Route AC, or Grindstone Parkway. While most of the work is not expected to directly impact traffic, motorists are urged to stay alert for crews and equipment close to the roadway. That long-term project is scheduled to continue through Nov. 2026.

Work on the Highway 63 and I-70 Connector is expected to continue for the next two years before completion. MoDOT’s Eric Kopinski said crews will focus on building new bridges over Hinkson Creek in 2026.

“The 63/70 interchange is a lot of puzzle pieces,” Kopinski explained. “If we try to put too many together at once, the impacts would be so significant that it would disrupt traffic even more than it does today.”

At some point over the next two years, drivers will be shifted onto the new eastbound bridge as construction progresses.

In the new year MoDot will start by adding the third lane on I-70 from the Missouri River to Midway.

“Providence over I-70 will be a location where we will demolish that bridge over the summer and work as hard as we can to rebuild that but will be a big impact for the local area,” Kopinski said.

Meanwhile, the North Outer Road 70 east of Columbia remains closed near Little Cedar Creek for a culvert extension project. Drivers will need to use alternate routes, as the closure is expected to remain in place through Feb. 2026.

Callaway County

Several roadside projects are planned through early Jan. Work is scheduled along Route D, Routes J and UU, and Route A, with one lane remaining open in each location as crews flag traffic through work zones. Pavement construction also continues on I-70 between Route M and Kingdom City, with similar lane closures expected as part of the Improve I-70 Program.

Additional delays are possible on I-70, where new pavement construction is underway from west of St. Charles Road to the Callaway County line as part of the Improve I-70 Project. Motorists can expect intermittent and long-term lane closures, with the project scheduled for completion in 2027.

Concrete has been poured on the section of I-70 between Route J and Route M, and only two lanes in each direction will remain open until next fall, MoDOT officials told ABC 17.

The decision comes after reviewing speed and crash data along with consulting with the Missouri State Highway Patrol and local first responders, who provided guidance on keeping the roadway safe while construction continues.

“So next spring, you’ll start to see crews back out there really attacking that section hard,” said Kopinski. “From Route M at Hatton Road to Kingdom City, we’ll add a third lane eastbound and westbound on I-70 and rebuild the existing pavement. It will look very similar to what drivers have seen over the past year.”

By this time next year, drivers can expect 12 to 13 miles of six-lane roadway fully striped and open to traffic.

“As we move forward, we’re going to continue to take a close eye and say as we open sections, what makes the best sense for the safety of the traveling public, but also the safety of our workers as well for each area,” Kopinski said.

The US 54 interchange is expected to be completed by fall 2026.

“We’re really hoping and trying hard to complete all interchange work before lake season really goes full speed in the summer,” Kopinski said.

Later this winter and into the new year, additional activity will take place at the Kingdom City interchange. Officials warn that in mid-spring or early summer a bridge demolition will shift drivers onto newly constructed bridges.

“We have to new briges for northbound and southbound US 54 over I-70. We’re going to switch traffic out of those two new bridges and then we’ve got to demolish over one weekend,”

Camden County

Drivers may encounter delays on multiple routes as culvert replacements take place on Route A near Prairie Rose Road and along Route C at various locations from December 29 through Jan. 2. One lane will remain open in these areas, with traffic controlled by flagging crews.

On U.S. Route 54, pavement widening and driveway entrance improvements continue from Business Route 5 to Bumper Hill Road. While one lane in each direction remains open, traffic has been shifted and the center turn lane is closed.

This phase of the project is expected to be completed in spring 2026.

Miller County

A culvert replacement project is planned on Route D at Lola Circle from Dec. 29 through Jan. 2. One lane will remain open, and motorists should expect brief delays as crews flag traffic through the work zone.

Moniteau County

The roundabout construction continues at the intersection of Route 87 and Route C.

The intersection remains open but has been reduced to one lane, with temporary signals directing traffic through the area. Motorists should plan for delays, as the project is scheduled for completion in Jan. 2026.

Morgan County

Roadside work is planned along Route 52 between Route FF and Route 135, along with a culvert replacement on Route Y, both running from Dec. 29 through Jan. 2.

One lane will remain open in each area with traffic flagged through the work zone. Roundabout construction also continues at the intersection of Route 52 and Route 5 in Versailles, with completion expected for Jan. 2026.

Osage County,

Crews will be replacing culverts along Route C at various locations from Dec. 29 through January 2. One lane will remain open, and motorists should expect traffic to be guided through the work zone by flagging operations.

Transportation officials are reminding drivers to slow down, remain alert, and obey all posted signage when traveling through construction areas.

Click here to follow the original article.

Jessica Hafner

A strong cold front brought a round of dangerous cold on Monday, with below-zero wind chills in the early morning. Wind chills will remain cold on Monday in the teens, before a return to more average temperatures for New Year’s.

BLOG:

The big changes can be blamed on a deep trough pushing off the Plains, bringing a cold front through the Midwest Sunday night into Monday.

Temperatures have dropped from the 70s into the 30s, and eventually into the teens tonight as cold northwest winds ramp up.

As the front quickly moves east, temperatures fall though the day and strong winds pick up in the wake of low pressure. A Wind Advisory is in place for the possibility of 45-50 mph winds. Power outages are certainly possible at those wind speeds.

Strong winds from the northwest will push temperatures down into the teens by Monday morning, and drop wind chills to around -3 to 0 for the start of the day. Even as highs rise into the mid-20s Monday, wind chills remain in the teens through the afternoon. Tuesday morning wind chills will still be between around 5 and 10 degrees.

Make sure you have the ABC 17 Stormtrack Weather App if you have plans to be out on Sunday morning for church services or holiday travel.

Click here to follow the original article.

Alison Patton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Missouri’s hands-free phone law hits one year of being in effect on New Year’s Day. Since its initial implementation in January 2025, the Missouri State Highway Patrol has cited 1,417 drivers.

The law was passed in 2023 after a Columbia man died from a car crash in 2019 when a driver was on a video call while speeding. It didn’t take effect until 2025.

The Siddens Bening Hands-Free law is a secondary law that makes it illegal for drivers to use their phones while driving. That means a law enforcement officer can’t pull a driver over for cell phone use alone, and there has to be another reason, like distracted driving.

Troop F, which covers much of mid-Missouri, issued 94 citations between Jan. 1 and Dec. 8, according to MSHP. That includes 90 citations for cell phone use, three citations for property damage and one for a death. Troop F issued a warning to one person for property damage as well.

People who are convicted could see these penalties:

First conviction in two years: Up to a $150 fine;

Second conviction in two years: Up to a $250 fine;

Three or more convictions in two years: Up to a $500 fine;

If a violation occurs in a school or work zone, fines up to $500;

If a violation occurs and causes a serious injury crash, up to six months in jail and/or fines up to $1,000;

If a violation occurs and causes a fatal crash, up to seven years in prison.

Click here to follow the original article.

Alison Patton

TAOS, Mo. (KMIZ)

A man who lives down the street from where one pedestrian was seriously injured and another killed in Taos, said the couple was likely crossing the street heading to the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church for Mass when they were hit.

The crash happened near the church on Route M west of Stoney Gap Road shortly before the Christmas Eve Mass.

A crash report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol said a 16-year-old driver hit an 85-year-old man and an 86-year-old woman. The man was pronounced dead at Capital Region Medical Center in Jefferson City, and medics airlifted the woman to University Hospital in Columbia.

Frank Rehagen said the couple was hit while they were likely walking into the church for Christmas Eve Mass at 9 p.m.

Rehagen also said mass started about 40 minutes late, which he believes was because the priest was performing last rites and assisting the medical team.

While he was waiting for mass to start, he said he saw the woman being airlifted from the Catholic school playground from across the street.

Rehagen said he’s lived in the same house for about 30 years, and he’s never seen an accident on Route M like this since living there.

“It’s not uncommon for people to come speeding through town here. And I made the remark to myself and friends over the years, I said it’s a wonder somebody hasn’t got killed in the highway here in town,” Rehagen said. “Well, now it’s happened.”

The Highway Patrol has not said whether they suspect speed to be a factor in the crash.

The teenage driver has not been charged with any crimes at this point. MSHP spokesperson Kyle Green said charges aren’t likely this early in the investigation and with the crash still being reconstructed.

Click here to follow the original article.

ABC 17 News Team

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (KMIZ)

ABC 17 SportsZone previews the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Florida, where Mizzou will take on No. 19 Virginia.

Kickoff is at 6:30 p.m. Saturday on ABC.

Click here to follow the original article.

Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Columbia Police say a California man was the suspect shot by officers on Christmas Day inside a gas station.

Marc Lucas, 31, was identified as the suspect in two separate incidents that preceded the shooting Thursday morning inside a Break Time gas station near Highway 63 and East Stadium Boulevard, the Columbia Police Department wrote in a news release.

In the first incident at about 9:20 a.m. Thursday, Lucas is accused of first-degree arson and first-degree property damage in the 3300 block of Lemone Industrial Boulevard, the release states. CPD provided no details about the alleged arson, but said officers didn’t at first realize Lucas was a suspect.

“Columbia Police were not aware when they interacted with Lucas that he was the suspect in the arson investigation,” the release states.

Officers were called a little after 10 a.m. to the 1400 block of Cinnamon Hill Lane, where Lucas is accused of first-degree trespassing, three counts of fourth-degree assault, unlawful use of a weapon and armed criminal action, police say. CPD did not release other details about the call.

Officers encountered Lucas inside the Break Time about an hour later when he “attempted to attack a patron inside a store with a knife,” according to the release.

Officers used a Taser on Lucas, who had a knife, and then used a gun when he tried to assault an officer, the release says.

Lucas was hospitalized after the shooting. He was not in the Boone County Jail on Friday afternoon.

The two officers who fired at Lucas during the encounter were placed on administrative leave while the Missouri State Highway Patrol investigates.

Missouri courts were closed on Friday, so it was not clear whether Lucas had been charged.

Information about Lucas’ medical condition was not immediately available.

Click here to follow the original article.