Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Jj Measer
How Rock Bridge girls soccer rediscovered its joy
By Yi Gao/Missourian,Jj Measer/Missourian After enduring a season of struggle that manifested in a 7-9-1 record and a loss to Hickman in the MSHSAA Class 4 District 6 quarterfinals, Rock Bridge girls soccer decided to take a new approach in 2025. Rather than emphasizing results, the Bruins decided before the season that they wanted to focus on something else: having fun. Now, deep into the season, Rock Bridge has a 12-5 record, and everyone can agree it's been enjoyable.
Mizzou athletic department reports $15 million deficit, gets internal university loan
By Owen Ziliak/Missourian,JJ MEASER/Missourian The University of Missouri's athletic department plunged into a $15.2 million budget deficit during the 2024 fiscal year after two years of operating in the black and despite a standout season by its football team. The deficit also came amid a winless conference record for the men's basketball team and a change in athletic directors.
Laird Veatch, answers questions next to Board of Curators chair Robin Wenneker (copy) (copy) (copy)
MU athletic director Laird Veatch answers questions next to Board of Curators chair Robin Wenneker on April 26 at the Stephens Indoor Facility in Columbia. Mizzou Athletics brought in about $168 million in revenue during fiscal year 2024 and spent $183.2 million, creating the deficit of $15.2 million.
Mizzou Athletics announces restructured fundraising model
By Jj Measer/Missourian,Quentin Corpuel On Monday, Mizzou Athletics revealed significant changes to its fundraising structure that are set to take effect at the start of the new calendar year. Starting on Jan. 1, 2025, the Tiger Scholarship Fund, which covers the cost of attendance, academic support and scholarships for all 20 MU sports, will be rebranded to the "Mizzou Athletics Fund."
MU Athletics to embrace revenue sharing, shift pricing structures
By Jj Measer/Missourian,Andy Theobald On the heels of the looming $2.8 billion House v. NCAA settlement that will see payouts to former student-athletes from as far back as June 15, 2016, Mizzou athletic director Laird Veatch announced the Tigers' embracing of revenue sharing in a statement released Friday. Veatch acknowledged the forthcoming settlement - which has a final approval hearing scheduled for April 7, 2025 - and the implications it will have on the future of college athletics.
Devoted bed-and-breakfast owner prepares for tourism season
After finishing production of the 1973 film "Tom Sawyer," the Arrow Rock township decided to keep up the movie set's wooden planks that covered the ground in their downtown area. Now, locals call it The Boardwalk. Since this change, everything in Arrow Rock has remained relatively the same, despite spikes in tourism.
Devoted bed & breakfast owner prepares for tourism season
After finishing production of the 1973 film "Tom Sawyer," the Arrow Rock township decided to keep up the movie set's wooden planks that covered the ground in their downtown area. Now, locals call it The Boardwalk. Since this change, everything in Arrow Rock has remained relatively the same, despite spikes in tourism.
The New Franklin community
By Jj Measer/Missourian,Jj Measer An observational essay about the life of Wayne Purvis, a lifelong resident and pastor of New Franklin. America's farmland is spread with sludge as concerns rise about contaminants Read more America's farmland is spread with sludge as concerns rise about contaminants Read more
The New Franklin community
The town of New Franklin has one restaurant: Miracle Coffee Cup. Within its walls live the experiences and values of this rural Missouri community. Lifelong resident Wayne Purvis and a group of other locals gather there for breakfast every day. They talk about everything from local news to Richard Nixon, over buttered toast and cups of black coffee. In 1995, Purvis renovated an old garage into a church and has since served as the pastor there.
How a trying year at Iowa State prepared Mizzou AD Laird Veatch for college sports' unpredictability
By Jj Measer/Missourian COLUMBIA, Mo. - In January 2003, a party full of college students in Columbia became a headache for Laird Veatch. The current Missouri athletics director was, at the time, an associate athletic director at Iowa State. After his football career at Kansas State and the start of his sports administration experience at Mizzou, Veatch had moved north for a tough-to-pass-up opportunity.
Battle baseball coasts to mercy-rule victory against Hallsville
By Noah Rees,Jj Measer,Lauren Spakowski Battle baseball slugged its way to a mercy-rule win, taking down Hallsville 13-2 in five innings Monday in Columbia. It looked like Hallsville (4-12) might maintain control of the game early on, as Spartans starting pitcher Jack Putnam struggled to find the strike zone and the defense behind him looked sluggish to open the game. Hallsville jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, scoring its first run on a Battle error.
Pictures of the Week: April 13-19
By Lauren Spakowski,Elena Fu,Nick Ginter,Jj Measer,Aleigha Hornaday,Thomas Gleason Our team of visual storytellers proudly presents "Pictures of the Week." This week in the news, our photographers covered breaking news on a single occupant plane crash, dined with princesses, and captured Missouri softball's series win against Florida.
A magical Sunday of dance and Disney
Dance students and their parents gathered at the Balsamo Warehouse on Sunday for a day full of sugar and Disney songs. The Frozen themed party was a fundraiser for the Student Scholarship Program and the Dance Reach program. "We are really working towards making dance accessible for people with low income," said School Director Victoria VanderPlas. VanderPlas has been the director of the dance school for two years and served as a teacher for two years prior.
Mizzou's O'Toole rebounds to finish third, Elams place in top six at NCAA Championships
KANSAS CITY - Missouri wrestling wrapped up its 2023-24 season Saturday at the NCAA Championships at T-Mobile Center. The Tigers had three wrestlers finish in the top six of their respective weight classes, with No. 1 seed Keegan O'Toole finishing third at 165 pounds, No. 6 Zach Elam securing fourth at 285 pounds and No. 12 Rocky Elam taking sixth at 197 pounds. O'Toole won both of his matches Saturday, bouncing back from an 8-6 loss to No. 4 David Carr of Iowa State in Friday's semifinals.
Missouri redshirt junior Logan Gioffre attempts a reversal in NCAA Division 1 Wrestling Championships
By Jj Measer Keegan O'Toole will face Nebraska's Antrell Taylor, Rocky Elam will battle Lehigh's Michael Beard, and Zach Elam will take on Air Force's Wyatt Hendrickson in Friday's quarters at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City.
Sisters Blakely Cooper and Shelby Cooper record instrumentals
By Jj Measer Are we missing something? Share tips, news releases and anything else you think we need to know. E-mail Collections Sorry, there are no recent results for popular collections. Last year, her talent was recognized at the Creating Original Music Project at MU. Are we missing something? Share tips, news releases and anything else you think we need to know. E-mail
St. Patrick's Day celebrations, legends as told by residents
St. Patrick's Day started off slow Sunday afternoon following celebrations across the city Saturday night. But some people filled pockets of Columbia looking to celebrate the day.
Penta dominates, Missouri softball falls flat in series finale with Auburn
By Cole Lee,Jj Measer,Bailey Stover Allowing just four hits total, Maddie Penta's scoreless day in the circle helped lift No. 25 Auburn to a 4-0 victory over No. 12 Missouri at Mizzou Softball Stadium on Sunday. Despite a nationwide reputation for being an elite pitching talent, Penta (7-3) was pulled after five innings in Friday's contest.
Columbia women's basketball completes AMC Tournament three-peat
By Jack Wardynski,Jj Measer,Lauren Spakowski Columbia College women's basketball earned its third straight American Midwest Conference championship with a 79-66 victory over Williams Baptist on Monday at Southwell Complex. The contest marked the school's fourth straight appearance in the title game and its sixth in seven years, including the past two in a row under coach James Arnold.
Mallory Shetley celebrates
By Jj Measer Mallory Shetley scored a game-high 23 points, and DeLaney Horstman added a 16-point, 11-rebound effort to lead the Cougars to their third consecutive American Midwest Conference championship with a 79-66 victory over Williams Baptist on Monday at Southwell Complex.
Columbia College women's basketball completes AMC Tournament three-peat
By Jack Wardynski,Jj Measer Columbia College earned its third consecutive American Midwest Conference championship with a 79-66 victory over Williams Baptist on Monday at Southwell Complex. The contest marked the school's fourth straight appearance in the title game and its sixth in seven years, including the past two in a row under coach James Arnold.
Missouri River cleanup hauls trash off Cooper's Landing backroads
By Nikita Ponomarenko,Emmaline Luetkemeyer,Elise Wilke-Grimm,Jj Measer,Kate Cassady Teams of volunteers collected 66 bags of trash and recyclable material Sunday during a Missouri River Relief cleanup. For 19 years, Missouri River Relief has organized trash collecting events on the roads approaching the river at Cooper's Landing.
Fans in Kansas City celebrate Chiefs second straight Super Bowl Win
By Jj Measer,Thomas Gleason "Today Chiefs Kingdom becomes a dynasty," billowed from loud speakers just before 10 p.m. on Sunday at KC Live!'s Super Bowl watch party. Kansas City Chiefs fans gathered in the Power & Light District in Kansas City with some arriving as early as 10 a.m. to be in place for the game. The Chiefs won their second straight Super Bowl with a final score of 25-22 over the 49ers.
Mahomes rallies Chiefs to second straight Super Bowl title with 25-22 over 49ers in OT
By Thomas Gleason,Jj Measer,Kate Cassady,Lauren Spakowski,Kortay Vincent LAS VEGAS - Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs are back-to-back Super Bowl champions. Mahomes threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Mecole Hardman in overtime, and the Chiefs rallied to beat the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 on Sunday, becoming the first repeat Super Bowl champs in 19 years and ninth overall.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Jj
Contact Jj, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack