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Articles by Richard Schodl
Changes in the city: Higher utility bills, recycling remains suspended
Over the summer, a number of changes were made in Columbia that impact members of the MU community. Due to staffing shortages, residential curbside recycling services remain suspended, leaving residents wishing to dispose of recyclables to lug their blue bags to central drop-off sites. The temporary suspension was initially given an expiration date in mid-June but was extended indefinitely as the city faces shortages in its Solid Waste Division.
Heavy rainfall expected to cause flash flooding in Boone County
KOMU 8 First Alert Weather forecasts up to six inches of rain to fall in Boone County late Tuesday and early Wednesday, and emergency management officials warned that potentially every creek in the area could reach flood stage. The National Weather Service issued a flood watch Tuesday afternoon for most of northern and mid-Missouri, warning that storms will produce heavy rainfall in a short period of time.
Troubled transit: What Columbia can learn about running a bus system from other cities
A small college town in central Iowa with a population of 66,000 has an unlikely distinction — the third-highest bus ridership per capita of any transit authority in the nation. Ames, home to Iowa State University, counted 1.8 million riders in 2020 with a bus system that runs 14 routes weekdays, most of them every 15 minutes. kAmqJ 4@>A2C:D@?[ r@=F>3:2’D v@r~|~ EC2?D:E 92D D:I C@FE6D 2?5 A=2?D E@ 5C@A E9C66 @7 E96> %F6D52J] %96 492?86D :?G@=G6 4@>3:?:?8 E96 C65 2?5 8C66?
Missouri will accept marijuana microbusiness applications for two weeks starting Thursday
Missouri will begin accepting marijuana microbusiness applications Thursday, with a window of just two weeks to submit then with a $1,500 fee. Applications will be accepted electronically until Aug. 10 through the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services' website at mo-public.mycomplia.com/#!/signin. A random lottery in September will choose the first batch of applicants to be considered for the licenses.
Missouri will accept marijuana microbusiness applications for two weeks starting Thursday
Missouri will begin accepting marijuana microbusiness applications Thursday, with a window of just two weeks to submit then with a $1,500 fee. Applications will be accepted electronically until Aug. 10 through the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services' website at mo-public.mycomplia.com/#!/signin. kAmp C2?5@> =@EE6CJ :? $6AE6>36C H:== 49@@D6 E96 7:CDE 32E49 @7 2AA=:42?ED E@ 36 4@?D:56C65 7@C E96 =:46?D6D] sFC:?8 E9:D 7:CDE C@F?5[ D:I =:46?D6D H:== 36 8C2?E65 :?
City Council authorizes marijuana licenses, higher police pay
As a result of Missouri Amendment 3, the Columbia City Council amended the city code Monday to authorize microbusiness license holders to sell adult recreational marijuana. The council set a business licensing fee for microbusinesses at $500 after council members voiced concern that the a $2,000 fee could be cost-prohibitive. The state charges a refundable $1,500 application fee for all applicants for a microbusiness license.
City Council authorizes marijuana licenses, increased police pay
As a result of Missouri Amendment 3, the Columbia City Council amended the city code to authorize microbusiness licenses to sell adult recreational marijuana during Monday’s regular meeting. The council set a business licensing fee for microbusinesses at $500 after council members voiced concern that the a $2,000 fee could be cost-prohibitive. The state charges a refundable $1,500 application fee for all applicants for the microbusiness license.
Council to review recycling data, vote on marijuana regulations change
Possible solutions to the city’s troubled recycling program will be presented to the Columbia City Council at 5 p.m. Monday that include adding roll carts for recycled material and ending bags for yard waste. Ongoing staffing shortages at the city’s Solid Waste Utility forced Columbia to suspend curbside recycling collection in May. kAmr@F?4:= >6>36CD H:== 962C E96 7:?5:?8D 7C@> 2 DEF5J 3J ##% s6D:8? U2>Aj r@?DECF4E:@? E92E 3682? :?
Council to review recycling data, change marijuana regulations
Possible solutions to the city’s troubled recycling program will be presented to the Columbia City Council at 5 p.m. Monday that include adding roll carts for recycled material and ending bags for yard waste. Ongoing staffing shortages at the city’s Solid Waste Utility forced Columbia to suspend curbside recycling collection in May. kAmr@F?4:= >6>36CD H:== 962C E96 7:?5:?8D 7C@> 2 DEF5J 3J ##% s6D:8? U2>Aj r@?DECF4E:@? E92E 3682? :?
Columbi City Council to review recycling data, vote on marijuana regulations change
COLUMBIA - Possible solutions to the city’s troubled recycling program will be presented to the Columbia City Council at 5 p.m. Monday. Suggestions include adding roll carts for recycled material and ending bags for yard waste. Ongoing staffing shortages at the city’s Solid Waste Utility forced Columbia to suspend curbside recycling collection in May. Council members will hear the findings from a study by RRT Design & Construction that began in November.
Columbia City Council to review recycling data, vote on marijuana regulations change
COLUMBIA - Possible solutions to the city’s troubled recycling program will be presented to the Columbia City Council at 5 p.m. Monday. Suggestions include adding roll carts for recycled material and ending bags for yard waste. Ongoing staffing shortages at the city’s Solid Waste Utility forced Columbia to suspend curbside recycling collection in May. Council members will hear the findings from a study by RRT Design & Construction that began in November.
Beautification plans on the drawing board for a new I-70/U.S. 63 connector
Even though construction of a new ramp from U.S. 63 to I-70 W. has yet to begin, the city has already started to think about making the connector more attractive. The U.S. Route 63/I-70 connector is a Missouri Department of Transportation project, but the city asked to participate in the design because it is a major entryway into Columbia.
Beautification plans on the drawing board for a new I-70/U.S. 63 connector
Even though construction of a new ramp from U.S. 63 to I-70 W. has yet to begin, the city has already started to think about making the connector more attractive. The U.S. Route 63/I-70 connector is a Missouri Department of Transportation project, but the city asked to participate in the design because it is a major entryway into Columbia. MoDOT will foot the cost for any base materials for the project, with additional elements or upgrades funded by the city.
Columbia receives federal infrastructure grant to improve bus facilities
Columbia Public Works Department is the recipient of $23,179,173 in federal funding to improve its transportation facilities, including the bus depot and bus stop shelters. The funds come from a federal program called Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE), with over $2.2 billion given to cities across the country. This is the second year the city has applied for the funds available through RAISE.
Mental health evaluation considered for woman accused of killing MU student
A Boone County Circuit Judge is considering whether to allow a privately appointed doctor to perform a mental health evaluation on Emma Adams, who is accused of killing an MU student in January and burning his body in a fire pit. Judge Jeff Harris said during a hearing Tuesday that he will consider a defense motion to appoint Dr. John Rabun, a psychiatry specialist in St. Louis, to conduct an evaluation.
Community-sourced documentary recalls Missouri's 'Woodstock' Original
In July 1974, 50,000 people were expected to attend the Ozark Music Festival at the Missouri State Fairgrounds in Sedalia. Instead, some 350,000 showed up, ending in overdoses and a state Senate hearing. A documentary of the event, "The Story of the Ozark Music Festival: Three Days of Sodom and Gomorrah in Sedalia, Missouri," will be shown Friday at the State Historical Society of Missouri.
Brotherton accepts plea deal in murder hearing
Samuel Brotherton of Columbia, who was accused of murdering his father in March 2022, accepted a plea deal at a Tuesday hearing in Boone County Circuit Court. Brotherton previously told police he shot his father, Rollin G. Thompson, after getting in an argument. He pled not guilty to first degree murder last April but remained in jail without bond. The charges and details of the plea deal are unknown. Brotherton's current charges are murder in the first degree as well as armed criminal action.
Local businessman to pitch Congress on veterans programs Original
Boone County businessman Taylor Burks will get a rare opportunity Wednesday to speak directly to Congress. Burks, a Navy veteran who has a management role with Rost, Inc., will testify before the Small Business Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington, D.C., in support of veteran-owned small businesses and entrepreneurs. The opportunity comes from an unusual offer by the person who defeated him in last August's Republican primary for the 4th Congressional seat — Rep.
Foster shares police ride-along experience
Ward Four Councilperson Nick Foster shared his experience riding along with Columbia Police Chief Geoff Jones for a night during a City Council meeting earlier this month. Foster later told the Missourian he had previously done a ride-along in Louisville, Kentucky, while in seminary school, which inspired him to do another one after being elected to council. "I know that the police see things for a very particular perspective, they see things that the rest of us don't see," Foster said.
New Mexican restaurant in Columbia offers more than just food
Tucked just south of Interstate 70 near U.S. 63, in the back of a small plaza is a restaurant offering more than just Mexican food. Known as Los Comales, the restaurant has a small store with selection of various goods from Mexico, ranging from shampoo and laundry detergents to produce. Varying shades of red paint, bright and warm, surround the refrigerated and freezer sections. Art yet to be hung lies nearby.
City to take public comment on Sidewalk Master Plan
A public hearing on the 2022 Columbia Sidewalk Master Plan will be held on Monday in the City Council chambers. This proposed plan is the first update since 2013. The plan serves as a guide to city staff and council members when investing in the construction of new sidewalks. Factors such as the road the sidewalk is along and bus stops, as well as pedestrian generators, affect project priorities, said Mitch Skov, senior city planner.
City to offer public comment on Sidewalk Master Plan
A public hearing on the 2022 Columbia Sidewalk Master Plan will be held on Monday in the City Council chambers. This proposed plan is the first update since 2013. The plan serves as a guide to city staff and Council when investing in the construction of new sidewalks. Different factors like the road the sidewalk is along and bus stops, as well as pedestrian generators, affect project priority, Mitch Skov, senior city planner, said.
GoCOMO to purchase three additional electric buses with federal grant
The Columbia City Council on Monday approved the purchase of three 35-foot electric buses to add to Go COMO's fleet. In a move to both follow the city's Climate Action and Adaptation Plan and expand public transit, $2.9 million in federal grant money in addition to around $540,000 in local funds will be used to purchase the buses, including funds provided by MU.
'Pay as you throw' waste system criticized at public comment meeting
Columbia residents voiced their displeasure with the city-issued logo bags for their low quality and the manner of implementation, as well as problems they have caused as a result. A meeting Thursday night in the Columbia City Council chambers invited residents to provide comment on the possible switch to a system that would allow customers to use their own trash bags for pickup, as long as they weigh less than 50 pounds.
Access Arts adds Raku firing to its winter event
The Access Arts organization re-introduced its holiday event after a brief hiatus and added Raku pot-making to the activities. The holiday event, which was on Sunday this year, has been held for decades according to Executive Director Shawna Johnson, but had been put on pause due to the pandemic. Sunday's event had around eight artists displaying their work, and about 10 people there to take part in the Raku pot-making activity, where premade pots could be glazed and fired.
Virginia Ave Parking Structure to close Dec. 24
MU students and staff who park in the Virginia Ave Parking Structure will be relocated to new places after its the closure on Dec. 24. Despite having been built about 20 years ago, the structure requires repairs totaling $16 million according to previous Missourian reporting. Construction is starting over winter break to reduce impact on academic disruption according to a news release from MU.
City seeks customer input on trash bag ordinance
The Columbia Solid Waste Department is asking for public input on the proposed ordinance change to city-issued trash bags. Two hearings will be hosted, both in the Council Chambers of the Daniel Boone City Building, with the first taking place at 6 p.m. next Thursday and the second at 6 p.m. on Nov. 30, according to a Friday news release from the city. The department is recommending the city repeal its requirement for city-issued bags.
City recycling services fall short of its potential
Recycling efforts are increasingly being hampered by contamination that has risen since the advent of the city’s blue recycling bags, according to Columbia Recovery Superintendent Nicholas Paul. On a recent tour of the city’s Material Recovery Facility at 5700 Peabody Road, Paul pointed out how the improper mixing of materials impacts the recycling effort.
Kendrick wins Boone County presiding commissioner seat
Democrat Kip Kendrick won the Boone County presiding commissioner seat Tuesday, with about 56% of the complete and unofficial vote. Kendrick beat out Republican Connie Leipard, who said she ran as a non-politician local business-owner. There was a relaxed and optimistic atmosphere at Big Daddy’s BBQ and Soul Food where friends, family and residents celebrated Kendrick’s win. Kendrick and his team of interns knocked on over 47,000 doors by the end of the campaign, he said.
City staff recommends automated trash collection
The widely disputed matter of trash collection will be discussed again with Columbia City Council on Monday. The Solid Waste Division is recommending that the city implement an automated trash collection system using roll carts in a presentation planned for a 5 p.m. pre-Council session. The presentation includes alternatives. No action or vote is expected to be taken by the Council at this time.
MoDOT seeks public input on U.S. 63 and I-70 interchange
As a part of its building process, the Missouri Department of Transportation wants additional comment from users of the U.S. 63 and Interstate 70 interchange. The public is invited to give input Wednesday at the Columbia Activities and Recreation Center from 4 to 6 p.m., according to a news release from MoDOT. The department hopes to gather additional information about what motorists want to see change in the interchange.
Local non-profit aims to assist first responders
A non-profit, called First Responder Support, ticked off a handful of its priorities in a news conference Friday morning. During the conference, which also fell on National First Responders Day, group members announced that providing mental health services for local first responders was high on the list.
Local non-profit aims to assist first responders
A nonprofit called First Responder Support ticked off a handful of priorities in a news conference Friday morning. During the conference, which also fell on National First Responders Day, group members announced that mental health services for local first responders were high on the list.
Girder setting at the Rocheport Bridge to impact Katy Trail
As progress continues on the Lance Corporal Leon Deraps Interstate 70 Missouri River Bridge, crews are scheduled to set the girders spanning the river beginning Nov. 7. According to a news release from the Missouri Department of Transportation, the portion of the Katy Trail running under the interstate will be closed until all girders are set. Riders coming from Columbia should plan accordingly, especially those riding along the Missouri River. Work is expected to finish by Nov.
The road to residency: How to earn thousands off tuition
Earning Missouri residency is a cost-effective way to get the in-state resident rate for tuition, potentially saving students about $18,000 with a 14-credit-hour load over an academic year. Any out-of-state student is eligible to get in-state residency, a process that takes about one year. The current tuition rate for undergraduate courses in-state is $335.80 per credit hour, with the non-resident rate being $1,014.70 per credit hour.
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