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Articles by Zoia M. Morrow
Stifled social lives and life-altering choices: Columbia college students reflect on semester
When MU switched to remote learning last spring, junior theater major Maddie Bunten was in a stage management class and suddenly had no stage to manage. It quickly became clear that pursuing a theater degree during a pandemic wouldn’t be easy as the fall semester approached. “It was difficult to do that kind of stuff at home when the perfect space for all of it is in the theater,” Bunten said.
Modified county contract tracing to focus on most recent positive cases
Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services is altering its COVID-19 contract tracing process due to record high cases, according to a Wednesday news release. The modified process, which began Tuesday, prioritizes contacting the most recent positive cases by isolating them and quarantining their close contacts. Some residents will not be contacted by an investigator via phone, according to the release.
Modified county contact tracing to focus on most recent positive cases
Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services is altering its COVID-19 contact tracing process because of record high cases, according to a Wednesday news release. The modified process, which began Tuesday, prioritizes contacting the most recent positive cases by isolating them and quarantining their close contacts. Some residents will not be contacted by an investigator via phone, according to the release.
Developing 'young historians' while making Black history a global experience
In Dawnavyn James’ house, she learned that Jesus was Black and the history of Black people began long before slavery.
Developing 'young historians' while making Black history a global experience
In Dawnavyn James' house, she learned that Jesus was black and the history of Black people began long before slavery.
Shorts in November? Warm winds sweep through Columbia
Last week, people were wearing winter coats and gloves. This week, Columbia residents are back to sandals and shorts. Meteorologist Jayson Gosselin of the National Weather Service in St. Louis said that usually, temperatures are around 60 degrees on Nov. 4, making the current temperatures about 15 degrees above normal. The all-time record on Nov. 4 was 83 degrees in 1978. Rest assured, the region will return to below normal November temperatures around next Wednesday.
More schools switch to virtual learning as district faces staff shortages
Derby Ridge Elementary School, Alpha Hart Lewis Elementary School, and the preschool classrooms at the Center for Early Learning — North moved to virtual learning due to illnesses among staff this week, according to Michelle Baumstark, spokesperson for Columbia Public Schools. Now, that makes a total of four Columbia Public Schools that have transitioned backed to virtual learning because of staffing issues related to illness.
Southern Boone schools temporarily close as students quarantine
Southern Boone School District has held in-person classes since Sept. 8 with no closures. That changed this week, as the Ashland district’s primary and elementary schools temporarily closed due to the spread of COVID-19. Several classrooms in the primary and elementary schools are in quarantine, Superintendent Chris Felmlee said.
Ridgeway Elementary deals with staffing problems due to illness, goes virtual until next Thursday
Ridgeway Elementary school will temporarily transition back to all-virtual learning Tuesday, according to a Monday afternoon release from Michelle Baumstark, spokesperson for Columbia Public Schools. The release also said that in-person learning would resume Nov. 12 and that the temporary switch to all-virtual learning was caused by illness related staff shortages. As of Monday, showed that 10 staffers are quarantined and five of them are positive. Overall, 73 quarantined and 24 are positive.
Ridgeway Elementary to temporarily switch to all-virtual learning
Ridgeway Elementary school will temporarily transition back to all-virtual learning Tuesday, according to a Monday afternoon release from Michelle Baumstark, spokesperson for Columbia Public Schools. The release outlined that in-person learning will resume Nov. 12. It noted the temporary switch to all-virtual learning was caused by illness-related staff shortages. As of Monday, showed 10 staffers are quarantined and five of them are positive for COVD-19.
CPS students wanting to switch to all-virtual learning must get on waiting list
View Story Comments COLUMBIA - Columbia Public Schools recently sent out progress reports, but many students received inaccurate reports showing a higher failure... More >> 8 hours ago Tuesday, October 13 2020 Oct 13, 2020 Tuesday, October 13, 2020 7:47:00 PM CDT October 13, 2020 in News COLUMBIA - As a part of their East-to-West-Nut-Crackin' Fest, Planters will host several events for mid-Missouri residents to visit their...
Some CPS families experience waitlist for virtual learning
COLUMBIA- Columbia Public School families that want to switch to virtual learning may have to wait to enroll. In the past 24 hours, about 100 families asked to switch from in-person learning to the virtual learning waitlist. As of Monday, about 70 elementary school students were on that list. Three quarters of CPS families already chose the in-person option, and about 2,000 elementary students are already taking the CPS Elementary at Mizzou virtual program.
CPS students wanting to switch to all-virtual learning must get on waiting list
Families in Columbia Public Schools who want their children to switch from in-person classes to all-virtual learning must get on a waiting list, district spokesperson Michelle Baumstark said Tuesday. As of Monday, about 70 elementary school students were on that list, she said. On Monday evening, the Columbia School Board narrowly approved a reopening plan in which elementary school students will attend classes in person four days a week starting Monday.
South Farm Research Center to host virtual field day
Just south of MU's campus is the South Farm Research Center, home to swine research, beef research, a turf center and the horse farm. Every year, the center showcases the farm, which partners with MU's College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources to teach students about plant and animal sciences and conduct research. Because of the pandemic, however, the showcase has been canceled in lieu of a virtual field day, which will take place at 8:30 a.m. Oct. 20.
CPS Board Hears Latest Draft For In-Person School; Rock Bridge Field Name Changes
The latest draft of Columbia Public Schools’ phased-in learning plan still has the district’s youngest students starting first, as well as those taking career and technical education classes. Superintendent Peter Stiepleman presented the revised draft Thursday to the Columbia School Board. One revision from a draft presented Sept. 14 is that middle school students would start back before high school students do.
CPS board hears latest draft for in-person school; Rock Bridge field name changes
The latest draft of Columbia Public Schools' phased-in learning plan still has the district's youngest students starting first as well as those taking career and technical education classes. Superintendent Peter Stiepleman presented the revised draft Thursday to the Columbia School Board. One revision from a draft presented Sept. 14 is that middle school students would start back before high school students do.
CPS Students Could Return in Four Phases; Hybrid Model Proposed
Superintendent Peter Stiepleman presented a plan for phasing students into in-person hybrid learning to the Columbia School Board on Monday. Students would return in a series of four stages, with the youngest students being slated to return first. This plan is a draft that depends on staffing, positivity rates and the 14-day case rate — the two-week rate per 10,000 people — overall and among ages 3 to 11.
CPS students could return in four phases, hybrid model proposed
Superintendent Peter Stiepleman presented a plan for phasing students into in-person hybrid learning to the Columbia School Board on Monday. Students would return in a series of four stages, with the youngest students being slated to return first. This plan is a draft that depends on staffing, positivity rates and the 14-day case rate — the two-week rate per 10,000 people — overall and among ages 3 to 11.
NIH grants $1.9 million to MU for neurodegenerative studies
Two MU professors have been awarded a $1.9 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to ultimately improve the quality and lifespan of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients and those who suffer from similar diseases.
CPS Announces Grab-and-Go Meal Plan For The Fall
Columbia Public Schools’ new meal service, Grab-and-Go, will take effect in the district Sept. 8, the same day students begin remote learning. Grab-and-Go will serve students the meals they would be getting if they were in school Monday through Friday, according to a tweet from Michelle Baumstark, public relations director for CPS. Bus routes for the service will run in multiple neighborhood districts surrounding K-12 schools.
CPS announces Grab-and-Go meal plan for the fall
View Story Comments COLUMBIA - Columbia Public Schools ' new meal service, Grab-and-Go, will take effect in the district Sept. 8, the... More >> 56 minutes ago Saturday, September 05 2020 Sep 5, 2020 Saturday, September 05, 2020 4:56:06 PM CDT September 05, 2020 in News KANSAS CITY - A 4-year-old girl is in stable condition after suffering a gunshot wound to the leg Wednesday evening....
CPS announces Grab-and-Go meal plan for the fall
Columbia Public Schools‘ new meal service, Grab-and-Go, will take effect in the district Sept. 8, the same day students begin remote learning. Grab-and-Go will serve students the meals they would be getting if they were in school Monday through Friday, according to a tweet from Michelle Baumstark, public relations director for CPS. Bus routes for the service will run in multiple neighborhood districts surrounding K-12 schools.
Columbia Public Schools will start all-virtual for fall semester
When Columbia Public Schools starts the 2020-2021 school year next Tuesday, it will be all-virtual. The Columbia School Board approved the change 6-1, with member Blake Willoughby dissenting. The decision will be reviewed at the board's Sept. 14 meeting. The vote was on a recommendation from Superintendent Peter Stiepleman who urged the shift from the previous "in-person/hybrid plan," which included back-to-the-classroom learning two days a week.
UPDATE: Columbia Public Schools will start all-virtual for fall
When Columbia Public Schools starts the 2020–21 school year next Tuesday, it will be all-virtual. The Columbia School Board approved the change 6-1, with member Blake Willoughby dissenting. The board and district will continue to talk about COVID-19 and its impact at every meeting. The next is Sept. 14. The vote was on a recommendation from Superintendent Peter Stiepleman, who urged the shift from the previous “in-person/hybrid plan,” which included back-to-the-classroom learning two days a week.
New MU Health Care lab speeds up COVID test reports
A new laboratory at the Mizzou North building will allow for quicker processing of COVID-19 tests per day — up to nearly 1,500 tests, according to an MU Health Care news release. Providence Urgent Care on Nifong Boulevard also provides rapid, in-house, same-day results, according to Area Operations Manager Dan Gear. He said that they currently can perform up to 23 a day but they are expecting an allocation increase that would allow them to do 60.
Anonymous donor gives $3M to MU journalism for business reporting
An alumna who wishes to remain anonymous has given $3 million to the Missouri School of Journalism for scholarships, internships and professional mentoring for students reporting at the Missouri Business Alert, according to an MU news release. The organization aims to provide top business news across the state, according to its website. Founded in 2012, it has grown to report on entrepreneurial and business news through a range of platforms including a daily newsletter and a weekly podcast.
Fire department rescues two cats, dog from Jewell Avenue fire
Firefighters rescued two cats and a dog from a residential structure fire at 1:05 p.m. Wednesday on 1001 Jewell Ave. Eight units responded to the fire, according to a Columbia Fire Department news release. The first of eight units who responded saw heavy smoke while people left the home. The building's occupants got out safely and told crews there were pets inside. In addition to the three pets rescued by the fire crews, a third dog escaped the building on its own.
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