columbiatribune.com stories: Local News

Stormwater debate continues as council vote nears

Andrew Denney — Wed, 30 May 2012 14:00:00 -0500

Columbia's city government staff and the local development community remain at odds over certain provisions of proposed changes to the city's stormwater regulations, which the Columbia City Council tabled last week at its regular meeting.

Man given jail time for exposing himself

Wed, 30 May 2012 14:00:00 -0500

A 47-year-old Columbia man with a history of sexual misconduct was sentenced to seven months for exposing himself to a 25-year-old woman last year and trying to force her to touch his genitals.

Skateboarding day free, open to all ages

Wed, 30 May 2012 14:00:00 -0500

The Columbia Parks and Recreation Department, in conjunction with local businesses and clubs, is hosting Shred Fest on Saturday to celebrate National Skateboarding Day.

Man sentenced for taking cop computer

Wed, 30 May 2012 14:00:00 -0500

A 22-year-old University of Missouri student found walking along Range Line Street last year with a police dashboard computer will serve five years of supervised probation.

UM publishing cut draws protest

Janese Silvey — Wed, 30 May 2012 14:00:00 -0500

Publishers and book lovers across the country are joining forces in a campaign to persuade the University of Missouri System to reverse its decision to close the UM Press. Bruce Miller, a publishing representative in Chicago, on Monday launched the Facebook page "Save the University of Missouri Press," which had more than 670 supporters as of Wednesday morning.

City’s first ‘certified site’ sold at foreclosure sale

Jacob Barker — Wed, 30 May 2012 14:00:00 -0500

Three years after it won the distinction as Missouri's first "certified site," the 270-acre Ewing Industrial Park in north Columbia was sold at a foreclosure sale Tuesday. Economic development officials have touted the land for years as a prime spot for a data center, and local governments have passed special electric rates and tax abatement policies aimed to lure the huge server warehouses.

150 YEARS AGO: Newspaper editor checks bank’s books

Rudi Keller — Wed, 30 May 2012 14:00:00 -0500

COLUMBIA — The Exchange Bank had more than $140,000 on hand, including $64,410 in gold and silver, the Columbia Missouri Statesman reported.

Past efforts aimed to save press

Janese Silvey — Wed, 30 May 2012 14:00:00 -0500

The University of Missouri System has spent a decade and thousands of dollars trying to help its publishing house become a sustainable operation, administrators say. And the decision to close UM Press was not taken lightly, said Steve Graham, associate vice president of academic affairs.

Young robins rise and whine

Wed, 30 May 2012 14:00:00 -0500

Alice Weiss heard a lot of bird chatter on Monday, and when she went to investigate, she saw these young robins waking up.

MU student target of scam, BBB says

Janese Silvey — Wed, 30 May 2012 12:19:37 -0500

A University of Missouri student is out $2,000 after being conned online. The Better Business Bureau reported the case Wednesday, warning people to be cautious when dealing with anyone they meet through the Internet.

Officials investigate pair of fatal traffic accidents

Brennan David — Wed, 30 May 2012 09:58:25 -0500

A 39-year-old Columbia man died Tuesday after he was ejected from his motorcycle while traveling on Interstate 70.

Scripps National Spelling Bee gets started

By THE TRIBUNE'S STAFF — Wed, 30 May 2012 09:45:01 -0500

Priscilla Liow, an eighth-grader from Columbia, aced her first and second words in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday.

Shots fired in two locations overnight

Wed, 30 May 2012 09:25:54 -0500

Police are investigating a pair of overnight gunfire incidents in central and north Columbia. No injuries were reported.

Matthes cites successes, challenges in State of City

Andrew Denney — Tue, 29 May 2012 14:00:00 -0500

In his second State of the City address, City Manager Mike Matthes wrote that the city is doing "better and better" in terms of sales tax collections, but it still faces challenges in dealing with poverty in the city and more than $100 million in unfunded liabilities for municipal employees' pensions.

Teen Challenge plans family center for Columbia

Rudi Keller — Tue, 29 May 2012 14:00:00 -0500

Teen Challenge, a program that has grown from one preacher's vision for helping gang members into a worldwide ministry helping people with drug and alcohol addictions, wants to expand into Central Missouri with a center for women with children.

Schools partnership leads to community garden

Catherine Martin — Tue, 29 May 2012 14:00:00 -0500

Columbia has made headway recently in providing food for the city's underserved population with initiatives such as community gardens, said Sam Robinson, director of healthy community initiatives for the PedNet Coalition.

Koster, MasterCard to hold seminar

Tue, 29 May 2012 14:00:00 -0500

Attorney General Chris Koster and representatives of MasterCard will hold a seminar Wednesday offering tips on how to protect against financial fraud.

Unions make pitches to council as budget time nears

Andrew Denney — Tue, 29 May 2012 14:00:00 -0500

Public-sector unions representing city employees are continuing to work through the "meet-and-confer" process to secure better working conditions for the employees they represent as the Columbia City Council begins talks on the fiscal year 2013 budget.

City starts work on Providence project

Tue, 29 May 2012 14:00:00 -0500

The Columbia Public Works Department said Tuesday work has begun on intersection improvements at Providence Road and Business Loop 70.

Columbia man sought in shots-fired incident at pool

Tue, 29 May 2012 14:00:00 -0500

Columbia police are searching for a 28-year-old man they believe fired at a group of people at Albert-Oakland Park on Memorial Day.