Month: February 2014

The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a lawsuit seeking to force Missouri to recognize same-sex marriages performed in states or countries that allow them. The ACLU filed the lawsuit Wednesday in a Kansas City state court on behalf of eight same-sex couples who live in Missouri and married elsewhere. The lawsuit was announced at

Local high school scores Boys Basketball Tolton 72 Battle 67Boonville 41 Hannibal 61Hallsville 60 South Callaway 46Montgomery Co. 65 North Callaway 75Blair Oaks 89 Eldon 45 Girls Basketball Tolton 38 Battle 37Hickman 55 Jefferson City 19

The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission approved a new long range transportation plan Wednesday afternoon. However, they cautioned that without additional resources the Missouri Department of Transportation has slim chances of delivering it. Most of the projects revolve around maintenance, safety and the economy over a 20 year period. However, with the decreasing amount in

A boil order that was in effect for New Franklin was lifted Tuesday morning. City Administrator Pat Cunningham said Sunday a ten inch water main break was to blame for the order. The boil order was in effect for 48 hours after water service returned to the Howard County community. The cause of the water

Services have been announced for late Columbia leader and activist Wynna Faye Tapp Elbert. A visitation will be held Friday afternoon at Missouri United Methodist Church at 204 S. Ninth Street from 5 – 7 p.m. Funeral services will be held at the same location Saturday at 1 p.m. The Columbia activist known to many

The Missouri School of Journalism announced a major donation to create a documentary journalism program on Tuesday. Jonathan Murray, a 1977 alumnus, pledged $6.7 million gift to create one of the largest documentary journalism programs in the nation. “[The gift] will give us the chance to marry the innovative approaches of documentary storytelling and presentation

When Gary Pinkel woke up this morning, he reflected on what happened the previous night. “This is not about Mizzou.” “This is not about one player.” “This is going to have a profound effect on sport.” Former Missouri defensive end Michael Sam announced on Sunday he is gay. He may be the first active NFL

Graco is recalling nearly 3.8 million car safety seats because children can be trapped by buckles that may not unlatch. The recall covers 11 models sold from 2009 through 2013. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says it has received at least 80 complaints about the seats. Parents reported having to use excessive force to

The Columbia Public School District board of education named the new elementary school being built in northeast Columbia Monday night. The school will be called Eliot Battle Elementary School, after Eliot Battle. It is being built just north of Muriel Battle High School, named after his wife. The board also discussed the Business Loop 70

Recent numbers show crime in Columbia is a concern. In 2013, homicides were as high as they have been in the last five years. Rapes rose 57 percent from the year before and total crime overall went up. Shootings, robberies and assaults are happening in public areas, like downtown. Many are pointing at police, saying

Changes to Missouri’s workplace non-discrimination policy got a boost from a former Mizzou football standout. Among the first comments on the Missouri Senate floor Monday were related to former Tiger defensive end Michael Sam announcing his intention to be the first active, openly gay athlete in the National Football League. “It is time to pass

Authorities confirmed on Monday two people died in a home fire near the Lake of the Ozarks. Firefighters responded to an address inside the city limits of Eldon Sunday night in Miller County. The victims found at 902 Railroad Pond Road include a mother and her son, who was in his 60s. Their names have

Two people from St. Louis landed in jail on Monday after a failed home robbery in Jefferson City. Police said they arrested Charles Lowery and Kristie Meeks for the weekend break-in near High and Lafayette streets. Investigators think Meeks went to the apartment Saturday afternoon to watch movies. But 15 minutes later, Lowery allegedly broke-in

A boil order for residents of Bland in Gasconade County was lifted Sunday. A water main break that flooded City Hall early Friday morning left the town without water for hours that day. When water was restored, residents were placed under a mandatory boil order until testing revealed two days straight without contaminants. A small

On Monday MFA Oil officially confirmed their purchase of a failed Mid-Missouri artificial sweetner plant. The announcement was made public in December and recently finalized. “This property provides MFA Oil with some strategic opportunities,” said Chief Operating Officer Mark Fenner in a previous statement. “The site has convenient access to 63 Highway and will allow

Police think slick roads, speed and intoxicated driving played a possible role in a life-threatening crash in west Columbia over the weekend. Investigators say Dennis Atim, 35, lost control in a Chevy S-10 early Saturday, crossing the center line and hitting another truck head-on near Broadway and Fairview Road. Officers believe Atim could have been

While Michael Sam is becoming an icon for the gay rights movement on a national level, he is also bringing attention to Missouri’s LGBT laws. Missouri is often thought of as a conservative state with a contentious history regarding gay protections and marriage. It is also one of 29 states currently lacking a non-discrimination policy.

Almost one week after last week’s snow, some Columbia neighborhoods report their roads have yet to see a city plow. Columbia Public Works serviced priority routes yesterday again after a brief snowfall, but yesterday’s accumulation only added to roads that plows had not reached. Ventura Road, located in a subdivision off of Scott Boulevard, was

Crews were called back to the scene of a Mid-Missouri house fire on Monday, about 15 minutes east of Kingdom City. Flames started between 6:30 a.m. and 7 a.m. on Weiser Drive off Route Z, a few miles south of I-70. Firefighters returned just a few hours later. The owner, Victor Weiser and his wife

Former Missouri defensive end Michael Sam has come out as gay, telling ESPN and the New York Times on Sunday evening. In an interview on the all-sports network, Sam said he told his Mizzou team at the beginning of last season. “I’m not afraid of who I am. I’m not afraid to tell the world