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Columbia

Columbia restaurant owner set to face judge on impersonation charges Tuesday

DUNKLIN COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia restaurant owner accused of impersonating elected officials will be making an initial appearance in court in the Dunklin County Justice Center Tuesday. Crystal Umfress, owner of Casa Maria’s in Columbia, is facing charges of impersonating an elected official in September after court documents say she sent emails accusing other

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CPS to pay Yearwood more than $667,000 in contract buyout

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The outgoing superintendent at Columbia Public Schools will receive a payout worth two-thirds of a million dollars. CPS confirmed on Friday that Superintendent Brian Yearwood would step down immediately to retire. According to a separation agreement between Yearwood and the school district, Yearwood will receive $667,268.90 on Jan. 1. The agreement says

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Columbia Public Schools improves in key areas on state report card

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia Public Schools made critical gains in key academic measures between 2023 and 2024 in the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Annual Performance Report. CPS received 86.5% of the possible points in this year’s report, which combines performance and improvement scores from the 2023-2024 school year. The district received a score

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Columbia Public Schools superintendent to retire months after announcing cancer diagnosis

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The top administrator in Columbia Public Schools plans to retire. CPS spokesperson Michelle Baumstark wrote in a statement Friday that Brian Yearwood has decided to step down immediately to spend time with family in Texas. The Columbia Board of Education unanimously accepted his retirement request. Former superintendent Chris Belcher has agreed to

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