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Southern Boone County School Board to vote on four-day school week proposal

ASHLAND, Mo. (KMIZ) The Southern Boone County R-I School District Board of Education will make its decision Monday on a possible four-day school week. The district has been discussing a potential shift to a four-day school week, starting with the 2026–27 academic year. Under the proposal, students would attend school 7:50 a.m.-3:25 p.m. Tuesday through

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Local commission urges Columbia to opt out of 23-hour alcohol sales during 2026 World Cup

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A local substance use prevention group is asking the City of Columbia to reject extended alcohol service hours during next year’s FIFA World Cup. The City’s Substance Use Prevention Advisory Commission warns that nearly 24-hour alcohol sales could strain service industry workers and first responders, while also posing risks to public safety.

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Hospital vacancies below pre-pandemic levels in Missouri Hospital Association report

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) According to a Missouri Hospital Association report, Missouri hospitals saw a 4% drop in vacancies in 2024; however, overall turnover has remained steady. 2025_WF_Report (1)Download Based on 2024 data, the report found that the overall turnover rate for Missouri hospitals has been above pre-pandemic levels at 22.2%, compared to 21.5% in 2020.

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Columbia holds first legislative priorities session with state lawmakers; priorities include barring minors from having guns

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)   The City of Columbia on Friday held its first legislative priorities session, bringing together local leaders and state lawmakers at City Hall to align ahead of the 2026 legislative session. Columbia Mayor Barbra Buffaloe said the session was about ensuring Columbia’s priorities are heard in Jefferson City. “There’s a lot of priorities

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Salvation Army Harbor House Columbia 12-23

Mid Missouri homeless organizations prepare for influx of people ahead of frigid weekend

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Mid-Missouri homeless organizations are preparing to see an increased need as extreme low temperatures are expected over the weekend. Maj. Nancy Powers, a Corps Officer with Columbia’s Salvation Army Harbor House, said Friday that the colder weather has already brought people to Harbor House with dangerous weather-related health problems. “By the time

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State is working with organizations to narrow, clarify SNAP restrictions on processed foods and drinks

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The state is working with stakeholders to figure out how to implement restrictions to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the Missouri Department of Social Services said Friday. The state was approved to adjust the SNAP program to exclude items like sodas, candy, packaged and prepared desserts and juice with less than 50%

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Judge in Missouri redistricting lawsuit will not make ruling until signature verification is complete

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The judge in a lawsuit surrounding Missouri’s new redistricting proposal has opted to not rule on the case until collected signatures are verified. Cole County Judge Christopher Limbaugh wrote in a Friday decision that People Not Politicians had submitted more than 300,000 signatures to Secretary of State Denny Hoskins to certify in

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