Columbia Public Schools didn't renew school equity officer's contract A decision by the Columbia schools board to not renew chief equity officer Carla London's contract concerns those served by her office.

While the contract was not renewed, the position and the programs it oversaw remain.
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Boone County charter school application approved as CPS objects A charter school application by Frontier Schools was approved by the state board of education for Columbia, prompting a response by Columbia schools.

Columbia schools argues Frontier Schools failed to follow the correct application procedure. A Missouri Department of Elementary and Seconday Education analysis said otherwise. Columbia also cited its ongoing litigation. www.columbiatribune.com/story/news/e...

Columbia school board to vote on new teacher contract April 13 The Columbia school board will vote on a new teacher contract Monday with a $1,400 base pay raise and calendar changes.

The Teacher collective bargaining agreement includes an increase to the base pay, which also means salary schedule adjustments and an additional professional development day means an adjustment to the calendar for next year.
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Rise in animal bites 'alarming,' Columbia health officials say Animal control took nearly 500 reports of animal bites last year. Numbers have increased since 2021 and may be related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

With nearly 500 animal bites reported last year and numbers growing year on year, Columbia/Boone County Health is raising the alarm on these incidents, how to mitigate them.
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Columbia establishes rules on data centers, with more coming A definition, development zone and conditional permitting were the first steps the Columbia City Council took to regulate data centers.

Defining what a dater center is in city codes, along with zoning and permitting rules was just the first step in the city regulating data centers and/or AI factories.
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Columbia council to change, school board the same after election Don Waterman is out as Columbia Ward 5 council member and the Columbia school board remains unchanged after the April 7 election.

The trend continued. Waterman loses his seat to Hartman and incumbent school board candidates are returned to their seats.
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Columbia City Council Ward 1 is unopposed with Valerie Carroll assured a win, though there are five write-in votes noted. At present, incumbent Ward 5 council member Don Waterman is losing to Christina Hartman.

Not all precincts are in, but in the Columbia school board election it is trending for the incumbents April Ferrao, Johny Lyman and Paul Harper to retain their seats over challenger Keary D. Husain.

Mizzou cancels annual funding for minority student groups Mizzou is canceling designated funding for five student groups that served minorities, citing a threatened loss of federal funding.

Designated funding is going away in July for umbrella groups which supported minority students on the University of Missouri Campus.
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Unbound Book Festival among full slate of April events in Columbia Springtime is awash with growth and creativity in Columbia. This includes the Unbound Book Festival and many other events in April.

There's lots to see and do in April in Columbia. No foolin'.
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Advocacy group celebrates transgender identities, visibility at concert Advocacy group IN•TACT recently hosted a Trans Day of Visibility celebration, which included music acts and a name blessing ceremony.

Trans Day of Visibility was March 31. Columbia advocacy group IN•TACT hosted a special concert and name blessing ceremony March 29.
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Looking for an Easter egg hunt in Columbia? Here's where to find them Columbia has a full slate of Easter egg hunts happening, as well as a few places planning Easter brunches. Here's where to find them.

While most Easter egg hunts are planned April 4 and April 5, one is scheduled March 29.
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Revenue guarantee finalizes Charlotte flight from Columbia airport A revenue guarantee from the Columbia City Council will be tapped only if American Airlines does not achieve the same amount over a one-year contract.

The City of Columbia and its private partners only will have to tap the revenue guarantee fund if American Airlines does not make the contracted amount by May 22, 2027.
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Columbia gauges resident wants, needs at Community Summit The city's second annual community summit will help inform work on the updated strategic plan.

Feedback received at the recent Community Summit will help shape the city's strategic planning process.
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Columbia schools look to tighten belts as lawmakers talk funding cuts With state revenue expected to decline, Columbia Public Schools already is looking at budget reductions for future years.

Columbia Public Schools is already looking ahead to where it can make budget cuts due to looming revenue targets not happening at the state level.
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Charter school association can't be party to Columbia schools lawsuit A judge ruled Missouri Charter Public School Association cannot intervene as a defendant in Columbia Public Schools' lawsuit against the state.

A judge's order has prevented the Missouri Charter Public School Association in intervening as a defendant in the lawsuit filed by Columbia Public Schools against the state.
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This Columbia-area woman recently celebrated her 100th birthday Catherine Walz recently turned 100 and celebrated with family in Columbia. She says being close to her family is the reason for her longevity.

Staying close with family, and keeping her brain and body active is how Catherine Walz has lived to 100, she and family members said at a recent birthday gathering.
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Columbia opts out of 24-hour FIFA World Cup bar rule A state law would allow nearly 24-hour alcohol drink sales during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Columbia has opted to have its own bar operation rules.

Columbia establishes rules for extended hours for certain 2026 FIFA World Cup match days. The city was able to opt out of a state law that would have allowed 23-hour alcoholic drink sales.
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America's National Churchill Museum a treasured view for America 250 Winston Churchill gave his Iron Curtain speech in March 1946 in Fulton, Missouri. This moment in American history still resonates 80 years later.

America's National Churchill Museum will mark the 80th anniversary of the 'Sinews of Peace' speech, which happened March 5, 1946 on the Westminster College campus in Fulton, Missouri.
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These candidates are running for Boone County, state, federal offices The filing period for county, state and federal positions started Feb. 24. First up is the primary in August with the general election in November.

Candidate filing for county, state and federal positions opened Feb. 24. This is who has filed as of Feb. 26.
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Columbia native heads Mars rover design team at Missouri S&T in Rolla A Missouri S&T team is gearing up to reveal its Mars rover design for a competition in May. Its leader is a Columbia native.

A national competition is in May. The Missouri S&T team will reveal their rover design March 7.
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Douglass Park basketball court design will recognize local history A Douglass Park basketball court design originally was set to honor a beloved Mizzou women's basketball coach. It now will honor community history.

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What Columbia Parks and Rec wants to do at Northeast Regional Park Proposed projects are planned out in phases for Northeast Regional Park, with the first including Boone County Fair space and artificial turf fields.

Another public input meeting is planned March 12 for anyone who missed the Feb. 10 meeting.
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And that's a wrap on my weekend of winter storm coverage. Check the link in the quoted post for all the updates.

I'm live reporting on this weekend's winter storm. Follow updates here: www.columbiatribune.com/live-story/w...

Council incumbents offer comments on their reelection candidacy.
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Flu cases are spiking but not yet at their peak in Missouri, says a University of Missouri Health Care doctor.
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Here's what school board candidates had to say about why they're running. The election is April 7.
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CPS teachers are concerned with reassignment, transfer policy update. So, the board gave the policy back to the committee to also include procedural considerations.
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Ordinance amendments were submitted to staff to review and create. A vote is expected by the Columbia City Council in early October.
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