Good morning, Columbia.

Beginning April 1, the Fulton food pantry will open on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (services will not be available on Fridays) to better serve families and support volunteers, according to a SERVE news release.

William Gipson, a 43-year-old inmate from Ashland, died in custody at Boone County Jail on August 23—medical examiner reports say his death was accidental and caused by severe methamphetamine intoxication after he became unresponsive during booking.

Sodexo in Jefferson City announced it will close its facility on April 30 and lay off 63 employees after Lincoln University cancelled its contract for technical maintenance and cleaning services.

The March 6 WARN notice explained the decision was due to unforeseen business circumstances—details that leave little room for delay.

Four people were hospitalized after a shooting at the Living Room Bar on West Vest Street in Marshall early Sunday morning, with three treated and released and one remaining in stable condition at University Hospital in Columbia while police identified a suspect and submitted evidence for formal charges.

On Monday, March 17, a 911 call from Unity Drive led Columbia officers to chase and arrest Paul Hackney after his silver Lincoln Nautilus evaded capture—with a vehicle search later uncovering a Glock 22, drugs, and an extended drum magazine—while he faced charges for drug, gun, and resisting arrest offenses.

Columbia Police are investigating 16 unsolved cold case homicides involving 18 victims dating from 1985 onward and are using updated forensic technology and community tips to help families learn what happened—Lt. Matt Gremore said the department remains committed to preserving open lines of communication with victims’ families.

Columbia Water & Light is asking the City Council for $250,000 from retained earnings to replace failing street light poles after replacing 20 lights downtown and finding 25 more poles that need replacement.

The funds will go to the Electric operating account to keep a reserve of parts for future replacements.

Candidates Tanya Heath, Barbara Buffaloe and Blair Murphy faced off Monday night in a debate hosted by KOMU 8 (with support from the Columbia Chamber of Commerce and Reynolds Journalism Institute) as they prepare for the April 8 municipal election.

Each candidate followed strict 90-second guidelines for opening statements, responses and closing remarks.

Columbia Fire Chief Brian Schaeffer has focused on boosting efficiency by using better technology and increasing firefighters per engine since he took office on August 19th—he realigned teams for four-person staffing to improve safety and response times.

He will soon use a tool called Dark Horse and plans to upgrade aging fire stations—steps that will modernize services for our community.

Candidates in the April 8 election for mayor and city council in Columbia are calling for more police officers and increased pension funding+ proposals they say will improve public safety while balancing the budget+ their ideas are set to drive debate in the upcoming race.

Kids Create: Wind Chimes

10 AM – 12 PM | Holts Summit Public Library | Free entry | Kids can unleash their creativity by painting and customizing their own wind chimes.

Dr. Zhivegas Live Concert

8:00-9:30 p.m. | The Blue Note | Ticket prices vary | Experience an energetic performance by Dr. Zhivegas in the heart of Columbia.

Gimme Gimme Disco Dance Party

7-11:30 p.m. | Rose Music Hall | Cost TBA | Dance the night away to ABBA hits and classic disco tunes from the 70s and 80s.

Wild And Scenic Film Festival

1:30-5:30 p.m. | The Blue Note | Tickets starting at $29 | Experience the energy and excitement of the Wild and Scenic Film Festival live in Columbia.

Threads: Sewing & Costume Design Class

5 PM – 6 PM — TRYPS Children's Theater — Check website for pricing — Learn the basics of sewing and costume design over 8 weeks with fun projects to take home.

Grease Auditions

Apr 1-2 — TRYPS Children's Theater — Registration required — Showcase your talent at auditions for the summer production of Grease!

Missouri State Bears vs. Missouri Tigers Softball

5-9 p.m. — Mizzou Softball Field — Free entry — Catch the exciting showdown between local softball rivals Missouri State Bears and Missouri Tigers.

Drake Milligan Concert

8 PM — Rose Music Hall — Ticket prices vary — Enjoy a night of live music with Drake Milligan in Columbia, MO.

Missouri Startup Weekend

Friday, Apr 11th — 4:30 PM – 7:00 PM — EquipmentShare - Corporate Office — $0-89.99 — Unleash your billion-dollar startup idea with expert mentors and networking opportunities over a weekend of innovation.

Introduction to Machine Embroidery Class

10 a.m. — MACCLab | A Community Makerspace — Materials included — Learn to create an embroidered patch using the Melco Bravo embroidery machine in this hands-on class.