Good morning, Columbia.

The annual Columbia Area Earth Day Festival will be held this Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. at Peace Park and The District downtown—offering over 200 vendor booths, live music with a new artist every hour, children's conservation activities, and the Aging Best block party.

Nearly 1,400 customers lost power at 10:01 p.m. near Paris Road in the northeastern part of town while a transformer fire reported at 10:08 p.m. at Smiley Lane and North Providence Road created a traffic hazard—city officials said the incidents are not related.

Robert Muller-Russo, 59, was found dead in his Boone County Jail cell on Wednesday at 9:38 p.m.—contracted medical staff were on site and the Sheriff's Office does not suspect foul play as he was held on misdemeanor charges, with his body sent to the Medical Examiner for further review.

A Columbia man — Joseph Elledge — who pleaded guilty in 2022 to killing his wife Mengqi Ji and was sentenced to 28 years in prison will not get a new trial after Judge Brock Jacobs rejected his claim of ineffective counsel on Thursday.

A survey from the Missouri State Teachers Association shows that 71% of Missouri educators have often thought about quitting because student behavior, stress, and low pay make teaching very hard.

Todd Fuller said the survey—gathered from over 1,800 teachers—will be used to raise concerns with state lawmakers in the next legislative session.

The City of Columbia will resume curbside recycling pickup Monday, April 28, but all recyclables will go to the city’s landfill for now — residents should place glass containers with regular garbage and commercial customers must continue separating recyclables from regular waste.

The City of Columbia Solid Waste Utility announced on Thursday that curbside recycling will restart Monday, April 28 after a tornado damaged the recycling facility — all recyclables will be sent to the city landfill until new plans are made.

Residents using curbside collection should put glass in the trash — drop-off centers remain closed.

Molly's Miles 5K and 10K Race

8:00-10:30 a.m. — Molly Bowden Memorial Park — Supports family members of fallen police officers — Run for a cause while enjoying a scenic course.

Spring 2025 Parade of Homes

1-5 p.m. — Columbia, MO — Admission varies — Tour premier homes and find fresh inspiration for your next design project.

Concert Jazz Band & Studio Jazz Band Performance

7 p.m. — University of Missouri — Ticket pricing varies — Enjoy a night of swinging sounds with talented jazz ensembles at this historic venue.

Georgia Bulldogs vs. Missouri Tigers Softball

6:59-10:59 p.m. — Mizzou Softball Field — Check local listings for ticket prices — Witness an exciting NCAA softball showdown between two competitive teams.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Screening

7:30-10 p.m. — Lakeside Ashland — No outside food or drink — Enjoy a family-friendly screening of the beloved Star Wars film.

Central Missouri Repeater Group Breakfast Meeting

8:30-10:00 a.m. — Summit Cafè — Free entry — Connect with fellow GMRS enthusiasts over breakfast and discuss local radio communication.

Georgia Bulldogs vs. Missouri Tigers Baseball

6:59-10:59 p.m. — Taylor Stadium — Check out the exciting matchup between Georgia and Missouri's college baseball teams.

CMRLC Gem & Mineral Show & Sale

12 PM – 4 PM — Knights of Columbus CKC Event Center — Entry Fee Applies — Explore a dazzling array of gems and minerals from various vendors.

Intro to Woodworking Class

9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. — MACCLab | A Community Makerspace — Class fee includes materials — Learn woodworking basics while creating a small project.

Basics of Industrial Sewing Class

5-8 p.m. — MACCLab | A Community Makerspace — All materials included — Learn sewing techniques while creating a tote bag from thick materials.