Good morning, Columbia.

Terri Gray, executive director of Ronald McDonald House Mid-Missouri since 2013, is retiring by the end of the year.

The charity, which built a new house at 1110 S. College Ave and launched programs like Lunch on the House, is now searching for her replacement.

Part of the Opportunity Campus opened Wednesday night to offer an overnight cooling shelter (at 1304 Bowling St) due to extreme heat with the heat index expected to reach triple digits through the weekend.

The $18.6M facility will fully open mid July while a city committee gathers input on homelessness.

Ahmed Ghaboush, a downtown safety ambassador, revived an unresponsive person near Broadway and Hitt Street on June 12 at about 8:30 p.m. — emergency responders arrived eight minutes later, highlighting the early impact of the new Block by Block Safety Ambassador Program launched earlier this month.

Local historians uncovered tombstones of early settlers in two obscure cemeteries.

Researchers will study the markers to learn more about the city’s beginnings.

Egg producers in Missouri are grappling with a sharp price crash as Grade A large eggs dropped from $4.55 in May 2025 to $2.19 this May; local farms like Stanton Brothers report revenue down 20% and expect low prices (up to 18 months).

The Asian needle ant was confirmed early this morning and may cause painful stings as it alters forest ecosystems by preying on termites and competing with native species.

University of Missouri Extension expert Emily Althoff is tracking sightings with local agencies after reports emerged from Arkansas last fall.

The Columbia Fire Department held a Traffic Incident Management training session yesterday at the Fire Training Academy to review protocols for safely managing roadside incidents.

Battalion Chief Roger Mertenmeyer led the session to teach vehicle placement strategies that help reduce secondary crashes (ensuring safety for both responders and drivers).

Boone County will launch a Peer Navigation program with in2Action to help former jail inmates build reentry plans, and the initiative—supported by the county’s Opioid Addiction Treatment and Recovery Fund—will offer key services such as behavioral health care + employment support.

The Missouri Department of Transportation said one lane of eastbound I-70 (and its off‐ramp to Providence Road) closed yesterday at about 10 a.m. for emergency repairs that continued until early this morning.

Nonprofit leaders in mid-Missouri faced funding cuts when Gov. Mike Kehoe signed the state budget on Tuesday — the move slashed nearly $1 million in support for programs, prompting Powerhouse and Good Dads to plan staffing cuts and seek more community funding.

Sidewalks and parking around North Village Park closed on July 1 for construction that included new sidewalks, parking lanes, and stormwater features (Orr St, St. James St, Ash St, and Park Ave).

The city said work will finish by December.

Columbia eateries offer festive Fourth of July hot dogs with holiday hours.

Irene’s runs Friday (11 a.m. to 9 p.m.) and Saturday (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.); Mugs-Up, Booches, Just Jeff’s, Big Daddy’s, Como Smoke and Fire, and Old Plank Tavern also serve special menus with varying hours.

Red White & Blues Celebration

6:00 – 8:30 PM — Rose Music Hall — Cashless venue — Enjoy a vibrant evening of music and community at Rose Park.

Intro to Vinyl Cutting Class

6-8 p.m. — MACCLab | A Community Makerspace — Class fee includes materials — Learn to create vinyl projects with GCC vinyl cutters and Cricut Maker in a hands-on session.

Callaway Chamber Monthly Roundtable Tour

8:30-10 a.m. — Callaway Chamber of Commerce — Free entry — Engage with community members and business leaders to discuss local workforce developments.

Basics of Industrial Sewing Class

5-8 p.m. — MACCLab | A Community Makerspace — Class fee includes materials — Master the fundamentals of industrial sewing and create your very own tote bag.

Incredibles Movie Night

8-10 p.m. — Lakeside Ashland — No outside food or drink — Enjoy a family-friendly movie night under the stars with the Incredibles.

Clay Street Unit + Arkansauce Concert

7:30-9:00 p.m. — Rose Music Hall — Ticket availability varies — Enjoy an evening of live music from local favorites Clay Street Unit and Arkansauce.

Encanto Outdoor Movie Night

8-10 p.m. — Lakeside Ashland — No outside food or drink — Enjoy a magical evening with Encanto under the stars.

A League of Their Own Movie Night

8:30-10:30 p.m. — Lakeside Ashland — No outside food or drink — Enjoy a classic film under the stars with friends and family.

Nike Basketball Camp at Battle High School

9 a.m.-3 p.m. — Battle High School — $299 — Develop basketball skills at this comprehensive camp with professional coaching.

Class – Intro to Heat Transfers

6:00-8:30 p.m. — MACCLab | A Community Makerspace — $80.00 — Learn about heat transfer software and create projects in a hands-on class with provided materials.