Good morning, Columbia.

Columbia families will be offered free school supplies, health screenings, haircuts and backpacks at the Community Back to School Bash held at the MU Pavilion (1701 W.

Ash St.) on Aug. 14 from noon to 6 p.m. Organizers encourage donations of new supplies to support local students.

Columbia’s Opportunity Campus opened its 150-bed Waypoint Shelter on July 13 (which nightly houses 128–135 Boone County residents at 85–90% capacity) amid an extreme heat wave.

The adjacent New Day Center cools about 15 people, and by late August the campus will add classes and support groups.

Columbia Restaurant Week will run from July 31 to Aug.

9 and will offer fixed-price menus at nearly two dozen local restaurants amid the summer slowdown. Diners can visit without tickets, and the event will support The Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri.

University of Missouri researchers developed a purple corn-based food coloring that may let food companies replace artificial dyes while giving farmers a new crop—tests show up to 97% pigment retention when coated with food-grade material for stable use in juices and drinks.

Columbia Public Library held Rainbow Story Time on Saturday — a reading event using age-appropriate picture books — while state Secretary of State Denny Hoskins announced plans to work with lawmakers to block future public funding for similar events.

State Sen. Rick Brattin and Secretary of State Denny Hoskins will hold a news conference to discuss an investigation into the Columbia Public Library's Rainbow Story Time event held last weekend; they say the event may have included material they deem inappropriate for children and could affect library funding.

Brad Upton Live Performance

7 p.m. — The Blue Note — Ticket prices vary — Enjoy an evening of laughter with comedian Brad Upton in Columbia's iconic venue.

Basics of Industrial Sewing Class

10 AM – 1 PM — MACCLab | A Community Makerspace — All materials included — Learn to use home sewing machines and industrial equipment while creating a tote bag.