Good morning, Columbia.

Hundreds of cookbooks willed by John Eakin to Sacred Heart Church will be for sale this weekend—recipes range from diverse cuisines to meals with hyper-specific ingredients.

The Central Missouri Humane Society said it plans to build a new animal shelter on a 17.5-acre site on East Brown School Road after raising $11 million in donations and securing $5 million so far.

The group will break ground by spring 2026—aiming to open the facility by early 2027—because the current shelter on Big Bear Blvd. no longer meets growing community needs.

The No Kings protest is planned in Columbia at the Boone County Courthouse plaza from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Oct.

18—organizers including Indivisible and the ACLU expect similar demonstrations in nearby towns to stand against authoritarian actions.

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources said it is nearly done cleaning up a section of Lake of the Ozarks that was damaged by an accidental fire on Aug.

4, which may have been caused by an electrical issue with a house boat + several docks and a boat caught fire. Cleanup is expected to finish within one or two weeks once all damaged structures are removed.

The Missouri Department of Social Services said states lack enough federal funds to issue November SNAP benefits if the government shutdown continues—low-income families may not receive food benefits on their EBT cards.

Missouri has enough funds to continue the TANF program for families in need.

MoDOT is holding its annual statewide winter operations drill today at 8 a.m. in rural areas and 9 a.m. in urban areas—training roughly 2,400 snowplow operators—until 3 p.m. The exercise simulates significant snowfall to test emergency communications and ensure all teams are prepared.

The Downtown Columbia Community Improvement District revealed a plan at its Tuesday board meeting to allocate 35% of its annual revenue and at least $500,000 from reserves toward new security measures downtown—steps that come after weeks of public concern about safety.

Lenoir Street in Columbia will be closed for one month starting Monday, October 20 as MoDOT contractors work on connecting the street to a new alignment at Lenoir Woods—motorists must use an alternate route, and a new off-ramp for northbound Highway 63 will be built during the project.

City officials from the Bicycle and Pedestrian Commission and the City of Columbia walked along Business Loop 70 from the Aldi interchange to Hickman High School to check safety for pedestrians and drivers—seeking better sidewalks, crosswalks, and signal timing—and will complete a final report with recommendations by next Spring.

At Daniel Boone Regional Library, BEC counselors are helping Columbia seniors choose Medicare plans during open enrollment, which runs until December 7.

The counselors work with the Missouri State Health Insurance Associate Program to compare 2026 Medicare prescription and Advantage plans and explain that even if the drug list stays the same — the plan details may differ.

Boone County will launch a new Youth Substance Use Prevention Coalition on Wednesday afternoon at the Columbia/Boone County Health Department — the group formed after nearly 1,800 Boone County residents identified youth substance use as a top concern, and it will bring together local parents, school leaders, health providers, law enforcement, businesses, and youth leaders.

Sips for The Symphony Cocktail Party

7-9 p.m. — Orr Street Studios — Fundraiser entry — Celebrate music and community with cocktails, live entertainment, and an auction for a good cause.

Home Free Concert

8:00 – 9:30 PM — Missouri Theatre — Ticket prices vary — Enjoy a night of vocal harmonies from the popular a cappella group Home Free.

Lakeview Concert at Rose Music Hall

8 PM — Rose Music Hall — Cashless venue — Enjoy a night of live music with convenient card payment at a popular venue.

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial Screening

8-10 p.m. — Lakeside Ashland — No outside food or drink — Enjoy a classic movie under the stars with E.T.'s magical charm.

Intro to Woodworking Class

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

The Hunter's Guild - A Tribute to K-Pop Demon Hunters

2-5 p.m. — Rose Music Hall — Cashless venue — Celebrate K-Pop demon hunters with an exciting show at this community event.

Missouri Tigers Women's Basketball Exhibition

3:30-6:30 p.m. — Mizzou Arena — Tickets available — Catch the Missouri Tigers take on the Maryville Saints in an exciting women's basketball exhibition.

Hocus Pocus Movie Night

6:30-9 p.m. — Lakeside Ashland — No outside food or drink — Experience the Sanderson Sisters in this Halloween classic filled with witchy fun and spooky laughs for the whole family.

2000s Halloween Party at The Blue Note

9 PM – 12 AM — The Blue Note — Entry details not specified — Celebrate the nostalgic vibes of the 2000s with electrifying entertainment and costumes.

Kolton Moore & The Clever Few Concert

8 PM — Rose Music Hall — Cost TBD — Experience the rising sounds of Kolton Moore & The Clever Few in an engaging live performance.