Good morning, Columbia.

Veterans United Home Loans will bring back its free holiday lights drive-thru at its campus (550 Veterans United Drive), with public nights set for Dec.

10-20. The one-mile route will run 7 to 10:30 p.m. weekdays and 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. weekends, feature more than 1 million LED lights, and require no reservations.

The Kitchen Grill and Games hosted its first Brunch and BOOs community Halloween event on Sunday at its downtown location, offering a themed brunch, kid-friendly activities, and arcade games.

Lizzi & Rocco's Natural Pet Market hosted its first Halloween-themed event for dogs at the store, where owners brought costumed pets for photos, treats, and a short pet parade.

A construction crane snagged a power line Monday afternoon, bringing it down and closing westbound I‑70 just east of the Midway/Highway 40 exit; lanes reopened about 1:40 p.m., but backups continued (the crane was working on a bridge over Perche Creek).

The Columbia Board of Education Policy Committee introduced guidelines Monday to honor students who die before graduation, including a memorial chair with cap, gown, diploma cover and flowers, public name-reading if families wish, and a moment of silence; administrators will coordinate with families (families may opt out) and the district will give parents a commemorative tassel and diploma cover after graduation.

Attorney General Catherine Hanaway sent a cease-and-desist letter Monday to Eli Lilly after the company cut MU Health Care off federal 340B pricing (a drug-discount program) for refusing to submit detailed claims data, alleging the requirement violates the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act and risks patient privacy and access to care.

Consumer advocates say Missouri lacks strong safeguards to prevent data center power costs from falling on average ratepayers and are urging the Public Service Commission to require longer, stricter large-load contracts.

The PSC approved Ameren’s large-load tariff that took effect Dec. 4, 2025, and regulators say the rules already protect customers.

The Missouri Department of Conservation will require $5 camping permits beginning in March for MDC areas that offer camping; each permit covers up to five days and 10 people, and campers are limited to three consecutive permits and six total per year.

Three-year-old Harper Kroeckel will travel to Italy in November for MEST, a modified electrosclerotherapy treatment for her CM-AVM syndrome that is not FDA-approved in the U.S., and her family has raised $143,000 to cover two sessions (they may return in three months for a possible third).

MU Health Care agreed to buy Summit Pharmacy in Holts Summit to add a 12th pharmacy to the Mizzou Pharmacy network; the store will stay open with the same phone number, patients need not act, the acquisition is expected to close in December, and eligible staff will be offered jobs.

The Division of Fire Safety is urging residents to use the daylight saving (fall back) time change to check smoke alarms and fire extinguishers, testing alarms, replacing batteries, and ensuring extinguishers are in date before winter.