Good morning, Columbia.

Columbia Farmers Market will hold Customer Appreciation Day on Oct.

31, 8 a.m.-noon, with music, kids activities, giveaways, a costume contest, and 100 free shirts. Winter hours begin Nov. 7 (1769 W. Ash St.) 9 a.m.-noon through March, with a pumpkin-smash kickoff at 1701 W. Ash St. and no markets Nov. 28, Dec. 26, or Jan. 2.

Como Arepas brought Columbia Venezuelan arepas and community when the Rojas family opened a sit-down restaurant in October 2022 (in the former Aroma Coffee House); the spot closed late last year, and the family plans to revive the business, possibly starting with a food truck.

Columbia author Carrie Shyrock + her children's book Do You Like My Pants? was published by an imprint of Penguin Random House and is now available in bookstores nationwide.

Missouri gas prices have fallen about 25 cents and averaged $3.90 per gallon on Wednesday, but October is still on pace to finish as the highest month on record; prices in Columbia run $3.89 to $3.99 per gallon (local stations vary).

Columbia voters will likely see a school bond on the April ballot to fund the first of two requests for the district's next 10-year infrastructure plan (expected to cover building updates and repairs).

Republic Services has proposed a 15.2-acre expansion to add about 3.5 million cubic yards of capacity and extend the Jefferson City landfill's life to roughly 2048; the DNR is accepting written comments through Nov.

11 and plans a final decision by Dec. 15.

Columbia is processing recyclables at its tornado-damaged recycling facility and resumed weekly curbside pickup in June, though drop-off centers and multifamily recycling remain suspended.

The city has sought proposals to rebuild, estimated at $3.6 million for a replacement or $21 million for a new facility, and council review is pending.

MoDOT officials will give an update on roadway fatalities, the Improve I-70 project, and the Buckle Up Phone Down campaign at noon at the Drury Plaza Hotel Columbia East (3100 Interstate 70 Drive SE); the department says 716 people have died on Missouri roadways so far in 2026, with more than half unbuckled.

Ameren Missouri has asked state regulators to approve construction of the Katy electric substation southwest of Columbia early next year to boost transmission reliability, split a transmission line to limit outages, and accommodate future growth; the Missouri Public Service Commission is expected to decide by the end of February.

Ameren Missouri applied Oct.

16 to build a roughly 76,000-sqft Katy Substation southwest of Columbia near Little Bonne Femme Creek, and the Missouri Public Service Commission has until Feb. 28, 2027 to rule; if approved, construction would begin in 2027 with facilities operational by spring 2028.