CDD 4/22: Columbia Police Department report shows more arrests, Taser use

Columbia’s Daily Dish, April 22 Columbia Police Department’s report shows more arrests, Taser use (CM) Of 38,564 interactions with the public from January to March, police made 1,873 arrests, about 500 more arrests than the previous year. Columbia School Board announces a commitment to summer school programs (CM) Summer school is on for Columbia Public [...]

CDD 4/21: Hinkson proposal would require city, county to reduce storm runoff by half

Columbia’s Daily Dish, April 21 Hinkson proposal would require city, county to reduce storm runoff by half (CM) The Missouri Department of Natural Resources says the low levels of some aquatic life means the waterway is polluted but can’t say for sure which pollutants are responsible. It wants Columbia and Boone County to clean up [...]

CDD 4/20: What’s next for downtown cameras

Columbia’s Daily Dish, April 20 What’s next for downtown cameras (CM) The downtown cameras initiative passed April 6, but Columbia Police Chief Ken Burton must still decide what cameras will be used and where they will go before the Columbia City Council can approve funding. After inspectors’ recommendations, Truman Veterans Hospital staff to undergo training [...]

CDD 4/19: Two MU students charged in cotton ball incident

Columbia’s Daily Dish 4/19 Two MU students charged in cotton ball incident (CM) Two MU students arrested in connection with the Feb. 26 cotton ball incident at the Gaines/Oldham Black Culture Center have been officially charged with littering — not a hate crime. Legislators paint bleak revenue picture (CDT) Even though Boone County’s legislative delegates [...]

CDD 4/18: Current West Broadway plan keeps two traffic lanes

Columbia’s Daily Dish 4/18 Current West Broadway plan keeps two traffic lanes (CM) The latest plan, discussed at an April 8 West Broadway Community Advisory Committee meeting, features two lanes with raised medians separating traffic and left-turn lanes at intersections. Deputy Police Chief Dresner takes to the skies (CM) When he’s not managing Columbia’s police [...]

Parks department hosts photo contest, announces winners

Columbia residents submitted more than 250 entries to a Parks and Recreation Department photo contest and the winners were announced at last night’s commission meeting. Take a look at the winning photos. 47-year-old Randy Hughes won $175 cash and a $175 Parks and Recreation gift certificate for his photos. He placed four times in two [...]

Kespohl tells Parks and Rec Commission they have a friend on Council

I caught up with Third Ward councilman Gary Kespohl during the Parks and Recreation Commission meeting on Thursday night. Kespohl, who represented the Third Ward on the commission for three years, received a plaque for his service. I asked him some questions about his transition from the Parks and Recreation Commission to the City Council.

Southeast regional park plan gains approval from the Planning and Zoning Commission

The latest installment of the southeast regional park plan received a unanimous nod of approval from the Planning and Zoning Commission at its meeting Thursday evening. The plan now moves to the April 19 City Council agenda for final approval.

No horsing around in new park plan

The Parks and Recreation Department started shaping a plan to develop a regional park in southeast Columbia in November 2007. What started with two proposals back then has turned into a final proposal now. The biggest difference is that the newest proposal lost a 17-acre equestrian area. I wrote a story for Friday‘s paper about [...]

The meaning of fair trade

While writing a story about fair-trade chocolate for Thursday’s newspaper, I spent a considerable amount of time debating the language. The term “fair trade” is a well-known concept, similar to “green” and even “heart-healthy,” but my concern lies with the loaded word “fair.” What I consider fair and what you consider fair could differ completely. [...]