A Boone County circuit judge ruled in favor of Chuck Basye Monday afternoon, clearing the way for the former state representative from Rocheport to join six other candidates seeking election to the Columbia Public Schools board of education during elections April 4. Read More Judge rules for Basye, will instruct clerk to include him on ballot
Six candidates vying for three positions on the Columbia Public Schools board of education met together for the first time earlier this week at a candidate forum hosted by the Columbia Board of Realtors. Read More School board candidates share views at forum
A Columbia construction company’s lawsuit against the city of Columbia is challenging the city’s authority under the Missouri constitution to “exercise arbitrary and subjective authority” by denying the builder’s request for a one-plot “replat” of 0.47 acres in the center of the city. Read More Columbia builder taking city to court over rejection of replat
Attorneys for the Columbia Public Schools will maintain that Chuck Basye’s argument for being added to the board of education election ballot this April “ignores its inherently and inevitably absurd result, and should be denied,” during a bench trial scheduled for Monday before Boone County … Read More School attorneys call Basye’s argument ‘absurd,’ trial set for Monday
Columbia Public Schools Superintendent Brian Yearwood responded Sunday to Missouri Governor Mike Parson's concern over students' attendance at a drag performance Thursday morning during a "diversity appreciation breakfast" sponsored by the city of Columbia. Read More CPS superintendent responds to governor, blames misinformation on drag show furor
In an effort to protect children throughout the state, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey directed a letter to Superintendent of Columbia Public Schools, Brian Yearwood, and Mayor of the City of Columbia, Barbara Buffaloe, for deliberately subjecting a group of middle school children to… Read More School, city get letter from attorney general over kids at drag performance
Michelle Baumstark, the chief communications officer for Columbia Public Schools, issued the following press release Thursday afternoon regarding the lawsuit brought against the district by former state Rep. Chuck Basye, who is seeking to be on the ballot for the April 4 school board elections. Read More School district responds to Basye lawsuit
As promised, former state Rep. Chuck Basye petitioned Missouri’s 13th judicial circuit court in Boone County on Monday to force Columbia Public Schools to include him on the ballot for a board of education position during the April 4 municipal elections. Read More Basye asking court to compel school district to include him on ballot
The Boone County Commission (Commission) is announcing its plan and process for awarding American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding. Read More Boone County opens ARPA funding applications
The Columbia City Council is scheduled to consider a conditional use permit requested from the Voluntary Action Center at its next meeting Tuesday, Jan. 17, that would allow for construction of an $18 million, 50,000-square-foot comprehensive homeless services center off Business Loop 70 nea… Read More City council to consider use permit for construction of homeless services center
There will be competition and election campaigns for both seats opening this spring on the Columbia city council. Read More Candidates certified for city’s April election
A former four-term state representative from Columbia became the first candidate to publicly declare candidacy for the new and soon-to-be open state senator seat from Boone County. Read More Former state rep Webber will seek senate seat
For the first time in 32 years, Boone County didn’t open for business in the new year with County Auditor June Pitchford overseeing the county’s finances. She retired at the end of the 2022 and is being replaced by Kyle Rieman, a former state and city budget officer who won election to the p… Read More Getting office staffed is first priority for new county auditor Rieman
The Boone County commission’s approval in late December of a new subdivision just beyond the city’s eastern border is part of new development that will add more than 700 homesites within a one-half-mile stretch of Richland Road and more than triple current traffic on the already-overburdened… Read More County OK’s another Richland Rd. development
It was a melancholy final meeting of 2022 for Boone County commissioners this week in advance of 2023’s changing of the guard that will be more profound than anticipated. Read More A melancholy changing of the guard for Boone County
After serving central Missouri for the maximum eight years in the state house of representatives, Republican Chuck Basye of Rocheport is moving on to a new job as field representative for Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer. He has also decided to join seven other candidates seeking one of three … Read More Basye says parents, teachers are afraid to speak out
Boone County commissioners authorized about $8.8 million in contracts with 49 providers last week for services that will be performed in 2023 and paid from the county's Community Children's Services fund. Read More Boone County commissioners authorize $8.8 million from Community Children's Services fund
Chuck Basye, the four-term Republican state representative from Rocheport and outspoken critic of Columbia Public Schools’ leadership, has filed to run for election to the school district’s board of education. Basye joins seven other candidates who will vie for three open seats in the April … Read More Chuck Basye joins crowded field for election to Columbia school board
Nary an eyebrow was raised at new site plans presented to the Columbia city council last week of the $18 million homeless services center planned for Business Loop 70 that has swollen to nearly 50,000 square feet and now includes a second building and new headquarters for the same local non-… Read More Shelter update: VAC will get new headquarters; Peters conflict not going away; rails greased for use permit
The city of Columbia will continue to share the spoils of controversial asset forfeiture laws after divided city council members committed the city to another year of participation in a federal sharing program of assets seized by police agencies. Read More Council member questions city benefiting from forfeiture funds
The Ashland-area farmer whose family has grown crops on property adjacent to Columbia Regional Airport since 1951 filed a lawsuit last week against the city of Columbia claiming it violated rules and procedures of competitive bidding and is seeking a restraining order to prevent the city fro… Read More Ashland farmer seeks restraining order to stop city’s lease of airport cropland
Former middle school teacher Dean Klempke became the fourth candidate this week to file for election to the Columbia Public School board of education. There are three seats opening on the board that will be decided in the April 4, 2023 municipal election. Candidates can continue to file thro… Read More Fourth candidate joins race for Columbia school board
Individual operators of multiple Airbnb’s in Columbia will be put out of business next year if the city council adopts recommendations coming to it from the city’s planning and zoning commission. A proposed new ordinance would prohibit homeowners who do not reside in the dwelling from operat… Read More Proposed Airbnb restrictions will put investor-owners out of business
The city of Columbia plans to ask voters to approve a 3% sales tax on the sale of recreational marijuana. The question would appear on the ballot during the April 4, 2023 municipal elections. Read More City plans to ask voters for 3% sales tax on recreational marijuana sales
The city and county are finally getting together to pursue improvements of Richland Road on the city’s far east side. Read More City and county to get together on plan for Richland Rd.
Three candidates so far have filed for election to the Columbia Public School board of education. There are three seats opening on the board that will be decided in the April 4, 2023 municipal election. Candidates can continue to file through Dec. 27. Read More Three candidates so far for school board
Greg Steinhoff of Columbia filed for re-election this week to another five-year term on the Boone Health Board of Trustees. Read More Steinhoff will seek re-election to hospital board of trustees
Boone County commissioners are scheduled to approve the county’s 2023 operating budget at their Dec. 15 meeting. Read More Boone County budget up 20% for 2023
An Ashland-area farmer whose family has grown crops adjacent to the Columbia Regional Airport since 1951 blames city officials for rigging a bidding process to move him off the property in favor of an upstart organic grower with inside connections. Read More Airport farmer says city’s rigged bid process headed to court
A proposal approved by voters in 2018 for renovating the city’s aging water treatment plant at McBaine may now take 10 years to complete and cost more than double the original $23 million price tag. Read More Price tag on water treatment plant doubles, may take 10 years to complete
“There’s something happening here. But what it is ain’t exactly clear.” - Stephen Stills Read More City council’s ‘no’ to police comes with call for change in approach to violent crime
Columbia residents will soon be paying more for the electricity from the city’s municipal utility. City utility staff members are working with a consultant to develop the rate increases and shared the status of their work this week with the city’s Water and Light Advisory Board. Read More Utilities staff laying groundwork for electric rate increases
The City of Columbia solid waste utility is inviting citizens to provide input on proposed ordinance changes around the use of city logo refuse bags. Read More City seeking input on changes to curbside garbage pickup
Democrat candidates Adrian Plank and Doug Mann of Columbia won their races Tuesday for the state house of representatives from Columbia. Read More Democrats Plank, Mann are winners in state rep contests
The Democrat candidate won in all four Boone County elections - presiding commissioner, treasurer, recorder of deeds and treasurer. Read More Dems sweep Boone County elections
Columbia city council members instructed utilities Director David Sorrell to proceed with developing plans for eliminating the city’s current “pay-as-you-throw” system of curbside refuse pickup and transitioning to an automated program that utilizes residential “roll-carts” and side-loading trucks. Read More City moves forward on transition to automated trash collection: Your questions answered
Staff members from the city of Columbia’s solid waste division are scheduled to meet with the city council Monday afternoon and are expected to make a presentation recommending changes to city curbside garbage pickup program that would eliminate the logo bag program and convert to an automat… Read More City staff to recommend automated garbage pickup with roll carts
A Missouri political action committee called House Republicans Campaign Committee spent $98,705 in October on advertising supporting Republican John Martin of Columbia in an election campaign for the state house of representatives from District 47, located in Columbia and Boone County. Read More State PAC spent $98K in October on District 47 rep campaign
City of Columbia City Manager De’Carlon Seewood has named Clayton Farr Jr. as the next fire chief of the Columbia Fire Department (CFD). Farr was identified as the top candidate after a nationwide recruitment and search process conducted by SGR consulting company. Read More City of Columbia announces Clayton Farr Jr. as next fire chief
Voters looking for the most complete and detailed information on local candidates before casting their ballots in the Nov. 8 general election can find it here in a round-up of CoMoBUZ stories covering election campaigns from Columbia and Boone County. Read More Local election round-up: Get informed here
Missouri Republican operatives fighting to retain the state house seat from District 47 in Columbia and Boone County have unleashed attack ads on the Democrat candidate, Adrian Plank, as the election campaign enters its final days. Read More GOP comes after Plank in District 47 house race
Two candidates are vying in the Nov. 8 general election to fill a vacancy created by the retirement on Dec. 31 of Boone County Recorder of Deeds Nora Dietzel after two, four-year terms in the office. Read More Candidates for Boone County recorder exchange views at forum
No-excuse absentee voting began for the first time in Boone County and throughout Missouri this week. Read More No-excuse absentee voting underway
At a candidate forum hosted by the NAACP at historic Second Baptist Church in downtown Columbia Tuesday night, a Republican lawmaker from Boone County told Democrat candidates calling for new restrictions on firearm ownership that they should instead get a gun to protect themselves and their… Read More GOP candidate for state rep tells Dems to get a gun
New Boone County Treasurer Dustin Stanton is facing a challenge from the county’s human resources director, Jenna Redel, in his first election since being appointed to the position earlier this year by Gov. Mike Parson. Read More Boone County treasurer candidates share views at forum
After two terms on the Columbia city council, fifth ward councilman Matt Pitzer said today that he will not run for a third term next year. Read More Pitzer won't seek re-election to city council
The two candidates in a close and pivotal election campaign for the state house of representatives from the 47th District in Boone County appeared side-by-side in Columbia last week at a forum hosted by the League of Women Voters at the Daniel Boone Regional Library. Read More District 47 state rep candidates square off at forum
The Columbia city council appointed five citizens to vacancies on its nine-member Citizens Police Review Board (CPRB) this week to ensure the board would have a quorum to meet in the case of a complaint while the council continues to grapple with the future of citizen oversight of the police… Read More City council moves to resuscitate Citizens Police Review Board
Democrat Douglas Mann, an attorney from Columbia running for state representative, leads all candidates running for election from Boone County in political donations, as of the Sept. 30 filing deadline for third quarter financial reports to the Missouri Ethics Commission. Read More Mann has strong quarter, leads all candidates in fundraising
Kip Kendrick, the Democrat former state representative from Columbia seeking to become Boone County’s next presiding commissioner, spent nearly four times more on his election campaign through Sept. 30 than his opponent Connie Leipard, also from Columbia and running as a Republican. Read More Kendrick outspending Leipard by 4X in presiding commissioner race
The final version of a comprehensive action plan to address homelessness that was commissioned by the Columbia city council earlier this year and recently delivered to city hall foreshadows considerable challenges to the feasibility of a proposed $18 million homeless service center to be bui… Read More City gets report, pushback on plans for homeless center
The redrawn state legislative districts in Missouri that ensued after the 2020 census has resulted in the opportunity for Democrats to flip two seats in Boone County and Columbia that are currently held by Republicans. Read More Mann vs. Musgraves in Dem’s bid to flip house District 50
For 32 years, Boone County voters have been able to sleep on election of the county auditor. But long-time auditor June Pitchford is retiring at the end of the year and her position – perhaps the most influential in county government – is being sought by two candidates in a quiet but chippy … Read More Candidates’ experience heats up campaign for county auditor
