• A widening pothole forced state transportation officials to shut down the eastbound I-70 exit ramp to Providence Road Wednesday morning. The emergency closure will last through early Thursday morning while crews repair the damaged highway.
• Columbia’s controversial new pedestrian safety ordinance sparked some protest as it took effect Wednesday. Police issued warnings and citations to demonstrators standing on medians at Business Loop 70 and Providence Road. The law bans pedestrians and drivers from interacting at busy intersections and narrow medians with speed limits of 35 miles per hour or higher.
• A huge new electronic billboard on the outside of the new north endzone of Memorial Stadium in Columbia went live Wednesday, highly visible for motorists passing by near the corner of Providence Road and Stadium Blvd. Similar lighted, rotating electronic messaging is prohibited in the city of Columbia - but not on university property.
• A hit-and-run in Jefferson City left two Columbia men injured mid-morning on Monday. Police say a Lincoln MKC struck 32-year-old Jesus Contreras and 26-year-old Roberto Gutierrez while they were walking in the intersection of Idlewood Rd. and Route C.
• A historic Columbia church closed its doors Sunday. Wilkes Boulevard United Methodist Church finished 112 years of community service. The landmark could no longer afford to stay open. The congregation recently lost vital rental income when a local homeless ministry moved its entire operations to the new Opportunity Campus.
• Columbia will host its 74th annual Fire in the Sky celebration this Saturday at Stephens Lake Park. The free Fourth of July event starts at 6:30 p.m. with live entertainment and food trucks. The choreographed fireworks display begins at 9:15 p.m. Free GoCOMO shuttles will run from six downtown parking garages.
Abdula-Kaba Abdullah
• The Columbia Chamber of Commerce announced last week that Abdul-Kaba Abdullah has been named its new President & CEO, effective July 1. He is currently Executive Director of Park Central Development in St. Louis and is a former city manager of Berkeley. Abdullah will replace Matt McCormick who resigned in October to lead the Ocala, Florida, area chamber of commerce.
Recent headlines:
Judge narrows CPS charter school lawsuit, but main challenge stays alive
City, county officials continue joint push on housing, homelessness
Columbia officials press their case for public safety sales tax
Recent obituaries are here.