• A juvenile girl is in custody after another female minor was stabbed in central Columbia on Tuesday afternoon. Both girls are students at Columbia Public Schools. The victim was treated at a local hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.
• A trained martial arts fighter is headed to prison for nine years after knocking out his girlfriend and breaking her jaw near West Broadway in Columbia last June. Jesse Allen Jones, 38, of Centralia pleaded guilty and was sentenced Monday.
• A man from Mexico, Missouri faces manslaughter charges following a deadly weekend crash with an E-Bike in Jefferson City. Prosecutors say 36-year-old Robert Roy Rackers Jr., 36, was driving under the influence of marijuana when he struck Richard Robben, 59, Sunday afternoon.
• The Columbia City Council voted 5-1 Monday to approve a lease agreement with Love Columbia Corp. to use city-owned property at 200 N. Garth Ave. as transitional housing for participants in the nonprofit’s homeowner-readiness program. The item was pulled from the consent agenda by council member Valerie Carroll because of the property’s history, location on the African American Heritage Trail and public interest in its future. Staff said Love Columbia would spend about $168,000 to renovate the house and that no city funds would pay for repairs. Public comment focused on concerns over transparency and whether other groups should have had a chance to pursue the property. Council member Christina Hartman cast the no vote.
• The murder trial of a woman from Holts Summit continued today in a Boone County courtroom. Heather Smith, 38, is accused of shooting Kara Dills, 37, during a parking lot dispute in Holts Summit last year. Smith claims she acted in self-defense.
• The Boone County Republicans are celebrating America 250 with an ice cream social next Tuesday evening at the American Legion Hall in Columbia.
• Today is Earth Day. Columbia’s annual Earth Day festival is this Sunday afternoon on Elm Street Downtown.
• The city council on Monday gave final approval for The Vantage, a 240-unit apartment development on both sides of Rolling Hills Rd. south of Richland Rd. in east Columbia.
• The city council scheduled a public hearing for May 4 regarding a new $5 million fire station at Ballenger Lane and Ria Street to replace the current station in northeast Columbia. Officials say the original building from 1971 is now deteriorating and lacks space for modern crews.
• Mizzou Athletics is launching a new student ticketing model for the 2026 school year. Students will earn loyalty points by attending games and checking in on the Mizzou Tigers app.
• MoDOT closed the northbound Route 63 ramps at Grindstone Parkway in Columbia Monday. Crews are building new on and off ramps. The work is expected to continue through June.
• Recent headlines:
City’s push to raise cap on power cost recovery raises questions about impact
Lawsuit: Falling façade from the Rise on 9th resulted in city safety violations
City of Columbia embracing public-backed airline funding strategy
• Recent obituaries are here.