News

Columbia is preparing a proposal to create a new interchange on Interstate 70 to relieve congestion at the Stadium Boulevard intersection near the Columbia Mall.

The new trays look very similar to Styrofoam, but break down in 9 months to a year. Styrofoam can stay in a landfill for 400 to 1,000 years.

The state's top deer biologist expects this firearms deer season to match 2007 numbers before the season ends next week. Over opening weekend, numbers of doe harvested were up by 5,000, while the buck total was down by 8,000.

A second class of 2008 recruits will graduate Thursday.

A 53-year-old man reported being assaulted by two men during an attempted robbery just after midnight on Thursday, a Columbia Police Department news release said.

The new U.S. 63 overpass at Gans Road just south of Columbia opened to traffic around noon Thursday.

Missouri's largest utility has asked the Public Service Commission to let them increase rates for more than a million customers.

Harrell Johnson was sentenced to life in prison without parole, despite his claim that he is innocent in the killing Erica Green, who was known as "Precious Doe" for four years.

St. Louis County and parts of eastern Missouri are experiencing a spike in cases of whooping cough this year. There have been 146 cases compared to eight last year, with the blame being placed on fading immunizations. Proposal to fight outbreak includes new booster shots for older children.

State representatives Judy Baker and Jeff Harris are among the Missouri Democrats who lost their bids for office and are now helping Gov.-elect Jay Nixon search for personnel.

An informal survey done by the American Farm Bureau Federation found the cost of a Thanksgiving meal for 10 people could be as little as $44.61. However, some of the items included in the farm bureau's estimate cost significantly less at Columbia grocery stores.

Trevor L. Blackann, 34, pleaded guilty to hiding gifts and money he recieved from lobbyists. Blackann was a former legislative aide to Missouri Sen. Kit Bond and Rep. Roy Blunt.

After executing a search warrant, police arrested a Columbia man on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to a news release from the Columbia Police Department. The police found 38 grams of marijuana, scales and a rifle in the home, the release said.  

A company in Joplin that works with explosives is expanding due to a $15 million contract with the Defense Department. The expansion is expected to bring dozens of new jobs.

Health officials to call for vaccinations as the number of whooping cough cases, especially in children 14 and younger, have risen in St. Louis County.

The Police Board voted to strip funding on the gun buyback program aimed to reduce the number of guns on the streets.

The resignations of more than half the staff were triggered by arguments with an officer regarding equipment spending.

The owner of Greenleaf LLC in Neosho pleaded guilty to federal charges of illegally distributing pesticides. He will have to pay a $200,000 fine for distributing more than 2 million pounds of pesticides and rodenticides with altered or removed labels.

A fire broke out Wednesday morning on Benton St. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.