equity and inclusion language in Columbia’s strategic plan might be on the chopping block Monday Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content Join the MNN Newsletter for a behind-the-scenes look at how the Columbia Missourian MBA and Vox magazine build connections across Missouri The council also heard concerns about renovation plans for the Douglass Park basketball courts Studying Writing and Reporting and Woman and Gender Studies Email notifications are only sent once a day Meet Columbia residents who are living their best life over 50 along with tips and resources to take advantage of all Columbia has to offer. Read more stories. In this special publication for The District find out what activities and shopping you can do in downtown Columbia this spring Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Account processing issue - the email address may already exist The Columbia Parents’ Digest is a newsletter to keep you in the know about raising kids in Columbia Start your day with the latest news stories for Columbia Receive a roundup of the news of the day each evening. (View a sample.) Get the latest Mizzou and local high school sports stories delivered to your inbox Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account The Columbia City Council has a stacked agenda when it meets Monday night the council will receive a report and hold discussion on the water cost-of-service study during a work session Work session meeting materials were not yet available when agendas were posted Friday A news release from Columbia Water and Light did note "the cost of service study evaluated how much revenue the water utility will need to cover expenses while balancing impacts on customers "Studies such as these are generally conducted every five years to accommodate any changes to expenses This study will project costs and necessary revenue for the next 10 years." Columbia could get a Hyatt Place Hotel with lodging wings and centrally attached conference center across U.S Highway 63 from Menards and Bass Pro Shop if a rezoning from agricultural to planned district is approved by 2/3 of the council The Centerstate East Subdivision has nine lots where two of them could serve as the two hotels and attached conference center Three other lots could have future development A staff report notes that the hotel and conference centers could have max heights of 85 feet based on Planning and Zoning Commission and staff discussion One lot will serve as the access drive to the property from off the roundabout on Vandiver Drive The remaining lots could serve as stormwater management and tree preservations areas The planning and zoning had a tie vote on a motion to provide an approval recommendation for the council which is considered a denial recommendation in the end This is part of the reason why at least five of the council's seven members have to give the OK to the rezoning A public hearing toward the beginning of Monday's meeting will determine if renovations to the Waters House at the Waters-Moss Memorial Wildlife Area are authorized to provide an expansion of recreational programming and facility rental spaces The house is located at 1907 Hillcrest Drive and proposed changes include a new concrete patio adding a hand rail and tables; removing a garage door and adding ventilation and fire suppression for a ceramics kiln adjacent to an art classroom; providing Americans with Disabilities Act access to the art classroom along with the addition of an entry door and deck and removal of a closet in the art classroom; renovating the ranger office into rental storage; removing a centrally located restroom to become Columbia Parks and Recreation storage with a washer and dryer; removing the fireplace and installing a beam to combine spaces; closing off one entry door; and renovating a wall and door to become sliding doors for a meeting space The project budget is $250,000 using funds from the 2021 parks sales tax While the city council still will have oversight and approval of any changes to the city's mission a staff memo notes the other functions are largely administrative The new policy resolution does include some modifications to the city's five strategic priority area goal statements when compared to the 2021 strategic plan document A report from Columbia Parks and Recreation is recommending a reengagement of public input meetings regarding Douglass Park basketball court improvements Parks and recreation recommends holding public input meetings 6-8 p.m May 27 at the Activity and Recreation Center May 28 in conference rooms 1A/1B at Columbia City Hall to noon May 31 in Columbia City Hall conference rooms 1A/1B Douglass Park improvements, originally approved by the council in November 2023 The plan for the basketball courts including naming the courts after University of Missouri Women's Basketball Coach Willie Cox and Mizzou Tigers Theming When Parks and Recreation announced in February that work was due to move ahead on this design it prompted objections from the community and suggestions of naming a court or courts after individuals who had a greater impact on the surrounding community This led to Parks and Recreation pulling back on basketball court improvements until it could consult with the city’s engagement coordinator leading to the proposed series of public input meetings Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application she was the daughter of Dennis and Linda (Sauceman) Wallace where she graduated with the Class of 1982 She then attended Ivy Tech and Harrison Business Colleges to be a Medical Assistant Lori worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant for over 20 years in Columbia City and Huntington She enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren Lori was an avid Indianapolis Colts football fan and ride her Harley-Davidson Sportster 1200 Custom Survivors include her children Dennis (Stormi) Holdeman of Columbia City and Nichole (Kyle) Hamilton of Pierceton; grandchildren Cierra Holdeman Bryson Holdeman; great-grandchildren Allayia Hurley and Waylen Holmes; brother Tony Waggoner; bonus grandchildren Kyli Smith She was preceded in death by father Dennis Wallace Funeral services for Lori will be held at 1:00 pm on Thursday May 8 Memorial contributions in memory of Lori may be made to DeMoney Grimes towards her final expenses Visit www.demoneygrimes.com to send family condolences or to sign the online guest register Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors Call In: 800-529-5572 It appears that your water bill will be increasing in Columbia and the city council will hear a presentation Monday afternoon on a recently-completed cost of service study The council will hear that presentation at 5 pm during its pre-meeting at city hall City of Columbia Utilities and Stantec Consulting will present the results The city says Stantec Consulting’s cost of service study examined the Water Utility’s revenue sufficiency The city says the cost of service study evaluated how much revenue the water utility will need to cover expenses while balancing impacts on residents 939 the Eagle’s Mike Murphy reports that in January 2023 a small Columbia household would have paid the city of Columbia about $150 a month for water and electricity Murphy reports that same amount of water and electricity in January 2025 cost residents about $180 Become an Eagle News Insider Site by Zimmer Communications Zimmer Communications is an Equal Opportunity Employer the Columbia City Council on Monday night unanimously decided to table an item that would have removed language around diversity equity and inclusion to its June 16 meeting The proposed change comes as those three words – commonly referred to as DEI – have been targeted by conservatives around the country and within the state The city wrote in its council memo that the proposed changes to its vision, mission, core values, priority areas and goal statements in its strategic plan are to comply with an executive order from President Donald Trump on Jan. 21 that targets the language used The city's current definition of "equity" reads: “We recognize the local government’s role in our community’s history of systemic oppression We are committed to removing these barriers and rooting our priorities and culture in the principles of diversity The changes being proposed by the city are: “We will ensure all residents have fair access to services and resources regardless of their background City Manager De'Carlon Seewood addressed council members as well as dozens of community members who piled into City Hall Monday saying the city doesn't take making changes lightly Seewood said the city received both state and federal letters that required the city to comply with the executive order He said most of the city's concerns are centered around the fact that the city could lose federal funding if it doesn't comply but we're not really understanding the whole civil rights part of it which is super important," Traci Wilson-Kleekamp with Race Matters "That's a disappointment and a failure as a city attorney I think According to city spokeswoman Sydney Olsen the city has received $48 million in federal funding since 2020 The city said it could stand to lose funding for things such as its WIC program the transit system and the Columbia Regional Airport if it doesn't comply Ward 5 councilman Don Waterman said he is conflicted about the issue "Part of it is I feel that some of it is our hands are somewhat tied you know because we're talking about grants for some of the programs we're talking about some positions within the city that are funded by those grants," Waterman said how much of those are we putting at risk?" Waterman said he was contacted by several residents he doesn't typically hear from regarding the issue which he says made him pause and think more about it Seewood said if the council chooses to vote no Current grants that have been awarded to the city but are still waiting on a signed agreement could also face issues down the road All of those who spoke during the public comment portion of the meeting were against the proposed change Several community members suggested the city either vote against the changes There were also discussions regarding removing the definition of equity entirely Those who spoke included former Ward 3 councilman Roy Lovelady Lovelady told ABC 17 News after Monday night's meeting that he felt it was his duty to speak out about the issue as an African American and member of the LGBTQIA+ community Lovelady said his biggest concern is around the sense of urgency from the city to make a decision He said the city worked tirelessly to ensure that equity was implemented throughout all departments during his time on the city council "I was a part heavily getting equity throughout all of the departments in the strategic plan and to know that in the blink of an eye in the snap of a finger or a mission statement or an executive order from Trump it could all be wiped away," Lovelady said with Mid-Missouri Democratic Socialists of America said she would like more public communication about how the city plans to uphold equity if it makes changes Ortiz was an advocate for the city tabling the discussion "It (the current equity definition) went through the public process and it was something that the city and its residents decided that they wanted to be included in our strategic plan and to rescind it with such short notice is really a problem for us," Ortiz said According to the council memo for the meeting the council looked at modifying the language of the strategic plan Much of the language from the 2021 strategic plan will not change one change would be the individual descriptions of the subcategories to the "Core Values" section of the plan Other modifications can include rescinding prior policy resolutions related to the plan Olsen said regardless of changes to the language "We still want to provide the services we're providing to residents We still want to ensure that everyone has access to those and we'll continue to do that," Olsen said "And I think we want to let residents know that our mission stays the same and we still want Columbia to be the best place for everyone to live The city said any changes will not impact its diversity, equity and inclusion officer role Jazsmin Halliburton joined ABC 17 News as a multimedia journalist in October 2023 Miller School master’s program at Kansas State University ABC 17 News is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Community Guidelines | KMIZ-TV FCC Public File | FCC Applications | Do Not Sell My Personal Information Meyer has represented the Second Ward since April 2024 An earlier version of the article misstated the process for choosing a new Second Ward councilperson Lisa Meyer has resigned from the Columbia City Council She has represented the Second Ward since April 2024 Her last day on the council will be May 16 The Second Ward councilperson is doing chemotherapy on Tuesdays so she will be fully present for council meetings on Mondays CFD is looking for an additional $155,000 to add new positions in lacking areas COLUMBIA — The Columbia City Council approved the Columbia Fire Department's request to add positions within the department at Monday's meeting The ordinance amended the fiscal year 2025 budget to add two fire battalion chiefs The two fire battalion chief positions will bring in more leadership to the department and prepare it for high risk events and work on the paramedic program The battalion chief of emergency medical services will be in charge of coordinating and leading the paramedic program This chief will "oversee the course delivery and coordinate testing and certification with the state of Missouri," according to the council agenda The battalion chief of special operations will oversee the department's needs in response to hazardous materials the chief will also serve as the department's liaison with emergency operations management centers locally and statewide "Right now we don't have any leadership in those areas," fire Chief Brian Schaeffer said "We have been needing to grow as a department and now we actually (have) the door opened a little."  The new positions are expected to increase expenses in fiscal year 2025 by $155,000 Have the latest local news delivered every morning to start your day informed "(The city of Columbia is) allocating funding that we have currently in the city system into these positions to give us the ability to carry out those rescues and that preparedness level that we want as the city of Columbia," Schaeffer said Schaeffer has seen a heightened need for positions like these to be created within the department "Unfortunately, the last couple of events have really highlighted the risk," Schaeffer said. "We had a line-of-duty death last year during high rainfall the department will prepare for the creation of the new positions by identifying areas to grow before implementation "We are trying right now to figure out where to put these two new positions," Schaeffer said but we will have that in place within the next two months."  Schaeffer also said the department is working on projects for the future of the Columbia Fire Department and has big plans for growth To report an error or typo, email news@komu.com IN passed away at 9:50 am on Thursday April 24th at Parkview Regional Medical Center in Fort Wayne surrounded by her loving husband of 37 years and two daughters IN and was the daughter of George and Konnie (Kumfer) Lutz Kelly attended Columbia City Joint High School she met what would be the love of her life Kelly and Sam had their first date on March 10th and Kelly described this date of the best day of her life Their favorite date was to brownie the town They also loved hanging out with their friends and going to the movies Their love story blossomed from there and led to their marriage on June 27 They were united in marriage at First Church of God in Columbia City In 1990 they welcomed their first daughter Samantha into the world At this time Kelly decided to open her home up and provide childcare to the children of Columbia City while also raising their daughter Kelly helped shape the lives of many children during her years as a child care provider She loved every child that walked through her door She also loved those children’s families like they were her own family In 1996 they welcomed their second daughter Sydney into the world Kelly continued to shape countless lives throughout the years providing child care She later became a hostess at Carousel Hair Care and a bartender at the Columbia City Elks where she was a smiling face and loyal friend to all She had a passion for caring for others and had a way of always making everyone feel loved Her first grandchild Hayden arrived in 2010 She had two more grandchildren arrive in 2012 (Remi) and 2014 (Laiyn) and she was also the caretaker for them for many years She loved her Trio so much; they were the light of her life Kelly decided to continue caring for children by watching her great-nephews “The Knach” boys Ryatt and Ridge were also the light of her life Kelly assisted with getting donations for the Wreaths Across America campaign and placing the wreaths on the tombstones of our fallen soldiers She assisted with the Columbia City Veterans Day marathon Kelly helped create the Skeleton Festival and assisted with the Santa Skate night which traveled to Fort Wayne monthly with food and clothes to help feed and clothe those in need Kelly’s Krew also helped local families that were struggling She was a part in planning a lot of local events over the years If you ran into her around town she was always in a hat and flip flops with her wrist full of bracelets In early years Kelly enjoyed going to the sand dunes and tent camping with family and friends and also enjoyed hosting friends and family at her pool She loved decorating for Halloween and coming up with matching family costumes Kelly planned many family vacations over the years Kelly enjoyed cooking Sunday dinners for her family and hosting game night She loved country drives with her husband and golf cart rides around town She enjoyed Karaoke; her favorite song was Dancing Queen Kelly enjoyed doing paranormal activities with her daughters and their friends She also loved porch sitting and hanging out by a bonfire with family and friends Kelly knew no strangers and was a friend to everyone Kelly used the motto Be Kind in her everyday life She was a walking ray of sunshine who would help anyone in need no matter what Kelly was a member of Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Lodge #1417 Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #5582 and American Legion Post #98 of Columbia City Kelly was the recipient of the Heart of Gold award in 2014 Survivors include her husband Samuel Maloy of Columbia City; daughter Samantha (Kyle) Barnett and Sydney Maloy Her pride and joy “The Trio” – grandson Hayden and granddaughters Remi and Laiyn Barnett all of Columbia City; her parents George and Konnie Lutz of Columbia City; sister Kim (Chad) Foulks of Columbia City She was preceded in death by her grandparents was waiting for her on the other side to meet her with love A celebration of life for Kelly will be held on Saturday June 28 at the Mizpah Shrine Horse Patrol located at 985 North State Road 9 The celebration will be open house style from 11am-5pm The family requests you wear your Show the World How to Be Kind  #Kelly’s Krew shirts if you purchased one Arrangements by DeMoney-Grimes Funeral Home Memorial contributions in memory of Kelly can be made to the family to be used towards her legacy of Kelly’s Krew ovarian cancer research and any medical expenses Visit www.demoneygrimes.com  to send the family condolences or to sign the online guest register Columbia City Council passed an ordinance prohibiting licensed professionals from giving minors “conversion therapy,” which seeks to convince gay and lesbian people that they are heterosexual The capital city became the first and only municipality in the state to protect its youth against this harmful and discredited practice Anti-gay politicians have been trying to overturn that ordinance ever since As the most powerful people in South Carolina once again turn their focus toward bullying vulnerable kids let’s review the facts about what’s in the ordinance and who it protects protects minors in the capital city “from exposure to the serious harms and risks caused by conversion therapy or reparative therapy by licensed providers.” The ordinance specifies that it only applies to licensed medical or mental health professionals. Violating the ordinance is considered a civil infraction, punishable by a fine of up to $500 per offense. Columbia is still the only local government in South Carolina with such an ordinance in place, although it is hardly unique nationwide. 23 states have banned the practice for minors and hundreds of local governments have adopted similar ordinances You can read Columbia’s full ordinance here Attorney General Wilson characterized Columbia’s ordinance as a “faith-based counseling ban.” But as mentioned above the ordinance only applies to licensed counselors It does not prohibit anti-gay speech and practices within religious institutions Unfortunately some news outlets have run with the attorney general’s spin with at least one headline declaring that Wilson wants the city to remove its “ban on faith-based counseling.” The notion that same-sex attraction is a mental disorder in need of treatment was discredited by all major health professional organizations more than 50 years ago The American Psychiatric Association board voted to remove homosexuality from its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) in 1973 To quote from the APA’s position statement on “conversion therapy” in the year 2000: “[A]necdotal reports of ‘cures’ are counterbalanced by anecdotal claims of psychological harm ‘reparative’ therapists have not produced any rigorous scientific research to substantiate their claims of cure [the American Psychiatric Association] recommends that ethical practitioners refrain from attempts to change individuals’ sexual orientation keeping in mind the medical dictum to first Even some of the most prominent religious organizations practicing “conversion therapy” have abandoned the practice. In 2013, the Orlando-based Christian ministry Exodus International dissolved itself after 37 years. Founder Michael Bussee publicly apologized for the harm he had caused and wrote “In the almost 40 years since I started Exodus International I can honestly say that I have never met a gay person who became heterosexual through conversion therapy or ex-gay programs.” A 2018 investigation by The Post and Courier found that South Carolina was home to “one of the nation’s most expansive networks of ex-gay ministries and counseling practices,” with at least 9 groups operating in the state The director of a youth suicide prevention program spoke about how so-called “conversion therapy” was harming the mental health of young people “One man described group sessions in a Columbia church basement followed by one-on-one time in a counselor's office where he was compelled to watch heterosexual pornography in an effort to cultivate a desire for women.” and heterosexual marriages that ended in divorce “I’ve still got damage to work through for years and years and years of being essentially taught to hate myself,” one man told reporters But even in South Carolina, this discredited practice is on its way out. Hope for Wholeness, a Spartanburg-based ministry that was poised to become the most prominent ex-gay ministry in the U.S. after the 2013 collapse of Exodus International, announced it was also dissolving in 2020 has not weighed in on Columbia’s conversion therapy ordinance but has consistently used her public platform this year to attack the rights and dignity of transgender people.) It’s an all-too-familiar story for generations of South Carolinians: The most powerful people are trying to outdo one another in cruelty and they aren’t afraid to hurt vulnerable kids in the process If you would like to show support for Columbia leaders who are resisting state pressure to drop the “conversion therapy” ban you can contact City Council members at the link below or join local advocates at the next Columbia City Council meeting on May 6 at 4 p.m CONTACT COLUMBIA CITY COUNCIL A 57-year-old pedestrian was critically injured Friday night after being hit by a driver in Seattle’s Columbia City neighborhood Someone riding a red motorcycle hit two pedestrians before fleeing along with a 59-year-old man who was in stable condition The woman suffered a significant head injury while they were in the crosswalk at Martin Luther King Jr The motorcyclist ran from the scene before police arrived and was outstanding around 9:30 p.m Anyone with any information regarding the identity or location of the motorcyclist is asked call 911 immediately.   Stay secure and make sure you have the best reading experience possible by upgrading your browser Columbia’s second ward city councilwoman says she will resign her seat effective Friday May 16 Lisa Meyer was elected in April 2024 on a law-and-order message and support of police Councilwoman Meyer has e-mailed 939 the Eagle’s Gary Nolan saying that when she ran and started serving she had no idea what was ahead regarding her health Councilwoman Meyer says after much time and reflection she’ll resign effective two weeks from today (Friday) to focus on her health Her term still has almost two years on it. Meyer beat Robert Schreiber 1,349 to 998 in 2024. She has told 939 the Eagle News that her law-and-order message and support of the police during the 2024 campaign was the result of listening to constituents. Lisa Meyer has lived in Columbia since 2005 She’s also chaired the Heart of Missouri’s United Way campaign and has served as the Columbia Northwest Rotary Club president Two Columbia City Council ward seats are open in the April 8 election: Third Ward and Fourth Ward Jacque Sample is running unopposed for Third Ward councilperson Columbia City Council members serve three year staggered terms and are paid a small stipend The six council members must be residents and voters in the wards The council representatives should also not hold another “lucrative” job in the city or public office Jacque Sample is an associate professor of occupational therapy at Cox College in Springfield She also serves as chair of Columbia’s Disabilities Commission Sample has lived in Columbia for 30 years after arriving as a college student at the University of Missouri graduating with a Bachelor of Health Science in Occupational Therapy and a master’s degree in Special Education She received a Doctorate of Occupational Therapy from Nova Southeastern University Incumbent Nick Foster has served as Fourth Ward councilperson for three years He came to Missouri 14 years ago for his wife to teach at the University of Missouri he worked as Executive Director of the Voluntary Action Center Ron Graves is chief of the Center for Development and Civic Engagement with the Harry S graduating from Hickman High School in 1983 and the University of Missouri in 1988 with a Bachelor of Science in Housing and Interior Design He has volunteered for 33 years with Daniel Boone Little League Over 31,000 voters turned out for the municipal election Tuesday who fended off a challenge from Ron Graves said the city's biggest challenge going forward is managing growth Incumbent Barbara Buffaloe is running for mayor against Blair Murphy Tanya Heath and write-in candidate Lucio Bitoy IV to cast their ballots at one of 45 polling locations County Clerk Brianna Lennon estimated that 4,300 total absentee votes would be counted by the end of Monday Ideas to increase affordable housing include smaller homes and lots Candidates submitted required financial reports ahead of the April 8 municipal election Registered voters can cast their ballot at the Boone County Government Center between 8 a.m The city's ability to recruit and retain police officers is an issue in the April 8 election Columbia residents have taken to social media to demand that city leaders take action to reduce crime and homelessness Questions and responses from candidates at community forums have been compiled in a grid for easier review by readers The Columbia Police Officers Association cited community safety and support for law enforcement as key concerns IAFF Local 1055 announced its decision in a news release Wednesday bargaining practices and working conditions for city employees Third Ward and Fourth Ward representatives in April and Bill Johnston are among the first riders to bike on the newly opened Perche Creek Trail on Thursday in southwest Columbia has long been an advocate for accessibility in the city talks to cyclist John Bowders on Thursday at the opening of the Perche Creek Trail on the MKT Trail in southwest Columbia laughs after three unsuccessful attempts to cut the ribbon to open the new Perche Creek Trail on Thursday on the MKT Trail in southwest Columbia This was the first of three segments of the trail that Columbia Parks and Recreation hopes to open in coming years speaks Thursday at the opening of the Perche Creek Trail in southwest Columbia Local Motion is a group that promotes transportation equity The first development phase connects the MKT Trail to Gillespie Bridge Road including a 200-foot bridge across Perche Creek With the opening of the new Perche Creek Trail, Columbia is one step closer to completing a 30-mile loop around the city The first segment of the trail is now open connecting the MKT Nature and Fitness Trail to Gillespie Bridge Road and includes a 200-foot bridge across Perche Creek it will ultimately serve as the loop’s western border joining other trails along Columbia creeks The council approved 2 of the proposed 3.5 miles to be added to the Gans Creek Trail expansion project Columbia School Board members and a Boone County Fire Protection District bond Blair Murphy is one of three candidates challenging incumbent Barbara Buffaloe in Tuesday's mayoral election Erica Dickson raised a little more than $6,300 and Suzette Waters raised a little more than $2,800 Columbia School Board candidates address curriculum and parent involvement ahead of the April 8 election Columbia School Board candidates address DEI and support for marginalized students ahead of April 8 election Columbia School Board candidates address student performance scores and attendance ahead of April 8 election Columbia School Board candidates address weapons detection systems and community violence ahead of April 8 election Columbia and Boone County residents will vote in City Council elections and for two members of the Columbia School Board Columbia city finances and where they are heading was a major topic of discussion Monday by the Columbia City Council during a work session When looking at local sales tax revenue for the general fund following COVID-19 pandemic years it is projected down nearly $2 million for fiscal year 2026 It still is better than sales tax revenue from 2023 As years progress, revenue projections see growth, based on a financial projection presentation for the work session was down when comparing 2024 actuals to 2025 estimates Revenue growth rates are projected to stabilize in 2026 The dip has possible connections to the change in federal administration and there was an across-the-U.S Sales tax revenue also is not as stable as property taxes and susceptible to wider economic choices by consumers The city's budget also includes grant funding but this generally has a one-to-one revenue and expense Depending on what federal grants move forward that will have an impact on total revenue and expenses and potentially some city services moving forward "What we would expect is if we lose a grant We would either not do that activity or in some cases figure out we would do that activity (without federal funds)," he said so city financial investments on pooled cash in treasury or other securities is expected to collect less starting in 2026 is the at least 20% in cash reserves that needs to be maintained in the various city funds means a cash reserves target of about $25 million for 2025 The city takes its available beginning cash from the previous year and then subtracts expenses to get the the ending available cash for the current fiscal year Taking ending available cash and subtracting it from the cash reserve target leaves the city with how much cash above or below of reserve targets you can see it will eat into that cash reserve target pretty quickly Then looking at (fiscal year) 2028 we'll be under that reserve target," Lue said about general fund reserves mostly to be able to pay employee wages and benefits The below target projections are if the city did not make any sort of budgetary changes year-over-year through 2031 the city is looking now where it can make upward of 3% reductions in the ongoing 2025 budget as planning for the 2026 budget moves into full swing "We also are looking at positions that have not been funded for a long period of time and assessing if those positions are necessary," he said "We also are just generally looking at how we are spending My goal for the fiscal year 2026 budget is that we have a balanced budget Seewood wants to avoid deficit spending as a matter of course The city also has special revenue funds for capital improvements Those generally are above cash reserve targets but it is improving and will be above targets by 2029 Electric cash reserves are projected below targets starting in 2029 and doesn't include advanced metering infrastructure The parking utility cash reserves target are below targets for the parking utility but will improve and be above target by 2029 Solid waste doesn't hit below targets until 2031 This is all presuming not budgetary changes year-on-year Internal service funds like for employee benefits is projected to have cash above reserve targets until 2031 Information technology's ending available cash will be at a deficit projected in 2030 This means a likely fee structure change for IT services across city departments to ensure there is a positive ending cash balance Charles Dunlap covers local government, community stories and other general subjects for the Tribune. You can reach him at cdunlap@columbiatribune.com or @CD-CDT on Bluesky. Subscribe to support vital local journalism These statements come after three shootings over the weekend Columbia leaders are speaking out after three shootings happened in the city over 48 hours A total of five people were injured in the three incidents Columbia Mayor Barbara Buffaloe shared the following statement with KOMU 8: "I have been in contact with the City Manager and Police Chief and expect to be updated as information comes in," Buffaloe said "I trust the efforts of local law enforcement to investigate the incidents and appreciate their quick response for our community’s safety." City Manager De’Carlon Seewood shared the following statement with KOMU 8: "It is disheartening to see this unnecessary violence in our community that leaves lasting negative impacts on those involved," Seewood said "The Columbia Police Department is working diligently to find those involved I encourage anyone with information to report it to the police or Crime Stoppers to stay anonymous in order to help us protect the safety of the community These statements come after three separate shootings over the weekend The first shooting was at about 10:40 p.m Friday night at the 2700 block of Maguire Boulevard.A man opened fire with a weapon toward several people and a bullet ricocheted and struck one victim in the leg The second one was around 10:30 p.m One person was critically injured and another person was seriously injured in a shooting at Cosmo Park Saturday night No one is in custody and the investigation is ongoing The third shooting was at 1:30 a.m early Sunday morning in the 900 Block of East Broadway near the corner of Ninth Street and Broadway in Columbia Two male adults were hospitalized and two juvenile boys were detained early Sunday morning and MUPD all refused to comment on camera about the shootings A special meeting finalizing April 8 elections results for the Columbia City Council included a goodbye Ward 3 has new representation in Jacque Sample while outgoing Ward 3 council member Roy Lovelady was recognized for his years of service Lovelady did not seek reelection to a second term and Sample ran unopposed The meeting saw the return of Barbara Buffaloe as mayor and Nick Foster as the Ward 4 council member who were challenged in their reelection campaigns The council reorganization Thursday also means a women-majority of council members While Lovelady was saying farewell to his service on the council he was not saying the same to lending his voice and advocating for the community the first openly gay drag queen councilman the first Black male to be a council person outside of first ward," Lovelady said he had a steep learning curve having never served public office and his first council meeting was on the city's budget adding he acclimated to the slow progress of government but I fought hard in rooms to make sure other people who look like me and have the struggles I have Sample left her role as the chair of the Columbia Disabilities Commission to serve on the council. This was not her first political campaign. She previously ran in 2020 for the Missouri House 44th District seat Sample highlighted many of her family members who publicly served in some capacity as the impetus for her to likewise serve her community I am someone "who is committed to the bright shared future of this city that we all love," Sample said where misinformation spreads faster than truth and where too many leaders have chosen fear over facts America deserves better than that and we must be better than that Foster in his second term is recommitting to city and ward residents "We deserve a city in which every person who lives here feels welcome and that they belong Let us continue to celebrate what we hold dear," Foster said Buffaloe had a strong message about Columbia and how it progresses despite challenges including in interactions with the federal government We are seeing efforts working to pit neighbor against neighbor and erode the trust in our democratic process I say that is not welcome here in Columbia "We work through our differences with respect compassion and shared commitment to progress but what matters is that we keep showing up for each other for our city and the future we are building together." by Jackie Kent SEATTLE — A family desperate for answers about a deadly hit-and-run has boosted the reward for information that could lead Seattle police to the suspect Police report a motorcyclist fled after hitting two pedestrians in a crosswalk on April 18, and one woman died from her injuries Way and South Alaska Street around 8:20 p.m Lizzy Chen said she remembers the call from officers she never expected over what happened at the intersection near the Columbia City light rail station She claims traffic camera footage shows her parents in the crosswalk moments before they were hit by a southbound motorcyclist "Justice for us means holding the driver accountable and preventing this kind of thing from happening to another family," Chen explained Chen told KOMO News her father is recovering from a spinal fracture and knee injury but that the hardest part is the reality of losing his wife and best friend and she enjoyed the simple things in life and always worked hard to make our family better,” Chen said Her family is now offering a $20,000 reward in addition to $1,000 from Crime Stoppers of Puget Sound for information leading to an arrest and charges Snapshots of the suspect motorcycle captured by a metro bus show what police believe to be a red Honda Goldwing GL1500 RELATED | Woman struck by hit-and-run motorcyclist in Seattle dies from injuries whether it be a friend or somebody in the public,” Crime Stoppers of Puget Sound Director Jim Fuda stated As Chen acknowledges it will take time for her family to heal Crime Stoppers reports it has received some tips the agency forwarded to investigators as possible leads Anyone with information about the suspect or suspect vehicle can submit a tip anonymously using the P3 Tips app or by calling 1-800-222-TIPS Indiana he was a son of Carl and Debbie (Leininger) Bridegam.  Danny was a graduate of Columbia City High School with the Class of 2005 He was a machinist for various local companies He was a 10 year member of 4-H and was a member of FFA through high school.  From his youthful days spent in the mud and engines of truck and tractor pulls to the exhilarating roar of demolition derbies cheering loudly for friends and family alike Livestock shows were another outlet for his enthusiasm as he proudly supported his siblings during their 4H journey where every ribbon achieved was a testament to hard work and dedication Road trips with his family were the threads that wove together many cherished memories Each destination was less about the where and more about the company the laughter echoing against the backdrop of endless highways and sunlit skies will forever linger in the memories of those who rode alongside him His favorite saying when asked where he was going or who he had been with was beyond all of his interests and adventures it was his sons who brought Danny the greatest joy The love he held for them was immeasurable a fierce and protective warmth that enveloped them in every moment they shared Whether it was riding four-wheelers across sprawling fields or spending hours collecting John Deere memorabilia Danny poured his soul into everything he did Family was at the heart of his life-an unwavering foundation where he found solace and strength The echoes of his laughter and the warmth of his spirit will be deeply missed leaving a legacy of love and passion for future generations Danny's journey may have come to an untimely end but the love and memories he shared will continue to resonate forever igniting the hearts of those who knew him Bradley Carl and Colton Daniel Bridegam; mom Marlin Leininger and Marvin and Ellen Bridegam; and many other extended family members and friends Visitation will be 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm Monday Funeral services will be 10:00 am with calling one hour prior Tuesday Burial will take place at Oak Grove (Compton) Cemetery Family request that everyone dress casual for Danny's services In Lieu of flowers donations may be made to DeMoney Grimes Funeral Home to assist Danny's family with funeral expenses Visit www.DeMoneyGrimes.com to send Danny's family online condolences or sign the online guest book Columbia’s city manager signed a declaration of emergency after Sunday’s severe weather De’Carlon Seewood issued the declaration after storms on Sunday damaged the city’s landfill The city has suspended the pick up of recyclable items and the operation of the bioreactor landfill has been suspended The Columbia City Council will vote on the declaration at their meeting on Monday COLUMBIA — Boone County Commissioners suspended their recycling drop-off program Wednesday County workers stopped taking recycling from locations in Ashland Columbia city officials said it could take up to three years to build a new recycling facility They asked their solid waste customers to store recyclables at their homes or throw them away with their trash Crews sorted all Columbia’s recycling materials at the destroyed Columbia material recovery facility. The tornado not only destroyed the facility but it also knocked down power lines and scattered debris across the landfill site City officials were looking at several new options for resuming recycling services “We have people coming out to look at the site in the coming days," Columbia Utilities Spokesman Matt Nestor said We’ll see where we are and move forward once we have a good idea of what needs to be done.” Columbia City Manager De’Carlon Seewood described the damage to the city landfill as catastrophic after he signed an emergency declaration. Columbia’s new recycling center will include upgrades The old recycling center was built in 2002 “Some of the machines at the facility were outdated," said Nestor "We were looking at what kind of improvements we could make Some of the things that we could see were a better way to recycle glass and better way to start recycling Styrofoam.” Columbia city officials wanted to remind everyone that Columbia’s eight recycling drop-off centers were temporarily closed because of the tornado damage at the city landfill Columbia’s Solid Waste Department serves more than 60,000 customers To learn more about each candidate, visit the online voters guide Columbia will spend $96,540 on an external engineering study about pedestrian safety near medians The City of Columbia will spend $96,540 on an external engineering study about pedestrian safety near medians After much discussion at Monday night's meeting the city council voted 7-0 to enter the contract The street and intersection pedestrian safety study will be conducted by St. Louis-based George L. Crawford & Associates, Inc. The contractor will collect and analyze data and then present recommendations for improving pedestrian safety to the council in two to three months, according to a council memo Those recommendations could then eventually influence future changes to ordinances and procedure about motor vehicle safety The Columbia Public Works department recommended contracting an external study, after they reported findings from their own pedestrian safety report at the Dec 91 crashes within Columbia city limits involved pedestrians Seven of those crashes were fatalities and 25 resulted in serious injury A "majority" of the crashes also occurred along collector multiple council members questioned the need and cost of the study "I'm trying to understand why we'd contract for data we've already contracted for in another place," said Ward 1 Councilmember Valerie Carroll Columbia Public Works Director Shane Creech said he currently doesn't have enough staff to gather and analyze all of the necessary data in a timely manner and that he is currently short two traffic engineers "The best way I can make my staff bigger is by hiring a consultant to take a look at those things that would take us quite a bit longer to do," Creech said at Monday night's meeting Another concern brought up during the meeting was if the focus on panhandlers at medians was targeting homeless people instead of looking at pedestrian safety as a whole This concern was also brought up during public comment “I think that this is a thinly veiled attempt to target homeless people and it’s not about pedestrian safety,” said McKenzie Ortiz the advocacy coordinator for nonprofit Local Motion The attached report documents in the Dec. 16 safety study did not specifically mention how many pedestrian crashes were at a median. A list of 14 service calls to Columbia Police Department regarding pedestrians in the median was the only part of the Dec 2024 report that specifically mentioned pedestrians on medians Ward 6 Councilmember Betsy Peters was also on the fence about the need for the study and its focus "I do not know whether it's going to be helpful or not because we know it's not a good idea to stand on a median," said Ward 6 Councilmember Betsy Peters "So I'm not so sure we need to spend more money saying it's not a good idea to stand on the median." Council eventually agreed that the study's findings would give them a more comprehensive look at pedestrian safety in Columbia to then make more informed decisions about future traffic ordinances The $96,540 study will be funded by Capital Improvement Sales Tax funds The city council was presented the fiscal year 2024 financial audit prepared by external auditors at Allen The report investigated any discrepancies on how much money the city made and spent between Oct The auditors said they "did not identify any significant unusual transactions" in the city's financials they did find that one quarterly report was not filed and three quarterly reports were filed late the city of Columbia received the best possible designation for financial management City Manager De'Carlon Seewood announced D'Markus Thomas-Brown has been hired to lead a newly created Office of Violence Prevention Thomas-Brown is the regional director of Good Dads a Missouri organization focused on fatherhood and is the Chaplain for the Columbia Police Department Paul Eisenstein was also installed as the city's Director of Economic Development at Monday's meeting Eisenstein will serve as the President of the Regional Economic Development Inc Eisenstein previously worked at the Missouri Department of Economic Development for eight years and had been serving as a senior director since 2023 "I'm really excited to really focus on economic development at the local level," Eisenstein said after being sworn in at Monday's meeting "We've got a ton of assets here in Columbia and in Boone County." Ward 2 Councilmember Lisa Meyer announced she will be on medical leave starting April for her breast cancer diagnosis According to previous reporting by the Columbia Missourian Meyer previously was also diagnosed with a rare head and neck cancer in 2009 to celebrate his election Tuesday at Broadway Brewery in Columbia Foster and his family have called Columbia home for the past 14 years Sam Cohen pats Nick Foster’s shoulder to celebrate his election win Tuesday at Broadway Brewery in Columbia Foster was reelected Tuesday for the Fourth Ward council seat Nick Foster watches the TV while awaiting results for the Fourth Ward council seat Tuesday at Broadway Brewery in Columbia Carlann Kuby Foster sits at Nick Foster’s watch party Tuesday at Broadway Brewery in Columbia as they await election results Candace Kuby and Kristin Bowen talk to each other Tuesday during Nick Foster's watch party at Broadway Brewery in Columbia hugs Vanessa Robe as he concedes the race for Fourth Ward council representative Tuesday in Columbia Graves lost the election to incumbent Nick Foster prepares for an interview with ABC 17’s Haley Swaino Nick Foster will continue representing Columbia’s Fourth Ward on the Columbia City Council after the incumbent candidate clinched a win in Tuesday night’s election Jacque Sample will represent the Third Ward on City Council after running in an uncontested race to fill a seat held by outgoing councilperson Roy Lovelady Incumbent Barbara Buffaloe held on to her seat Tuesday night Ellie is a photojournalism master's student and a photographer for the Columbia Missourian Her goal after graduation is to be a public radio photojournalist.  City facilities and infrastructure were damaged in the storm causing power outages and service disruptions COLUMBIA — The Columbia city manager has signed a declaration of emergency following a tornado that hit the city on Easter Sunday The National Weather Service's preliminary estimate confirmed that an EF-1 tornado briefly touched down in Columbia “This event is a powerful reminder that severe weather can strike with little notice,” Chris Kelley director of the Boone County Office of Emergency Management The NWS said the storm caused damage in several areas including significant impacts to the city of Columbia’s Material Recovery Facility The Boone County Office of Emergency Management said residents should call 1-800-REDCROSS for sheltering needs contact Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services at 573-817-6430 City Manager De'Carlon Seewood signed the declaration Monday The declaration also says operations at the Bioenergy Plant and bioreactor landfill were disabled The declaration formalizes the suspension of recycling services suspends operation of the bioreactor landfill and Bioenergy plant and orders cleanup operations The Columbia City Council will review the declaration and vote on an ordinance that would support the measure at Monday's City Council meeting The tornado has caused impacts to services citywide with recycling suspended and power outages in northeast Columbia could last days Columbia Water and Light said it could take up to 72 hours to restore electricity along Route B after a damaging storm It could take two to three years for the city of Columbia to build a new recycling facility A severe storm moved through Columbia on Easter Sunday The National Weather Service classified the tornado in Columbia as an EF-1 Drone photography by KOMU 8 Chief Photographer Dominick Lee the city's budget planning season is in full swing The Columbia City Council meets Monday in a work session to review a forecast of fiscal year 2026 revenues and expenditures While year-on-year revenue growth is estimated and projected around 2.5% this follows a revenue growth falloff between fiscal years 2024 and 2025 Revenue growth was significant in post COVID-19 pandemic years most likely due to American Rescue Plan Act funds but those funds had expenditure requirements and cannot be used for operational purposes hence the dip back down to more consistent revenue growth Expenditures are estimated as more significant but then will have more consistent year-on-year growth starting with fiscal year 2026 City Finance Director Matthew Lue previously has said that expenditures are expected to start outpacing revenue which has led to other city council discussions on tax increases or budget cuts "Expenses are growing at a pace of about 14% We're at time where we have to do something to fund activities at the way people are expecting to receive them," Lue said at the budget overview town hall in January Revenue estimates in the city's general fund are about $127 million While expenditures are starting to outpace revenue this excess of expenditures does not necessarily mean it is a deficit budget Some projects funded in prior fiscal years are planned for spending this year While the city is projected to have excess funds in reserve for the general fund the amount is dropping anywhere from $3 million to $7 million by 2031 Cash reserves of at least 20% will start to be below targets starting in 2028 More: City staff discuss Columbia capital improvement projects as budget process progresses The city also has special revenue funds, such as for capital projects, parks, transportation, visitors and tourism. There is less concern with these funds and their reserves than there is with the general fund based on cash reserve information in work session presentation which are city services like utilities that are required to use the money collected on maintenance and improvements In 2029 reserves start to fall below targets in the electric utility The council regular session Monday has a series of public hearings and votes This includes storm water improvements on Chadwick Drive street and sidewalk improvements on Garth Avenue parking lot improvements at Columbia Regional Airport a voluntary annexation of a property on Old Plank Road The latter is an informational public hearing so a vote will not take place on that until May A separate voluntary annexation sought on Wyatt Road is up for a vote. The council held a public hearing on this property earlier in April An EF1 tornado that tore through Columbia’s recycling facility prompted the city to declare a local emergency Seewood said the emergency declaration grants the city expanded powers during a crisis It also allows more resources to come into the city including potential aid from the governor and the Federal Emergency Management Agency Crews from Rolla and Macon were able to help with clean-up because of the declaration “We brought in crews to help put up those lines so it allows us to bypass our bidding process to bring people in to do that work,” Seewood said “So it is really about trying to activate as much as possible in order to handle the emergency.” The Columbia City Council unanimously approved the declaration of a local emergency Monday night Although the city manager has the authority to declare an emergency the City Council must vote to extend it for a longer period of time Discussions over what to do about city recycling dominated talk about the tornado Monday evening All city recycling has been suspended indefinitely All waste will now go directly to the landfill “The one thing I’d ask residents for is patience,” Seewood said “It will take us a while to navigate through this but we will make sure to communicate with citizens.” The suspension of recycling will not decrease utility bills since consumers pay a flat solid waste fee She said she is excited to work toward rebuilding the Material Recovery Facility The city may look into creative ways to restore recycling services in Columbia she said.Crews from Rolla and Macon were able to help with clean-up because of the declaration a quality facility that will last well into the future and that’s going to take some time,” Keys said staff will look at opportunities to phase some recycling back in or partnering with other organizations in the area.” Monday at the Daniel Boone City Building for its bimonthly regular session Monday was Jacque Sample’s first regular meeting representing the Third Ward She replaced former councilperson Roy Lovelady It also marks the start of Mayor Barbara Buffaloe’s and Fourth Ward councilperson Nick Foster’s second terms after the April 8 election Second Ward councilperson Lisa Meyer was absent from Monday’s city council meeting. Meyer is on medical leave for the entire month of April, according to previous Missourian reporting The Columbia Regional Airport parking lot will see 124 current parking spaces paved along with 57 new spaces added to its west parking lot The project, which will cost an estimated $1.5 million, was unanimously approved by the council. The Federal Aviation Administration has agreed to reimburse the city $1.3 million toward the upgrade costs, according to a council memo “(The project) is going to improve the flow of traffic in the area,” airport manager Mike Parks said “(Currently) people park however they want to park and there’s not much we can do to the vehicles The project will also add a new access drive Lower-than-expected sales tax revenue and rising employee wage and benefit costs may push Columbia to dip into its emergency funds over the next six years The city expects to spend $31.1 million from its cash reserves over the next six years, according to previous Missourian reporting Seewood has previously warned that a revenue shortfall could arrive as early as fiscal year 2026 He said the city will try to cut back its fiscal year 2026 budget to account for the increases given to employees which will be required under a statewide voter-approved minimum wage increase “The first thing we are looking at is trying to reduce our current budget,” Seewood said “The other thing we are looking at is positions that have not been funded for a long period of time and doing an assessment of whether those funds are necessary or not.” The minimum wage in Missouri will increase from $13.75 an hour to $15 beginning Jan wage and employee benefits will adjust to inflation every year following The city expects its employee benefit reserve will plummet from a surplus of $7.1 million in fiscal year 2025 to a projected deficit of over half a million by fiscal year 2031 The city is developing its fiscal year 2026 budget The City of Refuge is asking for donations and volunteers in order to continue to serve the Columbia area COLUMBIA — Executive orders enacted by President Donald Trump are beginning to impact refugee resettlement agencies across the country "Realigning the United States Refugee Admissions Program." This order put a 90 day pause on the Refugee Admissions Program and it also impacts federal funding for certain support organizations a local organization that offers services to refugees the amount of potential deficit to our projected 2025 budget has ranged from $60,000 to $500,000."  Executive Director Debbie Beal has emphasized that while times are uncertain The City of Refuge is doing its best to serve the Columbia community and so we will do everything we can today to provide the services that are so needed," Beal said To donate to The City of Refuge, or to learn about how you can volunteer, visit their website. Jacque Sample will be the next City Councilmember for Columbia's Third Ward after running for the seat unopposed Sample previously served as chair of Columbia's Disabilities Commission and is also an associate professor of occupational therapy at Cox College in Springfield She previously ran for the Missouri House seat representing District 44 in 2020 as a Democrat but lost the race to Rep Sample's platform included accessible housing She also said she supports funding the Opportunity Campus Sample has lived in Columbia for 30 years after attending the University of Missouri Lovelady has served as the Third Ward Council Member since 2022 Incumbent Fourth Ward Councilperson Nick Foster has won reelection to the seat he was the son of Robert and Waundean (Hile) Stangland Dean attended Columbia City Joint High School and graduated with the Class of 1975 he married Mary Jo “Jodi” Mathieu in Churubusco Columbia City in 1980 and was a loyal employee until his retirement in 2021 where he took pride in ensuring all the carts were up and ready for play Dean was a former member of West Point Trinity United Methodist Church He was an avid golfer and Kentucky Wildcats Basketball fan and had a deep love for his family He also enjoyed wearing Chuck Taylor shoes Survivors include his wife Jodi Stangland of Columbia City; sons Travis (Ashley) Stangland of Alexandria and Craig (Lindsey) Stangland of Auburn; grandchildren Adilinn and Sadie; siblings Norm (Kathleen Eyia) Stangland of Reed City Michigan and Kathy (Mark) Stangland-Bleeke of Fort Wayne He was preceded in death by his parents and brother Glenn Stangland A Celebration of Life to honor Dean will be held on Sunday March 23 from 1:00-4:00 pm at Eagle’s Nest Event Center where you are welcome to sport your Chuck Taylor Converse shoes Memorial contributions in memory of Dean may be made to Boomerang Backpacks or Stillwater Hospice Arrangements by DeMoney Grimes Funeral Home The final credits rolled last month at Columbia City’s Ark Lodge Cinemas when the independent movie theater closed for good — but a new owner intends to revamp the space and return with a new name.  Tasveer — a Seattle nonprofit that organizes the Tasveer Film Festival and Market and celebrates South Asian community and culture — purchased the Ark Lodge building Wednesday and plans to renovate and relaunch the space as the Tasveer Film Arts Center.  The nonprofit will reduce from four screens to two and will no longer operate as a first-run theater for blockbusters instead hosting an array of Tasveer programming The goal is to fully reopen the space post-renovation by the 2028 Tasveer Film Festival and Market.  “Right now, it’s a first-run theater — just a movie theater. It will be seen more like a community space” with this change, said Tasveer executive director Rita Meher, who co-founded the nonprofit. She pointed to New York’s Museum of Modern Art as a model, though Tasveer Film Arts Center will emphasize South Asian and world cinema “We aspire to be the Sundance of South Asian film festivals.” Closing for $2.85 million, Tasveer (which means “picture” in Hindi and Urdu) funded the purchase in part with $2.19 million from King County’s 4Culture office, which provided a Doors Open grant Reflecting last month on the cinema’s 12-year legacy as one of the few remaining indie movie houses in Seattle former co-owner David McRae said it was his “honor” and “privilege” to run the Ark Lodge He declined to comment on this story.  Meher said conversations about the sale began in September — and now Tasveer leaders can make their big pivot official.  Meher said Tasveer will undertake a multimillion-dollar funding campaign and subsequent renovation In addition to serving as a headquarters for the nonprofit’s film festival and market The public will also be able to rent the Tasveer HQ to host community events Tasveer hopes to open in some capacity this year hosting programming before the renovation is complete Arts economy reporter Margo Vansynghel contributed to this report The opinions expressed in reader comments are those of the author only and do not reflect the opinions of The Seattle Times passed away at 9:05 am on Saturday January 4 she was the daughter of John and Ruth (Sandburg) Didion She attended Columbia City High School and graduated with the Class of 1973 Columbia City for 31 years until her retirement then worked for Walmart for the last 20 years where she thoroughly enjoyed being every day Survivors include her children Chad Hill and Heather (Craig) Cook both of Columbia City; grandchildren Meghann (Del) Hill Smith and Maleaha Cook; great granddaughters Ophelia Hill Smith along with Abigail Hill Smith on the way; siblings Marlene (Jack) Egnor of Fayetteville Private family services were held for Darlene Memorial contributions in memory of Darlene may be made to Riley Children’s Hospital ​Incumbent Mayor Barbara Buffaloe has been reelected as Columbia mayor defeating challengers Blair Murphy and Tanya Heath COLUMBIA — Incumbent mayor Barbara Buffaloe has officially secured a second term as mayor of Columbia in Tuesday's municipal election Buffaloe faced a competitive election, running against business owner Blair Murphy and public relations specialist Tanya Heath. Murphy's campaign saw record fundraising but voters reaffirmed Buffaloe's leadership of the city Buffaloe beat runner-up Murphy by 3,410 votes "What we saw today was people showing up and voicing their opinion about the fact that Columbia values might be different than what we see happening at the national and a state level," Buffaloe told KOMU 8 Tuesday following her win Buffaloe's campaign focused on climate initiatives affordable housing and transparent governance She first took office back in 2022 with a platform focused on sustainability Buffaloe has sought to advance the city of Columbia's sustainability resources economic growth resources and promote affordable housing Buffaloe said Columbia residents can expect a continued focus on the policies that she has put in place in addition to the advancements she hopes to bring to the city She said Tuesday night following her win that she hopes to invest in city staff in her second term, and she pointed to the newly created Office of Violence Prevention as a recent investment Buffaloe said in the mayoral debate KOMU 8 hosted that she would address the importance of collaboration between City Council city staff and the local community in her second term "I just want to say thank you to the voters for showing up," Buffaloe said "I want to say thank you to our city staff for doing the work and I hope to continue this momentum going forward." Buffaloe's path to reelection was a competitive one who saw record fundraising with several big-dollar donations Murphy tapped into fears over downtown safety during his campaign Buffaloe said she was nervous going into the race "I felt nervous because even though I've done the work for the last three years and I've been advocating for our community at a state and a national level we still saw a lot of money going into an election," Buffaloe said Murphy reported $255,699.86 in contributions this election cycle Murphy said he called Buffaloe to concede and to congratulate her on her win "We kept this thing positive," Murphy said in a concession speech to supporters at his watch party "We didn't crush each other and weren't ugly to each other Buffaloe also thanked her opponents for running a clean race in her victory speech in partnership with the Statues for Equality and generous community partners is proud to unveil a statue honoring the legendary Dawn Staley an icon whose impact reaches far beyond the basketball court This tribute celebrates not only her championship legacy as a coach and player but also her unwavering commitment to leadership Dawn Staley’s influence continues to inspire both on and off the court and this statue stands as a lasting symbol of excellence and pride for Columbia and the entire state of South Carolina located right next to the University of South Carolina Pastides Alumni Center