Category Archives: Written Stories

Leslie Martin, president of the Pumpkin Festival Committee, said it wasn’t an easy decision to cancel the 2020 Hartsburg Pumpkin Festival. Lots of folks have been working hard to plan the annual October event for months, she said, but the COVID-19 pandemic forced their hands. https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/local/pandemic-doesnt-spare-popular-hartsburg-pumpkin-festival/article_28e4bf5c-d8df-11ea-bcc4-17edcc5853b6.html

Under the new order, customers at bars and restaurants must be seated when not entering, leaving and using restrooms, according to a health department news release. Customers must wear masks when not seated. https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/covid19/new-county-health-order-increases-bar-restaurant-restrictions/article_2e7c99fe-d834-11ea-84fb-1f18796b6d16.html

The donation from the Veterans United Foundation will go to the American Red Cross’ Central and Northern Missouri Chapter, said Erika Pryor, who serves in the role of Veterans United Foundation team lead. But because this initiative is national, funds will also support the national budget for testing. https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/covid19/veterans-united-foundation-donates-25-000-to-covid-19-antibody-testing-program/article_e2d8b5b2-d687-11ea-8fc0-8b8d3f406b33.html

There are a total of 61 candidates seeking their party’s nominations for 19 different offices ranging from county positions to statewide offices and the 4th District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Voters also will cast ballots on Amendment 2, which asks whether they want to expand Medicaid in the state. https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/elections/precautions-will-be-in-place-during-2020-primary-election-tuesday/article_f9d6098a-d35e-11ea-bbcf-cf67c9ab1f01.html

Public perception of the human papillomavirus vaccine has worsened partly because of posts on Facebook in  the vaccine’s first decade of availability, according to a study by an MU researcher. Assistant Professor Monique Luisi in the School of Journalism said she found that 45% of HPV-related posts she identified on Facebook reflected negative views ofContinue reading “Study: Anti-vaxxers’ posts on Facebook worsen views of HPV vaccine”

Musicians wear masks when they’re not playing their wind instruments. Forget about tight marching formations; there will be no shoulder-to-shoulder maneuvers. https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/local/horns-up-masks-down-hickman-kewpies-march-on-more-or-less/article_078343ee-cf7d-11ea-9fce-cbe0fc77ecbc.html

The Regal Cinemas will reopen Aug. 21 with new safety and health procedures. The procedures are based on guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and feedback received from employees and customers, according to Regal Movies’ website. Greeters will be in the lobby to assist customers with new procedures. Details about the opening of theContinue reading “The Regal Cinemas will reopen Aug. 21”

An overwhelming majority of the more than 24,000 educators who responded to a statewide survey by the Missouri National Education Association said they believe school districts should not rush to reopen by an arbitrary date this fall and instead should focus on safety. https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/k12_education/states-teachers-agree-with-columbias-that-return-to-school-is-risky/article_bfd148e6-d2a8-11ea-a728-bb98ca631223.html

https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/local/forum-8-set-to-reopen-aug-7/article_97883cf6-d1a3-11ea-9305-47b14cbfdbaa.html

Parents, activists and community members gathered Saturday on Zoom to discuss policing in public schools. https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/k12_education/columbia-activists-held-town-hall-to-discuss-issues-on-sro/article_c06cdbd0-cebb-11ea-99dc-dba87e5c75b7.html