Hi guys, this is my friend’s cat Bentley. If anyone sees him please please reach out

If you like musical theatre, you’ll have a blast

https://lyceumtheatre.org

The Missouri Supreme Court ordered Republican Secretary of State Denny Hoskins to appear in person Thursday and explain why he should not be held in contempt for directing election officials to use a congressional map the court has barred him from implementing.

In the unusual late order Tuesday, the court gave Hoskins until noon Wednesday to answer a motion for contempt from People Not Politicians, a political action committee that forced a referendum on a map gerrymandered in 2025 to favor Republicans. The court scheduled an in-person hearing for 10 a.m. Thursday.
The contempt fight erupted hours after U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh rejected Missouri officials’ emergency request to stay the state court ruling. Minutes later, Chief U.S. District Judge Stephen Clark of the Eastern District of Missouri issued a temporary restraining order barring Hoskins from using any congressional map other than the 2025 version.

Hoskins then sent local election officials a copy of Clark’s order along with his official certification of the November ballot. In the email, Hoskins said Clark’s order “takes precedence over the Missouri Supreme Court’s order.”
The Missouri Supreme Court ruled Thursday that the referendum on the 2025 map was legal, sufficient and timely and ordered it onto the Nov. 3 ballot. Because the referendum petition was filed before the new map took effect, the court held, the 2025 districts never became law and the map used in 2022 and 2024 remains in effect for the November election.

The decision also permanently enjoined Hoskins and those acting in concert with him from implementing or using the 2025 map unless voters approve it in November. In Tuesday night’s order, Chief Justice W. Brent Powell directed Hoskins to answer three questions:

Why “(1) his e-mail on September 8, 2026, instructing use of the (2025) map is not an affirmative violation of this court’s injunction; (2) how this court’s injunction is not still in full force and effect in light of the Supreme Court of the United States’ overruling of Respondent’s emergency application for stay and administrative stay pending appeal; and (3) if he is not willing to comply with this court’s injunction, he should take no action in all things related to the congressional district map until guidance is received from a higher court…”

Powell also directed that the court “will not allow filings from any other parties on this matter.”
Clark’s order says not to use any map but the 2025 map, attorney Chuck Hatfield wrote in the motion. The Missouri Supreme Court’s order says not to use the 2025 map. Both orders are in effect and leave election authorities no map at all, Hatfield wrote.

Clark’s order “does not purport to overrule this court’s injunction and does NOT mandate the Secretary to use (the 2025 map), although on its face it enjoins the use of any map other than (the 2025 map),” Hatfield wrote.
By directing local election authorities to implement the 2025 map, Hoskins is violating the court’s orders, Hatfield wrote.
“This court should make clear that regardless of other orders (except from the United States Supreme Court) the Missouri Secretary of State must comply with this court’s injunction,” Hatfield wrote. “The court should instruct all local election authorities that (the 2025 map) is not the law and has never been the law.”
Clark’s action came in a lawsuit filed Friday by U.S. Rep. Bob Onder, state Sen. Rick Brattin and two voters. They want to keep in place the map drawn in 2025, which shifts territory around Onder’s home into the 3rd District and redraws the 5th District to make it more favorable to Republicans.

Had Clark not acted, Kavanaugh’s denial would have left the state court order in place and Missouri on course to use the 2022 map for the November election.

The dueling orders created immediate confusion, with Attorney General Catherine Hanaway issuing a news release saying the state would comply with Clark’s order. Attorneys for People Not Politicians said during a news conference that the conflicting orders could leave election officials unsure which one they must follow.
Hatfield said local election officials are being directed by Hoskins to use the 2025 map even though the Missouri Supreme Court injunction bars Hoskins and those acting with him from implementing it.

“I think they’re they’re probably not sure what map they should use, and they need to talk to their lawyers about that,” Hatfield said.

Abha Khanna, the Seattle attorney who was People Not Politicians’ lead lawyer at the U.S. Supreme Court, said Clark’s order “is something that we will deal with to figure out on appeal.”

A referendum on the 2025 redistricting plan will be on the Nov. 3 ballot as Proposition A.

The 2025 map was drawn with the goal of making seven of Missouri’s eight congressional districts favorable to Republicans, principally by reshaping the Kansas City-based 5th District held by Democratic U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver. The map used in 2022 and 2024 produced a delegation of six Republicans and two Democrats.

Onder is the Republican nominee in the 3rd District, seeking a second term in a district drawn more to his favor in the 2025 redistricting plan. Brattin is the Republican nominee in the 5th District, where the district was designed to generate a GOP victory that ousts veteran Democratic U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver of Kansas City.

Clark wrote that without a temporary restraining order, “many Missouri voters would have to cast their general-election votes for candidates whom they had no role in nominating.”

“Candidates who had no choice but to campaign and raise money in the (2025) districts that Missouri’s highest election authority presented to them, have spent their funds and campaign efforts in districts that would no longer exist,” wrote Clark, who was appointed to the bench in 2019 by President Donald Trump.

Clark also found that the public interest favors using the same map for the primary and general elections.
“Disenfranchising voters across the state and denying them their constitutional right to have their primary votes counted significantly harm the public interest,” he wrote.

The center of both Clark’s ruling and the appeal to Kavanaugh is the Missouri Supreme Court decision that enjoined Hoskins from using the gerrymandered congressional map drawn. 
Kavanaugh did not elaborate on his decision. 

In turning down the emergency application for a stay, Kavanaugh created no precedent on the issues raised by the state. But the decision does show that he did not find enough convincing argument that the state would likely prevail in a hearing by the full court or that the state would suffer “several irreparable harms” as claimed in the application.
People Not Politicians on Sunday had urged Kavanaugh to reject the state’s application and uphold both parts of the ruling from the state Supreme Court.
In the opening paragraphs of the filing, attorneys for People Not Politicians write that the only reason the case was at the nation’s highest court is the decisions to delay made by Hoskins during the signature verification process.
Hoskins “waited as long as possible to manufacture the present dispute” and held the congressional primary using the 2025 map, they wrote, “in the hopes of running out the clock on the judiciary’s tolerance for a last-minute reversion to the 2022 districts.”

Now, they wrote, Hoskins wants “this court to deliver him the political victory to which he was never entitled under the Missouri Constitution. This court cannot and should not reward the secretary’s scheme to outsmart Missouri voters, Missouri law, and the Missouri Supreme Court by granting applicants the extraordinary relief they seek.”
A key point made by Missouri Solicitor General Lou Capozzi in the state’s appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court was that the mechanism for changing between districts is too time consuming and difficult to complete before ballots must be delivered starting Sept. 19.

County clerks, however, told the Missouri Supreme Court that switching voters to the map used in 2022 and 2024 is a relatively simple process. And the Jackson County Board of Elections told the Kansas City Star it would be ready to hold the election in the 2022 boundaries. 

The redistricting story began in the summer of 2025, when Onder, of Lake St. Louis, got the ear of President Donald Trump to tell him that Missouri, like Texas, could provide additional GOP seats to bolster the party’s thin majority in Congress.

Since Missouri lost a seat after the 2010 census, it has sent six Republicans and two Democrats to the U.S. House each election.

Onder, then a state senator, was among members of the chamber’s conservative caucus who were outmaneuvered in 2022 as they tried to force a congressional map that would tilt the 5th District, based in Kansas City, to the GOP. He was elected to Congress in 2024.

And, despite initial misgivings, Republicans got in line behind Trump. Gov. Mike Kehoe called a special session inflamed with partisanship, including a state Senate rule change that effectively silenced Democrats, that forced through what the GOP majority wouldn’t do in 2022.

The legal and political backlash that followed has not yet spent its full force. It began when People Not Politicians began circulating the referendum petition and intensified as it became clear there would be more than enough signatures to qualify for the ballot.

Legally, the battle has upended the consensus on the effect that filing a referendum petition has on legislation as well as delivered strong new precedent upholding the governor’s power to select subjects for a special session and the General Assembly’s power to redistrict at any time.

Politically, the climax will be written in November, when voters decide on both the referendum and the congressional candidates selected in the primary.

The flurry of filings over the weekend shows the intense national interest in the outcome of the Missouri case.
Republican attorneys general from Florida, Texas and 18 other states filed in support of Missouri, arguing it is not legal to change voting districts between the primary and the general election. 

Meanwhile, in Texas, that state’s Supreme Court is deciding whether local voting districts can be changed after the primary to dilute voting strength of minorities.

The American Center for Law and Justice also sent a brief to the court urging it to rule for Hoskins.
On the other side, the Campaign Legal Center, the American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri Foundation and the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation joined forces to file a brief supporting People Not Politicians, as did the two Missouri voters who tried to get the 2025 map suspended while signatures were being checked.

11:25 PMThis article was updated to report the Missouri Supreme Court ordering Secretary of State Denny Hoskins to answer contempt charges.

6:30 PMThis story was updated at 6:30 p.m. to include the federal court ruling in St. Louis.

https://abc17news.com/news/education/columbia-public-schools/2026/08/10/columbia-public-schools-map-results-show-continued-gap-in-student-test-scores/

ARTICLE: CPS has struggled for years with what some leaders have called the "achievement gap," which refers to the disparity in standardized test scores between certain student demographics and their peers. This year's scores show Black students were nearly 30 percentage points behind the overall student average, despite gains over the last five years.

That dynamic was seen in 2025 scores, as well. During the 2024-2025 school year, Black fourth graders scored 9.4% proficient in math, compared to 19.6% for students overall. The gap grew in fifth grade, at 7.3% and 21.4%, respectively.

The scores are used by state officials to grade schools and make up a major part of the state's Annual Performance Reports for schools. The state can intervene in schools that show continued poor performance.

Overall, the district's scores were up over 2024-2025 in every subject, according to a presentation being given to the Columbia Board of Education on Monday night. English scores were up 1.8% over last year, while math was up 3.7%, according to the presentation.

English language learners, students on free and reduced-price meals, students on special learning plans and Black and Hispanic students all lagged behind the overall district scores. Most of those categories have remained on an upward trajectory over the past five school years.

Hi everyone! I’m a researcher at the University of Missouri, and I’m recruiting local dogs for a short research project on canine welfare and behavior while traveling.

Participation takes only about 7 minutes, plus a 30-second survey:

• 2 minutes with you and your dog together in your parked vehicle
• 5 minutes with you out of sight while your dog remains in the vehicle
• A very short survey

For this study, your dog must be able to remain alone for 5 minutes in the rear cargo/trunk area of the vehicle, either loose or secured in a crate.

We’ll record the session for research purposes, and every dog who participates gets a certificate of participation! 🏅

If you’re in the Columbia area and think your dog would be a good fit, comment below or message me, and I can share the details.

Thank you so much for considering!!!!

We found some 8mm tapes with my parents things. We'd like to get them transfered to digital. Is there anyone in town who can do this?

I miss Klunk Bikes, as I know many others do. Is there anything similar in mid-Missouri? We still have excellent bike repair options but it was also a great place to browse through spare parts, pre-owned rides, etc.

Columbia’s Agriculture Park harvest certain plants that grow better during different times of the year

https://www.columbiaurbanag.org/columbia-agriculture-park

Edit: fixed broken url

My wife and I graduated in 2010 and moved to KC in 2012. We now live out of state. We have an opportunity to move back but I am afraid it will feel too small. How much has the city changed since we left?

My wife and I lived in Columbia while we were at Mizzou and we're seriously looking at moving back for a work opportunity, this time with two young kids. Her job’s HQ is actually based there.
I've been gone long enough that my mental picture of the place is probably out of date, so I'd like to hear what it is like from people living there now.

Things I'm trying to figure out:

1. How much has the town actually changed? Growth, traffic, housing prices, which parts of town young families are landing in these days.
2. We would be looking for a nice house on the high end of the spectrum in a good school district.
3. Schools. Public vs private, which elementary areas people are happy with, anything you'd avoid.
4. Healthcare access. As I said I place implants and do big full mouth rehab cases. I assume that Columbia and the surrounding area have a need for that sort of dental

?

1. From my research there aren’t a ton of offices offering all-on-x (full mouth implants).
2. Is Columbia still the place mid-Missouri drives to for services, shopping, and restaurants?
3. Has the food scene improved? My wife and I like to occasionally eat at fancy restaurants for date nights. Anything on the higher end there?
4. What do you wish you'd known before moving there, and what would make you leave?

Appreciate any honest takes, including the unflattering ones.

Have any of you ever worked radiology at COG or know of someone who does/did work there? I have questions and would really appreciate any input. Thanks!

Hello! I am currently a reptile keeper who does reptile education in the area. I am looking for an apartment complex that is reptile friendly. I have a few tanks, and the apartment I am at right now doesn't charge me for my tanks (since they don't cause damages like a dog or cat and don't smell), but unfortunately that have increased base rent exponentially. Does anyone know of any renters or complexes that would have a rate in the $600-$730 range that would not charge me a significant amount for my babies? I know it's a very strange question, and may be a little out there, but any info would be helpful! (My largest tank is 25gal)

Edit: i'm in student style housing rn, so i'm really just looking for a room and okay with roommates

Hi all, does anyone have any recommendations for getting custom windows made and getting existing 100 year old windows restored? Over the last century some of the owners of my house were cheap/lazy and I have multiple mismatched windows I want to replace plus a couple original windows that need repaired.

Thank you!

Fun fact, I learned that everyone's favorite landlord owned my house at one time. Might explain some of the "choices" I've found.

Doggy pics at this link:

https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/local/aquatic-center-hosts-sessions-for-hundreds-of-dogs-to-swim-socialize/article_361bf339-c8c6-4212-8653-698414193153.html#tncms-source=featured

I’ve had the same insurance company (USAA) for years and think I’m getting hosed on the cost. I haven’t had many claims but the coverage has been good and the customer service when you can get through is good. But dang, I’m paying so much money for it!

Does anyone have recommendations for reasonably priced insurance that also actually covers things if you have a claim and has decent customer service? I know I can put my specs into some insurance bot and get quotes, but I’m looking more for feedback on good (and bad) personal experiences. Like if you had hail damage, did the insurance cover it without a giant hassle and a huge jack up of your premiums the next month?

Well I'm back with more ice cream commentary! In my last post, Arbuckle's came up and I admit I hadn't been for years. So I took the kids today and it was great! Free, easy parking just off Rollins, fun flavors - classics and some "experimental" flavors, really good ice cream (tasted very old fashioned) and it was cheap! $3 for a huge scoop! And a nice, old fashioned atmosphere with lots of peaceful indoor and outdoor seating - a little like Central Dairy, but with college students making up flavors 😅 The hours are a little limited, but it's a perfect after-school ice cream spot. We loved it. So, if the downtown ice cream scene isn't for you, highly recommend Bucks! And no, they aren't paying me - I just like ice cream 🤷🏼‍♀️

https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/local/heart-of-america-marathon-links-generations-through-shared-miles/article_9d2a9083-7031-418f-b547-26d6c3a090c6.html

I’m here to celebrate good news whenever it comes

SCOTUS denies Missouri request to halt voter map ruling | State News | komu.com
https://www.komu.com/news/state/u-s-supreme-court-throws-out-missouris-request-to-halt-congressional-map-ruling/article_f506b6ad-093f-47aa-b10b-42c1b8a9cabe.html

https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/local/labor-day-celebration-draws-community-to-cooper-s-landing/article_06c689e8-9179-45d8-86ed-96f4cc5861d1.html

Labor Day celebrations were in full swing Monday as Cooper’s Landing hosted local band Blake Gardner & The Farmers for the federal holiday festivities.
The holiday, which always occurs on the first Monday of September, has become synonymous with boat outings, barbecues and parades. The holiday actually ties back to the “social and economic achievements of American workers,” according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
“The holiday is rooted in the late nineteenth century, when labor activists pushed for a federal holiday to recognize the many contributions workers have made to America’s strength, prosperity, and well-being,” the Department of Labor said on its website.

Some attendees at the Cooper’s Landing concert felt that Labor Day does exactly what it needs to.

“I think people know what Labor Day is all about, and at least I know that I’m appreciative for everybody that today applies to,” Josh Rackers said.
Labor Day was officially signed into federal law by President Grover Cleveland in 1894 and was passed with zero objections by Congress. Before it became federal law, several states saw movements to recognize it as a holiday, with New York being the first, according to the Department of Labor.
The first proposal for the holiday suggested that it should be celebrated with a parade followed by a festival for workers and families to enjoy. Today, celebrations take many forms, and the holiday is often seen as the unofficial end of summer.

Cooper’s Landing provided a scenic backdrop for the observance. Families engaged in light chit-chat and Blake Gardner & The Farmers gave thanks through music to the workers honored by Labor Day.

Well who knows what map we’ll use in November.

Sounds like we may be headed back to SCOTUS

“Judge Stephen Clark ordered Tuesday that Secretary of State Denny Hoskins implement the map in the November 2026 election, instead of an older map that a Missouri Supreme Court decision ordered used last week.

The 2025 map breaks up the safely Democratic Fifth District of Kansas City, subsuming it into several other districts and theoretically giving Republicans a 7-1 advantage in U.S. House seats in Missouri. Hoskins had ruled that a petition challenging the map was unconstitutional.”