3/6/07 The Lenten season has local Christian leaders thinking about how they can cooperate. Since Ash Wednesday, members of the Columbia Interfaith council have been hosting Lenten breakfasts at their churches. This Sunday an Interfaith service meeting will happen at First Baptist Church in Columbia. KBIA's Nan Wu and Kevin Quealy brought four of the Interfaith leaders together for a roundtable discussion in our studios last week.

Hear how these self-described "gray haired leaders" have adapted to the internet age and how they find new things to give up for Lent each year in this web exclusive.

3/5/07 Madison, Missouri is a town of about 600 people located about 50 miles north of Columbia. In this small town, Chris Akers runs his barbershop which mixes music and haircuts. Reported by KBIA's Patrick Fleming.

2/27/07 The University of Missouri has been working with state lawmakers to find a way to get the MOHELA deal to go through. A couple of weeks ago, U-M System President Elson Floyd said embryonic stem cell research would not take place in any building paid for by the loan agency's sale. Yesterday, University of Missouri officials said they would divvy up the health research buildings, again making sure no MOHELA funds went to stem cell research facilities. KBIA's Katherine Harben looks beyond the politics at what restrictions and new buildings might mean for the actual researchers on MU's campus.

2/19/07 In honor of President's Day, KBIA's Henry Atkinson hit the streets of mid-Missouri to see just how much citizens really know about these American leaders honored today. Think you know your Presidential history? Take Henry Atkinson's online Presidential quiz.

1/25/07 Scientists at MU think they can identify cancer cells through sound.  KBIA's Sean Powers talks to the researchers of this detection method and to one local woman who has battled the disease.

1/12/07 Columbia’s city-wide smoking ban took effect one minute after midnight Monday.  Smoking will no longer be allowed in public places within the city.  The change will be most noticeable in the city’s bars and restaurants … KBIA News profiles two restaurants that will be heavily impacted by the ban.  Both are diners, and both have long histories of smoking.

We begin by talking with employees and customers at Ernie’s diner, where Sarah Ashworth dropped by Monday morning.

Many Columbia business owners welcome the ban – others remain solidly opposed to it. Customers have also voiced a range of opinions. But at one café in the heart of downtown Columbia, many customers and staff seem to be united in their vigorous opposition to the smoking ban. KBIA’s Janet Saidi visited Lucy’s Café Monday morning.

12/15/06: University of Missouri System President Elson Floyd's announcement that he is leaving Missouri for Washington State University has left many in the state stunned. Even some of Floyd's closest coworkers say they are still reeling from the news. KBIA's Sarah Ashworth has more on the reaction to Floyd's departure.

12/14/06: Outgoing UM System President Elson Floyd (above, hugging UM curator Marion Cairns), who is assuming the presidency at Washington State University, met with reporters today at Reynolds Alumni Center on the MU campus. Hear streaming audio of the full conference here. (photo courtesy Columbia Missourian)

12/11/06: More and more college students are giving caffeine the cold shoulder and turning to prescription ADHD drugs, such as Adderall, to help them stay awake and study. KBIA reporters Justin Ray and Alison Fonte uncover the dangers of using Adderall illegally and the reasons students still decide to use it.
Hear the story here.
View bonus Web-only coverage here.

12/8/06: Democratic Senator-elect Claire McCaskill talks with KBIA's Janet Saidi about her to-do list, as she prepares to represent Missouri in the U.S. Senate next month. Listen to the full conversation here.

12/8/06: Joan Cheever is the author of the book Back from the Dead, one woman's search for the men who walked off of America's death row. Cheever spoke with students at MU and Hickman High School as part of her recent book tour through Columbia. KBIA's Erika Thomas caught up with Cheever. Listen to the interview here.

11/24/06: Director Robert Altman died recently in Los Angeles at the age of 81. Missourians have a right to be somewhat proud of the directors' illustrious career ... Altman was a Kansas City native who grew up hanging out in the city's jazz clubs, then studied engineering at MU before going on to make classic films like "The Player," "Nashville," and "M*A*S*H*." Ken LaZebnik, artistic director of the Stephens College School of Performing Arts in Columbia and a screenwriter who lives part-time in Los Angeles, worked with Altman on what will go down as the director's last film, the film version of "A Prairie Home Companion." KBIA's Janet Saidi spoke with LaZebnik the day Altman's death was announced.

11/8/06: What happens when a group of people go car-free for a month? Columbia got a chance to find out with the Low Car Diet Challenge, a community effort designed to encourage better awareness about our community's alternate routes and transportation methods and to encourage creativity about the prospect of getting around town.

KBIA'ss Janet Saidi brings us a roundtable discussion with two organizers of the Low Car Challenge - Ian Thomas, founder of the PedNet Coalition, and Paul Sturtz, founder of RagTag Cinema and True/False Film Festival - and with Low Car Diet Challenge participants Susan Robertson and Steve Nothwehr about walking and riding and blogging in Columbia, our cars, and the film that inspires - "An Inconvenient Truth."

Find out more about the challenge and read blogs from participants here.

11/6/06: Tomorrow, voters head to polling places to cast ballots in a number of highly contested races ... and pundits and candidates keep saying voter turnout is key, and that every vote counts. But as KBIA's August Skamenca reports, on the eve of this year's mid-term election in Missouri, there are more than 10,000 people registered to vote who shouldn't be because they're no longer among the living.

10/30/06: The stem cell amendment is one of the most widely discussed issues on the ballot. KBIA's Sean Powers examines the political and scientific aspects of the stem cell initiative.

10/26/06: Since the World Series began last weekend, viewers have heard Trace Atkins, Billy Ray Cyrus, Anita Baker, and Bob Seger all sing "The Star Spangled Banner." And for some viewers it might even be the highlight of the game. KBIA's own Nick Renkoski found that the National Anthem has a rich and varied history. Here's his story.

8/23/06: As MU students went to class on Wednesday, they were greeted by Wal-Mart. The retail store set up a mock dormitory on campus and provided shop shuttles for students to Super Wal-Mart. KBIA's Sean Powers visited the Wal-Mart equipped dorm room.

8/14/06: As energy prices have been rising in the last few years, renewable energy has become a hot topic. Politicians are talking about it in election years, and the change can even be seen at the pump in the form of ethanol. But KBIA's Ryan Famuliner tells us about a place where the importance of renewable energy hits even closer to home; and in this case, creates one.

KBIA's Sean Powers gives us a four-part series about underage drinking in Missouri.

8/15/06: For many incoming freshmen at MU, it's the first time they've spent any real time away from home. And with that freedom comes temptation, often in the form of alcohol. In part one, a look at STRIPES, a transportation service available to students.
8/16/06: In part two, a look at how state, local, and campus authorities are trying to crack down on underage drinking.
8/17/06: In part three, a look at the influences on minors to drink, particularly alcohol advertising.
8/18/06: In part four, a serious consequence of drinking ... alcoholism ... and how one area student is battling the disease.

7/31/06: Since Trans States Airlines announced in February it would stop service to Columbia Regional Airport, officials had been struggling to find a way for commercial airlines to continue flying to and from Columbia. The answer came in the form of essential air service, or EAS. But KBIA's Ryan Famuliner explains why some people feel this isn't the answer the airport's looking for.

7/20/06: Columbia's Planning and Zoning Commission will decide whether or not to sign off on zoning changes requested by the non-profit Covenant Community Development Corporation. The group wants to build a retail development in Columbia's first ward. But the proposal has brought up issues of who decides what's best for an area: the city, the developers, or the residents. KBIA's Sarah Ashworth hears both sides of the issue.

What's cooking?: Every Friday in July KBIA is taking you to dinner. Join reporter Hayley Salvo and photographer Shannon Sibayan as they share recipes, traditions and an inside look at meal time in Mid-Missouri.


Click here to view an interactive Flash presentation with pictures and recipes from the four meals.

7/28/06: This week, join four foreign exchange students for a traditional Korean meal.

7/21/06: This week join the luncheon club at Columbia's Lenoir Woods retirement community.

7/14/06: This week try a firehouse favorite with the crew at Columbia's Fire Station Number One, taco salad.

7/7/06: This week enjoy a tasty Puerto Rican treat and a twist on your traditional chicken and rice dish at the Meyer's house.


6/22/06: The Islamic Center of Mid-Missouri is growing. Observers can find evidence in a recent building renovation that brought in more money in one day than some churches receive in a year. KBIA's Charlotte Bellis and Paul David Lampe explore how the Center is growing and how faith guides the way.

6/19/06: Archaeologists set up shop in mid-Missouri looking for the remains of the historic town of Lexington. While the excavation ended Saturday, this site is just one of the major archaeological projects in the state. KBIA's John Minton, with producer Erin K. O'Neill, dig deeper into this season's excavations.

Click here for an interactive map of past and present Missouri dig sites and here for a slideshow with pictures from this year's Lexington dig.

6/7/06: This November, the biggest political race in Missouri is shaping up to be between incumbent Republican Senator Jim Talent and Democratic challenger Claire McCaskill. And though the election is still five months away, the campaigns are already underway. KBIA's Sarah Ashworth takes a closer look at the race so far.

5/29-31/06: Earlier this month, the state of Missouri failed to stop the Army Corps of Engineers from conducting a spring rise on the Missouri River. Environmentalists said the rise was needed to help the endangered pallid sturgeon. Missouri argued it would flood its cities and farms. KBIA and KWMU bring you a three-part series on the Missouri River.

Kevin Lavery recently traveled to North Dakota to see the upstream side of the issue. In part one of our series, Kevin explores how the river shapes the economy.
On their journey up the Missouri River, Lewis and Clark took detailed notes about the natural environment. Their descriptions of big bison and fragile flowers became a scientific primer for countless expeditions that followed. America saw little need to protect its wildlife 200 years ago. Today, the Missouri River is a whirlpool of environmental politics. In part two of our series, Kevin Lavery reports on how river communities co-exist with nature.
The Missouri River touches millions of people across seven states. When water is plentiful, its benefits are often taken for granted. But when it's not, life becomes a struggle to fulfill the most basic needs. In the final part of our series, Kevin Lavery shows us what happens when the tap runs dry in one small river town.

5/23/06: So much of the discussion about Mexican immigrants working in the United States centers on illegal workers. However, one farm in Farmington, Missouri, is bucking that trend and employing legal immigrants from Mexico. KBIA's Alecia Warren traveled to the farm on the eastern edge of the state and has this profile of the owner, and why he hires only legal workers.

4/13/06: Mid-Missouri pharmacists are concerned about Medicare Part D, a new drug insurance program. The program has been helpful for millions, but may have a severe impact on pharmacists. In a partnership with the Missouri School of Journalism's Media Convergence classes, KBIA brings you a look at how area pharmacists are coping. Mark Johnson reports.

3/21/06: Teams from FEMA have arrived in rural Randolph County and are assessing the damage left by a tornado just more than a week ago. Some of the most severe destruction lies in the small community of Renick, with a population of just 221. The rebuilding process has been moving along steadily, but as KBIA's August Skamenca reports, the healing process will take much longer.

Organizers of Renick's recovery process say they're still in need of donations. If you'd like to help out, you can call the Renick Disaster Relief Center at 660-676-4672.

3/20/06: Ever since the war in Iraq began three years ago, protests against the conflict have been a common sight around Columbia ... from the local post office to the street corners downtown to spots on the MU campus. A movement has even begun protesting the protestors. However, this weekend marked the third anniversary of the war ... a milestone that led many anti-war protestors to gather at Columbia's Courthouse Square. KBIA's Hayley Salvo collected sounds from the event. Hear them here.

Click here to view a QuickTime audio slide show about the March 19th war protest in Columbia.

3/14/06: The village of Renick sits just south of Moberly along Highway 63. The community is so small that is has no discernible downtown ... only a strip of road with a handful of buildings including a small cafe, an antiques shop and the post office. But it was here that one of the many tornadoes that blazed through Missouri Sunday night hit hardest. Just outside the community of 221 people, four died.
KBIA's August Skamenca and Sarah Ashworth spent yesterday in Renick and have the following two profiles of people just beginning to rebuild.
Along Highway 63 sits the area's single business: Rebarco. The company manufactures rebar or concrete reinforcements ... and was nearly demolished by the tornado. KBIA's Sarah Ashworth has more on how they're cleaning up.

2/23/06: In two short years, the True/False Film Festival in Columbia has become one of the most respected festivals for independent documentaries in the country. This year's festival gets under way Thursday, beginning three-and-a-half days of films shown at various spots around Columbia's downtown, with 40 films getting their full premieres. And as KBIA's August Skamenca reports, what began as a purely grassroots project is starting to turn heads across the world.

1/27/06: The recent announcement that Governor Matt Blunt will try to push through a sale of MOHELA, the state-run student loan agency, had some excited over the prospect of increased higher education spending. But it also had others worried, over the future of Missouri student loans. KBIA's Kyle Palmer takes a closer look.

1/22/06: Far from mid-Missouri, the AIDS epidemic is taking a vast toll on society in sub-Saharan Africa. The United Nations estimates that nearly 26 million of the world's 40 million AIDS cases - or about 64 percent - are in that region. This problem is both physically and psychologically distant from central Missouri, but a pioneering AIDS researcher came to the University of Missouri recently to bring the problem closer to home. He starkly laid out the challenges facing AIDS research but offered hope for the future. KBIA's Kyle Palmer has more.

Probation and Parole
KBIA News brings you a four-part series of stories about the state's Probation and Parole system.

We begin with the struggles people face upon release. The Missouri Department of Corrections says close to half of the people getting out of prison on parole will commit another offense within two years. The state has started a program to deal with the problem, but right now, as KBIA's Bente Birkeland reports in part one, it's easy to see why so many people end up back in prison.

In part two, KBIA's Bente Birkeland spends time with the people in charge of supervising offenders in the community.

The Missouri Department of Corrections says close to half of the people getting out of prison on parole will commit another offense within two years. In the third part of our series, KBIA's Bente Birkeland examines one man's journey.

The Missouri Department of Corrections has started an initiative to help prevent people on parole from going back to prison. The most recent numbers from the Corrections Department indicate two out of five people on parole go back to prison within two years of leaving. In the last part of our series, KBIA's Bente Birkeland takes a look inside a medium security prison located in central Missouri.

1/10/06: Have you heard of Columbia's Medical Reserve Corps? Probably not, but as KBIA's Kyle Palmer tells us, they're looking for new members and it's easy to join.

1/9/06: A door connects Governor Matt Blunt's office to the office of his former Sunday school teacher ... who is now his Chief of Staff. The two met when the Governor was in high school. Ken McClure is 20 years older than Governor Blunt and brings a unique set of experiences to the Chief of Staff position. But as KBIA's Bente Birkeland discovered, McClure tries to bring harmony to more than just state politics.

12/22/05: It has been nearly four months since Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast, but thousands of people are still dealing with the storm's effects. That ncludes several dozen families who have now permanently settled in mid-Missouri. KBIA's Kyle Palmer tells us about one of those families and the continuing efforts to make them feel at home.

12/11/05: Public school funding has long been a topic of heated debate in Missouri but now, thanks to a new proposal by Governor Matt Blunt to put a constitutional amendment on next year's ballot, politicians and educators are debating over what exactly is meant by "classroom instruction." KBIA's Kyle Palmer has more.

12/7/05: Republicans and Democrats are ramping up the rhetoric over a school funding plan proposed last month by Governor Matt Blunt. But as KBIA's Kyle Palmer tells us, the two sides are sounding awfully alike.

11/29/05: A special Columbia Housing Authority task force voted this week to move forward with the idea of redeveloping 70 public housing units along Park Avenue, near downtown Columbia. However, opposition from residents remains. KBIA's Kyle Palmer reports, though, that tension between residents and the task force has eased.

11/10/05: A law passed in August makes American Sign Language equivalent to other foreign languages in all public schools across the state. That law includes MU, whose ASL program has steadily been growing. A big reason for that growth is Stephanie Logan, an instructor in the program ... who also happens to be deaf. KBIA's Erin Richards has this profile of Stephanie Logan.

10/28/05: Designer babies ... immortality ... cloning ... all science fiction concepts which are seeping into our political discourse. Bill McKibben, author of "Enough: Staying Human In An Engineered Age," visited the MU campus earlier this week to talk about his book, which is required reading for this year's freshman class. KBIA's Lene Johansen talks with McKibben here.

10/07/05: A special task force with the Columbia Housing Authority is nearing a decision on how to redevelop 70 public housing units along Park Avenue. Seven proposals are now before the task force ... ranging in estimated cost from $4 million to nearly $25 million. But as task force members move toward a final recommendation, opposition from Park Avenue residents remains. KBIA's Kyle Palmer wades through the disagreements.

9/23/05: A special task force of the Columbia Housing Authority is currently debating several proposals that would remodel dozens of public housing units along Park Avenue. Most of the proposals the task force is considering call for the demolition of the existing apartments. Housing Authority officials say rebuilding the units would improve the quality of life along Park Avenue. However, several residents have questioned the proposals ... and have begun trying to rally opposition against them. But, as KBIA's Kyle Palmer tells us, that is proving to be a challenge.

9/16/05: Columbia Public Schools' performance on the latest MAP tests was, by and large, a success. As a district, Columbia scored nearly nine points above the state average in Communication Arts and nearly eight points above the state average in Math. Nearly every demographic group also scored above their state averages ... with some notable exceptions. Scores for African-American students and students receiving free or reduced lunch lagged behind. Now, the district is taking steps to close those gaps. KBIA's Kyle Palmer has more.

9/2/05: Stefanie Zimmerman is one of the many journalists traveling through the areas devastated by Hurricane Katrina, working to dispatch stories back home. But for Zimmerman, this is one of her first major stories ... ever. That's because she's still a student. Zimmerman is a junior convergence student in MU's School of Journalism, and is traveling with two Missourian reporters. KBIA's Sarah Ashworth spoke by phone with Zimmerman last night.

8/30/05: In Jefferson City, there is one ice rink, but there are two youth hockey leagues. Annually the two leagues duke it out for practice time, and this year is no different. But now the Jefferson City Parks and Recreation Board has handed down an ultimatum ... become one league by next year. KBIA's Sarah Ashworth has more on the differences between the two leagues and their struggle for ice time.

8/29/05: One of the new laws that went into effect yesterday requires Missouri public schools to accept American Sign Language as a foreign language credit. Both the House and the Senate overwhelmingly passed the measure, and many of the teachers and students at schools that already offer ASL courses are excited. KBIA's Sarah Ashworth has more.

8/26/05: On Sunday, August 28, the second round of statewide Medicaid cuts goes into effect. As that deadline nears, local opponents have mounted one final protest against the cuts ... and supporters have remained firm in their idea that the cuts are necessary for the state's economic health. KBIA's Kyle Palmer has more.

8/24/05: Last week a federal judge in Kansas City issued a temporary restraining order, blocking the state from enforcing new standards on adoption subsidies. Now, as KBIA's Kyle Palmer reports, both the state and child welfare advocates are preparing for a court date. Click here.

8/12/05: Earlier this week, the state's Office of Administration tightened its employee dress code, outlining more clearly what workers in Matt Blunt's government can and cannot wear, and eliminating "Casual Fridays" altogether. KBIA's Kyle Palmer takes a not-so-casual look at what exactly "Casual Friday" means. Click here to listen.

8/11/05: Anybody can find it hard, at times, to keep up with balancing their checkbook. But imagine if you had to balance a checkbook for more than 8,000 people. Boonville's city officials have to ... and, not surprisingly, they've fallen behind. But KBIA's Kyle Palmer tells us, the city is now taking steps to catch up. Click here for more.

8/4/05: This week, the state released optimistic economic figures for the first half of 2005 trumpeting a statewide growth in jobs and a decline in Missouri's unemployment rate. But as KBIA's Kyle Palmer shows us, Columbia is leading the state in both categories as usual. Click here.

7/27/05: This weekend, a Columbia teenager will travel to New Orleans with a chance to win a medal at this year's Junior Olympics. But as KBIA's Kyle Palmer tells us, what began as a simple summertime activity has evolved into a life-changing opportunity. Hear the story here.

7/19/05: Earlier this month three St. Louis women sued the state, saying recent Medicaid cuts violated their constitutional rights. Now, adoptive parents statewide, including some in Boone County, are gathering resources to file a lawsuit of their own. To hear Kyle Palmer report this story, click here.

7/15/05: Back in 1936 at the Olympic games in Berlin, a female track athlete from Fulton, Missouri, took home two gold medals. That event put Helen Stephens in the spotlight, but her story stretches far beyond Olympic medals. Columbia writer Sharon Kinney Hanson has written a new biography about the woman known as the "Fulton Flash." KBIA's Sarah Ashworth spoke with the author, and has more on Helen Stephens' story.

7/6/05: While the national debate over proposed changes to Social Security has grown increasingly bitter, a local meeting between a Congressman and a group of concerned citizens shows how polite discussion can win the day. KBIA's Kyle Palmer has more.

6/28 - 7/1/05: KBIA's four-part series on Domestic Violence. Hear the stories here.

6/30/05: Lois Jones says she spends nearly $1,500 a month on prescription drugs to help with mental illness caused by childhood sexual abuse. She pays for them with the help of the state's Medicaid program. Next month, Jones will lose her state subsidy as part of cuts to Medicaid. Listen to her story here.

6/28/05: Since last week's van crash along I-70, in which five undocumented workers were killed, KBIA's August Skamenca has been looking into the ways such workers travel across this country, and how local law enforcement officers have difficulty stopping their travel. Hear his story here.

6/9/05: Planting time for Missouri corn farmers has just ended. Now, comes the long wait for harvest through the dry summer months. But KBIA's Kyle Palmer tells us that just as farmers are anxiously watching their corn, they're also watching another growing trend: the state's ethanol industry. Hear the story here.

6/3/05: A man out of Mexico, Missouri, hopes to win his Lucky Break into the music industry. KBIA's Hayley Salvo shares his "amazing" story. Hear it here.

6/1 & 6/2/05: The continuing fight over the future of the 73-year-old lift span bridge in Boonville has many sides. From the historic preservationists who want to restore it ... to the economic pragmatists who want to dismantle it. But, in the first of a two-part series looking at the struggle over the bridge, KBIA's Kyle Palmer takes a closer look at how this complex debate has taken on a decidedly political tone in recent weeks. Hear part one here.

The battle over the historic lift span bridge on the edge of Boonville has raised emotional and political issues, but in the end the answer will perhaps come down to money, and whoever can afford to restore the structure. In the second part of a two-part series, KBIA's Sarah Ashworth takes a closer look at the economic angle behind the battle for the Boonville bridge. Hear part two here.

5/16 - 5/20 & 5/23 - 5/27/05: KBIA brings you a two-week series with a different local commentary each morning. The series is part of a convergence project with an Advanced Writing class at the Missouri School of Journalism. To hear any of the commentaries a la carte, click here.

4/25, 4/26, & 4/27/05: Missouri rice farmers and food producers stirred up quite a storm about Ventria Bioscience's application to plant pharmaceutical rice in the state last week.
In the first of a three-part series, KBIA's Lene Johansen talks to scientists who are familiar with Ventria's research.
In part two, she investigates whether the pharmaceutical rice poses a risk to Missouri food supply.
In part three, Lene looks at the economic issues behind the conflict.

4/13 & 4/14/05: As the debate over a 100 percent smoking-ban in restaurants and bars heats up in Columbia, two opposing groups have formed on both sides of the issue: the Boone Liberty Coalition, a group whose members are against a the smoking ban, and the Boone County Coalition for Tobacco Concerns, a group for the ban. KBIA's Hayley Salvo talked with members of both groups, and profiles the people in the organizations. Hear part one here. Part two here.

4/11/05: Author Joyce Carol Oates is, to say the least, prolific. She's best known for her more than thirty novels, including the National Book Award winner, Them, the bestseller and Oprah book club pick, We Were the Mulvaneys, and her fictional take on Marilyn Monroe's life, Blonde. On this night, she read from her works in Jesse Auditorium. KBIA's Sarah Ashworth spoke with her on the phone. Hear their conversation here.

3/31/05: Martha Burk first came to attention of most Americans three years ago when she publicly protested the all-male Masters Tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club. Tonight, as part of Women's History Month events at Stephens College, she'll read from her new book. KBIA's Sarah Ashworth spoke with Burk earlier ... here's part of their conversation.

3/17/05: The cover story on this week's Vox magazine raises a question not everyone will want to consider ... what does it take to get around Columbia without a car? The story explores options for commuting in Columbia by foot, bike and bus. As part of a convergence project with the Missouri School of Journalism, local commentator Jenn Day urges Columbians to embrace the possibility of a bus culture in town. Hear it here.

3/11/05: Columbia band Abateria is pushing Latin Dance music into mid-Missouri's mainstream. KBIA's Hayley Salvo tells us how the band has become a regular stop on the Friday night scene. Listen to it here.

2/25/05: Columbia's second annual True/False film festival takes place the last weekend of February, and showcases documentaries from around the world. KBIA's Hayley Salvo has a preview of this year's festival. Listen to it here.

2/24/05: This semester, novelist Naeem Murr is visiting MU as a writer in residence. Murr will give a reading and book signing at 7:30 tonight in Memorial Union. Earlier this week, KBIA's Sarah Ashworth sat down with the author to talk about writing. Hear their conversation here.

2/16/05: The funeral for Columbia Police Officer Molly Bowden, the first Columbia officer killed in the line of duty, was held Tuesday afternoon at Mizzou Arena. KBIA's Sarah Ashworth and Brendan Watson collected sounds and thoughts from the day, and have this audio montage. Hear it here.

1/20/05: Since the days of Nirvana and the Seattle-based grunge-rock revolution, Boone Stigall has documented Columbia's own music scene. KBIA's Ross Todd has a profile of this well-known Columbia character and his 'zine, The Trouble with Normal. Hear it here.