News

"By and large, I would say, as a human being and as a society, we need to make the conscious effort to get out there and spend more time exploring nature - for our health, for our body, for our mind." -- DR. ANAND CHOCKALINGAM, MD, Cardiologist, MU Health Care. March 22, 2019

University of Missouri-St. Louis Chancellor Tom George is retiring.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch on Thursday reported that he's stepping down Sept. 1.

George started at the university in 2003 and will have served 16 years when he retires. The newspaper reports he will be the longest-tenured chancellor in the school's 56-year history.

"You have to have a resurrection, Paul." -- ROB CROUSE when asked why Capital City Productions is bringing Vertigo Flying Service on board for their take on Andrew Lloyd Webber's 'Jesus Christ Superstar'. Curtain goes up March 28! Also, this Saturday is the 67th annual Columbia Kiwanis Club Pancake Day fundraiser! Guests RICK McGUIRE and JENNIFER ROBERTS say each ticket sold supports programs that benefit children in Columbia. (5:07) March 21, 2019

Columbia Public Schools will receive a national award later this month for its work in improving mental health among its students and faculty. 

The district earned first place among "medium-sized school districts from across the country," according to a district news release.

Columbia Public Schools will receive the Magna Award for Equity Programs, which recognizes districts "for their efforts to remove barriers to achievement for vulnerable or underserved children." 

What do you do with an old fire extinguisher? How about a ragged, old tarp? BARBARA BUFFALOE answers those questions and more on today's show! (You could also ask the Office of Sustainability's 'Waste Wizard', but that's not near as much fun.) March 20, 2019

The Missouri Supreme Court says local courts can't throw people back in jail for not paying previous jail debts.

Judges on Tuesday ruled unanimously against local courts helping to recoup those costs with methods including jail time. Critics, including Republican Attorney General Eric Schmitt and the ACLU of Missouri, had argued the policy led to modern-day debtors' prisons.

The case stems from two Missouri men who fell behind on paying the cost of their own imprisonment in county jail. Those charges are commonly referred to as board bills.

Sustain Mizzou is hosting an E-Waste Drive this week in collaboration with Mid-Mo Recycling to help students and local residents get rid of their unwanted electronic waste in an environmentally responsible way. The Investment Recovery Association claims that in 2014, approximately 41.8 million tons of e-waste was generated worldwide and those numbers are only expected to grow.

E-waste is almost any electronic device except tube TVs, Sustain Mizzou member and E-Waste Drive organizer Madalynn Owens explained.

The Fair Housing Task Force, formed last July, presented its findings about housing disparities in Columbia and a plan of action to provide more affordable housing.

University of Missouri officials have fired an MU police officer after investigating the employee over a blackface photo.

MU Police Officer Marcus Collins was fired Tuesday after officials confirmed he was the individual in the photo.

The image, which was posted on a social media platform, was taken prior to Collins’ employment with the police department. Collins started with MUPD in January of 2018.

Top university officials were notified of the picture Tuesday morning, according to MU spokesperson Christian Basi.