Anyone referring to the state champion bur oak tree in the Missouri riverbottoms in McBaine as “just a tree” is probably asking for a fight. It’s basically the same thing as calling a family’s beloved pet “just a dog.” The Big Bur Oak has earned a place of sacred respect for its size, longevity, history, and connections to multiple generations of Boone […]
Mid-Missouri has no shortage of nurseries to supply your yard or business with healthy, beautiful plants. But one nursery, CMSE Giving Gardens, a subsidiary of Central Missouri Subcontracting Enterprises, isn’t only growing plants — it’s fostering relationships and independence, too. “Our primary mission at CMSE is to provide work opportunities to adults with disabilities,” says Bruce Young, executive director of the
After several years of turbulent conditions during and after COVID, 2025 proved to be a year of stability in the local housing market, with 5 percent sales growth and sustainable 3 percent price appreciation. Heading into 2026, the market appeared poised for its best performance in years. “Rate-locked” owners of existing homes had begun listing their
Columbia Housing Market Check: Where Things Stand Now Read More »
As the sun sets on Missouri’s grasslands and prairies, you can see — if you’re lucky — dozens of tiny flashing lights on the butts of the beloved beetle that is known more commonly as a firefly. However, as the Missouri Department of Conservation website notes, globally and locally these populations have declined due to loss of
Growing up, being outdoors wasn’t something I thought much about. It was just part of my daily routine. It was built into our school schedules, of course — my uniform-clad classmates and I spilling outside at every chance, collecting our fair share of skinned knees, gross bugs, and memories. But after school was when the time really felt like mine. I’d
I’ve been reading Wards of the State by Claudia Rowe — an investigative journalist who spent years examining the American foster care system — and a few passages stopped me in my tracks. On the neuroscience of foster care: Researchers reviewed records from 6,000 former foster youth and found compelling evidence that elevated mental health symptoms were due,
I love all of our parks, but I have a soft spot for Stephens Lake Park. I spent time there in college studying with friends, had a sushi date with my long-distance bestie on one of the benches while people-watching … and my canine companion is a big fan, too. — Kelsey Winkeljohn I agree with Kelsey about
It’s a gift to live in a place like Columbia. Whether on the trails, at the parks, by the lakes, or beneath the quiet canopy of Stephens Lake Park, we are a community that knows the value of getting outside. There is something about the springtime air in Missouri that subtly invites us to breathe a
On a quiet street in Columbia, a once-forgotten house hums back to life. Fresh paint catches the light, the porch feels sturdy underfoot, and inside, the space holds the promise of something deeply personal: a first home. For many families, this moment would have felt impossible just months earlier. Credit challenges, rising rents, and uncertainty about the
On a recent evening in Columbia, I found myself stepping into a space that felt both new and oddly familiar. Warm wood panels lined the walls, the design was clean and intentional, and the atmosphere struck that balance between casual and curated. It’s the kind of place you’d expect to stumble upon in Austin, a little tucked-away, a little buzzy, and quietly confident
