In a quiet studio, a longarm quilting machine hums as Carol Sexton guides layers of fabric beneath the needle. Thread moves across the surface in looping lines and delicate curves, stitching together what began as separate pieces of cloth and is slowly becoming a finished beautiful quilt. For Sexton, quilting is more than a hobby. […]
“Few in the nineteenth century doubted that grave dangers lurked behind the foolish hopes of some that young women could achieve success in higher education. As late as 1873, Edward Clarke, writing in Sex in Education, stated that higher education would destroy the ability of women to bear children by overtaxing the female body at
It looks like we’re in full-on spring in COMO! There’s the roller-coaster weather that we’re famous for, but hopefully we are done with the seriously cold temps until October. A true gem of mid-MO, the Columbia Farmers Market, is rocking on Saturday mornings. Where else can one go and enjoy a beautiful morning, listen to live music, nosh on some freshly baked treats, and have a
Suzanne Rothwell, associate vice president for advancement at Columbia College, knew something was wrong when she noticed that she had an itchy rash on her legs that wouldn’t go away. Worse, she’d been experiencing gastrointestinal symptoms that had her semi-convinced she was suffering from colon cancer. “I’ve been having symptoms for about 10 years and thought, maybe I had
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,
