Featured Story
In the Face of a Challenge
Over the past nine months, with COVID-19 spreading through Columbia and the world, Dr. Peter Stiepleman, superintendent of Columbia Public Schools; Dr. Mun Choi, president of the UM System and chancellor of MU; and Stephanie Browning, director of the Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and Human Services, have been forced to make the toughest
Paths to Success: Where Are They Now?
Over the past three decades, the University of Missouri Athletic Department has witnessed significant growth — due in no small part to former Athletic Director Mike Alden, who led the department from 1998 to 2015. The Tigers saw success on and off the field, moving from the Big 12 to the Southeastern Conference, renovating and
The Road to Stardom
Halle Kearns performs with such effortlessness and passion that you’d never guess the self-made country singer-songwriter from Columbia was once a shy little girl who was nervous about singing in front of people and who struggled with stage fright. Halle, 23, now lives in Nashville, where her smooth voice, catchy pop-country tunes, and Midwest girl-next-door
Meet Me at the Keyhole
You’ve seen the iconic keyhole sculpture in front of City Hall in Columbia. It’s there in the background on newscasts, photographed for advertisements, lit up to celebrate different occasions, captured as the backdrop for selfies, and used as a symbol for the city. What you may not realize is that the keyhole sculpture is part
LIVE! From the Lockdown
Columbia singer Symonne Sparks remembers her last concert she performed in before the COVID-19 pandemic effectively shut down most live music around the world. As the vocalist for jazz ensemble Loose Loose, Symonne headlined a music showcase for the True/False Film Festival on March 7 at Cafe Berlin. The festival occurred on the cusp of
Deck the Halls
The scene is so tranquil that it appears surreal. Looking out the picturesque windows of Jonathan and Megan Higgins’ Katy Lake Estates home, you see the reflection of trees on the lake, observe the quiet rippling of the water, and hear the honking of geese. It’s a feeling that translates inside, too, as you glance
The Covid and College-town Clash
Gary Ward has a keen understanding of COVID-19 fatigue. He also has a treatment — at least temporarily — for the ubiquitous anxiety over social distancing, uncertainty, and daily case number reports that expand the pandemic’s physical and psychological footprint throughout Columbia. Gary, the vice chancellor for operations and chief operating officer for MU, was
PYSK: Martin Kamau
Hometown San Francisco, California. Years lived in Columbia 16. Job description I’m a music curator, booker, and organizer for the True/False Film Fest. Overall, there are over 200 individual musical performances throughout the festival, and we’ve expanded the program to include off-season shows that promote current, former, and future festival musicians throughout the year. True/False
