Skip to main content

Nearby Communities

State Edition

National Edition

Stay in the loop with what's happening in Columbia

Never miss out on local news and events that matter to you.

🌱 Where you can cool down for free in Columbia today

Columbia, Missouri Patch AM: a 5 min read

Coffee in hand, Columbia? We've got the latest town updates for you. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • Where you can cool down for free in Columbia today
  • Want your kid racing down Broadway in a soapbox car?
  • How would Columbia’s $42 million smart meters change your utility bill?

Also on today's calendar: Bur Oak Brewing and 5 more events.

Today's riddle: What do sweet potatoes wear to bed? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

  • Friday: Mostly sunny and less humid, with a high of 84 and low of 65 degrees.
  • Saturday: Showers and a heavier t-storm, temps: high: 77, low: 62.
  • Sunday: Clouds giving way to some sun, with a high of 76 and low of 58 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Cooling centers open across Columbia during summer heat (columbiatribune.com) — Columbia residents can cool off this summer at several public locations, including the ARC, City Hall, Columbia/Boone County Public Health, the Columbia Public Library, and local Salvation Army sites. Officials warn about heatstroke risks and urge people—especially children, seniors, and those with health issues—to stay in air conditioning, hydrate often, and avoid strenuous activity during the hottest parts of the day.
   

2. Mid Missouri Soapbox Derby Race in Downtown CoMo (thingstodocolumbiamo.com) — Families in Columbia can head downtown this Sunday, June 14, for the free Mid Missouri Soapbox Derby, running 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. along Broadway from 7th Street to Providence Road. Kids ages 7 to 19 can race gravity-powered cars provided by organizers, making it easy for new drivers to jump in and experience this long-running local summer tradition.
   

3. Columbia to consider $42 million smart utility meter improvement project (komu.com) — Columbia is weighing a $42 million smart meter upgrade that would replace or update more than 100,000 electric and water meters across the city. Officials say the project could improve outage detection, leak identification and online access to detailed usage data, while residents are left to consider whether the long-term savings justify the upfront cost as the plan heads to City Council in September.
   

4. (LISTEN): MoDOT expects new I-70 bridge over Columbia's St. Charles road to be done in August (kwos.com) — Construction on Columbia’s new St. Charles Road bridge over I-70 is ahead of schedule, with MoDOT expecting completion by mid-August. Crews have already poured the bridge deck despite weeks of heavy rain, keeping this key part of the massive I-70 expansion on track for local drivers and regional traffic.
   

5. Columbia Public Schools names new chief equity officer (komu.com) — Columbia Public Schools has hired longtime educator Shonda Ambers-Phillips as its new chief equity officer, filling a role that oversees districtwide equity efforts and multiple student-support departments. Her appointment comes two months after the previous officer’s departure drew strong pushback from Columbia community members and local advocates, and she brings 25 years of experience in counseling, administration and diversity, equity and inclusion work.
   

📸 Around Columbia

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Columbia

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

📣 Columbia Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

    Friday June 12
  • Stories and Activities for Adults With Disabilities
    Columbia Public Library - Friends Room
    10:00 am
  • Device Advice and Tech Help Drop-in
    Columbia Public Library - Training Center
    2:00 pm
  • Live Comedy at The Tokyo Club - JB Buchanan →
    The Tokyo Club, 709 Fay St #105, Columbia
    7:00 pm
    • Saturday June 13
  • 📚National ACT Testing Date
    Jamestown C-1 Jamestown, MO 65046

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

 

Thank you 👏👏👏 to these businesses for making Columbia PatchAM possible:

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Update—FOUND!!
    Stella Wearing a gold chain collar with S charm Last seen around 9:45 on Lakota Ridge near the water treatment facility. Sweet but standoffish —… (Nextdoor Benton Stephens)
  • Very large coyote between houses on North Cedar Lake.
    Watch your pets carefully when you let them out! (Nextdoor Cedar Lake Dr)
  • Disabledperson, Inc posted a job opening for Stocking Team Associate at Walmart in Columbia, Missouri in Columbia. Apply here.
  • Columbia Public Schools posted a job opening for Night Custodial Floater in Columbia. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Columbia here.

Ok Columbia! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Yammies! (Thank you Lynda S. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

👉 Help make Patch AM better

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

Share to NextDoor     Share to Facebook

Support These Local Businesses

+ List My Business

Stay in the loop with what's happening in Columbia

Never miss out on local news and events that matter to you.

Stay in the loop with what's happening in Columbia

Never miss out on local news and events that matter to you.