Local pharmacies and health care providers prepare for new COVID-19 regulations

KMIZ on September 3, 2025

Nia Hinson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Some local pharmacies and health care providers are working to determine their vaccination protocols after new federal regulations limit who can receive them.

The Food and Drug Administration approved updated COVID-19 vaccines for the upcoming fall and winter season. The regulations now state that Americans will be required to get a prescription to receive a COVID-19 vaccination unless they are 65 years or older or have underlying health conditions that put them at risk.

Healthy children under age 18 will be able to receive a COVID-19 vaccine after consulting with their health care provider, according to ABC News.

In a statement sent to ABC 17 News Tuesday afternoon, MU Health Care said it is still finalizing any changes.

“We are still finalizing our vaccination protocols as we await guidance related to recent policy change,” the statement said.

Boone Health did not immediately provide a response.

ABC 17 News spoke with a pharmacist at the Walgreens located on East Broadway who said anyone under 65 or who does not have a health condition will not be eligible to receive the shot without a prescription.

The CVS Pharmacy on Bernadette Drive said children under 12 will need a prescription.

According to Kilgore’s pharmacist, Bill Morrissey, the pharmacy is still waiting on guidance and clarification.

Board President of the Missouri Immunization Coalition, Lynelle Phillips, said the United States is already having trouble with vaccination rates, and the new restrictions aren’t going to help.

“The other concern is, for instance, I have a husband who qualifies for the vaccine and will likely get it, and I don’t. So even if he gets the vaccine, if I go out and catch COVID while on campus or whatever and bring it home, then the vaccine is not 100%,” Phillips said.

According to Phillips, in public health, the goal is not only to vaccinate high-risk people, but also to make sure people they are in close contact with are vaccinated as well. The new restrictions are something she fears will no longer allow that to happen.

Phillips also said the restrictions could become problematic for pregnant women.

Physicians can prescribe to people who don’t fit a certain category based on the drug label, referred to as “off label.” However, Phillips said there’s a possibility of liability in those cases.

The new restrictions also mean some Americans may now face out-of-pocket costs when receiving the vaccine.

“The child vaccines are all covered by the vaccine for children program, but now COVID is not being recommended for children, so they won’t be covered, which means they’ll have to use private insurance to become vaccinated,” Phillips said. “I don’t know how insurance companies will feel about that. It’s the same for adults. People might have to pay out-of-pocket if they really want it, and we have enough trouble promoting the COVID vaccine as it is, let alone asking people to fork out cash for it.”

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Kiln to Open 43,000-Square-Foot Coworking Space in Bend’s Old Mill District in 2026

KTVZ on September 3, 2025

Gregory Deffenbaugh

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Kiln, a flex-office and coworking brand with locations across the Western U.S., announced plans to open a new 43,000-square-foot coworking and lifestyle space in Bend’s Old Mill District.

The new location, set to open in spring 2026 at 501 SW Hill St. Kiln Bend will offer a mix of private offices, open and resident desks, conference rooms, and content creation studios, as well as wellness and lifestyle amenities designed to foster community and creativity.

“Bend is full of people doing meaningful work and living inspired lives,” said Alexa Ford, community director for Kiln Bend. “Our goal is to create a space that not only supports business growth but also fosters connection and balance. We’re so excited to open our doors to this community.”

The two-story facility will feature amenities including a theater, refresh rooms, wellness zones and communal lounges.

Based in the Western U.S., Kiln currently operates more than 20 locations in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon and Utah. Recent openings include spaces in Portland, Phoenix and Las Vegas.

Each Kiln location is designed to reflect the culture of its host city while connecting members to a broader network of professionals and resources. The Bend location is expected to become a key anchor within the Old Mill District’s mix of businesses, restaurants and entertainment venues.

“Kiln is an ideal fit for Bend and for the Old Mill District,” said Beau Eastes, marketing director for the Old Mill District. “They’ve created spaces that go far beyond a typical office. These are places that inspire people to do their best work and build real community.”

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Researchers take key step toward greener lighting and display technologies

KTVZ on September 3, 2025

KTVZ – News Team

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Scientists at Oregon State University have taken a big step toward lighting and display technologies that are more energy efficient and better for the planet.

The work centers around crystalline, porous materials known as metal organic frameworks, often abbreviated as MOFs, and points toward next-generation materials that may end reliance on rare earth metals.

The study by Kyriakos Stylianou, associate professor of chemistry in the OSU College of Science, and graduate students Kyle Smith and Ankit Yadav was published in Nature Communications.

The findings are important because displays – ubiquitous in communications, computing, medical monitoring and many other aspects of everyday life – and lighting contribute heavily to global energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.

And the rare earth metals that underpin those technologies – europium, terbium, yttrium, cerium, gadolinium and others – are expensive and environmentally hazardous to mine and process.

Made up of positively charged metal ions surrounded by organic “linker” molecules, metal organic frameworks have nanosized pores and tunable structural properties. They can be designed with a variety of components that determine the MOF’s properties, and for this project the scientists developed novel MOF structures that combine two types of porous crystals to enhance light emission.

The researchers explored different ways of combining the different types of crystals. One of those methods, known as MOF-on-MOF – the crystals were stacked like building blocks – resulted in light emission that was roughly four times as energy efficient as seen in traditional MOFs.

“By controlling how the components interact, we discovered how to reduce energy losses that typically limit brightness in these materials,” Stylianou said. “This higher efficiency means that future LEDs could produce the same amount of light while consuming far less electricity.”

In the United States, Stylianou notes, lighting and display systems consume about 213 billion kilowatt-hours of power annually – a level of energy usage that accounts for 13% of global carbon dioxide emissions, primarily because 80% of electricity generation in the U.S. comes from the burning of fossil fuels.

Replacing rare-earth-based components in lighting and display systems with the new, more sustainable MOF structures would simultaneously reduce production costs, ecological impact and energy consumption, he said. It also would provide an alternative to elements whose global supply chains are fraught with geopolitical tensions.

In the United States, Stylianou notes, lighting and display systems consume about 213 billion kilowatt-hours of power annually – a level of energy usage that accounts for 13% of global carbon dioxide emissions, primarily because 80% of electricity generation in the U.S. comes from the burning of fossil fuels.

“There’s an urgent need for advanced, efficient fluorescent materials, and we think our new MOFs can help fill that need,” Stylianou said. “We see a lot of potential in their ability to have economic, environmental and climate impacts.”

This project was supported by the OSU Department of Chemistry and the Oregon chapter of the Achievement Rewards for College Scientists Foundation.

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How Central Oregon could be impacted by proposed transportation funding bill

KTVZ on September 3, 2025

Claire Elmer

(Update: Adding video)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Oregon lawmakers are in a special session debating Governor Tina Kotek’s proposal — Oregon House Bill 3991 — to close a major transportation funding gap. Without action, the Oregon Department of Transportation warns it could face hundreds of millions in cuts — forcing layoffs and the closure of road maintenance stations, including right here in Central Oregon.

Oregon Representative Emerson Levy (D) spoke with KTVZ News about the bill, and the local impacts Central Oregon would face if it didn’t pass. 

“The most important thing to me is to keep my constituents safe. And the Sisters maintenance station would have closed. And then additionally, we’re looking at the Detroit station being closed. So that would be the entire pass. Also, they’re part of our wildfire evacuation plan. So it’s important for winter, but it’s also important for summer,” said Levy.

The bill would raise about 4.3 billion dollars over the next decade. The biggest changes include a six-cent increase to the state gas tax starting in 2026, higher vehicle registration and title fees, and new charges for electric and hybrid vehicles.

“We know that costs are increasing. The number one issue in Central Oregon is cost of living. And so this was a really challenging vote. Where we landed was a six-cent gas tax increase. And that six cents goes straight to maintenance,” said Levy.

At Hyundai of Bend, where about 30 percent of sales are electric vehicles, there is worry the changes will make it harder for people to switch to cleaner cars.

Edward Brown, general manager for Team Hyundai of Bend, spoke about how the sale of electric vehicles could be impacted.

“There already is a higher registration tax and a higher title fee on electric vehicles. So they’re just raising it higher at this point. It’s going to drive everybody to not want to go electric because they’re just charging more taxes,” said Brown. 

Brown says the combination of new state fees and the loss of federal rebates could push customers away from EVs entirely. He believes the government should look for other ways to fund transportation.

“I think it’s a misappropriation of funds by the Oregon government, and they shouldn’t be a burden for taxpayers,” said Brown. 

Supporters of the bill argue the changes are necessary to keep plows on the mountain passes and roads clear during wildfire evacuations. Opponents argue the costs will hit working families hardest, in a state that already has some of the highest gas prices in the nation.

The House has already approved the plan. The Senate is expected to vote this week, deciding the future of Oregon’s transportation funding — and how much drivers here in Central Oregon will pay to keep roads open and safe.

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Man wanted for Mexico robbery arrested in Illinois

KMIZ on September 3, 2025

Katie Greathouse

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A man wanted for multiple crimes in Mexico, Missouri, was arrested in Illinois on Tuesday.

According to a press release from the Mexico Public Safety Department, investigators responded to the 1300 block of N. Washington St. on Aug. 24 for an incident involving a gun. Police were told Montrel Burton, 33, took a handgun from someone else, pointed it at them, and fired a shot before leaving the area. No injuries were reported.

Police said an arrest warrant was obtained for Burton for first-degree robbery, unlawful use of a weapon, armed criminal action and unlawful possession of a gun.

Authorities notified the Jacksonville Police Department in Illinois that Burton may be in the city. Jacksonville police found Burton at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday. He allegedly ran into a home but later came out and was arrested.

Burton is being held in the Morgan County Detention Center in Illinois until he is extradited to Audrain County.

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Jake Haro faced repeated probation violation hearings before murder case

KESQ on September 3, 2025

Garrett Hottle

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) According to new court documents obtained by News Channel 3, Jake Haro was caught with a handgun and ammunition in June 2024 while already on felony probation for a prior child cruelty conviction. He pled not guilty that August.

That gun case was serious enough that Haro was already facing the possibility of prison time before prosecutors later charged him and Rebecca Haro with murder in the death of their 7-month-old son, Emmanuel.

But instead of moving forward, the case was delayed four separate times, each at the request of Haro’s defense attorney:

First from October 2024 to December.

Then to April 2025.

Then again to July 2025.

And finally to September 2, 2025.

That hearing has since been vacated and consolidated with the Haros’ murder arraignment set for September 4, meaning multiple cases will now be handled in a single courtroom session.

The takeaway: Haro was already staring at potential prison time before the murder charges but defense continuances kept that case unresolved.

Last week, Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin blasted the criminal justice system for what he called a preventable tragedy. Hestrin said Emmanuel’s death could have been avoided if Haro had been sent to prison for his prior child abuse conviction in 2023, instead of receiving probation.

“My prosecutor in the courtroom objected to that and said on the record we object, we think it’s a prison case and you should send him to prison,” Hestrin said. “And the judge decided… that Mr. Haro deserved an extra break and gave him probation and basically 180 days of work release which ends up being like community service.”

Hestrin called that decision “an outrageous error in judgment,” adding: “Mr. Haro should have been in prison at the time that this crime happened. If that judge had done his job as he should have done, Emmanuel would be alive today. And that’s a shame and it’s an outrage.”

KESQ is still pressing for additional records, including the arrest warrant and bail declaration, to learn more about how Haro was caught with the firearm.

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Crews on Scene for Three-Acre Vegetation Fire near Cuyama

KEYT on September 3, 2025

Caleb Nguyen

CUYAMA, Calif. – Fire crews are on the scene of a three-acre vegetation fire that started at 3:30 near a solar field on Foothill Road and Kirschenman Road close to New Cuyama, according to PulsePoint.

The fire is burning at a slow rate of speed near New Cuyama per WatchDuty and more information on the fire will be provided as it becomes available to Your News Channel.

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Isla Vista Rental Inspection Lawsuit: Landlords Sue Santa Barbara County as Students Return

KEYT on September 3, 2025

Ryder Christ

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) — A group of Isla Vista landlords is suing Santa Barbara County over a new rental inspection program, claiming it forces property owners to break state law and infringes on tenants’ constitutional rights.

The Isla Vista Rental Property Owners’ Association filed the complaint after supervisors approved a one-year pilot program requiring landlords to register their units and allow county inspectors to check for health, safety and unpermitted construction issues. The ordinance, adopted in June, is funded through a $3.7 million settlement with UC Santa Barbara.

Landlords’ legal arguments

Attorney Lacy L. Taylor, representing the landlords, argues the program puts owners in an impossible position.

“This ordinance requires the landlord to give notice of a general inspection and that the landlord be present for that inspection, something a landlord is not allowed to do under the express language of Civil Code section 1954,” Taylor said.

According to the county’s website, inspections are scheduled by the County, and if a unit is selected, the property owner or their agent must be notified 15 days in advance, notify the tenant, facilitate access, and be present during the inspection. The policy also notes that if the owner or agent is not present, the inspection may still proceed if the tenant authorizes lawful entry.

Landlords argue that this requirement conflicts with state law by compelling them to take actions they otherwise would not be legally permitted to do. Taylor also claims the county unfairly singles out Isla Vista.

“They’re targeting the most impacted and probably the youngest and some of the most the poorer neighborhoods in the entire county by targeting Isla Vista,” she said.

Landlords contend the program will reduce already scarce housing by forcing upgrades or closures and could drive rents even higher. They stress this is primarily a housing issue, not a safety one.

County’s rationale and outreach

County leaders maintain the program is necessary to improve housing conditions and protect tenants. Supervisor Laura Capps, who championed the initiative, said Isla Vista has long been associated with substandard housing and tenants are less likely to report problems through existing complaint-driven channels.

“The hard part about living in Isla Vista is that a lot of housing is substandard. And also tenants are younger, they’re more low income and they don’t take matters into their own hands. They don’t know that you can file a report and you can actually, you know, call the county, you can get an inspector out there,” Capps said.

She described the program as proactive rather than punitive.

“So we’re flipping the switch and we’re going to them. We’re we’re taking inspectors to the places to make sure that things get fixed.”

Capps emphasized that the county’s goal is prevention, not punishment, noting extensive outreach to landlords and tenants ahead of inspections.

Capps added that the county is covering the full cost of the inspections, landlords and tenants will pay nothing, and rents will not increase because of it. “It’s shameful some property owners would rather spend money on litigation and spreading misinformation rather than making basic repairs required by law. If their properties are safe, they should welcome an inspection,” she said.

Tenants’ experiences and perspectives

For many students, poor housing conditions are a daily reality. One tenant described waking up to signs of mold.

“Every morning we’d wake up with a black ring around our toilet,” said the tenant, adding, “the landlord told us it’s common, usually non-toxic, just friendly.”

Another recalled moving into a house that required days of cleaning and revealed deeper flaws.

“It was like pretty gross, and I think I spent like three days cleaning it,” said the tenant, adding, “we realized the floor was crooked, so everything would just roll to the end of the house.”

Other students described feeling ignored by landlords.

“Most of the times that we tried to talk to people that ran the apartment, they wouldn’t really do anything about it. They would do the bare minimum to fix it.”

Some tenants voiced support for inspections. “I think there’s so many living conditions here that people should not be living in, especially in Isla Vista, and people don’t realize that it’s a lot worse,” one said.

But others emphasized the value of trust with landlords.

“As long as I can communicate and be assured by the person I’m leasing from, that’s all I would personally need but I also do think there needs to be more,” another student said.

Debate Over Inspections

The debate over Isla Vista’s new inspection program is not only playing out in the courtroom but also in the community, where opinions are sharply divided.

Robin Unander, a local attorney who has represented both landlords and tenants, said many students feel uneasy about county inspectors entering their homes.

“Whether they are welcoming these inspections, that’s the rub that I see. My role is really communicating what I’m hearing from tenants: ‘How do I stop it? What if I don’t want them to come into my home for whatever reasons?’”

Eleanor Gartner, communications director for Supervisor Capps, said she has observed the opposite.

“The anxiety that this brings up has not been our experience,” said Gartner. “Tenants actually welcome us into their houses and they want to see some of the safety issues that they are living with and hasn’t been addressed by landlords,” said Gartner.

Unander argues that the county should restore a local, complaint-driven inspection system like Isla Vista once had.

“We used to have an inspector stationed out there in the county building, it was a complaint-driven process. Having that easy access made it no problem. Now it’s hard navigating the website, and if it’s hard, the tenants don’t want to do it.”

Gartner countered that proactive inspections are designed to lower barriers.

“There is still a complaint-based system countywide but what we found is it’s still a high bar for some students to access. This proactive approach actually supports students, makes sure that inspections are happening, taking some of the onus off tenants and bringing inspectors to the property.”

For Unander, the program risks stripping tenants of their rights.

“The whole community [is] being impacted by these intrusions, these invasions of privacy that a landlord doesn’t even have that right to, but now the tenant has no right. They are disempowered in this role in this new ordinance.”

For Gartner, safety is the county’s top priority.

“I would say that this is a safety issue at hand. The county’s number one priority in everything we do is public safety and this inspection program is part of Supervisor Capps’ effort to make Isla Vista safer for everyone.”

Unander emphasized that students already have legal protections against landlord retaliation and need education, not disempowerment.

“There are laws already in place to protect them from retaliation by landlords, there are resources for these tenants and it’s an easy population to educate about what their rights are. I don’t believe in disempowering them this way.”

But Gartner insisted the program gives tenants more leverage, not less.

“This proactive approach actually supports students to get connected to safety resources like this inspection program to address safety concerns in their home.”

What inspectors are finding

Inspections began in early August, and county officials say they follow a standardized checklist covering both the interior and exterior of rental properties.

According to Assistant Planning and Development Director Jeff Wilson, inspections to date have revealed only minor issues.

“We’ve only identified minor issues which we are classifying as corrective actions. They mainly include inadequate plumbing, garbage disposal not working, lack of smoke detectors, lack of carbon monoxides,” Wilson said.

The interior inspection checklist cites issues tied to state health and safety codes, including inadequate sanitation (such as lack of a working toilet, kitchen sink, or hot water), dampness or visible mold, faulty weather protection, or signs of infestation. Inspectors also check for structural hazards like defective flooring, sagging ceilings, or dilapidated walls, along with adequate ventilation, heating, and lighting.

The exterior checklist focuses on conditions around the property. Inspectors look for excess junk or overgrowth, secure trash disposal, and whether stairways, railings, and walkways are safe and free of hazards. They also examine roofs, walls, and siding for weatherproofing, ensure balconies and railings meet code, and confirm that exterior lighting, utility meters, and electrical panels are intact and functional

Where the lawsuit stands

The lawsuit seeks declaratory and injunctive relief, asking the court to block the program. A judge declined to halt inspections on an emergency basis, but Taylor said she plans to refile the motion for an injunction. The case is expected to be heard later this fall.

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22-Year-Old apprehended following work detail escape, BCSO thanks community for quick tips

KIFI on September 3, 2025

Seth Ratliff

UPDATE:

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — After escaping his work detail crew this morning, 22-year-old Braxton Scott Larsen has been apprehended by the Idaho Falls Police Department. The Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office thanked the community for their help, attributing the quick arrest to the “tips and information” sent in response to their post.

ORIGINAL:

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — The Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office is searching for 22-year-old Braxton Scott Larson, who escaped from a work detail crew this morning at approximately 9:30 a.m.

Larson is described as having brown hair, hazel eyes, and weighing between 120 and 130 lbs. Authorities are reportedly pursuing escape charges.

If you have any information regarding Braxton Scott Larson’s whereabouts, please contact dispatch immediately at (208) 529-1200. You can also submit an anonymous tip online at www.IFcrime.org.

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Columbia, LiUNA 955 reach pay deal after months of negotiations

KMIZ on September 2, 2025

Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) 

After months of wage negotiations, the city of Columbia has reached a deal with local union LiUNA 955 to implement new pay adjustments. However, the union says it still has concerns about the agreement. 

The deal includes a 3.5% raise for the roughly 300 city workers LiUNA represents. All eligible members will receive a 2% increase at the start of the 2026 fiscal year, followed by an additional 1.5% increase on Jan. 18, 2026.  The agreement was authorized by the city during Tuesday night’s city council meeting.

LiUNA 955 union representative, Andrew Hutchinson, says that members voted to ratify the deal by a “massive margin.” However, they still have several concerns that were not addressed. 

“I think there are still some significant concerns about a significant amount of our members making under $19 an hour, under a living wage,” Hutchinson said. “We’re hopeful that we can get that addressed later this year or next year. But for where we are right now, this is a step in the right direction.”

Negotiations began back in April. Hutchinson claims that the city entered the first of six bargaining sessions offering a 0% cost-of-living adjustment. In July, union members later criticized the city for responding with a 1% cost-of-living adjustment, citing low pay and the city’s heavy reliance on outsourcing. 

“We as Missourians in our Constitution have the right to collective bargaining, and when one side of the table says zero and you have six negotiation sessions, and they continue to say zero, it’s a lot of wasted time for both sides,” Hutchinson told ABC 17 News.  “It’s upsetting that we had to sit and waste taxpayers’ time, waste our union members’ dues and time on getting to  where we should have been from the beginning, a 3.5% percent raise.” 

The two sides also had discussions about trying to reduce the level of outsourcing. According to city records, Columbia spent a combined $8 million on outsourced fleet maintenance during the last two fiscal years.

Hutchinson also pointed to the city’s temporary labor contracts, over $1.25 million combined for 22nd Century Technologies Inc. and PeopleReady Inc. during 2023 and 2024,  as evidence of misplaced priorities.

“When the city says ‘we don’t have money for raises’, I think the big argument that we were making was when we don’t get work done, when our members don’t get work done because we don’t have enough staff to do it, that work doesn’t go away, it still has to get done,” Hutchinson said. “What ends up happening is that we have outsourced, and it’s a low estimate,  but we think  conservatively we’re spending about $5 million a year on outsourced work,  and that’s removing all the capital improvement projects, even the small ones that we think we could handle.” 

Columbia City Manager De’Carlon Seewood previously defended the city’s use of outsourcing, citing both cost efficiency and the challenge of maintaining services with current staffing levels. He also emphasized that outsourcing has not been used to cut city jobs. 

Under the new agreement, no additional steps were added, meaning that employees who have topped out on pay will not get full raises this year. Under a step-rate compensation structure, pay raises are associated with each position and increase incrementally over time. 

“It is a concern.  I mean, we’re not happy about it,  but that’s where we ended up,” Hutchinson said.  “The city  was trying to scrimp and save, and again, you know, when you start from 0%, we know that we didn’t get everything that we wanted,  but we went up until we knew that our raises would be delayed after the fiscal year.”

ABC 17 News reached out to the city of Columbia for comment.

Other Updates From City Council 

Columbia Council Passes Utility Fee Increases

The Columbia City Council approved a 2% utility rate increase, a move that will affect both energy and demand charges for customers. City officials estimate the adjustment will generate an additional $300,000 in revenue.

Parking Fees Under Review

The council also revisited the issue of downtown parking fees, which have seen little change since 2013. The only adjustment in the past decade came in 2015, when rates increased by just $0.10.

Currently, downtown drivers pay $0.60 per hour plus a $0.55 transaction fee. On the University of Missouri campus, the rate is $1.00 per hour with the same $0.55 fee. Some city staff expressed concern that the added charge may be pushing more students to park downtown instead of on campus.

To address the issue, the city is proposing to set both downtown and campus parking at $1.00 per hour with no additional fees. While campus rates would remain unchanged aside from dropping the $0.55 surcharge, downtown parking would see a clear increase.

Nickie Davis, executive director of The District Downtown, urged the council to postpone the decision, explaining that her board had not been informed of the proposal and wanted time to consult with other community leaders. The council unanimously agreed to table the vote until its Sept. 15 meeting.

The delay raises questions for city budget planners, as projected revenue from the parking changes is already factored into the proposed budget.

Looking ahead, officials are also weighing a shift away from traditional parking meters. Under consideration is a system of block-based kiosks for cash payments, paired with expanded reliance on the ParkMobile app, which requires less maintenance than individual meters.

Bus Fares Suspended For Sixth Straight Year 

GoCOMO bus riders will be token-free for another year after the Columbia City Council approved another year of suspended bus fares at Tuesday’s City Council meeting.

GoComo Transit has operated fare-free since 2020. 

Transportation operation costs that were adopted for fiscal year 2025 were over $7.8 million in the City of Columbia’s budget. Both the council memo and the city’s Public Works Public Information Specialist, John Ogan, report that the city is able to manage expenses through federal and state grants, sales tax funds, and other sources like the University of Missouri.

However, Columbia is planning on adding fares as soon as next year. 

The city wants to make new fare boxes so it can reinstate fares in 2027. City staff estimated that installing the fare boxes will cost $250,000.

New Ordinance for long-term parking at Columbia Regional Airport

The city council also passed an ordinance that would require travelers who plan to leave their vehicles at the Columbia Regional Airport for 30 days or more to complete a form before traveling.

The form would include the vehicle’s make and model, where it will be parked, and the expected time the traveler plans to be gone.

Airport officials say this will help them monitor long-term parking and ensure vehicles parked at the COU airport are associated with travelers and travelers only.

The parking lot at COU holds 1,100 parking spaces and is free for travelers.

United Airlines is joining COU with three additional flights, after a four-year hiatus. The airline will offer two flights to Chicago and one flight to Denver. The first flight will take off on Sept. 25.

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