City of Redmond launches 2026 biennial community survey; here’s the link

KTVZ on February 6, 2026

Barney Lerten

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The City of Redmond hasy launched its 2026 biennial Community Survey. The purpose is to learn what the community thinks about the city that works for them.

The comprehensive survey includes questions ranging from how safe people feel, downtown development, to satisfaction with various city services and other city centric topics. This 3-minute survey is available online at https://www.redmondoregon.gov/communitysurvey.

“Living in Redmond is a shared investment in our community. Together, we strive for continual improvement, and that begins by asking, ‘How are we doing?’ Your voice helps shape our future,” shared City Manager Keith Witcosky.

The Redmond Community Survey is conducted every two years, giving residents yet another outlet to voice their opinions and provides the City with input about policy decisions and service delivery.

Hard copies of the survey were mailed directly to residents via the City’s Redmond Connection newsletter and are available at City Hall or by request. Survey responses will be accepted until March 23.

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MU women stretch win streak to 3 with 87-82 road victory over Arkansas  

KMIZ on February 6, 2026

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Mizzou women’s basketball team on Thursday night earned its third victory in a row after it squeaked out an 87-82 road win against the SEC-winless Arkansas Razorbacks.

The Tigers (16-9, 4-6 Southeastern Conference) trailed Arkansas 22-19 after the opening period, but took a 41-38 advantage heading into halftime. The Razorbacks (11-13, 0-9) outscored Missouri 26-25 in the third quarter to cut the Tigers’ lead to 66-64 before the final frame.

Junior guard Shannon Dowell directed the Tigers with a game-high 25 points as Missouri went 51% (31-of-61) from the field. Junior guard Grace Slaughter produced 24 points and junior guard Abbey Schreacke tallied 17. Sophomore guard Chloe Sotell pulled down a team-high 10 rebounds as the Tigers took a 41-33 advantage on the boards.

Dowell also made four of the Tigers’ 12 baskets from beyond the arc. Missouri went 38% from 3 for the game.

Razorbacks senior guard Taleyah Jones had a team-high 24 points as Arkansas shot 40% (31-of-77) from the floor. Senior guard Wyvette Mayberry totaled 19 points and junior guard Emily Robinson put up 17. Freshman guard Bonnie Deas brought down a game-high 13 rebounds.

The Tigers host the Georgia Bulldogs (18-5, 4-5) at 3 p.m. Sunday. Georgia lost to the Tennessee Volunteers 82-77 on Thursday night and enter Sunday’s contest on a two-game skid.

Check back for updates.

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PSPD Chief: Police search for potential witness in Prescott Preserve fire

KESQ on February 6, 2026

Jesus Reyes

PALM SPRINGS, Calif, (KESQ) – Police are searching for potential witness to question on a fire at a Prescott Preserve in Palm Springs over the weekend, Chief Andy Mills wrote on social media.

The fire burned 3.5 acres and nearly 100 palm trees Sunday afternoon in the area of Ramon Road and Farrell Drive. It’s being investigated as a potential case of arson, according to the Oswit Land Trust, who operates the Prescott Preserve.

Mills said a woman was seen about 20 minutes prior to the fire, who may have seen something. She was identified as a White Female Adult, 5’8” with blonde hair who was walking a small dog.  

He said she is not a suspect, but detectives would like to interview her.

Anyone with information is asked to call PSPD at (760) 323-8116.

If you’d like to help Oswit’s rebuilding efforts, visit: http://www.oswitlandtrust.org/donate

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EXCLUSIVE: Palm Springs businessman issues statement on Epstein connection

KESQ on February 6, 2026

Garrett Hottle

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – A Palm Springs connection to the Epstein case. Palm Springs businessman Peter Mahler and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein messaging each other — revealed in newly unsealed federal records.

Justice Department files News Channel 3 has been going through show Mahler, operated a staffing company with a Palm Springs office, helped recruit potential employees for Jeffrey Epstein in 2013, five years after Epstein pleaded guilty to child prostitution charges.

Mahler has not been accused of wrongdoing, and there is no indication that any candidates recruited were victims of Epstein.

Mahler shared a statement exclusively to News Channel 3:

“While our firm doesn’t comment about the thousands of staffing searches and interviews we have conducted over the past three decades, I am making an exception under these circumstances. The revelations about Jeffrey Epstein are abhorrent. We were conducting searches for professional administrative staff and property management positions for Jeffrey Epstein. These ultimately failed because he did not like the qualified candidates we identified for him to interview. Knowing what we know now, we would never have worked with him under any circumstances.”

Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing coverage.

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Morning Film Fans are the First in the New McHurley Film Center

KEYT on February 6, 2026

John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – After a ribbon cutting and open house on Monday, the new McHurley Film Center in Santa Barbara is fully open and already very busy.

The center was finished just in time for the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, which has about 25 movies a day at the state street location in the heart of downtown.

Film fans were in all of the five theatres starting as early as 8:00am, followed by a rotating lineup of films throughout the day.

As the first ones came out we got their initial reviews.

Mary Anne Contreras was with her friends that are the “Breakfast Club” of early film fans.

“So impressed. It smells good. It looks good. It feels good. I’m happy. Amazing. It was better than what’s happening at the Riviera (theatre), and I thought it was noticeably incredible.”

With her Marla Phillips said, “the sound quality is fantastic. It’s really good and that’s a 4k. I think that’s a 4k screen. It’s great about the seats, really comfortable.”

It checked every box for Rendy Freedman. “Because of the sound, the seats and the screen. It was amazing and the popcorn!”

Outside of the Film Center is a large board showing the daily lineup of movies and special tributes. There are also special line up locations for each of the five theatres and for pass holders to keep everything orderly as people come and go.

After the festival the film center will have a variety of films showing year-round including documentaries, international movies, and family friendly films.

The Latest Breaking News, Weather Alerts, Sports and More Anytime On Our Mobile Apps. Keep Up With the Latest Articles by Signing Up for the News Channel 3-12 Newsletter.

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Hawthorn Bank asks judge to dismiss lawsuit over farmland auction

KMIZ on February 6, 2026

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Hawthorn Bank has asked a Cole County judge to toss out a lawsuit filed by a group last week that sought to block the land auction of a piece of land.

Gary Scheperle, Mark Knapp, Tony Porter, Steve Brandt, Gary Bemboom, Tony Brenneke and Charles Steck sued the bank on Friday, claiming that 178 acres in Elston was intended to be used as a public park by its former owner Lawrence Renn Jr.

The group claims the administrator of Renn’s trust, Hawthorn Bank, was not being honest with the county on how much money the trust had when the commission discussed the issue in 2024. The lawsuit asks the judge to remove Hawthorn Bank as a trustee and to block an auction scheduled for Saturday.

In a motion filed on Thursday, Hawthorn Bank claimed that the group had no standing and that the two people who were named in the trust — Mark Knapp and Gary Scheperle – had received their money and are no longer considered beneficiaries.

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Arizona leaders push bills to help with the affordability crisis

KYMA on February 6, 2026

Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Lawmakers and advocates gathered Thursday morning to share legislation they say would lower the cost of living for Arizonans.

Democratic Arizona lawmakers gave speeches at the Arizona legislature about the affordability agenda. It touches on lowering groceries, utility bills, and healthcare costs. Bill sponsors spoke on different proposed legislation they support on the agenda.

“That’s why I’m introducing the Fair Claims Accountability Act HB 2581. It saves Arizonans time and money, making it harder for insurance to wrongfully deny legitimate claims,” said Arizona District 2 Representative (D) Stephanie Simacek.

Meanwhile, Arizona State Senator Priya Sundareshan spoke on utility prices with Senate Bill 1380‘s “Protect Consumers from Higher Energy Cost Act.”

“Because greedy tech corporations should pay for their own data center accrued electricity instead of forcing regular Arizonan residential ratepayers to foot their bill. It only makes sense for me to pay for the electricity that I’m using in my own home, so why don’t data centers do the same?” said State Sen. Sundareshan.

The leaders are calling Republicans in the legislature to give the bills a hearing.

“I urge every Arizonan to contact your legislator, contact your senators, and tell them, ‘Put these bills on the agenda. Hear them. Give us what we voted for. Give us affordability,'” said Arizona District 23 Representative (D) Mariana Sandoval.

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‘Bring it back to life’: real estate agent and former staff hopeful about future buyer of Shilo Inn

KTVZ on February 6, 2026

Matthew Draxton

(Update: adding comment, video)BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Potential buyers are now touring the Shilo Inn after the over-30-year hotel hit the market for sale Friday. This all comes two weeks after the Shilo Inn abruptly shut its doors due to bankruptcy.

KTVZ News had an exclusive look inside the unique 7.5 acre property. The iconic Bend staple since 1992, is officially on the market for 14 million dollars. Before it was the Shilo Inn though, it was the “Touch of Class Motors Inn” during the 1980’s.

“It was originally a residential, seven and a half acre parcel with a manufactured home on it,” said Kristan Kellogg, the lead real estate agent with Varsity Real Estate that’s selling the property. She continued, “a gentleman came in, purchased the land and made it the hotel that it is today”

When Kellogg first arrived on site, she expected to have to clean and strip a few rooms. But behind every closed door was a surprise.

“It definitely looked neglected,” Kellogg reflected. “You could see wallpaper that’s been peeling, stains on the carpets, food that had been left over for a while. Majority of the rooms were like that.”

With thirteen different layouts, not every room is created equal.

“It’s very evident that there’s been a lot of, like, deferred maintenance over the last five years,” Kellogg claimed. “I would say, that the new investor, whoever comes in is going to need to kind of revive that and hopefully they do.”

There is a total of eight buildings on this property; six of which are designated for specific hotel use. The other hotel buildings include a private residence, and the Real Taste of India restaurant — who could hav either lease terminated by a new landlord.

“It’s going to be up to the owner really,” added Crystal Knowles, the former assistant general manager at Shilo Inn. She added, “me and my GM didn’t even know we didn’t have jobs because they were still asking us to do things and we were doing things.” 

Knowles says despite technically being terminated, they’re still working to help Kellogg make the property appealing to potential buyers and hoping, “that we get you know a buyer that sees the real potential of this place, not just somebody who wants to tear it down,” so that the former staff have the opportunity to return.

In regards to the staff rapport , Knowles said, “we’re like a little family. We may not go home to the same houses but we’re all one group and it doesn’t just end here.”

Kellogg added to the sentiment saying, “there’s a lot of employees that have worked here for a really long time. And so to be able to see them to come back to a place that’s now alive again and what it should have been originally and, you know, carry on that legacy would be awesome.”

Interest is high among local hotel owners and developers with “several investors that are already planning on making offers,” Kellogg said.

However the future of the longstanding blue-roofed hotel could go any direction.

Kellogg thinks “there’s one investor in particular that will probably tear it down, but then everyone else, I think will just try to bring it back to life, which is what I’m hopeful for.”

Monday marks the beginning of cite tours for potential buyers of the Shilo Inn. Official offers are required to be submitted to the bankruptcy court by February 16th.

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — It’s rare to find riverfront property in Central Oregon, and it’s especially hard to find it up for sale, but that’s exactly what’s happening with Bend’s Shilo Inn. The 7.5-acre riverfront property is being listed this week by Varsity Real Estate.

According to Oregon real estate broker Kristan Kellog, Varsity Real Estate is listing the Shilo Inn for $14 million.

This comes after Shilo Inn abruptly shut its doors “temporarily,” according to a sign on the front door. Shortly after, KTVZ News found that its owners had filed for bankruptcy, along with two other Shilo Inns locations in Oregon. One in Warrenton and another in Newport.

Matthew Draxton got a tour on Monday of the hotel that began as the Touch of Class Motor In in the 1980s. He’ll have an exclusive look inside the now-closed hotel on KTVZ News at 6:00 p.m.

Once the property hits the market, Varsity Real Estate “will show the property over the next week and a half to potential investors. And then the bankruptcy court will call for all offers, as of February 16th,” Kellog said.

“At that point, they will review all of them and choose the highest and best offer, which will then be submitted to the Bankruptcy Court,” she said.

Kellog added that bankruptcy attorneys hope to fast-track the process and sell in 60 days. With an aggressive timeline, potential buyers will now only have about 30 days to assess the property and make their offer.

From addressing leaky roofs and asbestos ceilings to sewage replacement and a general facelift, Kellog adds the facilities are in need of major upgrades.

Despite this, she said the Shilo Inn “has really good bones, like really good bones.

“So to see someone come in and just bring this place back to life and make it a part of the Bend community again would be amazing,” Kellog insisted.

This is a developing story, and KTVZ News will provide updates as soon as possible.

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Three local organizations among Oregon 250 grant recipients to mark America’s special birthday

KTVZ on February 6, 2026

Barney Lerten

Portland, OR — The America 250 Oregon Commission, in partnership with Oregon Heritage and the Oregon Historical Society, has announced the recipients of its second round of grant funding, awarding nearly $75,000 to 25 organizations across the state for projects and programs that commemorate America’s 250th anniversary.

Among the latest recipients are three based in Central Oregon: ClearPath Healthcare of Redmond, Bend’s High Desert Museum and the Warm Springs Community Action Team. Details of their plans for the funding are in the list below.

These grants are in addition to an initial $50,000 in total funding awarded to 13 organizations last October.

“With recipients in communities across all corners of Oregon, these grants represent Oregon’s commitment to commemorating America’s 250th birthday in ways that reflect the unique character of our state,” said America 250 Oregon Commission Chair Kerry Tymchuk.

“From highlighting Indigenous histories to honoring the sacrifice of Oregon’s veterans to instilling a love of history in our youth, these initiatives provide an opportunity for Oregonians to engage in our shared story. We are grateful to the Oregon State Legislature for providing the funds that made these grants possible.”

The Oregon 250 Grant Program was established to help organizations create inclusive, community-focused projects that highlight Oregon’s diverse histories, traditions, and cultures. These grant awards of up to $3,000 will support programs that align with the mission of America 250 Oregon and one or more of its seven guideposts.

A third funding cycle will open at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, March 4, and grants will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis to eligible projects. More information about the Oregon 250 Grant Program can be found at oregon250.org.

The following organizations were awarded grants in the Oregon 250 Grant Program’s second funding cycle:

CETI, Multnomah County 

Grant funds will support the creation of a bilingual, augmented-reality storybook and community events that preserve, interpret, and honor the erased history of Portland’s Chinese immigrant community buried at Lone Fir Cemetery’s Block 14.

City of Monmouth, Polk County 

Grant funds will support the purchase and installation of a permanent display case that will be placed in Monmouth’s City Hall and used for exhibitions acknowledging the Indigenous peoples of this region that encourage visitors to consider diverse perspectives while reflecting on the past.

Civics Learning Project, Statewide

Grant funds will provide support for We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution, a comprehensive curriculum for elementary, middle, and high school students covering the history and principles of constitutional democracy in the United States that culminates with simulated congressional hearings where students testify before a panel of judges acting as members of Congress.

Crossroads Creative and Performing Arts Center, Baker County 

Grant funds will support the production of a film showing diverse Baker County residents sharing the Declaration of Independence in locations across the county, meant to serve as a reminder of the power of the charge to create a more perfect union.

ClearPath Healthcare/Hospice of Redmond, Deschutes County 

Grant funds will support programs for local veterans, including the creation of a Wall of Memory, monthly Taps memorial gatherings, pinning ceremonies, and programs bringing veterans in connection with one another.

Dayton Community Development Program, Yamhill County 

Grant funds will support the digitization of historical Dayton newspapers that are currently held on microfilm. The project will build on a previous digitization project, adding papers from 1929 to 1947 to the University of Oregon Digital Newspaper Program.

Douglas County Historical Society, Douglas County 

Grant funds will support “Your Heritage: Douglas County Oregon Through the Ages,” a student essay and art contest increasing youth awareness of county history.

Gresham Historical Society, Multnomah County

Grant funds will support production and marketing of Gresham History Week (June 13–21), a festival commemorating the semiquincentennial as well as GHS’s 50th anniversary.

Hellenic-American Cultural Center and Museum, Statewide

Grant funds will support HACCM staff and volunteers traveling to four locations around Oregon to document, collect, and archive stories of the Greek American experience through oral history interviews, meetings, and community gatherings. These stories will serve as source material for future special exhibitions and other public programs.

High Desert Museum, Deschutes County 

Grant funds will support a community conversation series and a public lecture series that will examine the legacies of America 250 through the lens of the American West, bringing together scholars, Indigenous knowledge holders, artists, and the broader public to explore themes such as patriotism, citizenship, voting rights, the American Dream, and the layered cultural narratives that define the High Desert.

Historic Jacksonville, Inc., Jackson County 

Grant funds will support the “Museum without Walls” project to convert Jacksonville’s 1881 Old City Hall into the ADA accessible physical base of a citywide museum that shares the history of Jacksonville’s Historic Landmark District through onsite exhibits and introduces guests to the many ways they can explore the town including physical and virtual tours.

Jackson County Expo Center, Jackson County 

Grant funds will support the creation of a new exhibition featuring a series of exhibits created by local organizations that will together share the history of the Rogue Valley.

Klamath Falls School District, Klamath County 

Grant funds will support exhibitions and programs relating to 250 Years of Exploration: From Pioneers to Space, a community-wide celebration that connects America’s 250th anniversary to the enduring spirit of exploration that has shaped both the nation and the Klamath Basin.

Lane County, Lane County 

Grant funds will support the preservation and digitization of historically significant original ledgers, ordinances, and record books of Lane County.

League of Women Voters of Lane County, Lane County 

Grant funds will support Democracy at the Grange, a free public civic education event in Cottage Grove offering clear, accessible explanations of how Oregon’s civic systems work, including ballot measures, Oregon’s open primary, resolutions, and how residents can access trusted election information through Vote411.

Milwaukie Historical Society, Clackamas County 

Grant funds will support an online exhibit and public event sharing the history of the Milwaukie Pastry Kitchen, the first Black-owned bakery in the state of Oregon.  

Oregon ArtsWatch, Multnomah County 

Grant funds will support the publication of 20 stories highlighting America 250 Oregon projects, increasing knowledge about events and encouraging engagement.

Oswego Heritage Council, Clackamas County 

Grant funds will support the publication of Oswego: People, Places, and Events, a historical publication sharing stories from the past 150 years in the Lake Oswego area through photographs, quotations, newspapers, and a timeline.

Restore Oregon, StatewideGrant funds will support Restore Oregon’s efforts to gather and share a collection of Oregon’s preservation history, highlighting losses (intentional and natural) and celebrating what has been saved through future exhibits and storytelling.

Southern Oregon Historical Society, Jackson County 

Grant funds will support two projects; first, a crowd-sourced photo collection project centered on peoples’ personal sense of America, with a goal of collecting 250 captioned photo submissions from Southern Oregonians; second, SOHS will consult with Grand Ronde basket maker Stephanie Craig on its Native American basketry collection, working on basket identifications, information, and best practices for museum storage.

Tangent Together, Linn County 

Grant funds will support the Tangent Harvest Festival and the creation of Oregon Harvest Games within its Kids’ Village, offering children interactive, age-appropriate activities that demonstrate how agricultural tasks were performed historically and how they are carried out today.

Twin Oaks Elementary School, Lane County

Grant funds will provide immersive, place-based learning experiences for students in grades K–5 as well as purchase a collection of books to extend learning beyond these excursions.

Warm Springs Community Action Team, Jefferson County 

Grant funds will support the production of A Bridge to the Future, the first-ever film to tell the story of the Warm Springs Reservation and its people into the present. Written, filmed, and edited by and with tribal members, the film uses the metaphor of the Commissary to explore how Warm Springers use the tools of the colonizer to dismantle oppression and build something new and powerful, shaped by tribal hands and invested in a tribal future.

Warren Community Foundation, Columbia County 

Grant funds will support facility improvements to the Grange Farm Museum in St. Helens that will significantly enhance the museum’s usability and overall visitor experience.

Willamette Heritage Center, Marion County 

Grant funds will support the creation of an immersive exhibit examining what the events of 1776 meant and mean to people living in Mid-Willamette Valley. 

About the America 250 Oregon Commission

The America 250 Oregon Commission was created through Senate Bill 1531, which was signed into law by Governor Tina Kotek on March 27, 2024. Chaired by the Oregon Historical Society’s executive director, Kerry Tymchuk, the mission of the America 250 Oregon Commission is to coordinate, provide guidance, and ensure that Oregon’s official observance of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States is inclusive and shares the histories of Oregon’s diverse populations, including the histories of the Indigenous peoples who have resided here since time immemorial. Learn more at oregon250.org.

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Residents raise traffic concerns as Columbia considers 240-unit apartment project

KMIZ on February 6, 2026

Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A proposed 240-unit apartment complex, called “The Vantage,” could bring new housing options to Columbia, but some nearby residents worry about added traffic along Rolling Hills and Richland roads.

On Thursday, the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously to send the proposal to the city council.

The development, planned on 50.8 acres south of the Richland Road and Rolling Hills Road intersection, would include four apartment buildings with one- to three-bedroom units, a clubhouse, pool, pickleball court and two dog parks. Two buildings would sit west of Rolling Hills Road, two to the east, with access from both Rolling Hills and Richland roads.

The site, made up of Tracts 2, 4 and part of Tract 5, was originally designated for a mix of commercial and residential development. All apartments would be built on Tract 2, converting land previously set aside for 80,000 square feet of commercial use. City staff say the area is better suited for housing, citing a 2024 Boone County and City of Columbia Housing Study that identified a shortfall of roughly 900 multi-family rental units each year.

To help mitigate impacts, the developer, Tori-Ben Farms LLC, would provide a 16-foot-wide trail easement along the North Fork of Grindstone Creek, convey 1.5 acres for a future park or trailhead, dedicate additional public right-of-way and contribute funds for a future roundabout at Richland Road, Rolling Hills Road and Grace Lane.

A traffic study found the project would not create conflicts with planned road improvements. However, future projects already planned under the city’s Capital Improvement District aim to ease congestion in the area. Those projects include widening Rolling Hills Road to four lanes and upgrading the Richland-St. Charles-Grace intersection, both projected for 2031. Improvements would add turn lanes, bike lanes, curbs, gutters, sidewalks, stormwater upgrades and asphalt overlays.

City spokesman John Ogan said the project is not expected to affect the timing of the CID projects.

Patrick Zenner, Columbia’s Community Development manager, added the Vantage development itself does not trigger the need for the road expansions.

“The development of the Vantage is a component that will go into the ultimate increases in volume of traffic along Rolling Hills, but it is not triggering the need to do that,” he added, noting other future developments along the corridor, many not yet under construction, will influence when full improvements are needed.

“The areas further impacted by the unknown future construction are only in the Stadium extension. And so that’s why I don’t foresee lane widening on Rolling Hills,” Zenner said.

Zenner said sidewalks along Rolling Hills Road and portions of Richland Road would be built as part of the Vantage project, allowing residents to benefit from infrastructure immediately rather than waiting for the larger projects.

“The short-term benefits gained if the other projects were delayed are significant enough that we want to make sure those improvements, as infrastructure improvements, are put in, can have the opportunity to be used by the residents, at least in the Vantage,” Zenner said.

Nearby residents, however, voiced concern about how the project could affect traffic at already congested intersections. Similar concerns were raised by nearby residents over Ashford Place, a proposed triplex development that the City Council rejected in January.

Gail Houseworth, of the Brooks Subdivision, said the study did not account for the full scope of impacts.

“When you’re adding 240 more dwelling units to two sides of an intersection, you can expect that that’s going to get a lot worse. The scope of their study, it doesn’t go into the streets that evolve out from that, where I personally know that there is a good deal of backed-up traffic during peak hours,” Houseworth said.

Dale Halley, also from Brooks Subdivision, said traffic is his main concern.

“We’re fine with the development. The new housing is needed, for sure. But the problem the city has is they’re not building the streets prior to building the houses. And I know that there’s council members that appreciate that and they expressed their appreciation. So we just really want to see the infrastructure put in first. And then you can build the houses so that people can get to and from them,” Halley said.

A retired engineer, Halley added his perspective on planning infrastructure ahead of development.

“The first thing you build is infrastructure. And so roads is one of the first things you build because you can’t build anything else without a way of getting there. If they build the roads first, the houses will be built rapidly. Right now, the way the city does it and I understand the constraints, is they depend on the developers to build the roads, give them to the city. But it creates a lot of problems along the way,” he said.

Zenner acknowledged the challenges but explained the city’s approach.  

“I think when you start to add all of that existing and planned background traffic, that’s what triggers the need for the roundabout of Rolling Hills and Richland because the intersection that presently exists there fails and basically becomes gridlock. So the roundabout is meant to address the issue of the gridlock. The expansion of the carrying capacity of Rolling Hills is going to take probably a number of years, beyond the installation of roundabout, to reach a point that warrants putting in the rest of the lanes that were originally accommodated for,” Zenner said.

The development plan and Statement of Intent would require final plat approval before any construction begins, ensuring infrastructure and access meet city standards. Staff supported the rezoning, noting the project aligns with Columbia’s goals for livable, sustainable communities with diverse housing options.

Check back for updates.

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