City of Columbia seeks public input for strategic plan updates

KMIZ on April 15, 2026

Olivia Hayes

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The City of Columbia announced Wednesday that its looking for community feedback to update its 2021 Strategic Plan.

The city said it wants the plan to reflect the community’s future priorities. Its gathering the feedback through a number of ways including a survey, ideas wall and discussion forum. Three public forums will also be held, but the dates have not yet been announced.

The city has hired BerryDunn, a national consulting firm, to assist in the update process. Along with guiding city priorities the strategic plan also helps with decision-making and long-term planning as Columbia continues to grow.

The City began developing the 2021 Strategic Plan in summer 2018, before the 2016-19 Strategic Plan concluded. The plan was finalized and adopted by City Council in February 2021 and was later updated in 2023 and 2024.

Former Attorney General Andrew Bailey launched the investigation into the city’s practices in July 2025.  A press release from Bailey’s office stated at the time that the investigation would focus on “decision-making in city programs, hiring and funding,” according to previous reporting. In Feb. 2026 the Columbia city officials said it had not had communication with the attorney general’s office regarding the investigation.

The city hired D’Andre Thompson as its first diversity, equity and inclusion officer in 2023. The city had said at the time that Thompson would lead “the development and implementation of DEI initiatives that help support the City’s Strategic Plan.”

The city also voted in June 2025 against striking DEI-related language from the city’s mission and vision statements. The vote meant that the city would keep its vision statement as, “Columbia is the best place for everyone to live, work, learn and play,” and its mission statement to say, “To serve the public equitably through democratic, transparent and efficient government.”

The city also voted to keep its definition of “equity” the same, reading “we will ensure all residents have fair access to services, opportunities, and resources regardless of their background, neighborhood, income, or identity.” 

The City Manager’s Office and the Attorney General’s Office was not immediately available for comment.

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Goleta Mayor and Council Deliver State of the City

KEYT on April 15, 2026

Tracy Lehr

GOLETA, Calif. (KEYT) The Dos Pueblos Jazz Band set the tone for the Goleta State of the City that included a expo showcasing city departments and services at the Goleta Community Center.

This year, Mayor Paula Perotte, who also happened to be celebrating her 45th wedding anniversary, shared the spotlight with the entire city council

Perotte said her husband has encouraged her work with the city.

She credits the council and residents for make Goleta shine.

“We’re strong, and why are we strong, I say that every year but this year I really have a lot to say about working as a council, working with a fabulous staff, but most of all working with our residents, they are engaged, they are informed and they are paying attention and that is what makes Goleta great, ” said Perotte.

The city showed a video of La Patera Elementary School students sharing their concerns that included homelessness, vaping, ICE and kindness.

They also shared the things they love about the city such as the beach.

Councilmembers followed them covering everything from new roundabouts and parking to safety, childcare, homelessness and housing.

City Manager Robert Nisbet showed a number of graphs that showed the growing tech investment in Goleta.

He said the Google Quantim AI Campus is expanding and venture capitol investment spending reached $119 million in 2025.

Nisbet wants to make sure it is good for residents.

The city of Goleta is called the Goodland for its good agricultural land and good people.

After a question and answer period city staff posed for a group photo.

One their way out, community members said they felt proud to call Goleta home.

Community Relations Manager Kelly Hoover called it the biggest day of the year and said the State of City would be posted online for everyone to see.

For more information visit https://www.cityofgoleta.org

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Republican candidates for Sixth Senate District raise more than $1 million for August election

KMIZ on April 15, 2026

Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Republican candidates seeking their party’s nomination for Missouri’s Sixth Senate District have raised more than $1 million combined for their campaigns, according to reports filed with the Missouri Ethics Commission.

State Rep. Rudy Veit, who represents rural Cole County, has taken in the most money so far, raising more than $324,000 for the election effort. He still had more than $294,000 on hand.

Veit took in donations from two political action committees during the reporting period — $600 from the Missouri Optometric Association and $1,000 from the Energy Freedom PAC.

Veit April finance reportDownload

The April quarterly reports cover the first quarter of the year and were due Wednesday.

Jake Vogel, an executive with the Jefferson City Coca-Cola Bottling Company, has raised the second-highest total, bringing in $257,000 for the election. His campaign had about $93,000 on hand at the end of March.

Pulse PAC and Scope PAC each donated $1,000 to Vogel’s campaign during the quarter.

Vogel April quarterly reportDownload

Derrick Spicer, who was on the Jefferson City Council from 2021-2025, is third in fundraising, nearly $100,000 behind Veit. Spicer had about $192,000 on hand at the end of March and has brought in more than $237,000 during his campaign.

Spicer accepted multiple corporate donations during the first quarter, including money from Reset Health and Fitness in California, Missouri, EDM Capital in Kansas City, Epic Real Estate Management in Kansas City and All Clear Pumping and Sewer in Centertown.

Spicer April quarterly reportDownload

Dr. Lisa Thomas, a former House member from Lake Ozark, has only reported a $250,000 donation to herself made in February. She had not filed an April quarterly report by the close of business on Wednesday.

Amber Buckles of Macks Creek has raised $525 in her campaign. Camden County Presiding Commissioner Todd “Ike” Skelton has not registered a campaign committee with the Missouri Ethics Commission.

Only one Democrat is running for that party’s nomination — J. Don Salcedo of Jefferson City.

The Sixth District seat will be open because current Sen. Mike Bernskoetter is term-limited. Bernskoetter is running for Cole County presiding commissioner. The Sixth District covers Cole and Moniteau counties and stretches to the Lake of the Ozarks area.

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Columbia man sentenced to 30 years in prison for federal child porn charges

KMIZ on April 15, 2026

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIIZ)

A Columbia man was sentenced on Wednesday to 30 years in prison without parole for federal child pornography charges, according to a press release from the Department of Justice.

Ryan Hine, 29, was sentenced for enticing a minor to produce child porn and advertising child porn to other people. He will also have 20 years of a supervised release after he is released.

According to the release, Hine began sending text messages to a 15-year-old girl in Mississippi in July 2018 and routinely traveled to meet with the child “to engage in sexual acts” and record the child. He allegedly advertised the videos to multiple buyers on “chat communication services” while posing as the child in 2020, the release states.   

Hine has been in federal custody since his arrest on Feb. 7, 2023, previous reporting says.

In 2021, Hine allegedly sent the video to another victim to get them to send him videos, previous reporting shows. He allegedly paid for a video from two victims and tried to sell it. There were six child victims in total, previous reporting shows.

Wednesday’s release says Hine also posed as a girl to recruit more victims.

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Traffic Alert: Wilson Avenue in Bend will close at railroad crossing for months of BNSF work; detour routes set

KTVZ on April 15, 2026

Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The final phase of the Wilson Avenue Corridor Project is scheduled to begin construction on Monday, April 27 – and that will mean months of closure of a stretch of highway for railroad track and signal replacement, city officials said Wednesday.

This phase focuses on railroad improvements at the Wilson Avenue crossing and will require a full closure of Wilson Avenue between Ninth Street and Centennial Street, the city said.

The closure will impact all users, including drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians, beginning April 27, for work that is estimated to be completed in July.

The city says it’s “working closely with Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railway to complete this work as efficiently and safely as possible.”

Previous phases of the project included the installation of two new roundabouts, improvements to the Third Street intersection and traffic signal, new roadway pavement and the addition of new sidewalks, crosswalks and bicycle facilities.

FINAL PHASE – Railroad Work

In this final phase, BNSF Railway will replace track and signal equipment at the crossing. During this time, railroad warning signals and crossing arms will not be reliably functional. The city’s contractor will also replace the adjacent sidewalk and roadway pavement. For safety reasons, the public should not enter the work zone or attempt to cross the railroad tracks while the road and sidewalk are closed.

DETOUR MAP

The closure will impact all users, including drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians.

The public is encouraged to plan ahead, follow posted detours, and allow extra travel time when in the area. Access to businesses will remain open throughout construction.  

View the detour map and sign up for construction updates at bendoregon.gov/wilson.

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Redmond’s BrightSide Animal Center soon will be open on Sundays; kickoff celebration planned

KTVZ on April 15, 2026

Barney Lerten

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — BrightSide Animal Center announced Wednesday the expansion of its hours to include Sundays, beginning Sunday, June 7th, with hours of operation being 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM.

“This change is part of the organization’s ongoing commitment to better serve the community and increase access to essential animal services such as owner reclaims, animal intakes, and adoptions,” the shelter said. 

“We understand how busy life can be, and that a significant amount of people in our community tend to have Saturdays and Sundays off, so we want to be able to provide them with weekend access, as we know that’s important,” said Shelter Director Hannah Loftis.

“Opening Sundays means we can make sure animals don’t have to wait whether it be another day to potentially adopt, reclaim, or bring in a lost pet; it’s just one more barrier removed for us to help pets find their home!” she added.

From here on, BrightSide will be open 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. six days a week, still closed on Mondays.

To celebrate the launch of Sunday hours, BrightSide Animal Center will host a Kickoff Celebration on Sunday, June 7th, inviting the community to stop by, meet adoptable animals, enjoy pet-related vendors and learn more about the programs and services available at the shelter.  

BrightSide Animal Center said it “extends its gratitude to the community for its ongoing support and looks forward to serving more families and more animals.” 

For more information about Sunday hours, adoption services, or the kickoff event, visit brightsideanimals.org or contact BrightSide Animal Center at 541-923-0882. 

BrightSide Animal Center Mission: BrightSide is a high-save shelter dedicated to providing sheltering, placement and prevention services to reduce animal homelessness and unnecessary euthanasia. 

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Snowboarding pioneer and former Soldier Mountain GM Paul Alden passes away at 89

KIFI on April 15, 2026

Seth Ratliff

OREM, Utah (KIFI) — The snowboarding world is mourning the loss of Paul Alden, one of the behind-the-scenes architects of competitive snowboarding and former General Manager of Idaho’s Soldier Mountain Ski Area.

Alden passed away peacefully on April 9, 2026, in Orem, Utah, surrounded by his family. He was 89.

Soldier Mountain leadership said in a news release: “Snowboarding has lost several of its earliest pioneers in recent years — among them Jake Burton in 2019 and Tom Sims in 2012. Paul Alden’s death adds another name to that list — one of the people who were present at the creation, who made the calls, attended the meetings, and did the structural work that turned a fringe hobby into an Olympic sport.”

A Catalyst for the Industry

Alden’s journey into snowboarding began through his son, David Alden, a Burton Snowboards team rider in the 1980s. Paul worked closely with Jake Burton from 1984 to 1990, serving as a vital “catalyst for all things in the snowboard industry.”

Snowboard industry pioneer Paul Alden died on April 9, 2026, at age 89. He is pictured here (back row, far left) with Jake Burton Carpenter (back row on the right sitting in the helicopter), considered the father of snowboarding, and a crew from Burton Snowboards during Alden’s stint there from 1984-1990. (Photo courtesy of the Alden family)

One of his earliest and most impactful contributions was his work with Jake Burton to convince insurance companies to cover snowboarding. This moved the sport from 40 resorts in 1984 to 476 resorts in 1990, providing the legal and financial footing for the industry to explode.

OREM, Utah (April 15, 2026) — Snowboard industry pioneer Paul Alden died on April 9, 2026, at age 89. He is pictured here attending the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan — the first to include snowboarding and a milestone he nurtured behind the scenes. (Photo courtesy of the Alden family)

In 1986, Alden was part of the effort to convince Breckenridge Ski Resort to host the World Snowboarding Championships and accept the halfpipe as a legitimate competition format.

In 1987, Alden headed up the North American Snowboard Association the day after the second Breckenridge World Championships. The organization eventually partnered with European counterparts to create the first unified international World Cup circuit.

Finally, in 1992, Alden worked behind the scenes on merger negotiations between snowboarding associations and the U.S. Ski Association in an attempt to bring snowboarding under the established Olympic sports umbrella.

“Back then, I thought he was wasting his time,” his son David recalls. “Little did I know.”

Though those negotiations ultimately failed, his efforts laid the groundwork in the long process that led to snowboarding’s Olympic debut in 1998 in Nagano, Japan. Snowboarding has been included in every Games since.

A Legacy at Soldier Mountain

In his later years, Alden brought his expertise to Fairfield, Idaho, serving as the General Manager of Soldier Mountain.

“He took great pride in working with a close-knit collaboration of owners, management, and staff that included his son David and grandson Dan Larkin, along with a group of longtime friends and colleagues,” states the release.

Paul Alden is survived by his wife of 66 years, Sharon; five children; 25 grandchildren; and 37 great-grandchildren.

A viewing will be held on Friday, April 17, from 6-8 p.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints meetinghouse at 135 East 2000 South in Orem, Utah. Funeral services will follow Saturday, April 18, with a viewing before the 11 a.m. services from 10-10:45 a.m. Afterwards, Alden will be laid to rest in the Alpine City Cemetery.

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Boone County children’s program tasked with cutting $1.6 million by fall 2027

KMIZ on April 15, 2026

Alison Patton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Family Access Center of Excellence has been tasked with cutting its budget by $1.6 million ahead of the 2027-28 school year.

The FACE program works with students in schools across the county to help students who need additional social, emotional or behavioral support, according to its website. The program is funded through the Boone County Children’s Services tax fund, which is collected through sales tax.

The Boone County Children’s Services Board maintains the funds and advised FACE leadership to scale back operations in March while the two organizations renegotiate contracts.

Currently, FACE receives $3.6 million, but the board wants to cut that down to $2 million before the fall 2027 semester.

The board has specified in communications between them and FACE, along with Boone County schools, that the funding cut is “not a reflection of the quality of the FACE’s work or leadership.”

Boone County Community Services Director Joanne Nelson said there shouldn’t be any disruptions to programs this year, but moving forward, the board wants to keep a few FACE programs, including supporting Boone County schools, providing access to affordable therapy for low-income families and keeping juvenile justice prevention and diversion efforts.

Nelson sent ABC 17 News a “talking points” sheet that explains the situation and next steps for FACE.

FACE Programming and Funding Adjustments Talking PointsDownload

Nelson said FACE is working on a “reimagined” program, one that can focus on what the children’s services board has listed as priorities.

Other children’s services programs could also be at risk for funding cuts.

“What we’re going to start seeing is reductions across all contracted programs,” Nelson said. “Maybe not for next year, but maybe for ’28.”

Children’s services held millions of dollars in its fund balance, Nelson said. Once the board started awarding those funds, the fund wasn’t being fully replenished by the sales tax revenue, and the board told its members to look for additional funding.

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3 arrested in Sedalia in connection with Chicago-area child abduction case

KMIZ on April 15, 2026

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Three people were charged in Pettis County on Tuesday in connection with a Chicagoland-area child abduction case.

Devetta Davis, Raven Johnson and Karon Nabors, all of Sedalia, were arrested and charged with being fugitives from out of state. All three are being held without bond. Arraignments for all three people were held on Wednesday morning.

The probable cause statement says the Missouri State Highway Patrol was informed about a “missing endangered juvenile from Will County, Illinois, who was residing with three wanted fugitives.” Will County is located to the southwest of Chicago.

Court documents say all three people were wanted for various Will County warrants. Davis was wanted on an April 10 warrant for child abduction, while Johnson had a 2023 warrant for larceny and Nabors had a warrant issued on March 27 for aggravated fleeing.

The statement says Missouri law enforcement on Monday found the residence the three suspects and the youth were staying and the child was found in the back of the home at 2:15 p.m. All three people were arrested without incident, according to court documents.

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Highway 54 closed in Callaway County after grain truck overturns

KMIZ on April 15, 2026

Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Highway 54 westbound in Callaway County was closed Wednesday afternoon after a grain truck overturned.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol said in a social media post at about 2:30 p.m. that the westbound lanes would be closed for another one to two hours at County Road 2002, north of Auxvasse.

The crash involved a passenger vehicle and a grain truck.

Sgt. Kyle Green said two people were injured. MSHP shared photos from the scene showing a grain truck’s trailer overturned with grain spilled across the road.

Check back for updates to this developing story.

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