Articles

They are but a small minority, making up less than 5 percent of the U.S. population. And until recently, they have kept a low profile. For good reason: People who do not believe in God are the most distrusted group in the country and are viewed by many as a threat to the American way of life.

Wearing a choker made of black ribbon, a stud in her nose and a lipstick-red corset over a black short-sleeved shirt, Apryl Smathers strutted into the Spanish Fly Dance Club a little before 7:30 on a Thursday evening. She wore black, strappy shoes with just a bit of heel showing underneath charcoal-gray suit pants with light gray pinstripes, and she’s here to teach people to dance.

I celebrated my 21st birthday last fall at a Tex-Mex restaurant north of downtown Columbia. The walls were mounted with “genuine” sombreros and large TVs tuned to ESPN. I was happy with the combination of friends who gathered — there were friends I played with in Marching Mizzou, friends from the journalism school, friends from high school.

Johnston Paint & Decorating in Columbia offers almost a full wall of Benjamin Moore color swatches. Designers there can help you choose one for your house. Some tints, of course, are much more popular than others. And there’s a reason for that.

A young boy, about 10 years old and seemingly shy and innocent, stands with his nose up to a cage filled with three kittens.

See more about the lives of the owners of MO-X and stars of their own wild TV commercials.

Columbia residents and leaders met throughout the week to create various alternate events to counter a planned march on Saturday by the National Socialist Movement, a neo-Nazi group.

At least 500 spectators and counter-protestors filled the corners at Ninth and Elm streets early Saturday afternoon for a march by about 20 members of a white supremacist group.

Members of the local clergy led a procession of peace and prayer this morning along the same route chosen by a group of white supremacists for a march later in the day.