May 12, 2008

School board still struggles with cuts

By JANE KELLOGG and REGAN PALMER Math and literacy coaches, beginner and veteran teachers, outreach counselors, two principals and parents all offered perspectives on what they think is vital to the success of Columbia students.

Randy Boehm: Timeline

By Nicole Mueller Randy Boehm, who has served with the Columbia Police Department since October 1976, has been hired as manager of security for MU Health Care. He begins his new job on July 7.

Boehm to retire as police chief

By JONATHAN RANDLES Columbia Police Chief Randy Boehm has been hired as manager of security for MU Health Care. Boehm’s last day as police chief will be July 1, and he will start his new job on July 7. A replacement will likely come from outside the department, said City Manager Bill Watkins.

Missouri Senate Republicans move forward with voter ID bill

By SARAH D. WIRE Senate Republicans pushed forward with a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow voter identification laws in the state. The issue is one of the most partisan issues to be raised in the session.

Chinese students at MU worry about families in China

By Furqaan Sadiq and Carolina Escalera China was hit by the worst earthquake in the past three decades on Monday, leading to thousands of deaths. Students at MU try to get in touch with families who live near the quake’s epicenter.

Mo. House panel rejects Senate immigration bill

By CHRIS BLANK, The Associated Press At issue is what to do with businesses that employ illegal immigrants. Some members of both houses remained optimistic that a bill of some form would still get passed, but the end of the session nears.

Tornado deaths underscore risks of taking shelter in cars

By ALAN SCHER ZAGIER, The Associated Press The National Weather Service said about 100 people have died in U.S. twisters so far this year. If trends hold, this could stack up as one of the deadliest tornado years in recent history. Eight of the 22 victims of a weekend tornado that devastated parts of Oklahoma and Missouri died in cars, troubling experts who say vehicles are among the worst places to be when a twister bears down.

MU School of Medicine opens clinical center

By C.J. TRENT The seven-story building houses the Russell D. and Mary B. Shelden Clinical Simulation Center, a state-of-the-art facility for students learning how to perform medical procedures.

Mothers' group offers support for families with a child with autism

By MARYLYN SIMPSON Mothers with Children with Autism is a local social group that allows networking for moms who have children diagnosed with autism. Dads and other family members are also included in some of the group's activities.

MU grades examined show majority in 2007 were A’s and B’s

By BROOKE TACKER Majority of grades received at MU are As and there are 10 percent more As received in the summer semesters than fall or winter semesters

Missouri Civil Rights Initiative stays in play even though ballot campaign ends

By AJA J. JUNIOR Proponents pulled the plug over worries they didn’t have enough valid signatures but say they'll try to get it on a future ballot. Opponents have vowed to fight future attempts to pass similar measures.

UM curators vote to formally oppose bill to add voting student member to board

By DANNY LAWHON The UM System Board of Curators voted Monday morning in an emergency meeting to voice its formal opposition to Senate Bill 873, which could create a voting student curator position in 2011 if Missouri loses a U.S. Congressional District seat.

May 11, 2008

Yoga nidra gains popularity in Columbia

By PAUL DAVID LAMPE and ROSE RAYMOND Yoga nidra literally means the sleep of the yogis; a yogi being a yoga master or practitioner of yoga. It is a sensing practice that helps to reduce stress. In Columbia, yoga nidra is gaining popularity and has also been shown to help reduce stress for soldiers with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Exiled from Equatorial Guinea, a visiting professor awaits the time he can return home

By SARA SHAHRIARI Donato Ndongo, a political exile from Equitorial Guinea, historian, journalist and novelist will give up his post as visiting professor in MU’s romance languages department and return to his family in Spain. Meanwhile, Ndongo waits for the day he can return home. He remembers his culture through his novels and hopes these will help his fellow citizens remember, too.

School board to vote on proposed boundary lines for new school

By ERIN ASH The Columbia Public School board will meet Monday to vote on proposed boundary lines for the new elementary school and to further discuss the 2008-09 budget.

Cause of autism cases to be debated in federal court

By The Associated Press Families claiming that a mercury-based preservative in vaccines triggers autism will challenge mainstream medicine Monday as they take their case to a federal court.

Republicans try to pass a voter ID bill before session ends

By By DAVID A. LIEB, The Associated Press As quick as a camera flash, Republican lawmakers have resurrected a plan to require photo identification for voters. They will press to pass it this week, lest their political opportunity to do so disappears.

Tornado death toll climbs to 15 in Missouri

By Roxana Hegeman, The Associated Press Rescue efforts in Mo. ended Sunday after a day of searching for survivors. Between 8,000 and 9,000 people remain without power.

Three businesses have sued the Missouri Department of Revenue for increasing its fee to access motor vehicle and driver records

By The Associated Press Businesses say they can not afford the $7-per-record fee set by the Missouri Department of Revenue. Before, the companies paid $2,000 for access to the state’s database of driver records. Now it would cost them $28 million.

Gospel singer-songwriter Joyce 'Dottie' Rambo dies in bus crash

By The Associated Press Gospel singer-songwriter Joyce “Dottie” Rambo died early Sunday when the bus she was in ran off a road in southwest Missouri and struck an embankment.