News

The UM System's decision to make contributions to its retirement fund went into effect Wednesday. Some employees are concerned that it affects lower-income workers too much, but the system says the move was caused by the recession and that it has done all it can to protect lower-income workers.

Teenagers can be great on family vacations — if you let them live a little and make their own decisions.

Citizens are coming together in Columbia thanks to meetup.com, a social-networking site that encourages meeting in person.

A 20-year-old female inmate at Boone County Jail was shocked with a Taser on Saturday afternoon by an officer. The inmate had threatened to harm officers and herself, Capt. Jenny Atwell said. 

Parents, children and grandparents waited in lines to play tic-tac-toe, win prizes and get some patriotic decorations Saturday at the "Fire in the Sky" celebration at Memorial Stadium. The day was capped off with a fireworks show that could be seen throughout Columbia.

For one Columbia family, the Fourth of July represents a chance to remember veterans and cherish the time they have together.

Groups were claiming prime real estate Saturday afternoon in the parking lots surrounding Memorial Stadium, preparing for lengthy festivities.

Family members gathered Saturday in Cosmo-Bethel Park for Dorothy Huddleston's 84th birthday and Independence Day festivities.

The Ricketts marked Independence Day by gathering for a meal at Cosmopolitan Park, restarting a tradition that began nearly 20 years ago.

Tell us what you're cooking and eating Saturday at ColumbiaMissourian.com or to RT@CoMissourian on Twitter.

A collection of photos from the 2009 Ashland Independence Day parade.

Because of budget cuts, the mayor of Springfield is asking residents to help the city by adopting a park, manning City Hall phones or donating to the history museum, among other activities.

Unlike their colleagues in Washington, where policy work isn't hindered by the need to pay as you go, state lawmakers generally can't leave for home without settling on a spending plan.

The warning is tied to heavy rain early Saturday, the National Weather Service stated.

The fireworks, called "Run Hadji Run," included packaging that showed a bomber jet flying over a group of Arab men on camels.

Three of the seven tribes that operate northeast Oklahoma casinos contributed to the increase.

Exercising rights is a personal prerogative, as symbolized by these Columbia residents who are exercising the five freedoms embodied in the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights.

Lori Drew, a St. Louis-area mother convicted of cyberbullying in November, had her case tentatively thrown out Thursday. Drew created a fictitious teen boy on MySpace and flirted with — before dumping — a 13-year-old girl who ended up committing suicide.

City announces schedule of Independence Day closings of city offices and services.