Columbia

MU Health Care administrators gave media a tour Tuesday of its new $232 million Children’s Hospital on University Hospital’s main campus. MU Health Care will officially cut the ribbon and open the hospital on Thursday.

The health care company previously consolidated its pediatric care at the Women’s Hospital on Keene Street. Youth patients will now receive care at the new Children’s Hospital, while women will receive care at various campus facilities, including University Hospital, after the Women’s Hospital on Keene Street officially closes on June 10.

Keri Simon, interim chief operating officer for MU Health Care, said the location is “very important and very intentional.” 

Map showing the location of the new MU Health Care Children’s Hospital next to University Hospital and the Roy Blunt NextGen Precision Health Building.  MU Health Care
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“When we began this process, we said the only way we are going to measure success at the end is to take advantage and preserve all of the things that are special about being a children’s hospital and keeping those things separate, but also taking advantage of all of things that are important about being attached to and close by all of those other services,” Simon said. 

Refrigerators where nurses can pick up milk/formula mixed in the lab and deliver them to babies in the new MU Health Care Children’s Hospital.  John Murphy
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The new neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) includes a state-of-the-art nutrition lab where specialists can mix formula and treat donor milk. It streamlines the process so nurses can pick up the milk/formula outside of the lab in refrigerators. The NICU at the Keene Street location only had 20 private rooms for babies, while the new NICU at the Children’s Hospital has 62 private rooms.

Dr. Dana Bichianu runs the NICU at the Children’s Hospital. She said the reason they tripled the number of private rooms is to bring babies and parents closer together, which can have a positive impact on the baby’s health.

“Babies respond very well to their mother’s, or parent’s, touch. They like it when parents read to them, sing to them, and (they are) especially very comfortable and happy and grow well when parents provide skin-to-skin care,” Bichianu said.

New NICU room designed for one baby and their parents.  John Murphy
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The pediatrics floor is designed so traditional rooms can be transformed into ICU rooms to meet patient demands. The ICU-designated rooms are larger to accommodate emerging medical technology that could take up more space.

Hallway in the pediatric unit at the new MU Health Care Children’s Hospital.  John Murphy
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The pediatrics floor at the new hospital has murals with animals painted on the walls.

Dr. Laura Hesemann, chair of pediatrics at MU Health Care, said these not only brighten the space and make it more inviting but also serve a practical purpose as psychologists can use the background to help young patients.

“This space was built from the ground up specifically for children, to keep in mind the needs of children and their families when they are in the hospital,” Hesemann said.

The pediatrics unit includes a Ronald McDonald House lounge where parents and families have a kitchenette, washing machines and dryers, and even access to beds in the hospital. The Ronald McDonald House is opening its new building on College Avenue in June.

Current MU Health Care Women’s Hospital on Keene Street in Columbia.  John Murphy
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Simon said MU Health Care will continue to operate some outpatient surgeries at the Keene Street building for the near future, but plans for the long-term future of the building are not finalized. She said there are no active plans to sell or demolish the entire building, but added the organization could consider that in the future.

Simon added that all the employees from the Keene Street facility are now moving to the university campus facilities. She also said the company is hiring more employees than it had at Keene Street.

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Industry: Trucking/ Transportation/ Machine Learning

Founding Student Name(s): Hidayat Hamidov (MBA ‘23), Adithya Krishnakumar (SEAS)

Brief Description of Solution: LogTrack is for truck operators and fleet owners who struggle to find favorable rates and manage operations across various trucking platforms. LogTrack aggregates information from multiple trucking marketplaces and logistics platforms, identifies optimal prices, sends booking emails, and communicates with customers and drivers. Think of LogTrack as a personal AI-powered trucking assistant.

Funding Dollars: Pre-Seed Round

What led you to launch this venture? I have over 10 years of experience in Logistics and Supply Chain Management. I have consistently engaged with various stakeholders in the industry to understand their pain points, as I am well aware that the industry can be quite stressful due to its conservative nature and limited digitalization. Those who own or operate trucks often suffer from financial and productivity losses due to the decentralized nature of their operations. On average, they hire one employee for every three trucks to manage operations across different verticals. While listening to different entrepreneurs with similar pain points, I asked myself: can we bring the concepts of automation and AI together and create an AI-powered Copilot for truck owners, allowing them to achieve a better work-life balance?

What has been your biggest accomplishment so far with venture? One of our three use cases is integration with trucking marketplaces. Receiving the green light for API integration from some of the largest trucking marketplaces in the USA is a significant achievement in a short time frame, as it will enable us to launch product’s beta version and find product-market fit much faster.

What has been the most significant challenge you’ve faced in creating your company and how did you solve it? Convincing integration partners can be challenging, as AI Copilot is a relatively new concept for many companies. We succeeded in persuading our stakeholders by showcasing the prototype, sharing the demo video, and assuring them of data security. Our professional and academic backgrounds also played a crucial role in securing partnerships with them.

How has your MBA program helped you further this startup venture? The Columbia MBA has been a game-changer, not only in acquainting me with entrepreneurship and technology-related knowledge but also in understanding the Venture Capital ecosystem and enhancing my operations and management knowledge and skills. Furthermore, networking and being surrounded by some of the smartest people, and receiving their feedback and thoughts, transformed my entrepreneurial skills and convinced me to take bold steps.

What founder or entrepreneur inspired you to start your own entrepreneurial journey? How did he or she prove motivational to you? Steve Jobs: His persistence, motivation, and passion for innovation inspired me. Despite all his failures, he never deviated from his focus and eventually built one of the biggest companies.

Which MBA class has been most valuable in building your startup and what was the biggest lesson you gained from it? Launch Your Startup – This course provides a playbook on how to build and run a startup, and I can always refer to the course material, which covers nearly everything I need.

What professor made a significant contribution to your plans and why? Jack McGourty – He has always been there to offer invaluable assistance, a second perspective, and guidance whenever I needed it.

How has your local startup ecosystem contributed to your venture’s development and success? New York City is a fertile environment for meeting investors and amazing founders. Moreover, the Port of New Jersey/New York is one of the largest and strategically located ports in the nation, making New York home to thousands of trucking businesses, which simplifies our customer discovery process.

What is your long-term goal with your startup? We aim to transform the industry by creating an AI-powered assistant for every truck owner.

DON’T MISS: MOST DISRUPTIVE MBA STARTUPS OF 2023

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Riverbanks Zoo and Garden will commemorate 50 inspiring years of wildlife conservation on April 25.

Since its inception, Riverbanks has been at the forefront of preserving endangered species and educating guests about the importance of caring for wildlife and wild places, a news release stated.

The year-long celebration will include elevated signature events, the grand opening of a new Komodo dragon breeding facility later this spring, and continued progress toward our exciting Bridge to the Wild expansion plans, signaling a promising future for Riverbanks.

“As we reflect on this remarkable journey over the past 50 years, this major milestone serves as a testament to Riverbanks’ unwavering commitment to wildlife conservation and education,” said Tommy Stringfellow, president and CEO at Riverbanks, in the release. “With a rich history to share and exciting developments on the horizon, the golden anniversary festivities promise to captivate guests and inspire a new generation of conservationists.”

Related: Funding approved for Riverbanks Zoo expansion in Columbia

Related: In its 25th year, Sally Salamander tour in Columbia gets a refresh — what’s new

Guests attending on Riverbanks’ anniversary day will be treated to a memorable experience, starting with the “A Wild Look Back” self-guided history tour, according to the release, which will illustrate the evolution of the Riverbanks landscape over the past five decades.

Festivities will kick off at noon in the main plaza with a DJ-hosted dance party, featuring top-of-the-hour music, the release stated. The Dreher High School Steel Band will also deliver a performance. Throughout the day, guests of all ages are invited to join in the fun, dancing amid a sea of bubbles alongside Riverbanks’ mascots and their mascot buddies from across the Midlands, including Mason the Firefly, Blowie the Blowfish, and SCETV’s own Smart Cat.

“Riverbanks has a remarkable legacy of fostering connections that make a lasting impact on wildlife and wild places,” said Stringfellow in the release. “As we commemorate our 50th anniversary, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to the dedicated staff, volunteers, and entire Midlands community as we recognize the past, celebrate the present and focus on the future of Riverbanks Zoo and Garden. Our vision for the future includes expanding our conservation efforts, enhancing educational programs for visitors of all ages, and creating innovative experiences that inspire environmental stewardship.”

Building on the excitement, the sought-after Riverbanks 50th Anniversary Golden Tickets are circulating throughout the community. These golden tickets, symbolizing 50 years of wildlife conservation and community support, can be discovered now through June 30. Click here for a list of participating community partners, where the tickets can be found.

As Riverbanks’ 50th summer approaches, community members can anticipate another promotion centered around the number 50, the release stated. In June, Toucan Tuesdays will return to Riverbanks, inviting guests to donate two canned goods in exchange for a buy-one-get-one park admission. This program, which has been a staple since its inception in 2010, has collected food for the Harvest Hope Food Bank. Riverbanks anticipates reaching a milestone of 50,000 pounds of donated food collected over the last 14 years.

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The Tamer Institute for Social Enterprise and Climate Change Will Address Urgent Need for Business Climate Research and Education

Columbia Business School announced the establishment of the Tamer Institute for Social Enterprise and Climate Change, a transformative new campus institute that will address the immediate need for climate research and education in business to accelerate the decarbonization of the global economy . Made possible through support from Sandra and Tony Tamer, the groundbreaking new Institute will dramatically enhance the volume of research and thought leadership that Columbia Business School contributes to the challenge of climate and sustainability. The Institute will also continue the previous activities of the Tamer Center for Social Enterprise, which was established in 2015 to educate leaders to use business knowledge, entrepreneurial skills, and management tools to address social and environmental challenges.

“In this urgent moment for the climate crisis, effective business leadership is essential for our global response. The momentous elevation of the Tamer Institute will transform our capacity to address the climate crisis through our forward-thinking research and curriculum,” said Costis Maglaras, Dean and the David and Lyn Silfen Professor of Business at Columbia Business School. “We are tremendously grateful to Sandra and Tony Tamer for their vision and expanding their commitment to social enterprise to help solve the dire impacts of climate change.”

The Tamer Institute will galvanize Columbia Business School’s climate and sustainability work by convening interdisciplinary perspectives on the climate crisis from across Columbia University’s campus, including the Climate School, the School of International and Public Affairs, and the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. The innovative Institute will also leverage the University’s far-reaching network to convene key organizations and businesses and equip business leaders and policy makers with actionable strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and global warming.

“Business is the key to getting to a net zero economy, and business leaders must acquire research-based, interdisciplinary perspectives to address climate change and other social issues within their industries,” said Tony Tamer, Founder and Executive Chairman of H.I.G. Capital. “Columbia Business School has earned an outstanding reputation in shaping the field of social impact and climate change, and we are proud to support their path-breaking work.”

Sandra Tamer said, “As we invest in innovative ways to create a more sustainable future, Columbia Business School has already proven its commitment to developing the research and curriculum to equip business leaders to address this defining issue of our time. We are overjoyed to catalyze their innovative work on climate and social enterprise through the creation of this timely Institute.”

The creation of the Institute builds on Dean Costis Maglaras’s long standing dedication to climate knowledge and leadership in the field of business. Columbia Business School designed and launched a first-of-its-kind open-source climate curriculum at COP28 with faculty at leading universities to accelerate the teaching of climate change in business schools globally. Recently, the School also launched the Climate Knowledge Initiative (CKI) to promote sector-by-sector solutions to help businesses achieve net-zero carbon emissions. CKI’s initial focus is on how steel companies can adopt decarbonization technologies to meet fast-approaching emission-cutting goals. Columbia Business School has offered courses in this area for over a decade, which will form the basis of a new collaboration with Columbia’s Climate School to offer a master’s degree in Climate Finance. The School is home to many leading experts in the climate change field including Professors Gernot Wagner, Shivaram Rajgopal, Silvia Bellezza, and Bruce Usher. Columbia Business School’s commitment to addressing the global climate crisis is leading to more practitioners in the field, exemplified by 2021 LinkedIn analysis by the Financial Times which shows the School is a leader in producing MBA students who enter sustainability careers.

Related Article: HHS Combats Climate Change with New Programs, Reducing Emissions & Tackling Extreme Heat

The new Institute builds on the work of Raymond Horton and Dan Wang, who continues to lead the Institute’s social enterprise efforts.

“This generous and impactful donation will accelerate Columbia Business School’s work on climate and social issues. Thanks to Sandra and Tony, the Institute will provide essential research and tools to business leaders to address the climate crisis, ” said Bruce Usher, Professor of Professional Practice and the Elizabeth B. Strickler ’86 and Mark T. Gallogly ’86 Faculty Director of the Tamer Institute for Social Enterprise and Climate Change at Columbia Business School.

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Construction continues on downtown Columbia projects, including a hotel and one-bedroom apartments.

A new six-story apartment building is being built at 1000 East Broadway. It’s scheduled to be completed this summer, according to Jack Cardetti, a spokesperson for the development. It’s on the site of an old U.S. Bank branch. 

The first floor will have 5,000 square feet of retail and office space. There will be around 61 one-bedroom apartments, Cardetti said. The property owner is 1000 East Broadway, LLC, according to the project’s permit. 

“We think these one-bedroom options will appeal to young professionals and add significantly to downtown Columbia’s live, work, and play atmosphere,” Cardetti said. 

Work also continues on the Broadway Hotel expansion. The hotel is adding a new hotel with 80 rooms and more than 7,800 square feet of meeting space, according to its permit. 

The project, located at 1104 East Walnut St., is valued at more than $14 million. A banner on the side of the building said the project will be completed at the end of 2024, though a hotel employee told KOMU 8 it will likely be closer to early 2025.

Another downtown hotel project is no longer active, according to Cardetti. Cherry Street Hotel, LLC planned to build a hotel with roughly 140 guest rooms at the northwest corner of Hitt and Cherry streets, but the project faced hurdles. Developers asked the Columbia City Council for adjustments to continue work on the project in July 2021, according to previous Columbia Missourian reporting. 

Cardetti is also a spokesman for Intrinsic Development, a Columbia-based development company. Intrinsic Development President Jonathan Odle signed a development agreement with the city for the Cherry Street Hotel project. Odle is listed as the owner of Cherry Street Hotel, LLC on the agreement. 

Developers asked the city to lease 99 parking spaces in the Tenth and Cherry Municipal Parking Garage because of limited space. The developers entered into an agreement with the city which requires the developers to make improvements to the site.

Improvements included building an additional lane along Hitt Street for temporary stopping of vehicles and a sidewalk no less than nine feet wide. The developers were also required to make street improvements to the alley to the north of the property.

The agreement was signed on June 24, 2021. The developers had three years — or until June 24, 2024 — to make the improvements, according to the agreement. 

Meanwhile, new businesses, and some familiar ones, are opening across the city, while others are closing or moving.

Slackers

Slackers announced in a Facebook post Tuesday that it is closing its doors after more than 30 years.

The record store, which also sells video games, CDs, toys and comic books opened on East Broadway in 1993. On Tuesday, a sign on the door said the space was available for lease.

The Facebook post encouraged customers to continue to visit Slackers locations in Jefferson City and St. Louis.

The District also encouraged customers in a Facebook post Tuesday to “say good bye to this long standing small business in The District!”

Tellers Gallery and Bar

A sign posted on the door of Tellers Gallery and Bar said the popular local restaurant is reopening this fall.

Tellers has been closed since a September 2023 fire caused damage to the building at its 820 E. Broadway location. The fire began upstairs in the offices of the True/False Film Fest.

In a January Facebook post receiving over 200 comments, Tellers said it was “moving forwards toward reopening.” Commenters shared their excitement and anticipation.

Chick-fil-A

Chick-fil-A at 305 N. Stadium Blvd. announced on Facebook May 20 that it will temporarily close starting Saturday for renovations. On Friday, it will serve customers via drive-thru only while supplies last.

Chick-fil-A advised customers to follow its social media to stay updated on the reopening.

Five Below

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A sign on a building near Old Navy in the Shoppes at Stadium announced that discount chain Five Below will open a Columbia location this fall. The vacant building had housed a David’s Bridal location, which closed last summer.

The location is hiring, according to another sign in front of the 203 N. Stadium Blvd. location. Five Below customer service confirmed that the location is scheduled to open this fall.

Dada Döner

A food truck that has been serving Turkish cuisine since 2023 opened its brick and mortar location May 20 on East Broadway, underneath Gumby’s Pizza.

Dada Döner serves traditional Turkish food like a chicken döner wrap and Iskender kebab.

According to its Facebook page, its 1201 E. Broadway location is open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

The location was previously home to restaurant The Quarry.

City Cuisine

City of Refuge, an organization that provides services to mid-Missouri refugees, will open its own food truck late this summer, according to an Instagram post.

Executive Director Debbie Beal said in a newsletter that the hope for City Cuisine is to employ refugees who use City of Refuge, as well as engage with the Columbia community.

The venture was funded by a workforce empowerment grant, according to the newsletter.

The menu is planned to explore a variety of international cuisines.

Sophia’s

Local Italian restaurant Sophia’s will relocate sometime in August or September, Sophia’s owner Matt Jenne said.

The restaurant is moving nearby to 3910 Peachtree Drive, the old location of 44 Stone Public House.

Jenne said the owner of the current building did not renew the lease, so the restaurant is moving to continue operations. Jenne said the current location will stay open until construction is done on the new building, so operations will be continuous.

Hokkaido Ramen

According to the ramen chain’s website, Hokkaido Ramen will be opening soon at 1000 E. Broadway, at the Tenth Street intersection. The location used to be home to MidiCi Neopolitan Pizza.

Trail Stop Brewery

Founder William Kinney announced on Facebook on May 9 that he is opening new brewery and restaurant Trail Stop Brewery.

Construction has started at its location “south of Hinkson Creek and just a quick walk over the bridge from the MKT Trail and the Jay Dix Station trailhead,” according to its website.

The new business’ website said the grand opening is in six months.

Trail Stop Brewery will serve craft beer and wood-fired pizza from Marceline Pizza Co. Kinney is opening the brewery with Robert Zitsch, and the website said they plan to build an outdoor patio and pickleball courts.

Editor’s Note

This story and its headline were updated after publishing to include information about the hotel and apartments. 

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After Columbia Fire Chief Clayton Farr Jr. announced Tuesday he will retire after serving as chief for 18 months, a Columbia fire union is calling for stability in the department.

The Columbia Fire Department has experienced four changes in leadership since 2019, and Columbia Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 1055 hopes stability will come in the search for the next chief.

The search for the next chief has already begun, and the city is launching a nationwide search, according to Columbia spokesperson Sydney Olsen. City manager De’Carlon Seewood was out of town Friday, so KOMU 8 reached out to Olsen instead.

Olsen said the city is looking for a candidate who is committed to the community, whether they come from inside or outside the department.

When the city announced Farr’s hiring in October 2022, it announced he was part of the Deferred Retirement Option Program , which allows people to continue working while accumulating retirement savings for up to five years.

Clayton Farr Jr. City of Columbia▲

Farr has worked at CFD for 25 years and was eligible for retirement. Farr said he planned to serve for five to seven more years, hoping the city could make changes to the pension system to allow for it.

“We had some initial conversations about potential ways to extend that time,” Farr said. “Nothing turned out to be viable at the end, and we certainly didn’t want to cause any levels of unfairness by making a midway change to that system.”

Despite efforts by the city manager’s office, these changes didn’t happen in time.

Farr said he has mixed emotions about retiring after 18 months.

“It’s bittersweet,” Farr said. “I’m very pleased with the progress we’ve been able to make. We’re fully staffed, and that is very exciting for a public safety agency.”

Olsen said the city understood Farr was a part of the deferred retirement program when he was hired.

“We committed to reviewing the DROP plan and looking at if there was a way for Chief Farr to be able to stay,” Olsen said. “In the time allotted that we had with him in the role as Chief, we were unable to find anything that would not have significant financial impacts for him.”

She said the city didn’t want to implement any change that would benefit only one employee.

“We don’t want to set that precedent,” Olsen said. “We want to be fair to all our employees because they commit so much.”

Olsen said the city knew upon Farr’s hiring there was a potential Farr would have to retire after serving for 18 months.

Zachary Privette, president of Columbia Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 1055, said firefighters were involved with the new chief selection process in 2022. 

He said when Farr was named chief in 2022, he expressed concerns with his participation in the DROP program.

“We felt that with the rapidly changing turnover in our leadership positions that that wouldn’t be a wise decision,” Privette said. “We need stability.”

Privette said he wishes Farr the best on his future but said the department is ready for stability. He said the frequent leadership changes has had a brutal impact on members’ morale. 

“It seems like there’s a revolving door of things to deal with,” Privette said. 

He said one of those things is implementation and development of policy. 

“We have our base policies, we have a contract with the city, and that’s all kind of set in stone,” Privette said. “But there’s day-to-day business that each leader gets to determine how that looks.”

He said his organization plans to work with the city to be part of the selection process for the next chief.

“We have an opportunity in this moment to come together and work collectively to find somebody that serves not only the best interests of Columbia, but the best interests of the employees that are serving in the fire department.”

Assistant Fire Chief Jerry Jenkins will also retire.

According to an announcement from the city, during Farr’s tenure as chief, Fire Station 11 opened in south Columbia, work began on the new Fire Station 10 in the city’s east-central corridor, and the fire department achieved accredited agency status from the Commission on Fire Accreditation International, becoming one of only 312 agencies in the world to have this distinction.

Farr said he will be the organization’s greatest cheerleader.

“This is an amazing opportunity for another fire chief to come into this organization and continue with the work that we’ve done,” Farr said.

He also said those considering entering a deferred retirement option should be certain about the decision.

The fire department posted an announcement for the job search Friday afternoon on Facebook with a preferred application deadline of April 5.

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Some livestock groups are pushing for Congress to reinstate labeling requirements in the upcoming farm bill to make it clear where meat comes from.

Mandatory country of origin labels would require all meat products to include details about where the livestock was born, raised and processed.

A similar requirement went into effect in 2009, but it was reversed for beef and pork products in 2015 after a World Trade Organization ruling allowed Canada and Mexico to impose over $1 billion in tariffs against the U.S., unless the requirements were removed.

The labels would help consumers better understand what they are purchasing, said Tim Gibbons, the communication director for the Missouri Rural Crisis Center, a group that wants to see the label requirement return.

He said it could also help address concentration in the meat industry at a time when 85% of the meatpacking industry is controlled by just four beef processing companies.

“One of the main purposes of a representative democracy is to enforce antitrust laws so that markets are open, fair and competitive,” Gibbons said. “Country of origin labeling is a first step in ensuring competition in markets.”

Earlier this year, the USDA narrowed which products can state “Product of USA.” Beginning in 2026, a voluntary rule allows only meat from animals born, raised, slaughtered and processed in the U.S. to have this label.

Montana-based livestock group R-CALF USA called the voluntary rule a step in the right direction in a March press release, but also called for a mandatory rule as soon as possible.

“Only then will consumers be informed as to which beef was produced by American cattle farmers and ranchers and which beef was produced under some foreign country’s food safety regime,” CEO Bill Bullard stated.

Industry impact

Research has shown that the costs of mandatory country of origin labeling outweigh the benefits, said Derrell Peel, a livestock marketing specialist at Oklahoma State University Extension.

“That involves a tremendous amount of extra cost on the part of the feedlot industry, the packing industry and retailers to maintain records and to sort and preserve supply chains for those different products and keep them separate,” Peel said.

A USDA economic review following the previous country of origin requirements found that mandatory labeling raised costs of production, processing and marketing, but did not raise consumer demand. This led to economic losses for producers, packers, retailers and consumers, according to the report.

Most consumers say they support more-detailed information about where meat comes from on packaging, according to a 2017 Consumer Federation of America survey. But Peel said other factors might have more weight when consumers are deciding what to purchase at the grocery store.

“It’s a piece of information for consumers,” he said. “If it’s available, it might impact some consumers’ decisions. Most of the studies that have been done have said that it doesn’t have much impact on consumers relative to price and other quality indicators of the product.”

Skyler Rossi

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Harvest Public Media

A pork loin states “Product of USA” at a HyVee grocery store in Columbia, Missouri. A new voluntary rule narrows which products can include this label, beginning in 2026.

Matt Teagarden is the CEO of the Kansas Livestock Association, a trade group with about 5,700 members.

The association supports a voluntary policy like the recent rule, Teagarden said, since it allows producers who want to market their products as “Made in USA” to do so without requiring everyone to bear the costs. Producers whose brand is focused on its locality may also turn to a “farm-to-table” concept, or market their meat as local to their state or region, he said.

“There may be greater opportunity to even push that down to a more local level and market that product and connect with consumers in that way,” he said.

A group of U.S. senators has introduced a bill coined the American Beef Labeling Act for multiple years in hopes of reinstating the mandatory labeling.

U.S. Sen. Mike Round, R-SD, said this week that he is working to add mandatory labeling to the Senate version of the farm bill. Country of origin labeling requirements are not currently in either the House or the Senate version.

The current farm bill will expire in September.

This story was produced in partnership with Harvest Public Media, a collaboration of public media newsrooms in the Midwest. It reports on food systems, agriculture and rural issues.

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On June 13, Governor Mike Parson kicked off the first project within Missouri’s Improve I-70 Program with an official groundbreaking ceremony in Columbia. Governor Parson joined federal, state, and local elected officials along with members of the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission and its Design-Build contractor team to break ground on Project #1: Columbia to Kingdom City.

“Today’s groundbreaking is a momentous occasion not only because we’re kicking off our historic Improve I-70 project, but it’s a culmination of the bold infrastructure initiatives we’ve prioritized since day one,” Governor Parson said. “I-70 is one of Missouri’s oldest and most vital corridors. The safety and economic prosperity of Missourians depend on an interstate that grows along with the state and nation. Expanding I-70 to six lanes has been talked about in Jefferson City for decades, but our administration, in working with Senator Lincoln Hough and the General Assembly, is taking action and getting it done. We could not be more proud that the work we’re commemorating here today will continue serving Missourians for generations to come.”

“Today’s I-70 ground breaking kicks off a historic, once-in-a-generation investment that will benefit Missouri businesses, commuters, and tourists alike for decades to come,” Senator Lincoln Hough, Missouri Senate Appropriations Chair, said. “I was happy to lead this project’s development in the General Assembly and work with Governor Parson to lead the nation in large scale infrastructure development. Expanding I-70 to six lanes has been needed for decades. It has been talked about for decades. Today, decades of talk turns to action. This project is pro-infrastructure, pro-business, pro-jobs, and, above all, pro-Missouri. We thank Governor Parson for being a leader in strengthening Missouri’s infrastructure as we look forward to continuing the strong foundation he has built on behalf of all Missourians.”

Missouri’s FY2024 budget from the General Assembly, signed into law by Governor Parson, provides $2.8 billion in General Revenue for the costs to build a third lane in each direction on nearly 200 miles of I-70, from Blue Springs to Wentzville. This first project, Improve I-70: Columbia to Kingdom City, is a $405 million fixed-cost contract that will add an additional lane to I-70 in each direction between U.S. Route 63 in Columbia and Route 54 in Kingdom City. The project also incorporates $123 million in previously programmed MoDOT projects to improve the I-70 interchanges at both Route 63 and Route 54.

“Thank you to the Governor and the General Assembly for their support in of this generational investment of I-70 for Missouri’s future,” said Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission Chairman W. Dustin Boatwright. “Today’s event in Columbia is just the first step to transform I-70 across the state. While we celebrate today, we are actively working on the next bid package, and we look forward completion of the entire I-70 corridor by late 2030.”

The planned improvements for Project #1: Columbia to Kingdom City from the Design-Build contractor Millstone Weber and its designer Jacobs Inc. also include new concrete pavement on all three lanes of I-70 in each direction of the project. Additionally, throughout construction two lanes of travel will be available in both directions of I-70 during peak hours. Construction of this project is set to begin in July 2024 with an anticipated completion in late 2027.

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During its regularly scheduled meeting last week, Richland County Council passed the county’s budget for fiscal year 2024-25 on third reading, according to a news relase.

County Council uses the budget to oversee the delivery of services, programs and resources, the release stated. Council held first reading of the budget May 7, followed by a public hearing on May 23 and a second reading of the budget June 4. The new budget takes effect Monday, July 1.

“Richland County Council and staff have put a considerable amount of time and effort toward ensuring that all County functions and services are funded in the most appropriate and adequate manner,” said Council Chair Jesica Mackey, Dist. 9, in the release. “As we enter fiscal year 2025, my colleagues and I are certain that the agreed upon allocation of funding will serve the best interests of Richland County and our residents and communities.”

The FY2025 operating budget totals $1.24 billion, a 6.3% increase over the current FY2024 budget, according to the release. The operating budget invests in council priorities and funds the county’s vital partners, including local school districts and other entities designated as millage agencies, the release stated.

Also included in Richland County’s operating budget is the county’s general fund, the release stated. The general fund supports county operations and makes up $231.63 million of the full operating budget, a 5.7% increase over the prior year.

Related: Richland County eyes referendum on sales tax for transportation infrastructure

Related: City of Columbia rebrands with new identity, logo

Highlights of the FY2025 budget include:

• $6.54 million to outside agencies, including competitive grants funded by the state Accommodations Tax and local hospitality taxes, as well as Neighborhood Improvement and Conservation Commission grants
• $6.22 million to complete capital projects, including improvements to the County’s Judicial Center, Administration Building and Health Department facilities
• $1.81 million toward Community Impact Grants, which financially support organizations and agencies that implement community-based programs and services throughout the County
• An 8% increase in law enforcement funding over FY2024
• $7.7 million to implement the second phase of a class and compensation restructuring for regular full-time employees
• $80,000 for leadership training, supervisory training, and employment liability training through Richland County University
• No health insurance premium increase for employees, despite an 11.8% increase in state health insurance employer premiums
• Eight new general fund-supported positions approved, and a total of eight new positions supported by Special Revenue and Enterprise Funds approved
• $4 million for affordable housing in the County (carried over from FY2024)
• 4% sewer rate increase
• 10% volumetric water rate increase
• 4.75% curbside collection rate increase
• 4.75% landfill rate increase

The above figures represent efforts to achieve six broad goals included in Richland County’s strategic plan, the release stated.

“Richland County consistently strives to set a standard of excellence as we work to achieve the strategic goals set forth by County Council,” said County Administrator Leonardo Brown in the release. “The County is committed to fiscal responsibility, which could not be achieved without the dedication and due diligence of Council and staff. These investments will afford the County and our residents continued growth and success.”

Residents are encouraged to review the recommended Budget Book for fiscal year 2025, which details the annual budget, on the County’s website by navigating to the Budget & Grants Management webpage.

Originally Appeared Here