Hello Columbia! Hope your coffee tastes especially good this morning. In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: New safety ambassadors, a water festival, and sugar cookie decorating + excuses to get the fam out and about this week.
Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC bill: If your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's 50% off right now.* |
01 — Worth knowing In the newsThree local stories this week, plus a few worth your money.
New role at City Hall: Christopher Ave began Monday as Columbia’s first communications director, launching the new department at City Hall. City Manager De’Carlon Seewood announced it this month, and Ave led MU media relations -- read the full announcement.
Downtown safety support begins: A new Safety Ambassador program launched in Columbia, with five ambassadors patrolling Broadway 4:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m., addressing quality-of-life concerns, funded by city, The District and University of Missouri -- see the ambassador rollout.
New safety rules ahead: Columbia’s new median ordinance will take effect July 1, banning standing on center medians unless crossing and limiting major-road crossings to crosswalks, signals, or intersections amid rising pedestrian deaths -- check the median rules.
Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.*
The bill all retirees should double check: Car insurance. If you’ve been on the same plan for years, you might be paying way more than you need to. It’s an easy one to forget about, but switching could save you up to $600 this year. Case in point: I shopped around and ended up cutting my premium in half -- this free comparison tool makes it easy.*
You've traveled abroad without being able to speak the local language. You can change that in just 10 minutes a day. Most people are holding real conversations within three weeks. In fact, 92% of users improved their proficiency in just two months, with 25 million subscriptions sold -- take 55% off.* Highlights this week: |
02 — From our sponsor Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC billIf your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's 50% off right now.* |
03 — On our radar
Local business spotlightNearby spots we'd actually send a friend to.
Big green reset: Need an easy win this week? Cosmo Park has miles of trails, a skate park, fishing lakes, a huge playground, and fields for whatever sport your group chat is promising to start. Grab a friend, a frisbee, and your most optimistic step counter... instant mood lift.
Blooms with school spirit: Whether your kitchen table needs a glow-up or you owe someone an apology, Tiger Garden is MU’s student-run floral shop turning seasonal stems into legit art, with a DIY Bloom Bar and custom arrangements you can pick up or send across town, all while supporting student designers.
Level up your week: Trade coin-gobbling machines for a one-wristband, play-all-day setup at Witches & Wizards Arcade, where pinball, fighters and button-mashing nostalgia pile up quickly. Grab a couple friends, sip something cold, and let the Arcade District handle your weeknight entertainment.
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04 — Our recommendations
We got your backA handful of products and services we think are worth a look.
Makeup for skin that's changed, now up to 65% off: Laura Geller has built its following on formulas made for mature skin, led by the baked foundations women over 40 keep coming back to. Right now, new email subscribers get up to 65% off plus an extra 22%. Enter your email on the page and the discount activates. *See the VIP pricing →
Home insurance premiums jumped 12% last year alone: That's on top of years of increases that have outpaced inflation. Before you blindly renew with your current insurer, a free comparison tool matches your home with top-rated insurers so you can see quotes side by side, in about two minutes. Some homeowners find hundreds in savings, and if you don't find a better policy, you stay put knowing you checked. *See your options →
Buy one window treatment this summer, get the second 50% off: “My fourth order over 8 years. Product reliability, consistency to values & warranty kept me returning!” See what keeps customers coming back to 3 Day Blinds. Book your free consultation and enjoy summer savings on blinds, shades, and drapery. *Claim your summer savings →
Carrying $5,000 or more on your cards? Stop the interest charges: A balance that size racks up interest fast, and at today's rates it barely budges no matter how much you pay. This card gives you 0% intro APR until 2028 on balance transfers (made in the first 60 days), with a $0 annual fee. That means almost two years to pay down what you owe with no interest charges. *See if it's a fit →
Wish you had someone to talk to right now? The quiet hours are the hardest, especially when you just want someone to talk to. That's exactly what this is built for: real conversations, real matches, real people. Not endless swiping, but actual chats with singles who want to connect as much as you do. Someone to talk to could be a message away. *Join now and start chatting → |
Have an event to share? We (and our readers) can't wait to hear about it! Submit an event → |
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05 — The event calendar Fun for the famOur favorite upcoming kid and family-friendly events. All events are subject to change. Always check official event pages before heading out.
🧪 Sounds Like Science @ Columbia Public Library | Thursday (6/25) at 11:00 AM – Let the kids learn how sound works while you enjoy ten quiet minutes, allegedly. Mad Science of St. Louis brings sound tubes, an indoor thunderstorm, and a dinosaur in a can for families ages 4-12, part of Summer Reading’s Unearth a Story, not organized groups.
🍪 Plume Workshop: Sugar Cookie Decorating @ Plume | Thursday (6/25) at 5:30 PM – Trade your store-bought platter for legit skills at a royal icing cookie workshop with Laurel from Kiss Me Cookies. Two sessions, all supplies, a cupcake, and a beverage are included, and you take home four large, brag-worthy cookies. Piping bags, steady hands, and satisfied grandkids.
💧 Water Festival @ Rock Bridge Memorial State Park | Saturday (6/27) at 9:00 AM – Out by Devil's Icebox Trail, the Water Festival turns stream science into playtime with guided Connor's Cave tours, a live turtle station, and sanctioned critter wrangling for ages 4 and up. Free, grandkid approved, shuttle from Gilbert Picnic Shelter, bring water, wear sacrificial shoes.
👨 Faith Family Fun Fest @ Stephens Lake Park | Saturday (6/27) at 10:00 AM – A first-ever Faith Family Fun Fest from the Knights of Columbus means wholesome chaos in Columbia. Expect family-friendly activities for the kids, easy conversation for the adults, and that small-town spirit you secretly love, with zero pressure to be fancy or fast.
🛠 Kit Building Day @ Songbird Station | Saturday (6/27) at 10:00 AM – Whether you still remember the smell of wood glue from Scouts, or you just supervise with a latte, this build-a-kit hangout lets you and the kids or grandkids buy a kit and assemble it in-store, with helpful staff rescuing tricky steps. Low-stress, hands-on, memory-making.
🏆 Gym Leader Challenge Tournament June '26 @ Magelings Games | Sunday (6/28) at 1:00 PM – At Columbia’s Pokémon League, it’s a free Gym Leader Challenge tournament, all ages, best of one, no decklists, and light on Rule Box nonsense. One type, one copy, one shot, using cards from Black & White through Phantasmal Flames, with Series 8 prize packs.
👶 Skylark Kids Summer Series: Baby Sitters Club Party! @ Skylark Bookshop | Sunday (6/28) at 5:00 PM – If your inner Kristy has been dying to organize something besides the pantry, this Baby-Sitters Club party is your moment. Expect kid-friendly fun, throwback trivia, and an extra-special prize for the brainiest Stoneybrook alum. It is free, nostalgia included, babysitter optional.
Want more? Browse our full events calendar | Submit an event |
06 — From our sponsor Heads up for pet parentsTogether with our sponsor Lemonade. Nothing prepares you for a late-night emergency at the vet. I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. From the initial exam fee just to be seen, to x-rays, surgery, medication, and follow-up visits… the bill racks up fast (to say the least). And at that moment? You’re not thinking about your savings, you’re just saying yes to whatever keeps them thriving. As soon as we got home, I dug around online and ultimately signed up for Pet Insurance. It was too late for me, but you could save thousands on your next vet bill with *Lemonade. |
07 — The Columbia report Weather forecastToday — High: 83°F — Low: 65°F — Precip: 40%
A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 83. Southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. Later: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 65. Southwest wind 1 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Tomorrow — High: 82°F — Low: 66°F — Precip: 76%
Showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 82. Southeast wind 1 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Later: Showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. Chance of precipitation is 80%. This house is wildThis fully renovated 5-bed, 4.5-bath home delivers more than 5,000 square feet of fresh, modern style. The light-filled open layout features elegant finishes, a three-season sunroom, and a large new deck for easy entertaining. Upstairs, the expansive primary suite adds a huge walk-in closet, soaking tub, and walk-in shower, all with a peaceful wooded backdrop.
Take a peek inside → |
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