Sunday, April 26, 2026

Heads up for pet parents: An emergency vet visit could cost you $7,000+ (ask me how I know 🙃). From the initial fee just to be seen to x-rays, surgery, medicine, and aftercare, it adds up quicker than a chew toy turns into a crime scene. The good news? You could get up to 90% cash back on your vet bill with this pet insurance plan.*

Crackdown hits gray-market gambling: Torch Electronics, Missouri’s largest operator of unregulated gaming machines, halted its machines earlier this month after a federal judge ruled them illegal, following investigations by state and federal authorities -- read the full story.

New voices take the helm: Earlier this month, Jefferson City voters elected three newcomers to the School Board, including Gretchen Duckworth, Kris Scheperle, and Michelle Rodemeyer, signaling fresh perspectives for classrooms and budgets -- see who was elected.

Expect significant traffic changes: MoDOT has begun closing U.S. 50 ramps and segments in Jefferson City as part of a rehabilitation project. Closures are expected through mid November, with rehabilitation work finishing in 2026 -- get all the details.

The bill everyone over 50 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.*

Retirees are making moves: After gold's best year in nearly five decades, more folks than ever are moving part of their savings into precious metals. Not all of it... just enough to hedge against inflation. AHG put together a free guide that explains how it works -- grab your copy here.*

Flight plan this week: Set a course for Last Flight Brewing Company, the independent Jefferson City spot pouring 24 locally made beers, seltzer, and hard cider in a friendly taproom and picnic-worthy green space. Bring your favorite takeout, let the kids try house-made root beer, and give the dog a sniff-worthy outing.

Breakfast that hits right: Oscar's Classic Diner serves breakfast glory from biscuits and sausage gravy to jumbo omelets, plus a patty melt that tastes like a 50s time machine, with generous portions and friendly, family vibes that make weekday meals feel easy. Consider it your no-fuss, feel-good fix this week.

Old-school scoop bliss: If your week needs a mood lift, Central Dairy Ice Cream Parlor still does it the classic way, a Jefferson City tradition since the 1930s. Banana splits, Hawaiian Splits, malts, and root beer floats are calling, with old-school parlor vibes that make a quick cone feel like a tiny victory.

That patch of scalp that wasn't there a year ago: It's more common than most folks talk about. Especially in your 50s... hormones, stress, and nutrition all start pulling at hair density at once. Nutrafol is a drug-free daily supplement designed to work on those causes together — and in clinical studies, 93% of women said their hair looked healthier after six months. *Take a look →

The slower you walk, the more it works: Tai Chi walking is trending online. Turns out it's centuries old — slow deliberate steps, paced breath, attention on the body. Thirty minutes a day burns fat, lifts your mood, and builds balance. No gym, no treadmill, no pounding on the joints. Take the quick quiz to see if it fits, then use code BASELOCAL for a discount on the coaching plan. *See how it works →

For women who've been feeling off for years: The fatigue, the weight creeping up, the mood swings, the sleep that won't hold. Turns out most of those "it's just aging" problems are actually caused by hormones, and proper HRT can get you back to feeling like yourself. The catch? You can't get it without a full hormone panel and a doctor who understands what those numbers mean. Most women never get either, but Hone Health gives you both. *See how it works →

Two sprays before bed, no more snoring? It really is that simple. No mouthpiece to wrestle with, no CPAP mask, no nose strips that peel off at 2am. This doctor-developed throat spray has been keeping sleepers quiet for 30 years, and first-time orders are 40% off right now. *See how it works →

Your homeowners insurance has a blind spot: It covers your house if a tree falls on it. It doesn’t cover your furnace when it quits in January, your AC when it dies in July, or your water heater when it starts leaking on a Tuesday. Those are all classified as "normal wear and tear," and they're 100% on you. American Home Shield can help fill that gap for ~$1/day (even if your appliances and systems are really old).*See what it covers →

🩸 Red Cross Blood Drive @ Etta & Joseph Miller Performing Arts Center | Monday (4/27) at 2:00 PM – Be a hero without the cape, just a sleeve. JCAC and Red Cross host a blood drive at the Etta and Joseph Miller Performing Arts Gallery, 501 Madison Street, where your pint can help up to three neighbors, and there are cookies. Sign up: https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/drive-results?zipSponsor=JCAcademicCenter

🐦 Spring Birding @ Runge Nature Center | Thursday (4/30) at 7:30 AM – Trade the lawn mower for a spring stroll at Runge with a naturalist who actually knows which chirp is which, even if you still call every bird a duck. Easy, guided, all levels, with loaner binoculars, field guides, and a polite nudge to register.

🍪 Cookie Design Workshop @ Little Leaf Essentials: Plant Shop & More | Thursday (4/30) at 5:30 PM – Swap your watering can for a piping bag at Little Leaf’s plant-themed cookie workshop, with Kiss Me Cookies teaching you to decorate four treats you can actually keep alive. Low stress, high sugar, and registration required, because these edible houseplants go fast.

🐐 FFA Petting Zoo @ Calvary Lutheran High School | Friday (5/1) at 9:00 AM – Skip the screens and let the kids, and the kid in you, meet spring’s real stars at Calvary’s FFA petting zoo. Free, local, and low stress, with fuzzy bunnies, curious chicks, and goats ready to judge your shoes, then steal your heart.

❓ Trivia Night & Silent Auction @ McClung Park | Friday (5/1) at 6:30 PM – If you've been itching to flex those useless facts and do some good, hit the annual Trivia Night and Silent Auction supporting JCHS Speech and Debate students. Think brainy bragging rights, friendly trash talk, and bidding wars that fund future eloquence, not another bake sale.

🎗 Mammogram Clinic @ JCMG Radiology | Saturday (5/2) at 9:00 AM – Because nothing says efficiency like checking off a health to-do, stop by JCMG Radiology for a screening mammogram Saturday, May 2, 9 to 2. Walk in or call ahead, no copay due, bring insurance, ID, and if not with a JCMG provider, a physician's order.

🌱 Volunteer Yard Day @ SNA Girls Tower House | Saturday (5/2) at 9:00 AM – Grab your shovel and help turn a backyard mudslide into a fairy garden for the students. They’ll handle mulch, paths, and perennials, you bring gloves, a rake, maybe a wheelbarrow, so call it your workout. Lunch, snacks, and beverages included, drop in when you can.

This split-bedroom retreat spans 1.37 acres with 4 beds, 5 baths, and a 3-car garage. Two full kitchens boost flexibility for multigenerational living and gatherings. Solar, geothermal, spray-foam insulation, and dual zones maximize efficiency and comfort. Highlights include tray ceilings, chandeliers, hardwoods, a gas fireplace, wired 5.1 and 7.1 audio, and a composite deck with fruit trees and lake views.