KFRU Business Spotlight -- November 7th & 8th, 2026.  Brianna Lennon, County Clerk, joins us to talk about the recent General Election.  How did it go?  Any major problems?  What's next?  There is some great information in here from Brianna!  Eric Kopinski, Director of the I-70Improvement Project joins us to talk about the project as it stands today.  Great information on the latest items finished, the next situations to be finalized and a look ahead to what's still to come in the future.  Great rundown with Eric on what 's happening on I-70 across the state!

KFRU Business Spotlight -- November 7th &amp; 8th, 2026.&nbsp; Brianna Lennon, County Clerk, joins us to talk about the recent General Election.&nbsp; How did it go?&nbsp; Any major problems?&nbsp; What's next?&nbsp; There is some great information in here from Brianna!&nbsp; Eric Kopinski, Director of the I-70Improvement Project joins us to talk about the project as it stands today.&nbsp; Great information on the latest items finished, the next situations to be finalized and a look ahead to what's still to come in the future.&nbsp; Great rundown with Eric on what 's happening on I-70 across the state!

Brianna Lennon, County Clerk.  Boone County. Eric Kopinski, Director.  I-70 Improvement Project.

KFRU Business Spotlight -- October 31st & November 1st, 2026.  Mayor Barbara Buffaloe joins us to preview this Monday night's city council meeting.  To begin with we talk about the dedication ceremony for the newly updated Columbia Water Plant, the end of a years-long project.  The plant can now run at its maximum capacity.  Plus, the City Parks & Recreation Department opened 16 new pickleball courts at Albert Oakland Park.  The new courts fill demand, but will also bring in bigger tournament like the Show Me States Games and others.  The final segment of this week's show is an interview David Lile recorded as part of a podcast series curated by Supporters of Prop L and Sheriff Dwayne Carey.  David talks with the Mental Health Director of the jail, Dr. Anita Caver.  The doctor explains the benefits of new dedicated space in a new jail proposal that will better meet the needs of some detainees. 

KFRU Business Spotlight -- October 31st &amp; November 1st, 2026.&nbsp; Mayor Barbara Buffaloe joins us to preview this Monday night's city council meeting.&nbsp; To begin with we talk about the dedication ceremony for the newly updated Columbia Water Plant, the end of a years-long project.&nbsp; The plant can now run at its maximum capacity.&nbsp; Plus, the City Parks &amp; Recreation Department opened 16 new pickleball courts at Albert Oakland Park.&nbsp; The new courts fill demand, but will also bring in bigger tournament like the Show Me States Games and others.&nbsp; The final segment of this week's show is an interview David Lile recorded as part of a podcast series curated by Supporters of Prop L and Sheriff Dwayne Carey.&nbsp; David talks with the Mental Health Director of the jail, Dr. Anita Caver.&nbsp; The doctor explains the benefits of new dedicated space in a new jail proposal that will better meet the needs of some detainees.&nbsp;

Barbara Buffaloe, Mayor.  Columbia City Council.  David Lile and Dr. Anita Caver.  Prop L Information.

KFRU Business Spotlight -- October 24th & 25th, 2026.  Don Waterman joins me this week.  Don has recently joined the Convention & Visitors Advisory Board, following his time as a member of the city council. From there, we talk about the upcoming November General Election, specifically Proposition L, and Proposition A, plus the few competitive races for 44th House District and Associate Circuit Judge.

KFRU Business Spotlight -- October 24th &amp; 25th, 2026.&nbsp; Don Waterman joins me this week.&nbsp; Don has recently joined the Convention &amp; Visitors Advisory Board, following his time as a member of the city council. From there, we talk about the upcoming November General Election, specifically Proposition L, and Proposition A, plus the few competitive races for 44th House District and Associate Circuit Judge.

Don Waterman, Retired.  Former 5th Ward City Councilman

KFRU Business Spotlight -- November 17th & 18th, 2026.  Eric Kopinski joins us this week to bring us up to date on the I-70  improvement project.  He gave us a timetable on when projects within Columbia will be completed.  Mayor Barbara Buffaloe joins us to talk about the upcoming city council meeting on Monday night. There is always a lot of activity to offer the opportunity for input from the public.  

KFRU Business Spotlight -- November 17th &amp; 18th, 2026.&nbsp; Eric Kopinski joins us this week to bring us up to date on the I-70&nbsp; improvement project.&nbsp; He gave us a timetable on when projects within Columbia will be completed.&nbsp; Mayor Barbara Buffaloe joins us to talk about the upcoming city council meeting on Monday night. There is always a lot of activity to offer the opportunity for input from the public.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Eric Kopinski, Director.  I-70 Improvement Project. Barbara Buffaloe, Mayor.  Columbia City Council.

KFRU Business Spotlight -- October 10th and 11th, 2026.  Columbia Police Chief Jill Schlude joins us this week to talk public safety.  We start with a conversation about the 1 cent sales tax for public safety passed in the August Primary.  Jill gives us a rundown of when the tax starts being collected, when the first funds will be available, and, finally, a timeline on when the activities funded by the tax will begin.  Planning is already underway for the remodeling of the city-owned IBM Building because it was part of capital improvement plan and some funding is already set aside. We also talk about the recent report on downtown crime to the city council and detailed some of the information included.

KFRU Business Spotlight -- October 10th and 11th, 2026.&nbsp; Columbia Police Chief Jill Schlude joins us this week to talk public safety.&nbsp; We start with a conversation about the 1 cent sales tax for public safety passed in the August Primary.&nbsp; Jill gives us a rundown of when the tax starts being collected, when the first funds will be available, and, finally, a timeline on when the activities funded by the tax will begin.&nbsp; Planning is already underway for the remodeling of the city-owned IBM Building because it was part of capital improvement plan and some funding is already set aside. We also talk about the recent report on downtown crime to the city council and detailed some of the information included.

Jill Schlude, Police Chief.  Columbia Police Department

KFRU Business Spotlight -- October 2nd & 3rd, 2026.  Just back from a trip to Chattanooga with leaders in the Columbia business community on their annual Chamber visit, Buffaloe joins us to talk about city council matters.  We found out more about the Chamber trip and how what was learned can be connected to things happening in Columbia.  We talked about the recent report on Community Violence. Information from the report might help hiring new members to the staff in this city office in the near future. We also talked digital water meters and flock cameras.

KFRU Business Spotlight -- October 2nd &amp; 3rd, 2026.&nbsp; Just back from a trip to Chattanooga with leaders in the Columbia business community on their annual Chamber visit, Buffaloe joins us to talk about city council matters.&nbsp; We found out more about the Chamber trip and how what was learned can be connected to things happening in Columbia.&nbsp; We talked about the recent report on Community Violence. Information from the report might help hiring new members to the staff in this city office in the near future. We also talked digital water meters and flock cameras.

Barbara Buffaloe.  Mayor, Columbia City Council.

KFRU Business Spotlight -- September 19th & 20th.  Mayor Barbara Buffaloe joins us to preview the upcoming City Council meeting on Monday night  This is the last meeting of the fiscal year, so that means the budget will be finalized and voted on.  The mayor talked about the budget, specifically focusing on the dollar in the general fund pointed toward public safety.  For both the fire and police departments, those number go up just a percentage or two.  In the third segment of the show, we present one of six podcasts that Sheriff Dwayne Carey has curated to provide information supporting the Prop L sales tax on the November ballot.  This week, David Lile interviews Jeff Hilbrenner, a local private practice defense attorney, about problems with holding many inmates outside of Boone County, and the complications that causes for those charged with a crime, their families, attorneys on both sides and the court schedule.

KFRU Business Spotlight -- September 19th &amp; 20th.&nbsp; Mayor Barbara Buffaloe joins us to preview the upcoming City Council meeting on Monday night&nbsp; This is the last meeting of the fiscal year, so that means the budget will be finalized and voted on.&nbsp; The mayor talked about the budget, specifically focusing on the dollar in the general fund pointed toward public safety.&nbsp; For both the fire and police departments, those number go up just a percentage or two.&nbsp; In the third segment of the show, we present one of six podcasts that Sheriff Dwayne Carey has curated to provide information supporting the Prop L sales tax on the November ballot.&nbsp; This week, David Lile interviews Jeff Hilbrenner, a local private practice defense attorney, about problems with holding many inmates outside of Boone County, and the complications that causes for those charged with a crime, their families, attorneys on both sides and the court schedule.

Barbara Buffaloe, Mayor.  Columbia City Council. David Lile, Host. Prop L Podcasts

KFRU Business Spotlight - September 12th & 13th, 2026.  Eric Kopinski, Director, I-70 Improvement Project Director joins us to talk about a weekend closure of westbound I-70 at the connector while the construction crews put up the girders that hang over the highway safely. Eric also gave us an update on most of the work going on in  Columbia area.  We also had a conversation with the folks from the Boone County Office of Emergency Management about the upcoming Ready Festival at Cosmo Park on Thursday.  Chris Kelley, Director of the OEM introduced us to the newest member of their staff, Beth Kennedy, who joins the office as the Communications and Outreach Specialist, filling a new position approved by the county commission.

KFRU Business Spotlight - September 12th &amp; 13th, 2026.&nbsp; Eric Kopinski, Director, I-70 Improvement Project Director joins us to talk about a weekend closure of westbound I-70 at the connector while the construction crews put up the girders that hang over the highway safely. Eric also gave us an update on most of the work going on in&nbsp; Columbia area.&nbsp; We also had a conversation with the folks from the Boone County Office of Emergency Management about the upcoming Ready Festival at Cosmo Park on Thursday.&nbsp; Chris Kelley, Director of the OEM introduced us to the newest member of their staff, Beth Kennedy, who joins the office as the Communications and Outreach Specialist, filling a new position approved by the county commission.

Eric Kopinski, MODOT.  Director, I-70 Improvement Project. Chris Kelley, Director and Beth Kennedy, Communications and Outreach Specialist.  Boone County Office of Emergency Management.

KFRU Business Spotlight -- September 5th & 6th, 2026.  Mayor Barbara Buffaloe joins us for a preview of the first September council meeting to be held Tuesday night (9/8) because of the Labor Day holiday.  This meeting will include the final public hearing on the city's budget for 2026-2027 that will take effect on October 1st, the first day of new city fiscal year.  Still lots to talk about on the budget as there are a number of amendments to be voted on and more input to hear before the budget document is set in its final form to be approved at the September 21st meeting (although, there could be more amendments to vote up or down then).  Next topic for discussion after that will be interested to citizens of Columbia, is the Energy Code that will get it first reading on Tuesday night.

KFRU Business Spotlight -- September 5th &amp; 6th, 2026.&nbsp; Mayor Barbara Buffaloe joins us for a preview of the first September council meeting to be held Tuesday night (9/8) because of the Labor Day holiday.&nbsp; This meeting will include the final public hearing on the city's budget for 2026-2027 that will take effect on October 1st, the first day of new city fiscal year.&nbsp; Still lots to talk about on the budget as there are a number of amendments to be voted on and more input to hear before the budget document is set in its final form to be approved at the September 21st meeting (although, there could be more amendments to vote up or down then).&nbsp; Next topic for discussion after that will be interested to citizens of Columbia, is the Energy Code that will get it first reading on Tuesday night.

Barbara Buffaloe, Mayor.  Columbia City Council.

KFRU Business Spotlight -- August 29th & 30th, 2026.  Fire Chief Brian Schaeffer joins us to talk about the voters passing the Public Safety Sales Tax earlier this month.  We talk about the plan that was developed previous to the passage of the tax and discuss the timetable for beginning of collection of the tax (January), the first report on the funds coming in from the tax (March) and plans in place to add to the roster of the fire department starting very soon.  Brian Toohey, the CEO of the Board of Realtors gives up the data on the recently released July housing information.  Median price in Columbia? $389,000.  That's  a record!  Brian also discusses interest rates, building codes and energy codes being discussed now, with the city council taking an in-depth look at the September 21st meeting. 

KFRU Business Spotlight -- August 29th &amp; 30th, 2026.&nbsp; Fire Chief Brian Schaeffer joins us to talk about the voters passing the Public Safety Sales Tax earlier this month.&nbsp; We talk about the plan that was developed previous to the passage of the tax and discuss the timetable for beginning of collection of the tax (January), the first report on the funds coming in from the tax (March) and plans in place to add to the roster of the fire department starting very soon.&nbsp; Brian Toohey, the CEO of the Board of Realtors gives up the data on the recently released July housing information.&nbsp; Median price in Columbia? $389,000.&nbsp; That's&nbsp; a record!&nbsp; Brian also discusses interest rates, building codes and energy codes being discussed now, with the city council taking an in-depth look at the September 21st meeting.&nbsp;

Brian Schaeffer, Fire Chief, Columbia Fire Department.  Brian Toohey, Chief Executive Officer, Mid-Missouri Board of Realtors.

Join Mark Mills each Sunday as we visit with business leaders across Missouri. We'll take a deep dive into the news and issues that are impacting Mid-Missouri's business community.  Listen live on KFRU every Sunday morning at 8 am.

Join Mark Mills each Sunday as we visit with business leaders across Missouri. We'll take a deep dive into the news and issues that are impacting Mid-Missouri's business community.  Listen live on KFRU every Sunday morning at 8 am.

KFRU Business Spotlight

Mark Mills speaks with local business leaders and keeps you connected to Columbia's vibrant business community.

Mark Mills speaks with local business leaders and keeps you connected to Columbia's vibrant business community.

The KFRU Business Spotlight

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