KFRU Business Spotlight

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 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 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 -- 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. 

Our first guest this week is Jacque Sample, City Councilwoman from Ward 3.  We talk about the passage of the Public Safety Tax and what the council will be digging in to moving forward.   We also discussed another "marathon" council meeting and talked about the ever growing list of items that need to appear on the agenda.  Lots of activity that comes to the council for discussion, research, public input and finally a decision.  In the third segment of the show we talk with Jami Clevenger, the Executive Officer for the Columbia Home Builder's Association.  Moved to a later date in the year, this annual event is set for Saturday and Sunday, August 29th and 30th.  Also a great way to get input from experts on home remodeling, painting, landscaping and so much more!  The HBA Home Show will be held at the Columbia Mall.

KFRU Business Spotlight -- August 15th and 16th, 2026.  Eric Kopinski, the Director of the I-70 Improvement Project for MODOT joins us to get caught up on the latest as the I-70 project continues.  The big news this week is that the Lake of the Woods bridge over the interstate at St. Charles Road is rebuild and carrying traffic as of Friday.  This piece of the project was completed on a shorter than normal timetable and was ready to go 20+ days early.  Lots more is happening in the central Missouri area.  Shawna Johnson, the  Engagement Coordinator for the City of Columbia from the City Manger's office lets us know of many ways citizens of Columbia can get engaged in conversations about issues confronting the city.  This week, there is a Let's Talk Local session on Thursday that will focus on the electric transmission line construction.  The meeting is hosted by council members Christina Hartmann and Betsy Peters.  There are many other opportunities to get involved on city topics each month.

KFRU Business Spotlight-- July 18th & July 19th, 2026.  The August 4th Primary election ballot includes a special City Council election for the 4th Ward, following the resignation of councilman Nick Foster. Ryan King, Sharon Jones and David Sorrell joined me to talk about their reasons for running, their priorities for the city council overall and the 4th Ward specifically.  They each answered a specific question about the Columbia Public Safety 1 cent sales tax issue also on the August ballot. 

 KFRU Business Spotlight 0 July 11th and 12th, 2026.  This week we talk about the Columbia Chamber of Commerce with VP of External Affairs, Lily Boyd White. Lily bring sus up to date on the new President/CEO of the Chamber Abdul-Kaba Abdullah.  The new leader is in a transition period finishing up his work in the St. Louis area to working in Columbia to get set to go.  His official first day will be August 3rd.  Lily also helped us look back at the Chamber activities through the end of the fiscal year on June 3oth.  We also hear this week from Eric Kopinsky, who is the Director of the I-70 Improvement Program for MODOT.  Eric brought us up to date on many parts of the massive project, telling us some segment s that are completed, while other parts are getting underway, quickly moving the project forward.

KFRU Business Spotlight -- June 27th & 28th, 2026.  Columbia Police Chief Jill Schlude and Columbia Fire Chief Brain Schaffer join me this week to discuss the upcoming vote on a 1 cent sales tax increase for citizens of Columbia, that will appear on the August 4th ballot.  The approximately 38 million dollars that would be collected each year would be put into a special separate fund to be used only for additional personnel, equipment and infrastructure for these to public safety entities, allowing them to reach specific standards of service not met because of underfunding for a number of years. Both Chiefs have been presenting educational presentations to many local groups over th past few weeks.

KFRU Business Spotlight -- June 13th & 14th, 2026. Mayor Barbara Buffaloe joins us to talk about the Public Safety One Cent tax that will be on the ballot for the August Election.  We go back to the beginnings of the conversations about the need for additional funds to support both the Columbia Fire Department and the Columbia Police Department that started unofficially nearly 10 years ago.  The specific official conversations and the vote by the city council to place it on the August ballot came in the last year of so.  The council voted to put the question on the August ballot in May.  We talk about the needs of both the fire and police departments.  We also talked about push back from some groups in Columbia that seem to have made the tax vote a referendum on the abilities and shortcomings of the Mayor, City Council and City Manager, instead of a solution to a problem identified by community conversations recently.

KFRU Business Spotlight -- June 6th & 7th, 2026.  Jacque Sample, 3rd Ward City Councilwoman, joins us to talk about her first year (and a bit) on the Columbia City Council, telling us about how the council works together as a team.  We asked about her favorite parts of the job and the negative points as well.  We talked extensively about the one-cent sales tax up for a vote of the citizens of Columbia on the August ballot.  We also talked about the 3rd Ward happenings, including a new City Park on Mexico Gravel Road.

KFRU Business Spotlight -- May 23rd & 24th, 2026. Eric Kopinski, the director of the Improve I-70 Project, joins us to talk about the ongoing activity as the widening of I-70 to three lanes both ways continues.  Eric talks about some parts of the overall project that have been completed, some just in the last days.  We also talk about the big parts of the project which will be happening in the next few weeks.  Kopinski always acknowledges the impacts that the program has on the Columbia area and across the state, but is always positive about the safety and driving ease the updates will bring to local residents When it all done. We also talk big picture about driving on I-70 this summer both to the west and to the east from COMO.

KFRU Business Spotlight -- May 16th & 17th, 2026.  This week, Lili Vianello of Visionworks Marketing tells us about Relocating in Columbia, a recent acquisition for her company.  The magazine focuses on stories on many exciting people, places and things in Columbia. We cover many topics including the start of Visionworks and the changes that have occurred through the years.  We also talk to Kate Harry and Patsy Stem from Up to Good.  Up to Good is the new name for Assistance League of Mid-Missouri.  It's the same organization with a different name.  The membership decided to go independent and -- after a lot of long hours and interesting conversations -- the new name was introduced this past week.  We talk about all the things that remain the same, including the main fundraising vehicle, Upscale Resale in the Broadway Shops.

KFRU Business Spotlight -- May 9th & 10th. Gregg Busch, the 50th District State Rep and John Martin, the 44th District State Rep, join us for this week's Spotlight to talk about the latest news as this year's session nears its end.  We cover the new budget and its effect on Missourians, talk about income taxes versus sales taxes and educational funding.  All that information with the perspective from both sides of the aisle politcally.

KFRU Business Spotlight -- May 2nd & 3rd, 2026.  Nick Foster joins us this weekend after an announcement on Thursday, April 30th, that he intended to resign from the Columbia City Council effective June 12th.  Nick's wife, Candace Kuby, PhD, is a Deputy Provost at the University of Missouri and has taken a job as the Dean of the Education school at Georgia State University in Atlanta.  Nick and Candace and their daughter will be moving to Georgia in July.  Because there is more than a year remaining in this term on the council, the city council will  decide when a special election will take place. We also talk to Nick about the upcoming sales tax for public safety discussion

KFRU Business Spotlight -- April 25th & 26th, 2026.  This week on the KFRU Business Spotlight, Director Chris Kelley joins us to talk about the Office of Emergency Management. There has been much activity at the center in the past few weeks with severe weather passing through Boone County, so Chris told us what happens at the OEM during those times designated through communication with the National Weather Service.  There have been recent updates to the siren system where an automated system sound only in the polygon area (that you see on TV or on your phone through an app) of a severe thunderstorm or tornado warning. There many other times that the Office of Emergency Management is used including activities of many people are in the same place, like on a Football Saturday. 

KFRU Business Spotlight -- April 18th & 19th, 2026.  Dr Mun Choi joins us this week to talk about the University of Missouri.  From research at the NextGen MURR and NextGen Precision Medicine, the university is making great strides to finding cures for many medical conditions.  For the first time ever, Ellis Fischel Cancer Center is hosting a trial that focuses on liver cancers.  Hear what Dr. Choi has to say about a full circle win for Columbia that includes all the research to the trial itself to the company funding this particular treatment building a facility here to package and ship the treatment around the world.  We also talk about an expansion of the University of Missouri Medical School to Springfield, the continuing conversation about public safety and the upgrades to the football stadium.  Oh, and we talk about GPS necklaces for cattle.  No need for fences!

KFRU Business Spotlight -- April 11th & 12th, 2026.  Randy Cole, CEO of the Columbia Housing Authority, joins us. Randy gives us some insight on what the CHA is and what it does for folks in Columbia.  The Columbia Housing Authority celebrates 70 years this year.  One brand new CHA development has just been completed in the past six months, while a complete "to the ground" remodel is going on for their Blind Boone and Park Avenue facilities.  Using some federal funds, some state funds, some local funds and investments from local businesses allows the CHA to serve many in Columbia. 

KFRU Business Spotlight -- April 4th & 5th, 2026.  The candidates for the 5th Ward City Council seat in the April 7th Municipal Election join us for a last weekend before the election day conversation.  Christina Hartman is the challenger in the race and talks about her reason to get involved through the council, along with the things she believes are most important for the council to work on in the coming years.  She believes she can get off to a quick start making changes.  Don Waterman is the incumbent in the race as his three year first term comes to an end.  Don tells us there is work still to do on many fronts and outlines what coming up for the city council.  Don says that the learning curve is long, so his time as a city councilman is an advantage to the city if he's re-elected.  

KFRU Business Spotlight -- March 21st & 22nd, 2026.  Ken Rice joins us to talk Columbia.  Ken, who has had an unsuccessful run for both City Council and School Board seats, has taken on new service positions recently taking a spot on the Columbia Disabilities Commission.  We talk about how that commission works and the information they provide for the City Council and members of the community.  Ken also gives us his thoughts on the upcoming municipal election, including city council and school board elections.

KFRU Business Spotlight -- March 28th & 29th, 2026.  Eric Kopinski joins us to talk about the I-70 Improvement program.  Eric is the director of the program and brings us an overview of the project, along with the very latest traffic modifications underway right now that will affect drivers now through the late summer months.  Eric also gets into the changes within the program that allows for safer driving and more efficient traffic patterns around Columbia.

KFRU Business Spotlight -- March 14th & 15th, 2026.  Sydney Olsen joins us to talk about communications and the City of Columbia.  Sydney has been pitching this proposal from City Manger De'Carlon Seewood to the council even as she plans to make a move to the Marketing Director position at Central Bank of Boone County. The change would make a change in supervisors of many of the communications employees.  The head of the department would move up to a Director position from a Manger position hoping to align services to better serve citizens of Columbia. 

KFRU Business Spotlight -- March 7th & 8th, 2026. Dr. Jennifer Rukstad, the Executive Director of the MSHSAA joins us to talks about two bills, Senate Bill 863 and House Bill 2278, that were written to change the governing body that would oversee the association from a group chosen from members of the association to a group chosen by the legislature.  Ironically, the bills were filed as the MSHSAA celebrates its 100 year anniversary. Through discussions with the authors of the bills, some progress has been made to avoid a total takeover by a new governing body with a possibility of an additional review board 

KFRU Business Spotlight -- February 28th & March 1st, 2026.  This is a best of show, replaying segments of the KBS from the past featuring COMO Vanguard with Nick Knoth and David Lile, Columbia Police Chief Jill Schlude and Columbia Fire Chief Brian Schaeffer.

KFRU Business Spotlight -- February 21st & 22nd, 2026. This week, Paul Eisenstein, the director of the City of Columbia Office of Economic Development department and the President of Regional Economic Development, Inc brings us up-to-date on what's happening.  From working with businesses that may be looking to move their job producing activities here, to helping local businesses grow and expand here, to help in supporting entrepreneurs in developing ideas into new local businesses, the economic development help to grow the Columbia and Boone County economy.  Boone County is a growing county with somewhere around 2,000 new residents per year and that tends to support higher economic growth.

KFRU Business Spotlight -- February 14th & 15th, 2026.  Nick Foster, the 4th Ward City Councilman and Don Waterman, the 5th Ward City Councilman, joins me this week to talk electric transmission line construction.  The Columbia City Council met in a work session to hear a proposal from the Utilities Department to get a long paused project underway.  There are two routes being discussed, but the Water & Light Advisory board voted to support the Grindstone-Nifong-Vawter School Road version with a 5-0 vote.  That version is also the less expensive of the two. This is only the very beginning of the process which could take up to 10 years to complete once construction begins. 

KFRU Business Spotlight -- February 7th & 8th, 2026.  Columbia Fire Department Chief Brian Schaeffer joins us this week to talk about the latest at CFD.  Recently, a new recruit class of 13 graduated. Some moved on to their EMT training while the rest moved into their new assignments across the city.  Chief Schaeffer also explained a recent change in policy and procedure -- passed by the City council at their last meeting -- that aligns leadership responsibilities for emergency management to the Boone County Office of Emergency Management.  This move make the emergency management process more effective and efficient.

KFRU Business Spotlight -- 1/31 & 2/1, 2026.  This week Chief Jill Schlude from the Columbia Police Department joins us to talk about numerous topics.  First, Jill tells us it's been an active start to 2026 with a gun fired inside Dick's Sporting Goods, a murder as a Facebook Marketplace deal went bad over a used cell phone, and other shots fired calls this past week. We also talk about the fact that suspects in these crimes have been arrested in fairly short order which is the positive part.  The use of the Flock camera technology has played a significant role in these investigations as well. We talk about the meeting with the Governor, her plans for the request for officers for the upcoming budget discussions and told us some facts about ICE/Border Patrol activity in Columbia following a question from a member of the City Council. 

KFRU Business Spotlight -- January 24th & 25th, 2026.  Chip Jones, PE, the Executive Vice-President for Operations for Emery Sapp and Sons, joins us to talk about the I-70 Improvement project from Rocheport to Columbia that was recently awarded.to ESS. This is a 13 mile stretch of Highway 70 from the Missouri River Bridge at Rocheport to just about US Route 63 in Columbia  It's also one of the highest volume sections of the interstate as it is used as a local road for Columbia residents in addition to the ever increasing level of traffic on the interstate. There are many changes to be made in this segment of the project, including adding a third lane in each direction, reconstructing aging payment and bridges, upgrading major interchanges and local connections while improving flow for both regional traffic and daily commuters at the same time enhancing safety, reliability and long-term mobility.  Open houses are scheduled for early March for the public to see the finalized plans before work begins in April-may 2026.

KFRU Business Spotlight -- January 17th & 18th, 2026.  Brian Toohey, the CEO of the Columbia Board of Realtors joins us.  We take a look back on the best things and the worst things about 2025.  We also look ahead to 2026 and what to expect in terms of housing prices, interest rates and more.  Also, Brian tells us that the name of his organization will change in the next few months to more realistically reflect their membership.  He also gives us an update on the Columbia Board of Realtors upcoming candidate forum for the April Municipal elections with segments for both Columbia School Board and Columbia City Council candidates.

KFRU Business Spotlight -- January 10th & 11th, 2026. This week Ted Farnen joins to talk about a variety of things including his latest journalistic foray into being a columnist for the Columbia Missourian.  He talks about his second piece that covered the "median" laws that the Columbia City Council brought forward, then tabled recently.  We also get into the upcoming local election for Columbia City Council and Columbia Schools Board of Education. We also talk about the opening days of the Missouri Legislative session and what to look for moving forward. 

KFRU Business Spotlight -- January 3rd & 4th, 2026.  Happy New Year!!!  This week we talk with Nick Knoth and David Lile.  Nick is the owner and editor and producer of COMO Vanguard, a new subscription information service that covers the Columbia City Council meetings, along with some special reports on council news and the planning and zoning commission. COMO Vanguard will take the "next" step in their coverage of the council with a podcast after every city council meeting.  David Lile joins Nick as a co-host of the podcast that intends to give additional information depth to particular council matters.  Along with Nick and David, there will always be a third voice involved as a co-host for even more depth on the focused topic.  COMOVanguard.com  

KFRU Business Spotlight -- December 27th & 28th, 2025.  Kip Kendrick, the Presiding Commissioner of Boone County joins us.  We look back at the most positive things, according to Kip, for 2025.  We talk 9-1-1 Center's radio upgrade for the entire county, the Sheriff's Regional Training Center, the start of the construction of the Daycare Center for Joint Communications and First Responders and the Senior Tax Freeze.  We cover a lot of bases about good things happening in Boone County and look forward to 2026.

KFRU Business Spotlight -- December 20th & 21st, 2025.  Mayor Barbara Buffaloe joins us this week for out annual "Year-End" conversation.  We start with a recent highlight for 2025 as American Airlines will soon begin offering flights out of Columbia Reginal Airport to Charlotte, North Carolina.  This long sought after route will begin in June 2026.  The Mayor gives us her top five positives for 2025, which we spend some time talking about details on ongoing conversations about public safety, infrastructure, affordable housing and much more.

KFRU Business Spotlight -- December 13th & 14th, 2025. Lily White Boyd, Interim COE/President of the Columbia Chamber of Commerce joins us this week.  We talk bout the transition happening at the Chamber as the search for a permanent President/CEO in underway after Matt McCormick left to move to Florida to lead the Ocala Chamber.  Lily still has her job as Vice President of External Affairs and the interim position added as the search process moves forward.  The Chamber staff is not at full strength in a couple of other areas, complicating matters.  We talk transition, then what's happened midway through the Chamber year and what to come in the second half. The I-70 project is moving forward in and around Columbia, out of Kansas City and out of St, Louis.

KFRU Business Spotlight -- December 6th & 7th, 2025.  Dave Baugher and John Ott  join me this week for a look back at a significant period in the life of KFRU as it celebrates its 100th birthday in 2025.  Dave Baugher was the President and John Ott the Vice-President of Premier Marketing Group, the operators of KFRU, and eventually six other stations, in the Columbia-Jefferson City market.  We talk about the "golden days" of radio for KFRU in both programming content and sales, including many of the names of folks who appeared on the air in this time period that ended in 2005.

KFRU Business Spotlight -- November 29th & 30th, 2025.  We talk this week with Damien Dean, the Executive Director of United Community Builders. Damien tells about the latest project underway as they complete the construction of the Beacon of Light Center on Towne Drive in Columbia.  UCB gives low income kids from around the city a place to learn and grow and develop great skills to be a good citizen of their community in a safe environment, no matter the age.  UCB works with preschool kids to sixth graders.  Former Police Chief, now a realtor with Bev & Co in Columbia tells about his reason to be on the board of directors and connecting to this organization in teaching kids positive lessons.

KFRU Business Business Spotlight -- November 22nd & 23rd, 20.  We talk with Brian Schaeffer, the Fire Chief, Columbia Fire Department.  The Chief reviews the technical rescue of a 12-yer-old boy from the Columbia stormwater system.  The story is fascinating, but scary, along with incredible because it ended in a positive way.  It also a story of cooperation among various departments of the City of Columbia including the Fire Department, the Police Department, the Utilities Department (particularly the Stormwater section) and Boone County Joint Communications.  We also talk personnel needs and get an update on construction work coming for Fire State 5 and the progress on the new Fire Station 10.

KFRU Business Spotlight -- November 15th & 16th, 2025. Matt Stephens, Deputy Chief of the Columbia Police Department, joins us this week for an update on CPD.  We talk about the policies and practices being discussed since an incident on Homecoming weekend caused the spotlight to be shone on violent crime in downtown Columbia.  There have been many discussions and some changes have been made.  CPD has continued plans for weekend nights in downtown that were actually put in place as early as June.  Changes have evolved including partnerships with the Boone County Sheriffs Department, University of Missouri Police Department and the Missouri Highway Patrol.  We talk about building the numbers of officers on staff and getting them trained and through the process to the streets. 

KFRU Business Spotlight -- November 8-9-2025.  Ken Rice, former candidate for Ward 2 Columbia City Council and Columbia School Board, joins me to talk about the latest budget for the city, his participation in alternative version of the downtown walk the same night Dr. Mun Choi walked after bringing forward his concerns about homeless, panhandling and violence in downtown and university campus area. He's been a participant the last few weeks in the Columbia Civic Academy, describing some details that offer education about the inner workings of the City.  We also comments on his latest concerns for the Columbia Public Schools. 

KFRU Business Spotlight -- October 18th & 19th, 2025.  Dr. Richard Barohn, the Executive Vice-Chancellor for Health Affairs and the Hugh E. and Sarah D. Stephenson Dean, MU School of Medicine and Dr. Ross Zafonte, Executive Vice Dean, MY School of Medicine, join us to talk about expansion of the number of students per year for MU School of Medicine, research activity at the School of Medicine, MU Healthcare, MU Children's Hospital and Next Gen Precision Health. We also talk about the Rural Scholars Program on their 30th Anniversary and a new large grant to establish a Center for Telehealth Research and Policy.  We cover a lot of ground in this interview.

KFRU Business Spotlight - October 11th and 12th, 2025.  Columbia Mayor Barbara Buffaloe joins us to talk about the conversations going on in Columbia on public safety, violence and homelessness in Columbia.  Buffaloe talked about meetings that have happened so far with Dr. Mun Choi from MU and other leaders in both city and county government.  She talks about her decision to not put together a task fore to focus on these topics, but her preference to use standing boards and commissions to hold the discussions. We talk about the depth of the public safety issue.  She also details changes directed by Police Chief Jill Schlude that have been ongoing for a few months that have brought positive results in disrupting some violent crime in the downtown area as well as deterring crowds of folks from jamming the streets of area of downtown Columbia.

KFRU Business Spotlight -- October 4th and 5th, 2025.  Dr. Mun Choi, the President of the University of Missouri System and the Chancellor of the University of Missouri-Columbia, joins us to talk about a conversation on public safety he has spearheaded with City, County and University officials, based on the reality of crime in the downtown and campus area that has affected students and staff of MU for many years. He started with an outline of the problem in an address to the Columbia Chamber of Commerce at their September Quarterly Membership Breakfast, followed by participation in a meeting with community leaders that was set up by the District staff.  He then sent out an email on Homecoming day to say the conversation needed to happen now and move forward quickly after a Columbia born and raised Stephens College student was shot and killed in a random act of violence in downtown Columbia. We check in with Mun Choi on where we are at now and his expectations of those conversations in the next days, weeks and months. 

KFRU Business Spotlight -- September 26th and 27th, 2025.  Matt McCormick joins us to review a very busy and active Columbia Chamber of Commerce calendar.  Top news: Matt has tendered his resignation, effective October 31st and will be moving to Ocala, Florida to lead the Chamber and Economic Development there.  Matt talks about the benefits of United Airlines coming back to Columbia Regional Airport and previews the annual Columbia Chamber trip to Columbia, South Carolina. We talk about the five nominees for the 2025 Non-Profit of the Year Award.  We also review the Quarterly Membership Breakfast and two very informative presentations from Columbia Police Chief Jill Schlude and University of Missouri President and UMC -Columbia Chancellor Mun Choi. 

KFRU Business Spotlight - August 30th & 31st, 2025.  Ken RIce joins us this week to talk Columbia City Council.  Ken ran for the 2nd Ward City Council seat earlier in August, but lost in a close vote to Vera Elwood.  Rice joins us to talk about his experience in the election process.  He talks about the many things he was able to learn about how the city does business, how the city builds the annual budget and offers insight into all those processes from his perspective.  We focus on the upcoming vote for the fiscal year 2026 City of Columbia budget and his suggestions to the city council as he has continued to delve into the operations of the city.

KFRU Business Spotlight - September 13th and 14th, 2025.  Don Waterman, Columbia City Councilman representing the fifth ward joins us to talk about the 2026 fiscal year budget.  After months of input on the budget, the Columbia City Council is required to pass the budget for the new fiscal year starting October 1st, 2025.  Most preliminary budget items, including some changes to electric and water rates or billing structures are approved, leaving just an item or two to add to the list before the entire budget is passed.  

KFRU Business Spotlight -- August 23rd - 24th, 2025. Bridgid Kinney, the Head of School for Columbia Independent School and Bill Kinney, one of the owners of Trail Stop Brewery talk about a new Pickleball Fundraiser coming up in September. Roar & Rally, a pickleball tournament benefitting Columbia Independent School will be held at Trail Stop Brewery on Friday, September 12th. Bridgid and Bill give us all the details. We also get an update about CIS from Bridgid after the first full week of school. Bill gives us the lowdown on how the Trail Stop Brewery came about and how their first few months of operation have been going.

KFRU Business Spotlight -- August 16th and August 17th, 2025.  Mat Gass joins us to talk about the grand opening of the Burrell Behavioral Health Intensive Residential Treatment Service Center.  This is a new center - in the former Rainbow House property - that will house folks from six months to two years as they work through mental health issues and transition into more permanent housing and work situations.  Gass also outlines the many services that the Brightli owned entities, including Burrell, Clarity Health Care and preferred Family Healthcare, provide to area residents.  He also discusses many upgrades to facilities that are underway now.  Mat Gass is the Chairman of the Board for the Columbia Chamber of Commerce this year and we cover that, too.

KFRU Business Spotlight -- August 9th and 10th, 2025.  Nick Knoth joins us for this week's show to talk about the August 5th special election to fill Lisa Meyer's council seat after her resignation due to her health.  Vera Elwood won the election over Ken Rice and we dig into the election numbers.  Nick, the author of the COMO Vanguard which covers the Columbia City Council, and a former city council person, gives us some input into the upcoming budget for the 2026 Fiscal Year which is in the final stages of the process to finalize by the City Manager. 

KFRU Business Spotlight -- August 2nd and 3rd, 2025.  Chief Brian Schaeffer joins us this week to talk about the Columbia, MO Fire Department .  We talk about the upcoming city budget conversations and what the CFD will be requesting for the upcoming fiscal year.  We also talk about current staffing and the Chief's proposed staffing wishes that would lead to a shorter calls time city-wide and a higher fire rating for Columbia, giving citizens a break on their home insurance.  We get the latest news on Station 10 and the necessity for a remodel/rebuild for Station 5.  Finally we discuss a Columbia Fire Department investigation into a flash flood high water rescue that resulted in the tragic death of a Boone County Firefighter Assistant Fire Chief.  CFD has implemented changes that include equipment, updated policies and wider-ranging training.