Around the Counties
The Missouri Supreme Court is weighing whether a 2022 law criminalizing “explicit sexual material” in school libraries violates free speech. A Jackson County judge struck the law down last November after it “sowed great confusion” across Missouri school districts and pushed librarians to pull books off shelves — a question that matters directly for how our own local school libraries operate. (Missouri Independent)
Fitzgibbon Hospital in Marshall is ending inpatient labor and delivery services Sept. 30, citing years of financial losses. The women’s care clinic will stay open, and the hospital says it will help expectant mothers transition their care to other providers — one more mile added to the drive for families in our stretch of mid-Missouri who relied on it. (ABC 17 News)
And a quick reminder: the public meeting on the future of Katy Station is set for Sunday, Oct. 4, 5-8 p.m. at Shiloh’s Bar & Grill in Columbia.
Happening Soon
Tonight in Rocheport: the Daniel Boone Library Bookmobile stops on Central Street at 3 p.m., and Locals Night starts at 4 p.m. Over in Columbia, Modest Mouse plays tonight, Randall King takes the stage tomorrow, and Mid-Missouri Pridefest runs Saturday starting at noon.
Roads & I-70
A 48-year-old St. Joseph man died Monday evening in a crash on eastbound I-70 near mile marker 99 in Cooper County. Missouri State Highway Patrol says his motorcycle overturned and he was struck by another vehicle; he was pronounced dead at the scene. The highway was backed up roughly two miles for about three hours. (ABC 17 News)
Heads up if you’re driving through Columbia this weekend: MoDOT will narrow westbound I-70 to one lane and close the U.S. 63 Connector ramps Friday at 7 p.m. through Saturday at 6 a.m. for flyover-ramp construction. Detour via Route 763 (Range Line) or Route 740 (Stadium) if you’re headed that way. (MoDOT)
As of this morning, our live road-conditions tracker also shows a stretch of Providence Road (MO-163) near I-70 and a couple of I-70 outer-road segments closed on the Columbia side — worth a check before you go if you’re headed that direction.
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