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Life After Prison: A Four Part Series
From parenting to finding a job, life's usual challenges become magnified for those who have experienced life in prison. In a four part series, KBIA News looks at life after prison- for ex-offenders looking for work, or simply to start a new life, and for family members parenting, and grandparenting, through prison walls. (Pictured: Patty Prewitt plays with her grandkids during a 4H LIFE session)
- Part 1: "This Ain't the Life For Me"
KBIA's Emily Coppel and Lindsey Foat spent two weeks recently attending a class that helps ex-offenders get ready to find a job. They found that the men in the class have some internal challenges– they have to learn to face themselves before they go out and face the world.
- Part 2: "Why Can't I Get a Job?"
In this second edition to the series, KBIA's Emily Coppel and Lindsey Foat look at the external struggles the men face– how the community sees them and whether employers are willing to take a chance.
- Part 3: "This, to Them, is Mommy's House "
The second half of the series looks at the fastest growing incarcerated population: women. In this piece, KBIA's Emily Coppel and Lindsey Foat take us to the women's correctional center in Vandalia, MO. Here, one Saturday each month, kids meet with their incarcerated mothers and grandmothers. It's part of a 4H LIFE program that's trying to keep families together through the prison walls.
Web Extra! To view an audio slideshow of the 4H LIFE program, click here.
Float Along the Big Muddy
The Missouri River Communities Network is organizing a canoe and kayak float trip in hopes of getting more people out on the Big Muddy. MRNC's Daniel Polanski says it’s also a chance to learn more about the history of the Missouri River. The Big Canoe River Float is July 11th, but you have to be signed up by this Friday. (Pictured: Manitou Bluffs along the Missouri River, courtesy of MRCN)
NAACP Discusses Proposed Curfew Members of the Columbia branch of the NAACP met Tuesday night at the Second Missionary Baptist Church. Several voiced concerns about the effect of a proposed citywide juvenile curfew on African-American families in Columbia.
Kirksville Pastor and Councilman Arrested Aaron Rodgerson was arrested Friday for charges of child neglect and practicing law witout a license. Rodgerson has since posted bond. Rodgerson says he will continue work with his church and the city. He is scheduled to be arraigned July 6. (Photo courtesy City of Kirksville.)
Mid-Missourians Get Muddy for Charity Mudball, or volleyball in the mud, was put on Saturday as a fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Missouri. About 100 people attended the event. Kevin Roberts produced the story and audio slideshow.
Renaissance Fair Held Saturday in Jefferson City The one day Jefferson City Renaissance Festival began as a promotional event for the Kansas City Ren Fair but nine years later it's attracting thousands of people.
Juneteenth Celebration Held Saturday in Columbia
Across the country and around Mid-Missouri, residents gathered over the weekend to celebrate Juneteenth. … Juneteenth marks the day union soldiers rode into Galveston telling citizens the war was over and so was slavery. Columbia’s Juneteenth celebration was Saturday at Douglass Park. Despite rainy weather, residents turned out for the storytellers, choirs, and bit of history. KBIA’s Jessica Holley brings us this audio postcard.
Sen. Schaefer: Funding For Ellis Fischel Could be Cut According to State Senator Kurt Schaefer, funding for the Ellis Fischel Cancer center is again on the chopping block. During the session, it was in one day and out the next. Eventually funding for the $31.2 million dollar construction project was approved in a bi-partisan effort. But now it all comes down to Governor Jay Nixon.
Cleanup Continues in Northern Missouri a Month After Devastating Tornado Cleanup continues more than a month after a tornado swept through Northern Missouri. But there's still no word on whether the counties affected will get federal disaster assistance.
35 Veterans Visit Memorial in D.C. The Central Missouri Honor Flight program organized the trip to Washington D.C. Tuesday for the 35 veterans. It was the third honor flight, and it was all paid for with donations. Click here for an audio slideshow from the event.
Kirksville Airport Experiencing Low Ridership Air Choice One took over Kirksville Regional Airport 10 months ago and airline officials say ridership is less than one-third of what they'd projected.
Third Honor Flight Takes Veterans to D.C. Central Missouri Honor Flight flew its third group of veterans to Washington D.C. Tuesday. At 6:30 a.m. a plane carrying 35 veterans departed from St. Louis.
Council Approves Cyclist Harassment Ordinance Columbia city councilmembers approved an ordinance Monday they say will make streets safer for cyclists. (Pictured: More than a dozen cyclists lined up at the council meeting to talk about their experience with harassment.) Click here for reaction to the ordinance.
Jefferson City City Council Approves Community Center The Jefferson City City Council passed an ordinance Monday allowing a vacant building to be used for a community center. The building will be the permanent home to a swing dance club.
Soapbox Derby Takes Over Broadway
If you tried to drive along Broadway yesterday in downtown Columbia, you were stopped ... the street was closed off and hay bales and cones were set up on the pavement. It was the mid-Missouri soapbox derby. The event attracted kids, local politicians, business owners, and even the city’s new chief of police. KBIA’s Brian Lewis brings us the highlights of the day in this audio postcard. And click below, or here, to view video of the event.
Kirksville Tornado Sirens MalfunctioningThe tornado sirens in Kirksville worked last month when a tornado ripped through the town, but now these sirens are malfunctioning.
Thousands Attend Fair Tax RallyAlthough much less than the 30,000 some had predicted, several thousand people did turn out Saturday for the Midwest Fair Tax Rally in Columbia.
Pride Fest Encourages Diversity Columbia’s fifth annual Pride Fest this weekend celebrated diversity in the community. Click here for an audio slideshow from the event.
Whitt Elected to Columbia School BoardThe Columbia School Board voted Thursday to elect James Whitt to fill the seat on the board formerly held by Rosie Tippin. Whitt will be officially sworn in June 18th.
Research Provides New Way of Measuring Size of HailA University of Missouri student is using golf balls and soft balls as part of an experiment to predict the size of hailstones.
This story was also featured June 11 in Under the Microscope.
Arrest Made in Churchill Memorial VandalismA Crimestoppers tip led to the arrest of a Fulton man in connection with last week's vandalism. Police arrested Victor Calderon Tuesday night. (Pictured left, prior to the vandalism.)
Head Start Parents Learn Healthcare at Home
Emergency rooms across are seeing an influx of patients. Here in central Missouri, the non-profit group Central Missouri Community Action is partnering with UCLA to address the problem by training Head Start parents in healthcare at home.
USDA Holds Meeting About Animal Tracking SystemFarmers flocked to Jefferson City Tuesday to voice their opinions about the controversial animal identification system.
Residents Who Don't Speak English Struggle with Healthcare Access.Members of Missouri's Hispanic community face challenges getting access to healthcare. In this report, Tony Brown looks at a program that is helping non-English speakers overcome the language barrier. (Pictured: Columbia First Assembly Church pastor Sergio Martenes.)
Columbia School Board Approves Salary Increases The School Board approved a salary increase for hourly employees, Monday, despite predictions of more budget cuts.
Artists Display Work at Art in the Park
Artists displayed their works this weekend at the annual Art in the Park in Columbia. Wayne Trinklein, a tree artist from St. Peters, Missouri talks to KBIA's Brian Lewis about what each tree variety means and the differences between the species.
Public Pools Open Saturday in ColumbiaCity pools open Saturday in Columbia, but the hours are being cut back to save money. (Pictured, right: children at Stephens Lake Park.)
Jefferson City Plans Committee to Curb High School FightingThe Jefferson City School Board plans to implement a Climate and Culture Committee this summer to reduce fighting at Jefferson City High School next fall. KBIA's Cassandra Clemens has the story.
Brick Company Gets Approval to Expand in Jefferson City The Jefferson City City Council has given Midwest Block and Brick Approval to expand despite some neighbor's protests.
Columbia City Council Considers Ways to Eliminate Trash Problem Columbia City Council considers several approaches to eliminate the trash problem in some college neighborhoods. KBIA's Robert Kessler has the story. (Pictured above: trash sits on the curb in Columbia's East Campus neighborhood.)
Watkins Gives State of the City City Manager Bill Watkins says Columbia’s budget is sound, but not comfortable. He offered a number of proposals to steer the city back on track Wednesday, during his State of the City address. Sustainability was the theme, but this doesn’t only refer to energy use. KBIA's Maureen McCollum has more.
MU Professor Runs for President of Sudan
University of Missouri history professor Abdullahi Ibrahim hopes to be the next President of Sudan. KBIA's Gretchen Mahan has the story.
Kirksville Officials Assess Tornado Response Representatives from more than two dozen agencies in Kirksville and Adair County met recently to discuss their response to last month's tornadoes.
Missouri Theatre Executive Director Resigns Missouri Theatre Center for the Arts Executive Director David White has resigned his post. White says he's come to the decision because of the challenges of the economy, and to direct his creative energies toward more time with his family. For more on the Missouri Theatre's financial dispute, click here.
Columbia City Council to Improve SidewalksThe Columbia City Council voted Monday night to repair sidewalks in East Campus. Funds must be spent within 120 days. KBIA's Meg Burke reports. (Pictured: A sidewalk near Paquin Tower.)
Columbia Releases 2008 Crime Statistics Columbia officials, Tuesday, released the 2008 crime statistics. Violent crime is down about a third in the city but property crime is up. Jessica Holley reports.
State Historical Society Plans for the Future On the University of Missouri campus in Columbia, the state’s largest archive of historic artifacts sits almost entirely in storage in aging facilities. Leaders at the State Historical Society of Missouri believed they had secured funding for a new building, but in May, the state legislature decided against appropriating any federal stimulus dollars toward the Historical Society.
Jefferson City City Council Considers New Community Center The Jefferson City City Council is considering a bill allowing a vacant building to be converted to a community center. KBIA’s Chelsea Donohoe reports.
Air Conditioner Exchange Held in Columbia Columbia Water and Light is giving out free air conditioners. (Pictured left: old air conditioners are loaded into a van at the exchange location on Wilkes Blvd.)
Biodiesel Production Plant Opens in Moberly The Producer’s Choice Soy Energy biodiesel production plant held a ribbon cutting ceremony and an open house this weekend in Moberly. More than 150 board members and investors attended. KBIA’s Drew Dumas was there and explains how the plant helps more than just the farmers. (Pictured above: Missouri farmers and investors tour the inside of Producer’s Choice new biodiesel production plant in Moberly.)
Columbia City Council to Consider Police Review Board The City of Columbia is encouraging new efforts to improve the relationship and trust between community members and the Columbia Police Department. Columbia City Council members will vote next week to either approve or further review a newly proposed ordinance that would create a Citizen Police Review Board for the city. (Pictured above: City Manager Bill Watkins)
KBIA News Special
A roundtable discussion about how people in the community are making it during the recession.
This is a preview of a new multimedia program, Intersection, slated to begin airing this fall on KBIA.
Click here to leave your comments at the Intersection blog.
To watch the program, visit the playlist at KBIA's YouTube channel, or click the link below.
Click below to access archives of past news features in streaming audio:
