Ryan Famuliner

This week: an app may help the Columbia Transit system deal with an unengaged ridership. Plus, Harvest Public Media looks at the lasting impact of the Homestead Act.

Columbia Water and Light says its customer’s water use is up this summer, amid hot and dry weather over the last few weeks.

The Department saw a significant increase in water use in June compared to June of last year. Spokesperson Connie Kacprowicz says in July there’s already been 20 million gallons of water used in Columbia most days, even getting as high as 23 million gallons a day.

Columbia Water and Light is asking its customers to cut down on their water use between now and 6 o’ clock Saturday morning.

Regional news coverage from the KBIA newsroom, including:

• Former Mo Governor Roger Wilson is expected to ask for probation on federal finance fraud charges.
• MO Sen. Claire McCaskill finally weighs in on the Supreme Court's ruling on the Affordable Care Act
• Governor Nixon signs a bill into law limiting the hours employees can work at mental health facilities

The State Highway Patrol says two siblings from Ashland were electrocuted Wednesday at the Lake of the Ozarks.

Regional news coverage from the KBIA newsroom, including:

• An update on which cities will have their fireworks displays tonight, and which won't because of dry conditions.
• Mo Republicans cry foul over Secretary of State's ballot summaries
• A story from a 4th of July event put on by Mormon Congregations in Columbia

Visits from foreign buyers play a role in sustaining certain agriculture markets in the Midwest. Plus, educators, designers and engineers team up to try to fund the next big innovation for small farms.

The Jefferson City Fire Department is asking voters to fund the plan that would purchase new equipment and trucks, cover technical upgrades, and pay for firefighter training. Captain Scott Spencer says unfortunately, a lot of the department’s equipment is getting old.

“This fire department improvement plan is for the community. It all transcends down to the end user, the taxpayer, the customer that might be relying on us for emergency medical services, which we’re going to be upgrading," said Spencer.

There will still be fireworks displays in Columbia and Jefferson City today, despite exceptionally dry conditions lately.

This week on the show: an enzyme factory aims to be a big part of the ethanol industry, and a business incubator in Columbia lands a state tax credit.