Columbia Missourian
Art imitates life when it comes to racial equity in the Missouri courts
Many years before the state killed Ernest Lee Johnson by injecting him with a fatal dose of pentobarbital, he walked by a mural that foreshadowed his death. The mural is in the Boone County Courthouse, on a prominent wall visible as you walk from the first floor to the courtrooms above.
Columbia Tribune
Letter to the editor: Race Matters, Friends responds to courthouse mural controversy
We, Race Matters, Friends (RMF), are writing to share our concern about the current murals in the stairway of the Boone County Courthouse. We believe that the panels should be removed and replaced with works by diverse, contemporary artists.
KMIZ
Racial disparity for black drivers in Boone County traffic stops highest since 2000
According to new traffic stop data from Attorney General Eric Schmitt, the racial disparity of black drivers being pulled over by Columbia and Boone County law enforcement is the highest it has been since 2000.
Columbia Tribune
Centralia Officer Sued for False Arrest in Restaurant Burglary
Pat Pratt -- A Mexico, Missouri man is suing Centralia and a police officer alleging he was wrongfully arrested and jailed for four months on charges of burglarizing a restaurant in July 2019, according to a federal lawsuit.
KMIZ
Proposal to ban most uses of seclusion rooms in Missouri schools nets bipartisan support
Some Missouri state lawmakers behind an effort to limit to ban most uses of seclusion rooms, which are small rooms with little to no furniture or accommodations, are hoping to find success early in the 2020 legislative session.
KBIA
Columbia School Board Faces Equity Concerns
Columbia residents voiced their concerns about equity in Columbia Public Schools Monday night. In a five-hour Board of Education meeting, parents advocated for open recording of meetings where they discussed their students’ individualized education plan with instructors. Other parents condemned the district’s use of seclusion and restraint on students.
Columbia Tribune
School officer faces discipline over student arrest
The wrongful arrest of a Smithton Middle School student will lead to disciplinary action against a Columbia police officer and has raised a call for the resignation of the school district’s equity officer.
KRCG
Race Matters, Friends responds to racial duplicate of Columbia middle school homepage
The Columbia Public Schools district continues to investigate after a middle school homepage was racially imitated by students. A photo of the doctored homepage was discovered on Google by community members and has been taken down since then. The image below has been redacted due to the offensive language.
