April 04, 2013
Every place has a story; we let the darts decide our destination
Normally we know exactly what a feature story will be and look like weeks in advance. For this issue, however, we decided to take a risk and uncover stories we never would have found without doing this experiment.
High school senior Andrew Hutchinson shares faith struggles in spoken word
Hutchinson's piece "Untitled" earned him a spot in a talent show this year
March 28, 2013
The men of Stephens College study and perform in the land of women
Curtain falls on Stephens' degree program for men
Stephens College has offered degrees for men in its theater program since 1969. Now, the school is seeking to reaffirm its status as an all-women's college by eliminating those degrees and offering a Certificate of Fine Arts instead. Meet the first and last men to receive a bachelor's degree from Stephens.
March 21, 2013
A cross-country journey on historic Route 66
An MU photojournalism master's student recounts his trip from Rolla to Southern California through photos.
Stuart Palley decided to make his way home to Southern California via Route 66. Along the way, he took several photos and told the story of his journey through them.
March 14, 2013
Taxi Terry driver Gail Scruggs gets Columbians home safely
Working a 12-hour shift five days a week, Scruggs calls Columbia her town
Bouncer and manager Michael Guthrie keeps the peace at Club Vogue
Working at a club that doesn't serve alcohol means his nights could go as late as 4 a.m.
Jimmy John's delivery woman Ruby McGeehon takes sandwiches to Columbia's night owls
Often drinking Cherry Coke or coffee to stay awake, her 5-to-close shifts sometimes end as late as 3 a.m.
Garbage man Clint Benedict handles the dirty work while we sleep
He has been working the same shift at Columbia's Bioreactor Landfill for about 14 years
Jim McDonald: Late night stocking at Hy-Vee
Jim McDonald works the graveyard shift at Hy-Vee
Tiger Towing employee works through the night
Travis Foote tows in the darkness
KCOU midnight DJs Phil Simpkins and Portia King keep night owls jamming
The two deliver the best tracks from their refined music tastes to the late-night radio listeners of Columbia
Ramada Inn employee works to fit nocturnal lifestyle
Jeff Williams does early check out at Ramada Inn
Dispatchers help save lives and listen as some lose theirs
Three 911 responders at Columbia/Boone County Public Safety Joint Communications answer emergency calls from the hours of 11 p.m. to 7 a.m.
B&B Bagel Company baker Brad Newkirk and his bagels are early to rise
Owner and general manager of B&B wakes up at 2:15 a.m. and starts baking at 3:15 a.m.
Click on one of the images to read about these after-hours professions
Turned nocturnal by their jobs, these 10 Columbians help keep the town running long after your head hits the pillow and the sun fades from the sky. Welcome to the night shift.
March 07, 2013
The untold story of Columbia's league of scuba divers
Columbia's scuba enthusiasts get a different perspective on life from underwater
Despite being landlocked, Columbia is home to a devoted scuba diving community. Scuba diving has evolved into something quite different and conjures images of sparkling beaches, electric coral and unfathomably blue water. However, thanks to local dive instructors and enthusiasts, the sport has built a burgeoning community right here in the heartland.
Scuba's humble roots start as a hollow reed, move to high-tech computer gauges and continues to evolve
February 28, 2013
Co-conspirators celebrate 10 years of True/False
The most humble culture heroes you'll ever meet
The co-conspirators of the True/False Film Fest, Paul Sturtz and David Wilson, reflect on the past 10 years. The two started the film fest in 2004 and have been busy ever since.
True/False Film Festival rejections letters
True/False is so cool, even its rejection letters get fan mail
Getting rejected never feels good. However, True/False lets filmmakers down easy with personalized rejection letters.
