Nick King photo

Investigators Ted Dyer, left, and John Wilke of the Boone County Fire Protection District scrutinize damage in the garage area of a 3630 Old Ridge Road home yesterday on Old Ridge Road, in the Country Woods neighborhood off Vawter School Road. Read the Article

Local News Stories
Tactics throw agency ideal into question
By T.J. GREANEY of the Tribune’s staff
The Better Business Bureau proudly displays the slogan "start with trust" on its Web site, but some local business owners say that trust has been breached.

Zoning irks funeral homes
By SARA SEMELKA of the Tribune’s staff
The struggles of two entrepreneurs in the funeral home industry have prompted the Columbia City Council to rethink city ordinances that outline where mortuaries can find a home.

Online crimes a creeping trend
By JOE MEYER of the Tribune’s staff
As the Mid-Missouri Internet Crimes Task Force enters its third year, investigators said there is plenty of work to do as online predators come up with new ways of preying on children.

Another building burns
By JOE MEYER of the Tribune’s staff
Faulty electrical wiring is blamed for a fire that gutted a vacant house in southwest Columbia early yesterday, the most recent of a spate of house fires in Mid-Missouri.

Out-of-work claims tough on applicants
By T.J. GREANEY of the Tribune’s staff
Mindy Swanson of Mexico, Mo., had phone rage last week. Swanson said she called the Missouri unemployment benefits helpline 30 to 40 times to begin receiving unemployment checks.

Thawing out trips hospital fire alarm
At about 11 a.m. yesterday, the Columbia Fire Department responded to the University Hospital emergency room after fire sprinklers activated, showering the ER and forcing removal of patients to other parts of the hospital.

From the wires
‘It’s unreal, it’s surreal’
ABOARD LOCOMOTIVE 44 (AP) - Tracing Abraham Lincoln’s historic path to Washington, President-elect Barack Obama launched a four-day inaugural celebration yesterday before thousands of chilled but cheering onlookers from Philadelphia to the nation’s capital.