Missouri Governor Mike Parson

Suspected Chinese balloon spotted in Columbia and central Missouri; Missouri’s governor frustrated

February 3, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

Zimmer Communications photographer L.G. Patterson took this photo of the object on February 3, 2023. It was east of Columbia at the time.

Numerous mid-Missouri residents say they spotted what could be a suspected Chinese spy balloon on Friday afternoon. 939 the Eagle News fielded calls from Columbia residents and in residents in other parts of central Missouri.

The National Weather Service (NWS) tweeted earlier today that the large balloon seen earlier in northwest Missouri is not a NWS weather balloon. That’s apparently the same balloon seen later in the Columbia area.

Missouri Governor Mike Parson (R) tweeted Friday that he’s received “zero communication” from the Biden administration regarding the suspected spy balloon.

“We have heard no explanation or plan to remove it. Why has this been allowed to reach our heartland? Why had it not been eliminated? We will remain in contact with our Missouri National Guard, law enforcement and security partners to monitor the safety of Missourians,” Parson tweeted Friday.

Numerous Zimmer Communication employees saw the object Friday afternoon, which at one point was almost directly above the radio stations on Columbia’s Lemone Industrial drive. A Boone County Sheriff’s deputy tells 939 the Eagle that he saw the balloon too, but didn’t have any other information.

939 the Eagle’s Janelle Duncan took this photo outside Zimmer Radio’s tower in south Columbia on February 3, 2023

Fox News reported on Friday afternoon that U.S. officials are disputing claims from China that a Chinese balloon seen over the United States was a “civilian airship” that had blown off course. A senior official is quoted in the Fox report as saying it was intentional. Fox also reports the balloon is currently flying at 60,000 feet, which is higher than most U.S. military planes can fly.

CPS superintendent sends letter to parents after drag queen controversy; encourages return to civil conversation

February 2, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

Columbia Mayor Barbara Buffaloe (second from left) poses with performers after the January 19, 2023 Columbia Values Diversity Celebration. Mayor Buffaloe tweeted after the event that “as hate crimes against drag show locations and performers are being committed in other communities, we want to reaffirm that Columbia is a community that supports all” (photo courtesy of Columbia Mayor Buffaloe’s Twitter page)

The Columbia Public Schools (CPS) superintendent has written a letter to CPS families that apologizes to parents frustrated about the level of communication regarding a January 19^th diversity breakfast event that included three drag queens who performed before district students.

The event at Columbia’s Holiday Inn Expo Center, which was organized by the city’s Office of Cultural Affairs, has been blasted by Missouri’s GOP governor and attorney general and by some CPS parents.

Superintendent Dr. Brian Yearwood’s letter says that for some, the event demonstrated the importance of inclusion. He also apologizes to parents who’ve expressed frustration about the level of communication provided to parents. Dr. Yearwood’s letter says CPS will review its permission slip process that incorporates feedback from parents.

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey (R) says transporting students to a drag show likely violates state law. Columbia Mayor Barbara Buffaloe has said that they wanted to reaffirm that Columbia is a community that supports all.

Dr. Yearwood’s letter also encourages “a return to civil and respectful conversation and further express my support of every scholar in our school district.”

Mayor Buffaloe has defended the January 19 breakfast, tweeting that “drag is a cross-cultural art form with a long and rich history that is fun and encourages self-expression.” The mayor says that as hate crimes against drag show locations and performers are being committed elsewhere, she and others wanted to reaffirm that Columbia is a community that supports all.

Missouri’s Senate leader optimistic about funding for Wooldridge

January 31, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

The massive October 22, 2022 blaze in rural Wooldridge burned about 3,000 acres (file photo from 939 the Eagle listener Stephen McBee)

Missouri’s Senate President Pro Tem has met with Governor Mike Parson’s chief of staff to discuss possible state assistance for fire-damaged Wooldridge.

State Sen. Caleb Rowden (R-Columbia) is optimistic. The October blaze destroyed at least 23 structures in Wooldridge, damaging at least 3,000 acres of land in the rural Cooper County village.

“You know, kind of the ongoing trying to figure out ways to plug in resources that are available when it makes sense and where it makes sense,” Rowden says.

There were no fatalities nor serious injuries in the October fire, a point both Governor Mike Parson and Senator Rowden have emphasized. Pro Tem Rowden joined the governor and State Rep. Tim Taylor (R-Speed) during a late October tour of Wooldridge. Smoke permeated the air that day.

Senate President Pro Tem Rowden tells 939 the Eagle’s “Randy Tobler show” that he discussed Wooldridge this month with Governor Mike Parson’s chief of staff, Aaron Willard.

“You know part of it is just an uncertainty at this point as to exactly in some cases what the need is, who’s going to rebuild who’s not. You know, how you tap into dollars for that purpose. You know there’s community-wide dollars potentially available for certain types of kind of revitalization,” Rowden says.

Senator Rowden says part of the struggle is fully understanding what Wooldridge residents want the community to look like. Rowden says Wooldridge residents are resilient.

No meeting between Governor Parson and CPS Superintendent Yearwood, at this time

January 27, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri Governor Mike Parson speaks to CPS Superintendent Dr. Brian Yearwood (middle) at the Columbia Farmers Market on August 25, 2022, as Boone County commissioner Justin Aldred listens (file photo courtesy of the governor’s Flickr page)

The Missouri governor’s office says there is no scheduled meeting at this time between Governor Mike Parson and CPS Superintendent Dr. Brian Yearwood. 939 the Eagle News checked with Parson spokeswoman Kelli Jones on Thursday.

The Columbia Public Schools (CPS) superintendent had issued an open invitation to the governor to meet with him, after Governor Parson criticized CPS for last week’s diversity celebration that included three drag queens who performed before a sold-out crowd that included about 30 CPS students. Governor Parson says adult performers are not diversity.

Governor Mike Parson says CPS parents weren’t clearly informed of the program’s contents, and the governor is has called on CPS to focus on math, reading, writing, science and history.

Dr. Yearwood says it was not an adult performance, and he wrote a letter to the governor which said Attorney General Andrew Bailey (R) had misrepresented some things about the Columbia Values Diversity event. Dr. Yearwood says that type of misrepresentation “is harmful to our students, our staff and our community.”

Columbia Councilwoman Andrea Waner has criticized the governor’s comments. State Rep. David Tyson Smith (D-Columbia) and former Missouri Democratic Party chairman Stephen Webber (D-Columbia) have also defended CPS and Columbia Mayor Barbara Buffaloe.

Attorney General Bailey has slammed Superintendent Yearwood, saying he cares more about indoctrination than about education.

Missouri’s attorney general slams CPS superintendent in second letter

January 26, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey (left) visits with Governor Mike Parson at the Statehouse in Jefferson City on January 24, 2023 (photo courtesy of the governor’s Flickr page)

Missouri’s GOP attorney general has sent a second letter to Columbia Public Schools (CPS) Superintendent Dr. Brian Yearwood regarding last Thursday’s drag queen controversy.

Attorney General Andrew Bailey (R) says CPS Superintendent Dr. Brian Yearwood cares more about indoctrination than about education. General Bailey writes, in part: “You have betrayed the trust and confidence of the parents who depend on you to educate their children.”

Dr. Yearwood has disputed the attorney general’s comments that last Thursday’s diversity performance at the Holiday Inn Expo Center from three drag queens was an adult performance. Dr. Yearwood has also said that CPS does not have control over the program at events organized by outside entities.

Attorney General Bailey is reiterating his call that any CPS school official who knew that last Thursday’s diversity breakfast celebration included a drag show should resign or be fired. Dr. Yearwood has said that Bailey is misrepresenting what happened at the event.

Meantime, Missouri’s Senate president will be meeting with CPS’ superintendent, to discuss concerns he’s hearing from CPS parents and other constituents about last Thursday’s drag queen performance at the Expo Center. Senate President Pro Tem Caleb Rowden (R-Columbia) tells 939 the Eagle that his meeting with Superintendent Yearwod is scheduled for later this week.

Rowden says he wants to heard from Dr. Yearwood and board members on the process that led to this series of events. The superintendent has also issued an open invitation to Missouri’s governor to meet.