Arabelle McDonald, center, wades out of the water holding her costume after running into the lake with her family at Bass Pro Shops in Columbia. The group wore dessert-themed costumes chosen by a cousin who couldn’t join them due to a heart transplant. “We always do fun events like this,” Jamie McDonald said.
Rose, wearing a hat she made herself, waits for dinner Oct. 26 at Wilkes Boulevard United Methodist Church in Columbia. Dinner at Loaves & Fishes is one of the only times Rose is able to catch up with people she doesn’t often get to see. “We can’t lose this place,” she said. “This is the only place we got.”
Bridget Deegan, Mae Fisher and Grace Mosier cram together at the bathroom counter to get ready for brunch.
Rebes Bennet brandishes a glitter cross on her forehead during Ash Wednesday. She opted for the more sparkly option instead of the traditional ash. "It's still just as messy but prettier," she said.
Grace Wooten and Chartese Jones dance during a pep rally for Mizzou4U, a student government campaign for Miyah Jones and Cydney Perkins. After winning the election, Jones and Perkins became the first Black female students to simultaneously hold the top two seats in the university's student government.
Chuck Madinger heads down into his basement where most of his model train collection is stored.
A pro-Trump demonstrator tugs to retrieve his flag as another demonstrator gives the middle finger. The man appeared as a counter-protestor to the wave of students occupying the front lawn of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity house on Sep. 13, 2021 at the University of Kansas.
Mayor Kelly Murphy, left, and another Wooldridge, Mo. resident wake up to assess the damage on the Wooldridge Baptist Church, a pinnacle for the town. When the flames began to creep toward the building on Oct. 23, 2022, residents ran inside to remove the historic furniture and stained glass windows in hopes of preservation.
Wendi applies eye makeup before she starts "flying," commonly known as the practice of accepting donations from passing cars. She and her partner, Shawn, along with their two dogs were displaced from their encampment near Hinkson Creek after the city of Columbia evicted the area due to complaints.
Clay Sibit speeds down the track on Sunday in downtown Columbia. Family members helped the racers before and during the derby as pit crews.
A demonstrator yells passionately towards the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity house with a bright red handprint decorating their face.
Children living in Noble Court wait to get their faces painted during a block party. In July 2023, Noble Court was officially named the first Black subdivision in Columbia, MO.
Olivia Sinclair smokes a cigarette before heading to bed at Room at the Inn, Columbia's year-round homeless shelter.
Gregory Kushman, an associate professor, wears a plague doctor mask and graduation robes while holding a sign blaming the University of Kansas for his COVID-19 infection. Other professors and graduate teaching assistants stood outside of Allen Fieldhouse to draw awareness to potential budget cuts that would significantly reduce salaries and tenure opportunities for the university's faculty and staff.
Tom Vanbooven, left, and his friend Steve wait outside Loaves & Fishes before dinner Nov. 2 at Wilkes Boulevard United Methodist Church in Columbia. The pair have been coming to the local soup kitchen together for years. “I hope they’d have Hamburger Helper,” Vanbooven said.
Floretta Be Xtra, left, talks with Liz Anya backstage before performing during an entertainment segment on Friday at the Blue Note in Columbia. Floretta won the Pride Fest’s first Youth Pageant in 2022. “I started doing drag five years ago in my bedroom,” she said. “It’s just opened so many doors for me since then.”
A drop of water hangs on Emery Matthews’ top lip while she runs through a CPR drill on Sunday at Hickman Pool in Columbia.
Guests at Room at the Inn stand around in groups or alone during a smoke break. Before lights out at 10 p.m., the warming shelter allows guests to retrieve their cigarettes from their bags.
Nancy Tran, center, passes a cookie to a guest for dessert on Thursday, Nov. 2 at Wilkes Methodist Church in Columbia. The church originally asked Loaves & Fishes to move out by Oct. 1 but pushed the date back a month to Nov. 1. For now, the precise move-out date is unknown and the kitchen will remain in place.
A masked skateboard hides his identity with an empty Modelo six-pack cardboard box at Centennial Park in Lawrence, Kan.
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey clutches his son before giving a speech at his inauguration. That same day demonstrators gathered outside the building to protest the death penalty sentence for Amber McLaughlin, the first transgender woman in the nation to be executed by the state.
Ma’Laejha Baldwin leads a dance routine on Saturday at Noble Court. The Dancing Divas, a local dance group, performed as a birthday surprise for India Jordan Stemmons, one of the area’s founding members.
Melody Whitworth, left, from Unchained Melodies pets Harley on March 15 at owner Dana Williams’ campsite in Columbia. Whitworth supplied a new harness and leash for Harley, throwing in a bone as a treat. “We get a lot of our donations from businesses and private individuals,” she said.
Theresa sits on her cot moments before lights out at Room at the Inn, Columbia's only year-round warming shelter. The shelter is divided into two rooms by gender, separating female and male guests throughout the night.
Anastasia Lain gets their wig fixed before performing in the pageant’s talent portion on Friday at the Blue Note in Columbia. Lain sang “So Much Better” from the Legally Blonde Musical, and tied for Best Talent with pageant winner Krystal Queer.
Kieley White, 12, sits back with a smile after her team scored the game-winning goal in Rocket League on Saturday at Columbia College. Campers also played tabletop games like Dungeons & Dragons, a fantasy role-playing game allowing players to fully create a character.
![Elizabeth Connon, an honor roll student, center, fixes her hair as other students line up before the Douglass High School graduation ceremony on Friday at the Missouri Theatre in Columbia. “At [Frederick] Douglass High School, we do second changes, w](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d6b1451f8d59d000105587b/c76d3e08-b371-430a-9ecb-a26f3dea2d01/eliza.jpg)
Elizabeth Connon, an honor roll student, center, fixes her hair as other students line up before the Douglass High School graduation ceremony on Friday at the Missouri Theatre in Columbia. “At [Frederick] Douglass High School, we do second changes, we apologize, we forgive,” Principal Erica Neville said during the welcome speech. “We belong — we are a family.”
Beth Shepard uses two spatulas to flip a large pancake after cooking breakfast for Breakfast Station Day participants on Friday at Flat Branch Park in Columbia. This was the last pancake of the morning as they had combined the last of the batter during the Bike, Walk & Wheel Week event. Local Motion, a transportation equity group, set up booths around town offering a variety of breakfast foods and drinks. “The key to great pancake making is patience,” Shepard said.
A trio of children attempt to swing higher than the other on a playset while their parents congregate nearby to discuss matters of the Ozark Area Community Congress. For 75 years, Missouri residents, environmentalists, and eco-friendly entrepreneurs have hosted a pilgrimage to the south of the state for a weekend-long conference.
Rob Riggle watches his step as he prepares to deliver a high five while making his way to the court at Allen Fieldhouse. As one of several famous alumni of the University of Kansas, Riggle was invited to host Late Nite at the Phog, an annual tradition hyping up the upcoming basketball season.
Kelsey Meller silently observes a team of physicians and dieticians provide a daily check up on one of her patients. As the charge nurse of the neurological intensive care unit at University Hospital, Meller is responsible for managing the team of nurses on top of providing bedside care.
Gavin Phillips, a professional disc golfer from Niceville, Florida, practices his throwing techniques Friday at Strawn Park in Columbia. At 18 years old, Phillips has had four career wins and is nationally ranked in the top 1,000 players.
Abigail Lootens, above, guides Bronlyn Ward onto a lifeguard backboard during a practice drill on Sunday at Hickman Pool in Columbia. Training exercises included scenarios of rescuing a person from the pool to practice CPR and oxygen administration.
Brett Tintera bikes with no hands Saturday near the big bur oak just off the Katy Trail at McBaine.
Missouri freshman setter/libero Tatum Longnecker crouches to sign a poster Saturday at the Hearnes Center. She set the careers assists record at Arcadia High School in Phoenix, Ariz., with 2,056 assists.
Toby Hanna twirls a pair of rainbow flags Saturday at Peace Park. After the bike ride, participants were invited to eat lunch donated by Pizza Tree and watched a variety of performances.
Terry McDonald prepares for the posting of the colors Friday at Truman Veterans’ Hospital in Columbia. The Herbert Williams American Legion Post 202 Honor Guard presented the American and Missouri state flags before the opening ceremony of the Fisher House.
Shukuru Mateso, covered in blue lei flowers, stands with his mother after graduating from Douglass High School on May 19, 2023 at the Missouri Theatre in Columbia.
Maddy Harden, left, and Kiki Loggins toss paint-covered mops onto the rock “M” at Faurot Field.
Carter Lembke rounds a corner during the Criterium bike races.
Laird Okie stands outside the governor’s office to protest against the state’s decision to execute Amber McLaughlin on Tuesday, in Jefferson City. Gov. Mike Parson announced Tuesday that McLaughlin’s execution would happen as scheduled at 6:00 p.m.
Portrait of Caleigh Christy
Jude Donoho-Lowry rests his head on Liam Donohue’s shoulder during the Hickman High School graduation ceremony on Friday at Mizzou Arena in Columbia. This ceremony introduced the school’s 127th graduating class with 422 students. “Tonight’s graduation is a celebration of achievement, progress and grit,” principal Mary Grupe said during her welcome speech.
A few residents of Wooldridge, Mo., watch from a distance as another resident attempts to calm and wrangle a rogue pony standing in the burnt fields. The animal escaped its enclosure the morning after a fire that razed Wooldridge's entire downtown area, and refused to let any human get nearby. Later in the day, a pair of local cowpokes from an adjacent town helped lasso the pony.