Columbia

Lawsuit Claims Columbia Part of Scheme to Boost Tuition for Students from Split Homes

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New York — Columbia University has been implicated in a lawsuit that claims the Ivy League school was part of a group of prestigious universities that colluded to manipulate financial aid practices, thereby raising educational costs for students from divorced families. The legal action, initiated by several students, argues that these universities coordinated to alter the amount of financial aid offered, in contravention of fair competition laws. The lawsuit was filed in a federal district court and suggests that this collusion impacted over 170,000 students negatively, who come from backgrounds where parents are divorced, separated, … Read more

Columbia Man Faces Jury in Tense Double Homicide Trial Involving Claims of Self-Defense and Harrowing Text Threats

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COLUMBIA, Mo. — A jury convened Tuesday to hear opening statements in the trial of a Columbia man, Cadilac Derrick, implicated in the fatal shooting of two women in November last year. The 37-year-old faces multiple charges, including two counts of first-degree murder, armed criminal action, domestic assault in the second degree, and child endangerment. Derrick, who was initially charged with second-degree murder following the incident on Nov. 5, 2022, had his charges escalated by a grand jury on Dec. 16, 2022. The attack, which occurred on Boyd Lane, resulted in the deaths of Lea’johna … Read more

Jury Trial Set for Columbia Woman Charged in Fatal Hit-and-Run Crash

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Columbia, Mo. — A Columbia woman faces a jury trial for her alleged involvement in a deadly crash that claimed the life of a young motorcyclist and injured others in August of this year. Elizabeth Lopez is scheduled to appear in court as she faces charges including second-degree involuntary manslaughter and leaving the scene of an accident. The incident occurred on August 5, when authorities allege Lopez pulled out of an apartment complex directly into the path of two oncoming motorcycles. The collision reportedly resulted in the death of 18-year-old Walker Davis, also from Columbia, … Read more

Jury Trial Scheduled for Missouri Man Accused of Fatal December Shooting in Columbia

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Columbia, Mo. — A Missouri man, Corey Blueitt, age 44, is scheduled for a jury trial on September 24, in connection to a fatal shooting incident last year that claimed the life of 34-year-old Aaron Badolato in north Columbia. This trial stands as a significant event in Boone County’s legal calendar, given the gravity of the charges and community concerns. In December 2022, the incident threw the small community into disarray, as police reports and court documents indicate that eyewitnesses identified Blueitt allegedly pointing a firearm at several individuals and subsequently firing the shot that … Read more