COLUMBIA, Mo. – It takes a sizable attraction to double the population of a city in a single day - something big enough to, say, blot out the sun. But that's exactly what Columbia, Mo., officials are anticipating for the total solar eclipse.

The city is in the ideal line of the eclipse path, which makes it a focal destination.

Megan McConachie, strategic communications manager for the Columbia Convention and Visitors Bureau, says planning has been a formidable task, as a half-dozen government agencies coordinate traffic, safety, crowd control and lots of volunteer staffing.

"We could definitely have up to 100,000 extra people here in Columbia on August 21," she says.

McConachie adds local hotels are expected to reach capacity soon.

The path of the eclipse across the U.S. extends from Oregon to South Carolina. Such major Missouri cities as St. Louis and Kansas City aren't directly on that path, but they'll still experience darkness on the afternoon of Aug. 21 for about one minute.

McConachie says Columbia is almost perfectly located for the full effect of the eclipse.

"Columbia really experiences over two-and-a-half minutes of totality, so that makes it a really ideal location to come to," she explains. "We have the infrastructure to support a lot of people, and we also have events planned to commemorate the occasion."

The city is hosting what it's calling the "Totality Music Fest," as well as a pre-eclipse bike ride and a pre-eclipse run.

Spectators are advised to make use of free eclipse glasses if they want to safely watch the partial stages of the eclipse. And, of course, Show Me Totality merchandise is already up for sale.


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Nassau County's executive wants to deputize residents who hold gun permits.

County Executive Bruce Blakemen's plan involves training 100 residents for "the protection of human life and property during an emergency." Little else has been made public about the plan but it has been met with widespread opposition and concern.

Delia DeRiggi-Whitton, minority leader of the Nassau County Legislature, said there are many ways it can go wrong.

"Emergencies are very chaotic situations by nature and all of a sudden, someone shows up that a police officer might not recognize or isn't identified correctly," DeRiggi-Whitton pointed out. "We're just waiting for a disaster to happen."

She added some Nassau County police officers are against the plan and, like many others, feel it's unnecessary. Blakeman said he is relying on New York State County Law 655, which grants sheriffs authority to deputize added personnel for emergencies.

DeRiggi-Whitton noted legal options are being pursued to stop the plan from being enacted.

The lack of information has made residents anxious about what the plan would do. Some have said the effort, along with Blakeman's ban on female trans athletes in county athletic facilities, are solutions without problems.

Susan Gotthrer, director of the Nassau Regional Chapter of the New York Civil Liberties Union, said more pressing issues need to be addressed.

"We have real problems in Nassau County," Gotthrer argued. "We have housing shortages, we have lack of opportunities, we have education issues, high taxes. We would really like to see Mr. Blakeman putting his energies towards real governing issues and not imaginary ones like this."

Blakeman is not alone in pushing to deputize gun owners. Support for militias is growing among conservative politicians. Some residents are worried the armed people will be used to intimidate voters at or after the 2024 election. Nassau County is considered one of the safest counties, not just in the state but in the nation.


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April is National Volunteer Month, and Nebraskans rank high nationwide for their willingness to volunteer.

In the most recent Census Bureau/AmeriCorps report, Nebraska ranked seventh in the nation for formal volunteering and second for informal volunteering.

However, many nonprofits still need more help.

Central Nebraska Community Action Partnership in Loup City serves 21 counties with programs in housing, early childhood, family outreach and community health. It serves 72 counties with its veterans programs.

Executive Director Cheryl Holcomb said it would struggle to offer these services without volunteers.

"Throughout our agency, it is vital - vital that we have volunteers that provide services as well," she said. "We always have a need for more."

Holcomb explained that for their Head Start programs, volunteers do more than help the teachers and children. Their hours also contribute to the 25% match the program's grant funding requires. Volunteer time is valued at nearly $32 an hour, and most grants count volunteer hours as an "in-kind" match. Nationally, women volunteer at a slightly higher rate than men, and Gen-Xers have the highest percentage by age group.

Like other nonprofits providing food assistance, Holcomb said they've seen an increase in need without an accompanying increase in volunteers. She added that the funding for its Commodity Supplemental Food Program, which serves people 60 and older, isn't sufficient to support the program.

"So, relying on volunteers to help offset that program is crucial," she said. "They rely on volunteers to come in and package the food; they rely on volunteers to make deliveries in the specific community."

Central Nebraska Community Action Partnership also relies on volunteers at its two food pantries, a quarterly mobile food pantry and four food warehouses.

There are nine Community Action agencies across the state. Although their programs vary, Holcomb said, all rely on volunteers.

More than 8% of Utah's population lives in poverty, according to the Census and an event this month wants to give participants a better idea of the challenges and barriers those in poverty face on a daily basis.

Stefanie Jones, program specialist for the Community Action Partnership of Utah, said the poverty simulation happening at the University of Utah on April 9 is all about catalyzing local change as well as empathy for those experiencing difficult times.

"Really, I think what these simulations do is show you that there are factors outside of one's will and determination to get out of poverty that might keep them there," Jones explained.

Jones pointed out the event is open to the public but does have a focus on legal experts and decision makers. The simulation is divided up into four 15-minute sessions, which is representative of one week in which participants must find a way to make ends meet. Jones added the exercise aims to encompass the poverty spectrum in Utah, from the challenges a single mother may face to homeless families as well.

Jones noted participants who have taken part in previously held poverty simulations have shared how stressful and frustrating it was for them to get through each day. She contended when one has extra money, you can save money, like buying in bulk for instance. Jones emphasized it should be easier for folks experiencing poverty to get help, and not have to jump through so many hoops.

"One participant told us a story about a bus route she had to take that took two hours of navigating for her to get her kid to school and then to her work, and then back to shelter. Then she did the same two hours in reverse to get home," Jones recounted. "This is a drive across town that would take you and I 15 minutes, or 30 minutes for the day."

She said to put it into perspective, what might take someone experiencing poverty four hours to complete would take a middle-class individual 30 minutes. Yet, many times those experiencing hardship are also expected to make it to appointments for services. Jones wants to encourage Utahns in poverty to advocate for themselves and to not be ashamed to ask for help.