Here’s this week’s round-up of news items that touch on historic places and events. Let me know if I missed something. I keep an ongoing tally of news on the All Media Coverage page, and post items on Facebook at Comohistoricplaces. 

• May 7, 2019 — Parking proves contentions in Flat Branch Park expansion debate. Columbia Missourian. Summary: City Council approved the first option, which eliminated parking in front of the former Ice House.  The discussion included several business people stating their concern about downtown parking. The interim city manager was directed to talk to business people about parking solutions.
• May 7, 2019 — Council passes Flat Branch Park expansion. Columbia Daily Tribune. Summary: City Council approved expansion of the park to allow for a Gateway Plaza. The .4 acre expansion, the article notes, marks the location of the original settlement of Columbia in 1821. The park is designed to celebrate Columbia’s 200th anniversary with a celebration planned for May 2021.
• May 6, 2019 — Fall 2015 protest molded MU’s Class of 2019. Columbia Missourian. Summary: A discussion of the racial protests at MU of 2015 and how non-majority students felt at the time and now. It also covers the resignation of System President Tim Wolfe and MU Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin. It includes noting that efforts toward progress at MU need to be ongoing.
• May 5, 2019 — “Parking spaces at center of debate in Flat Branch Park expansion project,” Columbia Missourian. Summary:  This article includes maps of four different options under consideration by Columbia City Council at its meeting. The options involved a park expansion. The first option included eliminating some parking in front of the commercial building at Providence and Broadway owned by Mark Stevenson. The building is the former Ice House, which has been at the heart of a building controversy before. At one time it was slated to be demolished and a drug store built there. Those plans were derailed.
• May 4, 2019 — Bleu is back with a new bakery and cafe, plus more on the way. Columbia Missourian. Summary: Bleu, owned by Travis and Liz Tucker, are opening bakery and cafe south of town and deep in the article it notes they’ll also be opening the Atrium, an event space, at the historic building on the southeast corner of Tenth & Walnut. The article notes the building began as a hotel, was a car dealership, and most recently, Parker Funeral Home. The new event space will open this summer.