Columbia-based Shelter Insurance is the seventh-largest employer in Columbia/Boone County, according to 2024 statistics from Columbia Regional Economic Development Incorporated (REDI). REDI says Shelter has 1,382 employees here. Shelter's new president is a familiar name in mid-Missouri: Rockne Corbin. Mr. Corbin joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the hour Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle's "CEO Roundtable" program. Mr. Corbin grew up in Jefferson City and earned a degree in business from Central Missouri State in Warrensburg. Mr. Corbin considered being a helicopter pilot while growing up, and served in the U-S Army Airborne at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. His parents taught him the importance of serving others: his mother is longtime former Boone County collector Pat Lensmeyer. Mr. Corbin describes his mother as a true public servant. Shelter operates in 21 states under three brands and in more than 60 nations with what is called reinsurance. Mr. Corbin tells listeners that Shelter currently has about three-million policies with about 800,000 families in their operating territories. He expects Shelter to surpass $3-billion in group business in 2025, with a policyholder surplus of $2.2 billion. Mr. Parry and President Corbin also discussed the impact of Hurricanes Helene and Milton on Shelter, and the importance of being a good corporate citizen. They discussed Shelter's famous gardens and fountains at their massive headquarters on Columbia's West Broadway:

The Columbia Police Officers Association (CPOA) doesn't mince words about the crime Columbia is seeing, saying criminals are becoming more emboldened. CPOA is warning about lawlessness, saying shootings occur on our streets almost daily and that there have been gang shootouts as well. CPOA president Matt Nichols joined us live on 939 the Eagle's "Wake Up Mid-Missouri," telling listeners that for the first time ever, CPOA has made endorsements in Boone County commission races. CPOA is endorsing GOP challengers Sam Turner and State Rep. Cheri Toalson Reisch (R-Hallsville) in their races against Boone County Commissioners Justin Aldred and Janet Thompson. Commissioners Aldred and Thompson are Democrats. Mr. Nichols tells listeners that neither Aldred nor Thompson have ever contacted CPOA to express support for public safety. He says CPOA believes Mr. Turner and Representative Toalson Reisch will support public safety for all of the Boone County community. He notes the whole of Columbia is in Boone County. Nichols also criticized Columbia activist December Harmon during the live interview:

The Weather Channel is reporting that Hurricane Milton caused a night of extreme winds and storm surge in Florida that caused widespread damage. The Weather Channel says that before Milton made landfall last night near Tampa Bay, there were more than a dozen tornadoes and at least one fatality. The Boone County Fire Protection District says the approximately 70 members of Columbia-based Missouri Task Force One (MO-TF1) who have been stationed in North Carolina have been relocated to Black Mountain, North Carolina, about 20 miles west of Marion. Fire district spokesman Gale Blomenkamp joined us live on 939 the Eagle's "Wake Up Mid-Missouri", telling listeners that MO-TF1 remains on standby this morning, as they continue to support the Hurricane Helene response. Mr. Blomenkamp tells listeners that MO-TF1 essentially "belongs" to North Carolina at this time, noting they have NOT been released by North Carolina, at this time. He says while Missouri Task Force One has not been reassigned to Hurricane Milton at this time, the 70 MO-TF1 members stand ready and capable to respond to any mission related to either hurricane. He says the MO-TF1 members are well-rested and want to help in any way they can:

NFIB Missouri president Brad Jones says 60 percent of his members tried to hire people in September, but couldn't find qualified applicants. He also says about 53 percent of his members have jobs that they can't fill. Mr. Jones joined us live on 939 the Eagle's "Wake Up Mid-Missouri" to discuss the September jobs report and also community colleges. The role that Missouri’s community colleges play in workforce development is the topic of a hearing that is underway this morning at the Statehouse in Jefferson City. The Missouri House Special Interim Committee on Workforce Innovation and Technology is holding the hearing at the Capitol. Veteran State Rep. Louis Riggs (R-Hannibal), who chairs the committee, says Missouri has a number of outstanding practitioners who are engaged in great work in different parts of the state. Chairman Riggs tells 939 the Eagle that the key is how to best translate those programs to all parts of Missouri. Brian Millner of the Missouri Community College Association is testifying this morning, along with John Wiemann of St. Charles Community College, Megan Price of the AFL-CIO and others. Mr. Wiemann is a former Missouri House Speaker Pro Tem from O’Fallon who served eight years in the House:

The Weather Channel is reporting that Hurricane Helene’s death toll is now at least 236 people in six states. That includes at least 118 deaths in North Carolina. There are currently about 70 members of Columbia-based Missouri Task Force One (MO-TF1) in North Carolina, and they searched a hurricane-damaged area and river this weekend using boats, drones and helicopters. Boone County Fire Protection District assistant chief Gale Blokenkamp says the team has had to decontaminate and clean their equipment. Retiring U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-St. Elizabeth), who represents Columbia, Ashland and Jefferson City on Capitol Hill, joined us live on 939 the Eagle's "Wake Up Mid-Missouri" and praises MO-TF1, saying we're blessed to have these men and women and that they put themselves in harm's way. Congressman Luetkemeyer tells listeners that Missouri Task Force One members are doing an excellent job in North Carolina, noting they're away from their homes and families as well. Congressman Luetkemeyer also blasted President Biden's foreign policy on the show, including Afghanistan:

State Rep. Doug Mann (D-Columbia) is not seeking re-election in November. Representative Mann was elected to the Missouri House in 2022 and is wrapping up his first term in Jefferson City. Democrat Gregg Bush, a nurse who ran for Columbia's city council last year, faces Republican John Lane in November. Mr. Lane owned Johnny's Beanery in Columbia and is a former Missouri Restaurant Association president. The district includes Columbia and Boone County. 939 the Eagle's Mike Murphy reports Mr. Bush has pledged that if elected, he'll only vote for Mizzou funding when there is a written agreement from Mizzou chancellor Dr. Mun Choi to bargain with the Laborers Local 955. Mr. Lane was host Fred Parry's guest Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle's "CEO Roundtable." Mr. Lane tells listeners that Mr. Bush's position on Mizzou funding is one of the key reasons he got in the race. Lane says Mizzou funding is critical not just for Columbia and Boone County, but for residents across Missouri. Mr. Lane was born in Columbia but grew up in west-central Missouri's Clinton, which is in Henry County. Lane attended college in Columbia and worked for Dennis Harper, the former owner of Harpo's. He says that experience helped him decide to purchase Johnny's Beanery from Karen Miller, where he worked for 14 years. He says Johnny's Beanery was best known for its wings, hamburgers and Cuban sandwiches. Mr. Lane got in the race late and has about six weeks to campaign. He discusses the advantages and disadvantages of that. Fred and Mr. Lane also discuss the Roy Blunt NextGen Center and the expansion of MU Healthcare during the interview. They also looked back at a popular Columbia dining location called the "University Club." It has since closed:

You'll be casting ballots in November in Missouri on constitutional amendment five, which would allow the Missouri Gaming Commission to issue one additional gambling boat license to operate on the Osage River at the Lake of the Ozarks. Amendment five spokesman John Hancock joined us live on 939 the Eagle's "Wake Up Mid-Missouri", telling listeners that if voters approve the proposal, the casino would be built near the quarry on busy Highway 54 at the Lake of the Ozarks. He says it would require all state revenues derived from the boat license to go to early-childhood literacy programs. Mr. Hancock says the boat will provide about 700 good-paying, year-round jobs. He also tells listeners that if approved, the license process could take up to six months and that he casino would take 18 months to build. That means if Missourians approve the measure, Mr. Hancock believes it would open in 2026:

Republicans currently have a 111-51 supermajority in the Missouri House. House Majority Floor Leader Jonathan Patterson (R-Lee's Summit) joined us live on 939 the Eagle's "Wake Up Mid-Missouri" to discuss the November elections, the Chiefs and other issues. Leader Patterson is in line to become Missouri House Speaker in January, if he beats Democrat Kevin Grover in November for his Lee's Summit-area seat. Patterson admits this is a tough election cycle with Amendment Three on the ballot. He tells listeners that he hopes Republicans retain all 111 Missouri House seats. But Leader Patterson says he won't be shocked if Republicans lose three seats in the Missouri House in November. That would be important if House Minority Leader Crystal Quade (D-Springfield) is elected governor in November, because it takes 109 seats to have a two-thirds (veto-proof) majority in the House. As for the Kansas City Chiefs and Arrowhead Stadium, Leader Patterson tells listeners that Kansas City and Jackson County must come up with a plan before the state gets involved. He says discussions are happening with Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas, the county and the state. Leader Patterson suggests infrastructure improvements at Arrowhead are a possibility. We also discussed health care during the live interview. Leader Patterson, a physician, tells listeners that there's currently a shortage of doctors and nurses in Missouri:

61 members of Columbia-based Missouri Task Force One (MO-TF1) are currently conducting damage assessments and search and rescue missions in Asheville, North Carolina, which has been devastated by the remnants of Hurricane Helene. There have been mudslides and flooding in Asheville, according to the Weather Channel. Asheville has about 95,000 residents. The Associated Press (AP) reports Asheville has been isolated after Helene destroyed roads and knocked power and cell service out. Boone County Fire Protection District assistant chief Gale Blomenkamp joined us live on 939 the Eagle's "Wake Up Mid-Missouri", telling listeners that the Missouri Task Force One members are working in what he calls primitive conditions. Mr. Blomenkamp says there's no power in that area, adding that crews are using generators. He says Missouri Task Force One members have enough equipment, along with food and water they brought. He says they're using satellite phones. The 61 MO-TF1 members are traveling with more than 100,000 pounds of equipment and two live-find K-9 units. Mr. Blomenkamp tells listeners the crew members brought fuel with them. He says fuel is hard to find there:

"Missouri Times" publisher Scott Faughn says U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley (R) will win his re-election in Missouri in November by nine to 11 points. Mr. Faughn discussed the Senate race this morning on 939 the Eagle's "Wake Up Mid-Missouri." Scott is impressed with how Democrat Lucas Kunce, who is from Jefferson City, has made this a competitive race. We also previewed tomorrow morning's hearing by the Missouri House Special Interim Committee on Workforce Innovation and Technology. Chairman Louis Riggs (R-Hannibal) has called the hearing, and the committee will hear testimony from Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) Commissioner Karla Eslinger, Missouri Chamber of Commerce interim president and chief executive officer Kara Corches and others. Mr. Faughn praises the job that Commissioner Eslinger is doing, saying she's fixing the problem at DESE regarding the late child care payments. Faughn also is impressed with Ms. Corches at the Chamber. He does not expect major action at tomorrow's hearing in Jefferson City: