Our first podcast of 2019 centers around crime in the Moberly area. Monitor-Index reporter Erik Cliburn joins host Allen Fennweald to discuss the recent double murder in Moberly, as well as Cliburn's conversations with local law enforcement leaders about past crime statistics and preventative policing in 2019.

Freshly added full-time Boonville Daily News reporter Brendan Crowley joins host Allen Fennewald to introduce himself to the readership and discuss some of the ongoing issues in the area, such as the Tipton East CAFO debate. Then, Mexico Ledger reporter Charles Dunlap joins Allen to discuss the proposed sale of SSM Health's hospitals in Mexico and Jefferson City to MU Health care, including the support and opposition to the potentially major merger that would require a hand from the Missouri legislature to navigate antitrust law.

The Mexico Ledger reporter Charles Dunlap speaks with Mexico Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Dana Keller about the upcoming Holiday Express stop in Mexico and other Christmas events taking place this December in the city.

Moberly Monitor-Index reporter Erk Cliburn met with Janie Bakutes, the executive director of the Rainbow House in Columbia on Nov. 30 for our most recent episode of the Regional Review.

The Rainbow House is a child advocacy center for children who have been involved in alleged sexual abuse. The Rainbow House serves a nine county area including: Adair, Audrain, Boone, Callaway, Cole, Cooper, Howard, Macon and Randolph.

The center works with local law enforcement agencies and prosecutors to gather potential evidence for sexual cases against minors. It also acts as a temporary foster system for children who have been involved in abuse.

In this episode, Bakutes discusses her role in the organization as well as some of the day-to-day operations at the Rainbow House.

Mexico Ledger reporter Charles Dunlap joins host Allen Fennewald for a Mexico specific episode focused on the emergence of a group opposing the proposed purchase of the Audrain County hospital by MU Health. Next, Charles details the debate surrounding the proposed transition to a grade-centered elementary school building.

Moberly reporter Erik Cliburn joins host Allen Fennewald to talk about the 13th annual Good Will Thanksgiving Dinner at Zion Lutheran Church in Moberly. Hundreds of people will come to volunteer and/or eat free of charge in a community dinner that takes on the feeling of a very, very large family meal.

They then discuss this year's deer season and the conservation department's update on bluetongue disease. This virus can be dangerous, and hunters are encouraged to submit tissue samples for testing if it is possible their harvest is infected.

The Regional Review crew stay up late to bring you fresh election results hours after they were made available. Reporters Charles Dunlap and Erik Cliburn join host Allen Fennewald minutes after filing their election stories. They're evenings were full of polls and watch parties. Dunlap speaks first on the Audrain County results, followed by Cliburn with a look at Randolph County. Both counties heavily swayed Republican, maintaining their shade of deep red from 2016.

This episode of the Regional Review focuses on programs assisting women and children in the Mid-Missouri area. First, we take a look at Audrain County's attempt to develop a Court Appointed Special Advocates program to help children who find themselves in the court system, many of whom are wards of the state. Then, we dicuss Safe Passage in Moberly, which assists people experiencing domestic violence and hosts a shelter for women and children.

Camo coats and orange hats are coming out of closets throughout rural Missouri as hunting season revs up once again. This edition, host Allen Fennewald speaks with Moberly reporter Erik Cliburn as he shares some stories from area hunters before dicussing deer and turkey population estimates, disease expectations and other useful tidbits for those loading up for one of the region's most popular recreational activities.

On this edition of the Regional Review, Columbia Tribune Regional Editor Allen Fennewald speaks with The Mexico Ledger's Charles Dunlap about President Trump's changes to ethanol standards in fuel and Mexico Public School's project to move the district's Pre-K and kindergarten students into their own building.