Gretchen Mahan

(Dec. 8, 2008)

Gretchen Mahan/Staff Photographer Six-year-old Kejuan Allen and 7-year-old Daijon Chiles of Thomas Hart Benton Elementary School color pictures of a traditional African mask Saturday at Douglass High School. Children were invited to come to a Kwanzaa celebration to learn about African-American heritage.

(Dec. 8, 2008)

Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., speaks in Columbia on Oct. 24. McCaskill has increased her stature on the national politics stage with her support for President-elect Barack Obama, but is expected to remain in the Senate.

(Dec. 5, 2008)

Senior Porscha Kirkwood lights the 'Nia,' or 'purpose,' candle as a part of the Pre-Kwanzaa celebration Thursday at the Gaines/Oldham Black Culture Center. Kwanzaa begins Dec. 26.

(Nov. 13, 2008)

Judges Alok Ahuja, Victor Howard and Joseph Ellis of the Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District, listen as attorney Jackie Barrow argues a divorce settlement case Wednesday at the Boone County Courthouse. The judges, who normally hear trials in Kansas City, took time to explain the court system to attendees during recess periods.

(Nov. 13, 2008)

Paul Sturtz, First Ward councilman and True/False Film Fest co-director, works with True/False co-director David Wilson in his office Thursday. Sturtz balances festival planning with his City Council duties.

(Nov. 5, 2008)

Seventh-grader Charity Gant, assistant secretary of the youth section of NAACP, runs outside the Second Baptist Church to put up a sign encouraging people to vote.

(Nov. 5, 2008)

Missouri NAACP President Mary Ratliff and seventh-grader Charity Gant, the assistant secretary of the youth section of NAACP, speak with Columbia residents Mary Kennedy and Jimmie Sutton on Tuesday in an effort to get out the vote. Several local organizations, including Services for Independent Living, provided rides to the polls and voter education on Election Day.

(Oct. 30, 2008)

Rep. Ed Robb, who is running for re-election in Missouri's 24th state House district, speaks to a crowd at an NAACP candidate forum Tuesday at Second Baptist Church in Columbia. Several candidates running for local and state offices addressed a variety of issues from affirmative action to school vouchers. Check out The Maneater's coverage of the Nov. 4 elections in our Voter's Guide, inserted in the middle of the paper.

(Oct. 24, 2008)

Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo.

(Oct. 16, 2008)

Women in Media and News director Jennifer Pozner gives a presentation Tuesday in Ellis Auditorium. Pozner analyzed gender roles in politics and the way media can slant qualifications and perceptions of female politicians.

(Sept. 25, 2008)

Brady Food Court cashier Aaron Mantle, who has spinal muscular atrophy, prepares to process an order Thursday. Mantle has worked for Campus Dining Services since 2000, but he might be out of a job when the food court closes in December because his disability would prevent him from working in another dining hall.