Editing Columbus, Nebraska (section)

=== 2000-present ===
Over 20% of Columbus residents are Hispanic or Latino, as of the 2020 census.<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2012-06-24}}</ref> In 2009, Fernando Lopez, Karen Gomez and Maria Davila founded Columbus-based Centro Hispano Comunitario de Nebraska which provides immigration, education and business services in three counties.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Telegram|first=ZACH ROTH The Columbus|title=Gala to celebrate Centro Hispano's decade|url=https://columbustelegram.com/news/gala-to-celebrate-centro-hispanos-decade/article_eef147d3-3048-5f35-85aa-eb0d8f1fded7.html|access-date=2021-10-03|website=Columbus Telegram|date=October 11, 2019 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Home|url=https://www.centrohispanos.com/|access-date=2021-10-03|website=Centro Hispano|language=en}}</ref>

A Columbus man died during the Midwestern flooding in 2019.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|last=Zaveri|first=Mihir|date=2019-03-17|title=Record-High Floods in Nebraska Breach Levees and Isolate Towns|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/16/us/nebraska-flooding.html|access-date=2021-10-04|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> He had been trying to help someone stranded in the floodwaters when the bridge he was crossing collapsed.<ref name=":1" />

During [[COVID-19 pandemic|the COVID-19 pandemic]], the Columbus City Council passed a mask mandate in a special meeting held in late November.<ref>{{Cite web|last=STAFF|first=TELEGRAM|title=Columbus City Council approves mask mandate|url=https://columbustelegram.com/news/local/columbus-city-council-approves-mask-mandate/article_5600f660-d38e-562c-935c-d9958a887573.html|access-date=2021-10-03|website=Columbus Telegram|date=November 24, 2020 |language=en}}</ref> The council voted four to four on the mandate and Mayor Jim Bulkley broke the tie in favor of the mandate. In January 2021, the council voted on an amended ordinance which required masks only if cases hit a certain level.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Telegram|first=CAROLYN KOMATSOULIS The Columbus|title=Columbus mask mandate to be lifted|url=https://columbustelegram.com/news/local/columbus-mask-mandate-to-be-lifted/article_dee7aa76-5ada-52fe-854a-71a8384f148e.html|access-date=2021-10-03|website=Columbus Telegram|date=January 6, 2021 |language=en}}</ref> The ordinance expired on Feb. 23, 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Telegram|first=CAROLYN KOMATSOULIS The Columbus|title=Columbus' mask mandate to end in a week|url=https://columbustelegram.com/news/local/columbus-mask-mandate-to-end-in-a-week/article_4566589d-13f4-59e8-a2cd-058845c51abf.html|access-date=2021-10-03|website=Columbus Telegram|date=February 16, 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

Voters in [[2020 United States elections|the 2020 election]] approved a community building project, with space for a library, a potential children's museum, an art gallery, coffee shop, community room and City Hall. A previous library ballot measure had failed in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Telegram|first=CAROLYN KOMATSOULIS The Columbus|title=WATCH NOW: Getting the ball rolling: Voters approve issuing bonds Community Building Project|url=https://columbustelegram.com/news/local/watch-now-getting-the-ball-rolling-voters-approve-issuing-bonds-community-building-project/article_91ea62f4-b9b6-5359-ab7d-6e3f8cd16b76.html|access-date=2021-10-03|website=Columbus Telegram|date=November 5, 2020 |language=en}}</ref> Demolition of the library began in May 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|last=TELEGRAM|first=MOLLY HUNTER, THE COLUMBUS|title=WATCH NOW: Columbus Public Library demolition underway|url=https://columbustelegram.com/news/national/watch-now-columbus-public-library-demolition-underway/video_0c924915-620b-5d3c-80eb-b9e418d9f1cf.html|access-date=2021-10-03|website=Columbus Telegram|date=May 18, 2021 |language=en}}</ref> The Columbus Community Building held its grand opening in July 2023 with the Library and City Hall moving into the building immediately, followed by the Columbus Arts Council, Children's Museum, and a coffee shop.<ref>{{Cite web|title=YEAR IN REVIEW: #1 Columbus Community Building opens! |url=https://www.columbusne.us/civicalerts.aspx?aid=1419|access-date=2024-03-21|website=Columbus Nebraska website |language=en}}</ref>

A fire smoldered at the Columbus [[ADM (company)|Archer Daniels Midland]] facility for several weeks in summer 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Telegram|first=MOLLY HUNTER The Columbus|title=Nebraska ADM facility's fire continues smoldering for weeks|url=https://herald-review.com/business/local/nebraska-adm-facilitys-fire-continues-smoldering-for-weeks/article_3afa64cd-3dd7-55ed-8e7c-5679dff75734.html|access-date=2021-10-04|website=Herald-Review.com|date=August 2, 2021 |language=en}}</ref> Columbus' fire chief resigned less than a week after the public found out about the [[fire]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Columbus fire chief resigns less than one week after ADM fire|url=https://central.newschannelnebraska.com/story/44443437/columbus-fire-chief-resigns-less-than-one-week-after-adm-fire|access-date=2021-10-04|website=central.newschannelnebraska.com|language=en}}</ref>