Text spreading out in multicols

Question

Minimal working example:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage[utf8]{inputenc}
\usepackage[bitstream-charter]{mathdesign}
\usepackage{multicol}
\usepackage{fancyhdr}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\usepackage{lettrine}
\usepackage{graphicx}
\usepackage{lipsum}
\usepackage[margin=0.9in]{geometry}
\setlength{\columnsep}{0.8cm}

\title{\Huge Bla bla bla}
\author{\Large John Smith}
\date{}

\fancypagestyle{amstyle}
{
    \fancyhf{}
    \renewcommand{\headrulewidth}{0pt}
    \fancyfoot[C]{\textbf{Bla bla bla}}
    \fancyfoot[R]{\textbf{Bla bla bla}}
    \fancyfoot[L]{\textbf{\thepage}}
}

\begin{document}
\maketitle
\thispagestyle{amstyle}

\begin{multicols*}{2}
\lettrine[lines=5]{M}{} \lipsum[1-10] 
$$\boxed{fancy equation}$$
\textit{Important sentence here}
\columnbreak
% image as large as 1 multicols \includegraphics[scale=1]{ams-add.pdf}
\end{multicols*}

\end{document}

The problem is the boxed equation at the end and sentence are spread out. I am unable to resolve the issue. I'd like the left column to terminate normally, and not add extra space in between.

Answer 1

You can force the column short with \vspace*{\fill}\null

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage[utf8]{inputenc}
\usepackage[bitstream-charter]{mathdesign}
\usepackage{multicol}
\usepackage{fancyhdr}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\usepackage{lettrine}
\usepackage{graphicx}
\usepackage{lipsum}
\usepackage[margin=0.9in]{geometry}
\setlength{\columnsep}{0.8cm}

\title{Bla bla bla}
\author{John Smith}
\date{}

\fancypagestyle{amstyle}
{
    \fancyhf{}
    \renewcommand{\headrulewidth}{0pt}
    \fancyfoot[C]{\textbf{Bla bla bla}}
    \fancyfoot[R]{\textbf{Bla bla bla}}
    \fancyfoot[L]{\textbf{\thepage}}
}

\begin{document}
\maketitle
\thispagestyle{amstyle}

\begin{multicols*}{2}
\lettrine[lines=5]{M}{} \lipsum[1-10] 
\[\boxed{fancy equation}\]
\textit{Important sentence here}

\vspace*{\fill}
\null
\columnbreak
% image as large as 1 multicols \includegraphics[scale=1]{ams-add.pdf}
\end{multicols*}

\end{document}