Amendment 3: Missouri doctors share differing views on proposed abortion ban
Missouri physicians share their perspectives ahead of the Nov. 3 election regarding Amendment 3, a proposed measure that would reinstate a near-total ban on abortion in the state.
sports
‘It was a disaster’: How Missouri State’s second-half implosion led to 61-38 loss at Delaware
Quarterback Nick Minicucci led Delaware to a 61-38 victory over Missouri State following his return from a knee injury.
courts
Greene County student files lawsuit alleging grooming by private music teacher
A Greene County teenager filed a civil lawsuit against her former private music teacher, Timothy Daucher, alleging he initiated a romantic relationship and exhibited grooming behaviors when she was 14.
Court of Appeals again denies Taney County judge’s immunity claims after jailing kid magicians
The 8th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Taney County Judge Eric Eighmy is not entitled to either qualified immunity or judicial immunity for jailing the…
Downtown Springfield art gallery officially closes after struggles
Springfield art company Fresh Gallery has officially closed its physical location on Boonville Avenue, though owner Jennifer Hyde plans to continue the business through pop-up shows.
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latest news & Sports
NEWS
Springfield Ballet reimagines ‘The Nutcracker Sweets & Treats’ for 2026
Springfield Ballet will host its reimagined ‘The Nutcracker Sweets & Treats’ event on Nov. 22 at the Hatch Auditorium to benefit its outreach and educational initiatives.
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SPORTS
Day after Delaware: Five observations after Missouri State’s latest road loss
Bears’ uphill climb to bowl eligibility got steeper following 61-38 Conference USA defeat.
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BUSINESS
Answer Man: Who has to stop at every railroad crossing, regardless of whether the signal is active?
A reader asked the Answer Man about which drivers are required to stop at every railroad crossing, regardless of whether any signals are activated. The answer led to a surprising difference that affects Uber and Lyft drivers.
Piccolo closes in Nixa after 10 years, citing stress and ‘financial mess’ from 2025 vehicle crash
Popular Nixa Italian restaurant Piccolo announced Monday that it will close following a decade in operation. The business struggled to come back after a vehicle crash in June 2025.
How safe do you feel downtown? Late-night visitors and bargoers have mixed feelings after teen shootings
Data shows downtown Springfield is one of a few local “hotspots” for 911 calls about shots fired, but most visitors say it is not a dangerous place.
Closure of eastbound I-44 lane will lead to shutdowns of exits over the weekend
Eastbound traffic will be reduced to one lane through Springfield from Friday, Oct. 16, to Sunday, Oct. 18, according to an advisory from the Missouri Department of Transportation.
SCHOOLS & CHILDREN
Read our special series SPS: District of Choice?
Missouri education chief resigns amid controversy over A-F ratings for public schools
Stacey Preis steps down after four months as speculation grows about Senate President Pro Tem Cindy O’Laughlin becoming the next commissioner.
Ozarks Tech approves ‘foundational’ AI policy for students, staff
Ozarks Tech’s Board of Trustees adopted the policy during its regular meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 14. Developed after months of research and feedback, the policy gives direction about how AI can be used by students, faculty and staff.
GOVERNMENT
Springfield/Greene co.
Ex-Greene County deputy charged with misusing Flock cameras
Jennifer S. Flood, born in 1983, has been charged with four counts of misuse of official information by a public servant.
christian county
Police: Woman dies from bedsores after being left alone in Nixa storage unit; son charged with manslaughter
A Nixa man was charged with first-degree involuntary manslaughter for allegedly leaving his mother, who was in fragile condition, unattended in a storage unit. She later died at the hospital.
elections
Incumbent Republican Bill Owen faces off against Willard Democrat Ashley Cossins for House District 131
Incumbent Republican State Representative Bill Owen and Democratic challenger Ashley Cossins are competing for election to Missouri’s House District 131, focusing on the state budget and healthcare access respectively.
public safety
Walnut Grove man dies in motorcycle crash; press groups sue to force Highway Patrol to put names back in crash reports
The Missouri Press and Missouri Broadcasters associations filed a lawsuit in Cole County Circuit Court this week to compel the Missouri State Highway Patrol to resume providing the names of individuals involved in fatal traffic crashes.
Steve Pokin — Columnist
Click here to join Steve Pokin for his Oct. 30 retirement party
Steve Pokin writes the Pokin Around and The Answer Man columns for the Springfield Daily Citizen. Read about his upcoming retirement and join him Oct. 30 for a party.
latest columns
Pokin Around: A Springfield dentist blamed his office manager for forcing him to close. She says there’s much more to the story.
Springfield dentist Brian Hoffman faced backlash after sending a letter to approximately 1,000 patients blaming former office manager Peggy Myers for his practice’s sudden closure following her resignation due to alleged mistreatment.
Answer Man: Reader curious about old stone with doctor’s name on it that’s outside Medical Tower near Cox North
Discover the history behind the Dr. W.L. Pursselley stone at Cox North Hospital and its possible connection to a hitching post.
Answer Man: Runner asks for story behind playing of ‘Mr. Blue Sky’ at start of Bass Pro marathon, half-marathon
The song ‘Mr. Blue Sky’ by Electric Light Orchestra became a tradition at the Bass Pro Marathon starting around 2010.
Pokin Around: Collin’s Punishment — ‘If you mess up in this town, your mom might just make you a civic leader’
Mystery solved: Why Collin adopted a street and must pick up litter on South Cox Road in Springfield.
SPRINGFIELD CULTURE
Mosaic Arts Collective finds its ‘Superstar’ after another theatrical plot twist
Mosaic Arts Collective is set to perform a diverse, rock opera production of Jesus Christ Superstar at the Historic Fox Theatre from October 16 to November 1.
Springfield Little Theatre brings ‘Arsenic & Old Lace’ to Landers Theatre
Springfield Little Theatre is scheduled to present the dark comedy Arsenic & Old Lace at the historic Landers Theatre from October 16 to 25.
OTHER SPRINGFIELD NEWS
state gov’t/politics
sports
VOICES
Opinion: Sometimes one vote really does matter
Just a few miles from Springfield, an election came down to a tie. One more person could have made the difference. Every voice matters.
Opinion: Stop framing Libertarian candidates as ‘third party’ option
Libertarian candidate for Senate District 30 Cecil Ince argues that news media must end the political stigma against the Libertarian Party, which has been an established political party in Missouri for decades.
Brian Fogle: As disasters proliferate, Convoy of Hope rises to occasion
As the number of significant weather events has increased, Convoy of Hope has increased capacity to meet new challenges,
Paul Kincaid: Do you ever just wonder about things?
Columnist Paul Kincaid explores various philosophical questions and personal reflections ranging from historical quotes to everyday observations.
SPEcial report: living in fear
Living in Fear: Breadth and terror of domestic violence is everyday occurrence in Greene County
Domestic violence is a black eye for Springfield and Greene County. It affects thousands of lives here every year — yet a major obstacle to addressing it is that many people still don’t believe it’s widespread or much of an issue.
Living in Fear: Laws protecting rights for both parents put domestic violence victims in a bind
When Missouri legislators changed family law in 2016 to prioritize co-parenting and focus on “frequent, continuing and meaningful contact” by both parents, critics say they opened a door that gives hardcore abusers the opportunity to continue the cycle of domestic violence.
Living in Fear: Batterers often sent to class, but no one knows if it reduces domestic violence
People found guilty of domestic assault in Greene County often are placed on probation with one of the conditions being they attend a batterers intervention class instead of going to jail or prison. Yet, no one in Greene County has compiled hard data that could determine if these programs actually reduce domestic violence.
9 ways to help those who are Living in Fear
Several changes in state law, better use of existing laws and stronger efforts to enforce potential federal penalties against abusers are among the top nine solutions offered in the course of interviews with 55 sources contacted by the Springfield Daily Citizen in its six-month investigation into domestic violence.
