Daily brief (7/15): Top picks from the Springfield media

Today will be sunny and hot, although a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms pops up after noon. Rain chances will linger into the evening and then dissipate for the week. Today’s high will be 92.

The next week will be sunny and dry, with little chance of rain in store. Expect highs in the mid 90s.

Today’s picks

• OzarksFirst: Racetrack developer files for bankruptcy. The developers of a NASCAR-style track in Taney County have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, according to their attorney. The move halted a scheduled auction of the property.
• KY3: Unemployment drops, but workforce down. Unemployment has dropped in the Ozarks and the rest of the Missouri since 2009, but so has the number of people in the workforce.
• KSPR: Lake of the Ozarks firefighters hit with calls for inspections. After three recent electrocutions around the Lake of the Ozarks, residents have been calling area fire departments asking for docks to be inspected.
• [Election] News-Leader: Several vie for county commissioner. Several Greene County residents are competing for a spot on the County Commission. The Aug. 7 primary will help whittle the field for the November election. Among those running: Democrat: Angela Filbeck, Terry Traw | Republican: Roseann Bentley, Charlie Denison, Steve Helms.
• KSPR: Brush fire threatened natural science museum. Five acres of a restores glade near the Missouri Institute of Natural Science in Greene County burned last week after a fire was sparked by fireworks. The museum building was not damaged.
• OzarksFirst: Macks Creek residents move forward to dissolve town. Some Macks Creek residents are circulating a petition to have the Camden County town dissolved so the county can take over road and bridge maintenance.
• KSMU: The history of Springfield shown through art. The Springfield Art Museum is hosting an exhibit that chronicles the changes in Springfield through the decades. The exhibit, titled “History of Springfield in Art,” will run through Sept. 16.

Daily brief (7/10): Top picks from the Springfield media

Today will be mostly sunny, with a more seasonable high of 90. A steady breeze of 10 to 13 mph will help ease the heat.

Tonight will be mild: Partly cloudy skies and a low of 67. Expect more of the same for the rest of the week, with mostly sunny skies and highs in the low 90s.

Today’s picks

• KY3: Dockside electrocutions preventable, experts say. Experts urge dock owners to test the electrical systems on their docks to ensure they are wired properly. Three people have been electrocuted at Lake of the Ozarks in the past five days. (Other coverage: News-Leader, OzarksFirst)
• KSMU: Work on 60/65 interchange to affect traffic. The Missouri Department of Transportation is installing guard cables at the U.S. 60/65 interchange, which will result in some lane closures and reduced speed limits in the area.
• OzarksFirst: City seeking input on next phase of Campbell improvements. The city of Springfield would like to hear from the public about the next phase of Campbell Avenue improvements, from Battlefield Road to El Camino Alto.
• KSPR: Council to meet about hotel-motel tax. The Springfield City Council will discuss ideas for what to do with the $330,000 of hotel-motel tax revenue that the Wonders of Wildlife Museum returns to the city every year.
• News-Leader: District audit response brings praise. A representative from the state auditor’s office praised the Springfield School District on Monday for its response to a critical audit of the district. (Other coverage: OzarksFirst | Audit information)

Daily brief (7/6): Top picks from the Springfield media

Another three-digit scorcher is in store today — continued dry with a high of 101. A heat advisory remains in effect through 7 p.m. tomorrow.

A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms enters the forecast tomorrow, with mostly cloudy skies moving in tomorrow night, and rain chances increase to 40 percent on Sunday. Rain chances linger Monday, and next week should provide a respite from the heat, with highs in the 80s.

The extended dry conditions mean fire risk is high, and several areas still have burn bans in effect. Fires in recent days have been sparked by a mower blade hitting a rock as well as fireworks.

Today’s picks

• KSPR: Call center to build, add 100 jobs. Communication Solutions plans to break ground this month on a new call center at Scenic Avenue and Sunshine Street, and will add 100 jobs for the new facility. (Other coverage: KY3, OzarksFirst)
• OzarksFirst: Check your computer for this malware. The Better Business Bureau says as many as 300,000 computers could lose Internet access because of malware developed by Estonian national who were arrested in November. The FBI describes how to check for the malware.
• KSPR: Police blame improper wiring for lake deaths. Police say improper wiring led to the electrocution deaths of two children at a Lake of the Ozarks dock.
• KSMU: City to hear comments about quiet zone. The city of Springfield is considering a “railway quiet zone” in the Rountree neighborhood after receiving hundreds of complaints about train whistles.
• News-Leader: New housing option popular at Drury. Drury University’s newest housing building, University Suites, is full, with students snapping up all of the 72 bedrooms for the fall semester.
• KY3: Mercy Hospital tops in patient safety. Mercy Hospital in Springfield was ranked sixth in the nation in a recent review of medical data by Consumer Reports.

Daily brief (7/5): Top picks from the Springfield media

The streak of hot, dry days continues today, with sunny skies and a high of 100. A heat advisory remains in effect through Saturday evening.

The first chance of rain is Sunday, although we may break a few records before then. The Springfield area has tied or broken record highs for six of the last 10 days. Tomorrow should be continued sunny and hot, with a high of 101.

The dry conditions have brought about burn bans throughout the Ozarks, and a few grass fires have been sparked by fireworks, authorities say. Springfield pools have also extended their hours because of the heat.

Today’s picks

• KSPR: Nixa seeking opinions on YMCA partnership. The Nixa City Council is considering a partnership with the Ozarks Regional YMCA to run the city’s recreational programs an operations. The public may comment today and July 9. (Other coverage: KY3, OzarksFirst)
• OzarksFirst: Two children electrocuted at Lake of the Ozarks. Alexandra Anderson, 13, and her brother Brayden, 8, were swimming in the Gravois Arm of the lake near a private dock when they were electrocuted by an “unknown source of electricity,” according to the Missouri Highway Patrol. (Other coverage: KY3)
• News-Leader: Former Hickory Hills building coming down. Demolition crews have begun tearing down the former Hickory Hills school building at U.S. 65 and Chestnut Expressway. Developer Paul Larino plans to build Hickory Hills Marketplace in its place, although his project has hit several bumps over the past two years.
• OzarksFirst: Nixa debaters earn national accolades.  Five seniors with the Nixa High School debate team — Alex Bailey, Nic Erwin, Samantha Franks, Josh Gilmer, and Devon Smith — and placed in the National Forensic League championship in Indianapolis.

Daily brief (11/20): Top picks from the Springfield media

Rain is likely today, and temperatures will remain cold, with a high of 45 expected.

Rain chances remain through Tuesday, with heavy rain likely Monday night. Tomorrow will be a little warmer, with a high of 57.

Today’s picks

• OzarksFirst: Joplin families in ‘Ten for Joplin’ project get keys to new homes. The Ten for Joplin project sponsored by the Habitat for Humanity chapters in Tulsa and Joplin built 10 homes in 16 days for families who lost their homes in the May 22 tornado. (Other coverage: KY3)
• KY3: Homeowners, Ameren discuss Lake of the Ozarks properties. Ameren, the utility that operates Lake of the Ozarks, has agreed to redraw boundary lines after about 1,200 properties were found to have property-easement issues. (Other coverage: News-Leader)
• News-Leader: Local initiative helps answer need in high-poverty schools. The Teacher Education Alliance takes education students from four local colleges and has them work in 15 schools with low-income secondary students to prepare them for working with students with a variety of challenges.
• News-Leader: Homeless sex offenders tough to track. The database of sex offenders in the area doesn’t have a reliable system for tracking homeless people who have been convicted of sex crimes and are required to report their whereabouts to authorities.
• KSMU: Discovering Greene County’s gargoyles. Geologist Jerry Vineyard explores the Ozarks’ unusual geology in his book Gargoyle Country: The Inspiring Geology of Greene County.

Daily brief (11/19): Top picks from the Springfield media

Today will be mostly cloudy and breezy, with a high of 64. Rain is likely tonight, and rain chances remain through Tuesday.

Highs for the next few days will be in the mid-50s.

Today’s picks

• KY3: Homeless camp agrees to disband. Rev. Larry Rice and the New Life Evangelistic Center have reached an agreement with the city of Springfield to stop using a parking lot as a tent camp for homeless people. (Other coverage: KSPR, News-Leader, OzarksFirst)
• News-Leader: Veterans group to end operation. The Greater Ozarks Veterans & Patriotic Organization, which puts on Springfield’s annual Veterans Day parade and handles ceremonies at Springfield National Cemetery, has voted to disband. The move could endanger the future of Springfield’s annual parade. 
  
• OzarksFirst: Job-training partnership aims to help workers over 50. Experience Works, a nonprofit organization that helps train and place low-income older people in the workforce, has partnered with the Walmart Foundation for a new training program.
• News-Leader: Utility considering plan to save Lake of the Ozarks homes. Ameren Missouri, the utility that manages Lake of the Ozarks, is considering a plan to settle the property dispute that has threatened 4,000 homeowners around the lake. (Other coverage: KSPR, OzarksFirst)
• KSPR: Bolivar cuts funding for 911 center. The city of Bolivar has opted to pull its funding for the Polk County 911 center, saying the center’s expenses exceed its budget.
• News-Leader: Kinder won’t run for governor. Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder announced Friday he will not run for governor in 2012 and will instead support fellow Republican David Spence of St. Louis. (Other coverage: KSPR, KY3, OzarksFirst)

Daily brief (11/11): Top picks from the Springfield media

Remember to thank a veteran on Veterans Day today. Several locations including the branches of the Springfield-Greene County Library are closed in honor of veterans.

Today will start off cold, with wind-chill temperatures close to freezing. Skies will remain clear, and the day will warm up nicely, with a high of 62. It will be breezy, with gusts of up to 30 mph.

Expect 60s through the weekend, with the first rain chances expected Sunday night.

Today’s picks

• News-Leader: City says it won’t allow campground for homeless. Homeless advocate Larry Rice, who has clashed with the city of Springfield over the years, has set up a camp in central Springfield, but city officials say the camp violate city zoning regulations. (Other coverage: KSMU, KSPR, KY3, OzarksFirst)   
• OzarksFirst: Prosecutor says deputy justified in Greene County shooting. Greene County Prosecutor Dan Patterson said Thursday that Deputy Matthew Keatts was justified in shooting Tammy Robinette of Mountain Grove, who pulled a gun during a traffic stop. (Other coverage: News-Leader)
• KY3: Federal regulators reverse course at Lake of the Ozarks. Federal regulators may allow many homes along the Lake of the Ozarks shoreline to remain, despite easement issues. (Other coverage: KSPR, OzarksFirst)
• News-Leader: Hickory Hills site faces new hurdles. The City Council and the Greene County Commission have to figure out how to juggle different taxing jurisdictions to help pay for improvements at the Hickory Hills development at Chestnut Expressway and U.S. Highway 65.

Daily brief (11/5): Top picks from the Springfield media

Morning clouds will clear as today progresses, making way for sunny skies and a high of 64. After a clear night, clouds will roll back in, bringing a good chance of rain through Tuesday night.

Tomorrow, there’s a 30 percent chance of showers, but those chances increase to 60 percent Sunday night. Thunderstorms are likely Monday and Tuesday.

Also, don’t forget to turn your clocks back tonight before going to bed. We return to Standard Time at 2 a.m. Sunday, which means move your clocks back an hour. Firefighters say it’s also a good time to check your smoke-alarm batteries.

Today’s picks

• KSPR: Camdenton’s largest employer set to close in four months. Modine Manufacturing, which makes a variety of cooling equipment, will close its 128,000-square-foot plant in Camdenton by March 2012. At its peak, the plant employed more than 300 people.
• OzarksFirst: Sheriff’s office taking pay increase out of tax proposal. About $300,000 of the proposed 1/8-cent law-enforcement tax headed to Greene County voters in April would have gone for raises in the sheriff’s department. But the office is putting that allotment back into the proposal for other needs. (Other coverage: KSMU, News-Leader)
• News-Leader: CU considering options for aging power plant. City Utilities has to decide what the future of the James River Power Plant will be: retirement, conversion to a natural-gas facility, or a cleaner coal facility with more pollution-control equipment.
• OzarksFirst: Rep. Hartzler heads to Lake of the Ozarks over FERC issue. U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler is working with Missouri’s congressional contingent to stop Ameren UE and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission from seizing property over easement disagreements.

Daily brief (10/22): Top picks from the Springfield media

Today will be mostly sunny and mild, with a high of 72.

The pleasant weather should remain through the middle of next week, with highs in the 70s and little sign of rain. However, storms and cooler temperatures are expected Wednesday.

High school football

This week’s winners (undefeated teams in bold): Bolivar, Camdenton, Carthage, Cassville, Fair Grove, Glendale, Kickapoo, Marionville, Miller, Monett, Mountain Grove, Mount Vernon, Nixa, Ozark, Parkview, Pleasant Hope, Rogersville, Springfield Catholic, Strafford, Waynesville, Webb City, Willow Springs.

Full coverage: KSPR, KY3, News-Leader, OzarksFirst

Today’s picks

• OzarksFirst: Blunt, McCaskill seek to block removal of lake homeowners. Missouri’s senators have teamed up to block the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission from enforcing easement rights that could force more than 1,200 to remove their homes along Lake of the Ozarks.
• KY3: Second apartment fire caused by careless smoking. In the past week, two separate apartment fires have been caused by careless smoking. Fires at Villa Park Apartments on Friday (1909 E. Cherry) and Golden Pond Apartments on Sunday (3030 W. Kingsley) have displaced dozens. (Other coverage: News-Leader)
• News-Leader: Report highlights colleges’ financial struggles. Three colleges owned by the Assemblies of God in Springfield including Evangel University are under financial stress and are facing increased scrutiny from U.S. Department of Education.
• KY3: Search continues for driver who hit man on horse. The Missouri Highway Patrol is looking for a driver who hit a man on a horse near the Greene-Christian county line along Blue Spring Road near Highway FF.
• News-Leader: Schools back cautious approach to No Child waiver. Local superintendents support the idea of the state seeking a waiver of No Child Left Behind requirements — as long as it doesn’t come with penalties. (Other coverage: OzarksFirst)

Daily brief (10/5): Top picks from the Springfield media

Hope the string of nice days doesn’t bore you: Another day of clear, sunny skies, with a high of 79.

And there’s still no a rain in sight. Expect the nice days and mild temperatures to continue through at least Sunday.

Today’s picks

• KY3: Deputy shoots man after traffic stop. Deputy shoots man after traffic stop. A man pulled over on suspicion of drunken driving late Tuesday night reportedly pulled a gun on a Greene County deputy, who shot and killed the suspect. The deputy remains on administrative leave. (Other coverage: KSPR, News-Leader, OzarksFirst)
• KSPR: Hundreds of properties in limbo at Lake of the Ozarks. Ameren, a private utility, may force some homeowners with easement problems at Lake of the Ozarks to remove structures — including houses — from the lakefront. Letters were sent to 1,200 homeowners with potential easement issues.
• OzarksFirst: Missouri National Guard expanding forces. The 35th Engineer Brigade of the Missouri National Guard is adding three units and 190 positions, mostly part-time.
• KSMU: CoxHealth expanding critical-care unit. CoxHealth has added a two-story, 30,000-square-foot expansion for its critical-care unit, which handles primarily head-injury and stroke patients.
• KY3: Man tazed by deputies dies. Authorities are investigating the death of a man who died in Camden County after being tazed by sheriff’s deputies. Glenn David Norman, 46, reportedly tried to enter a house that wasn’t his, but his girlfriend said he merely went to the wrong house. (Other coverage: KSPR)
• News-Leader: Community Focus report identifies area’s major issues. The 2011 Community Focus report, which identified major issues in the Springfield metropolitan area and Greene County, showed a marked increase in poverty since the 2009 report. Though child abuse remains a major issue, Greene County no longer tops the list of reported child abuse. (Other coverage: KSPR, KY3, OzarksFirst, KTTS)