Daily brief (1/16): Top picks from the Springfield media

The warming trend will peak today with a high of 65. It will be mostly cloudy, with a 20 percent chance of rain throughout the day. Rain is likely tonight, and a thunderstorm is possible.

Winds will remain gusty throughout the day. Gusts of close to 40 mph are expected, and a wind advisory is in effect for several Ozarks counties, including Greene, Polk, and Lawrence.

Once the rain moves through, temperatures will drop dramatically. The day will start at the high of 36 and drop throughout the day. A low of 17 is expected by Tuesday night as the clouds clear.

Another warming trend is in store, though, and temperatures should return to the 50s by Thursday.

Martin Luther King observances

Several organizations plan observances of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday today. The Springfield chapter of the NAACP is planning a march that begins at 9:30 a.m. at the Mediacom Ice Park downtown (635 E. Trafficway). The march will end at Clara Thompson Hall on the Drury University campus, where Dr. Tererai Trent will speak.

The 15th annual Multicultural Festival will begin at noon at the Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts (525 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway).

A complete list of events is available at OzarksFirst and the News-Leader‘s site.

Today’s picks

• News-Leader: City examining multiple uses for hotel-motel tax funds. With the Wonders of Wildlife museum’s decision to return its hotel-motel tax funds, the city has an estimated $5 million to apply for other uses. Several area nonprofit organizations have applied for part of the funds.
• KSPR: Greene County reviewing sports complex proposal. The Greene County Planning and Zoning Board this week will be reviewing the proposed Envision Sports complex near Rogersville that would include 18 sports fields. The board will meet at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow in Room 212 of the Historic Greene County Courthouse.
• KY3: Carthage mayor urging people to run for City Council. Only three people have filed for the six open seats on the Carthage City Council, and Mayor Mike Harris is asking for more people to apply. (Other coverage: KSPR)
• News-Leader: Ozark board decides not to reimburse school district. The Ozark Board of Aldermen has declined the request of the Ozark School District to be reimbursed for construction fees related to a new $1 million transportation facility.
• KY3: Missouri hunters kill close to 239,000 deer. Missouri hunters killed about 239,000 deer during the firearms season, up about 7,400 from last year but down about 13,000 from the 10-year average, according to the Missouri Conservation Department. (Other coverage: News-Leader, KSPR)