BREAKING: Missouri State is movin' on up to the highest level of college athletics. The school has accepted an invitation to join Conference USA as a full league member, effective July 1, 2025, and football transition to the FBS level.
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The
@Sgf_Cardinals
aren't going anywhere.
The
@CityofSgf
has a proposed deal to buy and upgrade Hammons Field, and the Cardinals have agreed to extend their lease through 2038 — all pending City Council approval.
The voters in
@officialSPS
appear to be backing the educators in the race for school board as incumbent Shurita Thomas-Tate claims victory; she is currently 2nd to Judy Brunner
It appears House Minority Leader
@crystal_quade
, from Springfield, is considering a run for governor,
@RanceBurger
reports. This comes in the wake of her response to Republican Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft's campaign announcement.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Brittany Dyer wonders why some members of the Springfield Board of Education would be willing to risk $7 million in federal grants to avoid adopting mentions of gender identity and sexual orientation.
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You might be well aware of
@OTCedu
's accomplishments during
@HalHigdon
's tenure, but how well do you know Higdon himself?
@spokinSGF
has a moving profile of OTC's president.
The Daily Citizen has collected its first national award! The team received the Breaking Barriers Award from the Institute for Nonprofit News for its stories "that humanized and helped the homeless."
Dan Reiter was the final sales account executive hired by the
@Sgf_Cardinals
in 2004. His boss didn't even have the budget for him. Now Reiter is the team's general manager. Read all about his rise in this profile from contributor
@LyndalScranton
.
Who set fire to a Springfield homeless camp? Rumors are circulating that the fires were set by Greene County Sheriff’s deputies. That cannot be confirmed because Sheriff Jim Arnott isn't talking. Here's what
@JRehwaldSGF
has learned so far.
Breaking this morning:
@DruryBaseball
is coming home to Springfield's Meador Park, next to Battlefield Mall, as
@CoachNasby
led fundraising for turf and other improvements.
@jack_mcgee_
has the scoop:
NEW this AM:
@officialSPS
awarded $313K in attorney fees for defending district against claims that 2020 diversity-equity training forced employees to align views with those of trainers
MO
@AGAndrewBailey
tells
@SGFChamber
members that federal regulatory agencies “exceeding the scope of their statutory authority” are an inhibitor to progress.
@jack_mcgee_
reports:
The North American Vexillological Association, which dubs itself as the “world’s largest organization of flag enthusiasts and scholars,” gave Springfield's new flag an A grade and ranked it in the top 25 new city flags in the U.S.
Meet Jeff Kessinger. He's a Springfield native, Queen City superfan and your connection to the Springfield Daily Citizen. Learn more about him and his vision for our daily newsletter on our website.
Two years ago, Spencer Nivens had to earn the final spot on the
@MSUBearBaseball
roster. Now he's waiting for his name to be called in the MLB Draft.
@LyndalScranton
writes Nivens credits the Bears' coaching staff with developing his skills.
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You can learn more about our plans for a new digital news website, plus sign up for updates and send us your ideas by checking out our "coming soon" website:
The $50m to
@MissouriState
for Temple Hall expansion and renovation is the largest-ever direct federal appropriation to the school says MSU's
@ClifSmart
Shurita Thomas-Tate expects attack ads, but — she told our
@cory_matteson
— they won't deter her from running for re-election for the Springfield Public Schools Board of Education.
Happy Valentine's Day, Springfield! We got you a website, loaded with local stories from talented journalists. That's right, our website is live and ready for you to read!
I love you forever,
@downtownSGF
. After 3-plus years working for my favorite neighborhood, it’s time for a new adventure. I’m over the moon to start work next week as the Reader Engagement Reporter for the
@sgfcitizen
. 1/4
Springfield is home to one of the fastest thinkers and most poised speakers in the nation. Sophia Leonard, a
@CentralBulldog
grad, won 13 consecutive extemporaneous debates at a national tournament to finish third among 1,040 competitors.
The
@CFOzarks
has selected its next president and CEO. Winter Kinne, who has worked for the foundation for 18 years, will take over for the retiring Brian Fogle.
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We're growing again! This week we've added 3 more to our team. Learn more about reporters and
@JKessingerSGF
, and Donor Engagement Associate
@Lindsey_SGF
.
You can find the top home run hitter in all of minor league baseball at Hammons Field.
@LyndalScranton
profiles slugger Moises Gomez of the
@Sgf_Cardinals
.
A severe shortage of child care slots — and parents confused about where to turn for information — puts some families at risk.
With long waits, why do so many centers have empty classrooms?
Read
@JRehwaldSGF
's latest in our child care crisis series:
BREAKING: Great Southern Bank buys naming rights for JQH Arena at
@MissouriState
. The facility will be called Great Southern Bank Arena. Story coming from
@cory_matteson
.
Missouri's House of Representatives cut state aid to public libraries. The Senate Appropriations Committee, chaired by Springfield Sen. Lincoln Hough, has restored it. And that's not all, reports Rudi Keller of our partner the
@MO_Independent
.
Small ball isn't a lost art. The
@Sgf_Cardinals
' Nick Dunn is working counts and giving pitchers fits as he finds ways to get on base. Check out the latest feature from
@LyndalScranton
.
His work has been featured by Activision and the Cartoon Network. He's collaborated with Nickelodeon, Disney and General Mills. He also helped design Springfield’s new flag. Our Gianna Kelley introduces you to Gary Bedell in this Q&A.
We didn't have to look far to find our next managing editor.
@RanceBurger
will soon be making the move across the hall to take over for Brittany Meiling. Burger explains why he's excited for his new role in this column.
Our team is complete! Say hello to
@RanceBurger
, a veteran southwest Missouri journalist. He'll serve as our government reporter, keeping an eye on Springfield City Council, Greene County Commission, City Utilities and more.
We have full election results on our website; doing final updates with added quotes from winners. Highest interest tonight in
@officialSPS
school board victory for Judy Brunner and Shurita Thomas-Tate. Great photo by Jym Wilson!
Raylen Sharpe is not the biggest and probably not the fastest player on the field, but
@LyndalScranton
writes the
@MOStateFootball
wide receiver has emerged as one of the Missouri Valley Football Conference’s brightest stars.
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Capt. Eric Reece, with
@SGFPolice
, just finished 10 weeks of training at the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia.
@spokinSGF
says that's a big deal.
NEW: A "transformative" alliance between
@MissouriState
,
@OTCedu
,
@officialSPS
and
@CoxHealth
will train future health care industry workers. That alliance could become one of the largest producers of health science professionals in the Midwest.
Read it:
The voters in
@officialSPS
appear to be backing the educators in the race for school board as incumbent Shurita Thomas-Tate claims victory; she is currently 2nd to Judy Brunner
Springfield superintendent
@DrGrenitaLathan
is once again sharing her love of reading. Carly Randles reports Lathan is giving out free Scholastic books to kindergarten through fifth-grade students in the entire
@officialSPS
district.
BREAKING:
@MissouriState
President
@ClifSmart
has announced his intent to retire at the end of this academic year.
@JoeHadsall
has reactions from the community as well as a look at what the school has accomplished during Smart's tenure.
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Updated story coming soon as Democrat Stephanie Hein appears to have unseated Republican incumbent Craig Fishel in House District 136 — by about 200 votes.
It was 31 years ago today — June 7, 1992 — that Stacy McCall, Suzie Streeter and Sherrill Levitt, vanished from a home at 1717 E. Delmar St. They have never been found. Take a look back at the case with this 2022 story from contributor
@thisisrondavis
.
Headed out to the
@Sgf_Cardinals
game tonight? Check out
@LyndalScranton
's feature on closer
@RyanLoutos
as you wait for first pitch. He's trusted his journey and himself and it's paying off.
FREE TO ALL READERS: SGF police say Reilly "Bella" Williams is still missing and they are urgently seeking any information that could help in locating Williams. A new image shows the clothing Williams was wearing when they were last seen.
Learn more:
Last year 70 Springfield Public Schools teachers decided to leave or retire in time to receive a financial bonus. This year that number is 131.
@cory_matteson
examines in-depth the teacher exodus hitting SPS.
We're hiring for several full-time newsroom roles, and also looking for interns (writers, photographers, illustrators, etc.) -- spread the word!
#springfieldmo
#jobs
#journalism
Fun Acre feels stuck in time, with its wooden windmill and $3 rounds of mini golf. There's even a payphone nearby.
@spokinSGF
went Pokin Around to learn more about the iconic Springfield business and the soft-spoken man who has owned it since the 1970s.
Natural talent is the starting point for
@dillonhes
. His "why" is what really helps the
@Evangel_FB
wide receiver shine.
@LyndalScranton
catches up with the Strafford grad, who has helped the Valor to a 6-0 start and a No. 15 national ranking.
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Celebration Saturday night for record-setting fundraising campaign for
@MissouriState
led by
@FoundationMSU
,
@ClifSmart
and actor John Goodman - $274 million raised for students, staff, programs and buildings
This week the Springfield Daily Citizen will begin sharing a series of FAQs as we prepare for our mid-February launch. We'll answer some of the burning questions we've received and share some beautiful photographs of the Queen City. Check back each day for more.
When the Greene County Commission doled out $4.8 million in ARPA funds, the GLO Center — which serves the LGBTQ community — was left out,
@RanceBurger
reports. Why? That's what the GLO Center's president would like to know.
The United States gained 159 new citizens today in Springfield.
@JRehwaldSGF
reports on the largest naturalization ceremony in southwest Missouri history, held on the Missouri State campus.
Attention, Springfield!
@cory_matteson
is here and ready to introduce himself. Get to know our newest public affairs reporter and how he found his way to the Queen City of the Ozarks.
“Plaintiffs attempted to drag Defendants into a political dispute rather than seek remedy for a genuine harm.”
Cory Matteson reports Springfield Public Schools is owed $313K in attorney fees tied to its defense in a case tied to equity training.
Denise Fredrick, outgoing president of the
@officialSPS
board, took the unusual step of speaking out to condemn the notion the 7-member school board will be better off with no educators
How did
@MSUCoachMox
and the
@MSULadyBears
overcome adversity this season? Lyndal Scranton says it’s a combination of confidence, belief and will that helped MSU earn its third straight NCAA Tournament berth.
The Central Film Festival, hosted by
@CentralBulldog
, is one of the five largest high school film festivals in the country. It's back for its eighth year, this time with some help from
@downtownsgf
.
Bad news, Springfield. A media report published this morning saying Trader Joe's is coming to the Queen City is incorrect.
The Daily Citizen has confirmed the new store is planned for Springfield, Virginia.
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Meet the new guy!
The Daily Citizen is expanding its coverage of the Springfield metro with its first full-time sports reporter,
@rwcollingwood
. The veteran journalist shares his journey to the Ozarks and his vision for the job in this column.
Read it:
Maryam Mohammadkhani is no longer the vice president of the Springfield Public Schools Board of Education.
@cory_matteson
has details on a contentious meeting that included discussion of Mohammadkhani's conduct at last week's Youth Empowerment Summit.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held today for
@BGCSpringfield
's two-story, 32,000-square-foot Risdal Family Teen Center for Great Futures.
@JRehwaldSGF
reports the center and all its programming will be completely free for young people.
Read it:
Happy to report
@sgfcitizen
has been accepted for membership by
@INN
, the leading network for nonprofit, nonpartisan, independent news organizations dedicated to public service. More than 350 members!
They're going to party like it's 1999 at
@GSBArena
today, as
@MSUBearsHoops
retires Danny Moore's number and the Sweet 16 team is reunited. Steve Alford is in town for the celebration and took a trip down memory lane with
@LyndalScranton
.
Read it:
The state Senate Appropriations Committee, chaired by Springfield Sen. Lincoln Hough, was busy last week. It stripped anti-diversity language from and restored public library funding to the House-approved budget.
Jere Gettle started filling seed orders as a teenager in his bedroom. Now, 25 years later, he's grown that small business into an industry leader. Kaitlyn McConnell, of our partner Ozarks Alive, has the story of
@rareseeds
.
Steve Alford will be at
@GSBArena
Saturday as Danny Moore's jersey is retired and his 1999
@MSUBearsHoops
Sweet 16 team has a reunion. He first chatted with
@LyndalScranton
about what he calls a special time in his life.
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"Our legacy is supposed to be leaving the world better for the next generation — our kids. I am afraid we are failing in that effort."
@KincaidCom
has started apologizing to his kids. He talks about it in this opinion piece.
BREAKING: There's a change of plans for Pipkin Middle School.
@JoeHadsall
reports
@officialSPS
has backed out of a deal to buy land on E. Pythian near U.S. Highway 65 and will seek a new site. There had been community pushback against the plan.
Read it:
Pres. Biden has signed the FY 2022 budget into law, bringing $88 million to
@MissouriState
,
@OTCedu
and the Jordan Valley Innovation Center.
@cory_matteson
tells you what that money will be used for.
Democrats have high hopes of turning Springfield blue in November and they're counting on women to get it done. Learn more in this voting guide from
@jack_mcgee_
.
Vote-counting is underway and the
@sgfcitizen
will have coverage of key races for Greene County, including US Senate, US House and three MO General Assembly contests -- stories will be posted as results become more clear
We're finalists!
The Daily Citizen is up for two national awards for our Child Care Crisis collaboration with
@kytv
, from the
@Inn
and the Local Independent Online News Publishers. We're also in the running for New Business of the Year.
Learn more:
Good morning, Springfield!
Due to technical issues beyond our control, today's edition of SGF A.M. will be delayed. We'll get it to you ASAP. Also, Facebook and Instagram are down, so...our reader engagement editor is having a tough morning.
🧵 Discarded food makes up 12% of Springfield’s landfill waste — but not the massive piles of onion scraps from the nearby
@Frenchs
plant. See how an industrial compost turner at
@SGFEnvironServi
works to transform those onions into soil here. 1/4
🎥: Shannon Cay
Headed out to the
@Sgf_Cardinals
game this afternoon? Read up on Jordan Walker's transition from infield to outfield in this column from
@LyndalScranton
.
The 6th man for
@MSUBearsHoops
stands 5-foot-2. Riley Hesterly won't play a minute, but the Champions Committed to Kids athlete is a welcome addition to the bench, locker room and team huddles. Meet Riley through Jym Wilson's words and photos.
Learn more:
The NBA playoffs start this weekend and former
@MSUBearsHoops
standout Blake Ahearn will be on the sidelines for the
@memgrizz
.
@LyndalScranton
caught up with the sharpshooter for this week's column.
Subscribe to Springfield. Subscribe to the Springfield Daily Citizen.
Queen City funnyman
@themysteryjeff
asks: "Don't you want to get your news from people that really, really know the area, you know, the stuff you only know if you actually live in Springfield?"
His beard? Santa-sized. His impact on students? Immeasurable.
@cory_matteson
introduces us to Robin Davidson of Gray Elementary, aka Mr. D, the 2023-2024
@officialSPS
Teacher of the Year.
FAQ 2: What will be included?
Part 1: Initially, the website will include sections for Springfield Life, Schools & Children, Economy & Growth, Health, Metro, Missouri/Ozarks, Sports and an events calendar. By Spring, we will add a Voices section and introduce other content.