Demographics study provides data for considering Pershing school’s future
A demographics study introduced to Springfield Board of Education members Nov. 28 shined a light on how effectively school buildings are used.

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Daily CITIZEN
Get notifications when new stories are published; download the new ‘SGF Daily Citizen’ app
The Springfield Daily Citizen app is now available and free to download from either the App Store or the Google Play Store. Just search for “SGF Daily Citizen.”
Second man sentenced in Affordable Towing emissions conspiracy case
Robert Dyche, the 67-year-old owner of Full Flash Tuning, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate the Clean Air Act.
Part of Grant Avenue will become one-way southbound starting Dec. 4
Grant Avenue will be be open to southbound traffic only — and closed to northbound traffic — between Sunshine and University streets beginning Monday, Dec.…
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BUSINESS
Howler opens second Springfield store, rebrands as outdoor company
Howler Company, an extension of Howler Bike Park near Branson, opened its second Springfield store in the Brentwood Shopping Center.
Greene County Commission weighs 2024 budget amid sharp decline in sales tax growth
The Greene County Commission is set to weigh spending requests by county offices and departments against the Budget Office’s recommendations before the Commission adopts a final budget in early 2024.
Family opens University Convenience Store to serve international students
The day after the Indian festival Diwali began, hundreds of people showed up at the newly-opened University Convenience Store to celebrate in feast.
Small Business Saturday in Springfield includes sales and giveaways
Now that the Thanksgiving turkey has been digested, Americans are turning their attention to a string of shopping holidays.
SCHOOLS & CHILDREN
New lab at MSU puts cultural emphasis on teaching
The lab goes hand-in-hand with an emphasis on working with families from other countries living in the Ozarks. Graduates this year are working with peers from Morocco.
Evangel announces second $10 million matching gift
The university received a second $10 million donation from the Green family, which owns the Hobby Lobby and Mardel franchises.
Read our 2022 Child Care Crisis series produced in collaboration with KY3 News.
GOVERNMENT
Community Foundation of the Ozarks updates guide for Giving Tuesday
In advance of Giving Tuesday, a southwest Missouri charitable foundation released an updated version of a holiday gifting guide.
Library board to use search firm for finding new director
Regina Greer Cooper announced during a board meeting Nov. 21 that her last day will be on Dec. 29. Her retirement from the library district was announced in September.
Architect chosen, library searches for builder of new Republic branch
The library system received about $4.5 million in American Recovery Plan Act grants allocated from the state of Missouri for the expansion of its Republic branch.
Steve Pokin — Columnist

Steve Pokin writes the Pokin Around and The Answer Man columns for the Springfield Daily Citizen. He also writes about criminal justice issues.
latest columns
Pokin Around: Fellows Lake gets $500,000 all-inclusive playground
The Springfield South Kiwanis Club decided to fund an all-inclusive playground at Fellows Lake, a City Utilities-owned recreation area north of the city.
Pokin Around: Atheist speaker comes to SGF; ‘house of cards fell down. I realized I simply did not believe anymore’
Seth Andres, author and host of “The Thinking Atheist” podcast, will bring his views to Springfield to speak on Nov. 15.
It took Answer Man 3 times, but he finally found the cave at Lost Hill
A cave at Lost Hill Park is what a child imagines a cave should be. It would have been 12-year-old Steve Pokin’s second-home, a secret hideout.
Pokin Around: I expect U.S. Supreme Court to focus more on ‘What Would Ben Franklin Do?’ than domestic-violence victims
I find it fascinating and disappointing that top legal minds now hone in on what our nation’s founders thought when the Second Amendment was approved in 1791.
SPRINGFIELD CULTURE
Half a million dollars to feed people with community gardens
Teaching new farmers has been part of the Springfield Community Gardens’ vision to “create a community where everyone has access to healthy, local food,”
Co-owners of Formed: An Artist Collective launch a fine art fair, Art of the Ozarks
Laura Ingalsbe and Grace Huckfeldt saw a need in the Springfield arts community for an indoor, fall show. They’re doing something about it.
OTHER SPRINGFIELD NEWS
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VOICES
Opinion: Be thankful Springfield continues to address the most difficult and sensitive issues
I am thankful for the hope Springfield continues to provide with its willingness to address the most difficult and sensitive issues in our community.
Opinion: ‘Social emotional learning’ can help students succeed in employment and life
While some fear social emotional learning tactics infringe on parental rights, new state guidelines can help bridge the education-employment gap.
Opinion: The Oracle says: ‘The future of your work will be hands-on.’
The Ozarks Oracle says Artificial Intelligence is powerful and promising. While it may threaten some jobs, humans are still going to be pretty handy — literally.
Opinion: No one saw Victor. We need to open our eyes
Victor Fedchuk died in plain sight in an alley off a busy street in downtown Springfield. But no one saw him.
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.