Suspense builds ahead of Hammons Field press conference
Future of the Springfield Cardinals might surface at press conference called by team
LATEST IN-DEPTH
As suburbs flourish and grow, Springfield and nearby towns run low on elbow room
Springfield is sprawling, but there’s only a limited amount of Greene County — and the Queen City’s smaller neighbors are eyeing up land and elbowing each other for room.
Pokin Around: It’s cold out, but you probably already know that because, after all, it’s winter
For this account, I did not call the National Weather Service, and I did not refer to the swirling, lava-lamp weather maps I saw on…
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SPRINGFIELD LIFE
There’s family fun on stage and off at Springfield Little Theatre’s ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’
‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’ opens Jan. 27 at Springfield Little Theatre, with a debut performance by Tom Baker and a very special car.
Eating vegan or vegetarian in Springfield is hard. This guide helps
Looking for vegan or vegetarian restaurants in Springfield, Mo.? It can be hard to find, but options exist! Find plant-based spots here.
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.
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Pokin Around: City says ‘dangerous building’ notice on Missouri Hotel placed in error
A broken window. That’s what warranted a “Dangerous Building Warning” notice on the long-vacant former Missouri Hotel at 412 and 420 E. Commercial St.
Pokin Around: Chasing lead foot — distinguishing common speeders from those ’26 mph or more’ over posted limit
How fast were you going? If you are caught going 26 mph or more over the posted limit in Missouri, you must appear in court and a judge can sentence you to county jail for up to six months…
Pokin Around: Dress code amendment for female House members was poorly worded, but little changed
Both sides agreed the dress-code discussion in the Missouri House was a monumental waste of time, which it was. Of course, they blamed each other.
Pokin Around: Forget about ‘Forty Under 40,’ it’s time for ‘Seventy Over 70’
Correction: Colin Shea Denniston, the engagement and style editor at 417 Magzine, is recognized in this year’s Springfield Business Journal’s list of Forty Under 40. The original version of this story stated there were no journalists on the list.…
SCHOOLS & CHILDREN
Cha-ching: Hillcrest High School will get Missouri’s first student-run credit union
Hillcrest High School is getting a new program — a student-run credit union.
‘You’ve got the boujee high school’: Springfield’s northside celebrates renovated Hillcrest High School
The final wing, comprised of 29 new classrooms and three performing arts spaces, is now open.
economy & growth
Mercy annexation at Highway 65 and Evans Road canceled
The Springfield City Council stopped its action on a bill to annex the land from unincorporated Greene County into Springfield, and will not rezone the property for institutional use.
As more Springfieldians buy electric cars, airport leaders plan ahead
So when will you, the proud owner of an electric car, be able to park in long-term parking at the airport, plug in the car, enjoy a five-day trip to Florida and fly back home to a fully-charged battery? Maybe in 2025. Electric vehicle charging stations are coming to the Springfield-Branson National Airport. Rental car…
elections
Filing for Springfield City Council elections closes with 4 contested races
In a move that surprised some, fourth-generation Springfieldian Richard Ollis will not be among them. The incumbent did not file a petition.
Conflict arises out of Springfield ballot measure on changes to conflict of interest rules
Springfield voters are likely to consider a ballot issue about financial conflicts of interest when they vote April 4.
Lucas Kunce declares Democratic candidacy for U.S. Senate in Missouri
Democrat Lucas Kunce announced his second bid for U.S. Senate on Jan. 6, the two-year anniversary of the attack on the Capitol, this time against incumbent Republican Sen. Josh Hawley. That is, if Kunce can secure the Democratic nomination. In August’s Democratic primaries, he was defeated by Trudy Busch Valentine by less than 18,000 votes.…
OTHER SPRINGFIELD NEWS
sports
OZARKS ALIVE | CULTURAL PRESERVATION PROJECT
Springfield’s Max Hunter, folk music collector, featured in new book
Max Hunter spent decades traveling the Ozarks to record folk songs and ballads. His work led to a 2023 biography about his life, and has also inspired admiration across the pond.
VOICES
Opinion: What do we want in a good neighbor?
Survey data in Springfield shows people think good neighbors are quiet and respect our privacy. David Burton argues we need to move beyond that and become engaged neighbors who genuinely care about each other.
Opinion: This is us — a reflection on poverty reduction in Springfield
Our community has made great strides in poverty reduction, with a strong understanding that more work still needs to be done.
Opinion: Visitors at our shelters — ‘The only thing many may have left is their name’
Why volunteer to help Springfield’s unsheltered population? Alex T. Primm shares his experience and says he sometimes sees himself, or someone who could be his son, in the nameless crowd.
Opinion: Wanna play catch? We need to play more to stress less
With more than a third of all Americans feeling “serious loneliness,” the author says the simple act of playing catch gives us the chance to feel the other player’s joy and pain, their wonder and their worries.
