Good morning, Springfield.

The Friends of the Library Spring Book Sale will be held at the E*Plex at Ozark Empire Fairgrounds from April 30-May 4 with free admission and parking.

The sale will offer most books for $1 while better titles start at $2 and will include a Friends Night Preview Sale on April 29 from 4-8 p.m., with proceeds benefiting the Springfield-Greene County Library District.

Castaway Animals Rescue Effort is asking for help today to care for its 300 animals because it needs 150 pounds of food each day—intakes have jumped over 60% from last year with some days bringing in as many as 20 new animals.

The Downtown Springfield Association held its annual Women’s Day Downtown event Saturday to show over 70 women-owned and led businesses in Springfield.

The event boosted local business by encouraging community support—helping women owners grow their shops.

A man from Sparta was arrested after he led a chase into Douglas County and rammed two patrol cars—one driven by the sheriff—in an early Sunday morning incident that left officers with minor injuries and led to multiple charges.

A new study ranked Missouri sixth on Retirement Living’s list of affordable states for retirement because its housing and living costs are below the national average and taxes remain moderate.

The study noted that median rent was ($835) and the median home sale price was ($258,000).

Local high school students from the Ozarks are nominated for Student of the Week to honor their academic and community work.

Readers can vote until 11 a.m. Thursday, April 17 and the winner will be announced on Friday.

In May 1962, Paul Redfearn—then a biology professor at Southwest Missouri State College—took his Biology 100 students camping on the Current River to study local plants and learn by fireside lectures.

He later served on the Springfield City Council and as mayor, and the Springfield-Greene County Library District now shares this historic photo from the News-Leader archive.

Movie Matinee: Thomas Crown Affair

2-4 p.m. — Gillioz Theatre — Ticket & Concession Voucher combo available — Enjoy a classic heist film featuring Steve McQueen in a thrilling cat-and-mouse game.

Puzzling Adventures Scavenger Hunt

1-11 p.m. — Route 66 Springfield Visitor Center — Price per team — Embark on a fun and interactive scavenger hunt adventure through Springfield's attractions.

Springfield Cardinals vs Arkansas Travelers

6:35 PM – 10:59 PM — Hammons Field — Tickets Required — Catch an exciting baseball matchup between local favorites and rivals.

Local Authors Expo

10 a.m.-1 p.m. — Nixa Community Branch Library — Free entry — Celebrate local stories with authors and discover your next favorite book.

Easter Buffet at The Ozark Mill

10:30 AM – 7:00 PM — The Ozark Mill Restaurant at Finley Farms — All-you-can-eat — Indulge in a festive spring buffet featuring various stations.

Vegan Sushi Night

6-8 p.m. — Craft Sushi — Cost varies — Celebrate Earth Day with delicious vegan sushi and connect with fellow vegans.

Stephen Paul Live Performance

7-8:30 p.m. — The Riff — Refunds available until 7 days prior — Enjoy a night of toe-tapping country tunes with Nashville star Stephen Paul.

CVMA Mouse Races

6-10 p.m. — Veteran Event Center — $15.00 — Enjoy thrilling races and support local veterans in need at this fun-packed charity event.

The Little Mermaid Musical

2-6 p.m. — Springfield Little Theatre — Suitable for all ages — Experience the underwater adventure of Ariel in this enchanting musical filled with beloved songs.

Springfield Cardinals vs Northwest Arkansas Naturals

11:15 a.m. – 3:15 p.m. — Hammons Field — Affordable tickets available — Experience the excitement of a live baseball game with the Springfield Cardinals taking on the Northwest Arkansas Naturals.