Good morning, Springfield.

Police said they quickly responded to gunfire heard around 12:15 a.m. Sunday near South Patton Avenue and West Walnut Street in downtown Springfield—finding a woman with gunshot wounds taken to the hospital and later a man with similar injuries, while no suspect has been located.

Springfield's 89th Ozark Empire Fair will open Thursday, July 24, at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds and run until August 2 with the theme Escape to Fair-a-Dise.

The event offers a midday start for the midway and a special $3 Day on Monday, July 28—featuring acts like Berlin and several family shows.

Roy A. Dameron was one of Springfield’s few large blueberry growers in the early 1980s who helped other farmers boost their yields.

He picked about 2,100 pounds of blueberries from 160 plants (as noted in a July 1981 report) and let 200 to 250 customers pick their own fruit (from the previous season).

The Friends of the Library raised over $500,000 from book sales for the Springfield-Greene County Library District last year, with volunteers putting in 21,762 hours and four board members recognized for their service; they awarded $537,283 in grants for projects like a new auditorium and summer reading and the Fall Book Sale will be held from September 17 to 21 at the E+Plex.

A new report from MERIC ranked Missouri as the fourth most affordable state using categories such as housing, groceries, utilities, transportation, health care, and other goods and services—showing living costs in Missouri are 12% below the national average.

Only Oklahoma, Mississippi, and Alabama ranked as more affordable overall.

Drury University named Charles Neff its new chaplain and professor of religious studies—he will also serve as pastor at Pitts Chapel United Methodist Church and director of religious and spiritual life.

Neff brings over 30 years of ministry and 18 years of campus experience and looks forward to strengthening ties with the Springfield community.

1 Million Cups-Springfield

9-11 a.m. — Bambinos Cafe on Battlefield — Free coffee — Network with local entrepreneurs and grow your business in a friendly setting.

Berlin Concert at Ozark Empire Fair

7:30-8:00 p.m. — Ozark Empire Fairgrounds — Tickets from $18.00 — Enjoy a live performance by the iconic band Berlin under the stars.

Anime Adventures (Ages 9-11)

9 AM – 4 PM — Discovery Center of Springfield — Cost info not provided — Dive into the creative world of anime with drawing, storytelling, and STEM challenges.

Back to School Bash

8 a.m. - 5 p.m. — Springfield Expo Center — Free entry — Get ready for the school year with resources like backpacks and immunizations for Springfield students and families.

Breakthrough Basketball Essential Skills Camp

9 a.m. - 3 p.m. — The Fieldhouse Sportscenter — Limited spots available — Enhance your basketball skills and character with expert coaching from Camp Kelly.

Wilco Live Concert

3:00-9:30 p.m. — Gillioz Theatre — Ticket prices vary — Experience an evening with Wilco, the venerated pioneers of independent music.

Pet Therapy of the Ozarks

11 AM – 4 PM — Springfield Missouri Dog Training Club — Cost not specified — Explore the joys of canine companionship and training for happy, well-behaved dogs.

Movie Matinee: Red River Screening

2 PM — Gillioz Theatre — Ticket & Concession Voucher combo — Enjoy a classic 1948 film starring John Wayne and Montgomery Clift on the big screen.