Here's your local news at a glance for Wednesday, the 16th of September.
Good morning, Springfield.
🏘️ Community
Starting September, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will begin constructing an 18,275 sqft meetinghouse on 7.94 acres at 7875 West Farm Road 76 in Willard to serve 846 congregants from three congregations.
The building, with worship space and office areas, is expected to complete in October 2027.
💼 Business
Andee Café, a new restaurant serving northern Vietnamese dishes like bún chả and pho, opened in Ozark last August (5557 N.
21st St.). The sisters An and Thao Le renovated the space to share authentic flavors with local diners.
Some local business owners worry that a proposed law in Congress aiming to gradually cut the workweek to 32 hours while keeping pay steady may increase operating costs in the Ozarks.
The phased-in change would reduce full-time hours and alter overtime rules over four years + potentially raise prices.
🎭 Culture
Dickerson Park Zoo introduced Fred the owl (its newest unique resident) on Tuesday, Sept.
15. The friendly bird is drawing curious visitors at the zoo.
Ozarks Lyric Opera will open its 2026-27 season with Rossini's Cinderella at the Historic Gillioz Theatre on Sept.
18 (7:30 p.m.) and Sept. 20 (2:30 p.m.). The production features renowned performers and period-accurate costumes to bring an enchanting operatic experience to the community.
🎓 Education
Springfield Public Schools received $319,067 in 88 fall grants from the Foundation to support classroom projects, schoolwide needs, and district initiatives.
More than 70 local donors visited 36 schools on Sept. 10 to present awards to educators.
🌲 Environment
Trees in the Ozarks show early browning amid severe drought as horticulture specialist Clayton Tunnell explained the leaves are a survival response.
He advised deep watering and mulching (and avoiding pruning) to help trees prepare for a harsher winter if dry conditions persist.
🏛️ Government
Government leaders & business representatives celebrated a ribbon cutting near Springfield Underground Friday morning as the city marked the completion of improvements on Le Compte Road and Eastgate Avenue.
The upgrades set the stage for a 411-acre mixed-use development with commercial and housing spaces.
📰 Lifestyle
KY3’s Leigh Moody covered the Xoloitzcuintle — a Mexican hairless dog breed — on Tuesday, Sep.
15, providing Springfield readers a clear look at its unique traits in a digital extra.
📰 Real Estate
HMR Properties said today that the 3,988 sqft former Brown Derby building at Chestnut Expressway + Patterson Avenue will be used for storage.
The building was built in 1977.
🎉 Springfield Events
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