Daily
Springfield
Friday, September 19th, 2025
Good morning, Springfield. Here's your local news at a glance for Friday, the 19th of September.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ Better Block SGF is hosting Park(ing) Day today by turning a parking space on South St. in downtown Springfield into a public gathering area with turf, seating, food trucks and live music, and the event will coincide with Ozarks Farm Stop's ribbon cutting at 4 p.m. KSMU
BUSINESS NEWS
- ➤ Ronnie Hultgren, a convenience store owner in Willard, started selling fresh produce from his truck next to the remains of his 60-year-old Hultgren’s Market nearly four months after storms and high winds took it down on April 29—he said his new approach helps him connect with locals. KY3
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ A telegram sent from Springfield in April 1926 proposed naming the highway Route 66, prompting local leaders including John T. Woodruff to choose the catchy name during a Rotary Club meeting held in the city. The original message—sent on April 30—was transmitted from the Colonial Hotel’s telegraph office and is now preserved in the National Archives and at The History Museum on the Square. KY3
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ Missouri State University’s new five-year plan, named Igniting Opportunity, will grow enrollment to 30,000 and aim for a bowl game—details that were shaped by community input and will be shared on Sept. 22 during the State of the University address. President Richard B. Williams said the plan faces challenges like declining enrollment and funding issues—factors that require strong improvements in morale and recruitment. Springfield Daily Citizen
- ➤ Public education experts and local leaders joined Missouri’s School Funding Modernization Task Force meetings on Sept. 17 — where they discussed updating the funding formula and performance incentives — and will reconvene on Sept. 23 to present their recommendations. The work groups continue to seek ways to adjust funding to better reflect changing property values and school needs. Springfield News-Leader
ENVIRONMENT NEWS
- ➤ Since rain stopped in mid-July, Springfield recorded its driest August with just 0.19 inch of rain and yards showing stressed, dry vegetation—fueling fears of increased wildfire risk this fall. The Springfield-Greene County Office of Emergency Management advises residents to clear gutters, remove brush piles, and review fire evacuation plans to better protect their properties. OzarksFirst.com
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ The Missouri Department of Agriculture is warning poultry farmers to protect their flocks from a return of bird flu after it ravaged farms last Spring and led to the state's first case, while the virus was also detected in livestock. Experts recommend that farmers keep wild birds away — and thoroughly clean equipment to prevent the disease from spreading further. KY3
- ➤ The City of Springfield will hold the Sunshine Corridor Study Design Charrette on Sept. 29 to 30 at Jefferson Avenue Baptist Church (316 E. Sunshine St.) so residents can share ideas and ask questions about Sunshine Street. The event gives the design team a chance to collect feedback for future improvements. OzarksFirst.com
- ➤ Springfield native Brent Powell became Missouri’s newest chief justice (appointed in July) and will serve until June (2027); he discussed key court issues during a visit with KY3 News. KY3
- ➤ MoDOT held a remembrance ceremony in Jefferson City today to honor its fallen workers who died on the job. The event remembered 140 employees, including Jay Bone, a senior maintenance worker killed nearly a year ago in Sedalia, and added a new 2024 tribute for a worker killed in a crash in Pettis County. KY3
REAL ESTATE NEWS
- ➤ A developer seeks to rezone six acres near South Campbell and Weaver Road from a Planned Development District to a Single-Family Residential district to build several dozen homes for a new neighborhood called The Ridge — the request was discussed at the September 11th Planning and Zoning Commission and will be considered by the city council on October 6th. OzarksFirst.com
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ Missouri State will face UT Martin at Plaster Stadium on Saturday in a rivalry that is tied two to two. Coaches say the game will be close—oddsmakers favor the Bears by up to 13 points as they prepare for their first FBS challenge this season. Springfield Daily Citizen
- ➤ Gage Weston, an all-state midfielder and sprinter with a 10.9-second 100-meter dash, joined Glendale from Sporting Springfield and helped the Falcons reach the state tournament last fall—he now overcomes injury concerns while aiming for All-American honors in his final prep season. Springfield Daily Citizen
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Pound the Pavement for Parkinson's 5K Walk/Run
8:30 AM – 8:30 PM — Rutledge-Wilson Farm Park — Check event page for registration fees — Lace up and hit the ground running for a cause supporting Parkinson's awareness.
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Cinema Sundays: Encanto
2-4 p.m. — Gillioz Theatre — Free entry — Enjoy a magical free showing of Encanto with popcorn, drinks, and dance performances.
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VIP Fall Classics Package
8 p.m. — Gillioz Theatre — $75 — Enjoy exclusive VIP experiences for classic films with early entry and raffle opportunities.
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Grand Kyiv Ballet Presents Swan Lake
7-8:30 p.m. — Gillioz Theatre — $43.20 to $132 — Experience the timeless tale of Swan Lake with breathtaking choreography and Tchaikovsky's enchanting score.
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No new community announcements today. You can submit one here.
TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
The secret to getting ahead is getting started.
~ Mark Twain
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