Featured Articles from KY3

EUREKA SPRINGS, Ark. -- A large drug bust in Eureka Springs ended with more than two dozen people behind bars. The Eureka Springs police chief said a five month investigation led to the arrests after a person arrested earlier on a burglary charge agreed to be an informant. The chief said the deal led to undercover officers buying drugs from suspected dealers. Arkansas and Missouri law enforcers made the arrests.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Court documents reveal names of two people considered suspects in the deaths of a couple from rural Greene County last year. U.S. Marshals arrested Tony and Windy Friend on Wednesday at the home where they lived at 3155 W. Brower St., lot #10, in Springfield. Both Tony Friend, 44, and Windy Friend, 31, were charged in Greene County associate circuit court with possessing methamphetamine.  Tony Friend was also charged in U.S. District Court with being a felon in possession of a weapon.  He is previously convicted for unlawful use of a weapon and domestic assault.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - A longtime local Italian eatery is on the way out, and will be replaced with an upscale Mexican restaurant. The last day of operations for the Springfield Pasta Company , on S. National at James River Freeway, will be this Sunday, January 13th.  The eatery first opened in 1985 in the Battlefield Mall as a Pasta House location.  The name was changed to Springfield Pasta Company in 2011. Pasta House owner Steve Heil says the restaurant space will be closed for six months for a complete transformation into a Cantina Laredo franchise.  The building will receive a complete exterior and interior renovation, along with an expanded parking lot. Heil say he's excited to bring the chain to Springfield, and believes the concept is something residents of the city want and need.

EUREKA SPRINGS, AR  -  The 26th anniversary of the May Festival of the Arts in Eureka Springs, Arkansas is next month. The festival culminates with a parade on May 4th. A local group called the 'Creative Energy Project' is working on an art installation that will be unveiled downtown at twilight after the parade. The art instillation is being made by local artist Robert Norman.  It is a sphere that rotates like a globe and is covered with sticks that were painted by the Eureka Springs community.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo.-- Ozarks Today Weekend-- Sunday morning recipes for Super Bowl! Chef Ryan Tiller from Dining by Design in Springfield has tasty treats for salty and sweet lovers. Touchdown Tacos 1 pound of BBQ Pulled Pork        8 ounces of cole slaw 12 ounces of baked beans 2 ounces of salsa 1 cup of shredded cheddar         20    La Tiara mini taco shells Stir together baked beans and pulled pork.  Bake at 350 degrees in an oven-safe dish until heated through.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. --Family members of Austin Elder, the young man who fell from a cliff in Arkansas, allowed doctors to removed life support Friday night. Here is the most recent post from Friday night from the Facebook page "Prayers for Austin Elder:" " Austin is safely in the arms of Jesus. Austin's Mom and Dad sang Jesus Loves Me to him as he left his earthly body. Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so. Little ones to Him belong. They are weak, but he is strong.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Police say the man found dead under the Interstate 44 bridge over Grant Avenue in north Springfield was Michael R. Smith, 39.  A passerby spotted his body about 7:10 a.m. Monday and called 9-1-1.   Police said Monday morning that it appears Smith was sleeping under the overpass before he died. Police called his death suspicious shortly after they arrived.  Later in the day, however, the case didn't seem that urgent and police didn't ask for the public's help with the case.  A police department spokeswoman said the cause of death won't be determined until after an autopsy "this week.

LAMPE, Mo. -- The Black Oak Amphitheater is set to host the biggest summer of concerts since the historic venue's renovation and reopening in 2010.  Partnering with title sponsor Coors Light® and presented by PFI, the home of BootDaddy, the series will include some of the most popular touring acts in the nation. Branson's official kickoff to summer is Memorial Day Weekend.  On Sunday, May 26, Grammy Nominated member of the Grand Old Opry, actor, and television personality Trace Adkins will lead off the summer series.  Rocker Aaron Lewis will support Adkins on the kick-off show.  Lewis, best known for his work as the lead singer of Staind, has sold 13 Million albums worldwide.  The Staind hit, “It's Been Awhile ” , continues to be the most played rock song of the decade.  Rounding out the May 26 lineup is the southern rock group Blackberry Smoke, which has toured with ZZ Top and The Marshal Tucker Band.

BRANSON, Mo. - Chances are you'll hit up Branson at some point in the next 24 days.  When you're there. take note of what the the Highway 76 strip looks like.  That's because it could soon all be changing under a massive makeover project. There have been plenty of ideas on how to make it easier to get around the strip.  Over the years proposals have been discussed that include everything from from shuttle buses, to electric streetcars- even a Las Vegas-style monorail system. This latest proposal won't necessarily make the drive, or walk, any easier.  It will, however, make it more beautiful.

AVA, Mo. -- A man from Ava is accused of holding a teenager against her will and sexually assaulting her.  Jacob James, 31, was charged on Friday with forcible rape, forcible sodomy, armed criminal action, first-degree domestic assault, felonious restraint, and tampering with a victim in a felony prosecution. Douglas County Sheriff Chris Degase says James was arrested early Friday after an investigation that lasted nearly a week.  He said nearly every deputy in his department worked on the case.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo -- Missouri Governor was in town Wednesday at the South Side Senior Center to sign legislation concerning financial exploitation. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services reports about one out of every five calls to the Elder Abuse Hotline deals with financial exploitation. It's a constant battle, and before this law prosecutors didn't have all the tools they needed to go after criminals. "It is an awful and unfortunate truth that each year thousands of older folks are the victims of financial exploitation," said Governor Nixon.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Crews restoring a property in central Springfield unearthed a hidden treasure that just happens to be a part of Springfield history.  Near the west end of a future park known as the West Meadows of Jordan Valley, they hit a gusher. In about 1829, the founder of Springfield, John Polk Campbell, settled here because of a natural well that he found near present-day Founder's Park.  The very next year, Campbell's friend, William Fulbright, settled about a mile away at what became known as Fulbright Spring.

STRAFFORD, Mo. --  For parents with a sick child, the stress of getting to those important doctor visits can be more than some can bare. That's when Children's Miracle Network Hospitals steps in and helps with things like travel expenses. Chef Nicole Young is hosting an event called the "Evening of Miracles" on Saturday night at the Darr Agriculture center on South Kansas Expressway (at Broadmoor Street) in Springfield, with all of the proceeds going to Children's Miracle Network Hospitals.

You could spend nearly $2,000 on a new washing machine.  Consumer Reports tested more than 100 different washers to find the best bargain and performance. If you want to spend the $2,000 on a washing machine, Whirlpool's got the Vantage.  It boasts a fancy touch screen with more than 50 different wash cycles, a USB port for software upgrades, and even an illuminated washtub.    Consumer Reports tested the Vantage along with 117 other washers.    "We put all the washing machines through a series of tough tests to see how well they'll perform," Celia Kuperszmid-Lehrman with Consumer Reports said.  "We also want to see about all the bells and whistles and if they're worth their extra cost.