News Conference

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Fans rarely get a say at a coach's first news conference. Arkansas Razorbacks fans did at Mike Anderson's "welcome home" party at Bud Walton Arena.  The news conference's tone turned on one question from a KOMU-TV reporter in Columbia.  "You talk about family and loyalty, but why no goodbye to the fans of Mizzou," asked Dani Wexelman.   "Why did you not say goodbye to the fans in Columbia personally?  "We did a press release and that was to all the fans," said Anderson.  "I always made sure they knew from this coach and from our staff that they were instrumental in what took place.  I may have not done it personally, but I know I addressed it through a press release in terms of thanking the fans, thanking the administration.

BRANSON, Mo. -- A better picture of the future of Andy Williams' Moon River Theater could emerge Tuesday.  A news conference is scheduled for Tuesday at 1. The legendary singer and entertainer died a month ago in Branson.  Williams' family and agent have not said anything about the future of Moon River Theater, which opened two decades ago.  It's credited with being one of the venues that helped transform the Branson Strip (Missouri 76)....

BRANSON --  Branson police are investigating a suspicious death after a person was found dead at the Ramada Inn.      The hotel owner says a maid found the body inside one of the rooms at the hotel, located at 1700 W. 76 Country Blvd., on Sunday. Authorities are holding a news conference on Monday morning at 10:30 a.m. at the Branson City Hall Council Chambers to give an update on the situation.

WILLARD, Mo. -- Greene County Sheriff Jim Arnott abruptly canceled a scheduled news conference on the status of the search for Russell and Rebecca Porter of 6703 N. Highway HH.   No one has reported seeing or hearing from the couple since Sunday evening. Search crews used tracking dogs on Thursday in their search for the couple.  Deputies have been searching for the couple since late Monday night when Rebecca Porter's adult daughter called the sheriff's department to say the couple's home looked as if something bad happened to the couple.

WILLARD, Mo. -- Rusty and Rebecca Porter disappeared from their home near Willard on April 17, 2011.  One year later, the Greene County Sheriff's Department has not said if it has any suspects for their murders for whom it can't make a good case. After months of searching, their bodies were found in a rural area of Taney County in July.  Investigators ruled their deaths a double homicide.  Autopsies determined each of the Porters was killed by a single gunshot to the head. In November, the house where the Porters lived was destroyed by fire, which was ruled accidental.

WILLARD, Mo. -- After telling reporters he would have a news conference on Friday, Greene County Sheriff Jim Arnott instead issued a news release late Friday afternoon about the case of a couple who disappeared from their home under mysterious circumstances.  It was the second day in a row that Arnott canceled a promised news conference about the case of Rebecca and Russell Porter. Here's an edited version of the news release: Detectives processed the scene and recovered more than 210 items of potential evidence at the Porters' home, 6703 N. Highway HH, northeast of Willard.  The Sheriff’s Department used the help of the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s helicopter along with blood hounds from the Ozarks Correctional Center to search the property and the adjoining area.  The Sheriff’s Department followed more than 70 leads and devoted more than 750 man-hours, and continues to conduct interviews and follow up on information received.  The department  requests the continued exposure of the photos of Russell and Rebecca Porter.  Reporters have helped by putting the photos out to the public, which helped generate leads.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - An early-afternoon news conference at Andy Williams' Moon River Theater could provide a better picture of the future of the facility. The legendary singer and entertainer died a month ago in his Branson home. Williams' family and agent have since not said anything regarding the future of the Branson theater, which has also hosted a variety of other musical acts. The news conference has been scheduled for 1 p.m. today, according to the local Chamber of Commerce.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Greene County Sheriff Jim Arnott, will give a public update on the homicide investigation of Donald and Helen Willingham, in a news conference on Wednesday. According to a news release from the sheriff's office, the conference is at 3:30 p.m., in the Sheriff's Department Training Room.  The victims' families will be briefed before the news conference. The news conference is due to numerous inquiries, the sheriff's department said in the release. It was one year ago Wednesday that the Willinghams were found stabbed to death in their home just south of Springfield.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Missouri State University will hold a news conference at 2 p.m. Wednesday to announce the hiring of a new women's head basketball coach.  The news conference is in the Prime Overtime Club at JQH Arena. The new coach will replace Nyla Milleson, who was fired last month at the end of the Lady Bears season.  The news conference was announced at noon Tuesday.

GALENA, Mo. - The Stone County sheriff has scheduled a news conference for Tuesday morning to talk about the case of a man who disappeared from his home in Christian County on Feb. 23.  The sheriff wouldn't comment on Monday about whether the body of Carl Anderson has been found. Three people are charged with tampering with evidence after investigators found Anderson's blood at a home in eastern Stone County.  Teri Dean Morrison, Eugene Crider and Cheryl Crawford are accused of cleaning up the home to try to conceal that Anderson was there.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill let loose a pointedly critical release Monday on the revelation that the Internal Revenue Service targeted conservative and small-government groups applying for tax exempt status. Her one-line quote in the release:  "People should be fired for this serious breach of public trust.  We don't do this in America. " Her comments come as President Barack Obama called the targeting of conservative groups "outrageous" saying that anyone involved needs to be "held fully accountable.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Missouri State University will hold a news conference at 2 p.m. Wednesday to announce the hiring of a new women's head basketball coach.  The news conference is in the Prime Overtime Club at JQH Arena. The new coach will replace Nyla Milleson, who was fired last month at the end of the Lady Bears season.  The news conference was announced at noon Tuesday.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Missouri State University officials have scheduled a 4:00 p.m. news conference to discuss the Lady Bears basketball program. The Lady Bears finished the 2012-2013 with a 14-17 record under head coach Nlya Milleson.  The Lady Bears lost in the first-round of the Missouri Valley Tourney 81-66 to Drake last week.  Milleson's Lady Bears won the regular-season Missouri Valley in 2011-2012 season, but failed to earn a bid to the...

BRANSON --  Branson police are investigating a suspicious death after a person was found dead at the Ramada Inn.      The hotel owner says a maid found the body inside one of the rooms at the hotel, located at 1700 W. 76 Country Blvd., on Sunday. Authorities are holding a news conference on Monday morning at 10:30 a.m. at the Branson City Hall Council Chambers to give an update on the situation.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Sheriff Jim Arnott is holding a news conference on Tuesday at 2:30 in the Media Room of the Public Safety Center, 330 W. Scott St., about progress in the Willinghams homicide case. The homicides occurred on April 25, 2011. The latest information will be available at the news conference and no information will be given prior to or following the conference.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - The president and CEO of Price Cutter's Bistro Market in downtown Springfield is scheduled to speak out about the proposed fifth Walmart Neighborhood Market location in Springfield.   That news conference will take place at 11 a.m. at the Bistro Market on South Street downtown. Earlier this month, Springfield's Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval of a Walmart at Campbell and Grand.   Today the Bistro Market CEO will address the impact he says the new Walmart would have on the downtown area.

NEAR LAMPE, Mo. - The Stone County sheriff will hold a news conference this morning, releasing more details into a double homicide. Sheriff Doug Rader is quick to point out that the investigation is in it's preliminary stages. What he does know is that two elderly people were killed inside a home near Trace Hollow Resort. That's by Table Rock Lake near Lampe. Sheriff Doug Rader says a neighbor called 911 around 6 p.m. Thursday, when they saw some suspicious activity. When deputies arrived on scene, they found the two victims inside the house along with two men. Those two are now being held as suspects, but so far have not been charged.

NIXA, Mo. -- Gov. Jay Nixon visited John Thomas School of Discovery and the Nixa School District's Early Learning Center on Friday to recognize the district for its continued academic excellence.  Nixa School District has been accredited "with distinction" for 11 consecutive years by the State of Missouri. During his visit, the governor also discussed his plans for improving educational opportunities for all Missouri students. “From pre-k to college, we must provide our young people with a seamless path to academic success,” Nixon said.  “We can do this by investing in early childhood education, making sure that there are enough days in the school year to prepare our students for careers and college, and opening the doors of higher education for every Missouri student through the A+ program.” Nixon calls for Missouri to extend its school year up to the national average of 180 days.  Missouri's school year is currently only 174 days - the fourth shortest school year in the country.  In contrast, the school year at Nixa's John Thomas School of Discovery has been lengthened to 194 days.

EUREKA SPRINGS, Ark. -- The future of the closed Great Passion Play could be clearer on Wednesday, including plans for the upcoming season and a new way to market the performance.  A group has been working to raise $75,000 to keep the Passion Play in operation and avoid foreclosure. Fundraisers said Tuesday that the goal is within reach.  They needed just about $2,300 more by late Tuesday afternoon. The Passion Play entertained visitors for nearly 50 years before it closed last fall because it couldn't pay its bills.  Kent Butler, a volunteer for the Elna Smith Foundation, said Cornerstone Bank will not foreclose and “will redo the loans which allow us to operate for another season (and with hope for many seasons after, with successful revitalization of the business through effective adjustments)