Springfield

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- A home just north of Springfield is a total loss after a fire early Monday at an exotic animal ranch.  Fire crews say it started around 3:30 a.m. in the 2600 block of Valley Water Mill Road.  The house was fully engulfed in flames by the time they arrived.  One person was living in the home.  She wasn't hurt in the fire.  Firefighters say the cause was accidental, but they may never know what exactly sparked the fire...

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- An auto shop in Springfield was damaged by fire Wednesday. Fire crews spent more than an hour putting out flames at Farr's Westside Automotive on West College. Emergency officials at the scene say the fire started in a dumpster behind the shop then spread to part of the garage.  A neighbor saw the smoke and called 911.  There was no one inside the business at the time of the fire, and the cause is under investigation. The fire is out as of 9 p.m. Wednesday.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- It took electric crews from City Utilities of Springfield about an hour to restore power to about 200 customers after a utility pole was destroyed by a motor vehicle accident on Friday.  Power was interrupted to a portion of the Missouri State University campus and several areas surrounding MSU until about 11:50 a.m. Grand Street between Kimbrough and Holland avenues was closed for a time and police directed traffic after...

SPRINGFIELD, Mo.-- Local producers are hosting a gardening expo on Saturday in Springfield. Producers will be at the Howard Johnson Conference Center, located at 3333 South Glenstone, next to Friendly Ford. They will offer advice on gardening, and answer any questions you may have. The event runs from 8:00 until 3:00 Saturday afternoon. Tickets are five dollars, but you can get in for free if you bring three canned food items.

A Springfield movie theater is expanding in more ways than one.  The Springfield 8 on East Montclair will soon have an Imax theater added to the eight screen complex. The theater will also expand to 11 screens that can hold a total of 2,400 movie-goers.  A new lobby and an expanded parking lot are also in the works. The project started last month and should be completed by November.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- A bicyclist is dead following a crash in east Springfield on Tuesday night. The crash happened around 10 o'clock near the intersection of Glenstone and Cherry Street. Police say a man in his early twenties failed to stop at a red light and drove his bike into the path of a tractor trailer. Investigators say the truck driver told them he did not have enough time to stop before hitting the cyclist. The truck driver was not hurt. Police say they do not expect him to face charges.

A police chase through Springfield ends with a crash and the suspect ends up in the hospital. Police say they received two calls about strong-arm robberies on the south side of town; one of the victims gave a good description of the suspect's vehicle. When police saw it at a gas station, he led them on a chase through town.  The pursuit ended at Cherry and National, when the suspect crashed into two other cars at the intersection. The suspect was thrown from his vehicle; the other drivers weren't injured.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Graffiti is often an indication that street gangs are in the city.  The fact that it plasters a lot of walls, concrete and buildings throughout Springfield has some concerned. "Drive by everyday bridges and stuff that have been tagged. I'm hoping to learn today what's the difference between just a regular tag and a gang tag," said Springfield resident Pepi Wallace. "I did see one I think blood is the name of one of the gangs and I did see that on a wall not to long ago," said Roy Staas, another Springfield resident.

Springfield, MO - The Springfield Cardinals scored four in the fifth inning and took a no-hitter into the sixth to beat the San Antonio Missions 6-1 in the series opener at Hammons Field. After having the first seven batters retired, the Cardinals got on the board first as Adam Melker launched a solo homer in the 3rd to give Springfield a 1-0 lead. The Redbirds plated another in the 4th as Xavier Scruggs delivered a sacrifice fly to make it 2-0. In the 5th, Springfield broke the game open scoring four runs with two outs on a bases loaded walk to Jamie Romak, a two-run single by Scruggs and an RBI single by Greg Garcia to grab a 6-0 lead.

Celebrating the end of slavery in Springfield, many gathered for the Juneteenth celebration at Silver Springs Park. The event showcased the impact slavery had on the region, and what it meant for African Americans to be set free by President Abraham Lincoln. People could watch a documentary on the effects of slavery, and organizers say it's a great way to remember the past. Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States.

STRAFFORD, Mo. -- One person died and another is seriously hurt after a vehicle flipped several times near Strafford on Farm Road 132 near Missouri 125. Troopers say a westbound 2012 Kia Rio driven by Matthew Hogue, 20, of Springfield, crested at the top of a hill and lost control, flipping several times. The crash was about 1:30 a.m. Monday. Kendi Highland, 29, of Springfield, died at the scene.  Another passenger was taken by ambulance to a hospital in Springfield with serious injuries.  Hogue also was taken to a hospital; his injuries are described as minor.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - Two divisive issues will go before the Springfield City Council tonight. City Council is slated to discuss the property where Walmart wants to build a new neighborhood market, as well as a potential punishment change for small amounts of marijuana. A group opposed to the Walmart Neighborhood Market recently submitted the required number of petition signatures that will either force City Council to either repeal its decision for the rezoning or allow voters to decide the issue come election day in August.

SPRINGFIELD -- Several hundred motorcycle riders on Sunday hit the streets for the sixth annual Motorcycle Safety Awareness ride.      The 75-mile journey left from southwest Springfield to tour several surrounding towns including Republic, Strafford, and Nixa.      The month of May is Motorcycle Safety Month.     As the weather warms up, more motorcycle riders are on the streets; hey want to make sure that other drivers are aware of their presence. Motorcycles may look farther away than they really are because of their smaller size, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

SPRINGFIELD, -- It's a growing problem and educators say it's time to do something about it. There's a significant number of kids in Springfield who are not ready for kindergarten. Research shows for every dollar spent on early education, there's an eight dollar return. Making sure kids are ready to learn will take time and money, but educators believe it's an investment for our future. They're only four-years-old, but teachers believe this is their big chance. "We can either set the stage for learning and the love of learning or destroy it," said Dr. Deniece Honeycutt, with University of Arkansas.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo.-- The American Red Cross has released some startling numbers regarding deadly house fires this year. In the first four months of 2013, response teams have dealt with ten fire deaths in Southern Missouri.  That equals the number during all of last year. The Red Cross says there are no working smoke alarms in 65-percent of fatal house fire cases.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- The Springfield City Council on Monday night faces a couple big issues. First, the council must decide how to proceed with the re-zoning of land at Grand Street at Campbell  Avenue for the construction of a Walmart Neighborhood Market.  A group opposed to the market submitted the required number of signatures that requests the council to either repeal its decision for the rezoning, or allow voters to decide the issue on election...

SPRINGFIELD, -- It has been decades since people have seen anything like this in the Ozarks. This is the time of year when there are more spring activities in downtown. People were setting up their tents for the annual Arts Festival still scheduled to take place on Saturday and Sunday. Jacob Gaumer helps run the art gallery Canvas on South Avenue. "Well there have been two people that have come in today because the weather is just lovely," said Gaumer. Staying indoors might be the best way to enjoy the festivities.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - A shooting that injured a man early Wednesday led to charges against another man on Thursday.   Tevin Williams, 18, is charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal action. The shooting was reported just before 3 a.m. Wednesday at an apartment at 1026 W. Norton Road.  A 31-year-old man is being treated for several gunshot wounds at a hospital. Williams was in the Greene County jail on Friday in lieu of a $150,000 bond.  If he's convicted, he could receive a prison sentence between 10 and 30 years.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- More people are taking to the skies in Springfield, and now a local business is taking advantage of that trend to share a taste of Springfield with the world.  "It's just a welcoming smell and flavor. Something warm. Especially on a cool day like today," said Elizabeth Featherstone, a traveler from Michigan. Featherstone was surprised to find a gourmet coffee shop at an airport the size of Springfield-Branson National, but she was glad to partake. "All of the coffee is roasted here in Springfield.  It's about as fresh as you can get it," said Dustin Jackson, the owner of Heroes Coffee SGF. Jackson opened the airport coffee shop in March, and most days nearly 300 travelers stop in for a caffeine fix or sweet treat.  The bistro offers Brown Egg pastries, Askniosie chocolates, Granolove packs of granola, treats from Andy's frozen custards, and rootbeer from the Springfield Brewing Company.  Every item is fresh and local.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Shake off the snow and enjoy hot mariachi and dancing on Friday night at ArtsFiesta! held indoors 5:45-9:30 p.m.,  at the Abundant Life Church, 157 Park Central Square.  Admission is free. The Springfield Sister Cities Association's annual celebration of Mexican arts and culture features live authentic mariachi music and traditional Mexican dancing.  Mariachi Viva Xalisco, from Springfield's Mexican sister city of Tlaquepaque, Jaliscio, performs with special guests Paco Padilla and Sheila Rios.