Just in time for the Holidays, you have more parking options at the Springfield-Branson National Airport.
Leaders at SGF say the expanded short term parking lot is now open, adding 255 spaces closer to the terminal.
The extra spots are part of a parking expansion project announced by airport officials earlier this fall.
While the new parking spaces are available immediately, additional work on the project will resume in the spring.
As Christmas Day draws closer, it’s looking like we could have the warmest Christmas Day ever in the Ozarks.
The National Weather Service says Thursday’s forecast high in Springfield is 74 degrees, which would tie the record set back in 1889.
Joplin’s record high is 72 set on Christmas Day, 2016, and highs there could also reach 74 on Thursday.
Temps will remain warm all the way through Friday, with rain chances remaining low.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol says engine trouble appears to be what caused the pilot of a small plane to crash land on Highway 65 just north of Springfield over the weekend.
It happened around 1:00pm Saturday in the northbound lanes of 65 past Valley Water Mill Road.
The landing created thick smoke and a fuel fire all over the left lane of traffic, according to witnesses at the scene.
Troopers say the two people on the plane, which was headed to Olathe, Kansas from Memphis, Tennessee, walked away with no injuries and no one on the highway was hurt.
(photo courtesy of Missouri State Highway Patrol)
Join us for a fun night of brain teasers, head-scratchers, and curious queries all to support Honor Flight of The Ozarks in their mission to send local veterans to see our nation’s war memorials in Washington D.C.
Teams of up to 8 will answer questions and compete for prizes.
Celebrate our heroes and put your trivia knowledge to the test.
Assemble your team, start quizzing each other and secure your table now. Join 93-3 and A-M 560 KWTO for Trivia Night on Friday, February 6th 2026.
The cost is $200 for your table of up to 8 players. No more than 8 players will be allowed per table. Teams can have fewer than 8 people playing at their table but no more than 8.
When: Friday, February 6th, 2026 Time: 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. Where: The Oasis Hotel & Convention Center (2546 N Glenstone Ave, Springfield, MO 65803)
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It’s now official: Casey Woods will become the 23rd head football coach in Missouri State University history
That’s following the MSU Board of Governor’s approval Friday of a five year contract for Woods.
Here’s the full press release from Missouri State University Athletics:
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Casey Woods, who has spent the past four seasons as offensive coordinator and football chief of staff at Southern Methodist University (SMU), will join Missouri State University as the program’s 23rd head football coach, the university announced Friday (Dec. 19).
The announcement came after formal approval of Woods’ five-year contract by the university’s Board of Governors early Friday. He will be formally introduced at a news conference on the Springfield campus in early January.
Though this will be his first head coaching appointment, Woods has played a pivotal role in leading his previous teams to five league championships across four different conferences — Conference USA, SEC, Sun Belt and American — in two decades of major college coaching experience. He has also coached in two national championship games, including a 2010 BCS championship team at Auburn. His full coaching resume includes previous stops at his alma mater, Tennessee (2008), Auburn (2009-11 and 2013-15), Arkansas State (2012), UAB (2016-19) and Missouri (2020-21) before his recent tenure under coach Rhett Lashlee at SMU.
“It is the honor of my lifetime to have the opportunity to be the head football coach of the Missouri State Bears,” said Woods. “Lauren and I, and our five kids — Waverly, Sawyer, Adaline, Amelia and Savannah — are eager to get to work pouring into our team, staff, university, the city of Springfield and all those invested in Missouri State football. We will hit the ground running as we seek to capitalize off the current momentum, alignment and success to bring a championship to Springfield. It takes us ALL to win. It takes us ALL to recruit. It takes us ALL to create an environment where players feel at home. Let’s get to work. Go Bears!”
Missouri State Director of Athletics Patrick Ransdell noted his new head coach brings a wealth of experience to Springfield and a brand of football Bears fans will enjoy.
“We are thrilled to welcome Casey Woods as our next head football coach,” Ransdell said. “Casey is an absolute winner. He is going to continue our upward trajectory with an unwavering commitment to developing student-athletes on and off the field. His ability to develop offensive talent and recruit top-level talent will make him an ideal fit for Missouri State. I look forward to the Springfield community getting to know Casey, Lauren and the entire Woods family in the coming months.
University President Dr. Richard W. Williams echoed Ransdell’s enthusiasm for MoState’s new head coach.
“As Missouri State continues its transition and growth at the FBS level, it was critical to identify a leader who understands the demands of this moment,” said Williams. “Coach Casey Woods is exactly that leader. His energy, experience, and commitment to excellence position our football program for sustained success. Bear Nation will quickly see the passion Casey has for this program and this community. His approach to leadership, recruiting, and player development aligns with the values of Missouri State University, and we look forward to the excitement and momentum he will bring to our campus and fans.”
Woods joined the Mustangs coaching staff in December 2021 as offensive coordinator and tight ends coach and has been part of 37 wins in just four seasons. SMU is currently 8-4 heading into a January 2 Holiday Bowl matchup against Arizona with the Mustangs currently ranking 11th nationally in passing offense (283.5), 27th in scoring offense (32.9) and 27th in pass completion percentage (.664).
He was a standout student-athlete at Tennessee, playing in 41 games from 2003-07 as a wide receiver and holder. The Mississippi native was named a team captain as a senior in 2007 and earned SEC All-Academic Team laurels four times. During his five seasons as a player in Knoxville, the Vols went 44-20 with three 10-win seasons.
Woods earned his undergraduate degree from Tennessee in 2006, and went on to earn his graduate degree from UT in 2008. He and his wife Lauren have five children – Waverly Grace, Sawyer Davis, Adaline Leigh, Amelia Ann and Savannah Claire.
Missouri State’s new head coach replaces Ryan Beard who resigned a week ago to accept the head coaching position at Coastal Carolina. Since then, offensive coordinator Nick Petrino has served as the Bears’ interim head coach while guiding the Bears in Thursday’s Xbox Bowl game in Frisco, Texas. Beard was 19-16 in three seasons with the Bears.
Fans are encouraged to check MissouriStateBears.com and follow @MoStateFootball and @MissouriStBears for team news as well as updates on the January news conference.
Coaching Pedigree
In 2024, SMU’s sensational run gave the program back-to-back 11-win seasons for the first time in program history and saw SMU climb to No. 7 in the Coaches Poll and No. 8 in the AP Poll. SMU went on to a No. 12 final ranking and CFP appearance. Despite the step up to the Big East, the Mustangs continued to produce on offense at an elite level, averaging 36.5 points a game with 511 points scored on the season.
Woods also played a pivotal role for the Mustangs in 2023, crafting an offensive game plan that led SMU to an 11-3 record while capturing its first American Conference championship. The Mustangs ranked 22nd in the final AP poll, while the offense broke school records for total yards (6,368) and first downs (334) while producing the second-most points (542) in club history. The Mustangs ranked 8th nationally in scoring offense (38.7) and red zone offense (.931) while allowing just 16 sacks.
In his first season as coordinator at SMU (2022), Woods led the Mustangs to a 7-6 ledger with an offense that ranked 14th in the nation in total offense (472.8), 12th in scoring offense (37.2) and seventh in both red zone offense and passing offense (316.7). offense to an average of 37.2 points per game, fifth in a season for the program, as SMU scored 63 touchdowns in thirteen games.
Prior to his time in Dallas, Woods helped Missouri to back-to-back bowl appearances in 2020 and 2021. Off the field, his recruiting classes set back-to-back program highs, with the class of 2022 finishing No. 10 nationally. He served as tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator for the SEC Tigers.
Woods spent three seasons at UAB (2017-19) as tight ends coach, run game coordinator and recruiting coordinator, joining the program when it was reestablished in 2016. Woods helped the Blazers set 21 school records in 2018, including total points (418), total yards (5,680), rushing yards (2,818), total touchdowns (53) and rushing touchdowns (32). UAB posted an 11-3 record and a Conference USA title in 2018, and went to three straight bowl games during Woods’ tenure.
He spent the 2013-15 and 2009-11 seasons with current SMU coach Rhett Lashlee at Auburn, and the 2012 season at Arkansas State.
During his three seasons as the Auburn director of player development (2013-15) and three seasons as offensive quality control (2009-11), he was part of the 2010 National Championship team that finished 14-0 and won the BCS Championship Game, as well as the 2013 team which also reached the BCS title game. He helped Auburn with two SEC Championships and was part of three straight top-10 national recruiting classes in his player development role.
As wide receivers coach at Arkansas State, Woods led the unit and served as recruiting coordinator. In his season in Jonesboro, the Red Wolves won the Sun Belt Championship and went 10-3 with a victory over No. 25 Kent State in the GoDaddy.com Bowl.
What They’re Saying
Rhett Lashlee, SMU Head Coach
“Missouri State won the hiring cycle this offseason by making Casey Woods their head coach. Casey is a winner, relentless worker and a great leader. He will represent the school, state and alumni with the ultimate integrity and class. Casey Woods is everything that is right about college football and a great fit for Missouri State.”
Dr. Richard B. Williams, Missouri State President
“We are pleased to welcome Casey Woods, along with his family, to the Missouri State University family. Coach Woods embodies the values we prioritize at Missouri State — leadership, integrity, and a commitment to developing young people — and we are excited to have his family become part of our campus and community.”
(photo courtesy of Missouri State Athletics)
It’s now official: Casey Woods will become the 23rd head football coach in Missouri State University history
That’s following the MSU Board of Governor’s approval Friday of a five year contract for Woods.
Here’s the full press release from Missouri State University Athletics:
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Casey Woods, who has spent the past four seasons as offensive coordinator and football chief of staff at Southern Methodist University (SMU), will join Missouri State University as the program’s 23rd head football coach, the university announced Friday (Dec. 19).
The announcement came after formal approval of Woods’ five-year contract by the university’s Board of Governors early Friday. He will be formally introduced at a news conference on the Springfield campus in early January.
Though this will be his first head coaching appointment, Woods has played a pivotal role in leading his previous teams to five league championships across four different conferences — Conference USA, SEC, Sun Belt and American — in two decades of major college coaching experience. He has also coached in two national championship games, including a 2010 BCS championship team at Auburn. His full coaching resume includes previous stops at his alma mater, Tennessee (2008), Auburn (2009-11 and 2013-15), Arkansas State (2012), UAB (2016-19) and Missouri (2020-21) before his recent tenure under coach Rhett Lashlee at SMU.
“It is the honor of my lifetime to have the opportunity to be the head football coach of the Missouri State Bears,” said Woods. “Lauren and I, and our five kids — Waverly, Sawyer, Adaline, Amelia and Savannah — are eager to get to work pouring into our team, staff, university, the city of Springfield and all those invested in Missouri State football. We will hit the ground running as we seek to capitalize off the current momentum, alignment and success to bring a championship to Springfield. It takes us ALL to win. It takes us ALL to recruit. It takes us ALL to create an environment where players feel at home. Let’s get to work. Go Bears!”
Missouri State Director of Athletics Patrick Ransdell noted his new head coach brings a wealth of experience to Springfield and a brand of football Bears fans will enjoy.
“We are thrilled to welcome Casey Woods as our next head football coach,” Ransdell said. “Casey is an absolute winner. He is going to continue our upward trajectory with an unwavering commitment to developing student-athletes on and off the field. His ability to develop offensive talent and recruit top-level talent will make him an ideal fit for Missouri State. I look forward to the Springfield community getting to know Casey, Lauren and the entire Woods family in the coming months.
University President Dr. Richard W. Williams echoed Ransdell’s enthusiasm for MoState’s new head coach.
“As Missouri State continues its transition and growth at the FBS level, it was critical to identify a leader who understands the demands of this moment,” said Williams. “Coach Casey Woods is exactly that leader. His energy, experience, and commitment to excellence position our football program for sustained success. Bear Nation will quickly see the passion Casey has for this program and this community. His approach to leadership, recruiting, and player development aligns with the values of Missouri State University, and we look forward to the excitement and momentum he will bring to our campus and fans.”
Woods joined the Mustangs coaching staff in December 2021 as offensive coordinator and tight ends coach and has been part of 37 wins in just four seasons. SMU is currently 8-4 heading into a January 2 Holiday Bowl matchup against Arizona with the Mustangs currently ranking 11th nationally in passing offense (283.5), 27th in scoring offense (32.9) and 27th in pass completion percentage (.664).
He was a standout student-athlete at Tennessee, playing in 41 games from 2003-07 as a wide receiver and holder. The Mississippi native was named a team captain as a senior in 2007 and earned SEC All-Academic Team laurels four times. During his five seasons as a player in Knoxville, the Vols went 44-20 with three 10-win seasons.
Woods earned his undergraduate degree from Tennessee in 2006, and went on to earn his graduate degree from UT in 2008. He and his wife Lauren have five children – Waverly Grace, Sawyer Davis, Adaline Leigh, Amelia Ann and Savannah Claire.
Missouri State’s new head coach replaces Ryan Beard who resigned a week ago to accept the head coaching position at Coastal Carolina. Since then, offensive coordinator Nick Petrino has served as the Bears’ interim head coach while guiding the Bears in Thursday’s Xbox Bowl game in Frisco, Texas. Beard was 19-16 in three seasons with the Bears.
Fans are encouraged to check MissouriStateBears.com and follow @MoStateFootball and @MissouriStBears for team news as well as updates on the January news conference.
Coaching Pedigree
In 2024, SMU’s sensational run gave the program back-to-back 11-win seasons for the first time in program history and saw SMU climb to No. 7 in the Coaches Poll and No. 8 in the AP Poll. SMU went on to a No. 12 final ranking and CFP appearance. Despite the step up to the Big East, the Mustangs continued to produce on offense at an elite level, averaging 36.5 points a game with 511 points scored on the season.
Woods also played a pivotal role for the Mustangs in 2023, crafting an offensive game plan that led SMU to an 11-3 record while capturing its first American Conference championship. The Mustangs ranked 22nd in the final AP poll, while the offense broke school records for total yards (6,368) and first downs (334) while producing the second-most points (542) in club history. The Mustangs ranked 8th nationally in scoring offense (38.7) and red zone offense (.931) while allowing just 16 sacks.
In his first season as coordinator at SMU (2022), Woods led the Mustangs to a 7-6 ledger with an offense that ranked 14th in the nation in total offense (472.8), 12th in scoring offense (37.2) and seventh in both red zone offense and passing offense (316.7). offense to an average of 37.2 points per game, fifth in a season for the program, as SMU scored 63 touchdowns in thirteen games.
Prior to his time in Dallas, Woods helped Missouri to back-to-back bowl appearances in 2020 and 2021. Off the field, his recruiting classes set back-to-back program highs, with the class of 2022 finishing No. 10 nationally. He served as tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator for the SEC Tigers.
Woods spent three seasons at UAB (2017-19) as tight ends coach, run game coordinator and recruiting coordinator, joining the program when it was reestablished in 2016. Woods helped the Blazers set 21 school records in 2018, including total points (418), total yards (5,680), rushing yards (2,818), total touchdowns (53) and rushing touchdowns (32). UAB posted an 11-3 record and a Conference USA title in 2018, and went to three straight bowl games during Woods’ tenure.
He spent the 2013-15 and 2009-11 seasons with current SMU coach Rhett Lashlee at Auburn, and the 2012 season at Arkansas State.
During his three seasons as the Auburn director of player development (2013-15) and three seasons as offensive quality control (2009-11), he was part of the 2010 National Championship team that finished 14-0 and won the BCS Championship Game, as well as the 2013 team which also reached the BCS title game. He helped Auburn with two SEC Championships and was part of three straight top-10 national recruiting classes in his player development role.
As wide receivers coach at Arkansas State, Woods led the unit and served as recruiting coordinator. In his season in Jonesboro, the Red Wolves won the Sun Belt Championship and went 10-3 with a victory over No. 25 Kent State in the GoDaddy.com Bowl.
What They’re Saying
Rhett Lashlee, SMU Head Coach
“Missouri State won the hiring cycle this offseason by making Casey Woods their head coach. Casey is a winner, relentless worker and a great leader. He will represent the school, state and alumni with the ultimate integrity and class. Casey Woods is everything that is right about college football and a great fit for Missouri State.”
Dr. Richard B. Williams, Missouri State President
“We are pleased to welcome Casey Woods, along with his family, to the Missouri State University family. Coach Woods embodies the values we prioritize at Missouri State — leadership, integrity, and a commitment to developing young people — and we are excited to have his family become part of our campus and community.”
(photo courtesy of Missouri State Athletics)
Saturday is known as “Super Saturday.”
The Saturday before Christmas is projected to be the busiest shopping day of the season, as around 160 million consumers are expected to shop for last minute gifts.
Local shop owners on C-Street in Springfield say the holiday season is bringing in a lot of shoppers looking for unique and meaningful gifts.
Those businesses say they’re stocking up for Super Saturday, with plans to give discounts, along with some hot chocolate.
Not only are we not going to see a white Christmas in the Ozarks, but we could approach near record high temps.
The National Weather Service says confidence continues to increase that temperatures will be very warm on Christmas Day, potentially into the 70’s.
Rain chances will be near zero on Christmas.
E-S-P-N is reporting Missouri State is finalizing a five-year contract to hire Southern Methodist University offensive coordinator Casey Woods as its head coach, pending board approval.
Woods, who led S-M-U’s playoff run in 2024, has previous coaching experience at Missouri, U-A-B, and Auburn.
He succeeds Ryan Beard, who recently became Coastal Carolina’s coach after a 19-16 record during his three seasons at Missouri State.
The drizzle and light rain in the Ozarks should end by early Thursday afternoon, but gusty winds will develop in the afternoon hours.
The National Weather Service says a Wind Advisory is in effect from Noon until 6pm for areas along and west of the I-49 corridor.
Gusts of 30 to 40 miles per hour will be common in those areas, with occasional gusts up to 45 miles per hour.
Outdoor burning is strongly discouraged.