Springfield Police are investigating a string of violent attacks on people in Downtown Springfield.
Witnesses captured on video a man being attacked by a large group of people in a parking garage early Tuesday morning.
A homeless man was attacked Monday morning.
There have been three other incidents of large groups attacking people this month, in including an attack on two gay men on July 7th.
Investigators are hoping to find security camera footage of the attacks.
Springfield Public Schools are experiencing a shortage of crossing guards and bus drivers ahead of the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district is raising pay and adding incentives to encourage people to apply.
Pay for crossing guards is going up from $11 an hour to $14.20 an hour and includes paid training.
The district is raising pay for bus drivers from $14 an hour to $17 an hour with a $4000 sign-on bonus.
All of the Ozarks is under at least a Heat Advisory through Thursday evening, with areas north and west of Springfield now under an Excessive Heat Warning.
The National Weather Service says the warning is for dangerous heat index values up to 110.
Forecasters say extreme heat and humidity will significantly increase the potential for heat related illnesses, particularly for those working for participating in outdoor activities.
Drink plenty of fluids and stay in an air-conditioned room.
Take extra precautions by rescheduling strenuous outdoor activities to the early morning or evening, and know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
The Springfield-Greene County Health Department says because of an overwhelming number of new COVID-19 cases reported each day, it has started to prioritize its efforts to investigate cases.
Health Director Katie Towns says investigators are prioritizing cases for children under the age of 12 who haven’t yet been authorized to receive vaccine.
Towns says as capacity allows, case investigators will also prioritize cases in workplaces or facilities that become a hotspot for new virus infections.
All other people who test positive for COVID-19 will get a text message with a form that needs to be completed to document the timeline of illness and close contacts.
Those people are strongly encouraged to submit the form to the health department and immediately notify people with whom they’ve had close contact.
For those folks who test positive but don’t have access to text messaging or internet, they can call the COVID-19 Call Center at 417-874-1211 to request a callback from a case investigator.
The health department also says it will no longer provide personalized release from isolation letters for COVID-19 patients to provide employers, schools, etc.
Those needing documentation can download a Criteria for Release from Isolation memo at health.springfieldmo.gov/qi
Fire broke out at the town square in Mountain Grove.
Fire crews received the call around noon on Tuesday about an explosion which turned out to be a roof collapsing.
Officials say the roof on the back of the building collapsed.
The buildings that were damaged were an event center, a church, and a bakery.
No one was in the buildings.
Fire crews suspect when the roof collapsed, it caused an electrical fire.
The Springfield Fire Department has released the names of the family members who died in a house fire on Lone Pine last Friday.
They are 40 year old Marlena, 13 year old Nevaeah, 11 year old Raphael and 6 year old Samantha Young.
They died from their injuries at a local hospital.
A man inside the home escaped without injuries.
The fire is still under investigation.
A Greene County judge has convicted a man from Springfield of two counts of second degree murder and one count of second degree domestic assault in the death of his pregnant girlfriend back in 2017.
Circuit Judge Calvin Holden will sentence Derik Osborn October 8th.
Osborn’s bond has been revoked.
Osborn told police Valerie Williams fell backward onto a carpeted living room floor when he took away mace in her hand, hitting her head.
Prosecutors say Williams’ death was caused by Osborn slamming her against something and painted a picture of Osborn’s history reported violence against the victim, including an incident in October, 2016 where Osborn admitted to pushing Williams out of his car and locking her out of their apartment.
Authorities in McDonald County say three jail escapees are back behind bars after being captured Monday night in Noel.
The sheriff’s office says Shun’tavion Ladarrias Thomas, 23, David Molina, 49, and Carmelo Miguel Burgos, 27, were found just before midnight.
They were able to escape after attacking a detention officer Saturday afternoon.
The officer had minor injuries.
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt has filed suit to stop the re-imposition of a mask mandate in St. Louis County and St. Louis City.
The suit was filed Tuesday in circuit court in St. Louis County and names St. Louis County Executive Sam Page, St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones, and the directors of the county and city health departments.
Here’s what Attorney General Schmitt had to say about the lawsuit in a news release, which includes a link to the suit.
“Today, my office filed suit against St. Louis City and County for reimposing their mask mandate on the citizens of St. Louis. This continued government overreach is unacceptable and unconstitutional, especially in the face of a widely available vaccine. There is absolutely no scientific reason to continue to force children to wear a mask in school,” said Attorney General Schmitt. “Back in May, I filed suit against St. Louis County for continuing to impose such unlawful restrictions, and just three days later, those restrictions were lifted. I will continue to fight this seemingly unending control and intrusion on peoples’ lives – we will not back down.”
The lawsuit argues that reimposing the mask mandate is unreasonable, arbitrary and capricious, unconstitutional, and unlawful.
The lawsuit begins with, “St. Louis County and St. Louis City seek expanded government power that has failed to protect Missouri citizens living within their boundaries in the past and is not based on sound facts and data.”
The lawsuit argues that mandating children to wear masks in school is arbitrary and capricious given that children are at low risk to contract or spread COVID-19, have low mortality rates and less severe symptoms when they do contract COVID, and that wearing a mask in school may harm children. According to research noted in the lawsuit, masks may inhibit verbal and non-verbal communication, hampering linguistic and emotional development.
Additionally, the lawsuit notes that St. Louis City and County had some of the most restrictive orders in Missouri and yet still suffered some of the highest COVID-19 case and death rates, and that a renewed mask mandate undermines the important push for vaccinations.
Moreover, the lawsuit states that neither St. Louis City nor County cited the statutory authority that would allow them to issue wide-ranging health orders, that both orders are unconstitutionally vague, and that both orders restrict the religious freedom of St. Louisans.
The lawsuit also argues that both the City and County’s mask mandates are subject to the law recently passed by the Missouri legislature (House Bill 271), that places restrictions on local health orders. The suit states, “both Mask Mandates are subject to § 67.265.1(1), RSMo, and expire after thirty days absent authorization by a majority vote of St. Louis County’s or St. Louis City’s governing body.” Additionally, the lawsuit notes that, according to § 67.265.4, RSMo, “the health officer, local public health agency, public health authority, or executive shall provide a report to the governing body containing information supporting the need for such order.” The defendants never provided that report.
The Missouri Attorney General’s Office previously filed suit against the St. Louis County Executive over COVID-19 restrictions on May 11, 2021. St. Louis County lifted nearly all of their restrictions roughly three days after that lawsuit was filed.
Today’s lawsuit asks the court for injunctive relief to invalidate the mask mandate and for a declaration that the mask mandates are subject to the law passed by the legislature in May (see § 67.265, RSMo).
The lawsuit, filed this evening, can be found here: https://ago.mo.gov/docs/default-source/press-releases/schmitt-v-page—petition.pdf?sfvrsn=4f83d23d_2
Dangerous heat has filtered into southwest Missouri, with our first Heat Advisory of the summer being issued by the National Weather Service in Springfield.
The advisory is for areas along and north of I-44, including the Springfield area, and it is in effect each afternoon through Saturday.
Heat index readings will range from 100 to 109 degrees during the period.
Take precautions to reduce your risk of heat related illness, including drinking plenty of fluids and limiting outdoor activities.
Also be sure to check frequently on elderly people who are more prone to heat illness.