A Missouri State University professor and founder of a nonprofit organization has announced she is running for the Missouri statehouse.
Amy Blansit will run as a Democrat for Springfield’s House District 133.
The seat is currently held by Republican Curtis Trent, who has announced he is running for the state senate.
Blansit is founder of the Drew Lewis Foundation, a non-profit organization.
A man who was charged with sexual misconduct involving a child in February is facing more charges.
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office said Ronnie Dollarhide has been charged this time with Statutory Rape or Attempted Statutory Rape First Degree with a person under 14 years of age.
Official charges have been filed by the Douglas County Prosecutor.
Officers say a three car crash in downtown Springfield led to building damage Monday morning.
Authorities say the crash occurred at the intersection of Campbell and Walnut. According to investigators, two vehicles were crossing the intersection along Campbell, when a third driver ran a stoplight along Walnut and collided with the other two cars.
The accident caused one of the vehicles to crash into Hearts of Fire Tattoo parlor. The building was damaged, but the structure remains intact.
The drivers sustained only minor injuries.
A Hollister woman is still recovering after she was assaulted assisting three women in St. Louis.
Heather Smith was in a parking garage when a woman approached her asking for a ride to a gas station nearby. Smith agreed, saying that’s where she was going.
She gave a ride to three women to the gas station and then to a local Walgreens. That’s when the attack happened.
Smith was attacked after getting out of her car. The three women punched and kicked her, and then stole her car and fled the scene.
She was rushed to a nearby hospital and treated for her injuries. Police were able to locate her vehicle, but it was destroyed.
Authorities are investigating the incident. No arrests have been made as of this moment.
Springfield Police are continuing to investigate a fatal shooting that occurred on Saturday.
The shooting took place near the 2400 block of East Commercial Street.
Officers say that when they arrived, they found two men who had been shot. One of the men, 30-year-old Johnny Hipol, later died of his injuries before he could be transported to the hospital. The other victim was treated for his wounds and released.
No other information about any suspects in the case has been released. Authorities have said, however, that they have a person of interest.
A former employee of the West Plains School District has been granted a change of venue in the case against him.
Christopher Taylor is facing charges of sexual contact with a student, child molestation and endangering the welfare of a child.
He was set to stand trial in Howell County court, however he and his defense team applied for a change of venue,
The change was granted on Monday. The case will now take place in Butler County.
Taylor, 42, has been relieved of his position with the West Plains School District.
Future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols is set to rejoin the team where his long Major League career started.
MLB.com and the St. Louis Post Dispatch are quoting sources as saying Pujols has agreed to a one year deal with the St. Louis Cardinals worth $2.5 million.
The contract is pending a physical, and as of Monday morning, has not been announced by the club.
Pujols won World Series titles with the Cardinals in 2006 and 2011, and will be reunited with former teammates Yadier Molina and Adam Wainwright.
Pujols, who’s just 21 home runs shy of 700 for his career, will most likely serve as a right-handed designated hitter against lefties and a pinch-hitter.
A West Plains man has received a near 21-year prison sentence after he admitted to trafficking meth.
39-year-old Luis Rodriguez was sentenced to 20 years and ten months in prison in federal court Friday. That sentence comes without the possibility of parole.
Rodriguez pleaded guilty to the charges in September of 2021, admitting to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine from 2015 to 2019.
Rodriguez also pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm in connection to a drug-trafficking crime.
He is the seventh defendant in the case to receive sentencing. There are two other defendants in the case, Raymon Ortega and James Cooper, who have pleaded guilty to their charges as well.
59-year-old Steven Endsley has been found guilty of the murder of Theresa Jackson and her daughter, Danielle Smith in 2016.
According to prosecutors, Endsley killed Jackson and her daughter because Smith was gay. Smith and Endsley had several confrontations in the past, and evidence from the prosecution showed interactions consistent with harassment on Endsley’s part.
After killing both women, prosecutors argued that Endsley then burned down the home with the bodies still inside.
With the conviction, Endsley now faces life in prison for his crimes. His sentencing has been set for May 23.
The CoxHealth Board of Directors has announced that Max Buetow will be the health system’s next President and CEO beginning in June.
Buetow succeeds Steve Edwards, who has been chief executive since 2012 and is retiring at the end of May.
Buetow currently serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.
In his current role, Buetow is responsible for leading and managing operations for the system’s six regional hospitals, defining goals and performance standards, and coordinating operations across system services lines and departments.
In a news release, CoxHealth says Buetow pioneered the development of Cox Health’s “super clinics,” facilities that offer patients access to multiple dimensions of care in one location.
The release says the depth of experience from these roles, as well as Buetow’s vision for building on CoxHealth’s success, were key factors in the Board’s decision.
Board of Directors Chair Rob Fulp says Buetow is the right person to continue CoxHealth’s high level focus on patient care. “He has demonstrated his passion for this organization, for our patients and for our 12,500 CoxHealth team members,” Fulp said. “We are excited for all he will bring to the table as we embark on CoxHealth’s next chapter. We wouldn’t be where we are today without Steve’s leadership and Max will continue to expand on the great work Steve has done.”
Edwards has expressed his confidence in Buetow’s abilities to lead the health system into the future. “I am grateful to our Board for their selection of Max,” Edwards said. “He is incredibly smart and kind, and he leads with great humility. He things about what may become in the next 20 or 30 years, not just what we may be next year. I deeply admire his virtues, and I am confident he will continue to advance our culture whereby we expect leaders to take care of staff, and staff to take care of each other and our community.”
Buetow originally joined CoxHealth in 2012. Prior to entering health care, he worked in manufacturing after completing his MBA at Drury University in 2009.
Buetow resides in Springfield with his wife, Laura, and their four children.