Month: April 2022

A Springfield man has been sentenced after pleading guilty to charges of a felon in possession of a firearm.

26-year-old Kyle Vaughn took the plea upon telling authorities that he had traded upwards of 150 firearms in exchange for drugs. Vaughn also admitted that he both used and sold the drugs he had traded for.

Police arrested Vaughn after surveillance uncovered him in possession of a loaded pistol, two backpacks containing a pistol and rifle scope, and drugs.

Vaughn’s seven year prison sentence will be served without the possibility of parole.

After 14 years, Missouri State’s basketball arena will be given a new name.

JQH Arena opened in 2008, receiving its name from John Q. Hammons, a Springfield-based hotel tycoon who donated millions of dollars for the building’s construction.

The JQH name was removed from the arena in 2019 after Hammons company filed bankruptcy and was transferred to JD Holdings.

A release from the Missouri State Foundation announced a press conference will be held Thursday morning at 10:30 a.m. to reveal the newest name and partnership for the arena. Notice of the partnership is expected to be “significant”.

The Missouri House has voted to reduce the number of weeks people can receive unemployment benefits from 13 to eight.

Unemployment benefits are already tied to the unemployment rate in the state.

Missouri’s rate in March was 3.6%.

So under the House bill, unemployed workers would receive payments for nine weeks.

The bill now goes to the Missouri Senate.

The National Weather Service says a few strong to severe thunderstorms are possible in southwest Missouri Wednesday morning and afternoon.

Forecasters say hail up to the size of quarters will be the main risk.

Additional storms are expected along and west of the Interstate 49 corridor west of Springfield late Wednesday afternoon and evening.

Large hail, damaging winds, and a low tornado risk will be possible with Wednesday’s second round of storms.

Springfield City Council gave the go-ahead to a 4.6 million dollar project to repair Division Street between Glenstone and National.

The City plans to repair the pavement, widen the street, and add sidewalks.

The project will be funded through a quarter-cent sales tax passed by voters in 2019.

The City hopes to start the project late spring or early summer.

Branson Police chief Jeff Matthews will present the Department’s Annual Report to the Branson Board of Aldermen at the regularly scheduled Study Session.

The report will include 2021 year-end crime statistics, highlight the Branson Police Department’s accomplishments throughout the year, and will lay out the objectives for 2022.

The Study Session will be held Thursday at 1:30 pm.

A Boone County woman accused of killing her husband has had her trial date pushed back.

40-year-old Amy Murray faces charges of first-degree murder and armed criminal action after police found the body of her husband, Joshua Murray, following a house fire.

Police responded to a home at 9 Janice Drive and found Murray’s body. However, an autopsy revealed Murray had been dead before the blaze, and the cause of death was ruled as poisoning.

The investigation also led authorities to believe the fire was likely arson.

Mrs. Murray’s was set to appear in May, but that date has since been pushed back to September 19.

A Camden County man and active Major in the United State Army has been charged with multiple counts of domestic assault.

Authorities were called to the home of Major Justin Stephens after a report came in that he had put a gun to his head in front of his daughter.

Police were able to apprehend Stephens on a medical warrant for evaluation. During this time, details emerged of multiple instances of him domestically abusing members of his family.

Officers then opened a second investigation into Stephens’ actions, and charged him with domestic assault.

Major Stephens is active duty military working at a hospital at Fort Leonard Wood.

Investigators say they have not yet arrested Stephens.

Authorities in Laclede County are investigating a homicide.

Sheriff David Millsap’s office says a man fatally shot his girlfriend Saturday afternoon.

Dillion Bacon, 22, is charged with first degree murder and armed criminal action, and is being held without bond in the Laclede County jail.

Court records show Bacon told investigators he and Megan Glasser argued before the shooting.

Authorities say Glasser was shot at a mobile home in the 28,000 block of Sassafrass Road.