Month: January 2023

Springfield-Branson National Airport is now reopened for flights following a system crash with the Federal Aviation Administration.

Reports say flights reopened at around 8:00 a.m. Wednesday morning after an early morning crash delayed or cancelled thousands of flights.

According to a release from the FAA, the administrations Notice to Air Mission system, of NOTAM, crashed.

NOTAM controls the flow of safety information from the tower to pilots attempting to take off or land from airports all across the U.S.

Officials say many flights are still delayed nationwide, but are finally up and running.

Information about possible delays or cancellations at Springfield-Branson is limited at this time.

Springfield Police are asking for the public’s help in locating a suspect accused of forgery.

Reports say 28-year-old Kodie Ray has a felony warrant out for his arrest on charges of forgery in the Springfield area.

Authorities believe he is somewhere in Greene County, but have not specified further.

Ray is described as a white male standing 5’8″ weighing 135 pounds. He has brown hair and blue eyes.

A release from the department says a cash reward is being offered for information leading to his arrest. If you have any information, contact Crime Stoppers at 417-869-8477.

The Greene County Prosecutor has charged a teenager for a shooting in a Springfield parking lot in October.

17 year old Antwon Taylor faces charges in a shooting that happened at Battlefield and Kansas Expressway on October 6.

A judge certified Taylor as an adult on January 9.

The police have not arrested Taylor yet.

Greene County Commissioners signed the 2023 budget Tuesday morning.

The total expenditure for all funds is over $261-million-dollars.

One of the main priorities in the budget is recruiting and retaining employees.

All employees will receive a five percent cost of living adjustment.

The county will also offer a two-dollar per hour shift differential deputies who work overnight at the jail.

The superintendent for a school in Texas County is facing charges of assault for allegedly attacking a student.

Reports say 55-year-old Rick Stark has been charged with fourth-degree misdemeanor assault.

He is the superintendent of the Summerville School District.

The victim told police that Stark began verbally assaulting him about the death of his brother, who had died in a car accidents several weeks prior.

Reports say he then followed the victim into the bathroom, where he continuing to verbal abuse the student, and then shoved him with both hands.

An initial court appearance in Stark’s case has been scheduled for January 24.

Congressman Jason Smith, who represents Missouri’s 8th Congressional district, has been appointed chair of a very powerful committee this week.

Smith will hold the gavel over the House Ways and Means committee, which is the oldest named committee in the history of Congress. It’s primary role is to oversee taxation. Congress is well known to hold the ‘power of the purse’ and the Ways and Means Committee is one of the primary ways that Congress wields that power. The committee also makes decisions on Medicare and Medicaid, among other healthcare issues.

With the amount of power that this committee holds, the chairmanship was one of the most closely watched races in the House, with Smith winning a three way bid.

Hiland Dairy, the Springfield based food and drink company, will pay out $140,000 to settle a disability discrimination lawsuit.

According to a release from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the lawsuit was filed after the company’s Norman, Oklahoma location refused to hire an individual because he was visually impaired.

The EEOC alleged that Hiland Dairy withdrew there offer following a medical screening in which the doctor claimed the man was legally blind.

Investigators say the doctor never personally examined the man’s vision during the screening.

Spokespeople for Hiland say they deny any wrongdoing in the case, and did not violate the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

Along with the $140,000 payment, Hiland Dairy will also be subject to create policies that align with ADA and periodic check-in’s with EEOC.

Owners of a downtown business in Springfield are looking for solutions after a crash at a nearby intersection lead to one of the vehicles hitting their building.

Reports say the crash happened at around 7:00 a.m. Monday at the Campbell-Walnut intersection.

Investigators believe an SUV driving on Walnut ran a red light and hit a car crossing the intersection from Campbell.

After the crash, the SUV went off the road and hit the glass front of the Hearts of Fire Tattoo Shop.

Police say a fire hydrant was also knocked over in the crash.

No one was injured.