Month: June 2023

The Chief of the Springfield Police Department says crimes is dropping around the city.

During a city council meeting on Monday, Chief Paul Williams presented the latest crime data to councilmembers.

Violent crimes, property crimes, theft and burglary crimes and vehicle theft are all trending down.

Williams also says that sexual assault, rape and sodomy cases have seen a decrease as well.

He believes that efforts on social media to alert residents have yielded positive results.

Williams spent time during his report pointing out that the department is still in need of 51 officers, whose positions are currently vacant.

Severe thunderstorms are expected to push into Southwest Missouri late tonight into the overnight hours.

The National Weather Service says areas from Joplin to Neosho and Anderson are under a level three “enhanced risk” for damaging wind gusts of 60-70 miles per hour and quarter size hail.

Springfield and Branson have a level two “slight risk.”

The storms are expected to weaken as they track North of Springfield.

We will have any watches or warnings and storm reports on 93.3 FM – 560 AM KWTO.

A woman from Sarcoxie has died in a crash in a construction zone on I-44 West of Fidelity.

Highway Patrol Troopers say a semi tractor trailer hit the back of an SUV driven by Courtney Johnson Monday night. Johnson and other drivers were slowing down for the Construction zone. Johnson’s SUV was forced into another semi, then that truck hit another truck which then hit the back of a pickup.

The driver of the first truck had serious injuries.

Firefighters in Mountain Grove had to evacuate an entire block due to natural gas concerns.

The fire department said on Facebook that a ruptured gas line caused an explosion in a detached garage at a funeral home parking lot at Main Avenue and Third Street.

Fire crews were extinguishing the fire when natural gas began filling some of the buildings in the area.

They asked people to evacuate the area.

The Mountain Grove Fire Department says the fire is under control and crews are cleaning up the area.

Missouri is receiving $1.7 billion dollars in broadband expansion money from the federal government.

The money will come from the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program part of the Infrastructure, Investment, and Jobs Act.

Missouri’s is the third largest allocation in the nation.

Governor Mike Parson credits the efforts of former Senator Roy Blunt to secure the funding.

Road crews in Springfield are working to fix a portion of Campbell Avenue following a recent buckling of the roadway.

Officials say the road buckled due to the heat.

Campbell will be closed near Normal Street through 8am on Tuesday while repairs are done.

Springfield Public Works recommends that if you’re driving on Campbell south, detour to Grant Avenue, and to Bennett Street and Jefferson Avenue if travelling north.

Springfield Police are investigating a shooting death in Northwest Springfield.

Police say 23 year old Kayden Martin was found in the 900 block of North Glenn with multiple gunshot wounds.

Police say a vehicle left the area at the same time the shots were heard, but say they are not certain the two are connected.

Police have not identified a suspect in the shooting yet.

A man is behind bars in Lawrence County after hitting a car and killing two people while being pursued by Sheriff’s deputies.

The Highway Patrol says the 19 year old has been arrested for driving while impaired, possession of a controlled substance, and careless and imprudent driving.

He was driving a pickup on Highway 37 when he ran a red light and slammed into a car at Highway 60, killing 53 year old Larry Brock and 61 year old Lydia Shorey from Crane.

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