The Civility Project, which is an ongoing project that reminds citizens of the importance of respect in matters of public discourse, is celebrating its one year anniversary this week. To honor the occasion, leaders of the project, including members from the Library Center and Community Foundation of the Ozarks, will be hosting the free program series called “Building Common Ground: Discussions of Community, Civility and Compassion.” The program series includes poetry readings, photo exhibits and a soup dinner. KSMU’s Rebekah Clark has more.
As of this week, the Springfield-Greene County Health Department’s Animal Control program has gone 16 weeks, or four full months, sending all potentially adoptable dogs to one of the area’s “no-kill” rescue partners for public adoption. The shelter says this milestone marks the longest “streak” that anyone from the program can recall of not putting down potentially adoptable animals. KSMU’s Rebekah Clark has this report.
This Valentine’s Day, instead of getting your special someone the typical box of chocolates, how about trying something that’s both different and healthy? Give your loved one the gift of heart health by providing alternative foods that might lower cholesterol and the chance of sickness. KSMU’s Rebekah Clark files this report.
A group has submitted a petition to the City Clerk’s office that aims to repeal the 2011 smoking ban and allow smoking in certain types of businesses again. KSMU’s Melanie Foehrweiser talked to people on both sides of the issue and has this report.
This is a story about a woman whose perspective is enriched by having lived in two very different worlds, and having lived for over eight decades. A single mom of two boys at 30 years old—a young widow, no less—Shirley Johnson became a teacher and taught at Baptist Bible College in Springfield for years. However, instead of retirement, Johnson packed her bags and moved to Kenya as a missionary, where she began changing the lives of impoverished kids. KSMU’s Rebekah Clark shares her story.
Habitat for Humanity is looking for volunteers in the Springfield area to help out with the organization’s so-called “six-by-six challenge.” KSMU’s Brittany Donnellan has details.
The Community Foundation of the Ozarks commits 2 percent of its assets toward direct investments for "Community good." Mike Smith has the story on this installment of Making a Difference Where You Live.
Supporters and opponents of the proposed E-verify ordinance are campaigning away in Springfield. If approved, the ordinance would require businesses to check the immigration status of all new employees using a federal E-Verify computer system. Some people have raised money to promote their messages through advertising on the radio, phone bank operations, and other venues. Now as the final vote approaches on Feb. 7, the groups are stepping up their efforts to make sure the public is aware of the issue. KSMU’s Rebekah Clark has more.
How do social service agencies keep track of how many homeless people are in a given area? Well, in Springfield, they get out there and try to do a head count twice a year. KSMU’s Brittany Donnellan has details.
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources, or DNR, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have come up with a plan to restore southwest Missouri’s natural resources that have been hurt by harmful substances. The agencies plan to hold three public meetings, starting Wednesday night, to get feedback on the proposal. KSMU’s Rebekah Clark has details.
After about 185 people were evacuated due to a fire that broke out early Friday morning, many residents at the Missouri Hotel homeless shelter are seeking temporary refuge at Springfield’s Crimson House Church. Eight people had to go to the hospital, and have since been released. KSMU’s Rebekah Clark began by talking to Pastor John Pace at the Crimson House, who rushed into his church in the wee hours of the morning to open it up as a shelter.
This week, the Springfield-based humanitarian organization Convoy of Hope reached a milestone: it has served more than 50 Million people around the world through international children’s feeding initiatives, citywide outreaches, disaster response and partner resourcing. KSMU’s Rebekah Clark has more.
Local high school students have the opportunity to travel to Africa with Shawn Askinosie, founder of Askinosie Chocolate. Students will travel as part of Chocolate University, a program within Askinosie Chocolate that inspires local students to learn business skills and get involved in the world beyond Springfield. KSMU’s Rebekah Clark talks to Askinosie, who shares how students can get involved in the program.
On Friday, the two-hour episode of “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” will feature the show’s efforts in Joplin after the May 22 tornado. The episode shows volunteers from all over the Ozarks, including more than 300 Drury members who designed and built a tribute to volunteers in Joplin’s Cunningham Park. KSMU’s Rebekah Clark has more.
January is National Radon Action Month. The Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, is encouraging everyone to test their homes for harmful levels of radon gas. KSMU’s Jennifer Moore has details.
As part of a long-term project to preserve its collection of Civil War battle flags, the Missouri State Museum is going to let Missourians see about 45 of the flags online. The flags can be viewed through Missouri Digital Heritage, which is an online database that holds historical state records. KSMU’s Rebekah Clark has more.
This week marks the ninth year in a row that Smart Chickenhas donated chicken to Ozarks Food Harvest, through the Feed the Hungry promotion. This promotion works like this: the company will donate one pound of chicken to the food bank for every ten pounds of products purchased at local grocers. KSMU’s Rebekah Clark reports.
Chocolatier Shawn Askinosie, founder of Askinosie Chocolate in Springfield, will be awarded the 14thhonorary doctorate from Missouri State University. The nomination was approved this week by the MSU Board of Governors, after receiving recommendations from the Faculty Senate and Interim President Clif Smart. KSMU’s Rebekah Clark spoke with Askinosie and has more.
This week, the Springfield-Greene County Health Department’s Women, Infants and Children Program, or WIC, announced that Schweitzer United Methodist Church will be the newest host site for the program. There are now four host sites around the community, besides the primary location in Springfield and the satellite location in Republic. KSMU’s Rebekah Clark has details.
Statistics show that the amount of trash people generate skyrockets during the holiday season. KSMU’s Samuel Crowe sat down with a Springfield waste management expert, and reports on how you can limit your waste output.
Animal control services in parts of Greene County are expected to take a major budget cut. The Springfield/Greene-County Health Department tells KSMU’s Rebekah Clark what impact the cuts will have on services.
The snow should taper off in the Ozarks this afternoon. However, the cold temperatures and wind chill are expected to remain throughout the week. KSMU’s Rebekah Clark reports.
