Springfield Daily Citizen

A Springfield Fire Department firetruck stands ready, equipped with the tools and technology needed to support life-saving operations during emergencies. (Photo by Shannon Cay)

A Springfield man has died after being seriously injured in a house fire on Jan. 23. Paul Smart was 65 years old.

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A Gentoo penguin flaps its wings during playtime outside on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026, at Wonders Of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium, in Springfield. (Photo by Ellie Frysztak)

With snow on the ground and temperatures below the freezing point, Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium let its waddle of gentoo penguins out for some fresh air. Multimedia journalist Ellie Frysztak was there and took these pictures.

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Emily Fessler with Community Partnership of the Ozarks speaks at the Housing First Town Hall on Jan. 23, 2026, at Community Foundation of the Ozarks in downtown Springfield. (Photo by Community Foundation of the Ozarks)

Homeless service providers in the Ozarks are bracing for major funding cuts to federal permanent housing programs. Those cuts would likely impact providers in Greene, Christian and Webster counties to the tune of more than $1 million a year.

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Cave Spring Memorial Church, formerly known as Mt. Zion Presbyterian Church, was built in the 1860s. Regular Sunday services ceased in the 1960s, but local supporters have organized second Sunday services through March to help introduce the building to the community. (Photo by Kaitlyn McConnell)

Cave Spring Memorial Church, said to be the first Presbyterian church in Greene County, was a hub for the community before it closed in the 1960s. Friends of the church are working to revive interest in the aging structure.

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John Chiles is running for House District 135 as a Democrat. (Photo provided by John Chiles)

FREE TO ALL READERS: John Chiles, a college instructor and entrepreneur with a focus on sustainability, has entered the House District 135 race as a Democrat. It's the first run for office for Chiles, who grew up around politics.

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Bill Mueller played for the Boston Red Sox from 2003 to 2005. (Photo from Boston Red Sox)

Missouri State baseball legend Bill Mueller returns to Springfield this weekend for two events. Mueller won the American League batting title and hit a pair of history-making grand slams in 2003 and won a World Series with the Boston Red Sox in 2024.

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A grant helped the Brentwood Neighborhood Association host a festival that helped attendees discover some local businesses they didn’t know existed. (Photo provided)

OPINION: A new "civic muscle" report from the University of Missouri Extension shows where Greene County is strong and where improvement is needed. David Burton has insights from the report and explains why civic muscle matters now.

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Affordable Towing was located at 2023 W. Division St. in Springfield. (Photo by Shannon Cay)

A second person has pleaded guilty in federal court for her role in the Affordable Towing mail fraud scheme. Christie Engle entered her plea one month after Affordable Towing owner Dennis Cleveland pleaded guilty to the same charges.

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Route 66 hubcap on College Street in the West Central neighborhood of Springfield. (Photo by Shannon Cay)

NBC's "Today" show and the Grammy award-winning country music band Little Big Town are coming to Springfield for the National Route 66 Centennial Kickoff in April. The schedule of events was announced Jan. 26, and it includes a parade.

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Rows of snow plows sit inside a public works building ready to be deployed as the incoming snow storm hits. (Photo by Ellie Frysztak)

Road conditions across the city led Springfield Public Schools to cancel classes for Tuesday, Jan. 27.

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Stephen Kleinsmith poses for a photo outside of his home in Millwood prior to his recent back surgery. (Photo by Steve Pokin)

IN-DEPTH: Former Nixa Public Schools superintendent Stephen Kleinsmith was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease 20 years ago. Despite health challenges, he remains positive, cherishing his love of baseball and his family's support.

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The Republic School District Administration Center. (Photo by Ellie Frysztak)

The Republic School District is facing its second racial discrimination lawsuit since 2024. A former student’s lawsuit, filed on Jan. 12, makes similar claims to another suit the district settled last summer.

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Pancheros will hold a grand opening of the first Springfield fast-casual restaurant on Feb. 3, 2026. (Photo by Ryan Collins)

The fast casual chain Pancheros Mexican Grill is expanding its Missouri footprint with a restaurant in Springfield. Here's when it's expected to open on West Republic Road.

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Former NBA veteran Anthony Tolliver, right, spoke to more than 50 Missouri State football players on Wednesday night as part of the The Fifth Quarter program. (Photo by Jayden Pettus)

Springfield businessmen Jon Baker and Kurt Hellweg wanted to help Missouri State football players prepare for life after their playing days were over. They developed a program called The Fifth Quarter, which hosts five events every spring.

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Springfield Little Theatre's production of "The Little Mermaid" won five awards from BroadwayWorld Kansas City. They include honors for choreography, sound design, costume design and scenic design. (Photo by Springfield Little Theatre)

Springfield dominated the nonprofessional categories of the 2025 BroadwayWorld Kansas City Regional Awards, with Springfield Little Theatre capturing 15 awards. High Tide Theatrical and the now-closed Springfield Contemporary Theatre were also honored.

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The demolition crew tore down the abandoned house on 219 S. Broadway Ave. on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, in Springfield. (Photo by Ellie Frysztak)

A West Central home described by neighbors as a “problem property” where squatters live without utilities and deal drugs has been demolished. They're happy it's gone, but owner Stan Adam is not. He says it’s not his fault the property fell into disrepair.

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Community members gather for the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the Maplewood Villas Phase II project on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, in Springfield. (Photo by Ellie Frysztak)

A new affordable housing development by The Kitchen, Inc., was designed for low-income and formerly homeless seniors. Maplewood Villas Phase II has eight units dedicated to homeless veterans.

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Missouri State guard Kaemyn Bekemeier directs traffic from across the court on Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, in Springfield. (Photo by Ellie Frysztak)

Missouri State fell to Louisiana Tech 60-51 last night, the Lady Bears' second consecutive loss. Lyndal Scranton said Missouri State is struggling to find a rhythm on offense as opponents key in on Kaemyn Bekemeier.

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The Springfield Art Museum, as seen before construction began on Phase 1 of the multi-year renovation and expansion project. (Photo by Jym Wilson)

The Citizens’ Advisory Board has recommended a $30 million allocation to help complete the Springfield Art Museum's renovation and expansion, pending City Council approval. That's $3.4 million less than requested. What does that mean for the project?

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Springfield Catholic High School basketball player Ryder Rowden

Athlete of the Week: High-scoring guard Ryder Rowden thrives as Springfield Catholic pushes the tempo.

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State Rep. Cecelie Williams, R-Dittmer, speaks in 2025 during Missouri House debate. (Tim Bommel/Missouri House Communications)

FREE TO ALL READERS: Following a speech by Rep. Cecelie Williams, the Missouri House voted 138-10 to censure Springfield state Rep. Jeremy Dean for sending obscene and unwanted text messages to Williams in September 2025.

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Curtis Trent, then-candidate for Missouri State Senate, speaks at the Republican candidates forum, presented by Greene County Republican Women's Club at the Relics Antique Mall, Event Center. (Photo by Jym Wilson)

OPINION: State Sen. Curtis Trent says Senate Bill 4 will ensure the next 50 years of Missouri’s energy future are as reliable and affordable as the last. It focuses on strategic planning, rebuilding wisely and facing the real causes of rising energy costs.

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A student protest sign reads "The party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears it was their final most essential command. - George Orwell, 1984." (Photo by Ellie Frysztak)

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Nichole Baker, mother of a Central High School student, says the school's leadership gave students a voice and agency in Tuesday's walkout in support of immigrants.

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Polaroid taken in the Leopard Room, an old gay-friendly bar on 504 College Street, dated 1954. (Photo courtesy of the OLGA collection at MSU)

IN-DEPTH: The GLO Center is preparing to celebrate its 30th anniversary. As Missouri's oldest LGBTQ+ community center approaches that milestone, reporter Zoe McIntyre examines Springfield's complicated LGBTQ+ history.

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Ed Miller, of Springfield, is a World War II veteran who will turn 100 years old on Sunday, Jan. 25. (Photo by Ellie Frysztak)

Edward Miller, a World War II Navy veteran, will turn 100 years old on Jan. 25. He told our Steve Pokin about his service in the military and life in Springfield. He also shared what keeps him going.

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Missouri State Rep. Betsy Fogle listens to Gov. Mike Kehoe’s State of the State speech. (Photo by Jym Wilson)

OPINION: Springfield state Rep. Betsy Fogle says Gov. Mike Kehoe's proposal to eliminate the state's income tax would burden Springfield families by raising sales taxes and adding new taxes on services.

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An aerial view of the Springfield Expo Center in November 2025. (Photo by Bruce Stidham)

FREE TO ALL READERS: The city of Springfield will host a “visioning workshop” on Jan. 26 to discuss how a new convention and event center “could play a significant role in ensuring Springfield’s growth and vitality.”

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Springfield School Superintendent Dr. Grenita Lathan addresses the audience at the monthly Chamber of Commerce's Good Morning Springfield breakfast. (Photo by Jym Wilson)

The Board of Education has elected to retain Springfield Public Schools Superintendent Grenita Lathan and extend her contract for another year. The board cited improvements in academic performance, graduation, attendance and behavior.

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A 1968 studio publicity photo with the Singing Doctors in surgical garb. Left to right, F.T. H'Doubler, Don Gose, Fred Coller, Jim Brown, Hal Lurie and Charles Lockhart. (Photo courtesy of the Brown family)

The Singing Doctors of Springfield, Missouri, once entertained audiences from Arizona to New Jersey with their zany musical comedy. Though their voices have stilled, they seeded a scholarship fund that has grown for decades.

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Northbound traffic on Highway 65 just north of Division is blocked due to a fatal crash on Jan. 20, 2026. (Screenshot from OzarksTraffic.com)

Springfield police say Willis King, 57, of Fordland, died in Monday's three-vehicle crash on Highway 65. King retired from the Springfield Fire Department in 2018, having served the Springfield community for 24 years.

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