Springfield Daily Citizen

UPDATE: The child has died and next of kin was notified. Springfield Police say the shooting is under investigation and it is unknown at this time whether the gunshot was self-inflicted.

UPDATE: Long, on X, said he is excited to take on his new role as ambassador to Iceland.

Former U.S. Rep. Billy Long addresses attendees at the Greene County Republican presidential caucus in this Daily Citizen file photo. (Photo by Jym Wilson)

After two months on the job, former congressman Billy Long is out as IRS commissioner. The New York Times reports Long, a staunch supporter of President Donald Trump, is expected to be nominated to an ambassadorship.

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Lights illuminated on the top of a police vehicle (Photo: Pixabay.com)

Police say a 4-year-old child in northwest Springfield shot themselves with a gun Friday afternoon and was transported to the hospital. No details on the child's condition have been released.

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A Missouri Job Center sign marks the entrance to the facility at 1660 N. Campbell Ave. (Photo by Shannon Cay)

The relationship between the Ozark Region Workforce Development Board and the city of Springfield appears to be improving. Board Chair Andrea Sitzes pointed to the “collaborative tone” of City Manager David Cameron for helping restore relations.

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Generations Village Executive Director Drew Deardorff leads community members on a tour of one of the intergenerational units on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, in Willard. (Photo by Ellie Frysztak)

A new housing development in Willard aims to bring foster families and seniors together. Generations Village has units for foster families, seniors and young people who are aging out of foster care, along with shared community spaces.

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Jacob Buchberger of the Springfield Cardinals chats with teammates in the dugout at Hammons Field. (Photo by Mary Ellen Chiles)

Springfield fan-favorite Jacob Buchberger is trying to stay positive as he rehabs from a torn triceps suffered in the sixth game of the season. @lscranton.bsky.social writes that the 27-year-old is facing an uncertain future.

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The outside of Piccolo in Nixa. (Photo by Ellie Frysztak)

The Nixa community is rallying around Piccolo after the popular Italian restaurant was hit by an SUV in late June. While some are buying gift cards and donating to a GoFundMe, two businesses are holding fundraisers.

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Uncle Bently's Pub and Lounge owners Darryl and Jennifer Barr pose for a portrait inside the pub on Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, in Springfield. (Photo by Ellie Frysztak)

Uncle Bently’s Pub and Lounge, a Springfield staple for more than 40 years, has new owners. Here's what Darryl and Jennifer Barr, who also own Georgia Mac's, plan to do with the long-running bar.

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Be Kind & Merciful partners Ralph Duda, left, Anthony Tolliver and Brad Miller react to the Springfield Planning and Zoning Commission’s rejection of their rezoning application to try to advance their proposed development at the intersection of East Sunshine Street and South National Avenue in December 2023. (Photo by Jym Wilson)

Developer Ralph Duda has submitted a new proposal for the northwest corner of Sunshine and National Avenue, in University Heights. The new plan has a limited number of uses that could be built on the 2.6-acre parcel.

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The license office on East Battlefield Road closed in May. The Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks says it has been awarded the contract but has not decided where the new office will be located. (Photo by Steve Pokin)

Steve Pokin has learned that, for years, a company headed by the former executive director of the Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks has been fiercely competing with the Springfield charity she once led for contracts for driver’s license offices.

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From left, Superintendent Grenita Lathan, Teacher of the Year Danielle O'Neil, Springfield City Manager David Cameron, Glendale student Will Douglas and Care to Learn Executive Director Krystal Simon laugh while addressing the crowd of teachers and community members on Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, at Glendale High School in Springfield. (Photo by Ellie Frysztak)

At today's Good Morning Springfield, Springfield Public Schools Superintendent Grenita Lathan spoke about challenges for the year ahead and success stories from the previous year, including success on a goal set during last year’s address.

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Classic cars parade past the Gillioz Theatre during the 2024 Route 66 Festival. The Gillioz and Route 66 were both founded in 1926. (Photo by Jym Wilson)

The 2025 Birthplace of Route 66 Festival runs Aug. 8-9 in downtown Springfield. Organizers have worked with businesses in the neighborhood and made changes to the event's footprint, schedule and stages, though much of the programming remains the same.

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The Greene County Judicial Courts Facility at 1010 Boonville Ave. (Photo by Jackie Rehwald)

A Bolivar man has been arrested and charged for allegedly sending pornographic material to an undercover Willard police officer posing as a 14-year-old girl, and attempting to meet up for sex.

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Jane Pitt (Photo provided by Doug Pitt)

Jane Pitt, a former educator, counselor and advocate for children, has died at age 84. She was also the mother of actor Brad Pitt, Springfield businessman Doug Pitt and Julie Neal.

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SPS volunteer Sheldon Everett gathers bags of groceries for families to take home on Saturday, July 26, 2025, at the Expo Center in Springfield. (Photo by Ellie Frysztak)

OPINION: Columnist Brian Fogle says the annual Giving USA report has good news about philanthropy, with total giving increasing 6.3% from the prior year to $592.5 billion. There are some concerning trends, however.

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From left to right, BookBag founder Sheila Michaels and volunteers Terri Crouse and Erin Livengood pose with a tote bag and school supplies for a photo in Michaels' living room. (Photo by Zoe McIntyre)

A former Nixa librarian is fighting hunger and the summer slide with her BookBag program. She hopes to break stigmas by making it a reading program that also offers food, hygiene products and even school supplies with no registration required.

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Students at Westport K-8 on Dec. 19 listen to Santa Claus read a story. (Photo by Joe Hadsall)

Springfield Public Schools is asking for help in preventing bullying. The district has emailed parents and guardians of students about prohibiting all forms of bullying as part of promoting a safe learning environment.

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Lakeland Behavioral Health System is located at 440 S. Market Ave. in downtown Springfield. (Photo by Jackie Rehwald)

Prosecutors are dismissing charges against a former Lakeland Behavioral Health employee who was accused of sexually abusing teenage girls who were patients at the children’s mental and behavioral health facility. @jackierehwald.bsky.social explains why.

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A green sign shaped like an arrow pointing to the left. Taped to it is a white sheet of paper reading "Hiring Event" in black ink, with a black arrow pointing left. (Photo by Shannon Cay Bowers)

FREE TO ALL READERS: New data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics says all eight of Missouri's metropolitan areas saw unemployment rates go up in June. In Springfield, the unemployment rate went from 3.7% to 4.2%.

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The Wilson's Creek Greenway, pictured on Aug. 5, 2025. (Photo by Jack McGee)

Springfield is still waiting for a $24.8 million federal grant for its UnGap the Map initiative, which aims to close gaps in the trail system. Jack McGee has details on the delay and what projects the grant will fund.

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The seal of Southwest Missouri State College, now Missouri State University, stands in front of Carrington Hall. (Photo by Ellie Frysztak)

At a retreat meeting in Branson this week, the Missouri State University Board of Governors will discuss its building plan for the next five years, implementation of its next strategic plan and preparations for reaccreditation.

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Fremont Elementary second-graders in 2024 participated in a publishing project funded by a grant from the Foundation for SPS. (Courtesy Foundation for SPS)

Rapid Robert’s, Ozarks Coca-Cola and Hiland Dairy are teaming up for a fundraiser to benefit the Foundation for Springfield Public Schools. Fueling the Future will help raise money to fund special projects created by teachers with their students in mind.

Learn more: sgfcitizen.org/schools/k12-...

Ozark's Stoneridge neighborhood is accessible only from North 10th Avenue off Greenbridge Road. The plan is for Greenbridge Estates to share this one entrance and exit. (Photo by Zoe McIntyre)

A new subdivision in Ozark, called Greenbridge Estates, could have 140 homes sharing one public road access. That has residents of Stoneridge concerned and speaking out.

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Law enforcement vehicles are parked outside of the St. Francis County Detention Center in Arkansas. (Photo by St. Francis County Sheriff's Office)

A Springfield man, who made national headlines in 2021 when Arkansas authorities found the decomposing remains of his ex-girlfriend in his home, is in the Greene County Jail, charged with assaulting another woman.

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Simply Thai was closed Aug. 4 and the restaurant redirected traffic to its sister restaurant, Thai Express. (Photo by Ryan Collins)

Simply Thai has closed, at least temporarily. Owner Patrick Nett told our Ryan Collins that the closure is not related to a lawsuit filed against him.

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Rafael Vite came to Springfield as an international student and has made the Queen City home. (Photo by Jym Wilson)

OPINION: Judith Martínez-García writes that Rafael Vite’s journey is a testament to the power of entrepreneurship, cultural understanding and community involvement. Here's how he's gone from international student to community catalyst.

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The Herzog Foundation operates out of a newly built headquarters in Smithville, Missouri. (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)

FREE TO ALL READERS: The Missouri NEA filed a lawsuit this summer to block $51 million in state appropriations to private school scholarships through the MOScholars program. A trio of parents is intervening, with help from a Herzog Foundation leader.

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Springfield Cardinals outfielder Nathan Church celebrates his game-winning hit with JJ Wetherholt (left) and Max Rajcic after the Baby Birds defeated the Northwest Arkansas Naturals 3-2 on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at Hammons Field. (Photo by Mary Ellen Chiles)

Roster churn has hit the Springfield Cardinals, but the wins keep coming. In this week's SGF Cardinals Insider, @lscranton.bsky.social has details on who's been promoted and who's replacing them as the season enters the home stretch.

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Missouri State head coach Ryan Beard, left, and Missouri State quarterback Jacob Clark are interviewed by ESPN at a Conference USA media event on Tuesday, July 22 in Frisco, Texas. (Photo by Addison Franklin, Conference USA)

OPINION: @lscranton.bsky.social writes that just a few years ago, Missouri State football was at a low point, going 1-10 to cap a horrid 13-42 five-year stretch. An outside-the-box hire turned things around, and that turnaround culminates this fall.

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