Gregory Holman

1 week ago | ksmu.org | Gregory Holman

Councilmembers considered a 104-acre mixed-use project located on Vernon Road at the city’s northern edge. Anita Cotter, Springfield City Clerk, informed them that a protest petition was found to be sufficient with 30.8 percent of residents living within 185 feet of the property signing on with their opposition to the rezoning. Thus, the ordinance could only pass with a supermajority of six Council votes.

1 week ago | ksmu.org | Gregory Holman

A few years ago, challenges to the presence of some books in the student library put Nixa Public Schools in the national spotlight. Titles like A Handmaid’s Tale and Blankets were reviewed and removed by the school board, and at least a dozen other books were challenged by parents. In response, some Nixa students decided it was time for them to get organized and openly support the freedom to read. Thomi Brown is one of the co-founders of Nixa SABR.

2 weeks ago | ksmu.org | Gregory Holman

Rob Ybanez was one of a few dozen supporters of Springfield Tenants Unite who showed up at Springfield City Council on Monday evening. “Because everyone here in Springfield deserves to have access to a safe, accessible and affordable home," he said. "And that starts with like, making sure properties are maintained.”Springfield Tenants Unite formed during the pandemic. It advocates for local policies that organizers like Ybanez believe would benefit Springfield residents who rent their homes.

3 weeks ago | ksmu.org | Gregory Holman

Schrag’s first State of the City speech focused on several topics including recovery from the April 29 storm. But Schrag dwelt on Springfield’s status as a growing five-county metro with roughly half a million residents. In Schrag’s telling, the Queen City at the core of that metro is dynamic, rising — and tied to regional growth. "See, we’re not trying to become a different city," Schrag told the crowd of a few hundred Springfield business and community leaders.

3 weeks ago | ksmu.org | Gregory Holman

With a newly elected mayor and a new councilmember from southeast Springfield since April ballots were counted, elected officials each got a thick binder filled with written procedures and ethics policies. They also got half a workday of fast-paced coaching on how to comply with city charter and city code — which are often more stringent than state law, says City Attorney Jordan Paul, on the job since early last year.