Lauren Barnas

Aug 23, 2024 | ozarksfirst.com | Lauren Barnas

OZARK, Mo. – The city of Ozark unveiled a new storm shelter to conclude the last of its 2022 bond projects. District staff, band students, cheerleaders, and JROTC cadets, gathered to cut the ribbon for the high school’s storm shelter that will double as a gym. The ribbon-cutting marked the completion of a new indoor activities center as well.

Aug 15, 2024 | ozarksfirst.com | Lauren Barnas

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Springfield Public Schools is coming back from summer break with a controversial $85,000 makeover. The school board approved the contract with a Kentucky-based marketing agency specializing in non-profit work at a February board meeting. With teacher retention and program funding in the spotlight, some taxpayers are questioning whether it was the most responsible use for the money. The new logo depicts an open door.

Aug 9, 2024 | ozarksfirst.com | Lauren Barnas

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – KOLR 10 Investigates continues to follow the elevator fiasco at a Springfield apartment complex home to elderly and disabled tenants. Since we first brought you the story in June, the city declared Jenny Lind Hall a nuisance property, but the elevators remain broken. Now, city leaders are calling for a federal investigation. “Please fix that dadgum thing so we can get back to being normal,” said Marsha Walker, who lives on the second floor.

Aug 1, 2024 | ozarksfirst.com | Lauren Barnas

HUMANSVILLE, Mo. – Protesters caused an uproar in Humansville where the Board of Aldermen shut down the police department the night before. The move effectively terminates Police Chief Ryan snow who initiated the investigation into misuse of public funding KOLR 10 Investigates first told you about in May. People gathered near the defunct police department to speak with Chief Investigative Reporter Lauren Barnas about transparency and safety concerns.

Jul 29, 2024 | ozarksfirst.com | Lauren Barnas

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Every year Missouri’s Amusement Ride Safety Division inspects the Ozark Empire Fair rides before they open to the public. But this year’s inspection had much different results than last year. During the 2023 Ozarks Empire Fair, KOLR 10 Investigates obtained the inspection report showing eight of the rides had safety issues that inspectors found and operators fixed before they could open to the public.