Weekend reads: Valentine's Day, toddler tantrums and workforce woes

Text from our SGF Weekend email newsletter, written by Managing Editor Brittany Meiling

Just like the slow service at understaffed food joints, we're all pretty much accustomed to long waits at the doctor's office and emergency rooms, right? It's a hallmark of the post-2020 era. Our business reporter Jack McGee looked into the workforce woes in Springfield's biggest hospital systems, CoxHealth and Mercy, to see if there's hope on the horizon. Unsurprisingly, the feelings were mixed.

Speaking of feelings, don't forget to honor your loved ones on or around Valentine's Day. We put together a guide for local date night ideas for the special occasion!

(Or, if you're like me, just read the list, get overwhelmed by the idea of crowds and instead decide to cook a nice meal at home.)

Really, it's because of the toddler. I wrote a column this week about living in Springfield with a 2-year-old. Mostly, I'm perturbed by businesses that say “family-friendly” when they really mean “child-oriented.” What about the parents?? I saw some fun social media responses to this one, my favorite of which was this tweet. Me too, Kerri. Me too.

If you're looking for fun things to do this weekend (and you don't have a toddler in tow), check out the musical production “The Color Purple,” which debuts this weekend. Or catch the final showing of “Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang.” My mom took her older grandkids to the show after reading about it in the Citizen and had amazing things to report.

There's more to read below! Happy Saturday, everyone.

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